Topic: Thanksgiving Travel

Travel volume for Thanksgiving 2022 reached near 2019 pre-pandemic levels with approximately 55 million Americans traveling by road and air. Officials at LAX and Houston airports report that remote work flexibility has spread out the travel rush, though Sunday remains the busiest return day. Customs and agricultural specialists note a seasonal spike in prohibited food items brought as gifts for relatives.

Austin Public Health issued rapid-fire text and voicemail warnings to residents against gathering for Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, a Delta Airlines flight attendant was recorded informing passengers that failure to comply with mask mandates would result in a lifetime ban from all airlines and up to 20 years in prison. The hosts criticize the lack of due process in these enforcement threats.

ABC News continues to broadcast emotional reports featuring nurses who claim they can no longer hug their children due to fear of infection. The segments utilize the "humanitarian crisis" meme and feature families saying goodbye via FaceTime. The hosts characterize these reports as a form of psychological terror designed to prevent holiday gatherings.

Amtrak reports record-breaking passenger counts during the Thanksgiving holiday week, with over 846,000 riders expected to be exceeded this year. While most trains remained on schedule, the California Zephyr traveling from Emeryville to Chicago experienced a five-hour delay.

TSA and AAA predict record-breaking travel numbers for the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday, with over 26 million people flying and 49 million driving. John Dvorak shares a report on seeing a vintage "dome car" from the Great Northern railway attached to a modern train. The hosts discuss the logistical nightmare of airport security during the holidays.

The hosts predict that "National Opt-Out Day," scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving, will result in the TSA purposefully slowing down security lines to punish protesters. They argue that while the initiative is well-intentioned, it may inadvertently provide the "security-industrial complex" with an excuse to demand more funding and faster technology to keep "human resources" and commerce flowing.

The TSA announced enhanced pat-down procedures on October 29, 2010, the same day as the Yemen terror alert. The hosts argue the terror threat was timed to suppress resistance to new invasive screening methods, which include agents feeling the "crotchal area" of passengers.

The cost of airline tickets reached $500 for flights typically priced at $65, leading to separate Thanksgiving celebrations for the hosts. Despite news reports claiming airports were empty due to the economy, the high fares are cited as the primary reason for decreased travel. One host prepared pheasant for the holiday instead of turkey, noting the high cost of traditional travel during the economic downturn.