Topic: Fat Shaming

During a campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, President Trump mistakenly fat-shamed a supporter whom he believed was a protester. The individual, Frank Dawson, had actually been assisting security in removing actual protesters when Trump told him to "go home and start exercising." Dawson later stated he was not offended by the remark, and reports indicated that Trump eventually called him to apologize for the misunderstanding.

A Time magazine profile of President Trump's dinner habits revealed that he was served two scoops of vanilla ice cream while his guests received only one. The media coverage of this detail is criticized as a form of "fat shaming" and an example of trivial reporting during a period of significant political news.

The hosts discuss a "fat shaming" comment comparing someone to an "Atlanta stripper." This leads to a digression about the cultural history of strip clubs in Atlanta, specifically the rivalry between Methodists and Baptists. Famous clubs like The Gold Club and Cheetah are mentioned in the context of the city's reputation.

The hosts discuss a potential media trend of "fat shaming" President Trump, comparing him to William Howard Taft. They play a clip of Chelsea Handler calling Sean Spicer a "baked potato" as evidence that the social justice rules against body shaming are being suspended for members of the Trump administration.

Archival footage from 1997 shows Donald Trump supporting Alicia Machado during a press conference alongside a fitness trainer. While the media currently frames the interaction as "fat shaming," the footage depicts Trump encouraging Machado to manage the pressure of her title while acknowledging her beauty.

The Today Show discusses a Huffington Post writer who was "fat shamed" for her wedding photo, leading to a conversation about the emotional impact of anonymous online comments. The hosts link this narrative to broader efforts to restrict free speech and "clamp down" on the internet. They argue that while the network itself is unstoppable, protocols on top will increasingly be used to regulate "negativity."

Fitness advocate Maria Kang faced backlash and accusations of "fat shaming" after posting a photo with her children. This leads to a discussion on the "Bullying Circle" used in school prevention programs, which categorizes various roles from active bullies to passive onlookers.