Back to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Season 12

Season 12

2025
30 Episodes

Episodes

February 16, 2025: Trump 2.0
1

1. February 16, 2025: Trump 2.0

Feb 16, 2025
40 min
5.4

John Oliver discusses the first four weeks of Donald Trump's second term as president, the strategy behind some of the choices his administration has made, and why it is indeed f**k time. You heard us: It's f**k time.

February 23, 2025: Facebook
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2. February 23, 2025: Facebook

Feb 23, 2025
39 min
5.4

John Oliver discusses Facebook's controversial new plans for content moderation and DOGE's continued firing of government workers, including some of America's best dorks: park rangers.

March 2, 2025: Tipping
3

3. March 2, 2025: Tipping

Mar 2, 2025
40 min
5.5

John Oliver discusses the right-wing personalities who are now in charge of the FBI, the White House's disastrous meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and why tipping is more complicated and fraught than you might realize.

March 9, 2025: ICE Detention Facilities
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4. March 9, 2025: ICE Detention Facilities

Mar 9, 2025
40 min
5.6

John Oliver discusses Donald Trump's address to Congress, why Republicans have been having a rough time at town halls, the reality of ICE detention facilities, and one very special establishment in Maine.

March 16, 2025: Sports Betting
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5. March 16, 2025: Sports Betting

Mar 16, 2025
44 min
5.7

John Oliver discusses the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, the continued firing of federal workers, the world of sports betting, and what John likes to read in his spare time. You'll see.

March 30, 2025: Tasers
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6. March 30, 2025: Tasers

Mar 30, 2025
40 min
5.6

John Oliver discusses whether Tasers are as safe and effective as the company that makes them claims, the broader effect Tasers have had on policing, and why you shouldn't test Tasers out on any of your family members.

April 6, 2025: Trans Athletes
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7. April 6, 2025: Trans Athletes

Apr 6, 2025
48 min
5.7

John Oliver discusses Donald Trump's sweeping new set of tariffs and why trans athletes seem to be at the center of U.S. politics.

April 13, 2025: Trump & Tariffs
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8. April 13, 2025: Trump & Tariffs

Apr 13, 2025
40 min
5.5

John Oliver discusses the ongoing chaos surrounding Donald Trump and tariffs, and why it's important to understand exactly how stupid the past week has been. Plus: Some stuff about fish having sex, why a doorbell is involved, and one very special guest.

April 27, 2025: Health Agency Cuts
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9. April 27, 2025: Health Agency Cuts

Apr 27, 2025
40 min
5.5

John Oliver discusses the budget and staffing cuts being made to public health agencies in the U.S. under RFK Jr.'s leadership, the many ways those cuts will impact all of us, and some sad news about a beloved cereal mascot.

May 4, 2025: Deportations
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10. May 4, 2025: Deportations

May 4, 2025
40 min
5.7

John Oliver discusses the recent deportations by the Trump administration.

May 11, 2025: Alliance Defending Freedom
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11. May 11, 2025: Alliance Defending Freedom

May 11, 2025
40 min
5.8

John Oliver takes a look at the Alliance Defending Freedom – the legal organization behind several landmark Supreme Court cases, including the Dobbs case that overturned Roe v. Wade. Plus, a five-star book review of a one-star book.

May 18, 2025: Trump in the Press
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12. May 18, 2025: Trump in the Press

May 18, 2025
40 min
5.4

John Oliver discusses how Donald Trump is becoming an increasing threat to the press, reveals which Minor League Baseball team we've chosen for a rebrand, and explores what it means to "serve kant"!

June 1, 2025: Air Traffic Controllers
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13. June 1, 2025: Air Traffic Controllers

Jun 1, 2025
39 min
5.4

John Oliver discusses the working conditions of air traffic controllers, why those conditions are impacting us all, and – for those under 30 – what a "floppy disk" is.

June 8, 2025: Med Spas
14

14. June 8, 2025: Med Spas

Jun 8, 2025
39 min
5.0

John Oliver discusses the feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Mike Lindell's trial, the lack of regulation at med spas, and a fun new way to spell "scumbag."

June 15, 2025: Child Incarceration
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15. June 15, 2025: Child Incarceration

Jun 15, 2025
50 min
5.3

John Oliver discusses the past week's protests against ICE's escalating deportation strategies, how the U.S. is incarcerating kids at a rate that may exceed other nations, and what it looks like to be teargassed in a chill way.

June 22, 2025: AI Content
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16. June 22, 2025: AI Content

Jun 22, 2025
40 min
5.7

John Oliver discusses the U.S.'s involvement in the war between Israel and Iran, the recent influx of AI-generated online content, and the unexpected downsides of hiking near the Hollywood sign.

June 29, 2025: Trump's Big Beautiful Bill
17

17. June 29, 2025: Trump's Big Beautiful Bill

Jun 29, 2025
40 min
5.8

John Oliver discusses the race for mayor in New York City and what could happen if Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" is passed, and unveils the new mascot for Erie, Pennsylvania's Minor League Baseball team. A mascot to eclipse all other mascots.

July 27, 2025: Gang Databases
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18. July 27, 2025: Gang Databases

Jul 27, 2025
43 min
5.8

John Oliver discusses why Donald Trump spent the past week deflecting from developments concerning Jeffrey Epstein, the massive problems caused by gang databases, and what happened at Erie's inaugural Moon Mammoths game.

August 3, 2025: Deferred Prosecution Agreements
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19. August 3, 2025: Deferred Prosecution Agreements

Aug 3, 2025
40 min
5.6

John Oliver discusses how Israel is starving civilians in Gaza by blocking vital aid, how deferred prosecution agreements are helping corporations sweep serious crimes under the rug, and the least horny message you could possibly get on Hinge.

August 10, 2025: Deportation Promise
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20. August 10, 2025: Deportation Promise

Aug 10, 2025
40 min
6.0

John Oliver discusses the Trump administration's promise to deport one million immigrants, what the follow through on that promise looks like in practice, and what the actual rules are about the masked police arresting civilians across the country.

August 17, 2025: Make America Healthy Again
21

21. August 17, 2025: Make America Healthy Again

Aug 17, 2025
45 min
5.6

John Oliver discusses why Donald Trump seized control of the police in Washington, D.C., where the "Make America Healthy Again" movement in the U.S. could be headed, and whether or not you can buy testicles on Amazon. Three issues of equal importance.

September 7, 2025: Higher Education
22

22. September 7, 2025: Higher Education

Sep 7, 2025
39 min
5.6

John Oliver discusses Florida's move to end vaccine mandates, Trump's war on higher education, and why universities should start acting more like tough little shrimp. Ya, you heard us: tough little shrimp.

September 21, 2025: Jimmy Kimmel Suspension
23

23. September 21, 2025: Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

Sep 21, 2025
40 min
5.8

John Oliver discusses ABC's move to pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air, what it has to do with Brendan Carr and the FCC, and what it means for free speech in the United States, plus some pertinent information about one very depressed loaf of bread.

September 28, 2025: Benjamin Netanyahu
24

24. September 28, 2025: Benjamin Netanyahu

Sep 28, 2025
45 min
5.8

John Oliver discusses Benjamin Netanyahu's grip on power in Israel, why he's allied with some of the most extreme voices in his country today, and finally, a summary of one iconic meltdown we think TikTok is gonna wanna revisit.

October 5, 2025: Presidential Libraries
25

25. October 5, 2025: Presidential Libraries

Oct 5, 2025
40 min
4.6

John Oliver discusses what presidential libraries are exactly, how presidents use them to fundraise in office, how Donald Trump might make existing problems even worse and – of course – some stuff about one president's unique inseam.

October 12, 2025: Paramount Skydance Merger
26

26. October 12, 2025: Paramount Skydance Merger

Oct 12, 2025
38 min
5.6

John Oliver discusses the Paramount Skydance merger, and how they've named Bari Weiss the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News.

October 26, 2025: Medicare Advantage
27

27. October 26, 2025: Medicare Advantage

Oct 26, 2025
39 min
5.2

John Oliver details what Medicare Advantage is, and why it basically has all the pitfalls of private insurance.

November 2, 2025: Police Chases
28

28. November 2, 2025: Police Chases

Nov 2, 2025
50 min
5.0

John Oliver discusses the prevalence of police chases, and why the risks involved can massively outweigh the benefits.

November 9, 2025: Felony Murder
29

29. November 9, 2025: Felony Murder

Nov 9, 2025
39 min
5.4

John Oliver discusses felony murder, a way you can wind up in prison for murder without actually killing anyone, and why Cillian Murphy won an Oscar, not his parents whose hot Irish sex led to his existence. Those last two things are related. We swear.

November 16, 2025
30

30. November 16, 2025

Nov 16, 2025