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Episode 21
s13e21 · 2026-08-17
Running · US
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
HBO Talk Show
What it is
On Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, John Oliver presents a satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events.
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30 this season · 371 totals08e01 The Next Pandemic 2021-02-15 04:00
The Next Pandemic
As COVID-19 continues to spread, John Oliver discusses what could cause the next pandemic, what we can do to avoid it, and why you shouldn't kiss pigs.
s08e02 Meatpacking 2021-02-22 04:00
Meatpacking
The pandemic has thrown into high relief some of the longstanding issues surrounding working conditions in meatpacking facilities. John Oliver explains why greater oversight is needed, and how we can go about getting it.
s08e03 Raids 2021-03-01 04:00
Raids
John Oliver explains how raids became a favorite tool of police, how few guardrails there are on their use, and what we should do about that.
s08e04 Unemployment 2021-03-08 04:00
Unemployment
John Oliver details the many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits – often by design – and why the entire system needs to be rethought.
s08e05 Tucker Carlson 2021-03-15 03:00
Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson is admired by white nationalists, elected officials, and maybe some of your relatives or coworkers. Given that he has the ear of so many Americans, John Oliver explains where Tucker came from, what his rhetorical tactics are, and what he represents.
s08e06 Plastics 2021-03-22 03:00
Plastics
Plastic is in everything, from the clothes we wear to the water we drink. John Oliver explains how plastics are harming the planet, why recycling isn't the solution you think it is, and why fixing the problem will be up to not just consumers, but corporations and policymakers.
s08e07 The National Debt 2021-04-05 03:00
The National Debt
The national debt has long been portrayed as a burden we're placing on future generations. John Oliver discusses how national debt works, why people are so concerned about it, and why it might be more helpful that you think.
s08e08 Long-Term Care 2021-04-12 03:00
Long-Term Care
John Oliver explains the industry behind nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and why long-term care needs fixing.
s08e09 Bankruptcy 2021-04-19 03:00
Bankruptcy
John Oliver details why people file for bankruptcy, how needlessly difficult the process can be, and the ways we can better serve people struggling with debt.
s08e10 Covid Vaccines 2021-05-03 03:00
Covid Vaccines
John Oliver explains why some people don't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured. (Even you, Mike in Baltimore.)
s08e11 Hair 2021-05-10 03:00
Hair
John Oliver discusses the importance of black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.
s08e12 Stand Your Ground 2021-05-17 03:00
Stand Your Ground
John Oliver takes a look at why 'stand your ground' laws were created, who they protect, and, crucially, who they don't.
s08e13 Sponsored Content 2021-05-24 03:00
Sponsored Content
John Oliver explains why the integrity of local news is so important, how sponsored content could damage that integrity, and why the Venus Veil is so much more than a blanket! (It's not.)
s08e14 Asian Americans 2021-06-07 03:00
Asian Americans
John Oliver discusses the large and diverse group of people who fall under the term 'Asian American', the history of the model minority stereotype, and why our conversations on the subject need to be better-informed.
s08e15 Prison Heat 2021-06-14 03:00
Prison Heat
John Oliver explains how the failure to air-condition prisons can cause both physical and mental health issues for incarcerated people, and why the solution is simpler than you might think.
s08e16 PACE 2021-06-21 03:00
PACE
John Oliver explains how PACE, a program meant to pay for environmentally-friendly home renovations, is fundamentally flawed and can put people at risk of losing their homes.
s08e17 Health Care Sharing Ministries 2021-06-28 03:00
Health Care Sharing Ministries
Health Care Sharing Ministries, or HCSMs, advertise themselves as a more affordable, faith-based alternative to health insurance. But John Oliver explains some of the massive limitations these plans can have.
s08e18 Housing Discrimination 2021-07-26 03:00
Housing Discrimination
John Oliver breaks down the long history of housing discrimination in the U.S., the damage it's done, and, crucially, what we can do about it; plus, John is headed back to the studio and makes a new friend along the way.
s08e19 Ambulances 2021-08-02 03:00
Ambulances
John Oliver explains how emergency medical services function in the U.S., why they can be so expensive, and what we can do to fix things.
s08e20 Opioids III: The Sacklers 2021-08-09 03:00
Opioids III: The Sacklers
John Oliver explains how the Sackler family has been handling lawsuits related to the opioid crisis, how hard they've been fighting to defend their name, and why you should judge the situation for yourself.
s08e21 Ransomware 2021-08-16 03:00
Ransomware
John Oliver discusses ransomware attacks, why they're on the rise, and what can be done about them.
s08e22 Afghanistan 2021-08-23 03:00
Afghanistan
John Oliver discusses the end of America's war with Afghanistan, and the humanitarian crisis being left behind.
s08e23 Lukashenko 2021-09-13 03:00
Lukashenko
John Oliver discusses the longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and the many reasons his country's citizens have not to like him.
s08e24 Voting Rights 2021-09-27 03:00
Voting Rights
John Oliver discusses the current attacks on voting rights, who's behind them, and what we can do about it.
s08e25 PFAS 2021-10-04 03:00
PFAS
John Oliver discusses PFAS — a class of chemicals linked to an array of health issues — and why their widespread use isn't as magical as it may seem.
s08e26 Misinformation 2021-10-11 03:00
Misinformation
John Oliver discusses how misinformation spreads among immigrant diaspora communities, how little some platforms have done to stop it, and, most importantly, how to have a very good morning.
s08e27 Taiwan 2021-10-25 03:00
Taiwan
John Oliver discusses Taiwan's history of being governed by other countries, its fraught present-day relationship with China, and what its citizens would like their future to look like.
s08e28 Homelessness 2021-11-01 03:00
Homelessness
With homelessness increasing nationwide, John Oliver takes a look at the way we discuss the unhoused, what policy failures are making the problem worse, and how we can help.
s08e29 The Power Grid 2021-11-08 04:00
The Power Grid
John Oliver discusses the current state of the nation's power grid, why it needs fixing, and, of course, how fun balloons are.
s08e30 Union Busting 2021-11-15 04:00
Union Busting
John Oliver discusses the mechanics of union busting, why the companies who do it face so few consequences, and what it really means when your manager wants to talk to you about 'your attendance.'