“The Mittens of Disapproval Are On”: John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight as Neoliberal Critique

Abstract

HBO’s Last Week Tonight has frequently featured host John Oliver’s critiques of global neoliberalism. His pronouncements are often not just the taking of an ideological position, but a moral one which borders on the theological, conceptualizing the entrenchment of inequality as a normative evil. It is a form of activism where he uses his platform to exhort his audience to fight back against large, impersonal forces that he portrays as taking advantage of them. This article analyzes the program’s mentions of the institutional effects of these policies on individuals and the economy and how mainstream media sources have either amplified or ignored his claims. “Serious” journalism is more likely to cover his stories that have simple, dramatic villains rather than complex causes.