Late-night hosts covered Donald Trump’s latest refusal to attack the Saudis for their alleged involvement in the presumed death of Jamal Khashoggi and discussed voter suppression in Georgia.

Trevor Noah

Wait, so the guy running for governor of Georgia is also overseeing the election and state voter registration? That is some Africa-level s**t right there. pic.twitter.com/sDANGDuNAz — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 19, 2018

On The Daily Show, Trevor Noah discussed reported attempts by the Republicans to suppress voters. “This year every single vote counts, but there are a few states that are working to change that,” he said.

He continued: “It’s like being a contestant on Jeopardy! and instead of trying to win by being the smartest person, you just spend all your time tasing your competition.”

Noah moved on to the hotly contested race in Georgia between Stacey Abrams, who could be the first black female governor in the US and Brian Kemp, who could be “the first white governor named Brian Kemp in Georgia, I think”.

The latest ruling insists that the name on a person’s driver’s license must be exactly the same as their real name with the slightest mistake meaning that someone won’t be able to vote. “It’s funny how this happens with voting but it never stops the IRS,” Noah said.

The majority of people affected by the ruling are black. “Well, well, well, my old friend racism, I’ve been expecting you,” he joked.

Noah continued: “Isn’t it interesting how every time Republicans create a voting restriction, it just so happens to disproportionately affect people of the brown brown?”

He expressed frustration at another attempt to stop people of colour from voting. “You don’t have to say who you’re targeting to target someone, you just have to say which rules are likely to hit them most,” he said. “Like, if I was trying to block white people at the voting booth, I wouldn’t need to say ‘No white people are allowed’, I’d just be like ‘Sorry, no pumpkin spice lattes in the voting booth.’”

Noah explained that Kemp is also secretary of state in Georgia so essentially controls the regulations that affect this year’s vote. “That is some Africa-level shit right there,” he said.

Noah’s idea is that “every black person in America needs to register as a Republican” so they will be allowed to vote. “They will make sure every vote counts,” he said. “They’re going to be waving Trayvons into the voting booth like a third-base coach.”

Stephen Colbert

On the Late Show, Stephen Colbert started with news that special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Trump’s alleged ties to Russia will be released after the midterms. “Enough waiting,” he said. “Mueller’s been teasing us for so long at this point, even Sting is like, ‘Just finish already.’”

Trump continues to choose financial ties to Saudi Arabia over criticising them for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of Khashoggi leading some to claim he is showing an uncharacteristic amount of caution. “Yes, an uncharacteristic amount,” he said. “In other words: any.”

While speaking to the press, the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, referred to Khashoggi’s alleged death as an incident. “Just like the Hitchcock movie Dial M for Incident,” Colbert quipped.

Turkish reports have said the alleged killing was carried out by a squad of 15 Saudis, one of whom has since mysteriously died in a car accident. “Right now in Riyadh, there are 14 other guys saying, ‘It’s a nice day, I think I’m gonna walk,’” he said.

Televangelist Pat Robertson was on television this week to defend Trump’s decision to choose the importance of an arms deal with Saudi Arabia over the life of one journalist. “Thank you Reverend for capturing the core message of Christianity: how important can one man’s death be?” he joked.

There was also a report that the chief of staff, John Kelly, and national security adviser, John Bolton, has a profanity-laced argument outside the Oval Office. “Well, it’s good they didn’t do it inside the Oval Office,” he said. “That is reserved for the sacred presidential duty of tweeting about porn stars being horsefaces.”

Colbert continued: “Fellas, don’t fight, you’re both terrible.”