"They Can't Define A Woman": Bill Maher Says Democrats "Opened The Door" With "Crazy" Cultural Issues

Bill Maher says Democrats are still paying a political price for cultural positions that leave voters thinking the party has "lost their minds."

The 'Real Time' host argued that Republicans have benefited from Democrats continuing to focus on cultural issues where, in his telling, much of the country believes the party has gone off the rails.

Bill Maher MOCKS Democrats for the "crazy stuff" that is STILL costing them elections: "They can't define a woman," and "they think the WNBA should be full of men."

He says the country thinks they "lost their minds."

MAHER: "The Democrats made it a lot easier for [Republicans] by harping on cultural issues where the country thought they had lost their minds. I feel like the elections we're having these days are still that."

"The Democrats are saying, 'These guys are crooks, and inflation is still high. We can do better, and we can give you healthcare.' And the other people are saying, 'Yeah, but they want to get rid of Thanksgiving. We like Thanksgiving.'"

"And then they can't define a woman, and they think the WNBA should be full of men, and just crazy stuff. And so they kind of opened the door for that."

A New York Times/Ipsos poll found 79% of Americans say trans athletes should not compete in women's sports. That includes 94% of Republicans and even 67% of Democrats.

The party is losing this issue with its own base and still won't drop it.

— The Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) August 22, 2026

"The Democrats made it a lot easier for [Republicans] by harping on cultural issues where the country thought they had lost their minds," Maher said.

He contrasted Democratic messaging about corruption, inflation and healthcare with the sort of cultural arguments that can cut through everything else, joking that voters instead hear that Democrats "want to get rid of Thanksgiving."

Then Maher got to the issue he clearly believes remains politically toxic: "They can't define a woman, and they think the WNBA should be full of men, and just crazy stuff."

"And so they kind of opened the door for that," he added.

Polling cited by Vigilant Fox underscores the problem... A New York Times/Ipsos survey found that 79% of Americans said transgender female athletes should not be allowed to compete in women's sports.

The opposition crossed party lines, including 94% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats.