Topic: New Year S

Global New Year 2026 celebrations are reviewed, including fireworks in Sydney and light shows in Hong Kong. In Seoul, South Korea, over 10,000 people gathered at the Bosingak Pavilion for a traditional ceremony where a bronze bell was struck 33 times. The hosts express curiosity regarding the cultural significance of the number 33 in Korean tradition.

A massive fire destroyed the historic Vondelkerk Church in central Amsterdam during New Year's Eve celebrations. The 150-year-old monument, located near the van Gogh Museum, suffered a total roof collapse and steeple destruction while residents were evacuated from nearby homes. Authorities declared a regional emergency as investigators look into whether illegal fireworks caused the blaze.

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.

A massive fireworks warehouse explosion in Yolo County, California, resulted in seven people missing and the cancellation of numerous regional displays. A childhood anecdote from the Netherlands describes a firework accident in a vacation bungalow where a lit fuse ignited a box of crackers, leading to a smoke-filled room and the blame being shifted to a younger brother.

Southern New Year's traditions involve eating black-eyed peas for luck, a superstition dating back to the American Civil War when the beans were vital sustenance. Discussion shifts to the merits of heirloom beans and pinto beans versus pineapple pizza. Additionally, the University of Texas football team secured an overtime victory against Arizona State.

Adam and John select a short audio clip (ISO) to close the show. They settle on a four-second greeting wishing listeners a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year, officially ending the broadcast.

The hosts open the program from Austin, Texas, and Northern Silicon Valley, discussing a recent family gathering. One host describes a socially distanced dim sum meal involving masks and a glass wall despite family members having already recovered from COVID-19. The conversation touches on the psychological impact of ongoing pandemic restrictions on family sanity.

The hosts review potential "ISO" (isolated audio) clips for future use, including Andy Cohen's drunken New Year's Eve rant and a clip of someone claiming "Bill Gates is really cool." They critique the performance of Cohen and Anderson Cooper, comparing them to "drunk gay guys" on television. They settle on a combination of Cohen's "get it together" rant and a child's "Happy New Year" for the show's soundboard.

A Waymo autonomous vehicle was attacked and set on fire by a crowd in San Francisco's Chinatown during Lunar New Year celebrations. The incident reflects growing public hostility toward "robotaxis" that frequently cause traffic disruptions. The destruction of the vehicle is described as a "tribal" reaction against the encroachment of autonomous technology in urban environments.

Experts note that while government warnings about Chinese hacking are frequent, most "attacks" are automated pings that occur thousands of times daily across the internet. Meanwhile, the Lunar New Year has prompted massive global travel, reminiscent of the period just before the initial COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

The episode concludes with a preview of the New Year's Eve show and a series of end-of-show mixes produced by Sir Chris Wilson and Professor JJ. The hosts sign off with their traditional catchphrases and a final reminder of the donation addresses.

Reports from China indicate a massive wave of COVID-19 infections, with half a million cases daily in some cities ahead of the Lunar New Year. The show concludes with musical mixes featuring "Winter of Severe Illness and Death" clips and a satirical Santa Claus message regarding ESG and the World Economic Forum.

Media reports claiming that five "thousand-year flood" events occurred in a single summer across the US are questioned for their logical consistency. Critics argue that the term is being misused by outlets like ABC News to create alarmism regarding climate change. Furthermore, the suggestion that infrastructure is failing to keep up with these events is viewed as a vague push for green energy projects rather than practical water management solutions like reservoirs.

China has dismantled its strict Zero-COVID policy just ahead of the Lunar New Year, leading to the first mass travel period without restrictions in three years. While the Chinese government officially reports 60,000 deaths since December, the health analytics firm Airfinity predicts deaths could reach 36,000 per day during the holiday. The World Health Organization continues to accuse China of underestimating the severity of the current outbreak.

Chinese health officials warn that COVID-19 infections will spread from major cities to rural areas as millions travel for the Lunar New Year. Despite reports that 80% of the population may have been infected, the government has ended its strict "zero-COVID" lockdowns. Experts suggest the current wave is dominated by Omicron variants, which may be less lethal but still threaten under-resourced rural medical facilities.

The hosts shared plans for two distinct New Year's social events: a formal dinner at a former New York banker's home and a "progressive dinner" in the Texas Hill Country. The progressive dinner involves a party bus transporting six couples between different homes for various meal courses. These anecdotes serve as a preview of the cultural observations expected in the new year.

The hosts celebrate the Lunar New Year (Year of the Tiger) and process various donations involving "row of ducks" and "jobs" jingles. A producer inquires about a missing $100 donation from December, leading to a discussion on the reliability of PayPal and the volume of messages the show receives.

China's rapid response to the coronavirus includes building a 1,000-bed hospital in ten days and a second 1,300-bed facility shortly after. Travel lockdowns have been imposed on 16 cities, affecting 50 million people, a population equivalent to New York and Texas combined. The U.S. government has begun evacuating consulate employees from Wuhan as cases spread to 13 countries, including France.

The "Clip Blitz" covers major international news, including the resignation of the Russian government following President Vladimir Putin's proposed constitutional changes. In China, millions are participating in the world's largest annual migration for the Lunar New Year, while the country's birth rate has fallen to a 70-year low. Additionally, a rare Type B flu strain is reportedly affecting children in the United States.

Personal anecdotes regarding New Year's Eve included the gift of a dash cam intended to document local traffic violations and reflections on the declining quality of holiday dining experiences. Observations were made regarding the lackluster fireworks display in San Francisco compared to illegal local pyrotechnics.