Cracker Barrel’s “Bud Light” disaster just got a whole lot worse
CEO's "woke" past and DEI backstory erupts as it gets worse for the struggling brand
Hello Capitalists,
Here’s everything you need to be following today:
Cracker Barrel’s terrible week just got even worse
Trump’s Intel investment is just the beginning
Ethereum hits new All Time High before a retreat
Cadillac’s bold new direction unveiled with new “Elevated Velocity” concept
Today’s markets:
DOW: 45417.19 - (⬇️0.47%) 🔴
S&P: 6464.65 - (⬇️0.03%) 🔴
NASDAQ: 21555.17 - (⬆️0.27%) ✅
CBOE VIX Volatility Index: $14.30 (⬆️0.56%) ⚠️⬆️
“Brand Suicide” - Cracker Barrel board member’s DEI past and “woke” advertising exposed
Cracker Barrel’s board member Gilbert Davila faces backlash from conservatives over his DEI background as the chain’s new logo, stripping traditional imagery, sparks outrage for abandoning middle-America values in a bold rebrand.
Cracker Barrel board member Gilbert Davila faces criticism for DEI background - Conservative activist Robby Starbuck targeted Davila, who joined the board in 2020 and has run a DEI consulting firm for 15 years, claiming he's behind the company's shift toward "far-Left values" and away from its middle-America customer base.
Company undergoes controversial rebranding amid consumer backlash - Cracker Barrel unveiled a new logo replacing the iconic image of a man leaning on a barrel with just black text over a yellow barrel backdrop, while also modernizing restaurant interiors by ditching the traditional American aesthetic for a sleek contemporary design.
Davila's corporate diversity experience spans major companies - Before founding DMI Consulting in 2010, Davila served as vice president of global diversity at Disney (2003-2010), held multicultural management roles at Sears, and worked as a marketing director for Coca-Cola, making him "widely recognized for his multicultural market knowledge."
Watch Robby Starbuck’s deep dive into Cracker Barrel’s woke underbelly here:
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Intel investment hints at new Trump strategy to build a U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund
The U.S. government’s bold move to take a 10% stake in Intel signals a new era of federal investment in private firms, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing and economic security, White House advisor Kevin Hassett announced Monday.
Sovereign Wealth Fund: The Intel deal is part of a broader strategy to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, potentially including more companies across various industries, Hassett said. These funds are state-owned investment funds that manage a nation’s surplus reserves to generate economic benefits for its citizens.
CHIPS Act Funding: The $8.9 billion Intel stake includes CHIPS Act grants and separate allocations for secure chip production, emphasizing strategic technological advancement.
Non-Interference Policy: Hassett stressed the government will not manage company operations, citing past stakes in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as precedents.
Tariff-Driven Strategy: The move aligns with tariffs to encourage onshoring production, aiming to strengthen U.S. economic resilience, Hassett noted.
Ethereum soars to new heights on rate cut hints before retreating
Ether soared to a new record above $4,885 on August 24, 2025, after Fed Chair Powell's rate cut hints in in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, only to erase gains as bitcoin faltered.
Regulatory Tailwinds Boost Ether: Ether's recent surge is driven by favorable regulations and a boom in stablecoin interest, with Ethereum powering over half of blockchain fees.
Corporate Buying Supports ETH: New corporate accumulators like Bitmine and SharpLink bolstered ether, sustaining its $4,000 level after multiple failed attempts since 2021.
Liquidations Hit Crypto Market: Over $245 million in ether and $175 million in bitcoin long positions were liquidated in 24 hours, reflecting volatile market reactions.
Bitcoin Loses August Gains: Despite earlier highs, bitcoin's August performance is flat, contrasting with ether's 15% monthly gain as market dynamics shift.
New survey: People can’t wait to get their hand on new retirement options
Retirement savers are clamoring for private assets, with a new survey revealing strong demand for alternative investments like private equity and real estate to diversify portfolios and boost returns.
Private Assets Gain Traction: Over 60% of retirement savers show interest in private equity, real estate, and infrastructure, seeking higher returns despite higher risks and fees.
Diversification Drives Interest: Savers aim to reduce reliance on volatile stocks and bonds, with 45% citing diversification as a key reason for exploring private assets.
Regulatory Changes Enable Access: Recent executive orders, including one by President Trump, ease restrictions, allowing 401(k) plans to include private assets and cryptocurrencies.
Risks Temper Enthusiasm: Illiquidity and high costs concern 30% of savers, prompting calls for better education and fiduciary oversight to protect retirement funds.
Cadillac shoots for the stars as it drops a new gull wing EV SUV concept
Cadillac unveiled its futuristic Elevated Velocity electric crossover concept at Monterey Car Week, blending high-performance V-Series thrills with off-road prowess, hinting at the brand’s bold vision for luxury SUVs.
Innovative Driving Modes: The concept features e-Velocity for on-road precision, Terra for off-road capability, and Sand Vision for enhanced visibility in sandstorms.
Luxurious Interior Design: Morello Red leather and Cerise fabric create a wellness-focused cabin with infrared lighting and breathing-guided modes.
Advanced Technology Integration: Elements Defy system shakes off dust, while gull-wing doors and a retractable steering wheel enhance user experience.
Future Design Influence: The concept’s sleek Vapor Blue exterior and 24-inch flax-fiber wheels may shape upcoming Cadillac production models.
Dr Pepper to buy coffee giant in $18 Billion dollar acquisition
Keurig Dr Pepper will acquire Dutch coffee giant JDE Peet’s for $18 billion, aiming to dominate the global coffee market, then split into two U.S.-listed firms, the companies announced Monday.
Global Coffee Leader Formed: The acquisition combines Keurig’s single-serve expertise with JDE Peet’s brands like L’OR and Jacobs, creating a coffee powerhouse across 100+ countries.
Strategic Business Split: Post-acquisition, Keurig Dr Pepper plans to separate its beverage and coffee units into two independent companies, reversing its 2018 merger.
Significant Shareholder Value: The deal offers JDE Peet’s shareholders €31.85 per share, a 33% premium, with expected $400 million in cost synergies over three years.
Leadership Transition Planned: Tim Cofer will lead Beverage Co., while Sudhanshu Priyadarshi heads Global Coffee Co., with the split expected by mid-2026.
I find it quite amazing that in today’s time, corporations like this one are still trying to shove their woke agenda down middle America’s throat!
You would think they would have learned a lesson from watching other big corporations and name brands crash into the mountain of public opinion when going woke.. ie: Bud Light, Disney,John Deere, Target to name a few… but nope.. they would rather cater to a small minority of people in America compared to the majority of Americans who detest being force fed these ridiculous ideologies and will just quit going and supporting the companies that do so!
But maybe that’s their intent in the first place.. to purposely crash and burn the brand because someone is going short on the company’s stock.. because nothing else makes any sense!
Do you hear that Cracker Barrel, those are bugle taps playing in the background.. your rebranding just might be the death of you!
Perhaps I'm out in left field here, but I don't believe the CEO and Board of Cracker Barrel have any intent to 'save' the brand. Despite the public statements, I believe the CEO always intended to crash the plane gently, knowing that the brand was likely beyond saving when she arrived. I believe their real intention, not public, is to control the decline of the stock price and arrive in Chapter 11 in an attractive position for venture capital buyout. The attraction is liquidation of the real estate on which many CB stores sit, which past VC buyouts have shown us are a primary asset. The payoff for the C-suite and CEO is not years of employment, but generous 'golden parachute' severance packages representing years of employment compensation in a lump sum payout. The task is to guide the decline in a controlled way to avoid uncontrolled bankruptcy and immediate move to Chapter 7 liquidation for debtors.