Topic: Appropriations

Adam Curry reports on his recent visit to the Netherlands, highlighting social tensions involving the Moroccan immigrant population. He describes the country as a "beta program" for European Union immigration policies that began in the late 1990s. Curry shares an anecdote about a friend's reluctance to drive a luxury car through Hilversum due to safety concerns.

Kamala Harris releases a video claiming she grew up celebrating Kwanzaa with her extended family across multiple generations. The hosts accuse her of "the worst form of cultural appropriation," noting her Indian and Jamaican heritage and upbringing in Canada. They mock her description of "elders" sitting in chairs while children sat on the carpet, calling the story a fabrication for political gain.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing for a vote to ban members of Congress from trading stocks while in office. Simultaneously, the threat of a government shutdown looms as Democrats and Republicans struggle to reach an agreement on funding legislation, likely resulting in another short-term continuing resolution.

A viral TikTok video features a creator scolding Donald Trump supporters for celebrating Independence Day, claiming their political affiliation is anti-American. The discussion focuses on the creator's use of "bird hands," a repetitive hand gesture common in social media rants. This behavior is likened to a digital pulpit where the comment section functions as a validating congregation.

Rear Admiral John Kirby clarifies that while the U.S. has near-term appropriations for both Israel and Ukraine, the funding for Ukraine is "coming near to the end of the rope." The hosts highlight how a 15-second clip of Kirby was used out of context on social media to suggest the U.S. was abandoning Ukraine. Kirby's full statement was actually a plea to Congress for more long-term funding.

Senator Dianne Feinstein appeared confused during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, beginning a speech instead of casting her vote until prompted by aides and Senator Patty Murray. This incident, following a public freezing episode by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has sparked renewed debate regarding gerontocracy in the United States government. Public interest in the term "gerontocracy" spiked as observers questioned the fitness of the oldest members of Congress.

A discussion regarding singer Mary J. Blige focuses on her choice of blonde hair, which is compared to Marilyn Monroe's iconic style. The conversation questions whether this aesthetic choice constitutes cultural appropriation.

Stanford University published a "Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative" list, advising against words like "American," "brave," "tribe," and "insane." The initiative claims these terms are offensive or appropriative, though the list has faced significant public ridicule for its perceived overreach.

Vice President Kamala Harris released a video celebrating Kwanzaa, describing childhood memories of elders sitting on a carpet and discussing the principle of "Kujichagulia" (self-determination). The hosts accuse Harris of "cultural appropriation" and lying about her family's history with the holiday, given her Indian and Jamaican heritage.

A fourth-grade teacher expresses anxiety on TikTok over students using slang terms like "sheesh" and "fire," fearing it constitutes cultural appropriation from people of color. The teacher seeks advice on whether to ban the terms or require students to research their cultural origins. This is presented as an example of the hyper-fixation on social justice issues within modern education.

NPR has repeatedly aired a story about the resurgence of the mullet hairstyle, highlighting a Michigan stylist known as the "Mullet Queen." The report frames the haircut as a "genderless" style popular among non-binary people and traces its roots to Native American culture. Critics view the promotion of the mullet as part of a broader effort by elites to encourage a "wimpified" or gender-neutral aesthetic.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris released a video claiming her family has celebrated Kwanzaa for generations. Critics pointed out that Kwanzaa was created in 1966 in the U.S. and questioned the authenticity of her claims given her upbringing in Canada and her parents' backgrounds. The video is described as a form of cultural appropriation and political theater.

A diplomatic "incident" has emerged between China and South Korea over the origins and certification of kimchi. China recently secured an ISO standard for "Pao Cai," a similar pickled vegetable, which state media claimed was an international standard for the kimchi industry. South Koreans reacted with outrage, accusing China of cultural appropriation regarding their national dish.

Trader Joe's faced a petition to change ethnic product names like "Trader Ming's" and "Trader Jose's," which the company initially appeared to resist before clarifying they were already in the process of relabeling. In other "noodle gun" news, Lego canceled a V-22 Osprey kit due to pressure from anti-war groups. The Edmonton Eskimos football team also announced a name change.

Democratic leaders, including Nancy Pelosi and Jerry Nadler, faced criticism after kneeling in the Capitol Visitor Center while wearing Kente cloth scarves. Comedian Terrence Williams and other black commentators mocked the gesture as a hollow attempt to secure votes through tokenism rather than tangible policy. The hosts highlight the irony of the Democratic Party engaging in what would normally be labeled "cultural appropriation."

A discussion on the origins of protest chants reveals that many modern millennial slogans were originally used by the Boomer generation in the 1960s and 70s. The term "generational appropriation" is coined to describe the reuse of these historical cultural markers.

Dior pulled a fragrance advertisement featuring Johnny Depp and a Native American dancer following accusations of cultural appropriation. Meanwhile, Calvin Klein has shifted its marketing strategy from the "heroin chic" look of the 1990s to featuring plus-size models. The hosts discuss changing beauty standards and the influence of the Kardashian aesthetic on modern body image.

Hillary Clinton has faced criticism for adopting a Southern "twang" during speeches at churches and political events. Observers characterize the shift in cadence as a form of cultural appropriation used to appeal to specific demographics, a tactic previously utilized by Bill Clinton.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the nonprofit group Public Citizen condemned President Trump's national emergency declaration as an "outrageous abuse of power." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated his support for the move despite previous warnings that it could split the Republican Party. Legal challenges are being prepared to contest the president's authority to move funds that were not specifically appropriated by Congress for a "racist wall."

Kamala Harris is identified as the "Silicon Valley candidate" due to her family ties to Uber and MSNBC. The discussion accuses her of "cultural appropriation" for positioning herself as African American despite growing up in Canada with Jamaican and Indian parents. A bet is made that her lack of a traditional African American experience will be used against her in the debates.