Thanksgiving 2015: How to Sound Smart at Thanksgiving Dinner

— -- Thanksgiving dinner is around the corner, and you know what that means: awkward conversations with long distance-relatives you haven't seen since last year and heated arguments with that aunt whose loud opinions make you cringe.

So, here's our cheat sheet to breaking the ice with unfamiliar faces and to sounding smart at the annual dinner table debate. We've rounded up the most talked about current events, the latest in entertainment and other shocking or fun news gems to keep the conversation going:

Police Shootings and Black Lives Matter Protests

Protests against the police shooting deaths of a number of African Americans have erupted nationwide over the past year, but tensions have recently been particularly high in Chicago and Minneapolis.

After over a year of local Black Lives Matter protests calling for justice and transparency, the City of Chicago recently released dash cam footage from last year showing Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke allegedly shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times, leading to his death.

Police have said McDonald refused to drop a knife when ordered to do so by officers, but protesters have accused Van Dyke of using excessive force because he shot McDonald even after he had fallen to the ground, with a total of 16 shots in 14 to 15 seconds, according to authorities.

Van Dyke was charged on Tuesday with first-degree murder, as protesters continue to take to the streets.

In Minneapolis, several men have been taken into custody after five protesters were shot at a protest against the police killing of 24-year-old Jamar Clark.

Authorities have said that Clark was shot in the head during a struggle with police after he interfered with paramedics who were trying to assist an assault victim, but some people who said they saw the shooting have alleged that Clark was handcuffed when he was shot.

An independent investigation is currently being conducted by the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

University of Missouri Protests Against Racism Sparks Nationwide Protests by College Students

The former president of Mizzou, Tim Wolfe, recently resigned after a series of protests, including a hunger strike and football team strike, called for change after complaints of racism on campus.

Students at other schools, including Yale, Princeton, Smith College, Claremont McKenna College and Ithaca College have since similarly protested against similar complaints of racism.

The hashtag #BlackOnCampus recently trended on Twitter and revealed the everyday racism that students of color said they faced.

Paris Terror Attacks

On Friday, Nov. 13, ISIS claimed responsibility for the series of attacks in Paris that left at least 130 dead and over 350 injured. Though the alleged mastermind was recently confirmed dead, a manhunt continues for other suspects involved.

There are fears of possible "copycat attacks," and ISIS has threatened Washington, D.C., and New York City.

The attacks have also sparked a debate over "selective grieving," with some criticizing many, including Facebook, for their response to the Paris attacks compared to that for similar, previous attacks this past year in Beirut, Lebanon; Sinai, Egypt and Garissa, Kenya.

Syrian Refugees

Over half of the U.S. governors have said that they no longer will accept Syrian refugees into their states following security concerns stemming from the Paris attacks. On the other hand, French President Hollande said the country will continue to honor a commitment to accepting migrants and refugees.

Those who want to limit Syrian refugees coming into the U.S. cite security concerns, while those who support allowing refugees, including President Obama, argue that such concerns are "based on hysteria or an exaggeration of risks" and are a form of racial profiling.

Get the facts about Syrian refugees in the U.S. here.

The 2016 US Presidential Election

There are currently three Democratic candidates and 14 Republican candidates.

Donald Trump and Ben Carson are the front-runners for the Republican Party, while Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are leading the race for the Democratic nomination.

Here's a quick summary of each of the candidates in less than a minute.

Adele

"Hello? ... Can you hear me?"

Yes, loud and clear, apparently. The 10-time Grammy Award winner now holds the record for the most albums sold in a week.

According to Billboard, "25" has already sold more than 2.4 million copies since last Friday. That beats the record set by 'NSync in 2000 with the band's album "No Strings Attached."

Adele also broke the Taylor Swift's previous Vevo record for single-day views. The music video for "Hello" was viewed 27.7 million times in 24 hours, beating "Bad Blood," which was watched 20.1 million times in 24 hours.

'Dancing With the Stars': And the Winner Is...

Bindi Irwin!

The 17-year-old daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter has been a strong fan favorite since the season began in September.

Her dance tribute to her father, Steve Irwin, melted the hearts of "DWTS" viewers and the Internet back in October.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

The hype for the movie set to hit theaters Dec. 18 has not let up since the trailer was first released in April.

Movie secrets were recently revealed during this past Monday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show, a cappella group Pentatonix recently paid tribute to the series at the American Music Awards (AMAs) and a terminally ill man recently fulfilled his wish to see the latest film early before passing away.

Medical Marvels: Severely Burned Firefighter's Face Transplant Journey and Cancer-Stricken Infant Begins Responding to Treatment After Kiss From Pope

Pat Hardison, a former volunteer firefighter who received the most extensive face transplant ever performed, was given a hero’s welcome when he returned home Sunday night to Senatobia, Mississippi, where he was greeted by hundreds of cheering friends and family. Learn more about his incredible story covered by ABC News' Nightline here.

Separately, an infant battling brain cancer, who famously was kissed by Pope Francis during the pontiff's historic visit to the U.S. this year, now responding to treatment, according to her parents.

Homer Pugalicious the Pug Is Taking Instagram by Storm

If all else fails at Thanksgiving dinner, just whip out these adorable photos of Homer Pugalicious, an Insta-famous dog, who will steal your heart with his crazy costumes.