John Oliver expertly manages to make the British election funny
If you found yourself struggling to keep up with (or care about) the British general election that took place last week, fear not, John Oliver is here to help. On Sunday's Last Week Tonight, he explained why the U.K. is in the midst of a "crumpetf—k of epic proportions" that is entirely the making of one Prime Minister Theresa May.
After voluntarily calling the general election to boost her own power going into Brexit negotiations, May got a rude awakening when she lost her Conservative Party's majority in Parliament. How did this happen? Well, it might have something to do with her inability to provide a straight answer to the question of how, exactly, she intends to negotiate the terms of the U.K.'s upcoming split from the European Union. Oliver explains the stakes: What happens to EU citizens living in the U.K.? What about Northern Ireland? And what about all those pet passports that will need to be obtained?!
Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is chipping away at her majority whilst embarking on "history's most catastrophic rounding of second base."
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The Brexit negotiations will be tough, and the catastrophic general election certainly hasn't made anything easier. But, Oliver says, "British politics, when done well, can be very fun." Indeed. Watch below (but beware NSFW language). Jessica Hullinger
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Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.
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