John Oliver Recaps Three Months of News in Five Minutes on 'Last Week Tonight' Season Premiere

The HBO host quickly covered a wide range of headlines from the show's break, including Trump, Epstein, measles, and Olympic drama.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In the season 13 premiere of his HBO show 'Last Week Tonight', host John Oliver acknowledged that the program had been off the air for three months and that a lot had happened during that time. He then proceeded to quickly recap a number of major news events from the past few months, including Trump being awarded a FIFA Peace Prize and threatening to take over Greenland, the latest Epstein files being released, a measles outbreak, and various Olympic scandals and controversies.

Why it matters

Oliver's rapid-fire recap of the news highlights how much can happen in a relatively short period of time, especially in the current fast-paced media landscape. It also demonstrates the show's commitment to staying on top of current events and providing its audience with a comprehensive overview of the news, even after extended breaks.

The details

In his five-minute recap, Oliver covered a wide range of topics, including Trump's actions, the Epstein scandal, the measles outbreak, the Beckham family's personal issues, and various Olympic controversies. He touched on stories ranging from the serious, like the Venezuela situation, to the more lighthearted, like the stolen walrus penis and the salmon-inspired Miss Norway costume.

  • Last Week Tonight took a three-month break before returning for its 13th season premiere on February 16, 2026.
  • The events Oliver recapped occurred during the show's hiatus, between the November 2025 season finale and the February 2026 premiere.

The players

John Oliver

The host of the HBO late-night show 'Last Week Tonight', known for his in-depth, comedic takes on current events and political issues.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who was involved in several of the news events Oliver recapped, including being awarded a FIFA Peace Prize and threatening to take over Greenland.

Jeffrey Epstein

The disgraced financier whose case was the subject of new revelations during the time period Oliver covered.

Zohran Mamdani

The newly sworn-in mayor of New York City, one of the news events Oliver briefly mentioned.

Leonora Lysglimt-Rødland

The Miss Norway contestant who wore a salmon-inspired gown at the Miss Universe pageant, which Oliver highlighted as an example of the unusual news that occurred during the show's break.

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What they’re saying

“We've been off for the last three months, and we have missed a lot, and I mean a lot, a lot.”

— John Oliver, Host, Last Week Tonight (The Hollywood Reporter)

“Wow, that is usually not the kind of declaration of love you see in public, it is why stadium jumbotrons generally say things like, 'Will you marry me?' and not 'Sorry I fucked your sister, are we cool?'”

— John Oliver, Host, Last Week Tonight (The Hollywood Reporter)

What’s next

The upcoming episodes of Last Week Tonight will likely continue to provide in-depth coverage and analysis of the news events that occurred during the show's break, as well as any new developments that arise.

The takeaway

John Oliver's rapid-fire recap of the news highlights the sheer volume of events that can happen in a relatively short period of time, underscoring the importance of programs like Last Week Tonight that aim to keep viewers informed and entertained even during extended breaks.