John Oliver's "Junk" Auction Raises Funds for Public Broadcasting

As 2025 comes to a close, John Oliver is taking a bold step to support public broadcasting. In his final episode of the year, the iconic host revealed plans for the "John Oliver's Junk" auction, where he will put up 65 of the show's wildest props for bidding.

The idea was inspired by the recent success of the Bob Ross estate, which sold three original paintings and raised $662,000 for public TV and radio. Oliver explained that this move comes after the Trump administration slashed $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, leaving smaller stations struggling to stay afloat.

Among the most eye-catching items in the auction is an original 1987 Bob Ross painting, "Cabin at Sunset," which had already reached $51,000 when the auction went live. Oliver also shared that his team has accumulated a trove of "weird artifacts" over the years, including Russell Crowe's jockstrap, a gold-plated replica of President Lyndon B. Johnson's testicles, and more.

The auction will run until November 24, with every dollar going to the Public Media Bridge Fund to help local stations keep their lights on. Oliver spent a significant portion of the episode highlighting the vital role these stations play, from offering multilingual programming to delivering emergency alerts and supporting local investigative journalism.

By slashing the CPB budget, Oliver warned, stations will be forced to rely more on national content from major cities, potentially leaving smaller communities underserved. The "John Oliver's Junk" auction aims to offset these devastating cuts and ensure public broadcasting can continue to serve audiences across the country.