Season 6

27 episodes · 2008

Guests: Entrepreneur Mark Cuban, former TV anchor Catherine Crier, former press secretary Tony Snow, Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi (election correspondent), humorist P.J. O'Rourke Topics: New Hampshire primary, electronic voting machines, Iraq troop surge, subprime lending and prospects for economic recession. Maher refrained from a large-scale discussion of the ongoing writers' strike, offering only a brief opinion in the closing moments of the show.

Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund, country singer Trace Adkins, author/sex columnist Dan Savage (election correspondent), journalist Fareed Zakaria Topics: South Carolina primary and influence of religion, militant violence in Pakistan, U.S. relations with Iran, impact of economy on the election, defining victory in Iraq, thoughts on Confederate flag

Guests: Actor/comedian Richard Belzer, musician Herbie Hancock, reporter Martha Raddatz, political strategist Amy Holmes (election correspondent), country singer Merle Haggard Topics: Bill Clinton's role in campaign, Democratic campaign issues and oversight of Iraq War, Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan, race and gender in the election, Rudy Giuliani's campaign strategy

Guests: Columnist Clarence Page, feminist Kim Gandy, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), pollster/author Frank Luntz, Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi (election correspondent) Topics: State of the Union address, Clinton/Obama debate and Republican strategy, withdrawals of Giuliani and Edwards, Middle East policy

Guests: Author/columnist Jonah Goldberg, political strategist Matthew Dowd, sportscaster Bob Costas, political humorist P.J. O'Rourke (election correspondent), CNN analyst Amy Holmes Topics: Super Tuesday results, suspension of Mitt Romney's campaign, McCain vs. conservatives, U.S. role as superpower, Roger Clemens steroid controversy and overdependence on prescription drugs, death of Maharishi

Guests: Commentator Andrew Sullivan, veterans' activist Paul Rieckhoff, Nina Hachigian of the Center for American Progress, pollster Frank Luntz (election correspondent), Sen Claire McCaskill (D-MO) Topics: Clinton vs. Obama, candidates' policies toward Middle East, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act renewal and changes, John McCain vs. Democrats, Roger Clemens congressional hearing

Guests: Former Bush speechwriter David Frum, The Hotline editor Amy Walter, Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi (election correspondent), journalist Tom Brokaw Topics: Clinton/Obama debate, John McCain lobbyist controversy, Americans' love of country and Michelle Obama remarks, candidates' positions on war, resignation of Fidel Castro, beef recall

Guests: Columnist Christopher Hitchens, author Shashi Tharoor, comedian Harry Shearer, author/sex columnist Dan Savage (election correspondent); via satellite, Gov Ed Rendell (PA) Topics: Pennsylvania primary, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, appeal of Barack Obama, religion in politics

Guests: MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, actor/director Adam Goldberg, NPR host Farai Chideya, journalist Jeremy Scahill (election correspondent); via satellite, fmr DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe Topics: Hillary wins primaries in Texas and Ohio, McCain clinches Republican nomination, media coverage of candidates, economic news and impact of Iraq War, strategies for Iraq withdrawal, elections in Russia

Guests: Rep Barney Frank (D-MA), actor Jon Hamm, professor/author Melissa Harris Lacewell, humorist/author P.J. O'Rourke (election correspondent); via satellite, CNN correspondent Michael Ware Topics: Fifth anniversary of Iraq War, Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy, economic class warfare, Eliot Spitzer resignation and scandal, legalization of marijuana

Guests: Talk show host Tavis Smiley, journalist Robin Wright, comedian Robert Klein, author/sex columnist Dan Savage (election correspondent); via satellite, actor John Cusack Topics: Violence in Iraq, Clinton statements on Bosnia trip, use of contractors in Iraq, definition of patriotism, more on Jeremiah Wright and race relations, use of Patriot Act in Eliot Spitzer case

Guests: Actor Esai Morales, fmr Labor Sec Robert Reich, Rep Barbara Lee (D-CA), CNN analyst Amy Holmes (election correspondent); via satellite, Sen Arlen Specter (PA) Topics: 40th anniversary of the King assassination, education in inner cities, Bush tax rebate and U.S. budget priorities, U.S. defense budget, abstinence education, investment in biofuels, bailout of Bear Stearns

Guests: Counter-terrorism expert Richard Clarke, journalist Dana Priest, actor Jason Alexander; via satellite, Rep Joe Sestak (D-PA), scientist/author Richard Dawkins Topics: Iraq War hearings and Bush speech, Bill Clinton's effect on Hillary's campaign, rationalizing religion, environment and global warming, airline cancellations and wiring inspections

Guests: Prof Cornel West, blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, writer/activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, journalist Jeremy Scahill (election correspondent); via satellite, MSNBC host Chris Matthews Topics: Pennsylvania primary and Democratic debate, Pope's visit to U.S., oil prices and worldwide food shortages, polygamy and raid on Texas compound

Topics: TV host Phil Donahue, columnist Arianna Huffington, comedian Garry Shandling, Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi (election correspondent); via satellite, economist Jeffrey Sachs Guests: Earth Day and demand for resources, Pennsylvania primary results, tax rebate checks, extension of veterans' benefits, Democratic campaign tactics

Guests: Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), TV host Craig Ferguson, journalist Michel Martin, Matt Taibbi (election correspondent); via satellite, Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) Topics: The 2008 election, 2008 Democratic National Convention, McCain's VP pick Sarah Palin

Guests: Actress Kerry Washington, fmr. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, fmr. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, journalist Jeffrey Toobin, and Real Time correspondent Dan Savage Topics: 2008 Republican National Convention

Guests: Actress Janeane Garofalo, Author Salman Rushdie, Roseanne Barr, political consultant Paul Begala, and journalist John Fund Topics: 7th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks

Guests: Musician will.i.am, journalist Naomi Klein, political blogger Andrew Sullivan; via satellite, economist Paul Krugman Topics: Candidacy of Sarah Palin and responsibility for the subprime mortgage crisis.

Guests: Politician Ralph Nader, actor Tim Daly, National Review Online contributor Lisa Schiffren; via satellite, journalist Ron Suskind, comedian Chris Rock Topics: The first presidential debate, subprime mortgage crisis, economic stimulus package, Sarah Palin

Guests: Actor Alec Baldwin, reporter Christiane Amanpour, and comedian Garry Shandling; via satellite, journalist Bob Woodward Topics: Bush's legacy, VP debate, Palin's performance, bailout bill, future of the country

Guests: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), economist Stephen Moore, and comedian Dana Gould; via satellite, director Oliver Stone, former Comptroller General of the United States David Walker Topics: Economic situation, Palin's rhetoric, ongoing election, voting fraud, US military budget

Guests: Actor Ben Affleck; actor, comedian Martin Short; pollster Frank Luntz; Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT); via satellite, journalist Thomas Friedman Topics: Joe the Plumber, ongoing election, third presidential debate

Guests: Actor Tim Robbins, comedian Carol Leifer, political consultant Matt Dowd, economist Arthur Laffer; via satellite, ex-GOP operative Allen Raymond Topics: Electoral fraud, voting, the election, Joe the Plumber, economy, Barack Obama, future of the Republican Party

Guests: Singer/Songwriter John Legend, columnist Connie Schultz, commentator Amy Holmes, Prof Cornel West; via satellite, activist Michael Moore Topics: Sarah Palin, Patriotism, Joe the Plumber, Taxes

Guests: Comedian Howie Mandel, humorist Joe Queenan, NPR commentator Farai Chideya, political advisor Paul Begala; via satellite, Mayor Cory Booker (D-Newark) Topics: 2008 election results, racism, John McCain, Barack Obama

Guests: Author and Newsweek editor Jon Meacham, actor Ashton Kutcher, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); via satellite, musician Sean Combs, columnist Dan Savage Topics: Detroit auto-industry bailout, increase in gun sales since the election, California Proposition 8 (2008), marijuana decriminalization, Hillary for Secretary of State, voting