Real Time With Bill Maher’s October 30 guest lineup brings Senator Ted Cruz to the one-on-one interview, with Kid Rock and Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei joining the panel. The new episode airs tonight, Friday, October 30, from 10:00–11:00 p.m. ET/7:00–8:00 p.m. PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Bill Maher hosts an hour combining his opening monologue, a featured interview, roundtable conversation and the show’s signature “New Rules.” This week’s guests bring backgrounds in government, music and journalism to the program.
Ted Cruz Joins Bill Maher for the Interview
Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican senator from Texas, is this week’s one-on-one interview guest. Cruz is the author of Going Further: The Incomparable Clarence Thomas.
The interview is separate from the panel segment, which features two additional guests. HBO’s lineup announcement identifies the participants and their current projects without specifying the questions Maher will ask.
Kid Rock and Jim VandeHei Join the Panel
Kid Rock, the musician and rapper whose album Halfway 2 Jesus was recently released, joins this week’s roundtable discussion.
He is joined by James “Jim” VandeHei, co-founder and CEO of Axios and co-author of Simplify: Do 50 Percent More with 50 Percent Less. The pair will take part in the panel conversation with Maher.
Real Time With Bill Maher October 30 Lineup
| Segment | Guest |
|---|---|
| Host | Bill Maher |
| One-on-One Interview | Sen. Ted Cruz |
| Panel Discussion | Kid Rock and Jim VandeHei |
| Air Date | Friday, October 30, 2026 |
| Time | 10:00–11:00 p.m. ET / 7:00–8:00 p.m. PT |
| Network | HBO |
| Streaming | HBO Max |
How to Watch Real Time Tonight
The October 30 episode premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Visit the official HBO series page for viewing information and Bill Maher’s official website for the latest guest lineup.
More Real Time With Bill Maher Coverage
Find guest announcements and more in our Real Time With Bill Maher coverage hub.
Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
