The President's Daily Brief November 27th, 2025: Mike Baker’s Thanksgiving Message to PDB Listeners
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Nov 27, 2025 Mike Baker shares a lighthearted Thanksgiving message, exploring the amusing origins of the turkey-pardon tradition linked to Abraham Lincoln. He humorously discusses past presidents' mixed feelings about the ritual and recounts notable turkey-pardon mishaps. The logistics of staging the ceremony are revealed, along with insights into the unpredictable nature of animals on stage. Finally, Baker encourages heartfelt gratitude for family and blessings, wrapping up with holiday wishes and a nod to the return of regular updates.
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History Of The Turkey Pardon
- Mike Baker recounts the Presidential turkey pardon as a long-standing, odd White House tradition with roots in Lincoln's era.
- He frames it as a playful, photo-op ritual that presidents use to court public favor around the holidays.
Presidential Turkey Tales
- Mike Baker tells colorful presidential stories, including Taft deep-frying a turkey and Lincoln sparing one for his son.
- He uses these examples to show the ceremony's unpredictable and sometimes bizarre history.
Modern Ceremony Risks
- Mike Baker describes modern pardons and recent presidents' approaches, noting Trump pardoned two birds named Gobble and Waddle.
- He highlights the ceremony's constant risk of chaos and media spectacle whenever animals are involved.