Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 8, Episode 6: Episode 215: Plastics

1

Episode 210: The Next Pandemic

Main story: What could cause the next pandemic, what we can do to avoid it, and why you shouldn’t kiss pigs; plus, Impeachment Part 2.

30 min

2

Episode 211: Meatpacking

Main story: Working conditions in the meatpacking industry; plus, the Texas power crisis in the wake of severe winter weather.

30 min

3

Episode 212: Raids

Main story: How few guardrails there are on the use of police raids; plus, New York governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals.

30 min

4

Episode 213: Unemployment

Main story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss.

30 min

5

Episode 214: Tucker Carlson

Main story: Where Tucker Carlson came from and why he's admired by white nationalists; plus, reaction to the Biden COVID-19 relief bill.

30 min

6

Episode 215: Plastics

Main story: How plastics are harming the planet, and why recycling isn’t the solution you think it is; plus, the Atlanta mass shootings and hate crimes against Asian-Americans.

30 min

7

Episode 216: The National Debt

Main story: How national debt works and why it might be more helpful than you'd think; plus, Giuliani freaks over Lil Nas X; Amazon's anti-union tactics; Peeps and Pepsi form an unholy alliance.

30 min

8

Episode 217: Long-Term Care

Main story: Why nursing homes and assisted living facilities need fixing; plus, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program; Matt Gaetz and Venmo; R.I.P. Yahoo! Answers.

32 min

9

Episode 218: Bankruptcy

John Oliver details why people file for bankruptcy, how needlessly difficult the process can be, and the ways we can better serve people struggling with debt.

30 min

10

Episode 219: Vaccine

John Oliver explains why some people don't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured.

30 min

11

Episode 220: Hair

John Oliver discusses the importance of black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.

30 min

12

Episode 221: Stand Your Ground

Main Story: John Oliver takes a look at why “stand your ground” laws were created, who they protect, and, crucially, who they don’t. Plus, a look at the past week’s events in Israel.

30 min

13

Episode 222: Sponcon

John Oliver explains why the integrity of local news is so important, how sponsored content could damage that integrity, and why the Venus Veil is so much more than a blanket. (It's not.)

30 min

14

Episode 223: Asian Americans

John Oliver discusses the large and diverse group of people who fall under the term "Asian American", the history of the model minority stereotype, and why our conversations on the subject need to be better-informed.

30 min

15

Episode 224: Prison Heat

John Oliver explains how the failure to air-condition prisons can cause both physical and mental health issues for incarcerated people, and why the solution is simpler than you might think. Plus, some truly unique local car dealership ads.

30 min

16

Episode 225: PACE

John Oliver explains how PACE, a program meant to pay for environmentally-friendly home renovations, is fundamentally flawed and can put people at risk of losing their homes. Plus, why hosting summer Olympics in Tokyo this year is a bad idea and why dog shows are weird.

30 min

17

Episode 226: Health Care Sharing Ministries

Health Care Sharing Ministries, or HCSMs, advertise themselves as a more affordable, faith-based alternative to health insurance. But John Oliver explains some of the massive limitations these plans can have.

32 min

18

Episode 227: Housing Discrimination

John Oliver breaks down the long history of housing discrimination in the U.S., the damage it's done, and, crucially, what we can do about it.

39 min

19

Episode 228: Emergency Medical Services

John Oliver explains how emergency medical services function in the U.S., why they can be so expensive, and what we can do to fix things.

31 min

20

Episode 229: Opioids III – The Sacklers

John Oliver explains how the Sackler family has been handling lawsuits related to the opioid crisis, how hard they've been fighting to defend their name, and why you should judge the situation for yourself.

32 min

21

Episode 230: Ransomware

John Oliver discusses ransomware attacks, why they’re on the rise, and what can be done about them.

32 min

22

Episode 231: Afghanistan

John Oliver discusses the end of America's war with Afghanistan and the humanitarian crisis being left behind.

32 min

23

Episode 232: Lukashenko

John Oliver discusses the longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and the many reasons his country's citizens have not to like him.

28 min

24

Episode 233: Voting Rights

John Oliver discusses the current attacks on voting rights, who's behind them, and what we can do about it. Plus, John enters several paintings in the annual Duck Stamp contest.

40 min

25

Episode 234: PFAS

John Oliver discusses PFAS - a class of chemicals linked to an array of health issues - and why their widespread use isn't as magical as it may seem.

28 min

26

Episode 235

John Oliver discusses how misinformation spreads among immigrant diaspora communities, how little some platforms have done to stop it, and, most importantly, how to have a very good morning.

29 min

27

Episode 236

John Oliver discusses Taiwan's history of being governed by other countries, its fraught present-day relationship with China, and what its citizens would want their future to look like.

31 min

28

Episode 237

With homelessness increasing nationwide, John Oliver takes a look at the way we discuss the unhoused, what policy failures are making the problem worse, and how we can help.

31 min

29

Episode 238

John Oliver discusses the current state of the nation's power grid, why it needs fixing, and, of course, how fun the balloons are.

29 min

30

Episode 239

John Oliver discusses the mechanics of union busting, why the companies who do it face so few consequences, and what it really means when your manager wants to talk to you about "your attendance."

39 min