A federal judge has dismissed Laura Loomer’s defamation lawsuit against Bill Maher and HBO, ruling she failed to show Maher acted with actual malice. Loomer sued in 2024 after Maher joked on his show that she might be in an “arranged relationship” with Donald Trump and suggested she could be someone he was romantically involved with. Judge James Moody said Maher’s remarks were clearly comedic, made about a public figure, and not statements a reasonable person would interpret as factual. The judge also found Loomer hadn’t shown malice or proven damages. Loomer had sought more than $150 million in damages.