Late night hosts have an idea on how to persuade hesitant conservatives to get COVID-19 vaccines

An idea to get conservatives vaccinated
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Daily Show)

With public health officials warning of a possible fourth COVID-19 wave, "the White House is trying to get as many people vaccinated before the new, more contagious variants lead to another surge," Jimmy Kimmel said on Tuesday's Kimmel Live. "Really, it's a race against time and stupidity."

President Biden has also reached out to North Korea, and after a long period of silence, Kim Jong Un's sister responded a series of cryptic threats, Kimmel noted. "It's rare that a dictator's sibling speaks out. I don't remember reading about any stern warnings from Lois Hitler."

"At first I thought the reason for the lack of response might be that Kim Jong Un uses a FAX machine, but then I remembered Biden does too," Jimmy Fallon joked at The Tonight Show. Elsewhere in foreign relations, "according to U.S intelligence, Russia and Iran tried to interfere with the 2020 election. Biden's like, 'Well, whatever you did, thanks fellas.' Yeah, this is pretty rough news for Trump; it's like losing in Little League and then finding out your dad bribed the ump."

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"The United States is now administering 2.4 million vaccine doses per day, which is amazing," Trevor Noah said at The Daily Show. "But there are still concerns that many Americans are hesitant about getting the shot," and "this might just be the one case where Donald Trump can really make a good difference. Because it turns out the people who are most reluctant to get the vaccine are also his biggest fans."

Why? Well, "Fox News isn't explicitly telling its viewers not to take the vaccine, they're just questioning whether you should — over and over and over again," Noah said. He did have one idea on how to persuade conservatives the vaccine is good for them.

The Late Show's Stephen Colbert was on the same page: "Would it feel safer if the vaccine was administrated by an AR-15?"

"One potential side effect of the coronavirus vaccine is that people are exposed to the idea that government can get things done, but Senate Republicans have a way to inoculate themselves from progress: It's called a filibuster," Colbert said, noting that Democrats can change that with 51 votes. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) now faces sexual misconduct charges from seven former aides, he said. "Two more and he wins a free Ronan Farrow profile!" Colbert had some fun with one accuser's allegation that Cuomo repeatedly bragged about his hand size.

Then Colbert had more fun with Cuomo's alleged hand fixation. Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.