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Liberal host Bill Maher mourned the killing of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, contrasting conservatives who embrace dialogue with far-left activists who, he argued, seek to silence it.
"Look, I might drink a little more than usual today," Maher told guest Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. "Because I don't know when this is airing, but this is a s--- day. A guy who sat there - Charlie Kirk - got shot today, and I can't stop thinking about it."
Kirk's assassination during a campus event stunned the nation and reignited a national conversation about the value of political dialogue - even across deeply divided ideological lines.
"Neither can I," Corgan replied.
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"And we shouldn't," Maher continued, before addressing liberals who openly celebrated Kirk's death. "And if you're on the other side of the political divide, and you don't care because the wrong team guy got shot - f--- you. You're what's wrong with this country."
Maher reiterated that he still identifies as an "old-school liberal" but remains sharply critical of what he sees as the far left's dominance over modern progressive politics.
"As I always say to my woke friends, we voted for the same person - you're just why she lost," Maher said.
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He went on to highlight the divide between conservatives and the far left on the issue of political dialogue:
"They're the people who don't want to talk," Maher said. "Charlie Kirk was always willing to engage - I talked to him here. Say what you want about right-wingers, but they'll talk to you. The left has more of a, 'I won't talk to you. You're deplorable. I can't break bread with you.' Right-wingers don't have that attitude."
Maher emphasized that disagreement does not negate humanity. "Now again, I didn't vote for them. Charlie Kirk and I certainly don't agree on much politically. But he sat here. He's a human being. He's not a monster."
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"And a husband, and a father," Corgan added.
"Yes. And I liked him - I like them all. They're all nice people when you meet them in person. Nobody's as crazy as they're made out to be," Maher said, stressing that both sides must take responsibility for their own extremists if political violence is to be stopped.
"Violence has to be off the table," Corgan agreed, warning that peace should never be taken for granted and pointing to countries still plagued by sectarian political violence.
