Topic: George Washington

Critics attack the appointment of Todd Blanche as acting Attorney General, calling it a breach of independence because he served as Trump's personal lawyer. However, historical analysis reveals numerous precedents, including George Washington appointing his personal attorney Edmund Randolph and John F. Kennedy appointing his brother Robert F. Kennedy to the same role.

A review of the film "Young Washington" explores George Washington's early military career in colonial Virginia and his involvement in the Ohio Valley conflict against the French. The movie depicts Washington's struggle for respect within the British Army and his relationship with Native American tribes. The hosts discuss the violent nature of American history as portrayed in the film.

The hosts perform a knighting ceremony for high-value donors, bestowing titles such as "Sir Suki of Enoshima." They also provide a historical context for episode 1780, noting it was the year Benedict Arnold attempted to surrender West Point to the British. The segment includes the traditional reading of the "Hookers & Blow" list for new knights.

A historical retrospective via the Chicago History Museum details the evolution of Thanksgiving from the 1621 Plymouth harvest to George Washington's 1789 proclamation. The discussion highlights Sarah Josepha Hale's lobbying efforts and Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation during the Civil War. Dvorak notes that Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to move the holiday in 1939 to extend the Christmas shopping season, a move mockingly dubbed "Franksgiving."

The show's weekly art competition featured a winning piece by a new artist named Carter, depicting George Washington in a "trans-cessor" theme. The hosts discuss the use of CGI in art generation and share anecdotes about the history of hitchhiking in America versus Europe.

The hosts compare Trump's survival to an anecdote about George Washington surviving multiple shots through his coat during the French and Indian War. They also address a viral video of a man claiming to be Thomas Matthew Crooks saying "I hate Republicans," which they identify as a likely troll. A list of "33" numerology coincidences related to the shooting is briefly mentioned.

Pro-Palestinian protests at George Washington University focus on demanding the school divest from companies linked to Israel. The current movement is compared to 1960s Vietnam War protests, noting that modern students focus on financial divestment rather than the draft or direct anti-war sentiment.

Student solidarity encampments for Gaza have spread to George Washington University and Columbia University, leading to suspensions and arrests. While some institutions like UC Berkeley have allowed protests to continue without police intervention, others have seen escalations that critics attribute to inexperienced university management and outside agitators.

Dr. Ashish Jha defended ongoing vaccine mandates by citing George Washington's 1777 order to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox. Jha argued that local institutions and the military have a historical right to mandate health measures to ensure a "healthy fighting force." Critics challenged the comparison, noting the significant differences between 18th-century variolation and modern mRNA technology.

Further donations are acknowledged, including a report on non-compliance protests in Squim, Washington. A historical note regarding the death of George Washington in 1799 is read, illustrating how standard medical practices of the time, such as bloodletting, contributed to his demise.

Joe Biden delivered a Thanksgiving address recounting George Washington's 1777 day of thanks at Valley Forge. During the speech, Biden mispronounced the word "psalmist" as "palmist," leading to widespread mockery online. The hosts analyze the transcript to confirm the error and discuss Biden's "Debbie Downer" tone throughout the holiday message.

A discussion regarding the naming of institutions like Washington and Lee University suggests that historical figures are being systematically removed from public spaces. An analysis of the phrase "Black Lives Matter" posits that the word "lives" may be used in a denigrating sense, referring to biological organisms rather than individual people. There is speculation that the state of Washington could eventually face pressure to change its name.

George Washington University professor Jessica Krug admitted to falsely claiming a Black identity for years while she is actually white and Jewish. The university has announced that Krug will not be teaching this semester and is offering counseling services to students "hurting" from the revelation. This case follows a pattern of "racial Dolezal" incidents where academics fabricate their backgrounds to advance in diversity-focused fields.

Donald Trump highlights an executive order mandating a 10-year prison sentence for anyone damaging federal statues, claiming it stopped monument destruction "overnight." He defends historical figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson against "radical left" mobs. Despite the federal crackdown, reports of localized violence and property damage continue in cities like Denver.

The debate over Native American-themed sports names has intensified following the death of George Floyd, with the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians undergoing name reviews. Activists argue that fans painting their faces red is equivalent to "blackface" and constitutes a racist caricature. This cultural shift is leading to a broader re-evaluation of imagery used by teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Braves.

Angela Davis discussed the removal of statues of founding fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, suggesting they be placed in museums to provide context on racism and capitalism. She identified "heteropatriarchy"—a system where cisgendered heterosexual males hold authority—as a primary force in U.S. history. The hosts mock the term and the lack of pushback from interviewer Amy Goodman.

A 2017 recording from George Washington University features Dr. Anthony Fauci predicting that the next administration would face a "surprise outbreak" of infectious disease. Fauci cites his 32-year history as the director of NIAID as the basis for his certainty that every administration faces such challenges. The phrasing is scrutinized for its seemingly prophetic nature regarding the current global health crisis.

Constitutional scholar Alan Dershowitz presents a defense of Donald Trump, arguing that "abuse of power" is a political weapon rather than a legal basis for impeachment. He cites historical examples from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln to demonstrate that presidents often have mixed motives involving both national interest and political gain.

Joe Biden incorrectly referenced George Washington's inaugural address before correcting it to the farewell address regarding warnings against foreign intervention in the American republic. The discussion questions the sincerity of Democratic concerns over foreign influence given the history of US involvement in foreign elections.

Joe Biden claimed during the debate that George Washington warned against foreign interference in his first speech as president. A fact check of Washington's 1789 inaugural address shows no mention of the words "foreign," "intervention," or "interference." The actual speech focused on religious guidance and the "invisible hand" of providence.