By Charles Switzer
8:29am PST, Mar 8, 2025
Trump's Lies: 'Baked In' and No Longer Newsworthy?
On Friday, March 7,
Bill Maher sparked controversy on
Real Time with Bill Maher by suggesting that obsessing over President
Donald Trump's falsehoods is a waste of time. Speaking with panelists
Jon Tester and
Alyssa Farah Griffin, Maher dismissed fact-checking Trump's speech to Congress, arguing that his supporters don't care about accuracy and his critics have grown numb to it.
"I'm bored with that s***," he declared, pointing out that Trump's habitual dishonesty is simply "baked in."
Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official, agreed, saying, "I think the era of rambling fact checks and going line by line through what he says… I don't know that it matters."
Here are four other key points from Maher's latest critique of liberals during the second Trump era.
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The Political Strategy Behind Trump's Base Appeal
Griffin elaborated on Trump's approach, arguing that his goal isn't to win over new voters but to keep his base engaged. "All he needs to do is keep his
approval rating with the Republican Party roughly where it is," she said.
Rather than focusing on outreach, Trump's speech was designed to energize his most loyal supporters with rhetoric they love. While some critics may be frustrated by the lack of factual accuracy, she noted that many in Trump's audience "were really happy with it."
Maher agreed, suggesting that dissecting Trump's falsehoods has become an exercise in futility.
Media Fatigue
Maher argued that the mainstream media's obsession with debunking Trump's claims has become redundant. He pointed out that outlets like
MSNBC dedicate countless hours to fact-checking, but this does little to sway public opinion.
"If you're a conservative and you see him say many, many things that are not even close to true you just don't care anymore," Maher said. "And if you're a liberal watching MSNBC every day, you're obsessed with this."
The takeaway? Trump's unique relationship with the truth is no longer a scandal — it's an accepted part of his political persona.
Fact-Checking Fatigue
Despite Maher's dismissal of fact-checking, Trump's misstatements remain a hot topic in political discourse. His claim that Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky's approval rating is "4 percent" when it is actually around 57 percent is just one example of misinformation shaping public perception.
While fact-checkers continue to challenge Trump's statements, Maher and Griffin suggest that these efforts may have diminishing returns. In an era where political tribalism is stronger than ever, many voters simply accept or ignore falsehoods that align with their beliefs.
Will Trump Run Again?
Maher and Griffin ended their discussion on a lighter note, speculating about Trump's future political ambitions. "He's not going to run again. Wink, wink," Maher quipped, referencing the ongoing speculation about Trump's 2028 plans.
His guest responded with skepticism, pointing out that key allies like Senator
Lindsey Graham believe Trump is far from done. Whether Trump's political career continues beyond his current term remains uncertain, but if one thing is clear from Maher's segment, it's that Trump's ability to dominate the media cycle — whether through lies or spectacle — remains as strong as ever.
