Real Time with Bill Maher Ep. #724: Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Stephen A. Smith, Laura Coates
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Mar 28, 2026 
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst focused on national security; Stephen A. Smith, a fiery sports and cultural commentator; and Laura Coates, a former federal prosecutor turned legal analyst. They spar over TSA and federal worker pay, the risks and goals of military action with Iran, insider trading and prediction markets, Big Tech liability, parenting and platform responsibility, and fairness in sports.
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Stop Insider Bets On Government Events
- Ban insider betting on prediction markets tied to government operations to stop leaks and operational security risks.
- Slotkin said she introduced a bill to bar anyone in government from placing bets on issues like war and peace.
When Traditions Need To Become Law
- Traditions about presidential business conduct aren’t enforceable unless codified into law.
- Slotkin urged converting norms into statutes with teeth because informal norms failed to stop conflicts of interest in the current administration.
Degraded Capabilities Are Not Victory Without Chokepoint Control
- Degrading an adversary's capabilities doesn't equal strategic victory without control of critical chokepoints.
- Slotkin noted Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities were degraded but the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed prevents declaring success.