Daniel O'Brien — Writer
Episodes 64
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.
Read MoreEpisode 211: Meatpacking
Main story: Working conditions in the meatpacking industry; plus, the Texas power crisis in the wake of severe winter weather.
Read MoreEpisode 212: Raids
Main story: How few guardrails there are on the use of police raids; plus, New York governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals.
Read MoreEpisode 213: Unemployment
Main story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 219: Vaccine
John Oliver explains why some people don't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.)
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 230: Ransomware
John Oliver discusses ransomware attacks, why they’re on the rise, and what can be done about them.
Read MoreEpisode 231: Afghanistan
John Oliver discusses the end of America's war with Afghanistan and the humanitarian crisis being left behind.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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.
Read MoreEpisode 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."
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2022: Critical Race Theory
John Oliver explains what critical race theory is, what it isn't, and why we can expect to hear more about it in the coming months. Plus, the Canadian trucker protests.
Read MoreFebruary 27, 2022: Sex Work
As long as sex work has existed, so have efforts to end it. John Oliver explains why criminalizing the trade hasn’t helped the most vulnerable people involved, and why we should start listening to those at the center of the conversation: sex workers. Plus, Russian invasion into Ukraine, that has placed the whole world at the brink of WW3.
Read MoreMarch 6, 2022: Wrongful Convictions
John Oliver talks about the current practices of overturning wrongful convictions and how it is quite unsupportive of even apparently innocent people. He advocates for urgent reforms in the flawed system which is clearly not working in favor of the innocents. Plus, the heroic resistance of Ukrainians against the invasion of Russia.
Read MoreMarch 13, 2022: Tickets
John Oliver explains why concert tickets are so expensive, who’s making money off of them, and which One Direction is his favorite. Plus, the introduction of some appalling anti-LGBT laws in several states.
Read MoreMarch 27, 2022: Harm Reduction
John Oliver discusses why overdoses in the U.S. have been on the rise and what we should, and shouldn't, be doing to prevent them. Plus, a rather odd yearly tradition in Nenana, Alaska.
Read MoreApril 3, 2022: Trucks
John Oliver explains how truck drivers get paid, how they often don’t, and how companies exploit them to increase profits. Plus, Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn's tales of GOP orgies and drug use has him in trouble with his own party.
Read MoreApril 10, 2022: Data Brokers
John Oliver discusses how much data brokers know about us, what they’re doing with our personal information, and one unusual way to change privacy laws. Plus, Russian State TV lies about the Ukraine war; DirecTV drops OAN; John says goodbye to AT&T.
Read MoreApril 17, 2022: Police Interrogations
John Oliver discusses the tactics that can make police interrogations so damaging, particularly to the innocent. Plus, a look at Dr. Oz's campaign for U.S. Senate.
Read MoreMay 1, 2022: Environmental Racism
John Oliver discusses environmental racism, how both government and industry are failing people of color and how zoning is manipulating the same people to live in adverse conditions. Plus, pandas doing some weird things and 'gas math' by Shaquille O'Neal.
Read MoreMay 8, 2022: Abortion Ruling/Philippines Election
John Oliver discusses the current presidential election in The Philippines and why Bongbong Marcos is - albeit in a very limited and unflattering way - sort of like Ant-Man. Plus, the leaked anti-abortion draft opinion that looks set to overturn Roe v. Wade, how we got to this point, and where we may be headed.
Read MoreMay 15, 2022: Utilities
John Oliver discusses the incredible amount of power we give electric utility companies, how weakly regulated they are, and why they get such bad Yelp reviews. Plus, a look at Alabama's extreme anti-trans law and some ridiculous participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
Read MoreMay 22, 2022: Subway
John Oliver discusses one of the largest franchises in the U.S., how their business model doesn’t always serve franchisees, and what it all has to do with Korean dramas.
Read MoreJune 5, 2022: School Police
In the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, John Oliver discusses the push for more police in schools and whether they are the answer to school safety issues, or a new problem altogether. Plus, John makes an offer for a banana sculpture in Australia.
Read MoreJune 12, 2022: Tech Monopolies
John Oliver discusses tech monopolies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, and how to address the hidden harm they can do. Plus, a look at the hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Arizona, which includes Trump-endorsed candidate Blake Masters.
Read MoreJune 19, 2022: Rent
John Oliver discusses why rent has become increasingly unaffordable, what we can do to combat a system that is stacked against tenants, and, of course, Dakota Johnson’s complex relationship to limes. Plus, a look at GOP primary winners claiming the 2020 election was stolen.
Read MoreJune 26, 2022: Water
John Oliver discusses the water shortage in the American west; plus, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2023: Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
John Oliver discusses psychedelic assisted therapy: its history, its potential, and what it has to do with A$AP Rocky’s relationship to rainbows. Plus, the Fox News lawsuit and the Ohio train derailment.
Read MoreFebruary 26, 2023: Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of our lives, from self-driving cars to ChatGPT. John Oliver discusses how AI works, where it might be heading next, and, of course, why it hates the bus.
Read MoreMarch 5, 2023: Ron DeSantis
John Oliver discusses Ron DeSantis, his track record as the governor of Florida, the pitfalls of comparing him to Donald Trump, and the supposed dangers of “woke math.” Plus, the hilarious advertising by a plumbing company called Radiant.
Read MoreMarch 12, 2023: TANF
John Oliver discusses TANF - a federal program designed to help families with little to no income – who’s currently receiving these vital funds, who should be receiving them, and what it all has to do with Brett Favre. Plus, a look at Tennessee’s new law about drag performances and the lieutenant governor who supports the law.
Read MoreMarch 19, 2023: Timeshares
John Oliver discusses timeshares, how people get into them, why it’s so difficult to get out, and one exciting new business venture.
Read MoreApril 2, 2023: Solitary Confinement
John Oliver discusses solitary confinement, how prevalent it is, how damaging it can be, and, of course, how to hit the woah.
Read MoreApril 9, 2023: Homeowners Associations
John Oliver discusses homeowners associations, the surprising power they have, and how to tell if a tree is “tree-shaped.”
Read MoreApril 16, 2023: Farmworkers
John Oliver discusses the conditions farmworkers face, how we failed to protect them, and the Jolly Green Giant’s body hair.
Read MoreApril 23, 2023: Cryptocurrencies II
John Oliver discusses cryptocurrency, the collapse of three big crypto companies, and what to do if your office gives off “crime vibes.”
Read MoreApril 30, 2023: Biden and the Border
A look at the things Biden has promised to fix about our southern border, what he has and hasn’t done, and a magnificent pile of gators.
Read MoreOctober 1, 2023: Prison Health Care
John Oliver discusses the health care offered in prisons; plus, a look at the past five months, from the WGA strike to Lauren Boebert.
Read MoreOctober 8, 2023: Homeschooling
John Oliver discusses homeschooling, its surprising lack of regulation in many states, and, crucially, Darth Vader's parenting skills.
Read MoreOctober 15, 2023: Food Safety
John Oliver discusses the groups in charge of keeping our food safe – from the FDA, to the USDA, to, most crucially, the Association for Dressings and Sauces.
Read MoreOctober 22, 2023: McKinsey
John Oliver discusses the oldest and largest management consulting firm: McKinsey & Company.
Read MoreOctober 29, 2023: Chocolate
John Oliver discusses chocolate, cocoa farming, and, of course, some facts that will make Halloween a little weird.
Read MoreNovember 5, 2023: Abortion Rights
John Oliver discusses the ongoing fallout from the overturning of Roe v. Wade as the November elections approach.
Read MoreNovember 12, 2023: Israel-Hamas War
John Oliver discusses the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Read MoreNovember 19, 2023: Dollar Stores
John Oliver discusses dollar stores and why Irish Spring is not his soap of choice.
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