Real Time with Bill Maher Ep. #703: Thomas Chatterton Williams, Molly Jong-Fast, Walter Kirn
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Aug 16, 2025 
In this discussion, Thomas Chatterton Williams, a staff writer at The Atlantic, shares insights from his book on divisive discourse and society's complex responses to 'wokeness.' Walter Kirn, a noted novelist, humorously critiques modern parenting amid political absurdities, including controversies surrounding figures like Trump and Epstein. The conversation also delves into the ongoing challenges of homelessness in California, satirizing ineffective solutions and ICE's tactics. They explore the absurd dynamics of political participation and the evolving landscape of public sentiment.
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From Post-Racial Hope To Identity Fetish
- Williams recalls the Obama era's optimism about a 'post-racial' America and how that hope collapsed into identity fetishization.
- He says that disillusionment encouraged both conservative backlash and intensified identity politics on the left.
Racializing Everything Backfired Politically
- Williams contrasts his view with Ibram X. Kendi, saying racializing every policy backfired politically.
- He warns such universal racial framing incentivized white voters to think of themselves as a racial bloc.
Personal Roots And Campus Performance
- Williams recounts his father's experience in segregated Texas to show how grievances shift as societies equalize.
- He cites research that many undergrads perform progressive values rather than sincerely holding them.
