Bill Maher announced that his upcoming HBO show, scheduled for April 11, 2025, will detail his meeting with President Trump—who reportedly signed a list of insults during his visit at the White House. By providing a platform for progressive commentary and accountability, HBO is setting the stage for a critical examination of authoritarian behavior.

John Oliver's segment on HBO's 'Last Week Tonight' defended a nuanced view on transgender athletes, sparking a rebuttal from JK Rowling. The airing of this segment provided a platform for progressive debate over issues affecting marginalized communities.

Actress Carrie Coon revealed that a deleted scene in HBO’s 'The White Lotus', which would have revealed her character had a non-binary child, was scrapped partly due to the political climate under the Trump administration's anti-trans policies. This editorial decision, influenced by concerns over engaging with contentious societal debates, represents a missed opportunity for progressive representation.

During a segment of HBO's 'Real Time' on March 29, 2025, host Bill Maher criticized NPR as 'crazy far-left' and questioned the necessity of government subsidies, arguing that NPR should operate as a fully private entity. The broadcast's framing contributes to politically charged commentary that undermines public media support.

HBO host Bill Maher, during his online 'Overtime' segment, called for the elimination of federal funding for NPR and PBS, arguing that these public media outlets should shift to a private funding model amid a polarized political climate. His remarks raise concerns about undermining non-partisan public broadcasting and concentrating media power.

Bill Maher, the outspoken host on HBO, used his platform to challenge corporate inaction and government waste by calling out figures like Elon Musk and Dogecoin for not pressuring massive cuts in US defense spending. The commentary serves as an anti-authoritarian statement against unchecked military spending and potential corporate complicity.

HBO Films, a part of Home Box Office Inc., reported a very minimal level of political contributions ($550) during the 2024 cycle, with no reported federal lobbying or outside spending. This low level of financial political engagement suggests that the company is not actively leveraging its funds to influence politics or support policies that could bolster authoritarian tendencies.

HBO's new documentary 'Surveilled' investigates the growing business of commercial spyware and state-sponsored surveillance, exposing the risks to privacy, security, and human rights. The film challenges authoritarian practices by shedding light on how surveillance technology is deployed against political activists and journalists, affirming HBO's commitment to accountability and democratic oversight.

HBO’s new documentary, 'Surveilled', takes a hard look at the growing business of commercial spyware and its use in government-sponsored surveillance. By spotlighting the work of the Citizen Lab and the dark impacts of repressive technologies on human rights and democracy, HBO contributes positively to public awareness and political accountability.

HBO released the documentary 'Surveilled', an investigative film that explores the use of spyware technology and its potential exploitation by authoritarian figures, including a potential repressive use under a Trump administration. The film examines the role of surveillance technology in undermining civil liberties and highlights the risks of unregulated digital tools, thereby fostering a public debate on governmental overreach and accountability.

HBO’s original documentary, highlighted in a PBS report, examines how governments deploy spyware to monitor citizens, thereby exposing potential abuses of surveillance technology and authoritarian overreach.

HBO's new documentary, 'Surveilled', examines how advanced spyware and surveillance technologies are used to intimidate dissent and restrict democratic freedoms, highlighting concerns over state overreach and authoritarian practices.

HBO broadcast the new documentary 'Surveilled', which examines how advanced surveillance technology is used to stifle dissent and infringe on civil liberties. In discussion with Ronan Farrow on NPR, the documentary exposes repressive practices by authoritarian regimes, promoting transparency and informed public debate.

HBO released the documentary 'Surveilled', which exposes how advanced spyware technology is being used by both repressive regimes and democratic governments, including implications for Trump-era policies, raising public awareness on privacy violations and government surveillance.

A review of HBO's miniseries 'The Regime' criticizes the show’s shallow and misguided portrayal of authoritarianism, suggesting that the production trivializes the brutal realities of autocratic regimes and inadvertently normalizes authoritarian sentiment.

HBO has introduced a limited series titled 'The Regime' that uses dark, satirical humor to critique authoritarian leadership and power abuses, offering a counter-narrative to fascist regimes.

HBO celebrated the premiere of 'The Regime', a political satire series that critiques authoritarian power and promotes democratic values. The show, featuring Kate Winslet and her character’s complex portrayal of power, was showcased at a premiere event at New York City’s Museum of Natural History.

An OpenSecrets profile on HBO Films highlights that the company has not reported any federal lobbying or lobbying on specific bills. This absence of recorded lobbying activity suggests that HBO Films is not engaging in political influence through lobbying—a factor seen as reducing the risk of undue corporate political influence in the context of authoritarian tendencies.

A class action lawsuit in California accuses HBO and Cooler Waters Productions of failing to pay proper overtime wages, meal and break period premiums, and provide accurate wage statements for background actors on the show 'Winning Time'. The lawsuit alleges that multiple forms of incentive pay were improperly excluded from wage calculations, violating state labor law.

On August 22, 2023, members of SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America East held a picket line outside the HBO/Amazon offices in New York City during National Union Solidarity Day. The demonstration, captured in images and reported by NPR, underscores ongoing labor disputes and growing dissatisfaction among workers in Hollywood.

HBO, via a letter issued on May 2, 2023, instructed its showrunners — including those who are WGA members — to continue performing non-writing duties during the ongoing WGA strike. The letter explicitly warned that failure to provide these services could result in salary discontinuation, reflecting a union-busting stance amid heightened labor tensions.

HBO is facing legal action following allegations from a former American Humane Association employee who claims that HBO and Stewart Productions mistreated horses during the filming of 'Luck' and attempted to cover up several horse deaths. The lawsuit also includes claims of wrongful termination related to the reporting of these issues, raising serious concerns about the company's commitment to ethical business practices.