Topic: Packing

The KonMari method of home organization, created by Marie Kondo, is seeing a resurgence in 2025 as a popular New Year's cleaning strategy. The process involves sorting items by category and keeping only those that "spark joy." Professional consultants like Hiroko Watanabe perform rituals to "greet the home" before helping clients discard mementos with gratitude. The method is also applied to efficient suitcase packing.

In response to recent rulings, progressive lawmakers suggest changing the composition of the Supreme Court, a move known as "court packing." The hosts explain that while the court's size has changed historically, current political realities and the Senate filibuster make such an expansion nearly impossible. They critique a CBS documentary that questions if the court's power needs to be "checked" due to a lack of public trust.

The US Department of Labor fined a Wisconsin-based sanitation company $1.5 million for employing over 100 children in hazardous meat processing plants across eight states. Some workers were as young as 13 years old. The hosts discuss the history of youth employment and the perceived hypocrisy of reporting on domestic labor violations while ignoring international supply chain issues.

Kendra Ben wins the art contest for episode 1387 with a cigarette pack design. The hosts discuss the selection process, including critiques of the typography and a comparison with other entries like the Parker-Pauly nail clipper.

The CDC updates its website to emphasize that inhalation of aerosols is a primary method of COVID-19 transmission, de-emphasizing surface contact. This information appeared on the New York Times opinion page rather than the science section. The hosts note that this shift in guidance was discussed by independent researchers a year prior.

A correction is made regarding a newsletter error that confused Italy with India's current COVID-19 outbreak. Reports from producers and colleagues in Chennai and Tuscany describe hospital bed shortages and the impact of the virus on outsourced programming teams. One report mentions the use of a "ready pack" treatment as an alternative to hospitalization.

President Biden officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide, a move previous presidents avoided to maintain relations with Turkey. The hosts also play a 1990s clip of Biden calling FDR's court-packing plan a "bonehead idea," contrasting it with current political discussions.

President Biden has ordered a 180-day study on potentially expanding the Supreme Court. The hosts characterize this as a "trial balloon" designed to measure public outrage and social media reactions rather than an immediate legislative plan.

Michael Pack, the former CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), faced criticism for firing senior aides and investigating journalists. Pack reportedly shifted funding toward UltraSurf, a VPN service favored by the Falun Gong to bypass China's Great Firewall. Whistleblowers accused Pack of using the agency for propaganda before his resignation under the Biden transition team.

Donald Trump warned that if Democrats win, they will pack the Supreme Court with radical judges who will "shred" the Second Amendment. Joe Biden has consistently refused to answer questions regarding his stance on court-packing. Both political sides are accused of using "lame" scare tactics regarding the future of Roe v. Wade and healthcare to mobilize their respective bases.

A clip is played where Kamala Harris accidentally credits Donald Trump with "unifying our country around our common values and principles." The hosts marvel that this gaffe was not picked up by the Trump campaign or the media. They also discuss the unpopularity of "packing" the Supreme Court and the historical precedent of having fewer than nine justices.

A report on data privacy reveals that apps like WhatsApp send over 41 million pings to tracking servers every minute. In political news, former Senator Al Franken appeared in a media interview to support the idea of Democrats adding seats to the Supreme Court if they win the Senate. The show concludes with a "No Agenda ABCs" reading by Sir Chris Wilson and a montage of clips from the presidential debate.

Republicans and Democrats are weighing the electoral consequences of a rapid Supreme Court confirmation. While some believe it will depress Democrat turnout, others fear it will energize the opposition. Amy Coney Barrett is identified as a frontrunner for the nomination due to her age and conservative credentials, though the hosts note that justices often change their leanings once seated.

President Donald Trump threatened to use constitutional authority to adjourn both houses of Congress to push through stalled nominations, including Michael Pack for the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Trump criticized the Voice of America for its reporting on China, while legal experts noted that the Supreme Court previously limited President Barack Obama's ability to make similar recess appointments.

The discussion focuses on the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as potential treatments. The hosts criticize the media for highlighting a death in Arizona involving fish tank cleaner to discredit the drug, while ignoring its use in New York and other clinical settings.

The hosts discuss Joe Biden's frequent verbal slips and transition into a tangent about a neighbor's classic El Camino. They discuss the sound of "glass-pack" mufflers and their historical association with the mafia in the Bay Area.

Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement from the Supreme Court has sparked intense political maneuvering regarding his replacement before the midterm elections. Rumors regarding Kennedy's son's tenure at Deutsche Bank and potential ties to Donald Trump's loans have circulated in the media. Meanwhile, some Democrats have revived the idea of "packing the court," a controversial tactic famously attempted by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s.

A San Francisco youth probation officer was arrested after leaving a fanny pack containing a handgun and 45 grams of cocaine in a Disneyland hotel room. The show concludes with a montage of clips and a reminder of the upcoming Thursday broadcast from Europe.

A discussion arises regarding a specific horizontal muscle protrusion seen on female fitness enthusiasts and pageant contestants. Attributed to a "royal chair" core exercise, the muscle is described as running from the breast to the belly button. The hosts speculate on the anatomical purpose of these muscles in women compared to traditional male six-pack abs.

A human interest story about a seven-year-old boy named Jack organizing "snack packs" for troops in Afghanistan is identified as a likely pre-packaged PR campaign. The report, aired by Alan Sanchez on Good Day Sacramento, features the child in military-style clothing. The hosts suggest the story is a "feel-good" setup designed to promote specific brands like Slim Jim and Gatorade.