Bill Maher is ready to unleash tonight on Real Time

Real Time with Bill Maher was made for weeks like this one and should deliver a must-watch episode.

We’ve come to the end of truly wild week. By now you’ve heard from everyone on cable news, Twitter, and late night on the scandal involving President Donald Trump and Ukraine. But one person who hasn’t yet had a chance to sound off yet is Bill Maher.

The release of the whistleblower’s complaint and the White House’s publication of a memo on the conversation between President Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky were two bombshells that shook up the country. The White House is on the defense as calls for impeachment gain support.

In the world of late night, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers have been leading the charge. Colbert advised the country to “buckle up” once the impeachment inquiry was announced. Meyers has used “A Closer Look” to examine why things aren’t looking so hot for Team Trump.

But as well as Colbert and Meyers have done in covering the story, weeks like this one are when Bill Maher is at his best. Tonight’s Real Time should be a big on as Maher no doubt unloads on Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and the Republican Party.

This could certainly be a week in which the entire episode is just Maher’s monologue. But after the host, the strength of Real Time has always been its diverse and provocative panel. Here’s who fans will see on tonight’s show.

Top-of-show

Author Salman Rushdie returns to the Real Time as the top-of-show guest. He was last seen with Bill Maher back in April.

Rushdie’s most recently publication is the novel Quichotte which was released in Aug. 2019. The novel has received mostly positive reviews for his depiction of modern American life and its use of satire as a work of metafiction.

And as the country is on the verge of a more unsettling and uncertain time, Rushdie and Maher could provide some insight on what may be in store. The two share some religious, social and political beliefs and routinely have a thoughtful discussion.

Mid-show

The mid-show interview is with another returning guest. Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will make her fourth appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher.

McCarthy served in the administration of President Barack Obama, heading up the EPA from 2013 to 2017. She specializes in environmental health and air quality.

Climate change and environmental policy were major issues during the United Nations General Assembly. Helping to bring attention to the topics was 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg. McCarthy may comment on Thunberg’s efforts as well as the pushback from conservatives.

The panel

Tonight’s panel features two returning guest and one first time visitor to Real Time with Bill Maher. The political discussion should really heat up once the panel takes the stage.

Former Representative Barney Frank returns for his second time this season. Having served in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013, Frank can provide a lot of insight on everything from the Democratic strategy for impeachment, oversight, and the 2020 election.

Noah Rothman is an author and political commentator who serves as the online editor of Commentary, a neoconservative publication. In 2019, Rothman published his book Unjust: Social Justice and the Unmaking of Americas. He recently wrote about the risk to Democrat should impeachment proceedings against President Trump fail. Look for Rothman and Maher to go back and forth on this topic.

Rounding out the panel is columnist Linette Lopez. She writes for Business Insider on topics related to U.S. politics and economic while also appearing on CNN and MSNBC. Lopez can offer some thoughts on the potential economic consequence of a Trump impeachment in addition to contributing to the overall discussion on Trump and Ukraine.

Real Time with Bill Maher airs tonight, Sept. 27, at 10:00 PM ET on HBO. Let us know what you expect to hear from Bill Maher and who you’re looking forward to most from the guest lineup. It should be a very entertaining show.