Ep 27. October 15, 2017

In this episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver dives into the complex and controversial issue of gerrymandering in the United States. Gerrymandering is the process of manipulating electoral district boundaries in order to benefit a particular political party or group. It's a practice that has been used by both Democrats and Republicans in order to gain an advantage in elections, and it's become increasingly problematic in recent years due to advances in technology that make it easier to manipulate voting districts.

Oliver begins by outlining the history of gerrymandering, which dates back to the early days of the Republic. He explains how the practice got its name from Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts governor who redrew district lines in a way that favored his party in 1812. The resulting districts were said to look like a salamander, and the term "gerrymander" was born.

Oliver then goes on to explore how gerrymandering works in practice. He explains that by carving up districts in a certain way, politicians can effectively nullify the votes of people who don't agree with them. For example, if a state is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, a party in power could redraw the district lines so that they win a majority of seats despite losing the popular vote.

To illustrate this, Oliver uses a series of maps and diagrams to show how gerrymandering can distort the political landscape in a given state. He points out that this is not just a theoretical exercise: there are real-world examples of gerrymandering that have had a significant impact on elections. For instance, in North Carolina, Republicans are accused of drawing districts that are unconstitutionally racially biased.

Oliver next turns to the legal challenges to gerrymandering, which have been ongoing for decades. He outlines the different criteria that judges use to evaluate gerrymanders, including the idea of "one person, one vote" and the requirement that districts be contiguous and compact. He also explains how the Supreme Court has struggled to come up with a consistent standard for evaluating gerrymandering cases, and how some justices have argued that it's not a problem the court should be trying to solve.

Despite the challenges, Oliver ends on a hopeful note. He points out that grassroots movements have emerged to combat gerrymandering, such as the group End Gerrymandering Now in Pennsylvania. He also notes that there is a growing awareness of the issue among the general public, which could put pressure on politicians to stop the practice. Overall, Oliver argues that while gerrymandering is a tough problem to solve, it's one that can't be ignored if we want to have fair elections in the United States.

Overall, this episode of Last Week Tonight is a thought-provoking exploration of the issue of gerrymandering. Using his trademark humor and wit, John Oliver manages to make a complex topic accessible to a broad audience, while providing important insights into the ways in which our political system can be manipulated to serve the interests of a few. Whether you're a political junkie or just a casual observer of American politics, this episode is a must-watch.