Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., sounded the alarm for his own party during an appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher Friday night, sharing a personal story that he says highlights a “major problem” Democrats face — especially in cities like San Francisco.
During a panel discussion about the Democratic Party’s leadership and policies, particularly in California, Maher pressed Schiff for his honest take. Schiff didn’t hold back.
“We’re gonna have to change how we do business in California,” Schiff admitted. “We have to address people’s legitimate concerns about crime.”
A Lesson at the Checkout Line
To make his point, Schiff recounted a troubling — and humbling — experience he had two years ago during a visit to San Francisco. His luggage had been stolen from his car, a common crime in a city increasingly known for property theft. Ignoring local advice not to leave valuables in the car, Schiff paid the price.
Left scrambling, he found himself late at night at a Target in South San Francisco picking up essentials for his trip.
“First, it was tough just finding a clerk to unlock the toiletries,” Schiff said, describing how basic items like shampoo were kept under lock and key due to rampant shoplifting.
At the checkout counter, the interaction took a sharper turn. When the cashier asked if he needed a Target bag, Schiff joked that it would have to serve as his luggage for the next two days. After hearing about his stolen belongings, the cashier responded bluntly — blaming the Democrats.
“She basically said, in not so many words, ‘Yeah, Democrats are a—h—s.’” Schiff recalled.
“And I thought, you know, if the cashier in South San Francisco at 10 o’clock at night believes that Democrats are a—h—s because the shampoo was locked up and my stuff got stolen, we’ve got a major problem.”
A Wake-Up Call for Democrats
Maher, clearly impressed, called the story “awesome” and urged Democrats everywhere to pay attention to the message.
Schiff expressed cautious optimism, noting that San Francisco’s new Democratic mayor, Daniel Lurie, might represent a shift in how the party tackles governance challenges.
“He’s helping lead the way in how we reinvent how Democrats are doing governance,” Schiff said.
The senator’s candid remarks underscore a growing recognition inside the party: if Democrats don’t get serious about public safety and quality-of-life issues, they risk alienating even their traditional base — one frustrated cashier at a time.