John Oliver, host of HBO's Last Week Tonight, trolled Fox News pundit Sean Hannity buy buying an ad during the conservative's show. Oliver offered up a brief math lesson during a segment on the importance of the Iran nuclear deal.
Oliver explained that an American withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal, which was signed by President Barack Obama and five other nations in 2015, greatly raises the risk of armed conflict between the United States and Iran. This risk is magnified, Oliver opined, by President Donald Trump's decision to hire former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, a well-known warhawk, as his new National Security Adviser, as well as his nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State. Both men have expressed their discontent with the agreement, and have urged Trump to tear it up or renegotiate it.
"Two of Trump's top advisers are, like him, dead set against this deal. And they're getting backup from Sean Hannity, whose show the President watches so much, advisers refer to him as 'the shadow Chief of Staff.'
Hannity has also voiced his opposition to the deal, which Oliver said was the reason behind buying the ad.
"Hannity hates this deal too, so there was not really a way to get a moderating voice into this conversation short of buying time on Hannity's show this week."
The ad features the Catheter Cowboy, who explains why the Iran deal is so important, using elementary-level math.
"The Iran deal may not be perfect, but it helps restrict Iran's ability to start making a [nuclear] bomb for at least 10 years. You blow up the deal, that turns into zero years. And if I've learned one thing from cowboying and cathing, it's that zero is way less than 10."
Twitter users loved the idea, and appreciated the segment outlining the importance of keeping the multi-nation agreement in place.
"Sadly, comedy shows seem to be the best source of real news these days!"
It sure seems that way, doesn't it?
You can watch the full segment here.