The pardon of fictional tribal leader Gabriel Lesseur discussed in the episode is most likely a reference to Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who was convicted of the murder of two FBI agents during a conflict at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975. His story is recounted in the 1992 documentary, Incident at Oglala.
The Afro-American is a prominent publication.
Exterior shots for the mall where Toby meets Joey Lucas are filmed at the Northridge Mall in Northridge, CA
Jed and Abby return to the White House early from a performance of Turandot, with Jed complaining it wasn't for him. The most famous aria in all of opera - 'Nessun Dorma' - opens the third act of Turandot. Jed either didn't know this (or he would have stuck around for that at least) or it was a terrible production.
"Grand Rapids Mall" is not a real location in Grand Rapids, MI.