Ep 30. November 11, 2018

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is a satirical news program on HBO that airs every Sunday. The show is hosted by British comedian John Oliver, who presents a humorous and insightful take on current events in the United States and around the world.

In season 5 episode 30, which aired on November 11, 2018, Oliver begins by discussing the recent midterm elections in the United States. He highlights the historic number of women, people of color, and LGBTQ candidates who were elected to office, but also notes that voter suppression and gerrymandering are still major issues that need to be addressed.

Oliver then turns his attention to the subject of veterans, in honor of Veterans Day. He highlights the challenges that veterans face when returning to civilian life, such as finding employment and accessing healthcare. He also criticizes the Department of Veterans Affairs for its systemic failures, including the long wait times and subpar care that many veterans receive.

The show's main segment is about immigration courts, which are part of the Department of Justice. Oliver explains that these courts are not part of the judicial system, but are instead administrative bodies that are subject to political pressure from the White House. He notes that the Trump administration has been particularly aggressive in pushing for stricter immigration policies, which has resulted in a backlog of over 700,000 cases in the immigration court system.

Oliver interviews retired immigration judge Paul Wickham Schmidt, who explains how the immigration court system works and why it is so overwhelmed. Schmidt also discusses some of the troubling trends that he observed during his time as a judge, including children being forced to represent themselves in court and judges being pressured to rule against immigrants.

Oliver concludes the episode by discussing the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has been largely ignored by the mainstream media. He highlights the role that the United States has played in the conflict, both through its support of the Saudi-led coalition and through its own military actions in the region. He argues that the situation in Yemen is a humanitarian crisis that deserves more attention and action from the international community.

Overall, season 5 episode 30 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver covers a wide range of topics, from politics to veterans to immigration to international relations. As always, Oliver's wit and humor make the show an entertaining and informative experience for viewers.