Bill Maher just stirred the pot again — this time calling out Molly McNearney, Jimmy Kimmel’s wife and executive producer of his late-night show, for giving her Trump-voting relatives what he described as a political ultimatum.
McNearney recently went on the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast and revealed she emailed her conservative family members before the 2024 election with “10 reasons not to vote for Trump.” She said the move cost her a few family relationships.
Maher wasn’t having it.
On Real Time, he said that disagreements are one thing — but cutting off family over politics is another.
“Molly says she lost relationships because some relatives didn’t obey her email,” Maher said, making a slicing gesture across his neck. “Ten reasons? I could write a hundred. But I’d never present them as an ultimatum. Ultimatums don’t make people rethink their politics — they make them rethink you.”
Maher argued that people throwing around “my values” often mean “I’m the only one with morals,” and urged McNearney to consider why millions of Americans don’t trust people who think that way, even if he himself votes Democrat.
The Backstory 😬
This all comes after a rocky year for the Kimmels. McNearney said she felt personally betrayed when some of her own family members voted for Trump — especially while Jimmy Kimmel was publicly clashing with him.
At one point, Disney briefly suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after backlash over comments Kimmel made about an alleged assassin tied to Charlie Kirk. The show was reinstated the following week.
McNearney said the whole situation has left her emotionally drained:
“It hurts because my husband is out there fighting this man… Them voting for Trump feels like they’re voting against me, my husband, and our family.”
She admitted she’s pulled away from relatives she no longer feels aligned with and struggles with anger:
“I personalize everything now. I see the news and immediately get mad at certain aunts, uncles, cousins who put him in power.”
