As a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Maher discussed his thoughts about the midterm elections, called out both Democrats and Republicans and urged them to come together despite differences, and took aim at Fox News’ Josh Hawley before circling in on Kimmel’s own staff.

“Look, I think conservatives, if there’s any watching this show, I think they’re put off by the idea, I mean, part of the way we’re talking tonight, like, ‘Oh liberals, they talk like, this country would be perfect if only the stupid people would stop acting so stupid.’ While they’re doing stupid things,” Maher said.

“I mean, I walked into your show tonight, and everyone’s wearing masks, and I was like, ‘seriously? Could you take the mask off?’” he continued.

Kimmel joked that it was leftover from Halloween, but Maher shook his head.

“Your assistant said, ‘You don’t have to,’” Maher said. “Right, because germs don’t attack celebrities.”

Kimmel explained that the real reason they still wear masks is due to their union contract, to which Maher said, “OK, but why don’t I have to?”

“No, I change my mind, you have to,” Kimmel joked, before thanking Maher and highlighting his HBO talk show, Real Time with Bill Maher.

Maher has been open about his views on masks in the past. In October 2021, the comedian and commentator railed against COVID-19 restrictions on his show and said that people should not be wearing masks anymore.

“Just resume living. I know some people seem to not want to give up on the wonderful pandemic, but you know what? It’s over,” Maher said at the time. “There’s always going to be a variant. You shouldn’t have to wear masks…I haven’t had a meeting with my staff since March of 2020. Why?”

“Also, vaccine, mask, pick one. You’ve got to pick,” he added. “You can’t make me mask if I’ve had the vaccine.”

On Tuesday night with Kimmel, Maher also discussed campaigning to make election day a national holiday.

“When the voting goes on for weeks and months… even if it’s days, it [enrages] people because we don’t trust each other anymore. We all hate each other. We’re at each other’s throats. We’re in this cold Civil War, so that would be a sensible solution,” Maher said.

He also slammed MyPillow founder and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell, who has wanted to be on Real Time with Bill Maher.

“Dream on nutcase,” Maher said. “Mike Lindell can’t come on Real Time because he’s a moron.”

Newsweek reached out to representatives of Maher and Kimmel for additional comment.

Update 11/9/2022 1:18 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.