The FBI broadens its investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination, New York mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani scores a major endorsement, and the White House threatens Brazil after its Supreme Court sentences the “Trump of the Tropics.”
It’s Tuesday, September 16, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="FBI Expands Kirk Case &amp; Hochul Endorses Mamdani" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pzEkbjmerVg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fbi-expands-kirk-case-hochul-endorses-mamdani-9-16-25/id1576594336?i=1000727020556" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;">FBI Probes Larger Plot In Kirk Assassination</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-972675 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Kirk-Probe-Widens-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Kirk-Probe-Widens-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Kirk-Probe-Widens-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Kirk-Probe-Widens-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Kirk-Probe-Widens-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Kirk-Probe-Widens.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></div>
Topline: As conservatives rally following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the FBI says it’s investigating radical left-wing groups for potential ties to the killer. 
Among those being investigated is the far-left pro-transgender group Armed Queers Salt Lake City. It deleted its Instagram account shortly after the shooting, but a membership form online listed its core principles, which included “the armed and militant protection of queer and trans communities,” “trans liberation,” and an “organized revolutionary movement.”
The Bureau is also investigating a number of social media accounts that seemingly displayed foreknowledge of the assassination. In one instance, a leftist X user wrote a week before Kirk’s killing: “it’d be funny if someone like Charlie Kirk got shot on September 10th.” According to FBI Director Kash Patel, suspected assassin Tyler Robinson told at least one person beforehand what he planned on doing.
What they’re saying: White House Deputy Chief Stephen Miller vowed to channel his “righteous anger” to go after “networks” of leftists in a special edition of The Charlie Kirk Show hosted by Vice President JD Vance on Monday.
“It is a vast domestic terror movement, and with God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have&#8230; throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these networks&#8230; and we will do it in Charlie’s name,” Miller <a href="https://x.com/avaricum777/status/1967627688711250054">said</a>.
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Establishment Dems Begin To Fall In Line With Mamdani</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-972677 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Hochul-Backs-Mamdani-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Hochul-Backs-Mamdani-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Hochul-Backs-Mamdani-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Hochul-Backs-Mamdani-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Hochul-Backs-Mamdani-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Hochul-Backs-Mamdani.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></div>
Topline: New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed far-left NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a sign that the Democratic Party establishment is moving behind the 33-year-old radical.
Hochul notably kept her distance from him during the New York City mayoral primary – Mamdani is an open democratic socialist and has some extremely far-left ideas, including the establishment of <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/05/us-news/socialist-nyc-mayoral-candidates-city-run-supermarket-plan-under-fire/">government-run grocery stores</a>. But Hochul’s flip could draw other prominent Democratic leaders into Mamdani’s camp.
Hochul said in an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/opinion/hochul-endorsement-mamdani.html">op-ed</a> in The New York Times that she’s backing Mamdani because of his focus on “affordability” and resisting President Donald Trump.
Step back: Mamdani is favored to be New York City’s next mayor, barring some major shakeup – so Hochul will likely have to work with him. She is also running for re-election in 2026, but is so disliked by folks in the NYC suburbs and most of upstate New York that some politicos <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/14/us-news/ny-gov-kathy-hochul-expected-to-endorse-zohran-mamdani-this-week-sources/">believe</a> she’s trying to lean harder on the urban vote, where Mamdani has strong support.
Trump weighs in: On the heels of Hochul’s endorsement, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115207991871277413">labeled</a> Mamdani the “‘Liddle’ Communist” and described his frontrunner status as a “rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City.”
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Lengthy Prison Sentence For Jair Bolsonaro Strains U.S.-Brazil Relations</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-972679 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Of-The-Tropics-Convicted-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Of-The-Tropics-Convicted-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Of-The-Tropics-Convicted-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Of-The-Tropics-Convicted-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Of-The-Tropics-Convicted-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Of-The-Tropics-Convicted.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></div>
Topline: After a two-week public trial, Brazil’s five Supreme Court justices sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison after he was found guilty of an attempted coup. The Trump administration is now threatening severe consequences.
Expert opines: Andres Martinez-Fernandez, senior policy analyst for Latin America at The Heritage Foundation: “This is a case which has a lot of question marks around it, and particularly with this sentencing, which is dramatic, over 25 years, for this person who just a few years ago was occupying the top office in Brazil, is very controversial at the moment. So a lot of Congress in Brazil and others are exploring very actively the need to take action to bypass this sentencing.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in response to the ruling that the United States would “respond accordingly to this witch hunt.”
Martinez-Fernandez: “There&#8217;s a disconnect, I think, that a lot of people see, and this administration certainly sees, between the pursuit of justice and the political priorities that we see the supreme court in Brazil pursuing … and that’s what the administration is really seeking to counter, leveraging the United States&#8217; economic heft and influence in that country. But, it&#8217;s clearly going to be a very significant challenge here.”

Morning Brief: Kirk Probe Expands, Hochul Backs Socialist Mamdani & U.S. Rips Bolsonaro Sentence

Morning Brief: FBI’s Kirk Probe Widens, Hochul Backs Mamdani, U.S. Rips Bolsonaro Prison Sentence

Brazil

Charlie Kirk

Jair Bolsonaro

Kathy Hochul

Marco Rubio

Media

Morning Wire

New York City

Politics

United States

Zohran Mamdani

The women of “The View” are known for delusional takes, but when it came to discussing the assassination of Charlie Kirk, they displayed a remarkable amount of restraint and introspection, for once.
Panelist Whoopi Goldberg began by calling the shooting “beyond devastating.”
“Our hearts, of course, go out to the family of Charlie Kirk,” she added, praising “politicians from both sides of the aisle” who spoke out “against the violence” and “urged Americans to come together” in the wake of the tragedy.
“Isn’t a fundamental part of being an American is that we’re able to express our opinions to each other without fear and this kind of horror happening?” Goldberg went on. “It seems to be something we’ve been seeing more and more of. It’s not even Left or Right. It’s just people being taken out because of their beliefs or their thoughts.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Some of what The View had to say about Charlie Kirk&#8217;s assassination:
ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: I hope it doesn&#8217;t have a chilling effect whether you&#8217;re left or right on your ability to speak your mind. I know the one thing we all agree about on this table, we all share our… <a href="https://t.co/i7eNIuMfx7">pic.twitter.com/i7eNIuMfx7</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/1966168993850446087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Regardless of your politics, we’ve got to get to a place in this country where we see people we disagree with not as our enemies, but as fellow Americans with different viewpoints that we need to engage,” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin chimed in.
She said Kirk was an “incredibly influential young activist on the Right” and that his death “is going to hit young Republicans really hard because he made them feel like when they were the lone conservative voice on campus, one of the only Republicans, that it was okay to speak up and say their viewpoints.”
Sarah Haines said, &#8220;He&#8217;d talk to people openly, who disagreed. So the irony of being violently killed while saying those words of what we need more of in this country, I know all of us agree on that part. There&#8217;s never a place for political violence.&#8221;
The tone of all the panelists was somber as they discussed the assassination.
“I can’t believe that someone would kill another person because they were speaking their beliefs. This is antithetical to who we are as Americans. The First Amendment is the First Amendment for a reason. We should be able to voice whatever opinions we have,” Sunny Hostin chimed in.
Goldberg ended the segment with instructions for viewers going forward. 
“All the things we’ve seen — the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the aggressiveness when they went after Paul Pelosi, the couple in Minnesota — this is not the way we do it,” she said. “We say this every time, but, somehow, it’s not resonating, and I hope that young Republicans never forget that they have voice. They have a voice. We all have voices. We should never ever be afraid. It’s beyond, beyond. And Charlie Kirk’s assassin is still at large.”

Whoopi Goldberg

‘The View’ Reacts To Charlie Kirk Assassination: ‘Antithetical To Who We Are As Americans’

'The View' Reacts To Charlie Kirk Assassination: 'Antithetical To Who We Are As Americans'

assassination

Entertainment

Television

The View

The transgender-identifying comic book creator who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death on social media will no longer be producing work for DC Comics, the entertainment company has announced.
The mature readers comic series “Red Hood,” a Batman spinoff project, was written by Gretchen Felker-Martin and had artwork by Jeff Spokes. The first book launched on the same day Kirk was murdered, September 10. 
Felker-Martin’s account on Bluesky is currently suspended, but other users took screenshots to capture his vile reactions. When reports first came in that Kirk was shot, the comic book creator <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/soupytoasterson.bsky.social/post/3lyk4wfhtgk2r">wrote</a>, “Thoughts and prayers you Nazi b****.”
“Hope the bullet’s okay after touching Charlie Kirk,” a follow-up post said.
“The job market is grim, but there’s a silver lining: Gavin Newsom needs a new co-host for his podcast,” Felker-Martin wrote in a third post, referencing a time Kirk and Newsom filmed a podcast episode together.
This prompted DC to cancel the next two planned installments of “Red Hood” and offer retailers reimbursement for any unsold copies of the first issue.
In a statement to io9, DC said it places “the highest value on our creators and community and affirm the right to peaceful, individual expression of personal viewpoints. Posts or public comments that can be viewed as promoting hostility or violence are inconsistent with DC’s standards of conduct,” per <a href="https://gizmodo.com/dc-ends-red-hood-comic-after-writers-charlie-kirk-comments-2000657517">Gizmodo</a>.
This isn’t the first time the trans-identifying man celebrated violence. Referring to anti-trans activist J.K. Rowling, Felker-Martin previously <a href="https://www.them.us/story/bluesky-moderation-suspension-jk-rowling-jessie-earl">wrote</a> on Bluesky, “I hope someone splits her skull,&#8221; earning himself a temporary suspension for violation of policies.
In 2022, Felker-Martin made <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/04/22/writer-gretchen-felker-martin-under-fire-for-killing-j-k-rowling-in-novel/">headlines</a> for releasing the novel “Manhunt,” which included a storyline about burning Rowling alive. He described the book as a, “depraved psychosexual horrorshow.”
Other media personalities were also penalized for their reactions to Kirk’s assassination. Middle Tennessee State University terminated an employee following what the university president described as “inappropriate and callous” comments made on social media.
In a statement released late Wednesday night, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee confirmed that the employee was let go.
“This employee has been fired effective immediately,” McPhee stated. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the Kirk family.”
MSNBC also severed ties with Matt Dowd for his reaction to the tragedy.
“Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” Dowd said during an appearance on “Katy Tur Reports” just after the shooting. “You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and then not expect awful actions to take place.”
Dowd added, “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration. So we have no idea about this.”
MSNBC apologized for his remarks, with network president Rebecca Kutler calling the comments “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable” in a statement posted to social media.
“We apologize for his statements, as has he,” Kutler wrote. “There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”

DC Comics

DC Comics Cancels Batman Spinoff Series After Creator Celebrates Charlie Kirk’s Murder

Comic Books

DC Studios

General

Transgender

U.S.

After scrapping their logo redesign due to public outcry, Cracker Barrel is now also backtracking on their planned restaurant renovations, too.
The company made the announcement via social media.
“You’ve shared your voices in recent weeks not just on our logo, but also on our restaurants,” a <a href="https://x.com/CrackerBarrel/status/1965424119660323068">statement</a> posted to X said. “We’re continuing to listen. Today, we’re suspending our remodels. If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t need to worry, it won’t be. With our recent announcement that our ‘Old Timer’ logo will remain, along with our bigger focus in the kitchen and on your plate, we hope that today’s step reinforces that we hear you.”
This caving to public outcry came not long after the company decided to scrap their pricey, much maligned logo overhaul and reinstate their “Old Timer” mascot back to his place beside the barrel. This decision was made after company stock prices plummeted and social media buzzed with criticism.
The company’s board, led by CEO Julie Felss Masino, ignored warning signs and criticism for months ahead of the announcement that they were ditching the old logo and giving stores a more modern look. Cracker Barrel previously abandoned the new logo in late August.
“We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our ‘Old Timer’ will remain,” the company said in a statement, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cracker-barrel-caves-old-country-store-to-bring-back-old-logo-after-blowback?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Cracker+Barrel+Caves%3A+%E2%80%98Old+Country+Store%E2%80%99+To+Bring+Back+Old+Logo+After+Blowback">reported</a>.
“At Cracker Barrel, it’s always been – and always will be – about serving up delicious food, warm welcomes, and the kind of country hospitality that feels like family. As a proud American institution, our 70,000 hardworking employees look forward to welcoming you to our table soon,” the statement concluded.
The logo reversal came just hours after President Trump suggested it. “Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before,” the president shared on Truth Social at the time.
“They got a Billion Dollars worth of free publicity if they play their cards right. Very tricky to do, but a great opportunity. Have a major News Conference today. Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again. Remember, in just a short period of time I made the United States of America the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World. One year ago, it was ‘DEAD.’ Good luck!” the president said.

Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel Caves Again, Scraps Plans For Restaurant Remodels

Business

Food

restaurants

The city of Austin just introduced a new logo, and based on the response so far, they may have really jumped the Cracker Barrel with this one.
Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax unveiled the newly designed logo for the city at a press conference on Thursday morning. “For the first time in Austin’s history, we will have a logo to represent the city services and unify us as one organization, one Austin,” the city employee said, <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/austin-unveils-new-city-brand-logo-redesign/">per</a> local NBC affiliate KXAN.
The entire project, including payments for brand vendors and a public awareness campaign, cost taxpayers more than $1.1 million.
The original logos for Austin had many symbolic elements, while the new one is incredibly simplified by comparison. This led to a lot of negative comments online from people who believe the redesign is a downgrade.
“Austin drops $1.1M taxpayer dollars on a logo redesign while claiming &#8216;efficiency&#8217; – peak bureaucratic delusion. Residents rightly call it insane…” one commenter on X wrote.
“This rebranding circus started in 2018 under previous leadership, proving establishment politicians always prioritize optics over substance. That million could&#8217;ve repaired roads, bolstered emergency services, or provided tax relief. Instead, Austinites get abstract squiggles representing &#8216;movement&#8217; while their infrastructure crumbles. Classic government waste: invent problems to justify self-serving spending sprees.”
Another commenter said, “It&#8217;s okay, but it looks like a corporate logo. The drawback for me is that it looks like a box of girl scout cookies. It does not make me think of Austin or Texas and they could have drawn from a number of things that would exemplify this specific city.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It&#8217;s okay, but it looks like a corporate logo. The drawback for me is that it looks like a box of girl scout cookies. It does not make me think of Austin or Texas and they could have drawn from a number of things that would exemplify this specific city. <a href="https://t.co/jw9LGpucKL">pic.twitter.com/jw9LGpucKL</a>
— Jack Salmon (@seamonkey10) <a href="https://twitter.com/seamonkey10/status/1963845599691731438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I’m starting to think these expensive rebrands are actually some form of money laundering,” a third person <a href="https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1963783932203454662">wrote</a>, referencing the viral Cracker Barrel rebrand fiasco.
Broadnax said during the press conference that he was “glad to champion” the redesign because “there is a very real business need for a unified brand.”
He also mentioned that Austin has more than 300 logos used in different departments, which is why the single unified logo was created.
“We want our community members to be able to identify members of our team as city of Austin employees and trust the services we provide, whether they see the brand on a website, a utility bill, a street sign, or the side of a vehicle, they’ll know exactly who it’s from and what it stands for,” Broadnax said.
“Austinites told us that they value and appreciate their interaction with city staff, but they also want a modern government that reflects the community’s values and is consistent, connected, and responsive across departments and services, and that’s what this brand does.”

Austin rebrand

City Of Austin Mocked Over $1.1M Rebrand, New Logo: ‘Looks Like A Box Of Girl Scout Cookies’

Austin

Texas

Actress Robin Wright, best known for starring in cult classic films like “The Princess Bride” and “Forrest Gump,” as well as the Netflix series “House of Cards,” said she fled the United States in favor of life in the United Kingdom.
The 59-year-old star also described America as a “sh** show.”
“It’s liberating to be done,” Wright told The <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/celebrity/article/robin-wright-parenting-with-sean-penn-moving-to-england-and-my-new-man-gztccccv0">Times of London</a>. “Be done with searching, looking and getting 60% of what you wanted.”
“I love being in this country,” the Texas native said of moving to the coast of England. “There’s a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They’re living. They’re not in the car in traffic, panicked on a phone call, eating a sandwich. That’s most of America. Everything’s rush, competition and speed.”
The Golden Globe winner added, “Everyone’s building a huge house, and I’m just done with all that — I love the quiet. And I’ve met my person. Finally.”
Wright, who has been married three times before, moved to the U.K. with her current boyfriend, architect Henry Smith. The actress was married to outspoken leftist activist Sean Penn from 1996 until 2010.
She is one of several celebrities to leave the United States since Trump was elected president. Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Rosie O’Donnell, and Richard Gere are just some of the stars to leave. 
While Wright didn’t mention politics specifically while discussing her departure from the U.S., other celebrities were more explicit about their reason for leaving.
“We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in,’” comedian Degeneres <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ellen-degeneres-confirms-rumor-she-moved-to-united-kingdom-because-of-trump">said</a> of moving away permanently post-election. “And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here.’”
O’Donnell said she moved to Ireland to protect her trans-identifying child. 
“I miss many things about life there at home, and I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country,” the comedian said after her move overseas earlier this year. “And when, you know, it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back. It’s been heartbreaking to see what’s happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know,” she added.

Robin Wright

‘House Of Cards’ Star Becomes Latest Celeb To Ditch U.S., Calls America A ‘Sh** Show’

Actress Robin Wright Becomes Latest Celeb To Flee U.S., Calls America A 'Sh** Show'

Celebrities

United Kingdom

George Carlin had his seven words you can’t say on TV, but today there is only one ineffable (un-sayable) word in American public life. You all know what it is. That one-word ban is due to the unique history and politics of the United States.
Are there any ineffable political beliefs?
In America, not yet. The Constitution’s First Amendment allows us to speak our minds. Other than calling for violent overthrow of the government or the immediate commission of a crime, we can say what we want. That includes bizarre, unpleasant, or even insane beliefs.
But in Australia, Canada, and Europe, free speech on asylum, migration, and national identity is increasingly being curtailed by law.
Western countries are undergoing massive, and often unpopular, demographic change. In democracies, the people have the right to discuss all political issues and decide what their own future should be. Yet increasingly, speech is prescribed, especially in the English-speaking world.
The news site Axios recently <a href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-0229ba50-fb70-47e4-924a-ed4b931d1c13.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top">wrote</a> that &#8220;[i]n MAGA&#8217;s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy and traditional gender roles.&#8221; Axios is clearly trying to be critical here, but what’s their issue?
I’d substitute the race-baiting term “white” with the more accurate “European,” and add something about free markets and free speech, but Axios describes exactly why millions flee the Third World and what they&#8217;re coming to. But as Western countries absorb those millions, the rules on what speech and conduct is acceptable are changing to accommodate them, with government complicity.
As popular dissent grows, opposing the progressive establishment’s insistence that migration is an unalloyed good is increasingly risky. Being a nationalist, meaning putting your nation first. Calling to limit all — not just illegal — migration. Criticizing over-generous and easily-gamed asylum systems.
Advocating for indigenous rights for Europeans. Citing official <a href="https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/german-politician-convicted-for-sharing-migrant-crime-stats/">statistics</a> that show nationals of some countries commit violent crime at rates many times that of natives. Citing <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/14/britain-pay-for-costs-low-skilled-migration-for-generations/">studies</a> that show low-skilled migrants actually take more in benefits from the fiscal pot over their lifetime than they put in. All these can land one in hot water in some supposedly free countries that are close U.S. allies.
The most toxic topic is the war in the Middle East, which has little connection to the lives of everyday Westerners but inspires demonstrations from <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/13/1224641296/gaza-dc-march-ceasefire-israel-protest">Washington</a>, D.C. to <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/570172/watch-pro-palestinian-protests-across-country-call-on-government-to-sanction-israel">Wellington</a>, NZ.
A two-tier attitude to free speech is rapidly developing across the Anglophone world, where provocative behavior is tolerated from supporters of Palestinians that would have been unimaginable only a generation ago.
In Australia, thousands of <a href="https://apnews.com/video/thousands-rally-at-pro-palestinian-marches-across-australia-1409f7e23ca2493085aa77bc8d361eba">protesters</a> took to the streets recently “demanding that the Australian government take action against Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza,” according to AP News. They chanted “free, free Palestine,” as they waved a Palestinian flags.
In Canada, the group <a href="https://x.com/mtl4palestine/status/1953598884489674804">Montreal4 Palestine</a> has held public Muslim <a href="https://x.com/ThevoiceAlexa/status/1957223530539454540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1957223530539454540%7Ctwgr%5E2b5d1b302916d487c1c2c13a5cb72e0e7e937e65%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rebelnews.com%2Fwatch_protesters_face_off_against_islamic_public_prayer_in_montreal">prayers</a> outside the Basilica of Notre Dame. Quebec is a French-speaking province and heavily Catholic. The symbolism of Muslim prayers in front of a prominent Catholic church, under flapping Palestinian flags, is powerful. Montreal4 Palestine protesters held a banner saying “we fight, we liberate, we return,” a slogan echoing the goals of Hamas. An opposing group of <a href="https://x.com/ThevoiceAlexa/status/1957205906225049709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1957205906225049709%7Ctwgr%5E2b5d1b302916d487c1c2c13a5cb72e0e7e937e65%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rebelnews.com%2Fwatch_protesters_face_off_against_islamic_public_prayer_in_montreal">counter-protesters</a> carrying Quebec flags and playing patriotic songs was much smaller.
Meanwhile in England, indigenous people are <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/england-flag-displays-powerful-symbol-immigration-fight-trump-style-populism-sweeps-through-uk">flying</a> the English flag, a cross of St. George on a white background. Some are doing so spontaneously, and others as part of <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/england-flag-displays-powerful-symbol-immigration-fight-trump-style-populism-sweeps-through-uk">Operation Raise the Colours</a>. Critics try and tie it all to far-right extremism, but there is a groundswell to this movement that exceeds the tiny numbers of the radical right in Great Britain.
The London borough of Tower Hamlets and the City Council of Birmingham tore down English flags that had been hung in the streets. The symbolism is clear there too. In Tower Hamlets, Bangladeshis outnumber indigenous (white) British, and the non-English reportedly dominate government-subsidized housing.
Birmingham, a town in the middle of England, was 99.6% indigenous in 1951, but a decade ago, the Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2755654/The-changing-face-Britain-A-child-Birmingham-likely-Muslim-Christian.html">reported</a> that “a child in Birmingham is now more likely to be a Muslim than Christian.” Since then, the country has seen mass migration from countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Somalia. Today, indigenous British in Birmingham are under 50%.
The U.K.’s left-wing national broadcaster, the BBC, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx271162ee3o">hints</a> that anyone raising the English or British flags must be a right-wing extremist. The left-wing newspaper the Guardian predictably <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/20/row-grows-over-motives-behind-england-flag-campaign-far-right-racist">claims</a> that putting up English and British flags &#8220;may offer cover for far-right agendas.&#8221; By “far-right,” they include opposition to mass migration, concern about increased sexual violence against girls and women, and fear of cultural disintegration.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">End of Summer Sale &#8211; Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Opposing mass migration is now an ineffable political position in the left-wing dominated academia, civil service, and media. But it is perfectly understandable and legitimate reaction to enormous demographic change across the Western world.
If current policies and trends continue, that change will make indigenous British a minority in their land within a few generations. Other countries like France and Germany are not far behind. This fate is not inevitable, it is a choice. It will only happen if the people accept it and elect governments accordingly. Putting out more flags perhaps signals that they won’t.
* * *
Simon Hankinson is a senior research fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center and the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Woke-Commandments-Must-Obey/dp/1680533614">&#8220;The Ten Woke Commandments (You Must Not Obey)&#8221;</a> from Academica Books.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

More Than 50,000 Migrants Have Crossed The Channel To The UK Since Labour Came To Power

The Unspeakable Truth About Mass Migration

Australia

Canada

Europe

Free Speech

Great Britain

Heritage Foundation

Immigration

mass migration

Muslims

Just days after doubling down on their disastrous rebranding efforts, Cracker Barrel has released a public statement addressing the backlash.
The company came just shy of apologizing, using the opportunity to instead promise fans that their values and mission haven’t changed like their logo.
“If the last few days have shown us anything, it’s how deeply people care about Cracker Barrel,” the “promise to our guests” began.
“We’re truly grateful for your heartfelt voices. You’ve also shown us that we could’ve done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be,” it continued.
“What has not changed, and what will never change, are the values this company was built on when Cracker Barrel first opened in 1969: hard work, family, and scratch-cooked food made with care. A place where everyone feels at home, no matter where you’re from or where you’re headed. That’s the Cracker Barrel you’ll always find.”
Next, the company highlighted some of the elements they’d be keeping, including, “rocking chairs on the porch, a warm fire in the hearth, peg games on the table, unique treasures in our gift shop, and vintage Americana with antiques pulled straight from our warehouse in Lebanon, Tennessee.”
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">End of Summer Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
They also discussed how the man with the barrel from their logo wouldn’t be disappearing completely either.
“Uncle Herschel will still be on our menu (welcome back Uncle Herschel’s Favorite Breakfast Platter), on our road signs, and featured in our country store. He’s not going anywhere — he’s family.”
The statement said, “We know we won’t always get everything right the first time, but we’ll keep testing, learning, and listening to our guests and employees. At the end of the day, our promise is simple: you’ll always find comfort, community, and country hospitality here at Cracker Barrel.”
Previously, Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino said during an appearance on “Good Morning America” that feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive.” Several days later, a company spokesperson addressed mounting backlash by saying it was part of a “vocal minority.”
Despite the company rep claiming detractors were in the “minority,” Cracker Barrel lost roughly $100 million in market value on Thursday following the announcement of the new logo. Social media is still flooded with negative comments and pleas for the restaurant to revert to how it was before.

Cracker Barrel Admits They ‘Could’ve Done A Better Job’ Following Rebranding Backlash

Cracker Barrel Admits They 'Could've Done A Better Job' Following Rebranding Backlash

The beloved family restaurant Cracker Barrel is taking serious heat online for a rebranding effort that many fans absolutely despise.
The main update is a logo change for the first time in 47 years. 
The Southern country-themed restaurant chain first opened in 1969. It got its name from the 19th-century practice of people gathering to socialize around a barrel full of crackers outside a country store. While the original logo had just text, most customers are more familiar with the version that debuted in 1977, which included a man sitting next to a barrel.
The new logo follows the current trend of simplification and features a basic font on a plain background with no graphics. The restaurant said in a <a href="https://www.crackerbarrel.com/newsroom/news-releases/2025/aug/cracker-barrel-teams-up-with-country-music-star-jordan-davis">press release</a> that the new logo is &#8220;rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and wordmark that started it all.&#8221;
But the public does not appear to be convinced.
“As a brand designer that worked at [Cracker Barrel] for almost 9 years, watching them commit brand suicide is&#8230; something,” one popular <a href="https://x.com/rikoruss31/status/1958251796557705270">response</a> on X says.
“President Trump needs to federalize Cracker Barrel and deport this CEO to Bukele’s  ̶t̶o̶r̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶m̶p̶ correctional facility as soon as possible,” Daily Wire podcast host Michael Knowles joked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Trump needs to federalize Cracker Barrel and deport this CEO to Bukele’s ̶t̶o̶r̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶m̶p̶ correctional facility as soon as possible. <a href="https://t.co/C1YD89euYe">pic.twitter.com/C1YD89euYe</a>
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaeljknowles/status/1958330927802990765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Cracker Barrel has been a staple for years, and they have always embraced tradition and old fashioned dining,” another person <a href="https://x.com/RedsRepair95/status/1958249125763498403">wrote</a>. “The logo was recognizable to generations of people. Why change something that didn’t need to change?”
&#8220;Depressing,&#8221; another person said.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent">End of Summer Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
“Honestly, the feedback’s been overwhelmingly positive that people like what we’re doing,&#8221; Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino said during a recent appearance on Good Morning America. The exec joined the company in 2023 after working in senior roles at Taco Bell, Mattel, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and Starbucks.
&#8220;Cracker Barrel needs to feel like the Cracker Barrel for today and for tomorrow…the things that you love are still there. We need people to choose us, and we want people to choose us,&#8221; Masino added.
In addition to the logo change, the restaurants have been undergoing remodeling to look more modern. The exec insists store managers are keen to get their stores on the list for a remodel, but again, the reactions on social media seem to be mostly negative. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino should face charges for this crime against humanity <a href="https://t.co/auBFPi4bpr">pic.twitter.com/auBFPi4bpr</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1958330887117971578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“The new cracker barrel remodel is biggest architectural catastrophe since penn station i’m so serious,” one person said. 
“Cracker Barrel? more like&#8230;Corporate Sterile,” another agreed.
“This is a war crime,” echoed a third.

Cracker Barrel Restaurants Lawsuit

Cracker Barrel Blasted For Rebrand That Scraps Beloved Logo: ‘Crime Against Humanity’

Cracker Barrel Under Fire For 'Depressing' Logo Redesign, Rebrand: 'Crime Against Humanity'

Restaurant

Social Media

Wokeness

American alcohol exports to Canada have decreased by more than 60% due to the country’s boycott of American booze, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/us-alcohol-industry-canada-boycott-71dbd1e0?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAgMKxl1Z42FZE0H9vsKxyx6UHtLImhkvrEg4LDxFp6TPl0_kT_uF-qD53mhao4%3D&amp;gaa_ts=689e10c1&amp;gaa_sig=q2KnwkppwNBI9ovAt-qltsHtxxlAc7IiEfamB99ruYjh5YD_vMPlpPZiqX6IzhRnmYH9eWs57RGoFdtbc5Zn2Q%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Thursday.
Several Canadian provinces, which regulate the sale of liquor in Canada, initiated boycotts in response to President Donald Trump imposing a <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Business/timeline-trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china/story?id=119506883" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25% tariff</a> on Canadian goods in February. Liqueur stores stopped ordering new shipments and replaced American products on their shelves with Canadian ones.
The Distilled Spirits Council, an alcohol industry group, estimated exports of American distilled spirits to Canada in the first six months of 2025 were down about 62% from the same period the year before, while exports of American wine were down 67%.
The Wine Institute, a trade group representing California-based wineries, estimated that in six months this year, American wineries lost more than $173 million in export value. In 2024, Canada bought up 35% of American wine exports, making it the industry’s largest export destination.
Robert Cullins, CEO of Baltimore-based Sagamore Spirit, estimates that the company will lose out on $2 million of revenue this year. “We’re a small craft distillery, so a couple of million dollars is pretty significant.”
One California vineyard, Hope Family Wines, says their sales have fallen by 10% so far. “It’s definitely going to hurt us personally,” Gretchen Roddick, the executive vice president, stated.
Meanwhile, Ontario announced that sales of Canadian brands have jumped by 14%.
Alberta participated in the boycott for three months before replacing it with a 25% tariff, claiming they wanted to improve the tone of trade talks between the two countries, according to Dale Nally, the province’s minister of red tape reduction.
The booze boycott is one of the reasons Trump has called Canada “<a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/trump-thinks-canadians-nasty-for-avoiding-us-travel-banning-booze-ambassador/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mean and nasty to deal with.</a>”
Canada failed to reach a trade agreement with the US before Trump’s August 1st deadline, meaning that any products not covered under the United States -Mexico-Canada Agreement — about <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-exports-tariff-free-trump-us-trade-1.7604415" target="_blank" rel="noopener">60%</a> of products — will be subject to 35% tariffs. This puts Canada on the <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/trump-tariffs-live-updates-117-year-high-in-volume-at-busiest-port-in-the-us-200619178.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher end</a> of the tariff scale.
There is currently no sign of ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
“We’ll speak when it makes sense,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters last week.
He warned the United States that Canadian investment in the country could decline without a deal: “Canada is the second-largest investor in the United States today in the world. We have 40 million people.”
“That puts in context the state of the relationship,” he said. “Without an agreement, there will be less by definition.”
Trump has not commented on the situation or hinted at future trade talks. Shortly before the August 1st deadline, he <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/28/canada-us-trade-talk-inside-drama-00480177" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> that “We haven’t really had a lot of luck with Canada. I think Canada could be one where they’ll just pay tariffs. It’s not really a negotiation.”

Young drunk woman sleeping on bar counter drinking dark beer

The American Alcohol Industry is Suffering From Canada’s ‘Mean And Nasty’ Boycotts

Alcohol

Donald Trump

Tariffs

Ashley Biden, daughter of former president Joe Biden, has filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years.
The 44-year-old former first daughter filed the documents in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, per <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/ashley-biden-divorce-howard-krein-20250811.html">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>. Ashley married Dr. Howard Krein, a plastic surgeon, 13 years ago on June 2, 2012, while President Biden was serving as vice president under Barack Obama.
She and Krein lived in Philadelphia and had no children.
The outlet also noted that Ashley posted a photo of herself to her Instagram stories walking through a park while giving a thumbs up with the Beyoncé song &#8220;Freedom&#8221; playing in the background.
She also reportedly posted the quote, “New life, new beginnings means new boundaries. New ways of being that won’t look or sound like they did before,&#8221; to the social media site with Lauryn Hill’s “Freedom Time” playing as the featured song.
Ashley and Krein began dating in the summer of 2010 after meeting through Beau Biden, one of her older half-brothers who died from brain cancer in 2015.
Ashley and Krein were married at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church, in Greenville, Delaware, and hosted a reception for 200 people at her family’s home.
As the activist and social worker <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/ashley-biden-files-divorce-2112172">recounted</a> at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, &#8220;I had my wedding reception in my parents&#8217; backyard. At the time, my dad was vice president, but he was also that dad who literally set up the entire reception. He was riding around in his John Deere 4-wheeler, fixing the place settings, arranging the plants, and by the way, he was very emotional.&#8221;
Besides speaking at the DNC, Ashley has remained mostly out of the spotlight during her father’s public career &#8211; but she did go viral in 2020 after pages from her private journal were published in the run-up to the presidential election. 
Pages from the first daughter’s diary, including one talking about being “hyper-sexualized” at a young age and “showers w/ my dad (probably not appropriate),” were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snopes-changes-fact-check-rating-on-contents-of-ashley-bidens-diary-from-unproven-to-true">published</a> by a website called National File.
At the time, Ashley claimed that she was targeted because her father had been running for president, and the publicity the diary had drawn led her to be “constantly re-traumatized by it.”
She also said: “Repeatedly, I hear others grossly misinterpret my once-private writings and lob false accusations that defame my character and those of the people I love.”
This was far from the only drama in the Biden family. Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau, became romantically involved with Hunter Biden and said she was &#8220;ashamed&#8221; to have become addicted to crack in 2018 after Hunter introduced her to it.
“I found it [crack] and Googled it because I didn’t know what it was,” Hallie said during Hunter&#8217;s gun trial in 2024. “He told me what it was, crack cocaine.”
“It was a terrible experience I went through and I’m embarrassed and I’m ashamed,” Hallie said. &#8220;I regret that time of my life.”

Ashley Biden

Another Biden Files For Divorce, Celebrates ‘Freedom’ From 13-Year Marriage

Democrats

divorce

Joe Biden

Philadelphia

The White House updated its tariff plan on Thursday evening hours before President Donald Trump’s deadline for new trade agreements was set to kick in.
The new <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/further-modifying-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates/">plan</a> pushes the implementation of tariffs back a week from August 1 to August 7 to give Customs and Border Patrol officials time to adjust to the new levies leveled at dozens of countries. The new plan also reveals a host of tariff rates that are set to kick in.
The 10% universal tariff will remain the floor for tariff rates for trade with the United States. Only countries that have a trade deficit with the United States – meaning they import more from the United States than they export – will receive the 10% tariff rates. For countries that have a trade surplus with the United States, their goods will be tariffed at least at 15%, according to the White House plan.
Other countries that have struck new trade agreements with the United States will have various tariff rates based on the terms of the agreement.
More than a dozen countries will face a higher tariff rate than 15%, ranging from 19% to 41%.
“President Trump is using tariffs as a necessary and powerful tool to put America First after many years of unsustainable trade deficits that threaten our economy and national security,” the White House said in a statement, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/trade-deadline-tariffs-trump-deals#cmds0clsz0000356toc8am68m">CNN</a>.
A senior administration official briefing reporters on the details of the plan on Thursday evening said that “the president has essentially reordered global trade,” according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07/31/us/trump-news/8ca2d2ab-bb6b-5e71-b748-5ddfc556b984?smid=url-share">The New York Times</a>. The official added that Trump is accomplishing “the type of outcomes that the WTO and the multilateral trading system have failed to accomplish at scale over the last 25 years.”
Alongside its new tariff plan for international trade, the White House announced steeper tariffs on Canada. The Trump administration said in a statement that the United States would be “increasing the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35%, with the higher tariff set to go into effect on August 1, 2025.”
“Canada has failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and it has retaliated against the United States for the President’s actions to address this unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States,” a White House fact sheet <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-amends-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-northern-border/">says</a>.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford hit back immediately at the White House announcement, urging Canada’s government to fight the tariff hike. “Canada shouldn’t settle for anything less than the right deal. Now is not the time to roll over. We need to stand our ground,” Ford said in a <a href="https://x.com/fordnation/status/1951059263943745566">post</a> on social media.

White House Drops New Tariff Plan On Eve Of Trump’s Trade Deadline

Economy

Executive

Global Politics

Menu