Good morning! The weekend edition is 663 words, a 3 minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Venting can be counterproductive when angry

• California teen becomes youngest to pass the bar exam

• Singapore’s “sewage beer”

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Today’s Big Story

Thanksgiving Dinner Will Cost Slightly Less This Year

Thanksgiving dinner for ten people this year will cost about $58, according to a report by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

• That's 5% cheaper than last year but nearly 20% more expensive than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The price includes turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie mix, and other holiday staples. (Ham and potatoes are in addition to the $58 total.)

• Adjusting for inflation, this year's Thanksgiving meal is among the cheapest in decades. However, most people don't think in terms of inflation-adjusted prices. Instead, grocery costs have been a source of stress since the pandemic.

• A Deloitte survey found that 44% of Thanksgiving hosts are worried about the expense, and 3 in 10 plan to invite fewer guests or ask others to contribute food.

• Thanksgiving highlights the gap between how economists and everyday people view inflation. While economists might focus on long-term trends and adjusted costs, many families only feel the immediate pressure of rising grocery bills.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to nominate hedge fund executive Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary. Bessent, the billionaire founder of Key Square Group, is a seasoned market professional and a loyal Trump supporter. (More)

• Researchers at the Ohio State University found that “venting” when angry can be counterproductive. Loud outbursts or vigorous exercise that increases arousal can actually increase anger. Instead, calming activities like yoga, meditation, and slow breathing proved much more effective. (More)

• Pennsylvania Democratic Senator Bob Casey conceded the final Senate race of the 2024 election to his Republican opponent David McCormic, giving Republicans a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Casey was the longest-serving Democrat ever in the Senate. (More)

• The Kremlin announced Friday that its strike on Ukraine with the new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile was a warning to the West. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the move was a response to Ukraine's use of US- and British-made missiles against Russia, following US approval for their use. (More)

• MLB will test robot umpires at 13 Spring Training ballparks to confirm challenged calls, though human umpires will still call balls and strikes. Teams will have a set number of robot review challenges. The earliest potential regular-season rollout for robot umpires is 2026. (More)

• Giraffe populations are shrinking, and the US government has proposed listing them as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The designation would protect five giraffe subspecies and is intended to curb poaching. The US is a big importer of products made from giraffes, including items like rugs, boots, and furniture. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• Dolly Parton invested $4.5 million in the Nashville Public Library’s early literacy program. It is the library foundation's largest donation in its 27-year history. Parton’s organization mails 3 million books to children around the world each month. (More)

• A building in Detroit has been converted into permanent housing for homeless veterans. The city is part of over 100 local organizations that have teamed up with a national partner to help their communities move closer to "functional zero" homelessness. (More)

• The USDA will ban "junk fees" for low-income families buying school lunches. Starting in the 2027-28 school year, schools can no longer charge online processing fees for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. (More)

• Sophia Park became the youngest person to pass the California bar exam at 17 years and 8 months, breaking the record previously held by her brother, Peter Park. She will officially become an attorney after turning 18 and plans to work as a prosecutor in Tulare County. (More)

Extra Credit

👀 There are 12 black dots in this optical illusion, how many can you see?

🍗 The 25 most important recipes of the last 100 years.

🍺 Singapore “sewage” beer.

⛄️ The snowiest cities and towns in America.