The accusations resonate with the bizarre QAnon conspiracy theory, which contends that Democrats and Hollywood elites sexually abuse children in Satanic rituals in their quest to control the world. Many Republicans, and particularly supporters of former President Donald Trump, believe that QAnon is at least somewhat accurate.

“Maybe this is not the most important issue in America, but I can’t take my eyes off it, like a car accident,” Maher said Friday night on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher. “It seems like in a very short time, Republicans have become obsessed with pedophilia. And I remember when pedophilia was like the worst thing you could ever call somebody—a pedophile. And now it’s like casually thrown out by senators,” he said, holding back an incredulous chuckle.

“What happened to ‘my good friend from across the aisle?'” the comedian asked. “Now it’s ‘a pedophile’? This is coming from QAnon, right? I mean, it was only a couple years ago that we were making fun of QAnon like it was such a fringe thing. I pretended I was Q—I mean I really am,” Maher quipped with a wink at the camera.