Topic: Black America

The authors of the book *Santa's Husband* discuss their inspiration, which began as a joke on Twitter following the Mall of America's hiring of a Black Santa Claus. The book depicts Santa as a Black gay man married to a white husband. The hosts discuss the erasure of Mrs. Claus in this new narrative and the public's reaction to the cultural shift.

Kanye West's meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office is analyzed following intense media backlash. CNN's Don Lemon characterized the visit as a "minstrel show," a term historically used to describe blackface performances, and suggested West was embarrassing the African-American community. The hosts argue that the media is intentionally using soundbites to make West appear unhinged while ignoring the substance of his remarks.

A new children's book titled "Santa's Husband" by Daniel Kibblesmith features a gay, interracial couple where Santa is black and his husband is white. The book was inspired by the 2016 controversy surrounding the Mall of America hiring its first black Santa Claus. The narrative replaces the traditional Mrs. Claus figure, sparking discussion on the transformation of holiday traditions.

A socialist radio host argues that the election of Barack Obama weakened the traditional skepticism Black Americans held toward U.S. military power. Historically, Black communities have been the most opposed to foreign adventures due to their own experiences with domestic security forces. However, polls taken during the 2013 Syrian crisis showed that for the first time, a higher proportion of Black citizens supported airstrikes compared to white citizens, which the guest attributes to Obama's personal influence.

The final round of the Miss America pageant featured highly political questions provided by the organization to the judges. Contestants were asked to weigh in on the Mexican border wall, the media's bias in election coverage, Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest, and Gretchen Carlson's sexual harassment settlement. The questions were criticized for being "anti-Trump" and designed to force contestants into difficult political stances.

Black Lives Matter activists in Minnesota shut down sections of the Minneapolis airport and the Mall of America to protest police brutality. The hosts question why "rising Islamophobia" was included in the protest's stated goals. They speculate on a potential merger between the Black Lives Matter movement and Islamic advocacy groups, possibly involving the Nation of Islam.

The final rounds of Miss America featured questions on controversial topics including Planned Parenthood funding, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the jailing of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis. Miss Tennessee defended Planned Parenthood's healthcare services, while Miss South Carolina was eliminated after opposing a ban on military-style assault weapons. The contestants' responses generally aligned with mainstream political talking points, reflecting the pageant's shift toward socially relevant questioning.

John Dvorak critiques the current state of "Good Morning America," noting it has replaced news with pure entertainment promotion for Disney-owned properties. The segment highlights promotional coverage for "Men in Black 3" and "The Great Gatsby." The hosts argue this creates a "circle of bullcrap" designed to distract the public.