Topic: Holiday

A brief review of a Melania Trump documentary describes her as an underappreciated figure who is often ignored or maligned by the press due to her marriage. The hosts also note the holiday weekend, mentioning the Ides of March and the early start to St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The segment includes light banter about the "trolls" in the live chat room and their reception of the guest host.

The hosts discuss the commitment required to produce a live broadcast on New Year's Day while most of the media industry takes the holiday off. There is a brief mention of Mimi suffering from the flu, and a lighthearted observation about the vocal resilience of the hosts even when ill.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the Christmas special from Texas and Northern Silicon Valley. They discuss the linguistic shift from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Christmas" and "Merry Holidays," with Dvorak noting local liberals using the latter. The hosts mention a "best of" compilation prepared by Sir Donald Winkler and touch upon "surveillance pricing" as a reason to delay holiday shopping.

A report examines the political divide over holiday greetings, citing a PRRI poll where 66% of Democrats prefer "Happy Holidays" while 67% of Republicans prefer "Merry Christmas." The segment notes that Donald Trump campaigned on bringing back "Merry Christmas," though clips show Barack Obama used the phrase frequently during his presidency. The hosts argue the choice of greeting has become a proxy for religious and political identity.

The hosts discuss "Hanukkah Harry," a Santa-like character created for Jewish children to provide a parallel to Christmas traditions. They debate whether the character is a legitimate cultural fixture or a fictional invention popularized by media like *Saturday Night Live*. The conversation touches on how Jewish families navigate the dominant Christmas culture in America.

Doctors warn of "Holiday Heart Syndrome," a spike in heart attacks and atrial fibrillation occurring between Christmas and New Year's. The condition is attributed to increased alcohol intake, stress, and poor eating habits. The hosts debate the healthiness of traditional holiday meals like turkey versus prime rib and criticize the media for "spoiling the fun" with health warnings.

In her final days as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi delivers a holiday greeting that includes the term "Happy Schwanza" instead of Kwanzaa. The hosts mock the slip of the tongue, with Curry joking that "Schwanza" is a version of the holiday for people with large anatomy. They use the clip to illustrate the perceived insincerity of political holiday messages.

Adam Curry broadcasts from Florence, Italy, where he is celebrating his brother-in-law's 60th birthday. The hosts revisit the "Happy Holidays" debate, questioning why only Christmas is subjected to the generic "holiday" label while the 4th of July and Veterans Day maintain their specific names. They argue the shift reflects a specific cultural bias against Christian traditions.

A discussion ensues regarding the cultural tension between saying "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." The hosts argue that the push for "Happy Holidays" is a result of DEI initiatives and a perceived hatred of Christianity. They reflect on their own aging as "boomers" complaining about modern holiday traditions.

The hosts note that many mainstream media "A-list" hosts are on vacation for Christmas, leaving "B and C-listers" to fill in. They emphasize their commitment to broadcasting live despite the holidays. Listeners are encouraged to use modern podcast apps found at PodcastApps.com rather than inferior services.

Medical reports warn of "Holiday Heart Syndrome," a condition involving heart rhythm irregularities like atrial fibrillation triggered by overindulgence in salt, fat, and alcohol. Health experts advise mindfulness and portion control during holiday events. The hosts suggest the condition is equally tied to the stress of family gatherings.

A critique of holiday television programming focuses on the Fox News show Outnumbered. The hosts observe that major networks often use "B-team" substitute hosts and "leftover" talent during the Christmas and New Year's period, specifically mentioning Tammy Bruce's presence on the program.

Some users of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are reportedly pausing their prescriptions during the holiday season to avoid nausea and enjoy festive meals. Doctors warn that skipping doses can lead to increased appetite and weight gain, while some users cite the high cost of the medication as a reason for stretching their supply.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu faced controversy after an email was mistakenly sent to the entire City Council inviting only "Electeds of Color" to a holiday party. White council members were later sent a rescission email, leading to accusations of racial divisiveness within City Hall.

Kevin McLaughlin contributed $80.08 (a "boob number") and shared a public service announcement about reducing holiday stress. A long list of "small batch" donors (contributing under $50) is acknowledged. The hosts reiterate that the show relies entirely on listener support and offer various ways to donate, including sustaining monthly contributions.

Southwest Airlines canceled over 12,000 flights during the 2022 holiday season, operating at only one-third capacity. CEO Bob Jordan issued a video apology, attributing the collapse to a severe winter storm. While some passengers remained patient, thousands of others were stranded at airports across the United States with lost luggage and no reimbursement.

Doctors are warning of "Holiday Heart Syndrome," noting that heart attack deaths peak between Christmas and New Year's Day. Factors such as increased alcohol consumption, high-sodium diets, and holiday stress are cited as primary triggers for cardiac events during the winter festivities.

Medical experts are urging high-risk groups, including those over 50, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised, to receive updated COVID-19 boosters before holiday gatherings. Officials noted that it takes approximately two weeks for the booster's protection to fully "kick in." The messaging focuses on maintaining "steady" protection as immunity from initial vaccine series wanes over time.

The discussion critiques holiday safety advice regarding rapid testing and outdoor gatherings for Thanksgiving. A brief linguistic tangent explores the etymology and common usage of the phrase "think twice" in popular songs and everyday warnings.

Aviation disruptions escalated over Memorial Day weekend as KLM halted ticket sales for flights departing from Amsterdam. In the UK, passengers were forced to disembark planes after boarding because pilots had exceeded their legal working hour limits, contributing to thousands of cancelled flights worldwide.