Top five no-nonsense tips from liberal pundits for surviving the holidays with a Trump-voting family

As the smell of pine filled the air and socks were carefully hung, some liberal news outlets offered advice that was as hard to swallow as dry fruit cake. Their job? Equipping you to survive holiday debates with pro-Trump relatives.

From suggested texts that sound like hostage conversations to icebreakers better suited for therapy sessions than a fun family gathering, here are the top five ideas the media is looking for to keep your Christmas “Trump-proof.”

1. Cancel Christmas altogether

For one HuffPost contributor, Trump's election wasn't just a political revolution — it was a holiday deal breaker. Faced with learning that her husband and family voted for the former president, she decided to cancel all of Thanksgiving and Christmas. No lights, no carols, no awkward family dinners.

“But I'm not going to thank and hold hands at a rally with people who voted for a party that wants to take away the rights of LGBTQ people,” wrote guest contributor Andrea Tate. “I will not hand over a turkey to someone who supports people who have said they will harm the disabled and the elderly. I'm not going to sit by the Christmas tree celebrating the birth of Jesus and lick the egg when I know how many people can now find themselves in graves – and even death – in danger because they can't get the reproductive care they need. I will not open the gifts given to me by the people who voted for the party that talked about building camps and deporting many people.”

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2. 'The View' host agrees with advice to cut off Trump-supporting family for the holidays

After a psychologist made headlines last month arguing that people should avoid Trump-supporting relatives this holiday season, “The View” host Sunny Hostin agreed, saying many people feel that “one voted not only for their families but against them.”

Shortly after the election, chief resident in psychiatry at Yale University, Dr. Amanda Calhoun spoke with MSNBC's Joy Reid about how liberals traumatized by Trump's re-election can cope with the news, including. separation from loved ones.

“There's pressure, I think it's just a societal norm that if someone is your family, that you have a right to your time, and I think the answer is no,” Calhoun said. conversation manager. “So if you go into a situation where you have family members, where you have close friends who you know voted in ways that are against you, like what you said, against your livelihood, it's best not to be among those people and tell them why, you know, that, 'I have a problem with the way you voted. , because it's against the way I make a living and I won't be with you this holiday.'

3. Use therapy techniques to divert the conversation

If your holiday gathering sounds more like a political debate than a festive gathering, Time magazine has compiled a list of 11 carefully crafted phrases to ease family tension.

Top pick? A simple but strong declaration: “I will not talk about politics today.” Designed as a way to create a safe environment free of politics, the advice encourages setting boundaries with relatives for their objectionable views – so you can focus on what's really important.

“Insist that you want to focus on the festivities at hand, and ask for a commitment to avoid divisive topics. If the conversation ends up veering in that direction, shut it down: 'Okay, that's enough,' or, 'We're not talking about that here today,'” says the Time article.

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4. Take a break and you may leave the circle

The Associated Press has a simple solution: take a breath. Whether the conversation veers into political territory or Uncle Bob just won't let up, AP suggests you quietly remove yourself from the fray. There's no need for a dramatic exit – just a coordinated stroll to the kitchen, patio, or anywhere that isn't the battlefield of your family table.

“Things are getting tense? Lighten up. Go. And you don't have to be rowdy. Sometimes some quiet and collected time is what you – and the family – may need,” the article recommends.

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5. 'Block bad actors'

On MSNBC's hit show, author Amira Barger challenges the idea that family gatherings should remain sacred if they have different beliefs. The author does not distinguish between family members who support Trump and liberal voters.

“I have come to realize that having a blood relative does not mean that the recruits will protect you,” Barger wrote. “Finding a family isn't always about unity, or forcing yourself to stay in a place that hurts you. Sometimes, it's about clarity, and the hard choices that come with it.

“This fall, after a conversation that took more than 1,000 texts in various family group discussions, my husband and I made the difficult decision to hold a hard and fast border with my extended family, whose values ​​and votes made it clear that. and that we could not feel free when we were among them.”

He adds, “These were decisions that we didn't take lightly or hastily, but sometimes the best way, really, is to prevent bad actors.”

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Fox News Digital's Alexander Hall contributed to this report.