Topic: H T Webster

The definition of bigotry is examined following listener feedback regarding the use of the term on the show. According to Miriam Webster, the primary definition involves a narrow-minded person who obstinately adheres to their own opinions. The discussion highlights how the term is often colloquially misunderstood as being exclusively related to racial prejudice.

A critique of the word "decimate" leads into a report on the vulnerability of Ukrainian cities like Lviv to high-trajectory ballistic missiles. The U.S. recently shut down its embassy in Kiev following warnings of missile tests. The segment highlights that while cruise missiles are easier to intercept, the new Russian ballistic technology poses a unique challenge to existing defense systems.

The hosts critique a segment from "The View" where the term "fascism" was redefined specifically as a "far-right" movement. This follows a trend of dictionaries like Merriam-Webster updating definitions to align with current political narratives. The discussion argues that the actual characteristics of fascism—forcible suppression of opposition and economic regimentation—are being ignored in favor of partisan labeling.

Merriam-Webster names "authentic" as the word of the year for 2023, citing high search volume. The hosts express skepticism about the dictionary's data and suggest that "indict" would have been a more culturally relevant choice given the year's news events.

Modern dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary, have updated the definition of "decimate" to include widespread destruction. Historically, the term referred specifically to the removal of one-tenth of a group. Linguists note that the word is now commonly accepted as a synonym for "devastate," reflecting changes in popular usage over time.

The hosts read the credits for the Executive and Associate Executive Producers of the episode, including Dalton Fisher from Michigan and Lady Rebecca from North Carolina. Several producers shared personal notes about their businesses, such as Castel Silano and food forest design services. The segment follows the show's tradition of acknowledging "treasure" contributions above the $200 threshold.

Donors express appreciation for the show's scrutiny of loaded language and its critique of Merriam-Webster. Other listeners describe the podcast as a "refuge" of sanity that they discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical experts highlight that heart disease is the leading killer of new mothers in the US, contributing to a maternal mortality crisis. The segment also critiques the changing definitions of words like "epidemic" and "violence" in modern dictionaries like Merriam-Webster. There is a focus on how ideological shifts influence medical terminology and public health reporting.

Merriam-Webster adds 370 new words and terms to its dictionary, including "adorkable," "shrinkflation," "janky," and "emergency use authorization." The episode concludes with a musical remix centered on the Zika virus and the "small heads" narrative from previous years.

Merriam-Webster added 455 new words to its dictionary in 2021, heavily featuring pandemic-related terminology such as "long COVID," "vaccine passport," and "breakthrough." The update also codified internet culture terms including "de-platform," "digital nomad," and "copypasta," alongside the political term "vote-a-rama." A discussion of the term "small ball" highlighted its origins in 1970s baseball strategy under manager Billy Martin before its modern adoption in basketball and general goal-setting contexts.

Donald Trump mocked the current military leadership, suggesting privates will soon refuse orders from generals. He also praised the Space Force, noting that Russia and China are competing "big league." The hosts digress into a linguistic correction of Trump's frequent use of the word "decimated," noting its historical definition of removing 10% versus the modern usage of total destruction.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary has updated its definition of "anti-vaxxer" to include those who oppose vaccine mandates. Additionally, the hosts discuss reports of unusual side effects, including a listener's anecdote and a Sky News report linking COVID-19 to erectile dysfunction.

A nurse contributor suggests that Type 1 diabetes can be triggered by viral insults, specifically enteroviruses like SARS-CoV-2. The segment also notes that Merriam-Webster has officially recognized the word "anyways" as proper usage, much to the chagrin of linguistic traditionalists.

Merriam-Webster updated its definition of "vaccine" to include preparations of genetic material, such as messenger RNA (mRNA). The previous definition emphasized providing immunity, whereas the new version focuses on stimulating an immune response or the production of antigenic substances. Critics argue this change was made to accommodate mRNA technology, which functions differently than traditional attenuated virus vaccines.

The evolution of the word "irregardless" in modern dictionaries is discussed following a clip of Megyn Kelly using the term. While Merriam-Webster now recognizes it as a word due to 200 years of usage, the Oxford English Dictionary still advises against its use by "careful users." The segment also touches on the fact that dictionaries are copyrighted works, requiring each publisher to write unique definitions.

Adam Curry plays a clip of Jordan Peterson discussing his recovery from benzodiazepine addiction. The hosts focus on Peterson's use of the word "anyways," leading to a discussion on how language changes over time. They jokingly propose that the No Agenda Show should adopt the spelling "anywayz" with a Z to distinguish it from the navigation app "Waze."

During confirmation hearings, Senator Maisie Hirono criticized Amy Coney Barrett for using the term "sexual preference," labeling it an offensive slur. Within hours of the exchange, Merriam-Webster updated its online dictionary to categorize the term as "offensive." This rapid change is criticized as an example of social justice activism influencing institutional language standards, despite the term's common usage by Democrats in the recent past.

The state-run China Daily referred to Mike Pompeo as a "flibbertigibbet," prompting an etymological breakdown of the word. Originally meaning a "silly flighty person" or "gossip," the term's history includes references in Shakespeare's King Lear and 19th-century literature.

Merriam-Webster updated its definition of racism following a request from a Missouri woman, adding entries regarding systemic and institutional racism. This prompt's a story from one of the hosts regarding his role in changing the dictionary definition of the word nerd, which he traced back to the 1950 Dr. Seuss book If I Ran the Zoo.

Merriam-Webster agreed to revise its dictionary definition of racism after receiving an email from Kennedy Meacham, a recent college graduate from Missouri. Meacham argued that the existing definition was inadequate because it did not explicitly include the concept of systemic oppression. The editor of the dictionary confirmed that a draft for a more comprehensive entry is currently being developed to reflect institutional factors.