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The Worst Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Every episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver!

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A half-hour satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 11 - May 10, 2026: Shadow Docket
    3.0/10(18 votes)

    #1 - May 10, 2026: Shadow Docket

    S13:E11

    John Oliver discusses the shadow docket – a shortcut to the Supreme Court which is rapidly advancing the Trump administration's agenda. Plus, some fun and unexpected facts about turtles! You know, to spice things up.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 7 - March 29, 2026: Hungary
    3.1/10(18 votes)

    #2 - March 29, 2026: Hungary

    S13:E7

    John Oliver discusses the elections on the horizon for Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, why conservatives in the US are so invested in him maintaining power, and what it all has to do with Rob Schneider.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 12 - May 17, 2026: Structured Settlements
    3.1/10(17 votes)

    #3 - May 17, 2026: Structured Settlements

    S13:E12

    John Oliver discusses structured settlements – the incremental payments designed to sustain victims of injury or wrongful death over long periods of time.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 13 - May 31, 2026: Presidential Pardons
    3.2/10(17 votes)

    #4 - May 31, 2026: Presidential Pardons

    S13:E13

    John Oliver discusses who Donald Trump has pardoned since he's been in office, and what it would be like to have sex with a cartoon character who has your voice. Not a cartoon character OF YOU! Just a cartoon character *with your voice.*

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 9 - April 26, 2026: AI Chatbots
    3.4/10(19 votes)

    #5 - April 26, 2026: AI Chatbots

    S13:E9

    John Oliver discusses AI chatbots, why they're flirting with users unprompted and encouraging people to open soggy cereal cafes, and how their flaws can be genuinely hazardous to the public.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 10 - May 3, 2026: Gas Station Drugs
    3.4/10(19 votes)

    #6 - May 3, 2026: Gas Station Drugs

    S13:E10

    John Oliver discusses the sprawling industry of "gas station drugs" – a world of questionable supplements and boner pills – which is posing a risk to the public by putting under-regulated substances over the counter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 14 - June 7, 2026: New College of Florida
    3.4/10(17 votes)

    #7 - June 7, 2026: New College of Florida

    S13:E14

    John Oliver discusses New College of Florida – the small liberal arts school that has been taken over by Governor Ron DeSantis – and why we think their new mascot would really get Samantha from Sex and the City going.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 16 - June 21, 2026: Feral Hogs
    3.4/10(14 votes)

    #8 - June 21, 2026: Feral Hogs

    S13:E16

    John Oliver discusses one of the most destructive invasive species in America: feral hogs. How they got here, the damage they're doing, and why the Discovery Channel should really consider doing "Cow Week."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 6 - March 22, 2026: Police Stings
    3.5/10(20 votes)

    #9 - March 22, 2026: Police Stings

    S13:E6

    John Oliver discusses police stings, why they can seem like they're creating more crime than they're stopping, and the best alias for any undercover cop, ever, in history. Ok, fine, we'll just tell you: It's a tie between "Angelo Lasagna" and "Rico Rigatone."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 15 - June 14, 2026: UK Elections
    3.6/10(17 votes)

    #10 - June 14, 2026: UK Elections

    S13:E15

    John Oliver discusses the upcoming elections in the UK, why the race for Prime Minister hinges on 76,000 voters who live in a small area called Makerfield, and which party leader looks like his first words were "British East India Company."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 8 - April 19, 2026: Prediction Markets
    3.7/10(20 votes)

    #11 - April 19, 2026: Prediction Markets

    S13:E8

    John Oliver discusses prediction markets – platforms where you can bet on basically anything, from the weather to the war in Iran – and the legal and moral questions posed by their existence.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 17 - June 28, 2026: Congressional Maps
    3.7/10(13 votes)

    #12 - June 28, 2026: Congressional Maps

    S13:E17

    John Oliver discusses how the Supreme Court has paved the way for the redrawing of congressional maps across the country, and what it means for the midterm elections. Plus, an urgent update on Gavin Newsom’s summer reading.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 4 - March 8, 2026: USAID
    4.1/10(22 votes)

    #13 - March 8, 2026: USAID

    S13:E4

    John Oliver discusses the U.S. and Israel's strikes on Iran, why the Trump Administration has gutted the United States Agency for International Development, and why John is jealous of Stephen A. Smith. Or, sorry – Brick.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 5 - March 15, 2026: J.D. Vance
    4.1/10(22 votes)

    #14 - March 15, 2026: J.D. Vance

    S13:E5

    John Oliver discusses the Trump Administration's mixed messaging surrounding the U.S.'s ongoing war with Iran, then explores J.D. Vance's ideologies past and present, including but not limited to who J.D. thinks is a real stupidhead.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 3 - March 1, 2026: Police Body Cameras
    4.3/10(23 votes)

    #15 - March 1, 2026: Police Body Cameras

    S13:E3

    John Oliver discusses why police body cameras can be useful, or useless, depending on whether they're used properly, and yeah, he also discusses what it looks like to arrest a giant mouse. Because of course he does.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 1 - February 15, 2026: ICE
    4.4/10(23 votes)

    #16 - February 15, 2026: ICE

    S13:E1

    John Oliver discusses ICE's repeated atrocities over the past months and explores the massive entity overseeing it all: the Department of Homeland Security. How it started, who runs it, and how many hats Kristi Noem owns.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 2 - February 22, 2026: Twitter
    4.4/10(23 votes)

    #17 - February 22, 2026: Twitter

    S13:E2

    John Oliver discusses how an already flawed Twitter got worse under Elon Musk, how it continues to impact us all, and what it has to do with the 30-40 trillion cells humans are composed of.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 28 - November 2, 2025: Police Chases
    4.6/10(17 votes)

    #18 - November 2, 2025: Police Chases

    S12:E28

    John Oliver discusses the prevalence of police chases, and why the risks involved can massively outweigh the benefits.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 27 - October 26, 2025: Medicare Advantage
    4.8/10(16 votes)

    #19 - October 26, 2025: Medicare Advantage

    S12:E27

    John Oliver details what Medicare Advantage is, and why it basically has all the pitfalls of private insurance.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 25 - October 5, 2025: Presidential Libraries
    5.0/10(18 votes)

    #20 - October 5, 2025: Presidential Libraries

    S12:E25

    John Oliver discusses what presidential libraries are exactly, how presidents use them to fundraise in office, how Donald Trump might make existing problems even worse and – of course – some stuff about one president's unique inseam.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 29 - November 9, 2025: Felony Murder
    5.0/10(18 votes)

    #21 - November 9, 2025: Felony Murder

    S12:E29

    John Oliver discusses felony murder, a way you can wind up in prison for murder without actually killing anyone, and why Cillian Murphy won an Oscar, not his parents whose hot Irish sex led to his existence. Those last two things are related. We swear.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 14 - June 8, 2025: Med Spas
    5.4/10(22 votes)

    #22 - June 8, 2025: Med Spas

    S12:E14

    John Oliver discusses the feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Mike Lindell's trial, the lack of regulation at med spas, and a fun new way to spell "scumbag."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 30 - November 16, 2025: Public Media
    5.4/10(18 votes)

    #23 - November 16, 2025: Public Media

    S12:E30

    John Oliver discusses Jeffrey Epstein's emails about Donald Trump, the vital role public media plays in the lives of many Americans, and some absolutely essential questions about a squirrel named Peapod.

    Director:Paul Pennolino
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 26 - October 12, 2025: Paramount Skydance Merger
    5.6/10(19 votes)

    #24 - October 12, 2025: Paramount Skydance Merger

    S12:E26

    John Oliver discusses the Paramount Skydance merger, and how they've named Bari Weiss the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 2 - February 23, 2025: Facebook
    5.7/10(23 votes)

    #25 - February 23, 2025: Facebook

    S12:E2

    John Oliver discusses Facebook's controversial new plans for content moderation and DOGE's continued firing of government workers, including some of America's best dorks: park rangers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"May 10, 2026: Shadow Docket" is the worst rated episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver". It scored 3/10 based on 18 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/10/2026. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "March 29, 2026: Hungary".