David Mamet Critiques Bill Maher on a Range of Political Topics

Playwright David Mamet took aim at HBO host and podcaster Bill Maher during their discussion on the podcast Club Random. Their conversation, which had some unexpected political turns, covered the 2020 election, President Joe Biden, and even women in sports.

Things got contentious early on when they touched upon the January 6, 2020, incident, sparked by Trump’s refusal to concede the election to Biden. Maher accused Trump of inciting a riot, to which Mamet responded, questioning whether Trump’s failure to explicitly say “I concede” directly led to the unrest.

“Come on!” Mamet, known for Glengarry Glen Ross, pushed back. “Just because he didn’t say the words doesn’t mean people rioted.”

Mamet continued, referring to previous leaders who had transitioned power gracefully, specifically mentioning how George Bush acknowledged Barack Obama’s victory. “Trump didn’t do that,” he pointed out, raising questions about the impact of this behavior.

The conversation wandered toward Biden’s perceived shortcomings. Maher expressed some reservations about labeling Biden entirely incompetent, arguing that he had been functional during his term, albeit not always fully aware.

“He wasn’t completely out of it,” Maher stated. “The Democrats did some questionable things to support him and get him into office.”

Eventually, it became clear that the two weren’t going to reach a consensus on these issues.

The dialogue shifted to a different topic: the speculation about Abraham Lincoln’s sexuality, a question raised by Mamet. “Was Lincoln gay?” Maher asked. Mamet pondered this but remarked on the absurdity of the debate over historical figures’ sexual orientations, noting how it has woven itself into American culture through narratives and biographies.

Mamet shared his curiosity about the subject of homosexuality in history, specifically mentioning letters Lincoln wrote to his friend Joshua Speed. Some historians interpret these letters as having romantic undertones, leading to speculation about Lincoln’s sexual orientation.

“Lincoln wrote many letters to Speed,” Mamet explained. “Some people suggest that these letters might indicate something more, but I’m sure there are other letters that could counter that narrative.”

Certainly, the claim that Lincoln was gay often relies on the fact that he and Speed lived together. However, Mamet pointed out that it was common for men to share living arrangements for financial reasons during that time, even up until the 1960s. He also mentioned that Lincoln later appointed Speed’s brother James to his cabinet.