Video: John Oliver Explains How Trump Is The Propagandist Of Putin's Dreams

Donald Trump's uncomfortably comfortable relationship (or aspirational relationship) with Russia has made much of the country squirm—or as John Oliver put it last night, "It's a bit weird that you've been objectively nicer to Vladimir Putin than you have to Meryl Streep."

Oliver dove into Trump's weirdly cozy feelings with Putin on the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, first documenting many of Putin's alleged dirty deeds (stole billions of dollars, assassinated his opponents, imprisoned protesters, signed anti-gay legislation) and his ability to manipulate the media to his advantage and turn himself into a folk hero: "Putin has carefully created an atmosphere in Russia that is extremely hostile to any opposition," Oliver said. "Standing up to him could mean being targeted by trolls, and not just on the Internet: When Garry Kasparov spoke at a political opposition event, he was interrupted, and this is true, but radio-controlled flying dildos."

He explained why Trump's continued insistence that "getting along better" with Russia would be a "good thing" might actually not be good. And Oliver then stepped in to launch a vigorous defense of America against Trump's own anti-American statements: "Trump is basically the propagandist of Putin's dreams, and who knows why he's acting this wa.," he said. "Maybe he's compromised, maybe he's an idiot, but since the President of the United States won't stick up for this country, I will: America and Russia are not the fucking same."

"Don't get me wrong: America has had, and continues to have, endemic problems that need fixing; that might as well be the title of this show," Oliver continued. "But hold on though, because our elections have some flaws, but they are not rigged. Our human rights record is far from perfect, but it does not compare to Putin's Russia." Watch below as Oliver uses some shitty but catchy techno music to educate Trump on the dangers of Putin.

In the first segment of the night, Oliver also explained how the miasma of daily Trump news has drowned out tons of bizarre and important stories: "We begin this evening with President Trump, two words that will always sound unnatural together, like ‘fuckable clown’ or ‘Wolf Blitzer,'" Oliver said. "And the reason we have to start with him is Trump dominates the news cycle the way a fart dominates the interior of a Volkswagen Beetle: there is simply no escape from him."