Bill Maher, the HBO late-night host, has criticized California and its Democratic leaders for creating an unfavorable environment for businesses, arguing that it’s nearly impossible for entrepreneurs to thrive and that bureaucracy has driven many business owners out of the state.
During a recent discussion, Maher highlighted the challenges faced by marijuana entrepreneurs, saying:
You wouldn’t believe all the obstacles you have to navigate to start a marijuana business in this state. It’s just absurd. They definitely don’t make it easy.
This is all on the big Democrats. […] They run the state. If you want to do something simple and effective, just reduce the red tape. It feels like you can’t accomplish anything here. We’ve held back on it, perhaps due to the sunny reputation, but that’s just unnecessary. Why make this mistake? There’s a reason so many companies have left for other states.”
Honestly, trying to hook up my solar energy here was a nightmare. Changing a garage door from three inspections to two involved three inspections. I just installed a new roof that required two tests. Can’t we trust people to handle things themselves? Stop micromanaging everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56M4_TVQKBA
Maher’s view of California as anti-business is echoed by others.
According to reports, Bed, Bath & Beyond CEO Marcus Lemonis announced that they will not be opening any new stores in California.
Lemonis’ comments reflect a broader trend of businesses pushing back against the challenges posed by California, which, despite being the world’s fourth largest economy, now has the highest unemployment rate in the country under Governor Gavin Newsom.
A billionaire and heir to the In-N-Out Burger franchise stated that her family has relocated from California due to the challenges of doing business and raising a family in the state.
In an interview with the Easy to Get Along podcast, Lynsi Snyder said while there are positives about living in California, “raising a family here is not easy. It’s not easy to do business here,” as reported by the New York Post.
Many In-N-Out locations will stay in California, but plans are in motion to open some in Tennessee by next year.
As Newsom emerged as a prominent figure for Democrats opposing former President Donald Trump, Maher’s remarks, along with others, have led to speculation that Newsom might be positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run.
