The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

After winning a legal battle involving a coal executive and a giant squirrel, John Oliver explains how SLAPP suits are designed to stifle public dissent.

Director: Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner

There are very few government checks on what America’s sweeping surveillance programs are capable of doing. John Oliver sits down with Edward Snowden to discuss the NSA, the balance between privacy and security, and dick-pics.

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

John Oliver discusses the Supreme Court, the ethically questionable gifts some of the justices receive, and an offer for Clarence Thomas that could ruin John's life. Genuinely. You'll see.

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John discusses predatory churches and televangelism, and how the U.S. tax law allows them to get away with almost anything. Plus, the raising of the American flag in Cuba, the redesign of New Zealand's flag, and President Harding's illegitimate child.

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John Oliver discusses the plans for Donald Trump's second term, an interesting campaign choice from a conservative congressional candidate in Michigan, and the bakery that has very successfully turned John into a cake bear.

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A set of Supreme Court decisions made over 100 years ago has left U.S. territories without meaningful representation. That’s weird, right? Plus, daylight saving time doesn’t actually benefit anyone. Strangely, it’s still a thing!

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

Equal access to online information is once again under serious threat. John Oliver encourages internet commenters to voice their displeasure to the FCC by visiting www.gofccyourself.com.

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John Oliver takes a look at the president of Turkmenistan, a dangerous autocrat with some notably strange obsessions.

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John covers the Covid-19 pandemic, how each country, including the US, is handling it, and why the Phillie Phanatic is in a copyright row. Also, Tom Steyer quits the Democratic presidential race, and Chris Matthews messes up his sign offs.

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Main story: Where Tucker Carlson came from and why he's admired by white nationalists; plus, reaction to the Biden COVID-19 relief bill.

Director: Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner

Writer: John Oliver, Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski, Mark Kramer, Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Chrissy Shackelford, Ben Silva, Seena Vali

John Oliver discusses the current state of the nation's power grid, why it needs fixing, and, of course, how fun the balloons are.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: John Oliver, Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski, Mark Kramer, Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Chrissy Shackelford, Seena Vali

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."

Director: Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner

Writer: John Oliver, Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski, Mark Kramer, Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Chrissy Shackelford, Seena Vali

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.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: John Oliver, Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Liz Hynes, Mark Kramer, Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Chrissy Shackelford, Seena Vali, Ryan Ken, Taylor Kay Phillips, Sofía Manfredi

After the arrests of numerous top officials, John Oliver decided to give an update on the state of FIFA. Also, Thailand's ignorance about the world's history involving Hitler might require some re-education.

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

John covers the rocky Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Plus, the military coup in Turkey and its aftermath, the voter ID laws targeting the minorities and how are tanning beds still a thing.

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John Oliver has some bad news about the state of the industry that gives us our news. Plus, the coverage of the Opening Ceremony of Rio Olympics.

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The presidential race has been a hell of a ride. ‘Last Week Tonight’ closes out the election and Season 3 with a bang.

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The UK could officially leave the European Union next month, which would be a huge change with hugely damaging consequences.

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John Oliver talks about the power of public shaming, good and bad.

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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.)

Director: Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner

Writer: John Oliver, Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski, Mark Kramer, Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Chrissy Shackelford, Ben Silva, Seena Vali

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of our lives, from self-driving cars to ChatGPT. John Oliver discusses how AI works, where it might be heading next, and, of course, why it hates the bus.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: John Oliver, Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Liz Hynes, Mark Kramer, Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Chrissy Shackelford, Seena Vali, Ryan Ken, Taylor Kay Phillips, Sofía Manfredi, Tim Carvell

John Oliver discusses the financial and environmental impact of corn in the U.S., recent commencement ceremony mishaps, and the rise of the far-right AfD party in Germany.

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John Oliver discusses the UK elections and the future of the Tories, why pride flags are causing controversy in the US, and a new law about the ten commandments in Louisiana. Also some stuff about Ur-Nammu that we all know already.

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Donald Trump spreads a lot of false information thanks to his daily consumption of morning cable news. If only we could sneak some facts into the president’s media diet.

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Vladimir Putin is known as a ruthless leader and master manipulator. John Oliver enlists a group of singing dancers to explain that to Donald Trump.

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