Topic: Irving Berlin

A PBS NewsHour segment reveals that Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" was originally written as a parody. The deleted opening verse described a person sitting by a pool in Beverly Hills among orange and palm trees, dreaming of a snowy northern Christmas. The song only became a sentimental classic in 1942 when it resonated with American military personnel serving overseas during World War II.

The show concludes with a "deconstruction" of the song "White Christmas," revealing that Irving Berlin originally wrote it as a parody set in Beverly Hills. The hosts sign off with their traditional catchphrases and a "John Galt" audio mix that references "Atlas Shrugged." They remind listeners of the upcoming New Year's Eve episode and the "Value for Value" model.