<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/" -->

---
title: John Oliver Reports on Robert Mueller&#x27;s &quot;Incredible&quot; Report
description: &quot;Some of the details in this report were incredible,” said John Oliver on Robert Mueller&#x27;s report on Donald Trump&#x27;s Administration.
canonical: https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/
author: Melissa Locker
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2019-04-22T12:43:01.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:47:08.383Z
og:title: John Oliver Reports on Robert Mueller&#x27;s &quot;Incredible&quot; Report
og:description: &quot;Some of the details in this report were incredible,” said Oliver
og:url: https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: John Oliver Reports on Robert Mueller&#x27;s &quot;Incredible&quot; Report
twitter:description: &quot;Some of the details in this report were incredible,” said Oliver
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# John Oliver Digs Into the 'Incredible' Mueller Report on _Last Week Tonight_

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="04c18ae7-3add-4eca-b97a-67f39d1e5a3d" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=04c18ae7-3add-4eca-b97a-67f39d1e5a3d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=04c18ae7-3add-4eca-b97a-67f39d1e5a3d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=04c18ae7-3add-4eca-b97a-67f39d1e5a3d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

### Sources

*   TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=04c18ae7-3add-4eca-b97a-67f39d1e5a3d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1)

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/fUwk0jSG.m3u8" -->
## Video: Trump Claims vs. Mueller Report Facts

[Watch (HLS stream): Trump Claims vs. Mueller Report Facts](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/fUwk0jSG.m3u8) (3:05)

![Trump Claims vs. Mueller Report Facts](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/fUwk0jSG/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2019-04-17. Trump Claims vs. Mueller Report Facts_


by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Apr 22, 2019 12:43 PM UTC

by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Apr 22, 2019 12:43 PM UTC

On Sunday night’s episode of _Last Week Tonight,_ John Oliver continued his investigation into what he calls “Stupid Watergate” in light of the release of [Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report](http://time.com/5567077/mueller-report-release/) on [Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election](http://time.com/5572927/mueller-report-elections-fixes/). While [Attorney General William Barr’s](http://time.com/5573085/attorney-general-william-barr-transcript-mueller-report/) preliminary summary of the report made it seem that Mueller’s investigation completely exonerated the president, Oliver disagreed. “Once the Mueller Report had actually been read,” Oliver told his audience, “it became clear that there was a lot in it.”

According to Oliver, Trump was investigated for no fewer than 10 possible acts of obstruction of justice, with the report concluding, “If we had confidence … that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state,” which Oliver called “a pretty conspicuous non-exoneration.”

In Oliver’s summation of the “incredible” report, Trump’s main defenses against obstruction of justice and collusion were “incompetence” and “disobedience”.

For example, Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen attempted to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press spokesman Dmitry Peskov, but sent the email to the wrong address. And at one point, Oliver noted, Cohen seemed to think Russian communications officer Dmitry Klokov — who had reached out to Ivanka Trump and the campaign — was actually an Olympic weightlifter of the same name. As Oliver noted, “When it comes to conspiracy, Trump’s saving grace may have been that, despite Russians wanting to help, everyone around them was too inept to work with them.”


Trump’s other saving grace, according to Oliver, was that his own staff frequently disobeyed or outright ignored him. “The news that the President ordered subordinates to do things that might constitute obstruction, and then they just ignored him, is both reassuring and also terrifying,” Oliver said.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/"},"headline":"John Oliver Digs Into the 'Incredible' Mueller Report on Last Week Tonight","datePublished":"2019-04-22T12:43:01.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:47:08.383Z","description":"\"Some of the details in this report were incredible,” said Oliver on Robert Mueller's report on Donald Trump's Administration","url":"https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Late Night Television","John Oliver","Last Week Tonight","onetime","mueller report"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/","name":"John Oliver Digs Into the 'Incredible' Mueller Report on Last Week Tonight"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Trump Claims vs. Mueller Report Facts","description":"Trump Claims vs. Mueller Report Facts","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/fUwk0jSG/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2019-04-17T18:11:15.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/fUwk0jSG.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/","duration":"PT3M5S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5575099/john-oliver-digs-into-the-incredible-mueller-report-on-last-week-tonight/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}]
```

