In this episode, Oliver talks to special guest US broadcaster and historian Alexander Heffner, the host of The Open Mind on PBS.

They talk about the current state of American politics and media, focusing on the 2024 presidential election and the decline of intellectual discourse in public debate.

They explore various aspects of the campaign between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the erosion of civil political discourse, and broader trends in American democracy, with Heffner providing insights from his experience as host of The Open Mind