"I'm a man of simple desires," Larry Wilmore said on Monday's Nightly Show. "All I want to do is eat soul food with every single person running for president." That's been a mixed bag for past "Soul-Food Sit-Down" candidates Lincoln Chafee, who subsequently dropped out of the race, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who's in first or second place for the Democratic nomination. But Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) bravely stepped up to sit down and try not to talk with food in his mouth for Monday's installment. Wilmore, who does eat while dishing out rapid-fire questions, asked Paul about his criminal justice reform plans, guns, his "black hair" regimen, and why fellow medical doctor Ben Carson is beating him in the GOP polls. But he largely focused on Donald Trump.
After trying to get Paul to zing Trump with a "yo mama" joke — "I need better writers," Paul said gamely, after failing to land a punch line — Wilmore asked him if he hates Trump. "I love Donald Trump," Paul said. "I think he's hilarious." That earned the senator some "weak tea" bags, but Wilmore pressed on, asking Paul if he would agree to be Trump's running mate. "It would be an utter and absolute disaster, and I would want no part of it," Paul said, earning a "Keeping it 100" sticker. With Paul finally at ease, the segment ended. This probably won't help Paul's campaign much, but he deserves credit for sitting down with Wilmore — and when the cameras stopped, hopefully he was at least able to enjoy his meal. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possibleThe Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
