Trump Targets Bail Reform & Abrego Garcia Detained | 8.26.25

Summary

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Morning Wire – August 26, 2025

Episode: Trump Targets Bail Reform & Abrego Garcia Detained

Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Guests: Michael Knowles, Andrew Klavan, Megan Basham, Tom Papert, Tim Pierce
Date: August 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

This Morning Wire episode covers President Trump’s aggressive new policies targeting cashless bail and crime in America’s cities, including high-profile executive orders and the expansion of National Guard units for public order. The hosts also break down recent developments in the controversial detention and possible deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member, and analyze the continuing backlash over Cracker Barrel’s rebrand amid culture war debates. The episode concludes with updates on a major cartel case that the Trump administration is celebrating as a law enforcement success.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Crackdown on Crime and Bail Reform

[02:28–06:43]

• Trump’s Executive Orders:
  President Trump signed multiple executive orders on Monday to combat what he calls “soft on crime” policies.

  • Orders eliminate cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and threaten to withhold federal funding from cities that continue similar bail practices.
  • Emphasized “taking further action” following an 11-day streak without a murder and a week without carjackings in D.C., attributed to policy changes.
  • Trump wants suspects held in federal, not local, custody for greater control and stricter pre-trial detainment.
  • Orders extend to other cities with cashless bail, using federal funds as leverage.

• Criticism of Cashless Bail:

  • Supporters claim cashless bail fights systemic racism and protects the poor.
  • Critics, including the Trump administration, argue it puts dangerous criminals back on the streets. The White House cited "thousands of cases in which criminals committed rape or assault, only to be released hours later.”
    Notable Quote:

  “Somebody kills somebody, they go in, don’t worry about it, no cash, come back in a couple of months, we’ll give you a trial, you never see the person again. And I mean, they kill people and they get out.”
  — Andrew Klavan [03:48]

• Federalization & National Guard:

  • D.C. law enforcement directed to work with federal authorities.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tasked with creating National Guard units trained for "quelling civil disturbances." States must establish “quick reaction forces.”
  • Hegseth remarks on the pride and motivation of troops performing these missions.

• Legal Pushback on Flag Burning:

  • Trump ordered the DOJ to “vigorously prosecute” those desecrating the American flag, though outright bans are unconstitutional (protected speech).
  • DOJ directed to look for other violations—reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, or by targeting foreign nationals via visa revocation.

  Notable Quote:

  “President Trump is making an example, as he should.”
  — Tennessee Senator Bill Haggerty [04:48]

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2. Kilmar Abrego Garcia Case – Detention and Legal Battle

[06:50–09:37]

• Situation Update:

  • Kilmar Abrego Garcia, alleged MS-13 member, detained by ICE and facing imminent deportation to Uganda after refusing a plea deal in exchange for residency in Costa Rica.

• Legal Maneuvers:

  • Garcia’s attorney filed a lawsuit challenging his confinement and potential deportation, requesting a fair trial before removal.
  • Judge Paula Zinnis, noted for previous favoritism towards Garcia, is assigned to the case. Previously blocked ICE from detaining Garcia immediately after his release from prison.
  • A habeas corpus petition requires ICE to produce evidence justifying Garcia’s incarceration, which imposes a minimum 48-hour delay on deportation.

  Notable Quote:

  “God is with us and God will never leave us… God will bring justice to all of the injustice that we are suffering.”
  — Statement from Abrego Garcia via interpreter [07:34–07:40]

  • Despite temporary legal obstacles, the hosts suggest Garcia’s deportation is likely unless further court intervention occurs.

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3. Major Cartel Prosecution – El Mayo

[09:37–10:50]

• Cartel Kingpin Conviction:

  • Ismail Zambada (“El Mayo”), a founding leader of the Sinaloa cartel and partner to El Chapo, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking. Expected to be sentenced to life in prison.
  • DOJ celebrates the victory as part of Trump’s agenda to target cartel leadership.

  Notable Quote:

  “El Mayo will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He will die in a US Federal prison where he belongs…”
  — Attorney General Pam Bondi [10:00]

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4. Cracker Barrel Rebrand Backlash

[10:54–15:02]

• Rebrand Details & Fallout:

  • Cracker Barrel recently dropped its iconic barrel, mascot Uncle Herschel, and traditional décor in a redesigned concept that critics say resembles “an Ikea” with an “inauthentic, bland” look.
  • CEO Julie Messino attempted damage control, claiming overwhelmingly positive internal feedback.
  • Post-rebrand, Cracker Barrel lost nearly $100 million in market capitalization.
  • Issued a public apology, acknowledging poor communication with customers.

• Culture War Dynamics:

  • The rebrand is perceived by critics as an attempt to distance the brand from its southern, family-values heritage.
  • Past controversies revisited:
    • Pride-themed marketing in 2023 (rocking chairs displayed in rainbow colors).
    • Removal of Duck Dynasty merchandise after star Phil Robertson’s comments on homosexuality.
    • Connection between a former training leader and LGBTQ advocacy.

  Expert Perspective:
  Andrew Beck (brand strategist) argues the company’s error was losing touch with its actual customer base:

  “The entire communication strategy is attempting to reach a customer that looks more like... the agencies, the advisors, and the consultants... than it does the actual customers of Cracker Barrel. That’s, to me, the most glaring error. There’s no shared cultural context between the work and between the customer’s experience at the store.”
  — Andrew Beck [14:13]

  • Megan Basham concludes that conservative consumers are now "feeling empowered to flex their muscle" by pushing back against brands they view as caving to left-wing activist groups.

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On bail reform and public safety:

  “Supporters say the policy combats so called systemic racism and protects the poor, but critics say it allows for dangerous criminals to be released right back onto the streets.”
  — John Bickley [02:44]

• On frustration with blue-state governance:

  “In these blue cities and these blue states, President Trump is making an example, as he should.”
  — Tennessee Sen. Bill Haggerty [04:48]

• On National Guard morale:

  “The morale of the troops, getting out there, talking to them. They love this mission.”
  — John Bickley recounting feedback from the field [05:41]

• On Cracker Barrel’s alienation of its customers:

  “There’s no shared cultural context between the work and between the customer’s experience at the store.”
  — Andrew Beck [14:13]

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Conclusion

This episode offers deep insight into the Trump administration’s latest “law and order” initiatives, with a focus on ending cashless bail and mobilizing the National Guard as crime drops dramatically in D.C. Legal wrangling over immigration and the symbolic battle lines in the culture war—exemplified by Cracker Barrel’s rebrand—highlight continued polarization in American society. The episode closes with law enforcement milestones and a reminder of consumer power in shaping corporate behavior.

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Transcript

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[Michael Knowles]

President Trump moves to choke off federal funding to cities allowing cashless bail while touting his efforts in D.C. we're ending.

[Andrew Klavan]

It, but we're starting by ending it.

[John Bickley]

In D.C. and that we have the.

[Andrew Klavan]

Right to do through federalization.

[Michael Knowles]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, August 26th, and this is Morning Wire.

[Host/News Anchor]

The saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia continues as the alleged MS.13 member turns down a plea deal and is taken into custody.

[Tom Papert]

He's gambling that enough activist judges will create new laws from the bench to allow him to go back to his normal life.

[Michael Knowles]

And Cracker Barrel is backpedaling after the continued backlash over the chain's rebrand. Cracker Barrel needs to feel like the Cracker Barrel for today and for tomorrow and again, the things that you love are still there.

[Host/News Anchor]

Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

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[Host/News Anchor]

Of his ongoing crime crackdown, President Trump signed a slew of executive orders Monday pushing back on what he calls soft on crime policies.

[Michael Knowles]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has the latest on Trump's law and order efforts. So cab, tell us about these latest policies from the White House.

[John Bickley]

Yeah. Amid the ongoing crime drop in D.C. trump clearly feels emboldened to now take further action. Let's look at the numbers a bit. Yesterday was the 11th straight day without a murder in the Capitol and the seventh straight day without a single carjacking in the entire city. For context, There had been 190 carjackings in the last six months alone, so they stopped quite literally overnight. And now as a result, Trump is pushing for harsher punishments for criminals in the city, including the thousand plus who've been arrested as part of this ongoing crackdown. On Monday, he signed an executive order aimed at eliminating cashless bail in the district. So remember, D.C. and many other Democrat run cities have essentially outlawed cash bail entirely. That means the suspects are released from custody while they await trial without posting any bail. As the name implies, supporters say the policy combats so called systemic racism and protects the poor, but critics say it allows for dangerous criminals to be released right back onto the streets. For their part, the White House pointed to thousands of cases in which criminals committed rape or assault, only to be released hours later, often never appearing for their final trial date.

[Megan Basham]

Somebody kills somebody, they go in, don't.

[Advertisement Voice]

Worry about it, no cash, come back.

[Andrew Klavan]

In a couple of months, we'll give you a trial, you never see the person again. And I mean they kill people and they get out.

[John Bickley]

That order also calls for D.C. law enforcement officials to, quote, work to ensure that suspects are taken into federal, not local, custody. And that's important because federal judges are more likely to eliminate bail entirely and keep suspects in custody before a trial, especially for those more serious crimes. And as more proof that Trump wants to take his crackdown nationwide, the President went a step further, taking aim at other cities around the country who also have cashless bail. That separate order threatens to withhold federal funding, grants and even government backed project approvals for jurisdictions that keep cashless bail policies in place. For more on this nationwide push, we spoke with Tennessee Senator Bill Haggerty here's what he had to say.

[Advertisement Voice]

I think it'll have a positive effect not only on Washington, D.C. but on the nation as a whole. Because these big city mayors that complain, these governors in blue states that don't want any sort of aid or assistance.

[John Bickley]

Somehow seem to favor crime.

[Advertisement Voice]

The criminals certainly seem to make out.

[John Bickley]

Better than the victims in every circumstance.

[Advertisement Voice]

In these blue cities and these blue states, President Trump is making an example, as he should.

[Michael Knowles]

Now, the President has also talked about deploying the National Guard to other cities. Has he made any moves on that?

[John Bickley]

Yes, he has. Trump also on Monday signed another order that directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to establish specialized National Guard units that would be, quote, specifically trained and equipped to deal with public order issues. Now, under that order, each state will be tasked with training their National Guardsmen in, quote, quelling civil disturbances and ensuring the public safety in order whenever their circumstances necessitate, as appropriate under law. That order also requires each state to establish quick reaction forces within their Guard units. Those can be deployed immediately to help with those broader efforts. Here's Hegs, Seth, talking about the military's work in D.C. the border, Louisiana and elsewhere. We're really proud to be a part.

[Andrew Klavan]

Of defending the nation's capital and ensuring.

[John Bickley]

It is safe and beautiful and working with law enforcement.

[Megan Basham]

Mr. President, let me tell you, the.

[John Bickley]

Morale of the troops, getting out there, talking to them. They love this mission.

[Tom Papert]

They're grateful to be doing it.

[Michael Knowles]

Now, finally, tell us about this flag burning order that has ruffled some feathers.

[John Bickley]

Yeah. President Trump topped things off Monday by signing an executive order aimed at prosecuting those who, in his words, desecrate the American flag, an act he says is meant to, quote, intimidate and threaten violence against Americans. Now, the Supreme Court has ruled multiple times that burning the American flag is protected speech under the First Amendment. So despite his wishes, Trump cannot ban it outright, but he can go after flag burners in other ways. This order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to, quote, vigorously prosecute those who violate our laws in ways that involve desecrating the flag and to pursue litigation to clarify the scope of the First Amendment in this area. Essentially, it's calling on authorities to find other potential crimes committed by flag burners. They could go after them for reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, trespassing, etc. The White House also importantly, will crack down on foreign nationals burning the flag, calling on the DOJ and State Department to revoke visas for non citizens who do so.

[Michael Knowles]

Well, Trump did hint that this would be an issue. He would focus on Cabot. Thanks for reporting.

[John Bickley]

Absolutely.

[Michael Knowles]

Kilmar Abrego Garcia may soon be deported to Uganda after he turned down a deal that would have secured him residency presidency in Costa Rica. ICE detained the illegal alien who lives in Maryland on Monday and could send him out of the country as soon as Wednesday.

[Host/News Anchor]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about Abrego Garcia's case. Hey, Tim. So it looks like there's a legal battle going on between Abrego Garcia and the Trump administration over his deportation to Uganda. Walk us through what happened here.

[Andrew Klavan]

Yeah. On a request from ice, Abrego Garcia showed up to an ICE office in Baltimore on Monday. Before he was taken into custody, he spoke to a crowd of supporters. Here's some of that. He needed needed an interpreter to translate.

[Megan Basham]

God is with us and God will never leave us.

[Andrew Klavan]

God will bring justice to all of.

[Megan Basham]

The injustice that we are suffering.

[Andrew Klavan]

After the arrest, Abrego Garcia's attorney said a lawsuit had already been filed in the last five minutes. Mr. Abrego Garcia has filed a new lawsuit in the Federal District Court for the District of Maryland challenging his current confinement and challenging deportation to Uganda or to any other country unless and until he's had a fair trial. Abrego Garcia actually had an offer to go live in Costa Rica if he agreed to plead guilty to human smuggling charges here, but he turned that down. This case will be handled by Judge Paula Zinnis, an Obama appointee who has already overseen a lot of Abrego Garcia's legal matters. In July, Zenis sided with him over the government and barred ICE from taking Abrego Garcia into custody after his release from a jail in Tennessee. Instead, Zena said he should be placed on essentially a monitored release.

[Host/News Anchor]

All right, so what can you tell us about the Abrego Garcia lawsuit?

[Andrew Klavan]

I spoke to Tennessee Star reporter Tom Papert about that. His reporting actually led to our Brego Garcia being charged with human smuggling in Tennessee. Here's what he said, Kilmar.

[Tom Papert]

Abrego Garcia filed what's known as a habeas corpus petition. This requires the federal government to produce the evidence that they are using to justify his continued incarceration in Maryland. There is a standing order required 48 hour delays anytime a habeas corpus petition is filed. In addition to that, however, Judge Paula Zinnis, the Maryland district court judge overseeing Abrego Garcia's immigration lawsuit, previously filed an order requiring ICE to give Abrego Garcia's attorneys a 72 hour notice if it intends to deport him. Interestingly, the new lawsuit was just assigned to Judge Paula Zenas. That's right, the very same judge.

[Andrew Klavan]

So while Judge Zinnis may hold off a Brgo Garcia's deportation temporarily, it looks like he's going to be headed to Uganda or at least somewhere else outside the United States.

[Host/News Anchor]

Now, yesterday there was also a major case won by the DOJ against a prominent drug lord. What exactly happened in that situation?

[Andrew Klavan]

Yeah. The Mexican cartel kingpin Ismail Zambada, known as El Mayo, pleaded guilty yesterday to drug trafficking. Zambada was a top official in the Sinaloa cartel. He's expected to be sentenced to life in prison in January. Here's Attorney General Pam Bondi on that.

[Megan Basham]

El Mayo will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He will die in a US Federal prison where he belongs. El Mayo was one of the most prolific and powerful drug traffickers in this world. His partner was El Chapo. They were co founders of the Sinaloa cartel. They brutally murdered multiple people and flooded our country with drugs. Their reign of terror is over.

[Andrew Klavan]

This, of course, comes as President Trump has made targeting these cartels and those top officials a top priority of the administration.

[Advertisement Voice]

Right.

[Host/News Anchor]

In Zimbabwe is a big one to take down. So a major win for them. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Andrew Klavan]

Good to be on.

[Host/News Anchor]

The fallout over Cracker Barrel's redesign has continued and now the company is apologizing. The incident is the latest in a string of high profile cultural debates over corporate branding.

[Michael Knowles]

Here with the latest is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, I feel like it was totally predictable. Customers were not going to like this rebrand, but they went ahead and they did it anyway. And now it seems like just like everything else, it's become a flashpoint in the culture war. So can you just refresh us on what happened with Cracker Barrel? And then I'm going to ask you about how it became political.

[Megan Basham]

Yeah. So what happened was they rolled out this rebrand that did away with the barrel in Cracker Barrel and they got rid of the old timey character, Uncle Herschel, who's been a part of the company's branding for 45 years. They also redesigned the restaurants themselves, getting rid of that dark warm wood esthetic and the lattice wall dividers, and instead they're going with white walls, tile floors, and a lot of customers didn't like it. There's been a lot of jokes about how this looks looks like an Ikea and that the logo looks like Clipart. So you're hearing words like inauthentic, bland. In fact, the backlash was so fierce that company CEO Julie Messino went on Good Morning America to defend the redesign.

[Michael Knowles]

I actually happened to be in Orlando last week with all of our managers. We bring them together once every other year. And the number one question that I got asked, Michael, was, how can I get a remodel? When can I get a remodel? How do I get on the list?

[Andrew Klavan]

Oh, really?

[Michael Knowles]

So, because the feedback and the buzz is so good, not only from our customers, but from our team members.

[Megan Basham]

So the upshot of all this, after rolling out the rebrand, Cracker barrel lost nearly $100 million in corporate market share. And on Monday, not surprising, they released a statement basically apologizing, saying that they could have done a better job letting customers know what they were doing with the redesign.

[Michael Knowles]

So clearly people didn't like the rebrand. But how did it become a political debate?

[Megan Basham]

Well, I think largely because people see this as an effort of the company to try to distance itself from its traditional Southern roots, from its association with family values. Back in the 90s, the company famously required restaurant staff to display normal heterosexual values. Well, in recent years, Cracker Barrel has taken a very hard turn from that. In 2023, its social media accounts sparked controversy when they posted images of those iconic white rocking chairs decked out in rainbow colors to celebrate Pride Month. The chain also took Duck Dynasty merchandise out of its stores when star Phil Robertson, who was an outspoken Christian, described homosexuality as a sin. And then a few days ago, it was revealed that Cracker Barrel's former management training leader was heading that division at the same time that he was serving on an advisory council for the LGBTQ activist group, the Human Rights Campaign. So I think what we've seen recently with Target and Bud Light is that a lot of social conservative consumers are fed up with what they see as kowtowing to these left wing activist groups. Andrew Beck, the founding partner of brand consultancy Beck and Stone, told me that the problem with Cracker Barrel is that it's being led by business leaders who don't really understand their customer base.

[Andrew Klavan]

It isn't just a redesign of a logo, was never just the redesign of a logo. It was the redoing of their stores. It was the beginning of new tactics on social media. The entire communication strategy is attempting to reach a customer that looks more like the people, that is the agencies, the advisors, and the consultants that were recruited to do this change than it does the actual customers of Cracker Barrel. That's, to me, the most glaring error. There's no shared cultural context between the work and between the customer's experience at the store.

[Megan Basham]

So clearly conservative consumers are feeling empowered to flex their muscle these days in the marketplace.

[Michael Knowles]

Well, just from a business standpoint, just such a foolish move. Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Megan Basham]

My pleasure.

[Host/News Anchor]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you're watching on YouTube, don't forget to like.

[Andrew Klavan]

And subscribe.

[Host/News Anchor]

And subscribe. We'll be back this evening with more news you need to know.

[Andrew Klavan]

These are questions that take cultures thousands of years to answer. During Answer the Call, I take questions from people just like you about their problems, opportunities, challenges, or when they simply need advice. How do I balance all of this grief, responsibility? How do you repair this kind of damage? My daughter, Michaela guides the conversations as we hopefully help people navigate their lives. Everyone has their own destiny. Everyone.