Emergency call centers are in a bad way thanks to shoddy geo-location tech, poor funding, and butt dials — John Oliver explained as much, and more, in a 15-minute segment from Sunday’s Last Week Tonight to show viewers why and how local dispatchers can be incapable of helping during crises. “Until we are explicitly confronted with the challenges facing 911, it seems we’re not going to do anything about them,†Oliver said, urging for upgrades. “And maybe the problem is that we are taught from a young age to take 911 for granted.†Fortunately, that’s where Wendi McLendon-Covey and Rob Riggle come in.
