Comedy Central The Daily Show temp host John Leguizamo fulfilled show creator Lizz Winstead’s dream of using the show to promote abortion on Wednesday as he campaigned for liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz. Leguizamo would also accuse Republicans of stealing the state legislature because conspiracy theories about stolen elections are apparently okay when liberals are the ones peddling them.
The election will determine the ideological balance of the court, as Leguizamo explained, “All right, let's move on to Wisconsin because they're about to have an election for the state supreme court that's hugely important, and not just for there, but for the whole goddamn country. And it's a little complicated to explain why in a short time, but fortunately, I'm a Latino New Yorker and I can talk very fast… So, let me break it down for you in my new segment: ‘A New York Minute.’”
When the comedy shows urge people to vote, it is often on abortion and Leguizamo was no different, “Okay, here's what's at stake. One: abortion. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Wisconsin automatically went back to strict anti-abortion law from 1849. That is so long ago! You know what the number one movie was in 1849? Nothing! They weren't invented yet! If the liberal wins, she can abort that law!”
Quickly moving on, Leguizamo continued, “Two, gerrymandering. Republicans have permanently stolen the state legislature. A liberal judge could fit that shit. It’s more technical than that but I do have to [bleep] time to explain it.”
The actual joke would be that Leguizamo is accusing Republicans of stealing elections using a procedure named after a guy who died in 1814 and presenting it as some new threat to democracy.
Running out of time, Leguizamo concluded by simply urging people to vote, “Three, Donald Trump, [buzzer] that mother[bleep]—Oh, shit! Just vote. Okay?”
It’s not a great endorsement of Protasiewicz’s legal philosophy that Leguizamo wants people to vote for her because she’ll give them policies liberals can’t win through regular elections.
This segment was sponsored by PlayStation.
Here is a transcript for the March 29 show:
Comedy Central The Daily Show
3/29/2023
11:03 PM ET
JOHN LEGUIZAMO: All right, let's move on to Wisconsin because they're about to have an election for the state supreme court that's hugely important, and not just for there, but for the whole goddamn country. And it's a little complicated to explain why in a short time, but fortunately, I'm a Latino New Yorker and I can talk very fast.
All right, I know you’re with me. I know you’re with me. Yeah, I know. All right. All right. So, let me break it down for you in my new segment: "A New York Minute." Hit the clock! Okay, here's what's at stake. One: abortion. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Wisconsin automatically went back to strict anti-abortion law from 1849. That is so long ago! You know what the number one movie was in 1849? Nothing! They weren't invented yet! If the liberal wins, she can abort that law! Two, gerrymandering. Republicans have permanently stolen the state legislature. A liberal judge could fit that shit. It’s more technical than that but I do have to [bleep] time to explain it. Three, Donald Trump [buzzer] that mother[bleep]—Oh, shit! Just vote. Okay?
