With Thanksgiving around the corner, the team at Action Network ran a survey to discover:
- Which are the top conversations to avoid this Thanksgiving.
- Who is the last on the invite list for Thanksgiving dinner.
Diving into the results from Tennessee, here are the Topics Most Likely to Disrupt Thanksgiving Dinner in Tennessee
The top culprits for Thanksgiving dinner drama are political debates and old grudges (35% each), followed by parenting critiques (25%) and uneven cooking or cleanup help (23%), while dietary disputes and sports betting rank much lower at 6% or less.
Which of the following family feuds or issues would most likely ruin your Thanksgiving dinner? (Tick all that apply) Tennessee – TN Old grudges resurfacing 35% Political debates 35% Parenting advice or critiques 25% Uneven cooking or cleanup help 23% Rivalry over careers or money 21% Criticizing kids’ behavior 21% Questions about relationship status 15% Arguing over which sports game to watch 8% Clashing over favorite sports teams 8% Disputes over who hosts next year 8% Dietary conflicts 6% Frustration from a lost sports bet 2%
Who’s NOT Welcome at the Table in Tennessee?
Ex-partners top the list of unwelcome Thanksgiving guests at 35%, followed by bosses or colleagues (27%) and siblings/neighbors (21% each), while uncles/aunts, in-laws and nieces/nephews are less likely to be avoided, at 6% or less.
Who is/are the last person/people you would want at your Thanksgiving dinner? (Tick all that apply) Tennessee – TN Ex-partners 35% Boss/Colleagues 27% Siblings 21% Neighbors 21% Parents 13% Cousins 10% Friends 8% Uncles/Aunts 6% In-laws 6% Nieces/Nephews 4%
Over 42% of American’s Don’t Want to Talk Politics this Thanksgiving
For countless households, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without gathering around the TV to watch football with family and friends. To get a closer look at how Americans are celebrating this year, Action Network surveyed 2,000 people about their holiday traditions, family dynamics, and even the topics that can spark tension at the dinner table.
Topics Most Likely to Derail Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving is meant to be a day of gratitude and connection, but certain conversations can quickly change the mood. According to our survey:
- Politics is the most dreaded topic, with 42.2% of Americans hoping it stays off the table.
- Old grudges come in a close second, with 40.4% saying they could put a damper on the day.
- Sports disagreements aren’t far behind—8.9% expect arguments over which game to watch, and 8.2% worry about tensions over team rivalries.
| Which of the following family feuds or issues are most likely to ruin your Thanksgiving dinner? (Select all that apply) | % of participants |
| Political debates | 42.2% |
| Old grudges resurfacing | 40.4% |
| Criticizing kids’ behavior | 21.9% |
| Parenting advice or critiques | 20.2% |
| Uneven cooking or cleanup help | 17.0% |
| Rivalry over careers or money | 16.7% |
| Questions about relationship status | 14.3% |
| Arguing over which sports game to watch | 8.9% |
| Dietary conflicts | 8.6% |
| Clashing over favorite sports teams | 8.2% |
| Frustration from a lost sports bet | 6.9% |
| Disputes over who hosts next year | 5.6% |
Who’s Getting an Invite? (And Who’s Not)
When asked who’s least likely to be welcomed to Thanksgiving dinner, the usual suspects came out on top—but there were a few surprises:
- Ex-partners claimed the #1 spot, with 39.4% of respondents saying they’d be last on the invite list.
- Bosses and colleagues came in second, with 28% of Americans leaving work relationships off their holiday plans.
- Parents raised some eyebrows, with over 22% saying their own parents would be last on their guest list, compared to just 15.3% who said the same about their in-laws.
- On the brighter side, grandparents seem to be the most cherished, with only 11% of respondents saying they’d be a last priority.
| Who is/are the last person or people you would want at your Thanksgiving dinner? (Select all that apply) | % of participants |
| Ex-partners | 39.4% |
| Boss/Colleagues | 28.0% |
| Siblings | 21.7% |
| Parents | 20.2% |
| Friends | 18.5% |
| Neighbors | 17.3% |
| In-laws | 15.3% |
| Cousins | 14.7% |
| Uncles/Aunts | 14.0% |
| Nieces/Nephews | 13.8% |
| Grandparents | 11.2% |
For more information, please find the onsite blog here: https://www.actionnetwork.com/general/1-in-10-prioritize-nfl-over-thanksgiving
