Ep 29. Episode 88

In this episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the host tackles a variety of topics that have been in the news recently. Oliver starts off by discussing the ongoing controversy surrounding the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has been plagued by scandal for several years. He highlights the long wait times for veterans seeking medical care and the recent revelations that VA officials have been manipulating wait-time data to make it appear as though they were meeting performance targets.

From there, Oliver shifts gears to focus on the proliferation of police militarization in the United States. He points out that police departments across the country are increasingly using military-style equipment, such as armored vehicles, that are designed for war zones. He argues that this trend is contributing to the growing divide between law enforcement and the communities they are meant to serve, and that it is symptomatic of a larger problem with police culture in America.

Next, Oliver takes on the contentious issue of the death penalty in the United States. He begins by examining the case of Richard Glossip, a man who has been on death row in Oklahoma for more than 20 years despite evidence suggesting that he may be innocent. Oliver uses this case to illustrate the problems with the death penalty system in America, including the role of race and wealth in determining who receives the death penalty and the fact that there have been many cases of wrongful convictions.

Finally, Oliver concludes the episode with a segment on the state of the Miss America pageant. He notes that the pageant has recently undergone significant changes, including the removal of the swimsuit competition. However, Oliver argues that the pageant is still deeply problematic, both in terms of its outdated gender norms and its history of discriminatory practices.

Throughout the episode, Oliver uses his trademark wit and humor to tackle these serious topics in a way that is both informative and engaging. He draws on a range of sources, from news reports to interviews with experts and activists, to paint a nuanced picture of each issue. Above all, Oliver stresses the importance of looking beyond the headlines and thinking critically about the complex problems facing our society today.