In a recent episode of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight,” host John Oliver delved into the controversial topic of traffic stops in America, shedding light on systemic issues within law enforcement practices. The Emmy award-winning show’s latest installment, which aired on October 6, focused on the disproportionate impact these stops have on Black communities and the potential for abuse of power by police officers.
Oliver goes on to say: One major reason why cops may be especially jumpy during stops is that they’re actively taught to fear them. Trainers and tactical guides often claim that vehicle stops account for more killings of officers than almost any other type of interaction, and police training can reinforce this mindset. Just last year, footage surfaced from a six-day training conference for cops in New Jersey, a significant portion of which focused on traffic investigations. It also featured this bold motivational speech.
“I love what I do for a living. There’s nothing else I’m good at. I love violence, I love fighting, I love shooting, and I love freedom. It wasn’t that long ago that we were drinking out of the skulls of our enemies. Like, you know, I’m gonna murder this guy, then I’m gonna take his head, cut it in half, and boil his skull. Then I’m gonna drink out of that skull. Rad, right?” said Tim Kennedy.
John Oliver proceeded to roast Kennedy. “Okay, a few things first. No, not ‘rad.’ Second, I believe you when you say there’s nothing else you’re good at. And least importantly, why are you wearing a shirt covered in elegant birds? You’re talking like a deranged serial killer but dressed like you’re at brunch in West Palm Beach. That shirt doesn’t remotely match your persona, which, from what I can tell, is what would happen if someone fed Milo Ventimiglia nothing but raw meat and trauma.”
Oliver cited a study from the Stanford Open Policing Project, revealing that over 50,000 drivers are pulled over on a typical day in the United States, totaling more than 20 million motorists annually. The host emphasized that while many stops are conducted for legitimate road-safety reasons, some officers engage in “pretextual stops,” using minor infractions as a pretext to search for evidence of other crimes.
One particular case highlighted in the episode involved a 2018 traffic stop in Louisville, Kentucky. A Black teenager, Tae-Ahn Lea, was forcibly removed from his vehicle, frisked, and handcuffed while a police dog searched his car. The stop was conducted by the now-disbanded Ninth Mobile Division of the Louisville Metro Police Department, a unit that faced criticism for its controversial tactics.
U.S. District Court Judge Greg Stivers later ruled that the officer involved had violated Lea’s constitutional rights, finding no legal basis for the suspicion that led to the search. The incident sparked an internal investigation, which revealed that officers in the Ninth Mobile Division routinely failed to document traffic stops as required.
Oliver’s segment also touched on police training practices, presenting footage from a recent law enforcement conference in New Jersey. The host expressed concern over the aggressive rhetoric used by one of the speakers, a former military veteran turned tactical trainer. The individual’s comments about violence and combat raised eyebrows, with Oliver questioning the appropriateness of such messaging in police training.
Cowboy Cerrone: Tim Kennedy used to take it upon himself to destroy the Muslim MMA guys
In a viral clip, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone shared a candid anecdote about his training days at the JacksonWink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, focusing on his interactions with Tim Kennedy, a former UFC star and Army Ranger. Cerrone recounted how Kennedy often targeted Russian and Muslim MMA hopefuls, displaying an aggressive style that he described as “as American as apple pie,” reflecting Kennedy’s strong sense of national pride.
Cerrone expressed admiration for Kennedy’s ability to take down larger opponents, often weighing around 200 pounds, while Cerrone himself weighed 155 pounds at the time. He recalled cheering for Kennedy as he dominated these guys, employing tactics that involved smothering and overwhelming them. However, Cerrone noted that such behavior can lead to injuries that shorten a guy’s career. Kennedy has faced controversy for other actions, including a water boarding experiment he organized to downplay its severity and a troubling incident where he demonstrated a rear-naked choke on Steve O, allowing his head to bounce off the stage, causing unnecessary trauma.
