Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Season 4
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 4 continues the overarching saga across 30 episodes.
Season 4 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Picks up essential narrative continuity directly following the events of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 3.
- Character alliances, factions, and personal loyalties undergo significant shifts under escalating stakes.
- Addresses unresolved cliffhangers and thematic mysteries introduced during previous seasons.
- Establishes the primary seasonal conflict that drives serialized character arcs toward the finale.
Season overview
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 4 continues the overarching saga across 30 episodes.
Episode Guide
Season 4 Progress Shield
Trump vs. Truth
Feb 12, 2017
Donald Trump spreads a lot of false information thanks to his daily consumption of morning cable news. If only we could sneak some facts into the president’s media diet.
Putin
Feb 19, 2017
Vladimir Putin is known as a ruthless leader and master manipulator. John Oliver enlists a group of singing dancers to explain that to Donald Trump.
Obamacare
Feb 26, 2017
Congressional Republicans could soon vote to repeal Obamacare. John Oliver explores why their replacement plans are similar to a thong.
Dalai Lama
Mar 5, 2017
Tibetan Buddhists have suffered deep persecution by the Chinese government. John Oliver sits down with the Dalai Lama to discuss China, the conditions in Tibet, and horse milk.
American Health Care Act
Mar 12, 2017
The Republican health care bill could leave many Americans without affordable coverage. Last Week Tonight's catheter cowboy returns to morning cable news to explain that to Donald
Federal Budget
Mar 19, 2017
Donald Trump's federal budget plan proposes large funding cuts with largely negative consequences. John Oliver examines the troubling priorities of the new administration.
Marijuana
Apr 2, 2017
Under federal law, even legal marijuana is illegal. John Oliver explains why conflicting drug laws pose serious problems.
Gerrymandering
Apr 9, 2017
Lawmakers often reshape voting districts to shift the balance of political power. That's unfair to voters, even those of us with questionable judgment.
French Elections
Apr 16, 2017
The presidential election in France could determine the political future of Europe. John Oliver visits an excessively French bistro to deliver an urgent message to voters.
Ivanka & Jared
Apr 23, 2017
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner hold an incredible amount of political power. That's troubling considering their incredibly small amount of political experience.
Net Neutrality II
May 7, 2017
Equal access to online information is once again under serious threat. John Oliver encourages internet commenters to voice their displeasure to the FCC by visiting www.gofccyoursel
Dialysis
May 14, 2017
For-profit dialysis companies often maximize their profits at the expense of their patients. John Oliver explores why a medical clinic is nothing like a Taco Bell.
Stupid Watergate
May 21, 2017
John Oliver discusses the shocking magnitude and potential impact of the latest revelations surrounding the Russia investigation.
Paris Agreement
Jun 4, 2017
Donald Trump plans to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement on climate change. That's bad news for anyone who happens to live on this planet.
Brexit II
Jun 11, 2017
In the wake of a divisive election, the UK will begin the process of leaving the European Union. John Oliver and an intergalactic space lord propose a plan.
Coal
Jun 18, 2017
We’ve heard a lot of talk about coal miners in the last year, but what are the real issues surrounding coal? John Oliver and a giant squirrel look into it.
Vaccines
Jun 25, 2017
The benefits of vaccines far outweigh the minuscule risks, but some parents still question their safety. John Oliver discusses why some people may still feel uncertainty about chil
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Jul 2, 2017
Sinclair Broadcast Group is the largest owner of local TV stations in the country. That's alarming considering that they often inject political views into local news.
Alex Jones
Jul 30, 2017
Alex Jones is known for pushing conspiracy theories, but he also spends a lot of time promoting his own products. John Oliver and a “doctor” “from” M.I.T. test out his marketing st
Border Patrol
Aug 6, 2017
Donald Trump's plan to hire more Border Patrol agents could lead to more corruption and misconduct. If only their recruitment ads were designed to attract the most suitable applica
North Korea
Aug 13, 2017
As nuclear tensions continue to escalate between the United States and North Korea, John Oliver enlists "Weird Al" Yankovic to perform some accordion-based diplomacy.
Nuclear Waste
Aug 20, 2017
Nuclear waste poses a serious threat to public health if it's not stored in a safe place. John Oliver explains why the United States desperately needs to build a metaphorical toile
Joe Arpaio
Sep 10, 2017
Donald Trump issued his first presidential pardon to the last person who should get one. John Oliver discusses the troubling record of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Corporate Consolidation
Sep 24, 2017
Big businesses are getting even bigger thanks to a rise in corporate mergers. John Oliver explains why that could make you want to physically destroy your cable box.
Forensic Science
Oct 1, 2017
Forensic science used in criminal trials can be surprisingly unscientific. Maybe a new television procedural could help change the public perception.
Confederacy
Oct 8, 2017
Confederate symbols are still celebrated despite the ugly history they symbolize. John Oliver suggests some representations of southern pride that involve less racism and more Step
Equifax
Oct 15, 2017
John Oliver discusses the massive impact of the cybersecurity breach at Equifax and their massively misguided attempts to mitigate the damage.
Floods
Oct 29, 2017
John Oliver explains why our federal system for financing flood recovery perpetuates a pattern of destruction and why you should never offer a tortilla chip to a seagull.
Economic Development
Nov 5, 2017
State and local governments offer large financial incentives to attract employers to their part of the country. John Oliver explains what communities get, or often don't get, in re
The Trump Presidency
Nov 12, 2017
One year after the presidential election, John Oliver discusses what we've learned so far and enlists our catheter cowboy to teach Donald Trump what he hasn't.