Bill Maher ripped into the no-spend day protests. He called the economic blackout "so f------ stupid." His panel urged Democrats to focus on winning elections instead.
"This is something called the People’s Union USA," Maher said on his Friday show’s "Overtime" section. "And they have something called — today I got emails about this from people — no spend day." The protest aimed at billionaires, corporations, and both political parties.
Maher explained the plan. Protesters refused to buy anything for a full day. No stores. No online shopping. No gas. No fast food. "I know! That look on your face says it all!" Maher said. "You’re right, it’s so f------ stupid!"
The Associated Press reported the economic blackout took place on Friday, Feb. 28. The People’s Union USA organized it to push back against corporate control and economic inequality.
Maher’s guests, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, weighed in. Zakaria pointed out that some activists had used interpretive dance to protest Trump.
"This is why I was saying that there really is a movement of people doing interpretive dances to protest the Trump administration’s cuts of USAID," Zakaria said. "I mean, like, people are starving." He added, "The answer is figure out how to win elections."
Zakaria urged Democrats to study Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. "Bernie Sanders didn't win, AOC hasn't been president recently," he pointed out.
Emanuel agreed. He gave an example. "Breaking news, 100,000 new community police officers, or defund the police? Now which one do you think is going to work?"
He also blasted the Democratic Party. "What's really crazy about where the party's gone, it's taken in identity politics, that the only way you have moral standing is if you're somehow been hurt," he said. "And that is insane."
Emanuel didn’t stop there. He called out Chicago’s leadership. He accused them of being too soft on crime and obsessing over niche issues instead of education.