Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Season 12
Season 12 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 11.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 12 Progress Shield
February 16, 2025: Trump 2.0
Feb 16, 2025 · 40 min
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**
February 23, 2025: Facebook
Feb 23, 2025 · 39 min
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 rang
March 2, 2025: Tipping
Mar 2, 2025 · 40 min
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 complica
March 9, 2025: ICE Detention Facilities
Mar 9, 2025 · 40 min
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
March 16, 2025: Sports Betting
Mar 16, 2025 · 44 min
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
Mar 30, 2025 · 40 min
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 Tas
April 6, 2025: Trans Athletes
Apr 6, 2025 · 48 min
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
Apr 13, 2025 · 40 min
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
April 27, 2025: Health Agency Cuts
Apr 27, 2025 · 40 min
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
May 4, 2025: Deportations
May 4, 2025 · 40 min
John Oliver discusses the recent deportations by the Trump administration.
May 11, 2025: Alliance Defending Freedom
May 11, 2025 · 40 min
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. Wad
May 18, 2025: Trump in the Press
May 18, 2025 · 40 min
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 mean
June 1, 2025: Air Traffic Controllers
Jun 1, 2025 · 39 min
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
Jun 8, 2025 · 39 min
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
Jun 15, 2025 · 50 min
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
June 22, 2025: AI Content
Jun 22, 2025 · 40 min
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 H
June 29, 2025: Trump's Big Beautiful Bill
Jun 29, 2025 · 40 min
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'
July 27, 2025: Gang Databases
Jul 27, 2025 · 43 min
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
August 3, 2025: Deferred Prosecution Agreements
Aug 3, 2025 · 40 min
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 ru
August 10, 2025: Deportation Promise
Aug 10, 2025 · 40 min
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
August 17, 2025: Make America Healthy Again
Aug 17, 2025 · 45 min
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
September 7, 2025: Higher Education
Sep 7, 2025 · 39 min
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
September 21, 2025: Jimmy Kimmel Suspension
Sep 21, 2025 · 40 min
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 som
September 28, 2025: Benjamin Netanyahu
Sep 28, 2025 · 45 min
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
October 5, 2025: Presidential Libraries
Oct 5, 2025 · 40 min
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 cou
October 12, 2025: Paramount Skydance Merger
Oct 12, 2025 · 38 min
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
Oct 26, 2025 · 39 min
John Oliver details what Medicare Advantage is, and why it basically has all the pitfalls of private insurance.
November 2, 2025: Police Chases
Nov 2, 2025 · 50 min
John Oliver discusses the prevalence of police chases, and why the risks involved can massively outweigh the benefits.
November 9, 2025: Felony Murder
Nov 9, 2025 · 39 min
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 Iris
November 16, 2025: Public Media
Nov 16, 2025 · 40 min
John Oliver discusses Jeffrey Epstein's emails about Donald Trump, the vital role public media plays in the lives of many Americans, and some absolutely essential questions about a