John Oliver Slams “Borderline Pathological” Kavanaugh Confirmation in Fiery Monologue

After weeks of covering Republicanss no-holds-barred approach to getting their Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, confirmed, it was up to John Oliver on Sunday night to be the first comedian to address the confirmation that happened Saturday, as well as the parade of harrowing testimony and bad-faith arguments that got us there. In a scorching opening monologue on Sunday night, Oliver addressed the Senate vote as well as Donald Trumps assertion that its a “difficult” time to be a young man in America with one simple thesis: vote on November 6.

“This seems like a way less scary time for young men in America than for old men in America,” Oliver said as he responded to the presidents remarks. He displayed a photo of a young boy and an elderly man. “Of the two people in this picture,” Oliver said, “Timmy is currently getting a lot of useful information about what sexual assault is and how not to commit it as he prepares to navigate the rocky waters of puberty—while grandpa is just stuck with all these sexual assaults hes already committed.”

In coming to Kavanaughs defense (he has denied all allegations of assault), Republicans have relied on a series of bad-faith arguments, as Oliver pointed out. Take, for example, Mitch McConnell, who has relentlessly called Democrats out for obstructionism despite the fact that he and his party blocked Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, for nearly a year—all so that a potential Republican presidential winner could appoint someone else after the 2016 election. As Oliver pointed out, McConnell even bragged about his stalling, calling it one of the proudest moments of his life.

“Mitch McConnell has three children, so thats got to make for an awkward Thanksgiving,” Oliver said. “When you have to look at them and tell them that theyre nothing, nothing. Nothing that they have done can possibly compare to that one time you were a dick to the cool president.”

Oliver also criticized Republicans who have embraced outright conspiracy theories, such as Chuck Grassley, for instance, who happily promoted the baseless notion that George Soros funded protesters to confront lawmakers in elevators and elsewhere.

“People would happily do that for free,” Oliver said. “In fact, people would pay to yell at Jeff Flake in an elevator. If Disney World had a ride called Yell at Jeff Flake in an Elevator, the line would be longer than Space fucking Mountain.” And as for Susan Collins, the Senator from Maine who cast one of the confirmations swing votes in favor of Kavanaugh? “She disappoints at a rate normally associated with dinners cooked by divorced dads,” Oliver said.

“This entire process wasnt about principle,” Oliver continued. “It was about getting what you want—no matter how you have to do it, or what damage it does to Dr. Ford, to other survivors, or to our fundamental trust in the Supreme Court. It was borderline pathological, which naturally brings us back to the president.”

As Oliver noted, Trump mocked former Senator Al Franken for resigning from his position so quickly after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him. “Trump has gotten away with so much in his life for so long that he mocks the very idea of accountability,” Oliver said. “I bet that in the Trump household, the game Sorry is just called (Cough) Pussy.”

“Heres the thing,” Oliver said. “It worked. And the Republicans won this week in a big way, and it could take decades to undo the damage—but if you are looking for where to start, November 6 is only a month away.”

Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.