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Saddled In for Pain

Episode length: 1h 4m

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Democrats have been worked up this week over congressional redistricting in Texas. But, hypocrisy aside, could this be a low priority for a party well into the double-digits in favorability? To get a sense of what the left ought to be doing instead, we welcome Ruy Teixiera back to the podcast to discuss the now-endangered liberal patriot. (Be sure to subscribe to his Substack of the same name!)

Plus: James, Charles and Steve suss out the raid on John Bolton's house, have their voices heard on mail-in ballots, and collectively grimace at the Cracker Barrel rebrand.

  • Opening sound this week: Sen. John Kennedy (R - LA) on the Democrats ( via Fox News) and John Bolton on Trump (CNN)
Hosts:
Charles C. W. CookeJames LileksSteve Hayward
Guest:
Ruy Teixeira

Discussion (17)

  • WilliamWarford@WilliamWarford

    Interesting discussion about the Democrats, but I am a bit confused. Ruy Teixiera's thesis is that the Dems need someone to step up and vehemently attack the loonier elements of the party, a la Bill Clinton attacking Sista Souljah for glorifying violence against law enforcement, etc. Yet, in the same interview, he repeatedly cited Dems who had dared to speak against the loons and were promptly ostracized. Emmanuel disappeared, Fetterman is marginalized within the party, etc. The problem, then, as I see it, is that the lunatics are not the fringe, they are goodly portion of the base. Otherwise, someone breaking free and declaring himself a normal, patriotic American would instantly gain traction. Am I wrong?

  • WilliamWarford@WilliamWarford

    I have been to Crack Barrel perhaps half a dozen times, and the attraction is not the food -- which is nothing about which to write home -- but rather the rural, down-home atmosphere of the dining room and the adjacent "country store." The company not only changed the logo, they are remodeling for a more "modern look" Thus the question becomes, what is the attraction? The notion that they are thumbing their noses at middle America is what is hurting them now, the middling food and middling atmosphere will hurt them over the long run.

  • Steve Fast@SteveFast
    ReplyingtoWilliamWarford

    WilliamWarford (View Comment):

    I have been to Crack Barrel perhaps half a dozen times, and the attraction is not the food — which is nothing about which to write home — but rather the rural, down-home atmosphere of the dining room and the adjacent “country store.” The company not only changed the logo, they are remodeling for a more “modern look” Thus the question becomes, what is the attraction? The notion that they are thumbing their noses at middle America is what is hurting them now, the middling food and middling atmosphere will hurt them over the long run.

    The food has deteriorated, as has the service. They used to serve good country cooking, but now it's bad country cooking. And the waitresses look and act like they are straight from the purple-hair-dyeing and nose-ring emporium. I had already decided not to go back, and this just cements my decision.

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