Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
A half-hour satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events.
Talk, Comedy, News
Episodes (30)
February 20, 2022: Critical Race Theory
John Oliver explains what critical race theory is, what it isn't, and why we can expect to hear more about it in the coming months. Plus, the Canadian trucker protests.
February 27, 2022: Sex Work
As long as sex work has existed, so have efforts to end it. John Oliver explains why criminalizing the trade hasn’t helped the most vulnerable people involved, and why we should start listening to those at the center of the conversation: sex workers. Plus, Russian invasion into Ukraine, that has placed the whole world at the brink of WW3.
March 6, 2022: Wrongful Convictions
John Oliver talks about the current practices of overturning wrongful convictions and how it is quite unsupportive of even apparently innocent people. He advocates for urgent reforms in the flawed system which is clearly not working in favor of the innocents. Plus, the heroic resistance of Ukrainians against the invasion of Russia.
March 13, 2022: Tickets
John Oliver explains why concert tickets are so expensive, who’s making money off of them, and which One Direction is his favorite. Plus, the introduction of some appalling anti-LGBT laws in several states.
March 27, 2022: Harm Reduction
John Oliver discusses why overdoses in the U.S. have been on the rise and what we should, and shouldn't, be doing to prevent them. Plus, a rather odd yearly tradition in Nenana, Alaska.
April 3, 2022: Trucks
John Oliver explains how truck drivers get paid, how they often don’t, and how companies exploit them to increase profits. Plus, Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn's tales of GOP orgies and drug use has him in trouble with his own party.
April 10, 2022: Data Brokers
John Oliver discusses how much data brokers know about us, what they’re doing with our personal information, and one unusual way to change privacy laws. Plus, Russian State TV lies about the Ukraine war; DirecTV drops OAN; John says goodbye to AT&T.
April 17, 2022: Police Interrogations
John Oliver discusses the tactics that can make police interrogations so damaging, particularly to the innocent. Plus, a look at Dr. Oz's campaign for U.S. Senate.
May 1, 2022: Environmental Racism
John Oliver discusses environmental racism, how both government and industry are failing people of color and how zoning is manipulating the same people to live in adverse conditions. Plus, pandas doing some weird things and 'gas math' by Shaquille O'Neal.
May 8, 2022: Abortion Ruling/Philippines Election
John Oliver discusses the current presidential election in The Philippines and why Bongbong Marcos is - albeit in a very limited and unflattering way - sort of like Ant-Man. Plus, the leaked anti-abortion draft opinion that looks set to overturn Roe v. Wade, how we got to this point, and where we may be headed.
May 15, 2022: Utilities
John Oliver discusses the incredible amount of power we give electric utility companies, how weakly regulated they are, and why they get such bad Yelp reviews. Plus, a look at Alabama's extreme anti-trans law and some ridiculous participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
May 22, 2022: Subway
John Oliver discusses one of the largest franchises in the U.S., how their business model doesn’t always serve franchisees, and what it all has to do with Korean dramas.
June 5, 2022: School Police
In the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, John Oliver discusses the push for more police in schools and whether they are the answer to school safety issues, or a new problem altogether. Plus, John makes an offer for a banana sculpture in Australia.
June 12, 2022: Tech Monopolies
John Oliver discusses tech monopolies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, and how to address the hidden harm they can do. Plus, a look at the hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Arizona, which includes Trump-endorsed candidate Blake Masters.
June 19, 2022: Rent
John Oliver discusses why rent has become increasingly unaffordable, what we can do to combat a system that is stacked against tenants, and, of course, Dakota Johnson’s complex relationship to limes. Plus, a look at GOP primary winners claiming the 2020 election was stolen.
June 26, 2022: Water
John Oliver discusses the water shortage in the American west; plus, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
July 24, 2022: Inflation
John Oliver discusses the causes of inflation and what we've done about it; plus, updates on the beach dolls and the banana sculpture.
July 31, 2022: Mental Health Care
John Oliver discusses the cracks in our broken mental health care system; plus, a look at who's running to become the UK's prime minister.
August 7, 2022: Monkeypox
John Oliver discusses the recent monkeypox outbreak in the U.S., how the authorities have fumbled the response to it, and some aspirations for this coming autumn. Plus, Walter from Butler, Indiana, likes to share stuff, perhaps a little too much.
August 14, 2022: Afghanistan
John Oliver discusses what’s happened since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, how their ongoing crisis has even more to do with our decisions than you might think, and how to properly modify the verb “feel”. Plus, some true masterpieces of an AI-generated art.
August 21, 2022: Carbon Offsets
John Oliver explains what carbon offsets are, what they claim to do, how they might be making climate change even worse, and, of course, how Oscar Isaac is getting hotter.
September 11, 2022: Law & Order
John Oliver discusses the wildly popular television franchise, what it’s been teaching us about law enforcement, and how it differs from the reality. Plus, some important developments in British politics.
September 25, 2022: Bolsonaro
John Oliver discusses Jair Bolsonaro, how he's run Brazil as president and how far he might go to maintain power after the upcoming election. Plus, the absurd stunt by Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis involving Martha's Vineyard and why people in Puerto Rico are getting fed up by the electric company Luma.
October 2, 2022: Museums
John Oliver discusses some of the world's most prestigious museums, why they contain so many stolen goods, the market that continues to illegally trade antiquities, and a pretty solid blueprint for revenge. Plus, the disappearance of the British PM Liz Truss.
October 9, 2022: Crime Reporting
John Oliver discusses the outlets that cover crime, the incentives that drive them, the flawed sources they rely upon, and an alternative name for Miss Piggy. Plus, why teenage girls in Iran are leading massive protests against the current regime.
October 16, 2022: Transgender Rights II
John Oliver discusses the latest round of attacks on transgender rights, what’s at stake, and how kids are schooling the ignorant adults on this topic. Plus, why the Crimean Bridge is having a bad time these days.
October 30, 2022: Bail Reform
With the U.S. midterm elections approaching, John Oliver discusses the issue at the core of many republican attack ads: bail reform. Plus, the turmoil in British politics after the resignation of PM Liz Truss.
November 6, 2022: Election Subversion
With the U.S. midterm elections approaching, John Oliver discusses what happens after the votes are in, how some elected officials might try to negate legitimate election results, and which teletubby would taste best. Plus, the Halloween costume of Heidi Klum.
November 13, 2022: The Monarchy
John Oliver discusses the future of the British monarchy, what they have and have not acknowledged about their past, and how Winston Churchill preferred to go down waterslides. Plus, Steve Kornacki and his big board.
November 20, 2022: Qatar World Cup
John Oliver discusses the Qatar World Cup, the human-rights violations happening in the sporting event’s host country, and what perfection really means to David Beckham. Plus, the chaos Twitter is experiencing after Elon Musk took over the company and more of AI-generated art featuring John Oliver.
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