Bill Maher Slams California Schools, Praises Red States
Bill Maher criticized California Democrats on his HBO show for falling behind Mississippi in education and Texas in renewable energy despite championing those issues.
According to New York Post, Maher used his “Real Time with Bill Maher” platform to hammer home a message he said came with love: Democrats are losing on their signature issues to what he colorfully described as the Waffle House, car-on-the-lawn states.
Maher focused particularly on California’s dismal education performance compared to Mississippi, highlighting stark disparities in student achievement among Black fourth graders.
“Did you know that a Black fourth grader in Mississippi is two and a half times as likely to be proficient in math and reading as one in California?” the HBO host asked his audience. “Mississippi is kicking our a– in education and for way less money. We’re 37th in fourth-grade reading. They’re ninth.”
The data, originally published in a February 9 New York Times article, showed Mississippi Black fourth graders scoring 19% proficient and 2% advanced in reading, compared to just 7% proficient and 1% advanced in California. Math results revealed similar disparities: Mississippi students achieved 22% proficiency and 2% advanced levels, while California students managed only 10% proficiency and 1% advanced.
Texas Outperforms California on Green Energy
The criticism extended beyond education to environmental policy, where Maher noted Texas has surpassed California in solar energy production and leads significantly in wind power and energy storage despite having no progressive climate policies.
As New York Post reports, Energy Information Administration data showed Texas producing 58,634 gigawatt-hours from utility-scale solar installations in 2025, exceeding California’s 53,713 gigawatt-hours. Texas also overtook California in installed utility-scale solar capacity in 2024, though California maintained an edge when smaller-scale residential solar was included.
Maher blamed California’s lagging performance on excessive bureaucracy, restrictive permitting processes, and building policies that stifle development.
“Because you’re allowed to build there,” Maher explained. “Because every third person in Texas isn’t someone whose job it is to make sure nothing gets done.”
Unions, Bureaucrats and Special Interests Under Fire
The comedian pointed to San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a Democrat running for governor who registered just 4% support in a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released Friday. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, and billionaire Tom Steyer are leading the gubernatorial field.
Maher identified a litany of obstacles preventing California from functioning effectively: unions, bureaucrats, lawyers, consultants, regulators, and special interest groups that make living in the state frustrating.
“It’s why the railroads don’t get built, the potholes don’t get filled, the homeless don’t get housed, the kids don’t learn,” he said.
Republicans Also Targeted
While Democrats bore the brunt of his criticism, Maher also took aim at Republicans, specifically targeting Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. He mocked Republican senators who express concern about President Donald Trump‘s actions only when retiring or after losing primaries. Tillis is retiring while Cassidy recently lost his primary race.
Maher also referenced Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has been critical of Trump, joking that he wished McConnell had spoken that way when he was alive.
Governor Gavin Newsom did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Maher‘s remarks.
With information from New York Post
