Comedian Bill Maher criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and defended capitalism during a discussion on his “Club Random” podcast Monday, arguing that while the system has flaws, it remains preferable to the alternative, as reported by Fox News.

Maher made the remarks while speaking with actor Rob Riggle, as the two discussed economic systems and workplace pressures tied to capitalism.

“I mean, you know, Jack Welch famously was the head of RCA for the longest time, and he’s known as ‘Chainsaw Jack,’ I think,” Maher said.

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“He would every year fire the bottom 10% performing in the company. That was the mantra. You know, that was the operating procedure.”

Welch served as CEO of General Electric, which acquired RCA in the 1980s.

Maher continued by describing the competitive nature of corporate environments.

“And so, even if you didn’t do a terrible job, you know, it was always a game of musical chairs,” he said.

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“And there was nine seats and 10 people every year. I mean, that’s — you wonder why people have heart attacks at 59. I mean, that’s why.”

Despite his criticism of the pressures tied to capitalism, Maher said the system remains preferable to alternatives.

“Because that’s what capitalism is. And I’m sure, you know, Mamdani is watching this right now, as he always does, I’m sure, and saying, ‘Exactly, Bill, that’s my point. Capitalism’s terrible.’ Yeah, it’s terrible, except it’s still better than the reverse,” Maher said.

Riggle agreed and shared a personal example involving his girlfriend, who was raised under communism in Poland.

“My girlfriend is Polish. She was born into communism, she lived under it for a little while and she, she shakes her head, she just, she’s like, ‘They don’t know what they’re asking for. They don’t know what they’re talking about,'” Riggle said.

He described the rationing conditions she experienced.

“And you were allowed — your family of four — you get X amount of milk, X amount of liters of milk per week. You get X amount of eggs per week. You get X, and then you take that card to the store, which sometimes didn’t have any of the stuff on your card. Sometimes they just had — ‘We’re long on toilet paper today! So take some toilet paper, but come back tomorrow, and maybe we’ll have what’s on your list,'” Riggle added.

Mamdani, who has described himself as a democratic socialist, was elected mayor in November. Maher has previously criticized Mamdani’s political views, including comments made earlier this year.

In January, Maher referred to the mayor as a “straight-up communist” and addressed debate among Democrats over how to characterize Mamdani’s ideology.

“Let me settle it: He’s a straight-up communist,” Maher said.

Maher said his view was based on remarks from one of Mamdani’s advisers, Cea Weaver, who had called for electing more communists.

“Which is fine. It’s fine. It’s a belief system. He’s allowed to believe it, and people are allowed to vote for it,” Maher said.

“But if liberals deny it, like he’s just going through a goth phase, they’re going to lose more elections. This is not a communist country.”

Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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