9 chapters across the catalog
The "Fat Leonard" bribery scandal involved dozens of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers and Glenn Defense Marine Asia. Details emerge regarding officers using coded language like "cheesecake" to request prostitutes in exchange for overbilling the government for port services. Senator Rand Paul's annual "Festivus Report" is cited as a recurring highlight of general government waste.
Festivus Knighthood, Birthday and Title Upgrades
A special Festivus-themed knighting ceremony recognizes new knights and dames of the "No Agenda" roundtable. The segment includes birthday shout-outs for community members and official title upgrades for long-time producers.
A selection of "In Search Of" (ISO) soundbites features a Festivus-themed scream and commentary from Tucker Carlson. These clips are evaluated for their potential use as recurring show elements or end-of-show mixes.
Rand Paul Twitter Trolling, Criminal Justice Reform
Senator Rand Paul is noted for his increased activity on Twitter, including "Festivus" themed trolling of Elizabeth Warren and Ted Cruz. Paul also credited Jared Kushner for his work on criminal justice reform. The hosts suggest Paul is intentionally honing his social media skills in preparation for the 2020 political cycle.
Cultural holiday myths include "Hanukkah Harry," a Santa-like figure created to provide Jewish children with a parallel holiday character. Additionally, social media rumors have incorrectly attempted to link the Seinfeld-invented holiday "Festivus" to Donald Trump, despite its origins in 1990s television.
Salty Sow Bone Marrow, Listener Grievances and Atheism
A listener named Jennifer corrected a host's previous claim about a meal at the Salty Sow restaurant, defending the presentation of the bone marrow. The exchange prompted a humorous discussion about "airing grievances" before the holiday of Festivus. The segment also touched on the host's willingness to accept criticism and a brief aside regarding atheist perspectives on the afterlife.
Christmas Special Preview, Show Sign-off
The hosts conclude the episode with holiday wishes for Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, and Festivus. They announce a special "deconstruction" episode to be released on Christmas Day, with regular programming resuming the following Sunday. The show signs off with its signature montage of character voices and the "best podcast in the universe" tagline.
Holiday Terror Threats, Al-Qaeda Affiliate Growth Claims
George Stephanopoulos and Mike Rogers discussed potential terror threats during the Christmas season, citing the rise of Al-Qaeda affiliates in the Maghreb and Arabian Peninsula. The hosts criticize the lack of evidence for these claims, characterizing the rhetoric as a tactic to terrorize the American public. A brief tangent mentions the inclusion of "Festivus" in holiday greetings on Southwest Airlines.
The hosts share their holiday plans, with Dvorak traveling north and Curry hosting a family Christmas in Austin. They critique a Sprint advertisement for its unrealistic portrayal of youth slang and conclude the episode by wishing listeners a Merry Christmas, Happy Festivus, and Merry Kwanzaa. The next show is scheduled for the day after Christmas.
