Mon Blogcast: KT McFarland; Is your dog lonely?; Cracker Barrel crackup
August 25, 2025
Just One Thing: Cracker Barrel crackup
Conservatives are freaking out over Cracker Barrel's new logo (and, to a lesser extent, their updated decor) calling it "woke". But what about it is woke? Can't a brand that's having trouble try something new without being accused of some underlying political malady?
This, along with the hubbub over the Minnesota Vikings adding male cheerleaders (far from the first team to do so) is the subject of my recent Substack:
The new snowflakes - by Ross Kaminsky - The Ross Report
I hope you'll read and subscribe (for free!)
One other article on the subject here; there are several linked in my Substack: Cracker Barrel Didn't 'Go Woke.' It Just Went Broke.
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Today's Guests
KT McFarland is a former Deputy National Security Advisor in President Donald Trump's first term. She's served in national security positions in multiple prior administrations. Her book published at the end of Trump's first term remains relevant today: Revolution: Trump, Washington and "We the People"
We'll talk about the Russia/Ukraine war, the situation in Gaza, and what US policy should be towards Iran.
Some links:
Russia/Ukraine:
Russia’s top diplomat joins ‘Meet the Press’ to defend actions in Ukraine - POLITICO
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 24, 2025 | Institute for the Study of War
Gaza:
With EVERY photo of a 'starving' Gazans proving fake, beware of claims of Gaza famine
They Became Symbols for Gazan Starvation. But All 12 Suffer from Other Health Problems.
Iran:
Trump Squeezes Iran As Nuclear Deadline Nears - Newsweek
Lebanon/Syria: Trump's quiet progress in Syria and Lebanon
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Chrissy Joy is a celebrity dog trainer and has trained dogs that have won US and international stunt and trick competitions. We'll discuss how to tell whether your dog suffers from loneliness or separation anxiety and what to do about it if that's the case.
More: "Dogs experiencing separation-related anxiety and needing enrichment to stay calm and confident. Separation-related anxiety is more common than people think. Up to 72.5% of dogs show at least one anxiety-related behavior (Salonen et al., 2020), with noise sensitivity, fearfulness, and more often going unnoticed until they escalate."
Chrissy Joy – Passion. – Power – Positivity
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Kyle Mills is a best-selling thriller author, including writing 9 great Mitch Rapp novels following the passing of Vince Flynn. About 20 years ago, in a novel called "Fade", Kyle introduced a character named Salam al-Fayed ("Fade" to his friends), a former Navy SEAL who is disillusioned, to say the least. Fade gets ensnared in an effort to stop a global catastrophe...although the person who threatens to unleash it doesn't see it that way. It's a fun thriller, with a very different writing style than the Mitch Rapp novels -- funnier, more light-hearted even when serious things are happening -- and presages a great series of novels centered on this interesting character.
The original: Fade - Kyle Mills
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Other Stuff
Not the most important story, and it's an old one but I just learned of it and love it, so let's start with this: Erik Brady: Remembering Salamanca's own 'Remarkable Ray Caldwell,' who brought the heat and survived the lightning | Local News | buffalonews.com
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We have ridiculous government(s) in Colorado:
In the special session of the state legislature, the Dems are proving why they should not be in power: Colorado legislature special session Day 4: Bills sent to Gov. Jared Polis
Preview of Monday: Colorado General Assembly, special session, day four: wolves, health insurance and taxes - Colorado Politics
This is the best of them and it's only half-good: Special Session Senate Bill 5 reallocates money to a state health insurance fund from money that was going to the wolf reintroduction program: D:\dist\text\005_rev.txt
SB3 is a bait-and-switch from the “healthy meals for all”, proposing increased taxes for what I call “free school lunches for middle-class and rich kids” and allowing the money be used to fill in a budgetary hole in the SNAP/food stamps program as the federal government requires states to fund some of that program rather than the feds covering all of the cost. D:\dist\text\003_rer.txt
Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to figure out how to avoid a disaster caused by their terrible AI regulation law that's supposed to take effect early next year. Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a key force behind the bad law seems to be doing everything he can to keep it on track with minimum modification though he does now seem to be willing to allow some delay in implementation. Which is good, because his law will have a lot of negative consequences for Colorado businesses (as is normally the case with Dems passing laws, especially about things they don't understand.) BUT he's not backing down from the mindless provisions of the bill that will pile outrageous requirements on any business that uses AI for just about anything. Rodriguez suspected that his bill would not get through a key committee so he removed one Republican and one likely "no" Democrat and replaced them with two obedient Dems to get Senate Bill 4 through committee. It remains unclear what happens next as far as House passage and/or governor's signature. I mean, when even Boulder Democrat Judy Amibile thinks your bill might go too far, maybe there's a message there...
And in Denver, look at where these cuts are and ask yourself why Denver was spending this money to begin with: Denver mayor defends layoffs after council member calls him "trash" - Axios Denver
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This is a TERRIBLE idea, as is all of this economic fascism (or socialism, depending on your framing) being engaged in by the Trump administration: Intel and Trump Administration Reach Historic Agreement to Accelerate American Technology and Manufacturing Leadership :: Intel Corporation (INTC)
Intel's Downfall Underlines How Even Tech Giants Can Fade - The New York Times
Opinion | The Trump-engineered government stake in Intel is a dangerous move - The Washington Post
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Imagine this: Hundreds lose water source with no warning
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I probably won't talk about this on the show but it's quite interesting: Spain Burns - FEE
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Sure does seem like lawfare and political retribution but maybe we'll find out that there is a legitimate basis for this: Exclusive | Here's why FBI raided John Bolton's home and office: 'Nothing to do with the book'
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Vele seems like he has a good future in the NFL. It's a sign of the Broncos' depth at wide receiver that he was traded: Broncos' Sean Payton explains Devaughn Vele trade to Saints as matter of numbers in WR room
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I have no idea what’s true here: Jury awards $20M to nurse fired by HCA HealthOne Aurora
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I hope this comes to Denver. And generally, I hope the government, with or without private-sector partners like CLEAR, keeps making efforts to make airport security faster and easier. Next let's make it easier to bring water or other drinks and then let's back off some of the insanity regarding small sharp objects like small Swiss Army knives.
CLEAR, TSA launch eGates at major U.S. airports ahead of 2026 World Cup
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The issue is more about voter trust than about actual fraud risk, and that's not nothing...but it's also not everything: Opinion | Why Trump’s mail-in voting criticism has some justification - The Washington Post
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Cool under fire: Houston homeowner shoots and kills two men in ski masks who turned up at home claiming to be cops
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Today's Videos
This is really more of a video of a picture than a true video but I still like it. I suppose I understand a bear going for the strawberry and I appreciate that there was bearly any cleanup necessary after the visit.
As a Van Halen fan, this just makes me sad