A fly spent 2 mesmerizing minutes on Mike Pence's head during the debate

(Image credit: Twitter)

published 8 October 2020

There is nothing more sacred and indispensable to American democracy than the electoral process, that time-honored opportunity for citizens to hear out their potential leaders and decide the course of the country for the next four years.

But then sometimes a fly lands on a candidate's head, and the electorate collectively short circuits.

Midway through the vice presidential debate, a Musca domestica — that is, a humble housefly — decided to rest its weary wings on the snowfield of Pence's hair. Though what the candidates were discussing at the time was surely Important and Serious, no one heard a moment of it because their eyes were glued on the fly:

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Watch the two full minutes of the fly that you didn't know you needed, below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.