Bill Maher questions feasibility of New York's city-run grocery store plan
On HBO’s Real Time, Bill Maher argued that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for municipal grocery stores would unfairly undercut private retailers and lacks a proven track record.
Bill Maher used his Real Time platform to critique New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to launch government-run grocery outlets offering meat, bread and other items at about 30% less than typical prices. He contended that the initiative would not constitute genuine competition because it would be heavily subsidized, effectively shifting costs to richer residents. Maher questioned who would finance the price cuts and warned that private businesses would be unfairly disadvantaged.
He then turned to former Governor Andrew Cuomo, probing whether the concept could ever be viable given its lack of precedent. Maher’s remarks framed the proposal as an untested idea rather than a competitive market solution.
Why it matters
The debate spotlights how public subsidies might reshape local food markets and affect private retailers.
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