Bill Maher publicly dismantles Governor Gavin Newsom’s high-speed rail boondoggle, exposing costs exploding from $33 billion to over $230 billion amid endless delays and federal funding cuts.
Story Highlights
- California’s high-speed rail project costs have surged over 700%, from $33 billion to $231 billion, with no full line in sight.
- Scope slashed to Bakersfield-Merced segment, abandoning original San Francisco-to-Los Angeles vision.
- Trump administration withdrew $4 billion in federal funds, prompting California Democrats to fight back.
- Even Bill Maher, a liberal voice, torched Newsom on air, highlighting project absurdity.
- 62% of voters still support it despite doubts it will ever finish, revealing elite disconnect from taxpayer pain.
Project Costs Explode Beyond Imagination
California’s high-speed rail initiative, voter-approved in 2008 with a $33 billion estimate for San Francisco to Los Angeles, now exceeds $230 billion. State Senator Tony Strickland called it the worst public infrastructure failure in U.S. history. The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 business plan projects first-phase completion no earlier than 2032. Costs ballooned over 700%, fueling Republican demands to scrap the project amid state budget deficits.
Scope Slashed, Delays Mount Under Newsom
Originally envisioned as a 500-mile network connecting major cities, the project now focuses solely on a Bakersfield-to-Merced segment, roughly 170 miles. Lawmakers raised alarms over undisclosed plans to shift stations from downtown areas, potentially trimming nine miles but saving $14 billion. The Legislative Analyst’s Office criticized the authority for lacking transparency. No full operational segment exists after 18 years, with track-laying phases just approaching.
Trump Cuts Funding, California Vows Fight
The Trump administration canceled $4 billion in federal grants, citing unmet obligations despite the authority’s claims of progress, including 171 miles under construction and 15,500 jobs. Governor Newsom promised to pursue all options to restore funds, accusing Trump of handing the future to China. California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri emphasized legally binding agreements and recent federal reviews confirming compliance as of February 2025.
Congressional Republicans, led by Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Sam Graves, demanded details from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the $128 billion-and-climbing total with no completion date. They labeled it highly questionable, noting zero segments built since inception.
Watch the Look on Gavin Newsom's Face As Bill Maher Torches His High Speed Rail Sham and Other Insanity https://t.co/ou05OHfSP6
— Janet Page Hill (@hill_page57214) May 2, 2026
Voter Support Persists Amid Bipartisan Frustration
A POLITICO poll showed 62% of California voters favor continuing despite low confidence in completion; 80% of Democrats back it, versus 38% of Republicans. Younger voters showed strongest support: 79% of Gen Z, 72% of Millennials. This endures despite non-stop criticism from Trump officials and state Republicans. Both sides increasingly see such government failures as elite priorities over American workers’ dreams.
Newsom faces fire not just from conservatives but liberals like Maher, underscoring shared distrust in bloated projects draining taxpayer dollars. In Trump’s second term with GOP congressional control, federal scrutiny intensifies pressure on California Democrats obstructing fiscal sanity. Americans across the spectrum demand accountability from a system favoring reelection over results.
Sources:
Why voters still support a rail project they don’t expect to be finished
California goes toe-to-toe with Trump administration over high-speed rail
California high-speed rail project soars to $231B – Fox Business
Californians Continue to Love High-Speed Rail, Even if Republicans in Washington D.C. Don’t
Congressional Republicans demand information on California’s high-speed rail
