The Best Episodes Written By Ben Silva

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.3/10(9 votes)

   #1 - Episode 222: Sponcon

   S8:E135/23/2021

   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.)

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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2. 

   7.9/10(9 votes)

   #2 - Episode 214: Tucker Carlson

   S8:E53/14/2021

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

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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3. 

   7.9/10(7 votes)

   #3 - August 22, 2021: Afghanistan

   S8:E228/22/2021

   John Oliver discusses the end of America's war with Afghanistan and the humanitarian crisis being left behind.

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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4. 

   7.8/10(6 votes)

   #4 - Episode 219: Vaccine

   S8:E105/2/2021

   John Oliver explains why some people don't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured.

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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5. 

   7.6/10(9 votes)

   #5 - Episode 210: The Next Pandemic

   S8:E12/14/2021

   Main story: What could cause the next pandemic, what we can do to avoid it, and why you shouldn’t kiss pigs; plus, Impeachment Part 2.

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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6. 

   7.6/10(8 votes)

   #6 - Episode 212: Raids

   S8:E32/28/2021

   Main story: How few guardrails there are on the use of police raids; plus, New York governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals.

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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7. 

   7.6/10(10 votes)

   #7 - Episode 215: Plastics

   S8:E63/21/2021

   Main story: How plastics are harming the planet, and why recycling isn’t the solution you think it is; plus, the Atlanta mass shootings and hate crimes against Asian-Americans.

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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8. 

   7.5/10(8 votes)

   #8 - Episode 230: Ransomware

   S8:E218/15/2021

   John Oliver discusses ransomware attacks, why they’re on the rise, and what can be done about them.

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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9. 

   7.4/10(7 votes)

   #9 - Episode 218: Bankruptcy

   S8:E94/18/2021

   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.

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   Writer:Ben Silva

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10. 

    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #10 - Episode 224: Prison Heat

    S8:E156/13/2021

    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. Plus, some truly unique local car dealership ads.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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11. 

    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #11 - Episode 228: Emergency Medical Services

    S8:E198/1/2021

    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.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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12. 

    7.3/10(9 votes)

    #12 - Episode 211: Meatpacking

    S8:E22/21/2021

    Main story: Working conditions in the meatpacking industry; plus, the Texas power crisis in the wake of severe winter weather.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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13. 

    7.3/10(9 votes)

    #13 - Episode 213: Unemployment

    S8:E43/7/2021

    Main story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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14. 

    7.2/10(10 votes)

    #14 - Episode 216: The National Debt

    S8:E74/4/2021

    Main story: How national debt works and why it might be more helpful than you'd think; plus, Giuliani freaks over Lil Nas X; Amazon's anti-union tactics; Peeps and Pepsi form an unholy alliance.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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15. 

    7.2/10(8 votes)

    #15 - Episode 226: Health Care Sharing Ministries

    S8:E176/27/2021

    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.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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16. 

    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #16 - Episode 217: Long-Term Care

    S8:E84/11/2021

    Main story: Why nursing homes and assisted living facilities need fixing; plus, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program; Matt Gaetz and Venmo; R.I.P. Yahoo! Answers.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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17. 

    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #17 - Episode 221: Stand Your Ground

    S8:E125/16/2021

    Main Story: John Oliver takes a look at why “stand your ground” laws were created, who they protect, and, crucially, who they don’t. Plus, a look at the past week’s events in Israel.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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18. 

    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #18 - Episode 225: PACE

    S8:E166/20/2021

    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. Plus, why hosting summer Olympics in Tokyo this year is a bad idea and why dog shows are weird.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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19. 

    7.1/10(9 votes)

    #19 - Episode 227: Housing Discrimination

    S8:E187/25/2021

    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.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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20. 

    6.9/10(7 votes)

    #20 - Episode 223: Asian Americans

    S8:E146/6/2021

    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.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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21. 

    6.8/10(8 votes)

    #21 - Episode 229: Opioids III – The Sacklers

    S8:E208/8/2021

    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.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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22. 

    6.5/10(8 votes)

    #22 - Episode 220: Hair

    S8:E115/9/2021

    John Oliver discusses the importance of black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.

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    Writer:Ben Silva

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    Writer:Ben Silva