Episodes
S12 E1 - February 16, 2025: Trump 2.0
February 15, 202540minJohn Oliver discusses the first four weeks of Donald Trump’s second term as president.Free trial of MaxS12 E2 - February 23, 2025: Facebook
February 22, 202539minJohn Oliver discusses Facebook’s controversial new plans for content moderation and DOGE’s continued firing of government workers.Free trial of MaxS12 E3 - March 2, 2025: Tipping
March 1, 202540minJohn Oliver discusses tipping, why it’s more complicated and fraught than you might realize, and how we can address some of the issues surrounding it.Free trial of MaxS12 E4 - March 9, 2025: ICE Detention Facilities
March 8, 202539minJohn Oliver discusses ICE detention facilities, and why it is understandable if our studio audience would rather watch Drew Barrymore.Free trial of MaxS12 E5 - March 16, 2025: Sports Betting
March 15, 202543minJohn Oliver discusses the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, the continued firing of federal workers, the world of sports betting, and more.Free trial of MaxS12 E6 - March 30, 2025: Tasers
March 29, 202539minJohn 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.Free trial of MaxS12 E7 - April 6, 2025: Trans Athletes
April 5, 202548minJohn Oliver discusses Donald Trump’s sweeping new set of tariffs and why trans athletes seem to be at the center of U.S. politics.Free trial of MaxS12 E8 - April 13, 2025: Trump & Tariffs
April 12, 202540minJohn 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.Free trial of MaxS12 E9 - April 27, 2025: Health Agency Cuts
April 26, 202540minJohn 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.Free trial of MaxS12 E10 - May 4, 2025: Deportations
May 3, 202540minJohn Oliver discusses the recent deportations by the Trump administration.Free trial of MaxS12 E11 - May 11, 2025: Alliance Defending Freedom
May 10, 202540minJohn 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.Free trial of MaxS12 E12 - May 18, 2025: Trump and the Press
May 17, 202540minJohn 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"!Free trial of MaxS12 E13 - June 1, 2025: Air Traffic Controllers
May 31, 202538minJohn 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.Free trial of MaxS12 E14 - June 8, 2025: Med Spas
June 7, 202539minJohn 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."Free trial of MaxS12 E15 - June 15, 2025: Child Incarceration
June 14, 202549minJohn 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.Free trial of MaxS12 E16 - June 22, 2025: AI Content
June 21, 202540minJohn 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. (Note: This episode was taped Saturday, June 21.)Free trial of Max