Seasons & episodes
S8 · E1Episode 210: The Next Pandemic 2021-02-14 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E2Episode 211: Meatpacking 2021-02-21 · 30 min
Main story: Working conditions in the meatpacking industry; plus, the Texas power crisis in the wake of severe winter weather.
S8 · E3Episode 212: Raids 2021-02-28 · 30 min
Main story: How few guardrails there are on the use of police raids; plus, New York governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals.
S8 · E4Episode 213: Unemployment 2021-03-07 · 30 min
Main story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss.
S8 · E5Episode 214: Tucker Carlson 2021-03-14 · 30 min
Main story: Where Tucker Carlson came from and why he's admired by white nationalists; plus, reaction to the Biden COVID-19 relief bill.
S8 · E6Episode 215: Plastics 2021-03-21 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E7Episode 216: The National Debt 2021-04-04 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E8Episode 217: Long-Term Care 2021-04-11 · 32 min
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.
S8 · E9Episode 218: Bankruptcy 2021-04-18 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E10Episode 219: Vaccine 2021-05-02 · 30 min
John Oliver explains why some people don't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured.
S8 · E11Episode 220: Hair 2021-05-09 · 30 min
John Oliver discusses the importance of black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.
S8 · E12Episode 221: Stand Your Ground 2021-05-16 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E13Episode 222: Sponcon 2021-05-23 · 30 min
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.)
S8 · E14Episode 223: Asian Americans 2021-06-06 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E15Episode 224: Prison Heat 2021-06-13 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E16Episode 225: PACE 2021-06-20 · 30 min
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.
S8 · E17Episode 226: Health Care Sharing Ministries 2021-06-27 · 32 min
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.
S8 · E18Episode 227: Housing Discrimination 2021-07-25 · 39 min
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.
S8 · E19Episode 228: Emergency Medical Services 2021-08-01 · 31 min
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.
S8 · E20Episode 229: Opioids III – The Sacklers 2021-08-08 · 32 min
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.
S8 · E21Episode 230: Ransomware 2021-08-15 · 32 min
John Oliver discusses ransomware attacks, why they’re on the rise, and what can be done about them.
S8 · E22August 22, 2021: Afghanistan 2021-08-22 · 32 min
John Oliver discusses the end of America's war with Afghanistan and the humanitarian crisis being left behind.
S8 · E23September 12, 2021: Lukashenko 2021-09-12 · 28 min
John Oliver discusses the longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and the many reasons his country's citizens have not to like him.
S8 · E24September 26, 2021: Voting Rights 2021-09-26 · 40 min
John Oliver discusses the current attacks on voting rights, who's behind them, and what we can do about it. Plus, John enters several paintings in the annual Duck Stamp contest.