The Best Episodes Written By Jill Twiss

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: Jill Twiss

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: Jill Twiss

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: Jill Twiss

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

Writer: Jill Twiss

John talks about the product recall going on at General Motors, the EU Court of Justice "Right to be Forgotten" ruling and updates us on how the Indian election is going with help from Fareed Zakaria.

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

Translators who have aided the U.S. Military in Afghanistan and Iraq are in great danger in their home countries, but red tape is making it impossible for many of them to leave. John Oliver interviews FNU Mohammad, one translator who made it out. Plus, since cameras aren’t allowed in the Supreme Court discussions, most coverage of the important cases looks like garbage. John fixes that problem with real animals and fake paws.

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

The US Senate Torture Report revealed horrifying details of America's interrogation program. Helen Mirren will fill you in. Plus, information about the 2015 European Games and the Canadian Senate expenses scandal.

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Jill Twiss

Puerto Rico is suffering a massive debt crisis. Lin-Manuel Miranda joins John Oliver to call for relief.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: Jill Twiss

John Oliver on “Brexiting” from the EU: There might be an innate British desire to diss Europe, but Last Week Tonight lays out exactly why it’s a mistake to leave the EU.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: Jill Twiss

Many American companies do not offer paid leave after the birth of a child, which means they probably shouldn’t run sappy Mother’s Day ads. Also, the Japanese have some unhealthy obsession with mascots and John proposes to adopt some of that culture in the U.S. government agencies as well.

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Jill Twiss

John Oliver explains why America’s bail system is better for the reality TV industry than it is for the justice system.

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Jill Twiss

Online harassment is a major problem, but it’s rarely prosecuted. If only we’d been warned about this in the early days of the internet.

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Jill Twiss

This week’s gay rights victory was historic, but the transgender community still faces staggering challenges. John Oliver focuses on the “T” in “LGBT."

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Jill Twiss

Special districts spend more public money than all city governments combined. That's odd considering most of us don't know they exist.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: Jill Twiss

John talks about ISIS and student loan debt. Musical group A Great Big World make a special appearance.

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

John talks about the late Antonin Scalia's love of the Letter of the Law, Chipotle's food safety problems, how Voter IDs laws should be applied to those who write them, and New Zealand's economic development minister Steven Joyce.

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Jill Twiss

Lawmakers have to raise money to keep their jobs, but a surprising amount of their job now consists of raising money. John Oliver sits down with Congressman Steve Israel to discuss the costs of political spending.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: Jill Twiss

Last Week Tonight Tackles U.S. Primaries and Caucuses: The United States selection process for presidential nominees is convoluted — to say the least. Nevertheless, John Oliver reminds Americans that the "middle of the game" is the worst possible time to change the rules.

Director: Paul Pennolino

Writer: Jill Twiss

John talks about Iraq, Antarctica tourism and Dr. Oz's "Miracle Drug".

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

John talks about human rights violations in the Middle East, nuclear disarmament and Russia's science satellite that lost communication.

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

Focuses on the shooting of Michael Brown and police militarization in Ferguson, MO. John also discusses the topic of equal pay for equal work.

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

John talks about the NFL's decision on Ray Rice's contract, the international response to ISIS, Scotland's separation from the United Kingdom and Twitter hashtags that are being misused by corporations.

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

John Oliver talks about a Russian submarine in Sweden, ebola in New York, added sugar in food, Rob Ford's brother and interviews Jane Goodall.

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

While midterm coverage is largely focused on the parts of Congress that do very little, vital (and bizarre) midterm elections are going unexamined. State legislators pass a lot of bills, and some of that efficiency is thanks to a group called ALEC that writes legislation for them. It’s as shady as it sounds!

Director: Joe Perota

Writer: Jill Twiss

For inventors, patents are an essential protection against theft. But when patent trolls abuse the system by stockpiling patents and threatening lawsuits, businesses are forced to shell out tons of money. Also, CNN produced an actual doomsday video to broadcast when the world is ending and it’s incredibly dull. We've enlisted Martin Sheen to help make humanity’s final moments happier!

Director: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Jill Twiss