S3 E10: Puerto Rico, Obama & Norway: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Season 3, Episode 10. April 24th, 2016. Lin-Manuel Miranda joins John Oliver in calling for debt relief for Puerto Rico, President Obama is snubbed by the king of Saudi Arabia, and the Immigration Minister of Norway does a little too much to relate to immigrants.
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[@filipevale7873]

Lin Manuel Miranda introducing the man on the keys even on a John Oliver show is just fucking class.

[@Palbizu]

Too bad his support for the PROMESA law aged like milk. He’s not that well liked by the left in PR

[@stephaniep7797]

Came here to say exactly that! Love the recognition.

[@Jjay257]

INDEPENDENCE!!!

[@Edlas22158]

@@Jjay257 Independence, NO American citizenship and the freeloader aliens dancing on the street because you discarded what is a treasure for them. And probably you are one of them. But if you are from the island, what a r4t, for sure your grew up in the USA.

[@mattcarberry368]

shout out Alex Lacamoire🎹

[@LaVenganzaDeAgueybana]

As a Puerto Rican, this aged like milk. HR 4900 became the PROMESA law, which established a dictatorial unelected Junta that has more power than the governor and can overrule any law that doesn’t please it. It has sunken us to more poverty with more austerity measures (cutting public funds to hospitals, schools, pentioners, our sole public university system) and has done nothing to pay the debt (which is mostly illegal). The only way to eliminate the debt is to audit it, and lo and behold, la Junta blocks any attempt to audit the debt. In the beginning, what you actually see is Lin Manuel Miranda lobbying for the PROMESA law to pass, that’s why we don’t like him in Puerto Rico. And Luis Fortuño has some balls to say all of that when he was the architect of the debt, because he trippled it more than any previous or upcoming governor. My island is being used as a neoliberal test lab and it’s costing my people’s lives. We’re going to keep suffering under colonialism until the US decides to set us free.

[@throwaway02]

Agree with everything you said. Just want to add to your point for the readers, the PROMESA law was the reason the black and white version of the Puerto Rican flag was created and first appeared at an iconic door on San José street in Old San Juan on July 5, 2016, five days after the law was approved in the senate. So next time you see it at the next Puerto Rican Day Parade, my american friend reading this… Now you know.

[@gyinagal]

Well this is very upsetting

[@dthomas9230]

2025 seeks to implement a Libertarian Anarcho-Syndicalist Theocracy or L.A.S.T. version of the American Experiment..Trump's Covid response was a test Red states killed 1000% more than Blue states and Democracies abroad. . Reagan's tax cut in '84 was the same year PR tax breaks were cut to pay for Reagan's tax cuts. '84 was when PR was permanently denied Bankruptcy Protection. Your Island is the model for red states in America and 2025

[@Wildfire201X_LIVE]

Yep pretty much

[@TheRealEvilkitten3]

yeah, i was just thinking about that

[@jayleejordan3002]

Thank you for using your platform to shed light on everything that’s happening in Puerto Rico.

[@toritori5835]

Back when Obama was President and I still had hope in humanity.

[@dustinswatsons9150]

Obama still got your change

[@dustinswatsons9150]

I would vote for Obama more than I would Biden at this moment

[@shahnulislam9897]

​@dustinswatsons9150 you can't vote in the US

[@dustinswatsons9150]

@@shahnulislam9897 why not

[@uss_04]

Pop culture peaked when people were out playing Pokémon Go and we still had Endgame to look forward to

[@randucci]

John, please revisit the state of Puerto Rico there is a dire update to be had.

[@Jjay257]

INDEPENDENCE!!!

[@MIMAFAITHFRIDA1]

@randucci Puerto Rico is not a state. It is the oldest colony in the world, thanks to the policies of the United States Government. And furthermore, only Congress can give Puerto Rico its ultimate status. They are deaf, dumb and blind regarding this matter. Give Puerto Rico the freedom/independence we deserve for so long.

[@Vélez-m8u]

@@MIMAFAITHFRIDA1, está diciendo que repaso el estado de situación de Puerto Rico. Y no, Puerto Rico no es “la colonia más antigua del mundo”. Puerto Rico comenzó a ser una colonia en el 1898. Si no desea serlo, son los puertorriqueños los que tienen que arreglar para dejar de serlo. Pero sus mayorías nunca han querido dejar de ser una colonia.

[@ezequielortiz4188]

​@@MIMAFAITHFRIDA1No independence, statehood Now, the mayority of Puerto Ricans want statehood, not independence!

[@FlyinDogRecords]

The situation in Puerto Rico is infuriating!!! The debt is illegal. USA has no shame!!!

[@BeefPapa]

This is not the US fault.

[@FlyinDogRecords]

@@BeefPapa Yep it is! They allow everything that is illegal here to happen in the island! Everyone knows this is bad yet everyone turns a blind eye as long as hedge fund vultures can pick ⛏️ people's pockets!

[@JC-yf1tc]

​@@BeefPapa yes it is

[@franciscojagosto4991]

@@BeefPapabut it is 😂

[@raicesprtv]

Yes it it’s

[@kaleiiidoscope]

We need a 2024 update on this topic.

[@TempestAmethyst]

Oh man I remember these days. The news would make me groan in disappointment. Now it makes my adrenaline spike. Good times.

[@Jjay257]

INDEPENDENCE!!!

[@drSvensen]

It's a blatant lie. The clip of Sylvi Listhaug in Norway happened years before this episode aired and had nothing to do with the Syrian crisis.

[@armandopena7787]

I was born and raised in PR served in the US Army was part of OIF/OEF 04-05 our island is struggling i also urge congress we need help 😢

[@armandopena7787]

Also Puerto Ricans have played a huge part of the US military and every war since 4 ever.

[@BobbyLopez-xg8fh]

One of my neighbors said to me, we help you Puerto Ricans out all the time, what do you do for us? And I said we give blood in every war, I know I got three generations of Marines in my family.

[@NamelessVoice808]

The thing is that the USA came to PR. We Puerto Ricans never went to them for shit. Same as Hawaii.

[@judithrapier7500]

My favorite program. Love your reports. Always tell it how it is ... Not by what the press feels it is.

[@Jjay257]

INDEPENDENCE!!!

[@ramselibydesign]

in 2024 hindsight the oversite board, made it possible for austerity measures to cut essentials in puerto rico. Now, Promesa, is just another colonial project and many have died because of it. Puerto Rico should be freed from the jones act like every other US territory. Thank you for uploading this episode on YT y'all doing the lords work!

[@VMan29397]

What Puerto Rico needs is what Jose de Diego dreamed of

[@Limewire1984]

I used to work for Taco Bell. Anything with more than 50% of a component is called that. So, legally, the beef you eat can be 51% beef and 49% whatever Taco Bell wants to put in there.

[@ckwind1971]

That's why subway chicken is 49%... not chicken 😅

[@alfasierra254]

All these years later the island finds itself with less qualified professionals and young people. Families now live dispersed throughout the states and things like the power grid and basic services are 3rd world country. Options like joining the military, border patrol, cbp, bop or anything federal are usually better than going for a degree and staying in the island. I'm writing this with tears in my eyes because my son is more than 1000 miles away and the other is in Poland serving in the Army. Puerto Rico is beautiful, it hurts to see the situation it has been in the last 30 years.

[@Mlebron777]

Te compadesco ,Espero tu hijo regrese a ti en buena salud,yo también pienso igual,pero si nuestros familiares acá en Estados Unidos no se comprometen en protestar por los que viven en la Isla ,no sé que va a ser del Pueblo Puertorriqueño.

[@ckwind1971]

Thank you for your family's service ❤

[@javierbiaggi3072]

Well... "This not politics, this is math" No! ¡This is about politicians that can't do math!

[@madArt1981]

Luis Fortuño made 2 deals with Albertis Corp for highway 53’s management & toll collection. One public 30 yr contract divided profits 50/50 between state and Albertis. Later secretly renegotiated to 50 years at 60-40% in favor of Albertis Co. making Albertis $1.6 billion dollars a year in Profits and Puerto Rico $300 million dollars. Exploiting the US owned colony. And they went on to exploit beyond BELIEF with the approval of Congress

[@fufi96]

This is obviously old, PR is worse now. When Linn Manuel said "a hurricane is comming" y got ptsd.

[@Palbizu]

@@Tony-qe3cjobviously not. That’s not the point OP was making

[@chriscripplercruz1833]

As a former store manager for Blockbuster video Puerto Rico sounds and looks like just like we did towards the end

[@VMan29397]

Its what betances warned about if the usa got hold of puerto rico

[@dthomas9230]

@@VMan29397 Reagan tax cut in '84 was the same year PR tax breaks were cut to pay for Reagan's tax cuts. '84 was when PR was permanently denied Bankruptcy Protection.

[@VMan29397]

@@dthomas9230 The Usa stopped caring about puerto rico when the cold war ended and they didn't have to make it look good to try to sway away commies. People in Puerto rico have to wake up and see that. We are an afterthought. If they really cared they would resolve the issues in puerto rico

[@DeanHuertas]

As a Puerto Rican I appreciate this video. I believe it’s time for our sovereignty from the USA. 🙏🏽💪🏽🇵🇷

[@Descriptions568]

The US has 100 Billion for UKR but zero for PR

[@mindy2215]

Sovereignty from the USA means NO american citizen. Assuming you are really from the island, neither good for the USA, nor for the island or their people.

[@Raq457]

❤ ya es tiempo un 🇵🇷

[@Jjay257]

INDEPENDENCE!!!

[@silvadavid11ds]

I’m always so scared for my little island. I don’t want it to turn into another Hawaii. Here’s hoping for freedom in our lifetimes

[@Palbizu]

Que viva Puerto Rico libre!

[@jp1431]

Gente no quiere ser estado por no arriesgar que se convierta en otra Hawaii y otros no quieren independizar por no arriesgar que se convierta en otra Cuba. Por lo tanto, nos quedamos en el limbo de colonia donde no tenemos poder político ni soberanía estatal como estado en el gobierno de US y tampoco tenemos la libertad de tomar nuestras propias decisiones como país independiente.

[@NamelessVoice808]

Guess what, it’s already starting to look like Hawaii. My husband is born and raised in Hawaii and I’m from Puerto Rico. We live in Hawaii and he was so surprised how Puerto Rico is about 20-40 behind what happened to Hawaii. It’s coming and you can already see it in the real estate.

[@_somerandomguyontheinternet_]

Unfortunately, I don’t believe many of these problems would be fixed by independence OR statehood. Statehood would grant PR more rights and a vote in Congress, but it would still have a good amount of trouble. Independence would strand PR in a situation where the debt is still there, but now they have even less legal influence over the creditors and no ability to get a lifeline (basically becoming a mix of Cuba and Greece). What we *all* need is a progressive wave of legislation that includes social support, single-payer healthcare, education reform, and more. If that happens, making PR a state would MASSIVELY increase Puerto Ricans’ wellbeing.

[@silvadavid11ds]

@@_somerandomguyontheinternet_ no, what we need to push for is to not further legitimize colonies

[@uchihaaprtv]

john thank you for speaking up for my island. im tired of seeing childhood friends and others end up involved in drugs, death, or prison. its slowly becoming a hotel island where it will end up as a museum where the people of puerto rico wont own the land anymore

[@neryriosu0284]

Sad truth 😢

[@hitatk9440]

Demonic slipknot coconut mask! 😂😂

[@chriscripplercruz1833]

We spent 1.4 trillion dollars on a plane we couldn't even use we probably could give Puerto Rico a loan.

[@inoculateinoculate9486]

Which plane was that?

[@chriscripplercruz1833]

@@inoculateinoculate9486 F-35

[@moogle68]

@@chriscripplercruz1833 Completely untrue. I get your point, and agree we should help Puerto Rico, but the F-35 has become a phenomenal success. It pushed the boundary of aviation technology in multiple areas, and as every other project to push boundaries has been in the past, so too was it full of kinks at the beginning that needed ironing out, but it is now a very affordable plane that has gone down more than $20mil in price per unit (used to cost over $100mil per unit, now depending on model costs ~$80-90mil), and is undefeated in full scale/capabilities simulated battles (battles in real life, but without live weaponry, with no restrictions on missile types/targeting software). It's easy to buy into sensationalist headlines, but when you take the time and effort to do follow-up reading on old stories you learn that everything is always more complicated than the news portrays, and that they rarely provide updates or continued coverage of stories where their initial take on things turns out to be wrong.

[@Palbizu]

Isn’t giving us loans exactly what caused the issue?

[@chriscripplercruz1833]

@@Palbizu yup I was using a figure of speech lol I was joking

[@stryfespoint304]

Gotta wonder how things are going these days over in Puerto Rico meanwhile, the Saudis got their trump wish & this was a great episode.

[@miriavanessa2461]

Still not great lol

[@mog4874]

Worst than ever

[@johnotero6761]

74 billion, 16 year recession...depression 😬

[@Palbizu]

Yeah we’re being fucked by the very laws Lin Manuel Miranda assumed would help. This whole thing only opened the doors more for American interests to exploit our island and privatize everything. Things are way worse

[@Mlebron777]

A Puerto Rico without Puertorican it's what they want😮

[@JuanTorres-hv5ig]

P.R. the World's oldest Colony, 530 years. 👀

[@Jjay257]

INDEPENDENCE!!!

[@ezequielortiz4188]

@@Jjay257 STATEHOOD NOW!

[@AntaresSalvatore]

​@@ezequielortiz4188 no one wants statehood

[@ezequielortiz4188]

​@@AntaresSalvatore yes, the people of Puerto Rico want statehood, it won at 53% in the last election referendum, you can look it up for yourself, the vast majority of people here don't want independence!

[@ezequielortiz4188]

and that percentage is growing up!

[@garfoonga1]

Its a good day when your whole feed is near decade old repeats

[@robertovazquez8512]

As a Puerto Rican I thank John Oliver for the video.

[@juanpecan7089]

Do you thank him for not saying a goddamn word about the incredibly destructive PROMESA program this segment was a precursor to since?

[@thorstmixx]

18:11 Holy shit, is that CollegeHumor's Dan Gurewitch? I think it is! And he even called him Dan! Edit: I just looked it up, and it turns out Dan is a writer for this show! I had no idea!! You can see his name in the credits at 29:41!

[@martydufault8965]

I freaking love that they released all of these. Always good laughs and they give in depth insight into lesser known or misinterpreted topics. Keep up the good work John and your researchers/writers! No wonder you guys win Emmy after Emmy!

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

"... or EVEN Donald Trump". "London Mayor Boris Johnson". "Obama spoke out against Britain leaving the EU". We were all such sweet summer children back then.

[@Sergeant_GiO]

It's kinda funny how the military recruits a lot of folks from Puerto Rico, but then they don't seem to want to help that paradise.

[@TP_Rockstar]

Holy shit, I forgot this show adressed Listhaug and her...excursion. As a norwegian, I hate her, her party (she's now its leader) and everything they stand for. And since this show aired they've somehow gotten even worse.

[@Daedalus117]

Her jumping into the water in a full drysuit and trying to act like it's somehow comparable to an immigrant's experience is just absurd. How stupid does she think everyone is?

[@dplj4428]

Let's look back over the history of America's relationship with France and Spain regarding the island of Hispañola? Let's remind ourselves of Britain towards its colonies in the Americas. Any behaviors or similarities with PR?

[@jencrichlow3442]

So glad these are available on streaming for free, the jokes still land!

[@jennettebaez7988]

Thank you for this video. I lived in the States for over 34 years and so many people that I came across didn't understand much about our issue with statehood and just looked at the Island as an economical burden.

[@_somerandomguyontheinternet_]

People are saying that this is why PR needs independence of statehood, but unfortunately, I don’t believe many of these problems would be fixed by independence OR statehood, at least not alone. Statehood would grant PR more rights and a vote in Congress, but it would still have a good amount of trouble. People are understandably worried about it being the next Hawaii. Independence would strand PR in a situation where the debt is still there, but now they have even less legal influence over the creditors and no ability to get a lifeline. PR would basically end up becoming a mix of Cuba and Greece, two countries with famously good economies. What we *all* need is a progressive wave of legislation that includes social support, single-payer healthcare, education reform, and more. If that happens, making PR a state would MASSIVELY increase Puerto Ricans’ wellbeing.

[@chriscripplercruz1833]

Reminds me of Picard having to talk to the junior advocate from the Klingon empire and he went off lol "then they'll have our gratitude."

[@Jjay257]

INDEPENDENCE!!!

[@johnsanto3501]

WE IN THIS ISLAND WANT THIS ISLAND TO BECOME A STATE, NOT FREEDOM.

[@AntaresSalvatore]

No to statehood

[@sencillo96]

As a puertorican is funny cause all those people he pointed out were governors, and they all belong to PNP, a group of people that want PR to be a state but are the one that steal more than anyone 🤣🤣🤣.... ..... This guy is on point on everything he said ✍️🇵🇷

[@davewilson9738]

I think John Oliver needs to a global show, highlighting a*sehole laws and people in power, irrespective of nationality. The world is run by the money the rich make and the misery the poor allow. We need asocial revolution and not communism, but consideration.

[@leilaandreucuevas8209]

8 years later and this episode still resonates. Still hurting, but more, in Puerto Rico. More hedge funds own the island, wreaking everything. But rich are more rich at our expense. (Btw, Puerto Rico is an archipelago).

[@iggycamdon]

Feels like this season has been the worst for seeing just how bad things have gotten, and yet seeing Lin Manuel Miranda still feels like the worst.

[@bornvlevi]

I finally get to hear Lin Manuel Miranda actually say "fuck". My life is complete.

[@i8dacookies890]

These episodes have never felt more dated than when he mentioned Hamilton just came out.

[@steven.h0629]

I remember this one fondly 👍😎✊

[@Disan-y3c]

Dios bendiga a Puerto Rico 🙏

[@Mlebron777]

And lots of soldiers that protect the Nation are comming from Puerto Rico.

[@NamelessVoice808]

There are always a few in every unit.

[@ceasarlopez6365]

Theme Song Or Intro Song For Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Show is name Valley Lodge - Go

[@MitchellTF]

Where can I get the giant pumpkin suit to float?

[@Princess_Premier]

Are we sure that's Barceloneta? 13:50 🤔

[@Mlebron777]

That was a Buz Lightyear suit😂😂😂😂

[@Hayanomie]

Episode 10 reminder that when this season aired Aleppo was being pounded by Assad and Russian air force and this show was silent on it.

[@josevillafane5543]

Dam, I wish my school would look like that while I was growing up 🤣🤣🇵🇷

[@CaesarAquino]

This is such an old video in the headline it says 2 weeks ago.

[@OnielMendezIrizarry]

🇵🇷

[@uss_04]

Heard Hillary Clinton and had to do a double check on when this was originally aired

[@hectornegron9155]

It's 2024. Didn’t know Obama was still president.

[@cbg8084]

🤣 too funny

[@smac1706]

Wow, who would have ever thought that a part of America would be just like America?! Good grief. And those people are rich and run shit....💯🤦

[@PabloJ1968]

Gracias John Oliver por tratarnos con dignidad.

[@JairGeorge]

Saludos a todos 🌎,😢es muy triste lo que está pasando con mi Hermoso Puerto Rico 🇵🇷,y más triste es que este Señor Americano se Burle de la Situación,no conozco este Señor, pero quiero que sepa que Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 va Palante y vamos a superar esto, porque somos de un País Pequeño,pero grandes de Corazón ❤️,un abrazo fuerte para todos desde 🇵🇷.US🇺🇲,Mas Respeto por nuestros Soldados que dan la Vida por la Nacion😢 Americana,la Igualdad empieza con Respeto,No de Burla... Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 se Respeta Puñeta.

[@ccr4375]

You very clearly highlight the issues of Puerto Rico!!

[@joseluismunoz111111]

That's a realy old news from Puerto Rico.

[@Calaverasdemon]

12:54 the reason why we "can't decide" is because of the Laww 53 / Ley de la Mordaza and the "U"SA silencing and murdering our people in the beginning

[@TheRunningManOne]

This video is in Spanish but shows why it is a good idea to acquire Greenland Trump Quiere a Groenlandia.¿Intercambiaría a Puerto Rico? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXzOap9meb98itE

[@01ozuna]

They sold public hospitals ,school s,...even sold the Corporation that had puertorican economi well they sold comunication company telephone when when cell Phone were getting smart and net was staring they sold that company to mexican owner of claro....

[@anjelitamalik9763]

I'm curious. Have things gotten better iin Puerto Rico after all these years?

[@BBigbacklee]

Hello this beautiful Sunday

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

Anyone else just doing the rounds re-liking video's you liked nearly a decade ago?

[@geoffgraves2780]

A solid reminder that we're on the wrong branch of the timeline.

[@JohnTLyon]

What the hell is a Tarjay???

[@kingace6186]

This was a great episode.

[@chinita1pr]

John would be shocked to see were PR is at fiscally since this originally aired. It somehow got worse. ☹

[@fcruzin22]

Funny, but all this hurts . We just want an equal opportunity to take care of our families.

[@Fenrisson]

1:42 - Did that happen to you, John?

[@Tonyhouse1168]

Remember when the President was boring? Man, that was awesome

[@dustinswatsons9150]

Is John Oliver talking about the bilderberg bilderberg bilderberg bilderberg bilderberg stuff speach to text good job

[@Random_UserName4269]

But Obama is also of British decent. He was raised by a white mother... whose to say he's not a fan of his heritages colonial legacy?

[@melbamartinez2183]

I appreeciate you letting the stray cat (US) OUT THE BAG

[@M1ManOwaR]

There was a plan to take Puerto Rico, and it's currently working.

[@dumdristig]

I don't think that was a sex joke, but rather a hangover joke...

[@dustinswatsons9150]

Anyway John Oliver obviously waited until like his actual words could be captured upon algorithm

[@vssapaige]

triples is safe, triples is best

[@mildrednieves2390]

It´s amazing how darkness disguises itself as light.

[@JERios-wv8lx]

MINUTE 12:51 ONWARDS: Before anything else, thanks Mr Olivier to inform your audience about our actual situation (in your funny, but respectful way). With all due respect, on the mainland, we puertorricans have always been considered "Foreign Latins" not "Fellow Citizens".......That's why many "Boricuas" are now awakening and want to re-unite with Spain and our Spaniard Heritage.....At least with Spain we had full government representation.... unlike with USA, where we just have one Representative, but without vote....If there's any legislation affecting us, we can't do anything about it! 😊

[@BeefPapa]

"many" is way subjective.

[@JERios-wv8lx]

​@@BeefPapaI suppose that "much more than expected" is also "way subjective"! 😊

[@MildredSantiago-hh8wk]

Thank you , John Oliver

[@tigercubrawr159]

Alvie you’ve come so far!!!!!

[@melbamartinez2183]

Que viva manuel defende La Patria

[@jayjay_7174]

In 8:25 begins info of Puerto Rico.

[@tt-ki2dw]

Puerto Rico can become a state or f off

[@dustinswatsons9150]

You're right what happened to Luis

[@Goliath-y9z]

this show use to be good now sucks

[@MiguelSantos-rl1ir]

😂😂😂

[@lpc9929]

Im I am infertile from eating scented candles. The

[@Dumpsack]

Same

[@ErickRafaelLluch]

What is this about? Its like 8 years old. Very idiotic. The debt is in court and being processed. Like we are not warriors. We will land on our feet. 😂🌠🤣 PERIOD.

[@mickcollins1921]

Either John Oliver is much taller than I thought or Lin Manuel Miranda is much shorter.

[@graciasyoutube8957]

IDK about Miranda, but Oliver is very tall

[@MusicfromMarrs]

Miranda isn't short, be he's not tall: 5'8.5" according to celeb heights. I remember from watching the movie of Hamilton on Disney + that he was short than a lot of the other men on stage.

[@Dumpsack]

Love you

[@Tukaro]

26:00 I actually miss Bennigan's, they had a Chicken Wrap that which was absolutely amazing...

[@kueifengtung]

Would be great to see John go back and talk about how this turned out - yes I could google it, but that doesn't come with John's signature .. touch.

[@killapapo773]

John Oliver for President of Puerto Rico.He is for the Puerto Rican people.