Today’s Big Story

The Story of the Turkey Pardon

How’d this become a thing?

Earlier this week, President Biden pardoned two turkeys from Minnesota, in keeping with the annual White House turkey pardon tradition. It was his final turkey pardon as president—before President-elect Donald Trump is tasked with keeping up the tradition. This year's turkeys, Peach and Blossom, are named after the Delaware state flower, the peach blossom, which symbolizes resilience, Biden said. The president joked that the more than 2,000 people who gathered for the event were there seeking a pardon, as he has less than two months in office.

CBS News reports that the turkeys stayed in a luxurious suite at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel near the White House in the days leading up to their moment in the limelight, a tradition for the turkeys as they await their fate. But really, how did this become such a storied American convention?

It's a long-standing tradition for American turkey growers to present the U.S. president with a Thanksgiving turkey. But pardoning the bird is a more recent practice. Some presidents were clearly more into stuffing and eating the gifted bird than setting it free. In 1981, on receiving a Tom Turkey from the National Turkey Federation, President Reagan was asked what he's going to do with Tom. “Eat him,” said Reagan straightforwardly.

The history of the pardon is as old and slightly misguided as the stories your uncle tells at the Thanksgiving table. Harry Truman is often credited as the first president to offer a poultry pardon, but that’s not exactly true. In fact, the rumor was so often repeated, that the Truman Library had to weigh in.

The Truman Administration was the first year that the National Turkey Federation presented a turkey to the president. Obviously, at that time, the bird was meant to be consumed. Prior to that, for the history of a president pardoning the turkey, people will have to go back to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was gifted a turkey and his son, Tad, pleaded with his father not kill the bill and made it into the family pet. That's where the pardoning comes from. But George Bush Sr. was the first president to officially pardon the bird. Over time, they've been sent to petting zoos. For a while, they were sent to Disney World and they were in the parade. But a White House tradition was born and likely isn’t going away any time soon.

Do We Have a Deal?

Israel and Hezbollah agree to cease-fire, Biden says

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a cease-fire deal, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday. The agreement, which passed in a 10-1 vote in Israel’s cabinet, is set to take effect Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time, pausing the year-long conflict in southern Lebanon and northern Israel that has escalated in recent weeks.

Still, Netanyahu warned earlier Tuesday that Israel would strike again if the Lebanese militant group violated the agreement. According to the Washington Post, despite the ongoing negotiations, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ramped up Tuesday. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called the decision to approve the cease-fire deal a “grave mistake.” He said the agreement would not be enough to return residents of northern Israel to their homes and would not deter Hezbollah.

But the Biden administration believes that the deal to bring cessation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah has the potential to be a “game changer” as the U.S. renews its push to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a senior administration official. The same official added that given recent conversations, the administration believes there’s also a “window of opportunity,” if changes happen in Gaza, for a normalization in Saudi-Israeli relations.

Get Early Access to Huckberry’s Big Sale

They’re kicking off the holiday with some reliable favorites

Huckberry is kicking off their Black Friday deals a little early and we're getting you in on the action with this round-up of sturdy and stylish winter gear from their house brands and other labels including Filson, Taylor Stitch and RRL. Get up to 40% off a wide range of goods, from a cozy hoodie and all-American denim, to a stylish garment-dyed blazer you’ll wear all season. Whether you're shopping for yourself or picking up some gifts for the tough guys on your list, now's the time to buy.

Pheromone Perfumes on the Rise

Does the science really work?

Dating is tough. Young people, some disenchanted with the unreliability of dating apps and looking for new ways to connect, are giving pheromone perfumes a shot. Many of these products are exactly what they sound like. The sprays and roll-on fragrances claim to contain synthetic versions of sex pheromones—chemicals some species naturally secrete to attract lovers—that the companies say have very real effects. The claims are debatable. But peoples’ willingness to test them is not.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the number of people talking about pheromone perfume on social media over the past two years has surged nearly 300%. However, the doctors they spoke with say these perfumes aren’t the love potions they claim to be. “You’re selling hope,” said Tristram Wyatt, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Oxford who researches pheromones and animal behavior. Pheromones are chemical signals between individuals of the same species that trigger a certain behavior. No credible study has identified chemicals that act as human sex pheromones, he said.

But writers and beauty editors who’ve given them a try have reported impressive reactions, even if they weren’t entirely sure that their success could be attributed to their smell. But, as one Vice writer said, “it’s not every day that I get a compliment on my toes, my outfit, and my teeth. But it’s also not every day that I’m dripping in extra pheromones.”

Fashion Finds Tailored for Men Over 6'

American Tall just launched some epic early Black Friday deals

If you’re a guy between 6' and 7'1", finding clothes that truly fit your frame can be a challenge. That’s where American Tall stands above the rest—they specialize in crafting quality clothing designed proportionally for tall bodies, ensuring a perfect fit every time. This week, they’re launching one of their biggest sales yet, offering up to 40% off hundreds of styles. Here are a few of our top picks.

Keep the peace.