Host Bill Maher informed Vice President JD Vance that his vote in the 2028 presidential election is currently undecided, stating it is "in play" as he criticized several prominent Democrats for declining invitations to appear on his HBO program, "Real Time." Mahler, a vocal critic of certain Democratic Party trends, expressed concern that the party's direction towards "socialism" and its stances on issues like capitalism and incarceration could alienate moderate voters.

"Like, if this is where the Democratic Party is going, where this Democratic socialist, this obsession with Israel, with the Jew hating, they don’t believe in capitalism, no prisons. If this is where they’re going, my vote is in play," Maher told Vance during their June 26, 2026, interview. Mahler clarified that he has historically voted for the candidate he believed was the best option, regardless of party affiliation, though he often found himself aligning with Democrats.

"It actually always has been. Every year, I don’t make my decision by who has an R or a D, I actually always came to the conclusion that the Democrat was probably better and voted for them," he said.

During the discussion, Maher noted the difficulty in securing appearances from key Democratic figures, contrasting it with Republican guests. "It’s the people I vote for, they’re the ones who won’t talk to me! That’s odd, isn’t it?" he asked Vance. Mahler specifically mentioned NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as individuals who have not appeared on his show, adding, "I can’t get AOC, I can’t get Mamdani, I couldn’t get Kamala Harris. Took me eight years to get Obama!"

IMAGE3: ![Vice President JD Vance talks with Bill Maher during an appearance on "Real Time" on June 26, 2026.]( "Vice President JD Vance talks with Bill Maher during an appearance on "Real Time" on June 26, 2026.") Mamdani-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, recently defeated incumbent Rep. Adriano Espillat in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th Congressional District. Chevalier was among several candidates supported by Mamdani who achieved primary victories in New York.

IMAGE1: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrates with DSA member Darializa Avila Chevalier during an election watch party on June 23, 2026. The conversation between Maher and Vance also touched upon foreign policy, including Iran's nuclear program. Vance asserted that the United States would benefit regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

"If we don’t make the final deal, their nuclear program is still destroyed, they’re still much weaker as a country," Vance said. "So my attitude is America wins either way." Vance, a former senator, has been a significant figure in the current administration, having previously engaged in high-level meetings with Iranian officials.