Podcast Summary
Breach of US Capitol by Pro-Trump Mob: Insurrection or Self-Guided Tour?: Violent mob breached the US Capitol, raising concerns about security and democracy, while a new contestant won on 'Who's Bill'.
During the week of December 30, 2020, the United States Capitol building was breached by a mob of pro-Trump extremists, leading to widespread chaos and fear. The incident, which has been labeled an insurrection by NPR and a self-guided tour by Fox News, saw the president making a video address to the crowd urging them to be peaceful, but failing to stop the violence. The incident raised concerns about security and the state of American democracy. Meanwhile, on a lighter note, the show welcomed a new contestant, Gabriel Castillo, a web producer from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who played the game "Who's Bill" and correctly identified two out of three news quotes to win a voice message from any member of the show's team. The panel included comedians Maeve Higgins, Amy Dickinson, and Joel Kim Booster.
Unexpected events following Georgia Senate runoff elections: Despite contentious elections and social media bans, Democrats celebrated with peach emojis and people coped with stress through self-talk during lockdowns
The aftermath of the contentious U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia brought about unexpected events, including Ted Cruz's continued objection to certifying the election results, the banning of the president from major social media platforms, and the ransacking of newly elected senator Raphael Warnock's office. Amidst these events, the use of peach emojis on social media became a symbol of celebration for Democrats' historic wins. Additionally, psychologists note that people tend to talk to themselves more during lockdowns as a way to cope with stress and organize their thoughts.
Finding Comfort in Everyday Life: Self-Talk, Unusual Recipes, and Cherishing Moments: Discovering comfort in self-talk, unusual recipes, and cherishing moments can bring joy and normalcy to everyday life.
Talking to yourself or even addressing inanimate objects, like a body pillow, can be a comforting and normal part of life. Maeve, a panelist on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, shared her experience of addressing her body pillow and dressing it up to make it more comforting. The discussion then shifted to a quirky book called "How to Eat Your Christmas Tree," which suggests using the tree's leaves for food in various recipes. While the panelists found the idea intriguing, they also cautioned against eating artificial trees. The segment ended with a game called "Bluff the Listener," where listeners call in to try and convince the panelists of unusual or false facts. In another call, a stay-at-home dad asked for advice on raising a newborn son, and the panelists offered some unexpected advice, suggesting he should enjoy the moment and have a few drinks while he can. Overall, the discussion showcased the importance of finding comfort and joy in everyday life, whether it's through self-talk, unusual recipes, or simply cherishing the moments with loved ones.
Disputes over seemingly insignificant things: People can become deeply invested in small things, leading to disagreements and public feuds
People can become fiercely possessive over seemingly insignificant things, leading to disputes and feuds. This was evident in the stories shared on the show. First, Joel Kim Booster discussed a high school graffiti controversy where two students, Nathaniel Rogers and Cole Yang, both claimed to have tagged the same spot with the name "Kingstees." The dispute led to a back-and-forth on social media, with each student trying to prove their claim. Next, Amy Dickinson shared a tale from the 1930s and 40s about authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, who had a heated argument over the use of a pixie character named Tinkle in their respective novels. Lastly, Maeve Higgins spoke about two Instagram influencers, Sasha Benz and Jessica Hart, who both named their babies "baby," leading to a public feud. These stories illustrate how people can become deeply invested in things, leading to disagreements and even public disputes. It's a reminder that sometimes, the smallest things can cause the biggest stir.
A surprise rivalry overshadowed by graffiti artists, while Jane Krakowski hosts 'Name That Tune': Two Australian influencers' baby name feud took a backseat to graffiti artists, while Jane Krakowski added hosting 'Name That Tune' to her Broadway resume
The week's news featured a surprising rivalry between two individuals, but the popular story of graffiti artists was actually overshadowing the real feud between two Australian influencers who both named their babies "Baby." Meanwhile, in entertainment news, Jane Krakowski, known for her role in "30 Rock," has added another accolade to her impressive resume by becoming the host of the rebooted game show "Name That Tune." Krakowski, who is excited to perform in front of a live audience again, discussed her love for Broadway and the discipline it requires. The show, which challenges contestants to name tunes as quickly as possible, came to Krakowski at a time when live theater was on hold. Overall, this conversation highlights the intrigue of the week's news and the versatility of Jane Krakowski's career.
Filming an American game show in Australia during COVID-19: Hosts Jane Krakowski and Randy Jackson bonded during strict quarantine rules, Krakowski shares her enjoyment of playing mean characters, and a game of 'Name That Tuna' concluded the interview
The production of an American game show was filmed in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, with everyone involved, including the hosts and contestants, quarantining for 14 days upon arrival. This experience brought the hosts, including Jane Krakowski and Randy Jackson, closer together as they were isolated in hotel rooms under strict government supervision. Krakowski, who is known for her roles in shows like "30 Rock" and "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," shared her experience of playing mean and shallow characters and how she enjoys bringing them to life despite not fully understanding why the writers choose her for these roles. The conversation ended with a light-hearted segment of the game "Name That Tuna," where Krakowski was asked three questions about the show and had to guess the correct answers to win a prize for a listener.
Hemingway's Unusual Fishing Methods and Tuna Delicacies: Hemingway believed getting drunk while fishing helped him think like a fish. Rare tuna delicacies include a tuna apple turnover, a raw tuna dish with a machine gun, and tuna tears cocktail.
Ernest Hemingway, the renowned author, had unusual fishing methods, one of which was getting drunk while fishing, as he believed "if you want to think like a fish, drink like a fish." Another intriguing tuna-related topic discussed was the exploration of rare tuna delicacies, with options including a tuna apple turnover from Guatemala, a machine gun-shot raw tuna dish from Cuba, and tuna tears, a cocktail made with fluid from a tuna's eye in South Korea. The quiz revealed that a sexy lady tuna named Preemia, who was introduced as part of Starkist tuna's advertising in the past, did not last long. Jane Krakowski, an award-winning actress and singer, was the quiz host, and she answered 2 out of 3 questions correctly, winning the game. The episode also featured a limerick challenge and advertisements from various sponsors, including Apple Card, Sutter Health, Easycater, and BetterHelp.
Men breaking gender norms through sewing: More men are embracing sewing as a hobby, challenging gender stereotypes and creating their own clothes, leading to the term 'sewists'.
Gender norms are being challenged in unexpected ways during the pandemic. More men are taking up sewing as a hobby, breaking stereotypes and creating their own clothes. This new trend of self-designed fashion has given rise to the term "sewists" as an alternative to seamstress. On a different note, the King of Fans has recalled nearly 200,000 ceiling fans due to a defect that causes the blades to detach at high speed. The good news for 2021 is that we're seeing more headlines with positive stories, like an escaped hamster making it to a candy store and lava safely flowing inside a volcano's crater. In the game "2021: More like 2020 fun," panelists were tasked with completing good news headlines from 2020 in a positive way, and it was a refreshing change from the constant stream of negative news we've grown accustomed to.
Spreading kindness in unexpected places: Expressing gratitude and kindness can bring joy and make a difference in people's lives, even in everyday situations.
Kindness and appreciation can go a long way in making people's day, even in unexpected places like a fast food restaurant. The Wendy's manager in Washington state spreading the message of love has brought joy to customers, reminding us of the importance of expressing kindness and gratitude. Elsewhere, scientific discoveries continue to amaze us, such as the ability to generate electricity from human sweat or using flasks for on-the-go drinks during the pandemic. In the world of real estate, a house with a prison in it is on the market, offering a unique living experience for those with quirky interests. These stories remind us to appreciate the small things in life, find joy in unexpected places, and embrace the wonders of science and innovation.
NPR Quiz Game: Maeve Wins with Most Points: Maeve won an NPR quiz game with 8 points, answering questions on U.S. politics, sports, and entertainment, while Amy and Joel had 7 and 2 points respectively.
The discussion revolved around a quiz game on NPR where participants answered fill-in-the-blank questions related to current events. Maeve and Amy were tied with the most correct answers, but Maeve took the lead with more points after the quiz. Some of the questions covered topics such as U.S. politics, sports, and entertainment. Notable events mentioned included Vice President Pence certifying Joe Biden's election win, Nancy Pelosi's reelection as Speaker of the House, and Facebook banning Donald Trump indefinitely. The quiz was sponsored by Capella University and The Official Hacks Podcast. The game ended with Maeve winning with a total of 8 points, while Amy and Joel had 7 and 2 points, respectively. Other notable mentions included the UK denying a US extradition request for Julian Assange, Alabama's Devante Smith winning the Heisman Trophy, and a man in the UK changing his name to Celine Dion after a night of drinking.
Iran increases uranium enrichment, Pizza Hut introduces new item, and more: Iran escalates nuclear tensions, Pizza Hint offers stuffed crust alone, and unexpected errors occur in resumes and Bitcoin prices
The news cycle can be unpredictable and full of surprises. On Monday, reports emerged that Iran had increased its uranium enrichment to 20%, while Pizza Hut introduced a new menu item - just the stuffed crust, no pizza. Elsewhere, Spam condemned the Capitol assault, Bitcoin hit record highs, and a woman discovered her resume listed her name as "princess banana hammock" due to a computer glitch. In the world of entertainment, Joel Kim Booster performed well on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, while the panelists predicted renovations for the Capitol building. Through it all, NPR continued to provide in-depth reporting and analysis on various topics, from schools and education to technology and current events. It's a reminder that no matter what's happening in the world, NPR is there to keep us informed and entertained.
