John Oliver Unpacks VP Debate’s “Civility” On ‘Last Week Tonight’: “Like Reading A Ransom Note” With “Lovely” Cursive

John Oliver likened the praise for the vice presidential debate‘s “civility” to “a ransom note” with “lovely” cursive on tonight’s episode of Last Week Tonight.

In a segment unpacking the debate held Oct. 1, in which GOP VP pick JD Vance skirted fact-checking and Democratic VP pick Tim Walz gave a less-than-solid performance (since-spoofed by Saturday Night Live), the comedic host stated that “etiquette is kind of beside the point” when the stakes include immigrant and women’s rights.

“It’s like reading a ransom note and going, ‘This cursive is just so lovely. Look at the capital ‘Y’ in ‘You have 24 hours before he dies.’ There are still some people who were raised right,’” he quipped.

Oliver then zeroed in on Vance’s actual political affiliations, including his association with far-right Christian evangelist leader Lance Wallnau, who once said that presidential nominee Kamala Harris had the “occult spirit” moving through her.

“First, Kamala Harris isn’t the one who’s been relentlessly promoting witchcraft,” Oliver said. “You’re thinking of Universal’s marketing department [for Wicked].”

Later on in the show, the political host honed in on the moment in the VP debate when Vance failed to answer Walz’s pointed question on whether he believed former president Donald Trump lost the election in 2020. “Tim, I’m focused on the future,” Vance replied, to which Walz stated, “That is a damning non-answer.”

Oliver agreed, calling it “one of the most generic store-brand f—boy deflections there is.”

“It’s no wonder Tim Walz broke the fourth wall there like he was in Abbott Elementary because ‘I’m focused on the future’ is what you say when you want to change the subject,” he joked. “If not, you just answer the question. I’ll show you: ‘John, have you ever murdered someone? No, I haven’t. Have you ever been mistaken for Penn Badgley? No, I haven’t. Have you ever been forcibly removed from Rainforest Cafe for insisting the frog was coming on to you? Look, I’m focused on the future. I’m moving forward.’”