Bill Maher is a smart man. He’s also a bit of an iconoclast because, despite being as hard a limousine leftist as you’ll ever find (he hoped for a recession to derail Trump), he’s also willing to break out of his box by having conservatives on his show and occasionally espousing ideas that rise above garden-variety, lockstep leftism.

For some reason, COVID-19 seems to be triggering more than the usual amount of common sense from Maher. Last week, he bucked the leftist trend of taking marching orders from the Chinese Communist Party, and said that it’s appropriate to call COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus.”

It’s a magnificent rant. Maher covers historic naming conventions for infectious diseases, says that the virus came from China, launches into a full-blown attack on political correctness, and talks about China’s habit of having wet markets and eating bats:

Maher’s at it again, coming up with common sense, wisdom, and a disgust for the excesses of his side of the political aisle. Of course, he doesn’t attack Democrats directly. Instead, he attacks the media, without acknowledging that he and the media have long had the same goal: Destroying Republican presidents and initiating a permanent Democrat-party reign.

Still, despite his failure to mention the media’s Democrat affiliation, Maher otherwise is right on the money about the media’s disgraceful “pandemic porn.” He points out that Trump is the optimist here and optimism is a winner. Meanwhile, the media is getting more shrill and fake in its coverage:

We need the news to calm down and treat us like adults. Trump calls you #fakenews. Don't make him right. #Coronapocalypse #PanicPorn pic.twitter.com/PcJA8ccliM

— Bill Maher (@billmaher) April 18, 2020

I don’t usually recommend watching two Maher videos, but in this case, I do. Also, if you'd like to see the perfect example of pity-party "panic porn," contrast Maher’s exhortations against media hysteria with Brian Stelter’s pathetic tweet:

I crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives. Tears that had been waiting a month to escape.

I wanted to share because it feels freeing to do so. Now is not a time for faux-invincibility. Journos are living this, hating this, like everyone else. https://t.co/dIDujZZvQZ

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 18, 2020

For a man who is worth in excess of $10 million, that is utterly embarrassing and disgusting when 22 million people are out of work.

Stelter probably would not have appreciated Maher’s words and, in fact, neither did Maher’s fans. Many lashed out at him for daring to suggest that we’re not facing an apocalypse and that the media is making Trump's case for him:

I’ve been watching you since the days of politically incorrect Bill. I’m a long time follower and believer in the truth you try to get out. Sometimes I disagree which is normal for ind thinkers, but tonight you lost me man. You literally sound so disconnected & like Fox NewsЁЯШС

— Make America Normal AgainЁЯТЫЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╕ЁЯТЩ (@TornettaAnthony) April 18, 2020

So true. This is the most infuriating, stupid, cluess and Fox News-esque thing he's ever said. This is not like other causes of death he mentions. What a tool. Hard to believe he actually said this. What happened to him??

— Dan Kelly (@dankellyvo) April 18, 2020

Come to NYC and see how terrifying life is right now. You are getting weed delivered to your mansion.

— Matt (@djmateo2) April 18, 2020

When you did the flu comparison I decided it's finally time to tune you out forever. And it's not even a fair comparison, it's a dishonest comparison the same as Republicans make, where you compare the number of (young) people who died in 1 1/2 months of covid vs 12 months of flu

— Roger Sullivan (@RogerSullivanNO) April 18, 2020

I believe in catching people being good, and Maher was good about this one. Perhaps with enough insights, he’ll figure out that his politics are bass-ackwards and that America will be a better place with fealty to the Constitution rather than The Communist Manifesto.