Cracker Barrel's botched rebranding effort

In a discussion held on August 27, 2025, the backlash against Cracker Barrel's new logo became a topic of interest. The controversy, according to Christopher F. Rufo, exposed a clear drift in corporations towards DEI, Pride, and race politics.

Rufo, a well-known conservative commentator, suggests that corporations often follow media narratives and that consumer reaction can significantly change corporate behavior. This theory seems to hold true in the case of Cracker Barrel, as after conservative activists highlighted the shift, the company reversed course, leading to a selloff that knocked its stock down as much as 17 percent.

Meanwhile, across the country in New York City, a pro-Palestinian radical demonstration took place in August 2025. Organised by the group Palestine Action, the protest saw a demonstrator waving a Hezbollah flag and likely vandalism of a monument in Morningside Park. The protest was the latest in a string of disruptive events spearheaded by this group, which remains in the shadows as it is not a registered nonprofit.

In contrast, positive news comes from San Francisco. Crime is down 27% year-over-year, and tent encampments are down 85% since the pandemic. This year, 57% of poll respondents said that the quality of life in San Francisco was excellent or good, a significant increase from last year's 39%.

The significant contributions of Republicans to San Francisco's turnaround have largely been ignored. However, it's important to note that these efforts have played a crucial role in the city's improvement.

Moreover, President Trump's May 12 executive order aims at foreign countries that impose price controls on pharmaceuticals. Burke Smith argues that the price-control policies outlined in the order may be impossible to implement properly and could make life-saving medicine costlier. Smith suggests that the Trump administration would be better served by using diplomacy to export a market-based approach instead of importing socialist price control mechanisms.

In conclusion, while controversial events such as the Cracker Barrel logo change and the pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York City grab headlines, it's essential to remember the positive strides being made in other areas, like San Francisco's crime reduction and quality of life improvements. The debate over price controls in pharmaceuticals also continues to be a hot topic, with experts offering differing opinions on the best course of action.