S4 E3: Obamacare, Neil Gorsuch & Immigration: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Summary

In this episode of 'Last Week Tonight,' John Oliver discusses President Trump's immigration policies, including increased deportations and the hiring of more officers, which raises concerns among immigrant communities. The show also addresses the Trump administration's reversal of federal guidance on transgender bathroom use in schools, highlighting the potential impact on students. Oliver critiques the Republican Party's approach to healthcare, emphasizing the flaws in their proposed replacements for Obamacare, such as insufficient subsidies and the potential for millions to lose coverage. The episode concludes with a satirical look at Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court nomination and a humorous segment on choosing a lobster to represent him on the show's 'court.'

Takeaways

• 😀 The show humorously addresses the juxtaposition of President Trump's visit to the Museum of African-American history and culture with his administration's aggressive immigration policies.
• 🚔 Trump's new immigration plan expands ICE agents' authority, potentially leading to increased deportations and causing anxiety among immigrant communities.
• 👮‍♂️ The plan to hire 15,000 new border patrol and immigration officers faces challenges due to difficulties in finding qualified applicants, with around 2,000 vacancies currently.
• 👎 The president's use of the term 'military operation' to describe immigration enforcement is criticized for its casualness and the serious implications it carries.
• 🏫 The Trump administration's withdrawal of federal guidance on transgender bathroom use in schools has caused uncertainty and concern among students and educators.
• 🚼 The script satirically points out the irony in Trump's alleged behavior towards women and teenagers, contrasting it with the fears about predators in restrooms.
• 📉 The segment on Obamacare discusses the Republican's struggle to repeal and replace it, highlighting the potential impact on millions who gained coverage under the act.
• 🐐 A metaphorical 'goat' in a house is used to represent the perceived negative effects of Obamacare, with Republicans now tasked with 'removing the goat'.
• 🤔 The script highlights the shift in public opinion on Obamacare, from initial fear to resistance against its repeal, as constituents express reliance on its coverage.
• 👨‍⚖️ The nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court is discussed, with emphasis on the controversy surrounding the seat and the use of a lobster to symbolize the nomination's peculiarity.

Q & A

What was the main topic discussed in the segment about President Trump's immigration policy?

The main topic discussed was the Trump Administration's aggressive plan to crack down on illegal immigration, which included potentially increasing deportations and hiring more border patrol and immigration officers.

What was the humorous comparison made by the host regarding the difficulty of filling immigration agent positions?

The host humorously compared the difficulty of filling immigration agent positions to being the hardest job to fill, right after being the personal assistant to Mariah Carey, with an exaggerated demand for a limo for her dog and mirrors that make her look like it's 1997.

How did the host describe President Trump's use of the term 'military operation' in relation to immigration?

The host described President Trump's use of the term 'military operation' as a casual way to mention the deployment of the armed forces, and criticized the lack of precision in language when used by the commander-in-chief.

What was the issue with the Trump Administration's withdrawal of Federal guidance on transgender bathroom use?

The issue was that the withdrawal of guidance left schools and students facing uncertainty regarding the rights of transgender students to use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity.

What was the host's satirical suggestion to protect women from predators, in reference to Trump's alleged behavior?

The host satirically suggested launching a military operation to ban the president himself from women's rooms nationwide, referencing Trump's own alleged behavior of barging in on women and teenagers changing in his pageants.

What was the main point of discussion regarding the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in the script?

The main point of discussion was the potential repeal of Obamacare by the Republicans and the need for them to present a viable replacement plan that addresses the flaws in the current system without leaving many people uninsured.

What was the host's critique of the term 'refundable tax credits' as it was proposed by Republicans for healthcare?

The host critiqued the term 'refundable tax credits' by pointing out that it might provide free money to help pay premiums, but the credits could be too small for those who need them most, and that it might disproportionately benefit the wealthy like Bill Gates.

What was the host's view on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as proposed by Republicans?

The host viewed HSAs as beneficial for rich people but inadequate for those who are too poor to save or who might exceed their savings due to serious illness, leading to insufficient coverage.

What was the proposed Republican solution for funding Medicaid, and how did the host critique it?

The proposed solution was to use block grants to fund Medicaid, which the host critiqued as a way to shift costs from the government to the people and potentially leave many without coverage if the block grant doesn't keep pace with rising costs.

What was the host's take on high-risk pools as a solution for covering people with pre-existing conditions?

The host criticized high-risk pools as an expensive solution that could leave the sickest and most expensive patients without adequate coverage if the government does not subsidize them properly.

What was the host's commentary on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court?

The host commented that Gorsuch's nomination was a historical aberration due to the fact that the previous nominee, Merrick Garland, did not receive a hearing, and humorously suggested that instead of a dog for Gorsuch, he should receive a lobster to symbolize the inappropriateness of his placement on the court.