Is Real Time with Bill Maher new tonight, April 9?

Fans had to go without Real Time with Bill Maher last week. What should they expect to see tonight on HBO?

It was the first week off of season 19 last week when Bill Maher and company did not deliver a new episode. Viewers were disappointed, given the headlines from the week that Maher surely would have had a take on. But with the holidays and Maher’s output, it was understandable that Real Time needed a break.

But the hiatus comes to an end on Friday. There will be a brand new episode of Real Time with Bill Maher tonight on HBO.

Expect Maher to share his thoughts on the scandal involving Representative Matt Gaetz. That story and more should fill up Maher’s monologue tonight.

Who’s on Real Time with Bill Maher tonight?

Tonight’s interview guest is making his Real Time with Bill Maher debut. Bill Maher will interview Senator Alex Padilla.

Sen. Padilla is the junior Senator from California. A Democrat, Padilla is Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety. The crisis at the border remains one of the biggest stories in the country and something the Biden administration has to grapple with on top of the pandemic and economic recovery. Expect Padilla to offer some insight into what the country is doing about the population of unaccompanied minors in U.S. detention centers.

The panel will feature two guests who should be familiar to Real Time viewers. Both have made multiple past appearances on the show.

Heather McGhee is an activist, political strategist, and author. She serves as the board chair for Color for Change, an online racial justice organization. Last month, McGhee published the book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. The trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd is ongoing. It’s possible McGhee could tie the trial into a national discussion on racism.

Reihan Salam is a political commentator and author. He’s president of the conservative think tank the Manhattan Institute and his work can be read in The Atlantic. The Manhattan Institute has recently commented on systemic racism in the U.S. and the media’s role in perpetuating false narratives. It will be interesting to see how Salam and McGhee view some topics during the panel discussion.

Real Time with Bill Maher airs tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET on HBO. You can also watch Real Time on HBO Max.

What do you want Bill Maher to talk about on tonight’s show? What do you anticipate from tonight’s guest lineup? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.