Topic: Turkey Pardon

The hosts observe that while Thanksgiving remains a North American holiday, Black Friday has expanded globally to Europe and beyond, driven largely by Amazon. Audio from President Joe Biden's final White House turkey pardoning ceremony features turkeys named Peach and Blossom. Biden jokes about the temperament of the birds before granting them a formal pardon.

A throwback to the 2018 White House turkey pardon features President Trump joking about a "fair and open election" between turkeys named Peas and Carrots. Trump quipped that Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount. The segment highlights Trump's unique sense of humor, which critics suggest may not be fully appreciated for decades.

A critique of traditional Thanksgiving folklore traces the holiday's origins to an Abraham Lincoln proclamation rather than the Pilgrims. Donald Trump's 2019 turkey pardon ceremony is analyzed, where he spared birds named Bread and Butter while making jokes about Adam Schiff and the impeachment inquiry. The history of the presidential turkey pardon is attributed to George H.W. Bush as the official founder of the tradition.

Media coverage of the annual White House turkey pardon drew sharp parallels between the symbolic act and President Trump's refusal to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Critics labeled the event a "dichotomy" as the administration maintained ties with the Crown Prince despite CIA findings. The hosts argue that the media is unable to cover lighthearted traditions without injecting political outrage.

John C. Dvorak argues that Thanksgiving is a "bogus holiday" originally created by Abraham Lincoln as a day of remembrance for Civil War soldiers, not a celebration with Native Americans. He criticizes the modern commercialization of the holiday and the "bullcrap" tradition of the presidential turkey pardon, which he claims is a waste of time for the media and the executive branch.

A PBS investigative report clarifies the history of the presidential turkey pardon. While Truman was the first to receive a turkey from the National Turkey Federation, he did not pardon it. JFK was the first to spare a Thanksgiving turkey in 1963, but the ceremony was only formalized as a "pardon" by George H.W. Bush in 1989. The hosts label the "generations-old" tradition as "fake news."

President Barack Obama pardons two turkeys named Mac and Cheese, which the hosts interpret as a cultural signal regarding "depression food." They analyze Obama's speech, noting a verbal gaffe where he suggests people at a food pantry can "wear" turkeys. The segment also explores the commercial scale of the turkey farm in Virginia providing the birds.

President Barack Obama granted reprieves to two turkeys, Caramel and Popcorn, during the annual White House Thanksgiving ceremony. Critics and data from ProPublica highlight that Obama has granted clemency to only 39 people, the fewest of any modern president compared to Ronald Reagan's 313 or Harry Truman's 1,537. Advocates against the war on drugs argue the president is failing to help non-violent offenders despite his liberal rhetoric.