Maher on Obama Library: "Couldn't that money be better spent on something else? Who's going to go to this?"

[sheshe2]

snip

BILL MAHER: So you guys were both at the Obama Library? Do we have a picture of the Obama Library? Because it looks like...
[PICTURE]

JONATHAN MARTIN, POLITICO: The Death Star.

MAHER: It looks like something aliens built in Dubai. It cost $850 million? I don't understand why progressives like this. Couldn't that, you know, money be better spent on something else? Who's going to go to this? Why do we need a presidential library? Why does anyone need a presidential library?

snip

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA0: At a time, Elon Musk is talking about sending people to Mars. You're telling me that spending up to a billion dollars, one billion dollars commemorating the first and only African American who's ever been president isn't worth it?

More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/maher-on-obama-library-couldn-t-that-money-be-better-spent-on-something-else-who-s-going-to-go-to-this/ar-AA269Yx8

.....................................................

[Blue Owl]

1. Go play in traffic Bill

[griloco]

22. I fear for traffic!!!

Last edited Sat Jun 20, 2026, 09:12 PM - Edit history (1)

?is=TrSYFZTp2fGsKP9a

[the nelm]

40. Very heavy traffic with lots of large trucks...n/t

[Blue Owl]

76. Maybe put a fat blunt doobie in the center lane

[KT2000]

2. Ro Khanna is so good

He did not let Bill's stupid comments pass. He did it as a history lesson for Bill too.

[PatSeg]

81. Though

hopefully he will think twice before going on Maher's show again. That was one of the most obnoxious comments he has made.

I think for Bill it is still sour grapes because he'd donated $1 million to Obama's campaign and couldn't get a sit down interview with him. He is such a petty, little man.

[KT2000]

88. That's the thing about Ro Khanna

He has been on Bill's show many times and FOX too. He gets the message out where people need to hear it.

[themaguffin]

105. and he's a great communicator

[Blues Heron]

3. There will never be a bill Maher library, or even commemorative anything. He will fade away to obscurity

[BadgerMom]

68. At my house he already has.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. Maher will probably gush over the drumpf presidential library.

[BattleRow]

61. No doubt he would contribute to the Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Library.

[greatauntoftriplets]

80. Probably.

[agingdem]

5. Maher, that bloviating baboon, is still alive???

[sheshe2]

7. And unfortunately, he is still on the air.🤪🤪

[2MuchNoise]

19. And he's still a dick.

[sheshe2]

29. That too. 🤪

[Pisces]

6. I think Bill is in early stages of dementia. All of the pot he smoked in his early years that were sprayed with DEET

[B.See]

10. That's the excuse afforded everyone

who flips like this. Kanye, Fetterman... I don't buy it. These are just revelations of truer selves.

[rubbersole]

60. Paraquat.

[JBTaurus83]

8. Maher should look into

The cost of all the dump golf trips. I’m sorry I ever watched this worthless piece of shit.

[B.See]

9. He's really become an ASSCLOWN hasn't he?

Fuck Maher.

[mcar]

11. But TSF destroying the WH and Mall is AOk, right?

Fck him.

[tanyev]

12. Like a UFC fight ring? Like a ballroom/bunker?

Like spending trillions on a war that accomplished nothing except unnecessary destruction? Like retrofitting a “free” plane from Qatar that will be given away in a couple years? Like “renovating” buildings that don’t need renovating?

Please, Bill, do enlighten us on how these projects are a much better use of TAXPAYER money.

[Cha]

57. Oh, PEDO's little mouthpiece dare not speak of that...

Thanks for listing just some of the ways PEDO wastes OurTaxpayers $$$$

Presidential libraries are funded by private donations.. So what is fuckhead Maher whining about?

[underpants]

13. 🖕

KHANNA: I don't think most presidents need libraries. I do think that Obama's story is unique. I'm biased. I work for him. But it's a unique story of telling the possibility in this country of someone who had no shot.

You know, when I was in law school, when I interned, they said to me, well, you're Indian American. You're a Hindu faith. Go to the Capitol because you'll never get elected to anything. That's what I heard. And then Barack Obama happened. And he changed the direction of this nation for millions of people.

[ALBliberal]

14. We have tickets for Nov 1 flying in from NM

STFU Maher. A person I used to watch and follow waaayyyy back in the day.

[sheshe2]

16. Lucky you!

[electric_blue68]

27. Very cool! Enjoy! You'll give us a report, yes?

Chicago is the one city I haven't yet visited; but want to. So maybe in 2 - 3 yrs if I can save up - there won't be such a wait. I'd want to go in May some time.

[ALBliberal]

63. Absolutely will report back to my DU peeps!

We love Chicago period. And after recently going to LBJ library in Austin? So so excited.

[electric_blue68]

67. Great! Chicago is the one USA city I've wanted to visit but haven't....

Income issue, but hoping I can somehow save enough to visit in 2-3 yrs.
Various reasons why I want to and now Obama's Library/Center is an extra one.

[orleans]

71. why do you want to go to chgo in may? just wondering n/t

[electric_blue68]

77. I'm thinking maybe later in May. It probably won't be hot yet, and snow chance will be gone....

Chicago is north of NYC; so snow chances might be around later; lake effect etc . The latest snow we ever got was around April 6 about ?12 yrs ago.

So I figure mild-ish Springtime weather which would be lovely.
Obvious climate change and local variables will play a factor ! 👍

[orleans]

83. weather is hit and miss lately. i'm out in the western burbs of the city and we were all getting great summertime

weather & temps (i want to say back in march) and then more snow. hit and miss.
more recently bad storms.

if you stay for a week you're bound to get some good/great days.

[electric_blue68]

110. Always good to hear from who ever lives in a particular city that I'd wsnt to travel to!

In turn; I'm always happy to give advice to people visiting NYC.

I'd monitor the weather closely as I make plans. Obviously it can vary, sometimes l surprisingly. (a bit of weather buff bc I love different cloud formations)

Don't think I could afford a week, but I'd heavily research, get DU Chicagoans latest suggestions etc, to make the best of what I'd stay, probably 3, or 4 days.

[Beringia]

15. Ruh Roh, looking for a fight Bill Maher

[SocialDemocrat61]

17. This Bill Maher?

[niyad]

50. Who is he with in that image?

[DET]

69. Looks like Bari Weiss to me (nt)

[niyad]

87. Thank you.

[SocialDemocrat61]

73. Bari Weiss

who is destroying CBS News. They are good friends.

[niyad]

86. ugghhhh

[orleans]

72. dat you? nt

[MustLoveBeagles]

18. The Buzzkill is at it again

[oasis]

20. Mr.Know-It-All seeks to limit the spread of learning.

[newdeal2]

21. And people on this site still like this idiot

By the way, Bill, the numbers speak for themselves:

General admission tickets to the Obama Presidential Center Museum are currently sold out through the end of November.

They aren't even offering tickets for sale for now because of all the demand.

[paleotn]

26. Maher is such a moron.

Just a little google searching could have come up with the fact you've pointed out and saved him from looking like a total douche on national TV. Then again, a douche has just got to douche I guess.

[sheshe2]

35. Thank you for the info!

And I just read that there is free admission every Tuesday for Chicago residents!

[orleans]

75. i can't even imagine the crowds on tuesdays for the next ... ? six months? two years? idk.

i think it would be a great destination for school fieldtrips

[sheshe2]

82. It would be great for that, orleans.

I am watching a special on MS NOW: Hope Comes Home. A walk through of the gardens and interior, interviews etc. Pete Souza was talking about his time at the WH and showing some of the pictures he shot.

💙

[sheshe2]

36. Thank you for the info!

And I just read that there is free admission every Tuesday for Chicago residents!

[mcar]

66. That is amazing!

Thank you for this.

[perdita9]

23. I donated money to the Obama library

Bill Maher can go @#$% himself.

[paleotn]

24. Maher is a racist fucktard. Or completely tone deaf. Or both.

More Jews for Shitler. What the hell is up with that?

[Happy Hoosier]

25. Bill Maher is a POS.

Smug, arrogant, and quite often pathetically uninformed

[awesomerwb1]

28. Why do so many on here help his ratings?

Why do you watch this guy??

[sheshe2]

39. I haven't watched him in 3 decades.

I just saw the article and his nasty comments. Reading an article about the asshole and pointing out his 'assholiness' does not have anything to do with his ratings.

[dem4decades]

106. Never understood why he gets a mention here, it's ridiculous.

[marble falls]

30. Reminds me of something ...

?si=QTHe_GmSqH1a6Kzk

[brer cat]

31. He is an asshole. He makes no contribution to our society.

[sheshe2]

47. You got that right, brer.

[hookaleft]

32. Fuck him

Why do people continue to post his show on DU. He is clearly an enemy

[Xavier Breath]

91. His show is effectively a right-wing talking point, so those posts should be reported as such.

[RandySF]

33. Did he ask when Elon bought Twitter?

[Attilatheblond]

34. Notice these clowns whining about the Obama Center leave out the fact that it was NOT tax payer funded?

They sort of set up their critiques like it was tax payer $ as that will feed the maga nut balls' rage.

[underpants]

37. It was privately funded

The Obama Presidential Center and Library, which opened in Chicago in June 2026, was financed by an estimated $850 million raised privately through the Obama Foundation. While building costs were covered by private donors, public tax dollars have funded surrounding infrastructure updates and road reconfigurations.Key funding and financial details include rivate Construction: The museum, library, and campus buildings were financed entirely by private contributions and managed by the Obama Foundation.

Public Infrastructure: State and local taxpayers contributed over $200 million for surrounding infrastructure upgrades, road redesigns, and utility relocations.Endowment &

Maintenance: The Obama Foundation previously discussed a $470 million endowment goal to sustain future operations, which has faced scrutiny as only $1 million has been deposited into the fund so far.

Official Archives: The physical and digital records of his administration are managed by the Barack Obama Presidential Library, an entity of the National Archives and Records Administration


Meet the megadonors who funded the Obama Foundation

https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/06/17/meet-the-mega-donors-who-funded-the-obama-foundation

[0rganism]

38. Dear Bill: shut your fucking face uncle fucker

[2na fisherman]

41. All Presidents Seem To Have One

I wonder what kind of tax shelter Maher has set up for his huge salary for being a media know-it-all?
Establishing a library is not a big deal because all modern presidents seem to have a good amount of wealth. And many of them have established such libraries and foundations to channel much of their money into projects and things they support rather than have them frittered away via taxes paying for questionable things supported by that otherwise taxed income. It is a smart business and social responsibility move.

[QueerDuck]

42. Maher is a worthless piece of shit. 💩

[sheshe2]

44. I wholeheartedly agree!

[MIButterfly]

43. STFU Bill Maher

When oh when will this idiot shut his stupid pie hole once and for all. Obama's Presidential Library's cost is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions of OUR money that DJT has pissed away and enriched himself during both of his terms. Why not talk about THAT, Billy Boy?

Among other things, President Obama's center is historic and educational. It's not a vanity project like everything DJT slaps his name on. People will come from all over the country to visit the center. Teachers will be bringing students there on field trips until the end of all time. Hopefully all the things with DJT's name on it will be torn down by the end of this decade.

Stop showing your ignorant ass, Bill Maher. Nobody wants to see it.

[Tree Lady]

45. Ok Bill but first let's talk about the money

For Iran going to war, and buying peace after creating war.

About golf, ballroom, reflecting pool, put name on everything, fight at white house, fixing lawn after, creating tariffs bring up prices, playing with the stock market illegally, etc etc etc

Also they had cost overruns for Obamas library which was supposed to be fully paid by donors. Unlike Trumps crap which our tax dollars are paying for.

[mahina]

46. Turn him off every time you see his mug.

I did, and Iʻm glad.

Hey Bill, what about the 50% increase in our already vastly inflated and bloated military budget up to 1.5 TRILLION dollars? Concerned? No?

"What about..."

GFY Bill. And take that sheepʻs clothing off while at it.

[sheshe2]

48. It's been decades since I watched him.

[Cha]

49. What the Hell is Maher going on about Now? PEDO's

little mouthpiece.

I appreciate Ro Kanna's replies.. This one from your link..

KHANNA: But this is to inspire people. You know, Michelle Obama gave one of the greatest speeches. I'm telling you, don't listen to me. Just listen to her, five minutes. And here's what she said. Racism was hurled at Barack Obama. Insults were hurled at Barack Obama. And he never lost his cool. He never gave in to the temper. And he showed that hope, patience, and aspiration can overcome that.

Fucking Maher: What does that have to do with the building?

[sheshe2]

58. That was an excellent comment and so very true.

Mahalo, Cha.

[Cha]

64. Presidential Libraries are Funded by Private

Donations.

So why is Maher whining about President Obama's library like a little whiny assholes?: Making a Fool of himself on national TV?

[sheshe2]

93. It is what he does best! 🤪

[Cha]

95. Yeah, it's what he does.

This is just the latest in a long, long line of carrying water for the fascist regime.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention. The evidence is piling up nobody messes with our Pres Obama on this board

[hookaleft]

51. he needs to be banned from DU

and all the posts about him need to be alerted on

[sheshe2]

94. So, you are alerting my post?

[hookaleft]

112. no, I didn't alert on your post

but he needs to be banned

[OneBlueDotS-Carolina]

52. Bill Who?

I'm very sure the money spent on your show....

[RockRaven]

53. That is an evergreen quote to refer to his show...

[niyad]

54. bill's comment reminds me of an old joke about a restaurant. "Nobody

goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

[Grim Chieftain]

55. I absolutely loathe Bill Maher

He is right there with CBS and Faux News in our house - toilet TV.

[lapucelle]

56. I remember reading that Mahr takes pride in the fact that he has collected every issue of Playboy ever published...

...I guess that's his idea of a library.

[sheshe2]

65. ***snort***

[Keepthesoulalive]

59. The great thing about his dumb ass diatribes

Is that he like Joe Rogan is showing you who they really are and we should respond appropriately.

[mwmisses4289]

62. Maher is g-d idiot. How any one thinks this twit is funny is beyond me.

[AllaN01Bear]

70. hem

does lurch groam

[maxrandb]

74. Just another misguided Judas

?si=ho5DcGzfOJ64ZzVL

[JUDAS]
Woman, your fine ointment, brand new and expensive
Could have been saved for the poor
Why has it been wasted? We could have raised maybe
Three hundred silver pieces or more
People who are hungry, people who are starving
Matter more than your feet and hair

[Orangenero]

78. The building is ugly..

Probably nice on the inside, but not worth a billion...

[Celerity]

114. I think it's rather stellar. I prefer the uncommon, the different, the avant-garde over the quotidian and bog standard.

[orleans]

79. when i hear maher's name the words "smarmy little prick" & "smug asshole" come to mind nt

[Marcuse]

84. The Seven Deadly Talk Show Sins of Bill Maher

Last edited Sat Jun 20, 2026, 10:20 PM - Edit history (1)

https://ejunkieblog.com/2025/04/29/the-seven-deadly-talk-show-sins-of-bill-maher/

1. He talks about things he doesn’t understand

In a rare moment of a talk show guest actually standing up to a talk show host and calling them out on their B.S., Ben Affleck once actually called Maher out on the air for his hatred of Muslims as well as his various insensitive remarks about Islam. This is actually a part of a pattern I noticed with Maher where he will often make fun of anyone and everyone who is different from him in any way, whether it’s religious people or even people who are a different race, gender, class or age than him. And he has done it so freely that it has made him a lot of enemies. These days his main targets seem to be anyone who is young, “woke” and has pronouns in their bios. A group of people who he regularly calls “stupid” (I maintain that Gen Z is by far the most misunderstood and underestimated generation). Other examples of Maher’s tone deaf remarks include comparing the “Me Too” movement to McCarthyism, comparing “woke” culture to Chairman Mao fascism, regularly ridiculing Palestine sympathizers for being “terrorist sympathizers,” and constantly badmouthing Democrats for being too radical even as Republicans become cruel maniacs and spineless Trump sycophants. Bill Maher often thinks anyone who disagrees with him is an idiot, but he might want to put some wooden boards over the glass house he’s living in.

2. He downplays the pandemic
3. He normalizes dangerous people
4. He is selective with his outrage
5. He is a phony
6. He is predictable
7. He is egotistical

[Cha]

107. TY for that synopsis of Maher, Marcuse.

[Wiz Imp]

85. Maher is pathetic.

It's not the Obama Library, it's the Obama Presidential Center. His Presidential Library is just a small part of the Center. The cost of the library is just a small fraction of the total cost. And besides it being paid for with private donations, it will almost certainly bring significant economic development to the south side of Chicago so it will ultimately help the economy. The "high" cost for this project was definitely worth it and the City of Chicago is significantly better off now because of it.

[Cha]

108. Well said, Wiz Imp.

☮️💙 🌻🕯️🕊️

[spudspud]

89. Just another racist, pseudo-intellectual pretending to be "above the fray." /nt

[Zafira Cherry]

90. about the Qatar airplane and..

the 400M retrofit, the US tax payers paid for that. This airplane "goes with Trump" when he leaves. You know damn well there will be no Trump Library.

Hey Bill "Couldn't that money be better spent on something else"

[Mr. Jinx]

92. It's interesting...

Bill Maher takes an interest in a presidential library only when Barack Obama's name is on it. Once again, Black people- especially when they're successful- aren't allowed to simply exist in the eyes of some people without there being a problem.

People like him really tire me out. I'll applaud when his show is finally canceled.

[nwduke]

96. Go suck an egg Mayer

For a dope who sucked up to trump! There’s so much there for all the people but Mayer is too stupid to understand that!

[themaguffin]

97. damn

[Jbraybarten]

98. There will be countless people going for many years to come

[struggle4progress]

99. "We could give Trump a $3 billion slush fund instead of a $2 billion slush fund! Or we could give ICE

$241 billion instead of $240 billion! Or we could pay Iran $301 billion instead of $300 billion!"

[ShazzieB]

100. Maher is such a schmuck.

He acts like he never heard of a presidential library before. Like Obama just pulled the whole idea out of his ass or something. Is he really not aware that every president since FDR has established a presidential library to preserve his papers as part of the nation's history? Does he think Obama should be the first president in almost 90 years to just skip the whole thing? Really?

The Presidential Library system formally began in 1939, when President Franklin Roosevelt donated his personal and Presidential papers to the Federal Government. At the same time, Roosevelt pledged part of his estate at Hyde Park to the United States, and friends of the President formed a non-profit corporation to raise funds for the construction of the library and museum building.

Roosevelt's decision stemmed from a firm belief that Presidential papers are an important part of the national heritage and should be accessible to the public. He asked the National Archives to take custody of his papers and other historical materials and to administer his library.

Many pre-Herbert Hoover collections of presidential papers now reside in the Library of Congress, while others are split among universities, libraries, historical societies, and private collections. Many materials have been lost or destroyed.

In 1950, Harry S. Truman decided that he, too, would build a presidential library to house his Presidential papers. In 1955, Congress passed the Presidential Libraries Act, establishing a system of federal “presidential archival depositories” across the United States. The Act encouraged other Presidents to donate their historical materials to the government and ensured the preservation of any donated Presidential papers and their availability to the American people. Under this and subsequent acts, more presidential archival depositories have been established, continuing the presidential libraries system.

https://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/about/history

Either Maher is really stupid or he just decided to deliberately be a jackass to provoke a reaction, and I don't know which is worse. Either way, he needs to educate himself AND stop acting like a bratty kid saying saying shit just to piss people off. Oh, wait, acting like a bratty kid saying saying shit just to piss people off is pretty much his brand, isn't it? How pathetic is it that a 70 year old man still thinks acting like a 12 year old smartass is funny and cool?

PS. Mr. B and I are FOR SURE going to visit the Barack Obama Presidential Center as soon as we can, and we are looking forward to it! Grow the fuck up already, Maher.

[sheshe2]

103. From what I have read, Maher is a racist.

So, yes...

Does he think Obama should be the first president in almost 90 years to just skip the whole thing? Really?

...because he is black.

Good for you and Mr. B on your plans to visit!

[Cha]

109. Mahalo for that, ShazziB! Very

Informative. ☮️💙🌻🕯️🕊️

[SocialDemocrat61]

101. damn

[kimbutgar]

102. I do

My husband and I are planning to go to it next year for our wedding anniversary vacation.

Bill, retire you are such a has been!

[sheshe2]

104. Yeah!

Good for you both!

[GenThePerservering]

111. Judging by the reaction here

he's getting what he wants - air time.

[LudwigPastorius]

113. I wonder if Maher is still going to love him some Trump if he pulls some support for Israel.

Bibi's bloodlust is screwing Trump's concept of a memorandum of a plan to end the Iran clusterfuck. The Big Orange Anus will lean on Netanyahu by threatening to pull, or actually pulling, arms and cash support.

Will Bill-o still think his candlelight dinner with Trump was dreamy?