Marc Maron, a comedian and podcast host, has detailed why he turned down an interview with Hillary Clinton in 2017. The former Secretary of State was a high-profile candidate for such an interview, following her loss to Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Maron’s longtime producer, Brendan McDonald, had pitched the interview, believing that Maron was the right person to do so. However, Maron adamantly disagreed, stating that he did not feel he could have a meaningful conversation with Clinton, who he referred to as a divisive and controversial figure. He explained that the success rate of achieving candid conversations with politicians was very small, and the interview with Obama in 2015 was an exception to the rule.
Despite his decision, Maron’s podcast continued to maintain cultural relevance and remained a popular media fixture. However, he announced in June that he would be ending the long-running show, citing that the podcasting format had acquired a “cultural malignancy.” He explained that he did not want to chase the cultural conversation through clickbait and garbage, and that he was simply tired of the medium. While he admitted that he was retiring just as the world was convinced that podcasts were deciding American elections and the future of mankind, he felt it was the right time to end the show. He emphasized that the podcast had never been about politics, but rather about candid conversations and profiles. He was also satisfied with the body of work it had produced and felt that it was time to move on to other creative endeavors.