Comedian Bill Maher called out former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang on HBO’s “Real Time” Friday night about Yang’s “long-term” plans, saying the party’s platform is “a bunch of crap.”
Maher was joined by Yang and Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., on the show. The late-night host asked Yang about her “Forward Party.”
“You know, universal basic income, right? It’s like, yeah, what we did during the time of COVID. Okay, where are you now? I mean, I see your – I don’t get your third because I read the website and it’s a bunch of mush. No I’m just trying to be mean. I’m just saying it’s not accurate. It doesn’t even mention this. And why start a third one, which is a long one, then. You won’t be brave and… what?”
Yang told Maher that our “political system is not going to deal with poverty or climate change or polarization” unless we really fix incentives.
“Real Time” host Bill Maher on the set of the HBO show. (HBO)
BILL MAHER SLAMS COLLEGE CAMPUSES WAKE UP: ‘THERE IS ROT AND IT’S COMING FROM THE ACADEMY’
“So we’re in a no-compromise zone. So if you want to, say, alleviate poverty in America, you have to fix our democratic system. This two-party system is not designed to provide solutions,” Maher said.
Slotkin also seemed to criticize Yang’s third-party ambitions.
“I have to say, I’m not 100% sure how another party. I mean, you have to explain how that’s going to change the whole system. But here’s the thing. If you have a senator as somebody who’s running. Senate, if you have a senator, the incentives are wrong. If you have a senator who says they are, so I can’t do the right thing, that’s the problem, not that we need another party,” he said.
Yang announced that he would leave the Democratic Party in 2021 and said he planned to launch a new third party.
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks at FreedomFest in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 (Fox News Digital)
ANDREW YANG LEAVES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CALLS IT ‘THE RIGHT THING’ TO DO
“Our country has a lot of challenges, and I think more and more Americans are waking up to the fact that we’re not set up for success, that we’re pitted against each other and starting to see other Americans as not our mortal enemies,” Yang told Fox News at the time. .
Yang also ran for mayor of New York in 2021 as a Democrat and pushed for a universal basic income.
“We need bold ideas and fresh ideas to revitalize our city,” he said after announcing his campaign. “We must look ahead and adapt to the current and future economic challenges. Furthermore, we need a municipal government that will focus on competence and on behalf of our people every day.”
New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang arrives at a polling place before casting his ballot, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
The former Democratic presidential candidate did not rule out a possible third-party contest in 2024 if it is a rematch between President Biden and Donald Trump. In an interview with Fox News Digital in 2022, he said that not many people are looking forward to that rematch.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“So there are a lot of people who aren’t looking forward to a Biden-Trump rematch, but it looks like we’re going to get that very well,” Yang said. “And one thing I will say is, if that pairing doesn’t appeal to you, go to ForwardParty.com and let’s make sure Americans have more choices in your community, but also in 2024.”
Hanna Panreck is an associate editor at Fox News.