Welcome to Thanksgiving 2019, turkeys, jive turkeys, and Tofurkys... A giving-of-thanks message from Countable's founder and CEO.
 
 
The Daily Countable
 
 

Welcome to Thanksgiving 2019, turkeys, jive turkeys, and Tofurkys...

A giving-of-thanks message from Countable's founder and CEO:

Dear Countable Friends—

Recently, I was asked at a meeting, “What are you thankful for?” At the Thanksgiving table, the question starts the stomach grumbling. But this question gave me no indigestion—I knew the answer, and said it immediately:

“Our users.”

What am I thankful for? I’m thankful for you.

Thank you for your opinions, your questions, your comments, your activism. Thank you for making the not-always-easy effort to stay informed—and for fighting that urge to disengage from our increasingly-polarized political environment. Thank you for listening to new perspectives, and for weighing in with the openness and civility that our democracy desperately needs. You’re building civic awareness and responsibility into your daily lives, one action at a time. And that's the best holiday tradition of all.

On behalf of me, democracy, and America: thank you. You are the antacid settling the stomach of this great nation.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Bart

Bart Myers, founder & CEO of Countable

Chat with Bart on twitter: @bartolah

 
     
 

On the Radar On the Radar icon

Pardoning Bread & Butter

President Donald Trump on Tuesday participated in the annual White House turkey pardon, granting a reprieve to Bread and Butter.

"Today. I will issue a pardon to a pair of very handsome birds: Butter and his alternate Bread."

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The president also worked in a jab about the House impeachment inquiry, telling the audience:

"Thankfully, Bread and Butter have been specially raised by [farmers] to remain calm under any conditions. Which will be very important because they've already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff's basement on Thursday. It's true. It seems the Democrats are accusing me of being too soft on turkey."

According to the White House Historical Association, Abraham Lincoln was the first president to pardon a turkey, although the tradition didn’t start until much later in U.S. history. Apparently, someone brought a live turkey to the Lincoln White House for Christmas in 1863, but Lincoln’s son Tad was so horrified by the idea of killing and eating the bird that Honest Abe decided to spare the bird’s life.

Read the full history of this holiday tradition here.

Should the president continue to pardon turkeys?

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When Table Talk Turns Political, Know the Facts

The turkey may make you drowsy, but a single mention of "Trump" or "Pelosi" may wake you right up.

Border apprehensions. Immigration. Active shooters. Medicare. Education. If your meme-sharing uncle or aunt broaches any of these (or other) #tabletopics, Countable and USAFacts have your back.

Or, rather, we have your feet.

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Start your Thanksgiving conversations on some factual footing. Click on the image above for all the data you need for this year's #tabletopics, then share how it went with that #.

 
 
 
 

Under the Radar

National Bible Week

Thanksgiving week will now be formally recognized as National Bible Week in America’s Dairyland after an 86-9 vote in the Wisconsin Assembly.

“Bible reading has been a great encouragement and comfort for many people throughout our state’s history and has contributed to the molding of the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry,” the resolution states.

“Dedicating a week to the bible directly endorses Christianity over other religions, thereby telling non-Christian citizens we are second-class citizens for being the ‘wrong’ religion,” the Freedom from Religion Foundation said in a statement.

“Imagine the uproar were the Legislature to promote ‘National Quran Week in Wisconsin.”

Should more states recognize Thanksgiving week as National Bible Week?

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Your Gov't At a Glance Your Gov't At a Glance icon

The White House: President Trump in FL

  • The president has no public schedule.

The House: Out

  • The House will return Monday, December 2nd.

The Senate: Out

  • The Senate will return Monday, December 2nd.
 
     
 

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should Outdated Federal Laws Relating to Native Americans Be Repealed?

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Also Worth a Click

And, in the End...

We end with some turkey pardons from previous presidents:

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Happiest of Thanksgiving, all. See you Monday,

 —Josh Herman

 
     
 
 
 

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