Awesome Last Week Tonight

Last Week Tonight takes its foot off the pedal and talks about something a little less depressing than usual. Each U.S. cent costs nearly two cents to make, yet it’s considered worthless by most citizens and even establishments.

(PG-13: Language) Last Week Tonight looks at daily fantasy sports companies, which let you bet – and win – real money on short term performances of athletes or teams. They’re using a legal loophole so that they won’t be classified as gambling, and remain unregulated.

(PG-13: Language) Last Week Tonight looks at government policies and stigmas that make it very hard for even low-level offenders in the US to rehabilitate, causing many of them to eventually end up in jail once again – an inefficient and most of all inhumane system.

(PG-13: Language) Last Week Tonight singles out US gubernatorial candidates who oppose Medicaid expansion in their states, despite their poor constituents’ dire need of it. The irony? At least one of them has received government aid for his ailing business.

(PG-13: Language) Last Week Tonight indulges in the dying tradition of gossiping about one’s neighbor. On the eve of the Canadian federal election, LWT takes a look at the candidates for prime minister and urges Canadians to stop supporting the incumbent Stephen Harper.

(PG-13: Language) Last Week Tonight looks at how oil companies have abused North Dakota’s “friendly business climate” by washing their hands clean of accidents and paying off politicians so they’ll only pay small fines for violations.

With mental health being used to divert discussion from gun control in the United States, Last Week Tonight looks at the country’s – and perhaps the world’s –  miserable treatment of the mentally ill.

Last Week Tonight takes a break from pooping on the United States to poop on some European countries. And Fox News. While the Syrian refugee crisis is not without cost to host countries, that is no excuse for racism and discrimination. You can help.

(PG-13 Language) John Oliver takes a break from taking a break to give incoming American high school students an irreverent rundown of the things that they’ll be taught. And the ones that are actually worth learning about.

(PG-13) Last Week Tonight‘s John Oliver loves lying about history so much that he will release the book that he also lied about in a previous episode. Here’s a sample of lies from the book. So… will the show return or not?

(PG-13 Language) Despite the increasing acceptance for LGBT people in the U.S., Last Week Tonight reminds us that gender-based prejudice – and thus stupidity – is still prevalent and needs to be addressed.

(PG-13 Language) Last Week Tonight talks about how easy it is for televangelists in the US to commit fraud and keep their ill-gotten wealth. To prove the point, John Oliver went full reverend.

(PG-13) Last Week Tonight looks at the sorry state of sex education in the United States. Many schools get lessons and speakers with sexist and archaic perspectives, so at 17:51, the show presents a much better alternative.

Last Week Tonight looks at the unfortunate situation of the US capital. The District is bizarro Vatican; because Congress wants to avoid giving the city a seat at the Senate, it ends up denying the locals a say on how their home is run.

A look at the extremely unfair fixed prison sentences in the US. While many states are reworking these sentences, the reforms are currently not retroactive, even for those who’ve been handed decades for low level crimes.

(PG-13 Language) Last Week Tonight used clips from Just Eat It to dive into the US’ mind blowing food waste. Americans throw away the equivalent of 20 lb. of food per person per month, while tens of millions in their country go hungry.

Last Week Tonight explains that in the United States, teams are allowed to spend millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money for their stadiums. But studies have shown that those barely have any financial benefit for locals.

(PG-13 Language) “Official rules can end up legitimizing prejudice.” Last Week Tonight looks at the struggles of transgender people, such as dealing with ignorance and the lack of support from the government.

(PG-13 Language) Last Week Tonight and Slowpoke Spiderhands John Oliver remind us that online harassment can have real and grave effects on its victims. Worse, today’s laws and law enforcers are ill-equipped to handle the issue.

(PG-13 Language) Former FIFA VP Jack Warner got annoyed that Last Week Tonight made fun of his ad. He made his feelings known in yet another TV ad, this time with a (weak) personal insult on John Oliver. And now we have this.

(PG-13 Language) Last Week Tonight looks at the United States’ half-hearted stance on the use of violence in interrogation. The show cites the US Senate’s investigation on CIA’s torture tactics, which are as brutal as they are useless.

The indicted former FIFA VP Jack Warner bought TV airtime in his home country to play hero, threatening to release evidence of FIFA’s corruption. Last Week Tonight did the same and talked to Trinidadian viewers with this segment.

Shady FIFA President Sepp Blatter resigned on 6/2/15 – a day after John Oliver pledged to consume the products of US FIFA sponsors if they helped oust Blatter. Coincidence? John doesn’t know, but he’s a man of his word.