Maher Talks with Obama About Atheism, Marijuana, and Whether America Should Be an ‘Empire’

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After months and months of trying, Bill Maher finally scored an interview with President Obama, and it aired tonight on Real Time.

Maher asked Obama questions on a whole range of issues from socialism to food purity to science (and the need to form political consensus on the latter), even asking the president if America needs to be an “empire.”

Obama touted progress he’s made overseas, but Maher still questioned him about whether America could be as safe while spending half as much on it.

Both of them agreed the media needs to step up its game in how it covers politics, with the president wondering “how do we create a space where truth gets eyeballs?” and talking about the “funhouse mirror” version of himself he sees on Fox News.

Maher did ask him about two issues he’s been very outspoken about: pot and atheism. (On the pot question, Obama dryly asked, “Is that something you care about?”)

As for atheism, the president wasn’t so sure about there being an “active persecution of atheists,” while still saying everyone should have the freedom to believe or not believe what they want.
Maher also did eventually get around to asking about the election, and both him and the president agreed that the choice here should be “really clear,” especially for people who are fans of him and Bernie Sanders.

Obama also somewhat pushed back on the idea that the white working class has been overlooked by the elites, saying a lot of policies he’s pushed for have been in their interests.