Ep 21. August 13, 2017

In the season 4 episode 21 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which aired on August 13, 2017, the host tackled the topic of Nuclear Waste. The episode opened with a humorous segment, highlighting the absurdity and danger of nuclear waste, which subjected viewers to a montage of government officials denying the existence of climate change. Oliver then went on to explain how nuclear waste disposal is a problem that affects everyone, and how the US has failed to address it.

Oliver breaks down the different types of nuclear waste, the risks associated with it and the different methods of disposal. Through various examples, such as the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Oliver makes it clear that storing nuclear waste does not ensure public safety and is not sustainable in the long run.

The host also talks about the Yucca Mountain facility, which was supposed to be the United States' central repository for nuclear waste. However, the facility was never opened due to local opposition from Nevada. Despite the project being seemingly abandoned, the government has spent over $20 billion on it, the amount of which has left Oliver reeling.

Oliver then goes on to explain how the concept of nuclear waste has become a political issue with a significant lack of progress. He takes a dig at the Trump administration for proposing to cut funding for the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy - even as it tries to solve the very issues that the show addresses.

He wraps up the episode by suggesting different alternatives to nuclear waste disposal, such as nuclear reprocessing, which is currently banned in the United States, and underground storage in granite. He also talks about the importance of engaging the public to make them understand the problem and to demand action from policymakers.

Overall, this episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver offers a witty and informative take on an important public issue that has not received enough attention. Oliver's usual humor and sarcasm are in full display, but he never lets his message be obscured. The show is informative, eye-opening, and, at times, sobering, as it makes clear that nuclear waste is a time bomb that we must defuse before it is too late.