Bill Maher Elicits Strong Reaction With Mitch McConnell Joke on ‘Real Time’

Michelle Stein October 10, 2026, 9:01 am

What To Know

Bill Maher sparked strong audience reactions on Real Time Will Bill Maher with edgy jokes about executions, including a controversial quip targeting Senator Mitch McConnell.
He commented on the recent failed lethal injection of Christa Pike and the planned livestreamed firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.
Maher also referenced Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap, joking that Smith would slap Hasan before his execution, further blending current events with dark humor.

Bill Maher elicited strong reactions on Real Time With Bill Maher with stray jokes about Sen. Mitch McConnell and Will Smith.

On the Friday, October 9 episode of Real Time, the late-night host, 70, addressed the failed execution by lethal injection of Christa Pike and the planned live-stream of the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.

“What’s going on big this week? Executions,” Maher said in his opening monologue. “That’s what everybody’s talking about. Lethal injections. Firing squads. Lethal injection, that’s how we mostly do it in this country.”

He added, “It never works, but we keep doing it,” also aptly pointing out that they “saved her life so that we could have another shot at killing her.”

That’s when Maher brought up the Republican senator from Kentucky, explaining, “So now, she’s conscious and talking — or what Mitch McConnell calls ‘showing off.’” The Real Time audience reacted immediately with groans, laughter, and applause. “Gentle good humor,” he added.

Additionally, Maher called Pike “one tough lady,” joking that when she woke up, she declared, “Wow, that is some good s***!” He quipped that she was going to be charged with “resisting cardiac arrest.”

Pete Hegseth says the firing-squad execution of that Fort Hood shooter, Nadal Hasan, will be livestreamed so that “people are able to watch it.” And be sure to smash that “like” and “subscribe” button. https://t.co/gE9Q1nCPnu

— Bill Maher (@billmaher) October 10, 2026

Next, Maher addressed the Fort Hood shooter’s upcoming firing squad execution.

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“Pete Hegseth wants to do this. He wants it livestreamed so that people are able to watch,” Maher explained. “So, be sure to smash that like and subscribe button.”

After another round of enthusiastic applause and cheers, Maher brought Smith — who infamously slapped Chris Rock across the face following a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, at the 2022 Academy Awards — into the equation.

“Man, this administration, especially Pete, they always want you to know that we don’t show any mercy to people like this,” Maher observed. “In fact, before they shoot him, they’re going to have Will Smith come out and slap him.”

Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays at 10/9c, HBO