As America prepares for Thanksgiving, Maher reminds us that we’re not “legally obligated” to have an opinion on everything.

HBO’s resident contrarian offered a special message ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday aimed specifically at political bickering around the dinner table.

“You’re not actually legally bound to have an opinion.”

As a precursor to the fourth Thursday in November, moving increasingly away from a day of religious reflection in favor of secular traditions that honor the parade’s floats and pigskins, “Real Time with Bill Maher” presented its eponymous host addressing Turkey Day hype. In other words, he suggested that partisan bickering in politically mixed families simply doesn’t need to happen.

Closing out his “New Rule” segment, the comedian stated, “There’s nothing wrong with not having an opinion about something. Especially if you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

The guideline, which focused on many of the year’s awakening touchstones, such as Bud Light, Disney and Target’s transgender support, was also highlighted on social media with the caption: “This Day of Action Thank you, we’re thankful we live in a country where you can express your opinion, but it’s still okay to not have one. #Opinionless.”

This Thanksgiving, let’s be thankful we live in a country where you’re free to speak your mind, but it’s still okay not to have one. #NoOpinion pic.twitter.com/ptKTjdTL6n

— Bill Maher (@billmaher) November 18, 2023

“And if you get your facts from TikTok and Instagram and Facebook, I don’t want to hear your heated take on asymmetric warfare because there’s a term for someone who gets their news from Facebook: mom,” Maher continued as a guest . Political strategist Donna Brazile and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) could be seen smiling, clapping and laughing despite being guilty of many of the points the host would make.

“You know, one of the worst things that social media ever did was that everyone felt like they had to pick up on every controversial issue or breaking news and that’s my job,” he joked. “In the old days, people would watch the evening news and then, well, nothing. They went on, they went on with their lives.”

“But today everyone has to share their theory about everything, whether it’s trans women on the swim team or whether dwarves should play non-dwarves in the movie Snow White. But, someone noticed that the more time everyone spends telling everyone their political position on everything, the more down our throats we get?” asked Maher.

Suggesting a new hashtag mentioned above, the host continued: “Here’s a trend I’d like to see on Twitter: #NoOpinion, where people take issues like the debt limit and climate science and post ‘I don’t know nothing. this.'”

“Thursday is Thanksgiving, the beloved annual celebration when far-flung friends and scattered family come together to fight for Donald Trump, the other Butterball. But not just Trump. We’ll also discuss abortion and critical race theory and guns and prisons and schools. And this year, we’re fighting for Israel. But here’s the thing,” he recalled. “You’re not actually legally bound to have an opinion.”

Harking back to the Mayflower Pilgrims and the gathering of the Wampanoag that set the seed for what would become an American holiday, Maher joked, “You know why the Indians and the Pilgrims were able to sit still on the first Thanksgiving ? Because no one brought up policy, even though I’m sure Indians had strong feelings about immigration.”

After delving into virtue signaling and before signing off, the comedian opined about politicized corporations that seemingly make patronage a partisan act unto itself. So, after calling out Bud Light and Chick-fil-A as opposite ends of that spectrum, he closed: “This Thanksgiving, I’m going to make beer can chicken with Bud Light and Chick-fil-A, and anyone who do it” I don’t like that they can get down on themselves. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!”

Staff writer

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College, where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and seeker of truth, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and dog, and when he’s not researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel ·the.

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