Ep 2. Episode 61

Episode 61 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver season 3 offers a satirical rundown of the United States' approach towards issues pertaining to refugees and immigrants. Oliver presents his views and opinions on the refugee crisis amplified by the media and how the government has been handling the issue.

Throughout the 30-minute episode, Oliver discusses in depth the procedures refugees have to go through before being allowed into the United States. He also discusses how challenging it is to apply for asylum in the country and the significant controversy surrounding the topic.

Oliver uses various clips not only to highlight the severity of the issue but also to point out the lack of empathy in the government's approach. The message is clear: the refugee crisis should not be handled with apathy, considering the harrowing events that people often face.

The episode starts with a breakdown of the statistics surrounding refugees and immigrants in the United States, emphasizing the number of refugees allowed into the country. Oliver then moves on to discuss extreme vetting which includes biometric data, vetting an applicant's social media accounts, and much more. The segment highlights that the country should also be prioritizing on bringing families together.

A critical portion of the show focuses on the lack of knowledge in America on where its immigrants come from and which countries have the highest percentage of immigrants in America. Oliver provides a mini-history lesson on the historical number of refugees that the United States has taken in during certain events, like Hungarian refugees after the 1956 revolution. This also leads to a segment on how the United States has discriminated against potential refugees or immigrants based on their nationality, like in the case of Trump’s travel ban for majority-Muslim countries.

The episode then moves on to discussing the stigma that is present around refugees, particularly those fleeing from war-torn countries. Oliver calls out prominent politicians who have propagated anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant messages. The message of the episode is one centered on empathy with the refugees, and Oliver pushes that idea across throughout the episode.

In the concluding minutes of the show, Oliver explains how individuals can make a difference in the current situation, emphasizing that there are organizations and groups working to help refugees and immigrants. He also urges viewers to understand that time is of the essence, and that policy decisions made by the government have long-term consequences.

Overall, this episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver season 3 episode 2 is an entertaining and sarcastic rundown of America's approach to the refugee crisis and how different politicians have propagated false and harmful narratives about refugees that contribute to a dangerous stigma. Oliver's entertaining take on this serious topic is both informative and eye-opening, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in immigration, refugee crises and politics in general.