Archive · 10 Aug 2026
John Oliver Eviscerates Trump DOJ's 'Bizarro World' Civil Rights Agenda
John Oliver is a funny man who hosts a TV show about the news.
On his show, he talked about the Department of Justice, the part of the U.S. government that makes sure laws are followed fairly.
He said the department, under President Donald Trump, is not doing its most important jobs.
Oliver said more than 23,000 investigations were stopped, including ones about serious crimes like terrorism and drugs.
He also talked about Harmeet Dhillon, who leads a part of the department called the Civil Rights Division.
She said the biggest problems Americans face are being forced to lie about pronouns and having to laugh at jokes they do not like.
Oliver thinks that is a strange and backward idea of fairness.
He said it sounds like only the rights of conservative people matter.
He also pointed out that the department has lost 21 voting-related court cases in a row.
Oliver believes the department should focus on protecting real people's rights instead.
John Oliver on 'Last Week Tonight' called the Trump-era Department of Justice a 'bizarro-world version of civil rights.'
Oliver said political prosecutions have risen under Trump while other important cases were mishandled or abandoned.
After Pam Bondi took over, the DOJ shut down more than 23,000 investigations into terrorism, white collar crime, drugs, and other offenses.
DOJ Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon said top 2026 social justice issues include lying about pronouns, co-workers' qualifications, and laughing at late-night comedians' jokes.
Oliver noted that the Civil Rights Division's potential voting fraud investigations have a record of 21 straight losses.
- Who
- John Oliver, host of 'Last Week Tonight,' criticizing the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump; the segment also referenced DOJ head Pam Bondi and Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon.
- What
- Oliver argued that the DOJ has abandoned important investigations and adopted a conservative-focused 'bizarro-world version of civil rights,' citing more than 23,000 closed cases and 21 straight losses in voting fraud investigations.
- When
- On the Sunday episode of 'Last Week Tonight' (specific date not stated in the article).
- Where
- On 'Last Week Tonight,' the late-night show hosted by John Oliver.
- Why
- Oliver said the DOJ under Trump has prioritized political prosecutions while shutting down serious investigations and redefining civil rights in favor of conservatives.
Critics (John Oliver / Last Week Tonight)
Trump Administration DOJ Officials
Biggest social justice issues
Critics (John Oliver / Last Week Tonight)
Oliver dismissed Dhillon's list — lying about pronouns, lying about co-workers' qualifications, and laughing at late-night comedians' jokes — as 'a bizarro-world version of civil rights where the only ones that matter are those of conservatives.'
Trump Administration DOJ Officials
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, said the biggest social justice issues facing Americans in 2026 are being forced to lie about pronouns, lie about co-workers being qualified, and laugh at jokes they don't agree with.
Voting fraud investigations
Critics (John Oliver / Last Week Tonight)
Oliver highlighted that the Civil Rights Division's record in potential voting fraud investigations is 21 straight losses, suggesting the cases lack merit.
Trump Administration DOJ Officials
The Civil Rights Division has continued to pursue potential voting fraud investigations, treating such cases as part of its civil rights mission.
- Show
- Last Week Tonight
- Host
- John Oliver
- Target of criticism
- U.S. Department of Justice under Donald Trump
- Investigations shut down
- More than 23,000 (after Pam Bondi took over)
- Head of DOJ Civil Rights Division
- Harmeet Dhillon
- Civil Rights Division voting fraud record
- 21 straight losses
- Crime areas affected
- Terrorism, white collar crime, drugs
- Article source
- Deadline