Notable liberal comedian Bill Maher did not spare the criticism of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during his kickoff HBO season opener on Friday, describing her as “Nero,” the young emperor who was said to have “fiddled” while Rome burned.

During his monologue, Maher also ripped those who were defending the Democratic mayor along with the state’s top Democrat, Gov. Gavin Newsom, after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and gutted entire neighborhoods like the well-heeled Pacific Palisades.
“Axios ran a story on how getting the water out of the hydrants in Pacific Palisades was more complicated than it seems. I’m sure it is. I’m sure it’s very complicated. That’s why I pay 13% of my income in this state every year to people who I assumed were working on things like this,” Maher said.

“When asked why so many of the hydrants in the Palisades ran out of water, Governor Newsom said the local folks are trying to figure that out. Yeah, you got to do that before the fire. At least in the Palisades, the hydrants were still there. 300 other ones around the city are just gone, stolen. For parts, one of the three reservoirs for the Palisades was offline at the one time of year when it was most needed,” he added.

Under a chyron that read, “Welcome To The Bungle,” the HBO host then tore into Bass for being on a trip to Ghana when the fires broke out and for cutting the LA Fire Department’s budget last year, dubbing her the “Nero of American politics.”