Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 6 Episode 11 May 12, 2019

In the 11th episode of the 6th season of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which aired on May 12, 2019, Oliver dives into the topic of state legislatures and their redistricting efforts. Redistricting, or the process of drawing boundaries for congressional districts, has long been a controversial issue in American politics. The most recent round of redistricting occurred after the 2010 census and the results have been hotly debated ever since.

Oliver begins by explaining how gerrymandering, or the practice of drawing district lines to favor one political party over another, has been used by both Democrats and Republicans throughout history. However, he notes that recent advances in technology have made it easier for state legislatures to manipulate district boundaries in a way that is more precise and effective than ever before.

Oliver then turns his attention to a specific case currently before the Supreme Court, involving the state of North Carolina and allegations of partisan gerrymandering. He explains how Republicans in the state legislature drew district lines with the explicit intention of favoring their party and how this has led to a situation where Democrats are consistently underrepresented in North Carolina's congressional delegation. Oliver argues that this is not only a problem in North Carolina, but is also a symptom of a larger problem with the way that state legislatures are redrawn.

To illustrate his point, Oliver reminds viewers of a common schoolyard game where a group of kids draw lines on a basketball court and then take turns shooting baskets. He explains that the game becomes unfair when one kid is given the power to draw the lines and consistently draws them in a way that favors his team. This is essentially what is happening in state legislatures all across the country, where politicians are given the power to draw district lines and use that power to give their party an unfair advantage.

Oliver notes that there are some efforts underway to reform the redistricting process, including the use of independent commissions to draw district lines. However, he suggests that these efforts will only be successful if people become more engaged in the political process and demand fair representation. He encourages viewers to get involved with local politics and support efforts to make redistricting more transparent and accountable.

In addition to the main segment on redistricting, the episode also includes shorter segments on a variety of other topics. Oliver discusses recent controversies about the genealogy website Ancestry.com and the ethics of using personal DNA data for commercial purposes. He also provides an update on the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, including the failed attempts by opposition leader Juan Guaido to oust President Nicolas Maduro from power. Finally, Oliver closes the episode with a clip highlighting some of the most absurd moments from President Donald Trump's recent speeches and rallies.

Overall, the May 12, 2019 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is a thought-provoking examination of a complex political issue that has significant implications for our democracy. Through his trademark combination of humor and insight, Oliver provides a compelling argument for why the current redistricting process is unfair and what can be done to fix it.