Bill Maher recently confronted California Governor Gavin Newsom in a pointed interview that exposed the hypocrisy of a Democrat frustrated with the very policies he helped create.

Bill Maher has been trying to make changes to his roof for ages—but California’s endless red tape keeps getting in the way. Frustrated by the constant bureaucratic hurdles, Maher finally had the chance to confront Governor Gavin Newsom face-to-face and ask why even basic repairs… pic.twitter.com/HT3rJKRaIZ

— The Vigilant Fox (@VigilantFox) March 29, 2025

Maher, long a supporter of progressive causes, vented his frustration over California’s red tape after struggling to repair his roof, which was damaged in a wildfire. Despite following official guidelines, he faced unnecessary delays, including multiple inspections. “Why do I need two inspections, which I have to pay for?” Maher asked Newsom. Newsom, attempting to deflect, referenced Ezra Klein’s book Abundance, which critiqued bureaucratic processes—but Maher saw through the political speak.

The conversation quickly shifted to another contentious issue: California’s rule preventing schools from notifying parents if their child changes gender identity. Maher, now questioning the “woke” policies he once supported, challenged Newsom, saying, “What do you say to people who say, ‘Governor, you were the poster boy for a lot of this woke stuff?’”

Newsom deflected again, but Maher wasn’t buying it, calling the policy an overreach.

As the interview concluded, Maher pressed Newsom about his presidential ambitions, demanding a straightforward answer. Newsom, ever the politician, sidestepped the question with vague responses, clearly focused on rebranding himself as a moderate.

This exchange highlighted a broader trend: Maher is now a vocal critic of the very policies he once championed, while Newsom scrambles to distance himself from the far-left policies that have defined his tenure. Both are in damage-control mode—one looking to maintain credibility, the other desperately trying to reinvent his image.