Bill Maher blasts California’s education results, cites two surging red states
Bill Maher He used Friday’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” to criticize California Democrats on education and green energy, arguing that Mississippi and Texas are performing better than the dark blue state on issues on which Democrats often campaign.
“Democrats, these are your issues: education, race, the environment,” Maher said. “And I say this with love: You’re losing to Waffle House, the car-on-grass state.”
California’s school results are particularly difficult to defend compared to Mississippi, Maher said, citing fourth-grade results for black students.
“Did you know that a black fourth grader in Mississippi is two and a half times better at math and reading than a black student in California?” said Maher. “Mississippi ranks near the top in education and for much less money. We’re ranked 37th in fourth-grade reading. They’re ninth.”
Maher was quoting a New York Times article dated February 9, 2026 stated“The national test results are surprising to anyone familiar with civil rights history. A black child from Mississippi is two and a half times more likely to be proficient in reading by fourth grade than a black child from California.”
2024 National Assessment of Curriculum snapshots show black fourth graders in Mississippi are 19% proficient and 2% advanced in reading, while in California the rate is 7% proficient and 1% advanced.
In fourth-grade math, black students in Mississippi were listed as 22% proficient and 2% advanced, compared to 10% proficient and 1% advanced in California.
“Texas has surpassed California in solar energy and outpaced California in wind and energy storage,” Maher said. “How can a state without pro-climate policies produce better climate outcomes than a state here even though we have much better bumper stickers on our Priuses?”
Energy Information Administration data cited by Inside Climate The news showed that Texas would produce 58,634 gigawatt hours from utility-scale solar in 2025, while California would produce 53,713 gigawatt hours. The outlet reported that Texas overtook California in installed utility-scale solar capacity in 2024, but California remains ahead when small-scale solar is included.
Bill Maher cited reading and math scores in fourth grade to argue that the state lags behind Mississippi in student achievement.
(Getty Images)
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Maher was responsible for the differences permitting, construction policy and bureaucracy.
“I’ll tell you why,” Maher said. “Because you’re allowed to build there. Because one in three people in Texas is not someone whose job it is to make sure nothing gets done.”
Maher began the segment by pointing to San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a Democrat running for governor. A UC Berkeley Institute of Government Studies poll released Friday showed Mahan with 4%, with former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton and billionaire Tom Steyer leading the field.
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“These would be unions, bureaucrats, lawyers, consultants, regulators and all the special interest friends who make a living in this state. A very frustrating, maddening experience.Maher said: “This is why railways are not built, potholes are not filled, homeless people are not sheltered, children do not learn.”
Maher also addressed Republicans. He chose Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. “The press has been very excited lately about some Republican senators who are fed up with Trump’s nonsense. Yes, because they’re retiring,” Maher scolded. Tillis is retiring. Cassidy was recently defeated in the primary.
Maher also mentioned Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has criticized President Donald Trump. The HBO host joked, “I wish he talked like that when he was alive.”
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Fox News Digital He reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Original article source: Bill Maher criticizes California’s education results and talks about two rising red states
