Comedian Bill Maher defends criticism of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's "Marxist" views during debate with Democratic congressman on "Real Time."

HBO's Bill Maher said New York mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani quotes Karl Marx and represents "straight up communism" on Friday's broadcast of "Real Time." BILL MAHER: The guy he just brought up, that's who you're all going to have to answer for.

Some of the things he says, you know he quotes Marxists, ‘each according to their need.’ I mean, that’s straight up Communism.” Maher was responding to guest panelist Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), who claimed the Democratic mayoral frontrunner is being tagged as a “contrived villain or boogeyman” by Republicans to scare voters.