Ep 2. February 24, 2019

In the second episode of Last Week Tonight's sixth season, host John Oliver tackled a variety of topics, as is typical of the show. The episode begins with a humorous segment on the ongoing Brexit debacle, with Oliver pointing out the absurdity of the entire situation and noting that the UK's exit from the European Union is still far from finalized. He highlights the problems that the divide between those supporting Brexit and those against it causes within the UK, as well as the ways in which various other factors, such as immigration and national identity, are intertwined with the main issue.

After this, Oliver turns his attention to the crisis in Venezuela. He discusses the situation in the country, which has been ravaged by political and economic turmoil, and notes the role that the US has played in escalating the crisis. He unsurprisingly takes issue with the way that President Trump and other government officials have been handling the situation, criticizing the idea of US military intervention and highlighting the potential consequences that this could have. Oliver also highlights the complexities of the situation in Venezuela, noting that while its current president, Nicolás Maduro, has been widely criticized, past US intervention in the region has caused more harm than good.

The episode then takes a lighter turn with a segment on the National Weather Service. Oliver notes that, while many people may take the NWS for granted, the agency is incredibly important and provides vital information that helps people prepare for natural disasters. He highlights the challenges that meteorologists and other NWS staff face in doing their jobs, including dealing with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Oliver also points out some of the ways in which the Trump administration has been undermining the agency, including by cutting funding and trying to create a new system for weather data that could potentially be manipulated for political gain.

Turning back to politics, Oliver then tackles the subject of public shaming. He discusses the rise of social media call-outs and the ways in which public shaming can be both productive and harmful. Oliver points out some of the cases in which public shaming has led to positive outcomes, such as in the case of Harvey Weinstein and other high-profile figures who have been accused of sexual assault. However, he also notes that shame can be a blunt instrument, and that there have been cases in which people have been unfairly targeted and subjected to more punishment than they might have deserved.

Finally, the episode ends with a segment on the opioid crisis in the US. Oliver discusses the ways in which pharmaceutical companies and doctors have contributed to the crisis, and notes the human toll that it has taken on individuals and communities. He highlights some of the measures that have been taken to try to address the crisis, such as restrictions on prescription opioid use and the use of medication-assisted treatment. However, Oliver also points out that more needs to be done to combat the crisis, and that the government and healthcare industry need to be held accountable for their roles in creating and exacerbating the problem.

Overall, the second episode of Last Week Tonight's sixth season is a typically diverse and engaging one, with Oliver tackling a variety of important and timely subjects. As always, his humor and insight make for an entertaining and informative viewing experience.