S2 E13: Paid Family Leave, Mascots & UK Elections: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

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UK Election Results

The Conservative Party won a majority in the UK election, despite predictions to the contrary.
The Scottish National Party's success in Scotland raised concerns about Scottish independence.

The boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao faced criticism.
The Prime Minister of Cambodia expressed disappointment over the outcome of the match.

Russia commemorated the 70th anniversary of V-Day with a grand parade.
Some world leaders boycotted the event, resulting in fewer Western leaders attending.
Notable figures like Steven Seagal were present at the parade.

Businesses, such as JC Penney and Hooters, promoted Mother's Day, highlighting its commercialization.

The United States and Papua New Guinea are the only countries that do not provide paid time off for new mothers.
Federal law grants workers just 12 weeks of unpaid leave, with strict limits on who qualifies.
Many women have to use vacation time or sick days to take maternity leave.
Some women are forced to return to work before they are ready due to financial reasons.
Paid family leave should be considered for both parents, but cultural adjustments are necessary.
Studies have shown that paid family leave does not negatively impact businesses, despite employer concerns.
Only three states in the US have paid family leave laws.
Lawmakers often express support for mothers but fail to support legislation that would make their lives easier.
The US should address the lack of paid family leave and provide support for mothers.

Japan has over 1,500 mascots created for local districts, tourism boards, and even prisons to engage with the public.
Some mascots have become big business, generating significant revenue.
Mascots have become so prominent in Japanese political life that foreign embassies are creating their own mascots to engage with the public.
The scale of publicly funded mascots has become a problem, with critics describing them as a waste of public funds.
The author suggests that the US should create its own mascots to engage people with government agencies, providing humorous examples of potential mascots for various departments.