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Bill Maher hosts John Bolton, Hill Harper and Michael Pollan

By April MacIntyre May 29, 2009, 5:17 GMT

Bill Maher -"Real Time with Bill Maher" will see former UN ambassador John Bolton and former New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson discuss current events with Maher. Actor Hill Harper and author Michael Pollan are interview guests. © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

"Real Time with Bill Maher" will see former UN ambassador John Bolton and former New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson discuss current events with Maher.  Actor Hill Harper and author Michael Pollan are interview guests.

Bolton recently wrote an op/ed for the American Enterprise Institute for public policy research, and had strong words regarding current nuclear proliferation:

Bolton writes, "President Obama has called for a world without nuclear weapons, not as a distant goal, but as something imminently achievable. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton followed up, saying that American and Russian 'leadership' in arms control and nonproliferation was 'at the top of the list' of her priorities. Although the administration may be counting on the eyelid-lowering effect of arms-control terminology to minimize Congressional and public scrutiny, its plans are deeply troubling for America."

"First, the administration's bilateral objectives with Russia play almost entirely to Moscow's advantage, as in arms-control days of yore...We need not be rushed, since simply extending the existing treaty's verification provisions would preserve the status quo...The administration's bilateral objectives with Russia play almost entirely to Moscow's advantage."  Bolton adds, "Second, the Obama administration is seriously weakening both our strategic offensive and defensive capacity. The Defense Department budget proposes major cuts in missile defense programs, returning to an emphasis both in operational and diplomatic terms on "theater" missile defense (mainly for defending deployed military forces), rather than "national" missile defense (for shielding America's population from missile attack)."

HBO's Bill Maher series continues to draw interesting guests who cut a wide swath of opinion and expertise.

"Real Time with Bill Maher" continues its seventh season with host Maher, who does not claim allegiance to either the Democrats or the GOP, and routinely takes Americans to task for laziness in educating themselves on diet.  The host is also an ardent animal rights proponent and underscores many of his interviews with his heartfelt belief that marijuana needs to be decriminalized.

The show airs prime time Friday, May 29 (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), on HBO, with an instant replay at 11:00 p.m., following the live presentation. 

Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

Maher was the creator and host of “Politically Incorrect,” which debuted on Comedy Central in 1993.  A favorite of HBO viewers since his first special on the network in 1989, Maher also starred in the recent feature film “Religulous.”

Other HBO playdates:  May 31 (2:00 p.m., 12:25 a.m.) and June 1 (8:00 p.m.) and 3 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  May 29 (2:25 a.m.), 30 (10:00 a.m., midnight) and 31 (7:00 p.m.), and June 2 (10:00 p.m.)