Bill Maher, known for his candid political critiques, took aim at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in an unreserved manner during Friday night’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.

The segment, which you can watch from approximately the 7:20 mark, features Maher diving into Mamdani’s political stance.

Maher set the stage by discussing what he sees as a contentious discussion among Democrats regarding Mamdani’s ideological leanings. “Democrats are debating whether Mayor Mamdani is a socialist or a democratic socialist,” Maher remarked before delivering his verdict. “Let me clarify; he’s a full-blown communist.”

Expecting criticism, Maher explained how he arrived at this conclusion. “How do I know this?” he questioned. “I’m interpreting the signs when one of his chief advisers advocates for ‘electing more communists.'”

Maher emphasized that the core issue wasn’t Mamdani’s ideology but rather the denial of it. “And that’s okay. It’s a belief system. He’s entitled to his views, and people can support him,” Maher stated. “However, if liberals dismiss it as merely a passing phase, they risk losing more elections.”

From there, Maher widened the lens, arguing that American politics has become a game of extremes. “This is not a communist country,” he said, adding that it feeds into what he called the “‘pendulum never lands in the middle’ problem I’m always bitching about.”

In Maher’s telling, voters are being forced into a brutal binary. “Really, the choices we get here are either the worst version of crony capitalism or communism,” he said. “Either a side deal for the Trump family every time he does business overseas, or the lady who says, ‘Impoverish the white middle class.’”

That hypothetical campaign pitch didn’t impress him. “Oh yeah — there’s a great campaign slogan for you,” Maher deadpanned.

And because this is Real Time, the rant ended where many Maher monologues do: with a joke designed to make everyone uncomfortable. “Honestly, as New York mayoral races go, I was less creeped out by Anthony Weiner’s dick.”

As usual, Maher’s comments are likely to light up both sides of the political spectrum — and ensure that Mamdani’s name, and ideology, stay very much in the conversation.

Now in its 24th season, Real Time with Bill Maher is back with new episodes premiering Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET on HBO.