On the Nov. 6 episode of Last Week Tonight — and just in time for Election Day — John Oliver reminded us of when a Donald Trump presidency seemed hilarious. As the host concluded, what may have once seemed impossible could well come true. That being said, it looks as though this election year has come full-circle, though not in the way you necessarily hoped.
In the first clip, filmed when Oliver was a Daily Show guest host and long before Donald Trump became the Republican presidential nominee, John Oliver mocked the prospect of Trump running, telling the now-Republican nominee, in jest, that he would, "personally write you a campaign check now, on behalf of this country, which does not want you to be president but which badly wants you to run." In the clip Oliver was, of course, joking, reflecting on the entertainment value and absurdity of a hypothetical Trump candidacy, but never seemingly never actually believing that it was something truly achievable.
The second clip featured Oliver as a Daily Show correspondent eight years ago, contemplating the prospects of a Chicago Cubs victory at the World Series. In the clip, Oliver asserts the team's fans "have had 100 years to figure out to figure out that what they want will never happen ... the Chicago Cubs will never, ever win the World Series."
Oliver used these clips to illustrate the larger point that the impossible can, and does, happen. Trump did indeed become the Republican presidential nominee and the Chicago Cubs actually won the World Series, ending their 108-year victory drought last week. These two instances of the impossible becoming possible demonstrate why it is so imperative to vote on Election Day, even if you feel like your vote does not matter or like the election is already heading in a particular direction. As Oliver stated:
I want to believe America will reject Donald Trump, that our innate sense of decency will kick in, like some sort of moral autopilot. But I have been spectacularly wrong before. ... But that clearly shows, no outcome is certain. So if you are thinking you don't have to show up on Tuesday because there is no way the impossible could happen, take it from somebody who has learned from painful experience: You are wrong about that.
Oliver's examples are not the only ones that serve to illustrate the point that what is expected in voting is not always the outcome. For example, the recent vote on Brexit was largely expected to fail (it passed), and the vote on the government peace deal with FARC in Colombia was largely expected to pass (it failed). Many people were shocked at the outcome of both of these votes, and they, along with Oliver's examples, highlight the fact that predicted outcomes are not always what they seem. Therefore, voting is imperative not only for the U.S. presidential election, but also for congressional races, state races, and local ones too.
If you have not already done so, be sure to prepare for Election Day by checking your polling place via the Voting Info Project's tool, and by checking what type of identification you need to bring with you in order to vote. As Oliver aptly illustrated on his show, making sure your voice heard is more important than ever before—do not let complacency about the election prevent you from getting out and casting your vote.
Images: HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
