Sun, Feb 24, 2019
Psychics is something fun to talk about. But John Oliver talks about the alarming fact that 4 out of 10 believe in psychics (according to a research). And it is alarming that they swindle money out of desperate peoples. Additionally they often put people through severe emotional trauma about their loved ones. As John explains them in the show, these psychics use two simple tactics to do that: cold reading and hot reading.
Sun, Mar 3, 2019
Automation is a complicated blessing. It makes our life easier by creating safe and more productive environment but it also eliminates job opportunities. Rather than dealing with the issue tactfully President Trump is doing what he likes the most- 'Blaming Others'. John explains that even automation kills job but jobs are being created in new sectors. He suggests some ways to transition into these new sectors and initiatives need to be taken to accommodate older workers in the changing job sector.
Sun, Mar 10, 2019
Robocalls are one of the most annoying thing of having a cellphone. Over the recent years these robocalls are increased exponentially because of the advancement of the technology. There needs to be some sort effective policies to regulate these robocalls. If only Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cared a little more about this issue. So John take it upon his shoulder to give them the medicine of robocalls in small doses (after every 90 minutes).
Sun, Jun 2, 2019
John tackles the US multi-billion dollar medical device industry, which lacks proper monitoring and necessary regulations. He also explains the huge difference between the terms 'FDA approved' and 'FDA cleared,' and points out the loopholes and corruption through lobbying the companies in the industry use to bypass the government's flawed and dated oversight system.
Sun, Jun 16, 2019
John is delighted by the many salacious layers of Rep. Duncan Hunter's (R-CA) huge corruption scandal. Also, since Trump-related scandals pop up every week, the voices calling for his impeachment are getting louder than ever. John explains the facts behind the impeachment process and in what ways it might effect the Trump presidency. Even though it has many risks, John suggests that it might be a good idea to uphold one of America's core values that 'no one is above the law'.
Sun, Jul 28, 2019
In the wake of Theresa May's resignation, Boris Johnson becomes Britain's new prime minister. John explains how Johnson came so far, how he is both the same as and different from Trump, and what, if any, strategy he has to succeed as PM despite his foolish nature, racist views, history of spreading false information, and frequent offensive remarks. Also, the controversial governor of Puerto Rico resigns after mass street protests.
Sun, Aug 4, 2019
Prison labor is more like free labor since many people believe that prisoners should not be paid for their work. John explains how little convicts make and what ridiculous ways the private prisons and the local government come up with to make them spend it the way they want, and how some selfish companies are now even profiting off of prisoners' innocent families. Also, John covers the horrific shootings at Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, UK PM Boris Johnson's bad week, and Trump's baffling Director of National Intelligence pick, John Ratcliffe, and what that says about his vetting process.
Sun, Aug 11, 2019
The president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is a highly eccentric autocratic ruler of a country that's competing for the bottom position in freedom of speech and human rights indicators. John covers Berdimuhamedov's bizarre obsession with setting silly new Guinness World Records, presenting himself as a superman, and loving his horses to an obsessive and uncomfortable degree. John also exposes the Guinness World Records company's disturbing affair with world dictators, and tries to set his own Guinness World Record. Also, Trump's latest blunders, and the NRA's financial troubles.
Sun, Aug 18, 2019
Bias in medicine still exists in the U.S. and it's really affecting the life of a huge number of people every year who are seeking medical attention. With the help of comedians Larry David and Wanda Sykes, who inspired the piece, John discusses the adverse effects that the doctors' gender and racial biases can have when treating patients who aren't white men. Also, Trump wants to buy Greenland, China uses Orwellian propaganda against Honk Kong's pro-democracy protesters, and Halloween Pumpkin Spice Latte returns super early this year.
Sun, Sep 8, 2019
In theory, the filibuster was created to ensure bipartisanship in the US Senate. In practice, it has become a way to kill bills with only 41 Senate votes. John explains the strange origin of the filibuster, how its overuse made the Senate a place where even bipartisan bills go to die, and why filibustering should be abolished altogether. Also, Trump's Hurricane Dorian Sharpie Scandal, the UK PM Johnson's clash with the Parliament over his No-deal Brexit strategy, and Fox News' Stu Varney fanboys over Trump.
Sun, Sep 15, 2019
John explains how legal immigration to the U.S. actually works (family, employment, Diversity Visa Lottery, and refugee status), why Trump's propaganda against it is absurd, how his administration is trying to severely limit it and how their efforts actually increase illegal immigration. Also, Moscow's non-democratic local elections, pro-Putin Russian rappers, Maria Bartiromo's awkward birthday, and Lt. Joe Kenda's true crime show.
Sun, Sep 29, 2019
Compounding pharmacy is a special kind of pharmacy which creates specific medication tailored to the specific needs of individual patients, both human and animal. These medicines are not commercially made which means that the FDA has no jurisdiction to monitor these pharmacies. This lack of oversight leaves plenty of room for corruption and fraud which directly leads to overpricing, patients not getting the treatment they need or, in severe cases, developing serious health issues and dying. Also, Trump's Ukraine scandal leads to Impeachment inquiry.
Sun, Oct 6, 2019
John explains the troubling history, brutal enforcement and questionable results of China's highly controversial, decades long, one-child policy, a punitive measure conceived originally as the simplest way to handle overpopulation. But, this was done without thinking through the long term consequences so China now has 34 million more men than women and both grandparents and parents have to rely on a single child to support them all. That is why the old two-child policy was recently reintroduced in an equally simplified and unfair approach to a complex problem. Also, Trump's Stupid Watergate II continues with Nickelback's Photograph, the Networks keep inviting the wrong guests, and NBC4 Washington's Pat Collins makes local news sound like Beat poetry.
Sun, Oct 13, 2019
Predicting the weather correctly is very important as it saves lives and protects resources. Despite their enormous efforts, the National Weather Service (NWS) gets very little credit for their hard work even though private companies like AccuWeather make tremendous profit using their data. John explains the importance of the NWS, why AccuWeather wants to take control of it with Trump's help and why that's a very dangerous idea. Also, Stupid Watergate II continues with the arrest of Rudy Giuliani's Ukrainian associates, and John's show says goodbye to Fox News host Shep Smith.
Sun, Oct 27, 2019
Middle East was and still is a place with multi-level problems, so it is always quite tough to make a policy which will satisfy everyone's interests. But it's even tougher to screw things up in the way Trump did with Turkey and Syria. John explains how Trump's abrupt decision to hastily pull U.S. troops out of Syria seriously hurt America's interests, reputation and allies in the region while also propping up America's rivals and enemies. Also, Brexit is still a thing, the leader of I.S.I.S. is killed, TV anchors love quoting N.A.S.A. when things go wrong, and the show says goodbye to John Bercow, the eccentric Speaker of the House of Commons of the UK.
Top-rated
Sun, Nov 10, 2019
After winning a legal battle over his episode Coal (2017) involving a Trump-allied coal executive and John's giant squirrel, John Oliver explains how 'SLAPP suits' like this one are designed to stifle public dissent.