Real Time with Bill Maher (TV Series)

Episode #14.8 (2016)

Maria Konnikova: Self

Quotes 

• Maria Konnikova : [discussing Donald Trump]  I think we see him trying to get the popular vote. It's the same appeal that he makes all the time, that he is honest, he's a man of the people. He's telling everyone exactly what they want to hear. And he doesn't actually say anything, so that... that's what confidence artists do.

  Bill Maher - Host : [audience applause]  So he's... so he's a... he's a con man, but he is a good one.

  Maria Konnikova : He's a very good con man. That's why they're called "con artists".

• Bill Maher - Host : You make the point that everyone is saying that Donald Trump has hijacked the party, but a con man doesn't take anything from a person.

  Maria Konnikova : No.

  Bill Maher - Host : You give it to him, willingly.

  Maria Konnikova : Absolutely, yes. We give them our confidence.

  Bill Maher - Host : Right.

  Maria Konnikova : The origin of the term "confidence game" was a man who stole watches. But he never actually stole them; he went up to people on the streets and said "Have you confidence in me to lend me your watch until tomorrow?".

  Bill Maher - Host : Oh!

  Maria Konnikova : And people gave them his watch, because they gave them... they gave him their confience, and that's exactly what Trump is doing to the party. He isn't asking anyone for anything.

  Bill Maher - Host : Sure.

  Maria Konnikova : People are willingly giving their trust and their confidence to him.