Thanksgiving. The most bizarre of American holidays. Turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, football, and awkward encounters with family members. Like with so much else, Donald Trump made Thanksgiving worse. The stakes of forced family time are higher than ever. Because Thanksgiving always happens a few weeks after the election, the incendiary topic of politics was avoidable. Not in the Trump era. The former President/reality TV star made politics omnipresent. From 2015-2020, most conversations — no matter the topic — ended with Donald Trump. Then, the pandemic canceled a lot of people’s Thanksgiving get-togethers. Last year, the holiday fell at Trump’s political nadir. The Republicans had just blown the election, Ron DeSantis was ascendant, and it seemed possible, if not probable, that the Trump era was ending. But this year will be different. The MAGA members of your family will be feeling themselves.

Since 2016, I’ve frequently received the question, “What should I say to my MAGA uncle/aunt/neighbor/dad?” Here are some thoughts on how to navigate Thanksgiving and any other encounters with your Trumpy relatives.

Rule #1: You Don’t Have to Engage

No rule says you MUST talk politics at the dinner table. Someone in your family (maybe you) worked really hard to put good food on the table. Some of the folks at dinner may have braved holiday traffic. It’s okay to avoid topics like politics, religion, and COVID policies. If bringing those topics up will ruin dinner, don’t do it.

If your Trumpy uncle starts spouting off about Bill Gates’ microchips, Hunter Biden’s laptop, or Barack Obama’s missing birth certificate, you are not morally obligated to correct the record. It’s OK to take a big sip of wine, turn the other cheek, and plan to make fun of them on TikTok after dinner.

The election will not be won or lost at your dinner table (unless you live in Wisconsin, then all bets are off).

Rule #2: You Won’t Persuade Your MAGA Uncle

Okay, you’ve decided to ignore rule #1. You just can’t help yourself. You’ve been watching Maddow, listening to Pod Save America, and reading Message Box for years. You know politics is important. Awkward tension and your mom’s disapproving looks will not get in the way of a necessary debate. Look, I get it. He was your favorite uncle until Donald Trump showed up on the scene, and the Fox News brainworms kicked in. You would love to guide him back to reality, and it’s easy to believe that you are just a few facts (and fact checks) away from rescuing him from the dark side. ...