The United States is currently in a political crisis and has been for the past 30 years. The reason -- the unwillingness of the supposed mainstream media to cover stories the go against the policies of the corporate elite and to engage in (now legal) governmental propaganda that fits a narrative pushed by the state department, the Pentagon, or a particular political interest group.
During the reign of Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, the media, to their complete surprise, began to realize that Americans were being better informed by comedians than by pundits and media giants armed with an overriding agenda and axe to grind. Now, Stewart has left the field (how did he know it was time?) and one of his brilliant colleagues, John Oliver, has his own show.
Last Week Tonight started out famously with his tirades against animal cruelty (chicken farmers/corporate food producers) and his support for Internet NET neutrality rules. With the campaign/election of Trump, however, Oliver like his former colleague Samantha Bee, he joined the rest of the media in Trump derangement syndrome or at least in the same spirit, based his jokes on the craziness of the Trump campaign/presidency.
With this "report" on Venezuela before their presidential election, Oliver has plumbed the depths of using ridicule/humor to benefit the oligarchy at the expense of the truth. There are many very detailed rebukes of this error-filled segment, anyone can look them up.
I can stomach the anti-Trump stupidity because sometimes it can be really clever and funny. It is mostly frustrating since, unlike his (possible) mentor or former boss Jon Stewart, his ridicule is being used for evil rather than for a beneficial purpose.
I will continue to watch, but this episode stood out as the worst example of his pushing popular media memes rather than looking under the covers for the underlying truth.
During the reign of Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, the media, to their complete surprise, began to realize that Americans were being better informed by comedians than by pundits and media giants armed with an overriding agenda and axe to grind. Now, Stewart has left the field (how did he know it was time?) and one of his brilliant colleagues, John Oliver, has his own show.
Last Week Tonight started out famously with his tirades against animal cruelty (chicken farmers/corporate food producers) and his support for Internet NET neutrality rules. With the campaign/election of Trump, however, Oliver like his former colleague Samantha Bee, he joined the rest of the media in Trump derangement syndrome or at least in the same spirit, based his jokes on the craziness of the Trump campaign/presidency.
With this "report" on Venezuela before their presidential election, Oliver has plumbed the depths of using ridicule/humor to benefit the oligarchy at the expense of the truth. There are many very detailed rebukes of this error-filled segment, anyone can look them up.
I can stomach the anti-Trump stupidity because sometimes it can be really clever and funny. It is mostly frustrating since, unlike his (possible) mentor or former boss Jon Stewart, his ridicule is being used for evil rather than for a beneficial purpose.
I will continue to watch, but this episode stood out as the worst example of his pushing popular media memes rather than looking under the covers for the underlying truth.
