Season pulse
Episodes
30 episodes
Brexit III
The UK could officially leave the European Union next month, which would be a huge change with hugely damaging consequences.
Psychics
Psychics may seem harmless and fun on TV, but they can make a lot of money by exploiting vulnerable people.
Automation
Automation often seems like a scary new problem, but it’s neither entirely scary nor entirely new.
Robocalls
Robocalls are a growing problem. If only we could make the FCC care a little bit more about fixing it.
Public Shaming
John Oliver talks about the power of public shaming, good and bad.
WWE
John Oliver discusses how the WWE takes care of its wrestlers — and how it doesn’t.
Mobile Homes
Mobile homes may seem like an affordable housing option, but large investment companies are making them less and less so.
Opioids II
Following some recent revelations about the role of large companies in America’s ongoing opioid epidemic, John Oliver takes another look at the crisis.
Mueller Report
Following the release of the Mueller Report, John Oliver discusses what we’ve learned.
Lethal Injections
John Oliver discusses the lethal injection process, which is definitely not as pleasant as talking about a squeaking frog.
Green New Deal
With the Green New Deal sparking a national conversation about all the ways to combat climate change, John Oliver looks at a few potential solutions.
Death Investigations
America’s system for conducting death investigations is a mess. John Oliver explains why we should all be a little more concerned about fixing it.
Medical Devices
John Oliver discusses the medical device industry, which is a huge business with a hugely troubling lack of regulation.
Equal Rights Amendment
There’s still nothing in our constitution that explicitly prohibits sex discrimination. John Oliver talks about how to fix that.
Impeachment
With a national conversation underway about the possibility of impeachment, John Oliver discusses whether the benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Everest
Climbing Mount Everest has become dangerously popular. John Oliver explains why.
Warehouses
It’s easy to buy things online, and even easier not to think about how they get to you. John Oliver discusses what happens when you click “buy now.”
Boris Johnson
John Oliver explains how Britain’s new prime minister, Boris Johnson, has succeeded – not despite his bumbling persona, but often because of it.
Prison Labor
John Oliver explains how prisoners make and spend money, and how companies can profit at the expense of their families.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
John Oliver takes a look at the president of Turkmenistan, a dangerous autocrat with some notably strange obsessions.
Bias in Medicine
John Oliver discusses the roles that gender and racial bias can play in medical treatment.
Filibuster
John Oliver explains why filibusters exist, why they shouldn't, and why it's stupid to drink coffee like a cat.
Legal Immigration
Legal immigration is a term which was repeated throughout the Trump presidency. But John Oliver explains its absurdity as well as why people resort to illegal means to enter the country. He breaks down all the four ways a person can enter USA legally: Family, Employment, Good Luck (Visa Lottery), Bad Luck (Refugee).
Compounding Pharmacies
Compounding pharmacies create medication tailored to the specific needs of individual patients. John Oliver explains why this small corner of the drug market can cause big problems.
One Child Policy
John Oliver discusses China’s one-child policy, and all its consequences, intended and not.
Weather
John talks about Weather forecasting, Barry Lee Myers and the National Weather Service
Trump & Syria
John Oliver discusses the alarming decision to pull U.S. troops away from the border between Turkey and Syria.
Voting Machines
John Oliver discusses how voting machines work, how they don’t, and how we can fix them.
SLAPP Suits
After winning a legal battle involving a coal executive and a giant squirrel, John Oliver explains how SLAPP suits are designed to stifle public dissent.
The Census
Main story: 2020 United States Census; plus, the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump and Chiitan.