@Tweetskoor Published Sep. 13, 2026, 11:47 a.m. ET
Add Decider on Google Where to Stream: Real Time With Bill Maher Powered by Reelgood More On: bill maher Bill Maher Rips Immigrants Who Refuse To Embrace ‘Liberal Values’ On ‘Real Time’ Bill Maher’s Ariana Grande Weight Jokes On ‘Real Time’ Get Mixed Audience Reaction Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Bill Maher: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor’ On Netflix, A Celebration Of Political Incorrectness And Getting Stoned For It Is Bill Maher on Tonight? When Does ‘Real Time’ Return With New Episodes? Bill Maher used Friday night’s Real Time With Bill Maher to take aim at the media over what he sees as an increasingly complicated relationship with the word “terrorism.”
The HBO host’s September 11 episode landed on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which killed 2,977 people, and Maher spent part of his monologue looking at how the language around terrorism has changed in the years since.
“There was a war on terror, and we won. And yet, so much has changed since 9/11. For example, back then, we were against the terrorists,” he said during his “New Rule” segment to close out the show.
Maher then went after media organizations that have urged journalists to be cautious about using the word “terrorism,” including guidance suggesting that the term can carry political or emotional baggage.
“Now a lot of media outlets don’t even want you to say the ‘T-word’ on the 25th anniversary,” Maher said, pointing to journalism associations that he said wanted writers to put the word terrorism in quotes “because it’s emotionally and politically loaded.”
“Yes, so is the World Cup, but we don’t put soccer in quotes,” he cracked.
Maher next put an image of the 19 9/11 hijackers on screen.
“They shared something. Oh, let’s call it a worldview — and it wasn’t astrology,” he said.
The comedian also brought up the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which had issued guidance telling journalists not to refer to the 9/11 attacks as terrorism before later rescinding it.
“What should we call it then — unruly passengers,” Maher joked.
“A wrong turn, taken at the Chrysler Building,” he added, prompting applause from the audience.
He wasn’t finished. Maher also singled out the BBC for its argument that calling someone a terrorist can be a “barrier rather than an aide to understanding.”
“You know, it’s really a barrier to understanding lying,” Maher said.
Maher did not make clear during the segment which U.S. news associations he was referring to.
The terminology is the subject of an ongoing debate in journalism. The Poynter Institute has outlined several approaches to using the word “terrorism,” particularly when authorities themselves have used the term.
The Associated Press Stylebook, for example, states that “AP generally avoids labeling someone a ‘terrorist’ on its own, preferring to cite competent law enforcement officials or other credible authorities. Instead, we describe the specific actions we are reporting on and what we know about the perpetrators’ motives.”
For Maher, though, the debate over terminology was another opportunity to revisit how dramatically the conversation around terrorism has shifted since 9/11.
And, naturally, to make a few jokes about it along the way.
You can watch the full segment above and catch new episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher on Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET on HBO.
