The after-church crowd once flocked to Cracker Barrel for traditional, heart-stopping comfort foods like chicken fried steak, served in a setting filled with rustic, down-home décor. But Cracker Barrel seems to have forgotten who its customer base was.

The company has redesigned its interiors, stripping away much of the nostalgia and replacing it with a brighter, more modern look.

The chain also abandoned its iconic 48-year-old logo featuring a man sitting by a barrel, opting instead for a simplified design that contains neither a cracker nor a barrel. Like other companies that turned their backs on their core customers in the name of being “woke,” Cracker Barrel is learning that alienating longtime patrons doesn’t win over new ones.

The woke crowd isn’t suddenly going to start eating biscuits and gravy at a rebranded Cracker Barrel.

Longtime customer Rachel Love, whose viral TikTok sparked the controversy, said the changes stripped the restaurant of its character. Other loyal customers echoed these frustrations online, saying Cracker Barrel now feels more like a generic diner, and some vowed not to return unless older locations are preserved. Vietnam veteran Joseph Crawford added, “It takes away from heritage. When you’re 81 years old, you kind of remember the way the place started. And this has taken away from it.”

Byron Donalds declared, “No one asked for this woke rebrand” and added, “It’s time to Make Cracker Barrel Great Again,” in posts viewed over 3 million times. Activist Robby Starbuck summed up the sentiment of many critics, saying Americans are “sick of having our culture and heritage stripped from us.”

Cracker Barrel defended its rebrand, insisting that most feedback has been positive and that the remodels were based on guest input, though it acknowledged there is “a vocal minority” opposed to the changes. The company is clearly delusional because none of their original customers are going to like the changes.

The controversy has also reignited scrutiny of Cracker Barrel’s history with the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which measures workplace policies and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees. When the index debuted in 2002, Cracker Barrel received a score of zero. Later that year, the chain added “sexual orientation” to its list of protected characteristics in its employment discrimination policy. Over the next two decades, its score steadily improved, reaching 80 in 2021 after the company took several high-profile pro-LGBT positions.

This long engagement with HRC marked a dramatic shift for a brand once viewed as conservative. Although Cracker Barrel now says it has not participated in the CEI “for several years,” conservative activist Robby Starbuck points to this history as proof that the company has drifted away from the values of its traditional base.

Shares of Cracker Barrel (CBRL) tumbled more than 12% on Thursday, its steepest drop since April, before closing down over 7%. The decline erased more than $90 million in market value and reinforced the “go woke, go broke” narrative.

This easily avoidable demise of an established brand reflects a broader pattern of conservative consumers revolting against companies they see as abandoning traditional values. The most prominent example was Bud Light in 2023, when a promotion featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney sparked a boycott that wiped out roughly 24% of its sales and toppled it from its position as the nation’s top beer within just two months.

Target also faced boycotts in 2023 for selling LGBTQ-themed merchandise, including items aimed at children. The controversy led to a 5.4% drop in sales, and the company responded by pulling some products.

Disney went woke by pushing LGBTQ+ content in children’s movies, feminizing male characters, promoting anti-marriage messaging, and taking progressive political stands. The result: box office bombs like Lightyear and Strange World lost $300 million, massive boycotts tanked their stock, and they were forced into 7,000 layoffs and CEO changes.

Jaguar had an epic fail in 2024 with an ad campaign that emphasized diversity and inclusivity without showing any cars. Conservative critics mocked it as “Bud Light 2.0” and sales collapsed.  European registrations plunged 97.5% in April 2025 compared to the year before. The fallout contributed to 500 management job cuts and the early retirement of Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO.

In 2018, Levi Strauss supported gun control efforts with major philanthropic donations, and in 2023 it launched LGBTQ+ campaigns featuring gender-fluid fashion. CEO Chip Bergh admitted, “It’s inevitable that we’re going to alienate some consumers,” but insisted companies must take stands on issues that matter.

Most critics believe the real question for Cracker Barrel is whether the company can repair its bond with customers who valued its nostalgic, family-oriented identity. But a far more realistic question is whether Cracker Barrel is willing to admit it made a mistake and return to an image that preserves its core customer base. If not, this could mark the end of Cracker Barrel, because drag queens don’t eat sausage biscuits and grits.

The post Hey, Cracker Barrel! Drag Queens Don’t Eat Sausage Biscuits and Grits appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

CNN pundit Michael Smerconish argued on air that a decrease in teenagers having sex and Americans drinking alcohol is “actually bad news.”

Smerconish made the bizarre argument during a segment on Saturday.

“Back in the day, in high school, it was a function of ‘where are we going?’ not whether we’re going out,” the host began.

“I’ve gotta tell you one thing, I’ll say it quickly, don’t worry,” Smerconish continued. “It’s like the sex headline. When you see the headline that says that ‘fewer teens are having sex’ and as a parent, you say, ‘well, boy, that’s good news!’ And, similarly, fewer Americans are drinking. ‘Well, that’s good news.’ No! They’re bad.”

Smerconish explained that he thinks the decreases in underage sex and drinking is “actually bad news because it’s also representative of a decline in relationships and that’s the biggest problem this country faces!”

CNN’s Michael Smerconish says that more teens should be having sex, drinking and that it’s the biggest problem this country faces before announcing he’s on vacation next week. pic.twitter.com/5z05kMLdBZ

— Nerve News (@NerveDotNews) August 24, 2025

Nerve News reports:

Taken at face value, his line appears to valorize higher teen sexual activity and more drinking as indicators of healthier social bonds, which are formulations many Americans will find alarming. Public-health experts, parents, and child-safety advocates view the news of decreases on these fronts through a very different lens: lower teen sex and reduced alcohol consumption are usually framed as improvements in safety, education outcomes, and long-term well-being.

Smerconish has faced criticism in the past for his easy interviews with sexual predators and men accused of sexual misconduct, including Bill Cosby.

2. Bill Cosby has a history of bristling at slightly tough questioning. He does not appreciates fairness, he wants sycophancy. It should be concerning that Cosby tweeted this. If Michael did his job correctly, Cosby should have been furious, or at least not offered praise. pic.twitter.com/RxwhNLZMRI

— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 30, 2019

The interview was Cosby’s first public statement in over two years as he faced multiple sexual assault allegations and an impending trial for aggravated indecent assault. During the conversation, Cosby suggested that “racism” and revenge could be motivating factors behind the accusations.

In a 2021, Smerconish faced more criticism after he amplified a guest’s statement that “the most dangerous person in the world is a broke young and alone young man” and that society is “producing way too many of them.”

“The most dangerous person in the world, is a broke young and alone young man. And we are producing way too many of them.” @profgalloway returns to @CNN tonight in the 9pm hour to discuss – tweet me your thoughts now https://t.co/R334tL3jKh

— Michael Smerconish (@smerconish) December 29, 2021

The post WATCH: Weird CNN Host Argues That it’s ‘BAD’ Teenagers are Having Less Sex and Americans Aren’t Drinking as Much Alcohol appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

In the early hours of August 20, 2025, 17-year-old Lisa, a student from Abcoude, was fatally stabbed while cycling home from a night out in Amsterdam.

She had left the city center around 3:30 AM on her electric bike, a route she often took. Police later discovered her body near the Holterbergweg by the Johan Cruijff Arena, with stab wounds including to her neck.

Lisa noticed she was being followed and called the national emergency number, 112, for help. Dispatchers heard her screams during the call as the attack unfolded. By the time officers arrived at approximately 4:15 AM, she had succumbed to her injuries.

Authorities arrested a 22-year-old asylum seeker in connection with the murder on August 22, 2025. The suspect was residing at a COA asylum center in Amsterdam at the time. Reports indicate he may have been staying there illegally.

The asylum seeker is also suspected in a rape of another woman in Amsterdam a week before Lisa’s death.

Additionally, he has been linked to an assault on August 10, 2025, initially classified as an attempted robbery but now believed to have a sexual motive.

Police suspect there may be more victims connected to him.

At a press conference, public prosecution head René de Beukelaer stated that evidence points to the same individual for all incidents.

Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla confirmed the shift in understanding the August 10 assault. The suspect faces preliminary charges of murder and rape, with a court hearing scheduled for August 25, 2025.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema described the murder as appalling and unforgivable, announcing extra measures to enhance women’s safety.

Ouder-Amstel Mayor Susanne de Roy joined in urging witnesses to come forward. Halsema noted that women’s ability to move freely without fear is not guaranteed in society.

The case has sparked widespread outrage across the Netherlands, with public calls for mass deportations of asylum seekers.

Social media posts highlight women’s rights to safety at night. Discussions have reignited around victim blaming and the need for perpetrator accountability.

Dutch police have not disclosed the asylum seeker’s nationality. Investigations continue to explore potential additional links to other crimes.

The incident has prompted broader debates on asylum policies and public security in urban areas.

The post Netherlands: ‘Asylum Seeker’ Arrested After Brutal Murder of 17-Year-Old Lisa — Also Suspected in Rape and Assault Spree appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

In 2024, Austrian police identified approximately 336,000 crime suspects, marking a significant increase from 255,815 in 2014.

Foreign nationals accounted for 46.8 percent of these suspects, totaling around 157,000 individuals. This figure represents a record high for foreign involvement in reported crimes.

Among foreign suspects in 2024, Romanians topped the list with about 18,900 individuals identified by authorities.

Germans followed in second place with 13,600 suspects, while Syrians ranked third at 11,868. Serbs came next with 11,688, and Afghans placed eighth with 6,320 suspects.

These statistics encompass all crimes, ranging from theft to violent offenses. In 2014, foreigners made up 89,594 of the total suspects, showing a rise in their proportional involvement over the decade.

Austria’s overall population grew to 9.2 million by January 2025, with non-Austrian citizens numbering 1.86 million, or about 20 percent.

Knife-related incidents, including stabbings and threats, reached 2,596 cases in 2024, up from 1,996 in 2014. This marked the highest level in the observed period. By contrast, firearm crimes declined sharply from 672 in 2014 to 352 in 2024.

Vienna reported the most knife incidents in 2024 at 1,121 cases. Upper Austria followed with 345, Styria with 274, and Lower Austria with 273. Burgenland had the fewest at 44, while Carinthia recorded 90.

As of January 1, 2025, Austria’s prisons held 5,121 foreign nationals and 4,536 Austrians. Foreigners comprised over half of the inmate population, despite representing roughly 20 percent of residents. By July 2025, the foreign share stood at 52.8 percent.

Immigration trends show Austria received 93,000 new long-term immigrants in 2022, a 22 percent increase from 2021.

In 2023, foreign suspects numbered 150,500, or 46 percent of total suspects. Germans formed the largest non-citizen group at 239,500 as of early 2025.

Austria’s homicide rate remained low at 0.97 per 100,000 in 2018, reflecting broader safety trends amid rising suspect numbers.

Judicial convictions provide further insight into criminal justice outcomes. These data exclude unreported cases, which may affect overall assessments.

These figures paint a stark picture of Austria’s evolving security challenges amid rising immigration. Foreign nationals, though a minority of the population, now dominate prison cells and suspect lists.

As knife crimes surge in urban hubs like Vienna, policymakers face mounting pressure to prioritize public safety over open-door approaches.

The post Foreign Nationals Now Make Up Majority of Austria’s Prison Population as Knife Crime Hits Record High appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Lady Lynn Forrester de Rothschild steps into the spotlight.

The two-day interview of Ghislaine Maxwell with the DOJ continues generating headlines.

After the complete audio recordings and transcriptions of the interviews have been released, many nuggets of information have called the attention of the press and the public, including the relationship between the late convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein and a world-famous British-American philanthropist.

Did you know that Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, co-owner of and member of the Board of Directors of THE ECONOMIST magazine was close to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell? pic.twitter.com/PLdHw5Fikb

— Robin Monotti (@robinmonotti) June 13, 2025

During questioning by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Ghislaine Maxwell denied introducing Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein, and said the two of them met for the first time at the holiday home Lady Lynn Forrester de Rothschild.

The Telegraph reported:

“’First of all, let’s just state, I did not introduce him [Epstein] to Prince Andrew. I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew or to Sarah Ferguson. That is a flat untruth. I’ll start with that’, Maxwell said over nine hours of interviews over two days in July.”

Lady de Rothschild was born in New Jersey, and is a telecommunications businesswoman turned investor, today chairing EL Rothschild, a wealth management firm which has The Economist Group in its portfolio.

“’She had a house or she rented a house in the Vineyard. I think it was in the Vineyard or Nantucket, I can’t remember now which one it was’, Maxwell told Todd Blanche, deputy attorney-general and a former personal lawyer for Donald Trump.

‘It was one of those. It was either in Nantucket or the Vineyard, and invited Epstein to go, and I believe that’s when he met Prince Andrew’.”

This mention of Lady Rothschild is not in the least surprising, since we’ve known for some time that she was also the one who introduced Epstein to lawyer Alan Dershowitz:

Alan Dershowitz says he was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein by “Lady and Lord Rothschild”. pic.twitter.com/fQKoSMZ4Ei

— el_oso (@LopezMotorsCars) July 19, 2025

She was a donor to both Bill and Hillary Clinton’s political campaigns, and documents show she also mentioned Epstein to Clinton when he was president.

“Her spokesman has previously firmly denied claims that Epstein gave her financial help after a divorce from politician Andrew Stein.

‘One hundred percent false’, the spokesman told Vanity Fair in 2019.

Lady de Rothschild’s third marriage was to British financier and philanthropist Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, a scion of the famous banking family, who died in 2022, aged 91.”

Read more:

Breaking: DOJ Releases Audios of Two-Day Interview With Ghislaine Maxwell – Confirms Trump ‘Never’ Acted Inappropriately (LISTEN TO IT)

The post Ghislaine Maxwell Says Lady Rothschild Introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein – Philanthropist Also Introduced Disgraced Financier to Alan Dershowitz and Bill Clinton appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.