WATCH: Don Lemon Gives Delusional Take on Politicians People 'Want,' Bill Maher Delivers the Takedown

I've been known to accuse press personalities of being delusional at times, but Don Lemon may have set a new standard on Monday. Speaking to Bill Maher, the former CNN host and current podcast host gave his opinion on which Democrats the people "want" due to their supposed popularity, and you'd mistake it for parody if he hadn't gone on to make it clear he was serious.

Specifically, he claimed that "people love" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, and Eric Swalwell. They are, according to Lemon, "who they're asking for."

There's living in a bubble, and there's whatever this is.

Don Lemon: People love AOC, Jasmine Crockett, and Eric Swalwell. Democrats should prioritize putting them out there more. pic.twitter.com/HcdTP4A3HW
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 17, 2025

LEMON: People love AOC. People love Jasmine Crockett. People love Eric Swalwell and the like, and I think that the Democratic Party should put the people out there who the people want, they should put the, the politicians out there who the people want, who they're asking for...

You can see the gears start turning in Maher's head the moment Lemon starts saying this stuff. The people want Ocasio-Cortez, Crockett, and (checks notes)...Swalwell? Which people would that be, exactly? If you were to ask me, I'd struggle to think of three Democrats who have less appeal to normal Americans than those three. Yet, Lemon seems to think they should be made the face of the Democratic Party due to their sheer popularity among the general populace.

To which I say, please do. I'll even offer to help make that happen.

Expectedly, Maher was not convinced by Lemon's claim, and the left-wing comedian and commentator just couldn't let it slide without a sharp rebuttal.

MAHER: They're not asking for AOC.
LEMON: Yes, they are.
MAHER: The people you party with are.
LEMON: No, no, no, the people I party with don't like AOC.
MAHER: Oh please.
LEMON: No, they don't at all.
MAHER: Well, most people don't. She's very far-left.
LEMON: Let me tell you why I'm saying that. Because people will vote for AOC on the same ticket because they're authentic. No, because they're authentic.
MAHER: (Laughs and is dumbfounded)
LEMON: Okay, I think you're wrong about that.
MAHER: What people like about people like Trump and Fetterman...
LEMON: That's phony.

I'm sitting here shocked that someone would be crazy enough to say that Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most astroturfed politicians in modern history, is "authentic." Her origin story is essentially that she was picked out of central casting by the group "Justice Democrats" and molded into a politician through very careful planning and minor acting skills. And if Lemon's claim wasn't hilarious enough, he then goes on to say that it is Donald Trump and John Fetterman who are "phony."

Maher goes on to point out that (see the full video here) Ocasio-Cortez, who he says he wouldn't even "know is Hispanic," has embellished her background to present herself as a downtrodden, oppressed minority, is laughably misleading. Lemon sort of agrees before asserting that the congresswoman is becoming a "normal politician," again claiming she has broad appeal. Are you seeing that? Because I'm not seeing that.

Honestly, Maher left a lot of meat on the bone in the exchange. I mean, Ocasio-Cortez is bad enough, but Eric Swalwell? Jasmine Crockett? That's who the people are clamoring for? How does one even come up with that?

I suppose this shows exactly why Lemon has been relegated to hosting a low-rated podcast. His ability to analyze politics is about on par with my ability to perform open heart surgery.

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