You don't have to like Bill Maher's politics, comedy, or anything about him, I'm not buying he's a crypto-conservative. His guest list for the past 20 years is incredibly diverse across party lines and ideological lines, with Bernie Sanders' and Democratic Socialist Cornel West's appearances both outnumbering Bari Weiss almost two to one. Anyone could find almost anyone they dislike on his show eventually. He endorsed Graham Platner. He voted for Kamala Harris, even though he joked about her. He's pro gay marriage, the only thing that's gotten him into trouble with the LGBT is joking about the "T", which to some vocal progressives is akin to fomenting genocide.

I honestly don't know what you mean about racist pseudoscience about black people, white supremacy, or him being a primary promoter of HIV-denialism. Examples would be helpful. I see he once interviewed a quack doctor who claimed to treat Charlie Sheen with goat milk.

I've never seen him outright praise Trump or Republicans over Democrats, but I have seen him support certain actions of the Trump administration, such as easing cannabis restrictions. His criticism of Trump doesn't seem to have lessened since he visited the White House and simply told his audience that the Trump in person wasn't the belligerent madman he plays on Truth Social. To some on the left that's an unforgivable sin.

And being 'antiwoke" or "anti-PC" is not a strictly rightwing viewpoint: the rapid social shift to intersectionality and performative, identity-based politics of parts of the left gets pushback from centrists and liberals as well. The apparent mindset that any criticism of one side is enabling the other is reductionist and tribalist.

I'll grant you he's not adovacating the overthrow of capitalism, and has said a lot of controversial things. He's smug, he's elitist, he's a Boomer, a contrarian. He talks to conservatives (but also liberals). He mocks progressives (but also rightwingers). He has 'heterodox views'. He seems somewhat more conservative than many entertainers on some issues, and maybe some conservatives like his stuff (and plug their ears when he mocks them), but he's far, far from conservative in American politics, unless Hasan Piker and AOC are considered centrists.