Topic: Reindeer

Operation Warp Speed is presented as a "wonderful" scientific advance, though skeptics question the speed and safety. A parody of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" tells the story of a grandmother dying after a Christmas visit and being shamed at her funeral. The discussion notes that half of Americans remain hesitant or unwilling to get vaccinated, complicating the "end" of the pandemic.

A discussion on food preferences leads to a critique of chicken as a "dumb meat" and an exploration of eating horse and reindeer meat in Europe. One host shares an anecdote about being pressured to eat a massive horse steak in Slovenia, only to find that the locals, who claimed not to eat it, finished his leftovers with enthusiasm.

The hosts compare the current political cycle to a reality show where candidates are "voted off the island." They predict that at least two candidates will be eliminated after the Iowa caucuses. Adam Curry notes with irony that a broadcast of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" received higher television ratings than the political debate.

Executive Producer Sir Snorterstein provides updates from Norway, leading to a discussion about the cultural practice of eating reindeer in Scandinavia. Personal anecdotes include being served reindeer on a Pan Am flight and dining on specific, named reindeer in Helsinki. The hosts joke about the American public's sensitivity toward eating animals associated with Christmas folklore.

A dinner at Chez Spencer in San Francisco serves as the backdrop for a discussion on game meats and fine wine. The hosts recount eating venison and compare it to reindeer meat commonly consumed in Finland and other Nordic countries. They pair their meal with a 70-dollar bottle of Bordeaux, noting the restaurant's unique atmosphere in a warehouse district.