S5 E15: Xi Jinping, North Korea & Family Separation: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Donald Trump and North Korea

• Donald Trump claimed that there is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea after his summit with Kim Jong-un. (1m30s)
• Trump admired Kim Jong-un's leadership, stating that Kim's people sit up at attention when he speaks and that he wants his people to do the same. (3m12s)

Jeff Sessions and Immigration

• Nearly 2,000 children were separated from their parents at the US border in the last 6 weeks due to a policy shift enacted by Jeff Sessions. (4m0s)
• Jeff Sessions used the Bible to defend his actions in enforcing the law. (6m42s)

Xi Jinping's Consolidation of Power

• Xi Jinping consolidated power by having his political doctrine, "Xi Jinping Thought", enshrined in the Party's Constitution. (12m23s)
• Xi Jinping's consolidation of power was aided by his efforts to cultivate a cult of personality, with media referring to him as "Xi Dada" or "Uncle Xi." (12m57s)
• Xi Jinping cultivates a "man of the people" image, with his origin story emphasizing his upbringing in a rural village that has since become a tourist attraction. (13m20s)
• Xi Jinping has overseen significant economic growth in China, with GDP increasing nearly 10% annually over the past 30 years, lifting over 800 million people out of poverty. (14m49s)
• Xi Jinping initiated the Belt and Road Initiative, a trillion-dollar infrastructure project spanning over 60 countries, aiming to reshape global trade with China at its center. (15m56s)
• Xi Jinping is sensitive about his resemblance to Winnie the Pooh, leading to online censorship of the character. (19m56s)

China's Authoritarian Practices

• China is developing a social credit score system that will assess citizens on a range of behaviors, potentially restricting access to travel, housing, loans, and high-speed internet. (21m10s)
• China has incarcerated an estimated 800,000 Muslims in re-education camps, aiming to suppress their religious beliefs and reshape their identities. (23m27s)
• Liu Xiaobo's wife, Liu Xia, was under house arrest. (24m53s)
• China is becoming more authoritarian as it expands onto the world stage. (25m32s)
• China uses its economic leverage to silence criticism, even when criticism is warranted. (25m47s)