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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 7 - March 29, 2026: Hungary
    3.5/10(173 votes)

    #1 - 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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  2. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 9 - April 26, 2026: AI Chatbots
    3.8/10(180 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 11 - May 10, 2026: Shadow Docket
    3.8/10(145 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 12 - May 17, 2026: Structured Settlements
    3.9/10(135 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 6 - March 22, 2026: Police Stings
    4.1/10(173 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 10 - May 3, 2026: Gas Station Drugs
    4.2/10(148 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 8 - April 19, 2026: Prediction Markets
    4.3/10(172 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 1 - February 15, 2026: ICE
    4.5/10(240 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 2 - February 22, 2026: Twitter
    4.5/10(226 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 28 - November 2, 2025: Police Chases
    4.6/10(188 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 13 - May 31, 2026: Presidential Pardons
    4.7/10(97 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 27 - October 26, 2025: Medicare Advantage
    4.8/10(198 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 29 - November 9, 2025: Felony Murder
    4.8/10(192 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 3 - March 1, 2026: Police Body Cameras
    4.8/10(202 votes)

    #14 - 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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  15. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 4 - March 8, 2026: USAID
    4.8/10(203 votes)

    #15 - 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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  16. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 5 - March 15, 2026: J.D. Vance
    4.8/10(196 votes)

    #16 - 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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  17. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 25 - October 5, 2025: Presidential Libraries
    5.0/10(205 votes)

    #17 - 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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  18. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 30 - November 16, 2025: Public Media
    5.2/10(157 votes)

    #18 - 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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  19. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 14 - June 8, 2025: Med Spas
    5.4/10(233 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 13 Episode 14 - June 7, 2026: New College of Florida
    5.4/10(60 votes)

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

    S13:E14

    John Oliver discusses an unusual primary taking place in Colorado, and why it's coming off like the final hour in a true crime documentary. Then, he turns to New College of Florida – the small liberal arts school that has been taken over by Governor Ron DeSantis – and why nothing compares to marine biology.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 26 - October 12, 2025: Paramount Skydance Merger
    5.6/10(218 votes)

    #21 - 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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  22. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 2 - February 23, 2025: Facebook
    5.7/10(282 votes)

    #22 - 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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  23. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 15 - June 15, 2025: Child Incarceration
    5.7/10(226 votes)

    #23 - June 15, 2025: Child Incarceration

    S12:E15

    John Oliver discusses the past week's protests against ICE's escalating deportation strategies, how the U.S. is incarcerating kids at a rate that may exceed other nations, and what it looks like to be teargassed in a chill way.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 3 - March 2, 2025: Tipping
    5.8/10(271 votes)

    #24 - March 2, 2025: Tipping

    S12:E3

    John Oliver discusses the right-wing personalities who are now in charge of the FBI, the White House's disastrous meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and why tipping is more complicated and fraught than you might realize.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 12 Episode 8 - April 13, 2025: Trump & Tariffs
    5.8/10(263 votes)

    #25 - April 13, 2025: Trump & Tariffs

    S12:E8

    John Oliver discusses the ongoing chaos surrounding Donald Trump and tariffs, and why it's important to understand exactly how stupid the past week has been. Plus: Some stuff about fish having sex, why a doorbell is involved, and one very special guest.

    Director:Paul Pennolino
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"March 29, 2026: Hungary" is the worst rated episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver". It scored 3.5/10 based on 173 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/29/2026. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "April 26, 2026: AI Chatbots".