Susan Rice makes her Real Time with Bill Maher debut tonight
By Matt Moore
Real Time with Bill Maher welcomes former National Security Adviser Susan Rice to tonight’s show.
We have come to the end of another long week. There is a lot to get to tonight and Real Time with Bill Maher will certainly cover it all with his unique perspective on tonight’s show.
It has been a mostly quiet week across late night. Shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert have been off. That has left Jimmy Kimmel Live! to carry the load when it comes to keeping late night fans laughing about everything going on in Washington. And while Jimmy Kimmel has done his job well, Real Time with Bill Maher can bring things to the next level.
As always, Bill Maher will be assisted by his guest lineup. Tonight features a top of the show interview with a first time guest. There will also be a couple of familiar faces to longtime Real Time viewers.
Top of the show
The top of the show interview will be with Susan Rice. Rice served as former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser from 2013 to 2017.
It couldn’t be a better time for Rice to make her Real Time debut. President Donald Trump’s phone call to Ukraine, accusations of a quid pro quo, and decision to withdraw troops from Syria are all still dominating the headlines. Rice will offer a unique perspective on what is normal foreign policy practice and what the short- and long-term ramifications of Trump’s actions could be.
Mid-show interview
A popular late night guest and television personality returns to Real Time for the mid-show interview. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will sit down with Bill Maher.
Tyson was last on Real Time in Sept. 2018. He’s been in the news recently for things other than his professional field. On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert asked Tyson about being accused of sexual misconduct. Tyson also appeared on a podcast hosted by controversial political commentator Ben Shapiro.
It’s uncertain if Maher will press Tyson on either of those topics or instead keep the conversation to topics like life, space, philosophy, and religion. Those are typically what comes up anytime Tyson shows up in late night.
The panel
Conservative political commentator Danielle Pletka is on the panel. This marks her fourth time on Real Time with Bill Maher. Pletka is known for her denial of climate change science. That could be a point of debate between her and Maher and Tyson.
Journalist Sam Stein will make his second appearance on Real Time. He is a contributor to MSNBC and Daily Beast. Stein will likely comment on acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney’s recent comments suggesting that a quid pro quo did occur between President Trump and Ukraine.
Author and commentator Thomas Chatteron Williams rounds out the panel and makes his Real Time debut. He can be read in the New York Times Magazine and recently published his book Self-Portrait in Black-and-White: Unlearning Race.
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Who are you excited to see on Real Time with Bill Maher tonight? What topic do you expect to dominate the discussion? Let us know in the comment section. Real Time with Bill Maher airs tonight at 10:00 PM ET on HBO.