Topic: Fur

Approximately 40,000 mink were released from farms in Ohio and Michigan following attacks by activists using anarchist symbols. While the Fur Commission USA focused on the $1.6 million livestock loss and vandalism, concerns remain regarding the potential for mink to act as a reservoir for COVID-19 or flu. Similar culling events occurred in Europe earlier in the pandemic due to the animals' human-like immune systems.

Health officials in British Columbia reported a COVID-19 outbreak at a mink farm, mirroring similar events in Denmark and the Netherlands. The virus has shown the ability to transmit from humans to mink and back, leading to concerns about potential mutations. Massive culls of mink populations have been ordered globally, raising questions about the future of the fur industry and the origins of zoonotic transmission.

In Denmark, millions of mink culled due to a mutated strain of COVID-19 are reportedly "rising from the dead." The phenomenon is caused by gases from decomposition pushing the carcasses out of shallow, sandy graves. Local officials are now calling for the 15 million carcasses to be exhumed and cremated to prevent further public frenzy.

A list of upcoming No Agenda meetups is read, covering locations from The Hague to San Juan, Puerto Rico. A notable meetup is scheduled during the "Midwest Fur Fest" in Chicago, the world's largest furry convention. The hosts clarify they are not mocking the "furries" but find the crossover with No Agenda interesting.

The hosts discuss the growing trend of millennials treating dogs as "fur babies" and substitutes for children. Listeners from Missouri and Nebraska provide anecdotes of people bringing dogs into grocery stores, movie theaters, and college classrooms. This phenomenon is debated as being either a nationwide trend or one confined to "liberal" urban areas.

San Francisco is poised to become the first major US city to ban the sale of fur, a move estimated to cost retailers up to $45 million annually. Supervisor Katie Tang sponsored the measure, citing the slaughter of 50-100 million animals globally. The ban is criticized as an imposition of local values on individual choice, with the hosts suggesting that "clubbing baby seals" imagery is more effective than modern protests.

The hosts discuss the trend of people referring to pets as "fur children" and "dogters." They also speculate that Jeremy Clarkson may be the next target of sexual misconduct allegations as the new season of "The Grand Tour" premieres on Amazon.

The concept of "speciesism"—the idea that favoring humans over animals is a form of prejudice—is discussed following its mention by protesters. The hosts look up the term in the dictionary and mock the activists' claims that Melania Trump's wardrobe choice of fur constitutes animal abuse. The segment highlights the extreme rhetoric used by anti-Trump protesters regarding animal and human rights.

The hosts read a donation note from Lady Rosie of Kent (Rosalind Furness), who uses the segment to send a message to a friend in Hong Kong. The note humorously speculates that her friend's silence might mean he has joined ISIS as "Jihadi Jim." The segment concludes with a "Shut up slave" jingle and a brief mention of the Scottish independence vote.

While John Dvorak attempts to fix a peering issue with his Sonic.net internet connection, Adam Curry reads birthday announcements for listeners. Celebrants include Sir Keith Chamberlain (73), Rosalind Furness (41), and Paige Walden. The hosts struggle with technical lag and router settings during the transition.

West Hollywood has become the first US city to ban the sale of fur, part of a broader trend of animal-friendly laws that include recognizing pet owners as "guardians." The hosts pivot to complaining about "idiots" in Berkeley who refuse to pull into intersections when making left turns. They also critique the "scam" of plastic bag bans that result in alternate usage fees.