Last Week Tonight with John Oliver poster

Season 8

2021 · 30 episodes

Episodes

1Episode 210: The Next PandemicMain 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.
2Episode 211: MeatpackingMain story: Working conditions in the meatpacking industry; plus, the Texas power crisis in the wake of severe winter weather.
3Episode 212: RaidsMain story: How few guardrails there are on the use of police raids; plus, New York governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals.
4Episode 213: UnemploymentMain story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss.
5Episode 214: Tucker CarlsonMain story: Where Tucker Carlson came from and why he's admired by white nationalists; plus, reaction to the Biden COVID-19 relief bill.
6Episode 215: PlasticsMain 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.
7Episode 216: The National DebtMain 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.
8Episode 217: Long-Term CareMain 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.
9Episode 218: BankruptcyJohn 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.
10Episode 219: VaccineJohn Oliver explains why some people don't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured.
11Episode 220: HairJohn Oliver discusses the importance of black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.
12Episode 221: Stand Your GroundMain 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.
13Episode 222: SponconJohn 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.)
14Episode 223: Asian AmericansJohn 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.
15Episode 224: Prison HeatJohn 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.
16Episode 225: PACEJohn 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.
17Episode 226: Health Care Sharing MinistriesHealth 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.
18Episode 227: Housing DiscriminationJohn 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.
19Episode 228: Emergency Medical ServicesJohn 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.
20Episode 229: Opioids III – The SacklersJohn 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.
21Episode 230: RansomwareJohn Oliver discusses ransomware attacks, why they’re on the rise, and what can be done about them.
22August 22, 2021: AfghanistanJohn Oliver discusses the end of America's war with Afghanistan and the humanitarian crisis being left behind.
23September 12, 2021: LukashenkoJohn Oliver discusses the longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and the many reasons his country's citizens have not to like him.
24September 26, 2021: Voting RightsJohn 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.
25October 3, 2021: PFASJohn Oliver discusses PFAS - a class of chemicals linked to an array of health issues - and why their widespread use isn't as magical as it may seem.
26Episode 235John Oliver discusses how misinformation spreads among immigrant diaspora communities, how little some platforms have done to stop it, and, most importantly, how to have a very good morning.
27Episode 236John Oliver discusses Taiwan's history of being governed by other countries, its fraught present-day relationship with China, and what its citizens would want their future to look like.
28Episode 237With homelessness increasing nationwide, John Oliver takes a look at the way we discuss the unhoused, what policy failures are making the problem worse, and how we can help.
29Episode 238John Oliver discusses the current state of the nation's power grid, why it needs fixing, and, of course, how fun the balloons are.
30Episode 239John Oliver discusses the mechanics of union busting, why the companies who do it face so few consequences, and what it really means when your manager wants to talk to you about "your attendance."