Lukashenko: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

[@Pseuydonynum]

Fun fact: Lukaschenko said the sentence "Better to be a dictator than being gay" to the foreign minister of Germany, who was at the time Guido Westerwelle, who was actually gay.

[@Sp4mMe]

... and it was in reaction to Westerwelle describing Lukashenko as "last dictator of Europe". This at the time was opposite to Lukashenko repeatedly claiming that he's (of course) totally legitimately democratically elected and all that.

[@oldnite3414]

Well he's not wrong

[@Sycokay]

@@oldnite3414 For real. If you don't suffer from a guilty conscience, being a dictator must be awesome.

[@octavianpopescu4776]

There's homophobia and then there's Lukashenko... he's the last old-school communist. And he really demonstrates something I noticed regarding Eastern European politics vs the Western world, that the left + far-right = love. There's a difference between what we call right and left and what people in the West call right and left. Our right is more like CDU or FDP in German terms (think moderate Democrats or Republicans in the US), while the left is more... socially like the Republicans in the US, but economically left-wing. There really is nothing equivalent to the Western progressive left or libertarians/market-fundamentalists... probably the right would be closest to progressive social views, not the left. While only the far-right promotes libertarian economic ideas. For example, in my country, Romania, absolutely no party, left or right supports gay marriage. It's not that they're all against it, the main left-wing party + far-right are against it, but no one has that as a policy objective. There was a referendum to ban gay marriage constitutionally a few years ago. I think only 20% of people went to vote... the rest either boycotted it or didn't care about the subject, so the referendum which needed 30% turnout failed. A recent European Parliament decision makes it mandatory for all EU countries to recognise gay marriage... Interviews with people on the street in the media, all said they're against gay marriage, but as one guy said: if that's the rule, then ok...

[@t3ss33]

@@octavianpopescu4776 somehow it's awfully difficult to understand your point while I also feel it is valid and interesting. Could you maybe elaborate what your point is and how Lukashenko demonstrates it? What I took from your comment was that Western & Eastern politics are much different from another (though you should probably distinguish further between Western Europe and US), but I couldn't exactly grasp to which extent.

[@humanoidcat9633]

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in creating this piece, people of Belarus really appreciate your work

[@AY-ln1mk]

yes

[@theaviary238]

💯👍✊

[@reinette_croissant]

@Kitan Mani I'm sorry, what?

[@desmondmiles2880]

@@reinette_croissant It's a bot. Report it.

[@asherikamichaela8425]

@@desmondmiles2880 Have been. It's all over the place.

[@StudioTotalNouveauAd]

Hi John Oliver, I'm one of the pilots. Happy to see you liked our stunt. Remember the love goes to the belorusian opposition for their constant resistance!!

[@nedcurfman3486]

o7

[@Wh40kFinatic]

Fight!

[@brumous9364]

o7

[@gerardcagna7323]

❤❤❤😂😂😂😂

[@firewalkwithme7660]

As a Belarusian, i can tell you that people did not "unleash their fury" and this wasnt about Covid at all. It was about abuse of power, corruption, election frauud, and killing and torturing the innocent which continues to this day. Protesters were never violent, police was. And yes, that Stephen Seagal carrot photo op was pure comedy since day one.

[@modisp]

He looks like walrus eating a carrot.

[@alischmaz0037]

There is a big problem which is WLADIMIR PUTIN. I see his track in my country, and even in Syria and Afghanistan.

[@emcee1337]

Why is the military and police on his side?

[@ranjanbiswas3233]

Unleash their fury? Belarus police RAPED protestor WOMEN. What should the people do after that? Be silent?

[@DF-be6pn]

The same scenario that happened here in Belgrade,Serbia. All media reported 2020 protests as Covid protests. Our president is known as Lukashenko of Balkans, maybe even has thighter grip on the media than Lukashenko. Bunch of young people got angry and started rioting which turned into massive protests, our president sent his controlled 'opposition' to claim the leadership of the protests, they were literally all kicked out, some of them literally got kicked in their buts because people are so fed up. So when his people failed to claim protests to themselves, he sent the police which started brutally attacking people and beating up unarmed civilians, even people who had nothing to do with the protests and just happened to be nearby. There is countless material on the matter, police beating up random people who aren't even resisting, police setting aflame their own cars so it looks like they were attacked and so on. All those videos are on youtube.

[@Puzzleguy]

OMG, this is the most hilarious way of saying how bad the situation is in my home country! Thank you for that! I'll show this video to all my English speaking friends and subscribers.

[@Pengu69420]

How is the internet situation there?

[@Puzzleguy]

@@Pengu69420 tons of independent websites are blocked. Hundreds of Telegram channels are recognized as extremist by corrupt judges and government. Internet was off for 3 days starting from the night of elections on 9th of August 2020.

[@ccdaly2561]

Best of luck. I'm sorry you have had to live with this.

[@Pengu69420]

@@Puzzleguy Holy fuuuck dude, would a vpn help? Not for the down internet but for the sites. This "president" is a giant piece of shit, I hope you guys manage to take him down and other countries decide do really help instead of small sanctions

[@thejudge1728]

@@Pengu69420 Iirc VPNs are illegal in Belarus.

[@falka2398]

I'm from Belarus and this video literally made me cry. Thank you so much to everyone who worked on this

[@slickrick2420]

Stay strong🙏🏽Free Belarus

[@RealTalkWithSSG]

Stay safe!!

[@elvenkind6072]

God bless you. I hope soon you will get a democratic government, that do the will of the people of Belarus. All my support for you and your countrymen, from a random person in Norway.

[@kostajovanovic3711]

When you put him down, just, please, don't choose some neoliberal hack backed by the USA, please!

[@ДмитрийКирильченко-ь4н]

Love from Belarus gay comunity 👨‍❤️‍👨🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🌈

[@SneakyMuffin]

I can't get over that protester's casual "Well, it feels like shit" in that accent. It's just perfect.

[@jovanlaskovski391]

Q

[@meganfaith4052]

Nothing greater then people being completely casual and blunt on national television

[@Widdekuu91]

Yeah, I like the szhhj-sound of the word szzhjhit

[@ilya6355]

I'm from Belarus, left a couple years ago. Thank you for doing this piece, setting fundraiser and raising awareness. These are fun outtakes of grim reality. I was thinking a lot lately what is a cost of human capital when ten million people are forced to live under regime that serves one man and army of police thugs instead of the people. It must be insane.

[@Auntchovi]

The people need to overthrow him NOW like they did in Ukraine. GO Belarusians!

[@БеларусказУкраінай]

Ілля, вы маеце рацыю. Сапраўды, сёння жыць у Беларусі- страшна. І слова " страшна" не агульнае. Кожны ранак пачынаецца з думкі, а не час ужо збіраць заплечнік з ліхтаром і " чыстым" тэлефонам? Але нас падтрымлівае ўвесь свет. І гэтая акцыя з мядзведзямі выклікае ўсмешку) Не, яшчэ не час бегчы. Яшчэ пазмагаемся

[@vladimirseven777]

It will be part of Russia soon. He forgot to say that all what happening moving Lukashenko closer to Russia and Russia's support let him do whatever he want.

[@dannyboy8474]

yeah here we just serve bankers instead

[@AlinaCalifornia]

You're right! I think all of the Belarusians grateful for speaking up about all of those tortures that happening in Belarus

[@laurenconrad1799]

"If we don't sell all of these bears, I'm in real shit." And...they're completely sold out less than 12 hours after this episode premiered.

[@ElBribri]

really???

[@amandamorse7355]

Damn it

[@boratsagdiev6486]

So if everyone woulda given 20$ directly to the organizations they woulda had double :D

[@TadanoCandy]

I was gonna check 'em out rn but they were already sold out lol

[@CyberJAM-zd1jh]

@@boratsagdiev6486 no, he said 100% of the money was going to the organizations

[@Konoval_maxim]

"Well, it feels like shit" - мost Belarusians absolutely agree with Kirill

[@Samson16436]

Hope I don't sound insensitive but that part, his reaction, made me laugh out loud I had to rewind it a couple of times honestly. Perfectly simply put

[@AlinaCalifornia]

97% for sure.

[@NotDaveGahan]

@@Samson16436 it’s his deadpan delivery with precise cursing about a worrisome issue. I laughed too. Hope he and the rest of protesters are all okay.

[@Ryanlexz]

Democrats think sanctions gonna work on Lukashenko HAHAHAHA

[@jonbongjovi1869]

COuld be worse: you could be in the LEAST FREE NATION EVER (ask for proof), AMERIKKKA, that just LIES THE MOST IN HISTORY. IF I TOLD YOU 5000 TIMES A DAY "I HAVE TEN TOES!! DID I MENTION I HAVE TEN TOES???" You'd start to DOUBT me, cuz why ELSE would i overcompensate and REPEAT THIS SO MANY TIMES? A: bc if you are Super-Nazi-Germany.... aka USSA....u MUST REPEAT THE LIE REPEAT THE LIE REPEAT THE LIE so the sheep fall for itl ike a shitty pop song stuck in their heads. SAME reason we put "TO SERVE AND PROTECT" on KKKOP cars: TO THROW YOU OFF THE SCENT. Cop-aganda. Nazism 101. WHY don't we put "TO PUT OUT FIRES" on the sides of firetrucks? WHY don't we put "TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH" On the sides of garbage trucks? WHY ARE KKKOPS THE ONLY GOVT EMPLOYEES....whose JOB STATEMENT is on the side of their cars?!?!! It's 2 layers of systemic fraud and nazism: 1) TO SCAM THE PUBLIC that KKKOPS IS GOOD! 2) To TRY and get the CAVEMEN KKKOPS to not rape and rob SO MUCH PLEASE. It's backfiring! I've been jailed 47 times for cartoons, my outfits, playing uke, writing newspaper articles, in NYC (!!!) and not one earthling backed me or free speech against then-Mayors Giuliani and Bloomturd. NOT ONE PERSON ON EARTH BACKED ME OR FREE SPEECH against Rudy GIuliani. THINK ABOUT THAT. 100% of my EDITORS, best friends, bandmates, girlfriends.....ALL JOINED TEAM GIUILANI vs me (and they all hated Rudy, so any THEORIES on why 100% of my allies joined THEIR ENEMIES? Oliver, COlbert and the rest ALL covered up Rudy Bloomturd's shocking nazi crimes ALWAYS. John only mocks Rudy TODAY, cuz everyone does. It's lazy and easy. Just as 100% of adults knew the CHurch was RAPING THEIR KIDS but it was easier to ignore it.... 100% of adults in America know KKKOPS ARE SYSTEMICALLY RAPING YOUNG GIRLS EVERY DAY IN EVERY TOWN...but it is easier to ignore it. (It's not even a secret!! EX: the #1 goal of a MALE kkkop? To FUCK A GIRL PERP IN HIS PATROL CAR...while ON-DUTY.) 20 kkkops a day being arrested now in Amerikkka, and everyone STILL plays dumb. I WISH THEY'D SHOOT ME AND END MY PAIN.

[@chamberlainquench2484]

As Belarus has decided to side with Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, I find myself coming back to this video saying “Yeah I’m not surprised.”

[@sfurules]

Thats why I'm here too

[@the_real_rascal]

Same.

[@riojonze]

Me too

[@Tanagra180]

*"Russian invasion of Ukraine"... Putin wants to make us believe there was some conflict from Ukarine, but they were just invaded for not wanting to be "his" anymore...

[@toxytronic7364]

It's not Belarus it's Lukashenko and his generals.I wish the decent people of Belarus will take this opportunity to take to the streets again and finish him off

[@mattramen3696]

Props to that BBC journalist for giving us all a visual representation. He could have just explained it - allowing us to brush past the absolute horror of that situation. Instead he put himself in that awful, humiliating position so we’d have a visual that was much harder to forget and much more visceral. It takes a lot of courage to do something like that on international TV.

[@akumamakima2280]

Cakes out

[@CloneDAnon]

That is worst kind of propaganda. BBC should not make a peep about anyone, especially how UK treats Julian Assange and does not allow any media even close to him. Why BBC, CNN and other MSM trash do not make similar "stress position" tests on how U.S and its NATO allies treat prisoners in Gitmo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram prison and the nameless CIA torture prions in Eastern Europe (and Latin America)? Ah yes, but that is different of course. Certainly not propagandist.

[@mattramen3696]

@@CloneDAnon I mean we can be mad about more than one thing. That guy got assigned to cover Belarus and so he did it with gusto. Doesn’t mean he thinks everywhere else is just peachy. You’re 100% right that we should give those issues our equal (or greater) attention before throwing stones from our glass patios - I just wanted to give props to the journo for going full send on his story.

[@phungdao4660]

Thanks for the insight. Honestly just chuckled at it but this comment helped me revisited my thought

[@CloneDAnon]

@@mattramen3696 But that is exactly what most people in places like Belarus think when they see this, that you are throwing rocks in a glass house.

[@commandercrook]

I'm glad he's back in the studio, but I felt that in the void the points he made in his episodes seemed to hit home harder than with the proceeding laughter from the audience. Felt more impactful in my opinion.

[@tsvetelin6556]

You're right but less funny..

[@ololo518]

Yeah, I felt like I was the only person who preffered void over the audience. And my mom hates audience laughter so she'll definitely won't see it now.

[@singenstattatmen5096]

@@ololo518 You most definitely weren't, I've seen this opinion reflected many times by many viewers (myself included). When there was no audience, I actually *laughed out loud* at John's jokes sitting at home by myself and it felt so much more personal and impactful. I'm glad they seem to have at least balanced the audio differently, so the cheers and laughter aren't quite so loud and overbearing and we can still hear John. Small blessings - perhaps they saw how many people online were not looking forward to leaving the void.

[@MagiconIce]

Well, even with audience before the pandemic he could bring across hard points without problems, then the audience in the studio fell silent too, because he then just got serious and didn't joke at that moment.

[@ExodusM30]

Yah i feel u the silence would punctuate & emphasize when he would pause .. & everything had a more serious, deeper tone

[@CVL13]

Goddamnit, the bears are already sold out. We demand more, John! My girlfriend works at a press agency and has focused on Belarus and the media situation there for a long time. I want to give her one as a gift. GIVE ME MORE BEARFORCE!

[@koopatroopa187]

Here's the bearforce you asked for: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqi0naN8p9Jon68

[@AlinaCalifornia]

Maaaan! 👻 I am Belarusian and I want more bears too! 🐻🐻🐻

[@cutelatina00508]

I wanted one too! 🐻

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

That's a lot of bears.

[@rikkirogge3245]

Donate the money you would’ve spent on the bear to Planned Parenthood instead!

[@draconious4005]

Man, I wish this piece was done recently. Then, we’d have such classic moments as, “told a state journalist interviewing him that Putin wants to make him (Lukashenko) a colonel in the Russian army”, or, “went on live TV and gave out the whole invasion plan for Ukraine”.

[@rocknrollmilitant]

So what you're saying is he's a complete moron who undermines his boss every time he opens his mouth? Holy Shit! He's Putin's Rudy Giuliani!

[@mogscugg2639]

Bozo Lukashenklown

[@fred1642]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3uxpZyFbNObo9E

[@ideitbawxproductions1880]

I'm sorry, what?! Where is this video? If we forward it to the US military, they might have a use for it

[@DavidVT23]

@@ideitbawxproductions1880 here's an overview of Belarus's possible involvement, which includes pictures of him showing the plans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXfQppqDfNFni9E

[@sahumullasaud4837]

JO: He's been in power for almost 30 years. Me: Oh so like since the 80s or something. JO: He came to power in 1994. Me: :o

[@jonatansuarez9711]

This comment hurst so much. Hahaha. So accurate!!

[@srahim0611]

Yeah. Made me realize I’m almost 30yo lol

[@Sniperbear13]

what a way to make someone feel old.

[@lofnouk]

I was born closer to the end of WWI than today's date. I'm 54. What a bloody depressing thought for a Monday

[@jus4funtim]

@@lofnouk Hell I'm 66 how do you think I feel

[@azoth6641]

After a year in a blank void, the joy in John’s face to have a live audience again is simply infectious (in a good way).

[@hello7032]

Guess you could call it a….positive

[@willtheprodigy3819]

It’s not safe though

[@aserta]

If there aren't enough vaccinations to feed this years' end quota (by the time the cold season, which is going to be a murder because another polar vortex is coming) he's going to go back in the void as the variants might double. Already two more are on the way apparently. Delta plus for example.

[@sylviatamieanan4088]

Good choice of words 😅

[@Game_Hero]

you mean casper' ass?

[@olgalayter]

Thank you, John. Belarus is beautiful country with nice people who deserve a freedom and democracy. Gyve Belarus!

[@Bisquick]

Well let's be real, "freedom"/"democracy" with American characteristics is more like it. That is afterall why this segment exists, whether the writers are conscious of this or not, hell Radio Free Europe was created by Allen Dulles himself, very explicitly a CIA-cutout and cited a few times in this (the bear thing specifically). Which is to say regardless of the veracity of the claims (because like yeah, they are true-ish, Lukashenko doesn't _not_ suck), the actual intention is to manufacture consent for "regime change" ultimately to sell off the state assets to private investors like what happened with the Soviet Union under Yeltsin. Insatiable neoliberal capitalist US empire imposed at the behest of _supranational_ financial/corporate capital knows no bounds, consciously destroying ourselves and the earth for perpetual profit extraction at the cost of literally everything else. _"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false."_ - William Casey, CIA -demon- director under Reagan (see: Operation Mockingbird), also see literally any of the CIA's operational history, as the throughline couldn't be more obvious (Iran '53, Guatemala '54, overthrowing democratically elected Allende in '73 - hey whatdya know, on 9/11 no less, Lumumba in the Congo, Sukarno in Indonesia, etc. etc. far too many to list sadly, Phoenix Program in Vietnam also uh..."cool")

[@mateuszlaskowski3123]

@@Bisquick Maybe ask Belarusians whether they would prefer to live under the tyranny of this fucker or in some form of actual democracy ran by merciless capitalists.

[@drextrey]

When You get Oil, You will get Freedom!!! By U.S.A

[@Kafkaesque1965]

Freedom is necessary But not freedom like of Iraq and Libya European freedom would be fine 🙂

[@mamoonshah1]

Remember what happened in Afghanistan

[@irenemax3574]

John Sweeney may not have needed to stand there naked, “cakes out” but his report had a much greater impact because he did. He is a brave and heroic man.

[@John-ed2wj]

😂 John Sweeney is an absolute clown, who is a disgrace to journalism. He works for these BBC, which is full of lies about Belarus and Russia.

[@Zzyzzyzzs]

I'm no Russian troll-bot like the clown who responded above me, but you have a _really_ generous standard of what counts as 'heroic'. He stood naked in a room in controlled conditions and in a safe country, likely for no longer than it took to get the footage which, if what we saw is any indication, was no more than a few seconds. He wasn't being tortured and the only other people in the room would've been people he trusted and who respected his dignity. It wouldn't have been comfortable, but it isn't "brave" and it certainly isn't "heroic". By that standard, anyone who musters the strength to get out of the house in the morning is heroic. Let's not unnecessarily cheapen that word.

[@John-ed2wj]

@@Zzyzzyzzs I'm no Russian troll bot either. I'm just aware of Sweeney's and the BBC's bias against Russia and Belarus. I live in a place called Hereford, which is in England. I also refuse to pay for the TV licence, as the BBC is a Whitehall propaganda machine.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

But the POINT was about Lukashenko's destructive 'leadership'... not really the reporter. Is anyone touting that Lukashenko's methods, beliefs, policies, intelligence and more are... fine? As in... is it 'propaganda' that he's (literally) a dark ages plague for both Belarus and the world? If so, why so? Do tell.

[@John-ed2wj]

@@Novastar.SaberCombat Where have you got your information on him to form that opinion?

[@nnannakalu9423]

"Well, it feels like shit." An understandable sentiment likely shared by many Belarusian denizens.

[@josephguzman4737]

Probally everyone in the world rn

[@AlinaCalifornia]

It's clearly 97% of population who thinks that way!

[@Wustenfuchs109]

@@AlinaCalifornia If that were the case, he'd have fallen a long time ago. Dictators are many things, but never was one in power without the support of majority (relative or absolute) of the people. By the very nature of their power, they require popular support. It is only in a democratic system that a person can get in power with minority support - as it happens throughout Europe quite a lot, due to the various coalitions and other political shenanigans. And while there are people who oppose him, they are not a majority in any shape or form. Not because they hold some special love for Lukashenko personally, but because they know that replacing him and his power structure will bring nothing but suffering, and decades of political vacuum and struggle, dooming a few generations in the process. For no need - as Belarus, with all its problems, still has one of the highest living standards in Eastern Europe. So majority sees no need to fuck everything up on the off-chance of having to boast that they live in "a democracy" in 30 years. Aaaand they can see what "importing democracy" did to many nations around the world... so they choose not to play that game. Especially not when the next door neighbor is Russia that does not take kindly to border nations joining the enemy... any more than USA would like Mexico and Canada joining China.

[@BeakerButch420]

@@Wustenfuchs109 imagine being a lukashenko stan

[@AIArtworks45]

@@Wustenfuchs109 Aaaaahhh, i like the smell of propaganda and BS.

[@SRFriso94]

15:00 It is moments like this when I remember Tywin Lannister: "Any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king."

[@linatroshka]

Wow!!! As a long-time Russian fan of this show I am extremely happy that John and the team have finally done the episode about Lukashenko. He is the absolute worst that could happen to the people of Belarus. I hope the situation there changes for the better as soon as possible. Жыве Беларусь!

[@didih3339]

One third of the Belarusians were exterminated by the Nazis, and now more than 70 years later, they are still oppressed by the dictator...…

[@SerenityM54L2SAM5L5N1]

Perhaps he should've focused more that he's a self-proclaimed communist with political ties to USSR and the Belarusian communist army. No wait, that'd cancel half his audience!

[@avedic]

I honestly find Eastern Europe fascinating. It's history, culture, all of it.... On one level it is a deeply beautiful region full of wonderful people and culture. It really is. On another level, it utterly decimates the notion of white superiority. It proves that all the crap people throw at the feet of non-white people....is 100% possible in 100% white communities. We really should stop this white vs. non-white stupid fight and recognize the common enemy that will destroy us both if only given the opportunity. Predatory authoritarian faith-based cults of power wealth fame and greed. Lukashenko is nothing more than a white African war-lord turned dictator. And the people in both places....suffer. While the leaders enjoin the populace to fight against themselves. This was an unexpected, but excellent, segment. So glad John & Co. tackled this one....

[@thearchibaldtuttle]

You are a western spy! Just kidding

[@dd3655]

Жыве! 🤍❤️🤍

[@surfingshewolf]

I think the journalist who stood "cake out" in the freezer in London found an ingenious way to make sure that viewers never forget the fact that Lukashenko tortures dissidents by forcing them to stand naked in a "stress position" in the freezing cold. 🥶 😆

[@mattlogue1300]

I don't know what "cakes" are because I have issues, but it was funny as hell.

[@dustyrose192]

@@mattlogue1300 slang term for butt cheeks

[@spaghettibadger647]

John Sweeny He's done great reporting on Putin as well

[@callumjohnston2072]

The journalist did his job well in showing that. I hope he got a raise

[@lauramaue]

So back in the early 2000s when I was in middle school, my social studies class participated in an international pen pal project, and I was assigned a girl from Belarus. Now that I've learned more about their situation, it breaks my heart to think this monster was in power even back then. Olga, wherever you are, I'm praying for you and I hope you're okay.

[@TheManinBlack9054]

idc if he's a dictator and kills opposition his son mad cute, idgaf

[@chezmoi42]

@@TheManinBlack9054 Yeah, well, he'll probably grow up to be fat and bald with a combover just like Dad's.

[@Jenny-tm3cm]

@@TheManinBlack9054 you have bad taste 🤮🤮🤮

[@MasterArchfiend]

@@TheManinBlack9054 Satan is commonly described as being extremely handsome.

[@renanphillips1479]

What the fuck is happening here?

[@LilZombieFooFoo]

Holy shit, seeing him in front of a set is surreal.

[@Marijuanifornia]

He still talks about useless garbage no matter where he goes. Climate change makes everything else irrelevant, and ending Cannabis prohibition will stop climate change, but the only way that anyone will learn that is if a celebrity says it, which they won't, so the world is completely fucked.

[@psychodelogen.9694]

@@Marijuanifornia also, and this is coming from someone that has smoked weed and is 100% pro weed, how does smoking weed possibly help climate change in any way

[@Marijuanifornia]

@@psychodelogen.9694 Smoking weed has nothing to do with it. _Growing_ millions of acres of industrial hemp worldwide to make everything including food, clothing, homes, cars, fuel for those cars, plastic, paper, and virtually everything else in modern society that isn't glass or metal, will stop climate change by reducing pollution, replacing fossil fuels and ending deforestation. All of this would have happened 75 years ago if Cannabis had remained legal after being legalized to stop the Holocaust. The US government hid the *Hemp For Victory* film from 1945 to 1989, and has ignored it for the 30 years since it became public. There was even a bill in Congress recently titled the *Hemp For Victory Act of 2019* but no one noticed because no one knows what *Hemp For Victory* is or why it's important. I've spent over 10 years talking about this. I make videos that try to explain it, including editing music videos to try to make it more entertaining, but it just doesn't get through to anyone. At the same time, John Oliver couldn't even mention it in the LWT episode titled "Marijuana." Millions of people know more about fake Japanese mascots than how growing weed in their yards will take in CO2 from the atmosphere.

[@MrDjgalas]

My country has a border with Belarus, so we see a lot of his interviews in our news and holy shit, they are hilarious xD He is so funny that you can't even take him seriously LOL

[@deus_ex_machina_]

@@Marijuanifornia Cannabis, the plant from which THC is extracted, is not the same as hemp, which has innumerable uses as you say. If you want to avoid the image of a raving, paranoid pot-smoking dudebro, then you'd want to make that distinction. If you were aware of the difference, but called it cannabis anyway to get a reaction, then carry on.

[@henrylebard2648]

I'm surprised Oliver only noted the Ukrainian hanging victim, Vitaly Shishov, as a "dissident". He was the head of an organization that helped Belarusians flee Lukashenko's rule. Important to note.

[@Jofkos]

@@aleksazunjic9672 dude really be simping for a dictator 💀💀

[@aleksazunjic9672]

@@Jofkos Dictator = someone whom West does not like :P

[@isabellaangeline2175]

@@aleksazunjic9672 You’re a fool who gives it up backdoor style to a dictator. You poor wannabe man.

[@aleksazunjic9672]

@@isabellaangeline2175 Dictator = someone who does not bow down to the West :P

[@isabellaangeline2175]

@@aleksazunjic9672 Aleksa = A dictator’s boy toy.

[@Nightsd01]

Wow. This is why I love watching John Oliver. This video, five months later, ended up being incredibly insightful (it was incredibly funny when I originally watched it). This video was the only reason I even knew who Alexander Lukashenko was. Given the recent events in Ukraine, thank you John Oliver - keep up the good fight

[@Lincos321]

Thank you John and the team. Really. My granddad died because Lukashenko’s bad coronavirus handling. I’m depressed since August 2020 because of the cruelty happened in Minsk, my home.

[@makelikeatree1696]

Buddy, my condolences on your loss.

[@Ana-do8yq]

I am so sorry for what happened to your grandfather and to your home. Please, find help for yourself, you deserve to have a chance to recover from this. There are psychologists who volunteer, if you can’t afford therapy. Sending prayers.

[@Lincos321]

@@Ana-do8yq I can afford it, thanks. Still deciding if I need to go this deep.

[@e.g3040]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Is the freedom of speech situation really that bad over there?

[@joeyscerbo7776]

I am so sorry. He will be with you forever.

[@flofri]

I really ask myself if John has a map in his office, where the countries he should no longer visit are marked ;)

[@daanoverveld7616]

By now the list of countries he can visit takes a little less effort to create xD

[@manuelschneider1105]

He does... it's called a world map

[@garthako]

He‘s an American, now - He does not travel anymore

[@Nshadowtail]

To be fair, the countries he needs to stay out of are generally the ones *no one* should visit, so...

[@austincde]

"Big tit-its" 🤣 effing bots

[@jjoploo]

GOD, how i have MISSED john’s quirky mannerisms like waving his arms. He never did it in the Void 😭

[@ethancarpenter8075]

I know me to. It makes sense though, if I was just talking to a camera I’d find it hard to really get in to what I am saying.

[@astick7777]

John was secretly made by Jim Henson Studios. He is a real-life muppet.

[@d.e.b.b5788]

He learned it from Jon Stewart. Watch the rest of Stewart's prodeges like Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and others; they all do rants in the middle of their presentations. It does get tiring after a while, though..... These people's presentations are often about very serious things, and it just comes across as very odd that the most respected journalists today, are comedians, while 'real' journalists keep screwing up their credibility (I'm talking about YOU, Brian Williams; once caught in a lie, no one can ever trust that you're giving news instead of made up stories ever again).

[@RochelleHasTooManyHobbies]

@@d.e.b.b5788 A good laugh keeps people watching. And when it comes to awareness of global issues like this? The ends definitely justify the means. I would definitely bet that people will pay more attention now to Belarus and Lukashenko, when they might not have heard of him before.

[@steelwolfwc36]

Watching this a week into the Ukraine war, and I was immediately like "that's not Belarus, *this* is Belarus"

[@MrMuel1205]

War has always been the best geography teacher.

[@einhorntaschentuch9404]

Average 2nd grade geography lesson

[@Sebastian-sd1om]

@@MrMuel1205 For Americans indeed it Is.

[@MaeLSTRoM1997]

Bonus points if you also said "that's Lithuania, not Belarus"

[@waldothewalrus294]

​@@einhorntaschentuch9404every elementary school student should memorize the location and capital of every country on Earth

[@lindaaustraarende1371]

Few years ago I went to Minsk and me with friends were laughing about Luka's "office" palace in public transport. Then our guide came to warn us about laughing and saying Luka's name loudly. The fear undertone in her voice hit hard about living in Belarus.

[@teresathayn5170]

That's terrifying!

[@kosxe21]

this is what I had to live for 21 years prior to escaping to America

[@Heisenburg17]

all great mind escaping this shit hole, the living there is like in Borat movies.

[@seanpboyd1968]

It feels strange to "like" such a terrifying yet banal description of authoritarianism. I'm glad you and your friends made it through unscathed. And I hope your guide did as well.

[@lindaaustraarende1371]

@@seanpboyd1968 Thank you for concern, but we were fine without serious problems, if you ignore the man following whole group through the tour of the city center and regular questions from police officers. I'm glad that most of my friends from Belarus have relocated outside the country. :)

[@MrAnTiTaLeNt]

The trouble with John Oliver "insulting" Lukashenko is, that these were not insults as much as honest descriptions

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

To paraphrase Horace Vandergelder, "All the facts about Lukashenko are insults."

[@Mondfischli]

...does that teddy bear have a genuine bald patch 🤔

[@SirCap15]

JO is shitting on Lukashenko from US where Biden hides from nation who didn't elect him behind barbed wire, behind army and national guards backs. And JO supports that dictator. Double standarts?

[@Steph-rj1uc]

The best insults tend to be brutal but honest descriptions

[@Kira-rd7id]

@@SirCap15 shut up. We elected him, sure as hell, he was in-ideal, but at least better than the other guy

[@linlong1080]

Thank you, John, for giving attention to Belarus... The situation there is horrible, please, help! SOS Belarus!

[@kostajovanovic3711]

Just be cautious on what comes after he's gone

[@linlong1080]

@@kostajovanovic3711 Yes, it also a danger, cause Putin already there and trying to eat Belarus as Ukraine... We need all the help from the world. Don't forget Belarus, do all that you can!

[@shaneokeigan6150]

Nearly half a year later, and this video has managed to become more relevant. Glory to Ukraine

[@t-and-p]

Slava Ukraini! ✊🇺🇦

[@maghenshaw8717]

The Ukrainians are showing the world how to unite, too bad nobody will pay attn enough for it to matter. They have my ultimate respect n prayers

[@cornblaster7003]

Slava Ukraini

[@cornblaster7003]

@@maghenshaw8717 nah everyone is funding Ukraine's war effort, they just can't get fully involved since if they get into direct conflict world war three happens

[@maghenshaw8717]

@@cornblaster7003 no shit sherlock

[@MisterBondPT]

John, we did NEED to see that gentleman bare naked in that humiliating position. That burns in people's minds, as it should.

[@thearousedeunuch]

I agree.

[@carolyntalbot947]

I respect that journalist all the more for his commitment. Imagining human rights atrocities sometimes isn't as effective as being confronted with them visually.

[@abigailhowe8302]

@@carolyntalbot947 THIS... it's hard to appreciate TORTURE...if you've never been tortured. When the fallout over waterboarding happened, I felt it was inappropriate to even comment on it until I knew what waterboarding felt like...

[@MLennholm]

Where are the black rectangles when you need 'em, though?

[@TheQuintanaRoo]

@@MLennholm lmao

[@MyChannel773]

“i’ve only had this show for 8 years” oh my god we’re all old

[@PaulGaither]

We have been watching since the late 90's on the Daily Show.

[@dragoon1090]

@@PaulGaither for real. We're all getting old.

[@TheGyrocop]

Not me. I'm gonna live FOREVER!

[@Shepfax]

My geography teacher in high school 7 years ago showed me the John Oliver segment on standardized tests and now this is just a weekly ritual for me

[@jschuler53]

@@Shepfax the one that got me hooked was me randomly coming across one he did on student loan debt. It was really good. And I just want to reiterate, as so many have already done, John Oliver loves the USA. I think he people here love the idea and the dream of a USA. How we get there is an entirely different story. He ain't no communist.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

13:25 onwards: The guy who was found hanged certainly didn't commit suicide. It was in the media here in Germany at the time. His fellow dissidents and him were currently planning further resistance from Ukraine. He had plans for the next days, he was not depressed, he had a goal and purpose in life, he had friends. Nothng that hints at suicidal tendencies. You can assume that the Belarussian KGB (yes it is still named like that) ended that guy.

[@onkelpappkov2666]

Sounds just like the classic case of an unfortunate pedestrian breaking his neck in traffic, then shooting himself in the back of the head twice while falling off a bridge wrapped in carpet. A common accident. People need to be more careful.

[@noizekiller]

His organization was money laundry for ukranian neo-nazi groups. And he was hanged by one of their members Sergey Korotkih also known as "Boatman".

[@97henrik041]

@@noizekiller Proof? Or just anti-Ukrainian trolling?

[@jonbongjovi1869]

here in New Hampshire (the most corrupt govt i've ever seen) (let's put them against Team Hitler, point-by-point, deal?) (ex: Hitler wasn't a super-rapist, but (Governor) Sununu's Youth DETENTION centers, were TOTAL RAPE FACTORIES like most Amerikkkan jails) (THEY HAVE MALE GUARDS WATCHING THE FEMALE INMATES IN MOST PRISONS. What coudl go wrong, right???) ..... a few years back, KKKOPS investigated a dude who had parked his truck on the side of the road. (He may have broken down but KKKops don't care.) THE KKKOPS' OFFICIAL STORY? THEY CLAIM THE GUY WAS GOING TO SHOOT HIMSELF IN THE HEAD, which he DID DO (says fake ballistics)... and one kop ALSO SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD 2 MORE TIMES!!! Explain that one! THE ENTIRE PRESS and 100% of society said "no big deal". Only I cared. "I thought the guy was going to kill himself so I shot him 2 times in the head to stop that!" NEVER have kkkops not told insane lies that everyone let's slide. ANd UNTIL we all call them "KKKOPS" and "The Blue Klux Klan", they will CONTINUE TO GET AWAY. Words matter. Names matter. Like, you'd ONLY call it the "Establishment" if you're trying to PROTECT IT, hence the HARMLESS NAME. They are a SUPER-MAFIA. But every liberal and con REFUSES to call them this, as it would expose our LAWLESS govt.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

indie actress Adrienne Shelly (?) was found HANGING in her bathroom in NYC's greenwich village. Looked like a SUICIDE. EVENTUALLY came out (kops is a little slow, plus it was probably someone ELSE who solved it, cuz kops is idiots and lazy) that she had an argument with a construction worker next door, who ended up KILLING HER and he elaborately staged it as a suicide! (The idea that kops OFFER REWARDS of OUR cash.... for anyone who can solve crimes?? WHY ARE WE PAYING YOU LAZY RAPIST KKKOPS!? We can just offer CASH REWARDS for tips and SAVE TRILLIONS on KKKop costs! )

[@leandrotami]

this was just 5 months ago. we know even more about how deep his insanity goes. It's just amazing this was allowed to reach this point in these modern years.

[@dimetronome]

Yeah, since this aired, Lukashenko has already bragged that Putin promised to make him a “colonel” and accidentally revealed Russian battle plans to invade Moldova. The guy is a clown.

[@mp5enthusiast]

@@dimetronome Yep, what a world.

[@mrg112000]

You know what they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely. So what's the answer when most "Politicians" care mostly about getting re-elected? So that money river keeps flowing? It's the same reason that no matter what's going on in the world the price of everything keeps going up. GREED & the NEED for MORE!!

[@PavelYasonov]

Thank you so much from Belarus. Everything from this show is true. Thank you for your support!

[@brycef.4432]

I lived in Belarus for a few months. It's an absolutely beautiful country with a rich culture and such sweet people who are terrified to do or say anything against the government. Please support them

[@sayresrudy2644]

thx for this

[@Mubariz]

Support them by encouraging regime change, sanctions, destabilization?

[@olegk11]

@@Mubariz yes. That's what people are asking for. For international companies to stop bying from personal Lukashenka companies "his wallet companies." Belarus survives on grants by EU from road building to cleaning radiation areas.. country profits are non existent and banking system is rated close to 3rd world country.

[@thejudge1728]

@@Mubariz You're right, it'd be better to let their dictator torture press and slowly sell their country to Russia in peace.

[@WTFizgoingon123]

@@thejudge1728 are you joking? Sell the country to Russia? Sanctions are closing the markets to Belarus, the only way to survive is to sell things to Russia! It is absolutely obvious! Sanctions are made to encourage revolution in the country but since when revolution is something good?

[@flyguy3000]

As a Belarusian I've been waiting for this segment a while now

[@tysonreuter5788]

You don't understand who will run your country if this guy leaves.

[@pavelm9469]

@@tysonreuter5788 there is no if, there’s only when. Is it that hard to grasp?

[@posto9716]

@@pavelm9469 100% agreed ✌

[@86damn86]

@@tysonreuter5788 A very good portion of Belarusians are bright, well educated, have travelled and are building awesome businesses, especially in tech. Just look at how "polite" so many of the demonstrations have been, and how well they've self-organised to provide evidence of election fraud. If there is a country whose people will be very able to run itself its Belarus

[@bolbyballinger]

@@86damn86 Problem is they would need to overthrow the guy via military conflict and if an anti-Putin puppet military get going in a country that borders Russia they'll have to deal with the Russian military.

[@MaiAolei]

To be fair, my imagination would not have done justice to how unsettling that picture of cold torture turned out to be. It painted a vivid and stark picture and will stick with you every time you hear Lukashenko's name.

[@the12345smart]

I’m so glad you touched this topic! The only think you missed out, is that the women in opposition who’s husbanded got arrested was not alone, there were two other women with the same exact situation working with her. Those three women won the actual national election with over 80% of people supporting them. Insanely brave.

[@sergrojGrayFace]

They didn't win anything. Estimates based on opposition-run website Golos data put Tihanovskaya at best at 38% of votes with Lukashenko at 51%.

[@GummyDinosaursify]

@@sergrojGrayFace Lukashenko, don't you have a country to run (into the ground). Why are you here posting nonsense on KZbin?

[@sergrojGrayFace]

@@GummyDinosaursify nice try, troll

[@thetea4093]

@@sergrojGrayFace weak bait

[@doctorx6083]

@@GummyDinosaursify l W

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

Wow. His "do you see any viruses?" comment means that he is dealing with knowledge from about the 1500's. That's impressive.

[@crazyratlady3438]

The stupidity floored me

[@seanuk7757]

Teleprompter

[@abdullayaser700]

@wnnalis cioov apperantly you don't have oil

[@myrixica4222]

500 years a head of a large portion of US Republicans.

[@seanuk7757]

@@myrixica4222 a head?....ahead. one word.

[@dpskane]

It's so sad that the people in Belarus were so brave, having protests going on for months, and despite detainments and beatdowns they still kept on going. Just to see nothing happening.

[@pro-choicemom]

Because of a lack of international support.

[@anterogradus]

It is still happening. The protests were steam rolled, but even Lukashenko understands that they will get back as soon as his ability to exert violence fade.

[@tomgreen2737]

Don't S4 America or Britain's help. They will invade kill 100000 of you spinned over 2 trillion and then when they leave the dictator will be stronger than ever before.

[@ИванИванов-д5щ6б]

@@anterogradus Yes, it's still happening. Thanks for these words.

[@zirklutesKerpa]

I am not fully sure what other countries can do. If Europe or USA would invade I believe it could start a WW3. As this then be a pretext for Russia to attack back and claim we invade free country.

[@potaterjim]

I love how Seagal isn't just there, he's dressed like a bad kung fu movie villain too

[@tugger]

he is truly an exemplar of how the weakest and smallest men are attracted to autocrats

[@markbrisec3972]

This reminds me.. WhereTF is Seagal these days? I haven't heard his comment on the matter of his favorite dictator getting crushed on all fronts.. War, propaganda, finance, influence....

[@warrenbennett1863]

Fking with Bugs Bunny’s reputation.

[@Happymali10]

"Oh nice he put some decor in his home studio." *Literally 10 seconds later* "That's not canned applause, is it?"

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Almost did a double take there. The set is back, baby!

[@cev12]

@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 and it sounds awful

[@mikethewordsmith4263]

@@cev12 Imagine, an open space full of people sounding worse than a room in your house.

[@NLWerner]

i'd avoid Belarussian airspace for a while John

[@ЦветанГанчев-у4п]

If you stop avoiding it, please take some teddy bears with yourself

[@utvpoop]

14:42 "The Cockroach" (Тараканище, the "big" one, obviously) is a Russian poem for children by Korney Chukovsky. There, the cockroach takes the power over the forest and every animal (the largest ones, too) is afraid of killing it despite of its size. But in the end, it gets eaten by a little bird.

[@lucascamelo3501]

it is basically "a bug's life" plot. Damn Disney stealing european stories.

[@tomaxx1296]

So would Trump be "The Cockroach Orange"?

[@TheJeweledBird]

@@tomaxx1296 Oh, well played! I am so stealing that.

[@ChronologicalLogic]

There is also an incredible poem written by Osip Mendelshtam called "Tarakanishe" about Stalin, which eventually got him killed. When Osip asked his friend to review it, his friend said that this poem is a suicide note, and distanced himself from Osip

[@oskarfunes2505]

@@ChronologicalLogic then he had real talent cause art is supposed to have an emotional response to it.

[@BadgerOff32]

I'm now imagining a scenario where an unsuspecting mother has somehow got a hold of one of those teddy bears and given it to her child, completely oblivious to both the context about why that bear exists, and also the configuration of the fruit on the bears shirt. Over time, that bear becomes the childs favourite teddy, and he takes it everywhere with him and forms an emotional bond with it. Many years later, now an adult, that child finds his old teddy bear while rummaging around in his parents attic, he pulls it out, looks at the picture of the fruit on the shirt, and suddenly recognizes what the fuck he had been carrying around with him as a child.

[@pppLT19]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COVERING THIS. It is so sad how forgotten this topic is for the rest of the world. As a Lithuanian who has young belarussian friends it is a subject laying particulary hard on the heart.

[@txlee5513]

Yes.

[@AlinaCalifornia]

I'm Belarussian, and I cannot believe he is covering this! This is something unreal for me! My favorite TV-show! Finally somebody speaks about our sad and huge problem!

[@pppLT19]

@@AlinaCalifornia He is my favourite too🙂. Stay strong our belarussian sisters, we do everything we can to help you, that coacroach cant live forever.

[@LifeFull11]

@@AlinaCalifornia , to my mind you've lost your say in this matter when you've moved to USA. Say hi to millions of homeless people outside your window and millions more who can't afford healthcare and food. Oh and while you're at it, wave to the millions poisoned, tortured and killed by usa all over the world. And good luck there, you'll fit right in.

[@Marijuanifornia]

@@LifeFull11 Wherever you're from, your country sucks, too. But the good news is that climate change doesn't care where you live and will ruin every country without caring about politics, religion, wealth,, age or gender.

[@maximpileckiy5156]

I'm from Belarus and writing the comment to express my deep thanks for what you do! Thanks for bringing this back again in the media as the protest continues but unfortunately not on the streets as the repression goes wilder and wilder every day.

[@alexandertownsend3291]

Be careful in case **** monitors what you do on the internet. I don't know if they do or not.

[@maximpileckiy5156]

@@alexandertownsend3291 unfortunately they do that. For any comment you may be sentenced to prison.

[@alexandertownsend3291]

@@maximpileckiy5156 Try to stay safe then.

[@Joethetooltech]

That reporter putting his bare bottom out did exactly what he wanted. I wouldn't have known about that if he hadn't then John Oliver reported on it. So good job naked reporter man.

[@pushista9322]

Totally

[@Ryanlexz]

Democrats/ western liberal politicians think sanctions gonna work on Lukashenko HAHAHAHA

[@googiegress]

I agree with your assessment

[@roc7880]

Norman Mailer spent months in Minsk to research Oswald life there when he wrote a book. He said that he found in Minsk the kindiest people on earth although they were also the most scared by the state and the police. Probably the same thing now

[@passingby2522]

Thanks for bringing it to public attention again. Last year's protests in Belarus were the biggest in its history by a large margin. Because this time Lukashenko really lost the election, as independent polls showed. Consequently, the level of oppressions is also very high, and rising

[@ЛисаПатрикеевна-ю9ж]

Thank you SO MUCH! We really needed a programme like this one. HUGS FROM BELARUS

[@tatsianaaneichyk2445]

I have long awaited an episode about Belarus, and it has finally arrived :)) And it was great! Thanks and Жыве Беларусь! ⚪️🔴⚪️

[@raodenraoden9796]

ЖЫВЕ ВЕЧНА! 🤍❤️🤍

[@SuperPixiechild]

I think JO overlooked what was happening when the journo took his clothes off to stand in the freezer. It's a mad thing to do, sure, and I don't care for seeing a journos bare posterior, but it's also an incredible display of empathy. In the face of entrenched and grossly inflated narcissism, sometimes you have to hold a mirror up to the monster.

[@MrDanBoj]

I'm Belarussian. Thank you for showing people the truth! Thank you for your support!

[@lenaradevich8079]

Thank you for support my native country! It's complicated to explain how I am happy to watch that video. More than thank you for the video and amazing support! Long live Belarus!

[@Algerd1980]

Stop lying! Belarusians are living an ordinary life like in other european states!

[@АндрейЖибуртович-и3н]

А вы не заметили что вместо Беларуси на карте в видео подсвечена Литва? Они не знают кто где находится, им нет никакого дела до белорусов в прочем как и до литовцев, это часть антироссийской пропаганды а Беларусь инструмент.

[@MegaVta]

@@АндрейЖибуртович-и3н зачем вы смотрите это шоу, если не понимаете английского? Показали только свою глупость. Меньше смотрите пропаганды типа 60-ти минут.

[@АндрейЖибуртович-и3н]

@@MegaVta Я знаю английский, а ещё итальянский болгарский и турецкий, просто не смотрел видео а увидел заставку, потом посмотрев понял что это была шутка. А ещё я поездил по миру и пожил в разных странах по нескольку лет. Свою глупость показывать не стесняюсь главное что я так считаю на основании моего опыта. 60 минут я не смотрю.

[@olyabakhareva5907]

The worst thing is, Russia gives him money, and he keeps on going there and asking for more. Without it, he wouldn't last so long((

[@austinschumann8376]

How is that the worst thing?

[@danilooliveira6580]

@@austinschumann8376 probably because we can impose as many sanctions as we want, its not going to help, because he will always have the capital to impose force on the people. in the end the sanctions will hurt the people, but not him.

[@CorporateG0th]

@@austinschumann8376 he's creating a debt bond to Russia for whoever comes next, and probably "cause" for invasion/annexation when the time comes.

[@Grubiantoll]

Belarusians are losing their freedom step by step

[@TTFerdinand]

@@CorporateG0th You're absolutely right. Lukashenka has burned the bridges to the west and has given Putin all the cards to annex the whole country and Putin never lets go of what he holds. I fear it is already too late to do anything for the Belorussian people. Pardon my french, but they're fucked.

[@vandelayofficial492]

To be fair, somebody has to force-feed vegetables to Steven Seagal.

[@gspendlove]

Fun fact: That was the first time Seagal had ever tasted a carrot. According to him, he found it "enjoyable and crunchy, like a deep-fried chicken tender." Since then, he's added carrots to his diet, but only tempura-battered and deep-fried, smothered in gravy and cheese sauce.

[@RevazTateishvili]

Thank you for the support of the people of Belarus! Even though I live in Ukraine, it is a dare situation on the border with Belarus. And your attention to this is extremely important!

[@soumils6623]

Totally surreal to see him not inside the white void and in the studio with an audience.

[@drunkensailor3736]

Always great when he does foreign topics. New developments now in Afghanistan, found a great video on what Taliban 2.0 rule will be like and which geopolitical players will step into the vacuum left by the US: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKu9dp-OiJ2LiK8&ab_channel=MyTake

[@Irish_Pub]

Is he? It sounds like a laugh track.

[@psychodelogen.9694]

did you watch the show before 2020

[@scottgordon1781]

@@Irish_Pub my thoughts exactly .

[@ralfsstuff]

I didn't even notice...

[@pluki1357]

There's a huge unexploited topic of what Lukashenka has been doing recently with refugees. He's actuallly doing human trafficing on a huge scale - it goes in thousands. Encourages people from countries like Irak / Syria / Afghanistan to legally fly as 'tourists' to Blearus, earning money on that and than pushes them through green borders with Lithuania, Poland and Latvia. His toughs - in full gear - literally push groups of those people towards boarder guards of said countries. There are people - including women and children - held for weeks in open fields at the borderline, stucked in between. There were reports of some of them being killed when trying to move back.

[@z.kaminska130]

People are still stuck at polish boarder and Poland doesn't let them pass. It's horrible

[@CrowColdblade]

Oh yeah, there was almost a firefight between Polish and Belarusian soldiers over it. And there have been 200 frontex agents stationed at the border.

[@z.kaminska130]

@@CrowColdblade polish military and police are still stationed there, it's quite scary

[@a.filakiewicz2942]

@@z.kaminska130 Pass where? Where would they go?

[@z.kaminska130]

@@a.filakiewicz2942 I don't think it's that hard to give them at least a temporary refuge. There are people who would gladly take them, in Poland and outside. Keeping them there, where they can't pass to neither country is murder.

[@rorrodeh]

It’s that “well” in that protester’s “well, it feels like shit” that really drives it home

[@AndreyShu]

Maria Kolesnikova, who was sentenced to 11 years is actually the most badass. At first, they tried to forcefully fly her to Ukraine. And she just destroyed her passport in an airport in order to stay in the country, knowing that she deffinitelly will be in jail and maybe worse.

[@Ядерный_пепел]

+ 👍🤝💗🙏✝🙌

[@2AirSnake]

Small correction - they tried to drive her through the border and even got her out out of belarus but when they gave her her passport to go through ukrainian border she ripped it so they were forced to take her back. Still badass)

[@rjavaja]

I wish John Oliver included her story

[@natalieandrew7573]

God the feeling of hearing the background laughter and reaction makes it so much more lively

[@ceberios]

I saw so many comments that disagree with you but hey everyone has his own opinion

[@mrcolz9373]

@@ceberios a man of virtue right here

[@artsydragon4874]

Sure laugh tracks are outdated but it adds some much needed levity to these videos. Without them makes it too stressful for me to watch.

[@Lazzil]

It still drives me nuts how John always cuts the audience off when they start applauding him, lol.

[@tristanweide]

@@artsydragon4874 It's not laugh tracks, live audience laughing with his jokes.

[@theliberation9061]

Also remarkable to see any Western media actually realising eastern Europe exists. Great work as always, John & team.

[@mathemagician81]

Africa here... hold our beer Eastern Europe

[@thagodwecreate5179]

"When you're born into this world, you get a ticket to the freak show...if you're born in america, you get a front row seat" - George Carlin

[@kyraspikes7542]

Right! The U.S mainstream media hasn't covered anything in your area since Russia violently re-enveloped/annexed Crimea. Everything else has been about Disgraceful 45's ties to Putin. Only U.S. news sources like Vice, John, of course, and Maddow have even covered any other suffering going down in these countries. Its hard to focus on others though when we had our own wanna-be dictator and have been fighting a tough battle against falling into fascism and the current resurgence of rampant white supremacist terrorism that Disgraceful 45 weaponized the entire time he was in office.

[@MajorMlgNoob]

@@kyraspikes7542 y'all should read the New York Times more lol

[@kyraspikes7542]

@@MajorMlgNoob Thanks for the advice. I in fact do read the NYT, The New Orleans Advocate, and the Washington Post. But I am only referring to easily accessible visual media, not periodicals. The average U.S. citizen doesn't read the news. They only watch the evening news, if that. And the programming I mentioned that does cover these world altering events are considered a part of "the evil liberal agenda."

[@andrewbloom7694]

I assure you Mr. Oliver we ALL know where Belarus is now...

[@Mrst3lios89]

That’s excellent that John Oliver has talked about Belarus. They’ve been oppressed for a long time and someone finally shed some light on that part of our world. I hope he mentions Erdogan’s “greatness” next !!!

[@gals4632]

He mentioned Erdogan's "greatness" four times already but I can always use more...

[@birbeyboop]

Erdogan isn't exactly a saint but comparing Turkey to Belarus is rather silly. They still do a lot of things better than America over there, although I suppose that's not a high bar.

[@ЭтотГражданин]

Unexpected but really nice for me.

[@OldFashionedLover]

@@birbeyboop I guess that‘s depending on who you ask. I bet the Kurdish people would give you a picture of Erdogan as horrible as any dictator. Rightfully so.

[@HECKAKYH-ADEKBATEH]

The citizens of Belarus were oppressed by WHAT? By factories that build BELAS or schools which educate the fine USSR way? Damn Lukashenko, didn't destroy the USSR leftovers to the pleasure of fake West like Yeltzin and Shushkevich did. Such a dictator, much envious fire fart.

[@karseniberra]

It’s so weird yet welcoming to see him back with a live audience again.

[@inSpihr]

Do you mean to say a background?

[@coofzilla]

yeah, honestly I kinda liked it without the laugh track.

[@Ryanlexz]

Democrats/ western liberal politicians think sanctions gonna work on Lukashenko HAHAHAHA

[@mikoshino]

Thanks for the attention on my home country. we have fled to austria in the early 2000s to escape lukashenko. my dad was an activist, which cost us a lot .. but we are happy here and cheer our distant family on. we support each other of course. i have never thought belarus would get featured here. new feelings!

[@_emory]

I have never felt such a strong connection to someone compared to listening to John’s desperate plea for the world to be more delightful

[@St.Judith]

Yes. I wish we could parachute teddy bears to the Ukrainian children.

[@VolyaDzemka]

Thank you, John, producers and everyone who worked on this episode♥️

[@Birdin_Atree]

As a Lithuanian i can take the joke of you showing Lithuania instead of Belarus :D. We are all trying to help them as much as we can

[@akeuner]

Thanks mate. We really appreciate it.

[@iceberghoney]

Have the other Baltic states been helpful as well?

[@Birdin_Atree]

@@iceberghoney cant really tell, ive been out of the loop recently

[@botigamer9011]

Dear everyone in Lithuania: May the Gods of fate bring your country joy Much love from Mexico

[@WTFizgoingon123]

@@botigamer9011 basically you've just explained how Lithuania helps Belarus lol

[@Ronis88]

The most Lukashenko was pissed, when during World ice hockey championship in Riga Belarus official flag was replaced by white and red opposition flag. He even recalled ambassador from Latvia because of it. Wanna annoy Luka, replace his flags everywhere.

[@yankis.]

We do that in Lithuania and he is not happy. You wouldn't find an official flag flying here apart from the Belarusian embassy.

[@annmettam1948]

This guy is just wonderful. Some-Times I think it's only when I watch his show do I get to have a laugh.

[@angelanguyen1476]

I’m not used to the laughter yet… they’re interrupting my internal chuckle

[@metalmoonsanctuary4699]

Remember when we had to get use to no laugh track back in early 2020. How times have changed man.

[@profosist]

Yeah it was like wait what's that there

[@singenstattatmen5096]

Same here! I started to laugh out loud at John's jokes when they were made in the void, now I've reverted back to silence - it just isn't fun to laugh when the stupid audience are already doing it every 5 seconds. 😔

[@LNata]

Thanks a lot for supporting my home country in this hard times! Thank you for bringing up the topic, so people know that we are still fighting against the dictator and, of course, for the donations. This is the cutest way of fund rising. Жыве Беларусь!

[@germanquadro4124]

Hi is not a dictator. A voted for him.

[@andiward7068]

"Elect me, I'll stop corruption." Hey, this corruption stuff is really profitable, can I get a piece?

[@nothingnadda6643]

It was likely his plan from the very beginning. People don't just suddenly decide to become dictators.

[@geekgirl_luv4262]

“We should be dropping parachuting teddy bears from the sky here all the time” NOPE, I’ve read enough comic books to know that those teddy bears are definitely going to explode. That is a supervillain plot just waiting to happen.

[@ernestebell1735]

This may well seal it: "Last Week Tonight" has to be the greatest single force for good in the media landscape. Better than the cable news programs, the late night talk shows, or other news related entertainments like "Real Time with Bill Maher." Obviously, there would be no "Last Week Tonight" without the vital work of news journalists around the world, but what this show does so brilliantly is clarify the issues in an extremely approachable manner that delivers on an emotional level, and then, as with the Belarus Bear Force bit in this show, sometimes gives us a fantastic call to action that lets people actually do something about the problems in the world. Hats off to the brilliant technical and creative team at the show, and to John Oliver, for his leadership and remarkable delivery of the material. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@avedic]

Nothing to add except to say.....YES. Yes a thousands times over.

[@mauiskywalker808]

its garbage propaganda since COVID started. State funded democrat TV

[@Milleniummeister]

@@mauiskywalker808 watch Out! We got. Badass over here

[@bruitdefond]

John Oliver is a singular talent for sure but there is absolutely no reason other newscasts shouldn't do this type of journalism as well. Instead, we get ad nauseam updates on pointless wars, virtual rubbernecking and Kardashian baby name reveals.

[@ashleyhatheway-moulton1807]

Perfectly said

[@AslanAlmukhambetov]

Laughing at those silly dictators is the best thing people can do to hurt them. They are not offended by words like “violent dictator” or “ruthless leader”, but they suffer a lot from being called a “weak looser” and being laughed at. So lets just do that ;) Жыве Беларусь!

[@dr.OgataSerizawa]

@Aslan Almukhambetov I totally agree with your comment! 👍

[@tifforo1]

That's why he loved showing Garbunguly Berdemadhamadov (sp?) falling off his horse.

[@dr.OgataSerizawa]

@Kitan Mani Wow! You’re certainly a hottie!

[@jonbongjovi1869]

EXACTLY!! I'm THE most falsely arrested human ever, probably (47 insane arrests to torture me and shut me up in Amerikkka)....and ONE MAJOR REASON the Empire fears me more than any other human (they can't kill me as that will martyr me ha ha) is I ALWAYS MOCK THEM AND EMASCULATE THEM (and they're planning another 50 arrests to SLOW ME DOWN / shut me up). EX: if the PEN is mightier than the sword.... than CARTOONS are a hydrogen BOMB vs the pen! (EVERYONE loves cartoons!) EX: I was the ONLY Cartoonist who drew Rudy for the 8 YEARS he was mayor! Guess why! (He's a cartoonists DREAM! Yet none drew him?!! Cuz they didn't want to go to jail!) I was the ONLY cartoonist mocking Emperor Bloomturd. Any theories why? THE STORY GOES that Boss Tweed was a super-mobster at the turn of the century 1800s to 1900s, who RAN NYC VIA BACKROOM DEALS GALORE....and most ppl who voted for his FAKE candidate puppets were the illiterate masses. REPORTEDLY HE WAS TAKEN DOWN FINALLY....by CARTOONISTS. He reportedly said "my constituents an't read.... but ANYONE can understand a CARTOON!! STOP THE CARTOONISTS!!" I'm on trial right now for cartoons in NH! 100% of my "ALLIES" are covering it all up. (It's right there in the word: ALL LIES.) THE ACLU is a money-laundering front that does almost no work!

[@charlescannon2469]

John: "Happy now, freaks?" Me: takes one to... *John begging Adam to crush him* _Oh....right_

[@crystall.411]

Cant really blame him 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@conquistadorrocket]

When Lukaschenko talks, it feels like I'm getting hit with that good old-fashioned Russian grandpa gaslighting. The mannerisms and the rhetoric make me feel like I'll get the shaking finger with a "старших надо уважать" quip at any moment

[@Ready4theTakeOff]

let's be honest... John was so appalled by witnessing that naked man that he decided to have us all suffer with him by showing it here. That's the most real friendship 😂

[@tracymcnair1303]

Lol

[@Krystalmyth]

I wasn't appalled. I think that reaction was inappropriate. Sorry but a naked man doesn't offend me. What offends me is that this was done to the Belarusian people. That real people suffered like this to a dictator. On their soil. The land they grew up in. That they lost their dignity, despite committing no crime. I think turning men's bodies into a punchline, simply doesn't track. But yes, let's be honest. ---- If you are appalled simply by witnessing such an event, I invite you to seriously, truly, consider your response to being forced to experience it.

[@yuliyalitskevich3049]

This show is hilarious, but the situation in Belarus is really horrific. People are imprisoned for making negative comments about the authorities on social media or for wearing white and red clothing.

[@VinzRex]

Agreed, but as a comparatively uninformed individual, I gotta ask: What's the significance of white and red clothing? Is it because they are the colours of Poland?

[@Multiply187]

@@VinzRex no, those are the original colors of the Belarussian flag, that's been extensively used as a protest symbol in Belarus

[@VinzRex]

@@Multiply187 Oh wow, I did not know that, thanks!

[@qpavlov1]

It is convenient not to mention that "original" here refers to 1991-1994, before which the colors (with some variations) were only briefly used on the territory of the country by Lithuanian and Polish communities in the beginning of XX century )

[@AlinaCalifornia]

The very next step - they will forbid Ded Moroz to show up in the country.

[@arkadiyk]

He is nobody without Putin's money.

[@carolyntalbot947]

🎯💯👍

[@zirklutesKerpa]

That's so true and sad. Because basically Belarus is in Russians' pocket.

[@NoRussiaNoCry]

He is just Papakoli )

[@Joppi1992]

Not to mention the foreign assassinations and control over the media as well as the elections are eerily similar to Russia as well, especially that Ukraine rebel leader who was shot close to Angela Merkel's office by a former murderer inmate of a Siberian prison who "somehow" got a legit passport only to carry out that assassination soon thereafter. Only reason that assassin was caught was because a couple of teenagers saw him ride on his bike into the bushes and come out looking very different, and notified the cops who quickly acted on it.

[@Averageenjoyer-br1zm]

@@zirklutesKerpa in Putin's pocket, not ruasians'. Russian people won't benefit if he annexes belarus (and i suppose he may, lukashenko doesnt mind, it's pretty much the only way lukashenko can save his ass). Saying that belarus is in russians' pockets is like saying that Belarus is in Belarusian pockets' now. Don't confuse the dictator with the people

[@mxmissy]

"In no country in the world are you allowed to insult people." Lukashenko obviously hasn't been to Australia where we insult are politicians on the reg.

[@Pr0f1tPr0ph3t]

The cake was absolutely necessary in the name of journalism, john.

[@vandanacasm]

The cake was true journalism, john

[@Ryanlexz]

Democrats/ western liberal politicians think sanctions gonna work on Lukashenko HAHAHAHA

[@TD1021-]

The journalism was necessary cake

[@chivAvatar14]

The Necessary of journalism was a true cake.

[@zachglover3428]

"Who wants some fucking cake?!" -John Oliver

[@1oace768]

Fun fact: Im a Belarusian citizen but moved to Canada with my mom. However there is a conscription which meant if I ever returned id be dragged into the army. In addition, after the recent protests, since my grandparents are strong and notable activists I was put on a no-fly list out of Belarus. Lucky for me I'm in the states right now or I could be in actual danger.

[@Makarosc]

To Belarus or Canada?

[@teresathayn5170]

Glad you got out but I hope they get Lukashenka out soon! What a jerk!

[@julianbufarull7602]

How is this a fun fact?

[@JM-fc9gm]

Holy shit JO has a live audience again? It’s like he never skipped a beat.

[@avedic]

30 seconds in.............this is SO SO weird... 30 seconds later....wait, so LWT used to not have an audience? Oh yeah...that was weird. Having said that...while I think John WORKS with an audience better....I hope Seth never ever goes back to that format. He is honestly the only late night host who has thrived _more_ without an audience. Everyone handled it well early on. But Colbert really started to flounder without an audience. And John did ok....but towards the end, I was craving an audience for him to perform to. Seth though? He's great in both formats. But better solo....with his crew. I don't want to hear a roomful of weird tourists clapping like seals....

[@PencilSticks]

It sounds like he has a reduced audience, which is total bs

[@Butterfly1025A]

@@PencilSticks Care to explain why having a reduced audience is total BS?

[@PencilSticks]

@@Butterfly1025A Because there’s no reason for it if everyone is vaccinated.

[@br3achbirth]

Thanks to this video I knew more about Belarus than ever during this whole Russia/Ukraine disaster

[@raymundoveracustolaslambaw7098]

Cakes out was a great way to make a point. We should see the evil of the world. We shouldn’t have to simply imagine it. We imagine enough to be disconnected from reality

[@onkelpappkov2666]

It's a bit like thinking of someone being sent to jail ("oh noes") and them being stuck in a narrow cold room in wet clothes with flickering neon lights and constant noise for an arbitrary duration without the knowledge of how long they'll be there while people occasionally peer into the room but ignore screams, cries and questions about when they'll be presented to a judge. Dissidents being stripped naked sounds bad already, seeing a guy strip naked in a cold room looks bad, but it doesn't come close. I can't see the cold, I can't see the pain. I feel that most people won't even start to imagine what it feels like to know you'll die that day like cattle, naked in a shitty position without saying goodbye to your family. Everything that can be done to convey an image like this should be done.

[@DieNibelungenliad]

Many people in the United States still can't handle the sight of nudity in public. Atleast its not as extreme as the Taliban, but come on! Anyone with the internet knows what a butt is!

[@Noirtutu]

yes, thank you!! It was actually quite brave & selfless of the journalist, in my opinion. Its incredibly important for people to see images (or even re-enactments, in this case) of atrocities with their own eyes. I was really disappointed he mocked that journalist. Like yes, he's naked we get the joke, but that's legit torture being perpetuated in a very real way. People need to see it.

[@seanuk7757]

Ste you a child?

[@spud8500]

You're being manipulated by this show you do realize that? All the segments on this show have the same repetitive format. He presents an argument for around 10 seconds, then follows up with a joke or quip (usually a non-sequitur) The only pauses or breaks in the shows pacing are for approving laughter and applause designed to make you associate laughter and applause with his opinions or mocking laughter with things contrary to his opinions, and it keeps a fast pace to prevent you from rationally processing anything he is saying. In rough 20 second cycles, he presents a stimulus and cues a response. In psychology, this is a technique under a branch called Association that affects the development of your neural pathways. You guys are being conditioned by this mindless stuff. This is the same thing that is done on Fox News talk shows and on other late night shows. Stop watching this crap. Its literally mind-numbing mass conditioning, training you to stop thinking for yourselves and instead to just mindlessly absorb the opinions directed at you.

[@williesawyerii73]

Pay attention to the song that the missing news staff left playing. "It's Just an Illusion" from the 80's movie "FX".

[@jintojoyk1989]

Thank you

[@falco5476]

Fun fact, he is still in the void we just imagine the studio

[@starmaker75]

And the laughter is just the madness of John Oliver and the audience from social isolation

[@IsmailAli-uc2jm]

I miss the void. The last year and a half of no audience has been way more entertaining

[@drunkensailor3736]

Always great when he does foreign topics. New developments now in Afghanistan, found a great video on what Taliban 2.0 rule will be like and which geopolitical players will step into the vacuum left by the US: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKu9dp-OiJ2LiK8&ab_channel=MyTake

[@turquoisesnowflake4613]

I am going so insane, I believe that

[@barrodexteriit.9301]

We are all insane

[@R2debo_]

So good to see him back in the studio again

[@ItzKamo]

Hello verified youtuber

[@jaycorbin5361]

@@jdavis37378 he said the audience was vaxxed and masked meaning that everyone there probably had to show proof of vaccination and mask up just in case.

[@silasarpagaus3520]

@@ruairi4901 lol sure, keep on dreaming

[@orc001]

For sure - the show was missing that audience and environment

[@dynomar11]

For now

[@snapdragon9300]

It's a wonder Putin didn't chastise him for saying he's the ' only European dictatorship ^😆

[@nihili4196]

Because Putin wants to at least appear like he's trying to pretend he looks like he's not a dictator

[@lupen_rein]

Lukashenka admits it. Putin doesn't admit these things, he always lies about everything.