S1 E19: Drones, Kansas & Afghanistan: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Visit to New York

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech at Madison Square Garden and appeared at the Global Citizen concert in Central Park.
Modi made a notable reference to Star Wars and Wolverine during his concert appearance, despite his previous ban from entering the United States.

The protests in Ferguson continued for the fifth week, with criticism directed towards Police Chief Tom Jackson's handling of the situation.
Concerns were raised about the Ferguson Police Department's choice of PR expert, De'Sha James, who had previously shot and killed an unarmed man.

President Hamed Karzai delivered a farewell speech thanking various countries for their assistance in rebuilding Afghanistan, but notably omitted the United States.
Karzai's speech included warnings about the United States and criticism of the American mission in Afghanistan, leading to a humorous response from John Oliver involving Yelp reviews of Karzai's brother's restaurant.

The use of drones in warfare, particularly in Yemen and Pakistan, was discussed, highlighting the lack of media coverage and public awareness surrounding drone strikes.
Concerns were raised about the transparency and accountability of drone strikes, as the decision-making process is unclear and has loopholes.
The definition of an imminent threat is vague, allowing for strikes based on potential future attacks rather than immediate ones.
Civilian casualties are often not accurately counted, with the CIA sometimes classifying able-bodied males of military age as militants unless proven innocent.
Drone strikes have a significant psychological impact on people living in areas where they are frequently used, causing fear and anxiety.
The legality and broader consequences of drone strikes are not fully understood, and there is a lack of clear answers about the authorization and justification process.

Mark Cuban's favorite book is "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand, and he even named his yacht after it.
Ayn Rand is known for her strong advocacy of capitalism and individualism, but she also held controversial views on abortion, religion, and Native Americans.
Despite her controversial views, Rand remains a popular figure among conservatives.

The state of Kansas is facing financial difficulties, including budget shortfalls and underfunded schools.
Kansas is set to profit from an unexpected source: an auction of adult toys from a chain of sex toy stores that failed to pay taxes.
The state needs to raise around $160,000 from the auction to cover its budget shortfall, and John Oliver encourages Kansans to overspend on the items to support education.