The David Pakman Show – August 30, 2025

Episode: BONUS FREEBIE: Trump's Hispanic support tanks, Cracker Barrel changes logo
Host: David Pakman
Co-host: Pat
Main Themes: Shifting Hispanic support for Trump, the "culture war" over Cracker Barrel's logo, Florida's crackdown on rainbow crosswalks

Episode Overview

This bonus episode explores three main topics:

• The recent downturn in Donald Trump's support among Hispanic voters, with analysis of why it rose in 2024 and why it’s now sharply falling.
• The reactionary backlash to Cracker Barrel’s logo change and how ordinary corporate decisions are now filtered through America’s ongoing culture wars.
• The political battle in Florida over rainbow-themed crosswalks, presented as a “safety” issue but analyzed as a transparent attack on LGBTQ visibility.

Throughout, David Pakman and his co-host maintain a satirical, fact-based tone, unpacking the week’s stories with humor and critical analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Shrinking Hispanic Support

[00:33–06:20]

Main Points:

• Polling Data: Trump support among Hispanic voters has dropped to ~28-32%.
  • Reuters Poll: 32%
  • YouGov/Economist: 28%
• Historical Context: In 2024, Trump received an unprecedented 46% Hispanic support, a significant jump attributed to several factors beyond anti-socialist sentiment.
• Comedic Perspective: Pakman references comedian Angelo Collina’s sketch to illustrate the surprise (among some Hispanic Trump voters) at Trump’s openly hostile policies towards their community.

Analysis of Drivers:

• Immigration Policy Discontent:
  • Many Hispanics, including legal immigrants, were unhappy with Biden’s approach but didn’t intend to fully endorse Trump’s extreme stance.
  • Co-host Pat explains:

    “That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re signing up for ICE raids outside the Home Depots or … trying to eliminate protections for DACA recipients.” (02:36, Pat)

• Misconceptions about Conservatism:
  • Pakman challenges the trope that Hispanic Catholics are inherently aligned with US cultural conservatism.

    “A lot of these Latin American countries are nominally, like on paper, very Catholic but they are not culturally conservative in a way that applies to what they want from their government, the way American Republicans are.” (04:55, Pakman)

• Relevance of Demographic Analysis:
  • The show pushes back on the idea that demographic polling is reductive, arguing it’s vital to understanding political shifts:

    “If there was no statistical significance between, say, black support and white support or female versus male support, we wouldn’t need to take a look at how polling is happening across those different groups. But because we see wildly different numbers… I think it does make sense to track it, without a doubt.” (05:44, Pat)

2. Cracker Barrel Logo “Culture War”

[06:21–11:09]

Main Points:

• The Change: Cracker Barrel updated its logo, removing the iconic old man-in-overalls leaning on a barrel for a simpler text-based design.
• Right-Wing Backlash: The logo change triggered outrage among conservatives, who interpret it as an attack on traditional values and label it “woke.”
  • Pakman’s summary:

    “It seems that this has triggered especially right wing outrage because something about the old logo and the guy on it was considered associated with traditional values or conservatism. And so the logo change is being interpreted as woke in some way.” (06:48, Pakman)

• Pat’s Take: The outcry is mostly about nostalgia, but “because everything is viewed through this political lens these days, they come up with reasons to make it a political issue. So… companies are trying to get away from that imagery and so that’s something that upsets them.” (07:35, Pat)
• Non-Political Motivations: The hosts stress that the logo update is standard corporate rebranding, not a political statement.
• Menu Sidelight:
  • Pakman is amused by the calorie counts and options at Cracker Barrel.

    “Under chicken and turkey, you can get an herb roasted half chicken for 15 bucks. And it is over 1,700 calories, Pat. Oh, my God. That is a good deal. From a calorie standpoint, that I guess is a good deal.” (08:59, Pakman)

  • Discussion of vegan options and further “culture war” complaints over Pride-themed rocking chairs and menu changes (e.g., Impossible Sausage).
• Memorable Quote:

  “The woke have taken over their beloved restaurant chain.” (11:05, Pat)

3. Florida’s Crackdown on Rainbow Crosswalks

[11:09–16:05]

Main Points:

• Incident: Multiple Florida cities face deadlines to remove rainbow-colored crosswalks commemorating LGBTQ Pride, under the guise of "safety improvements."
• Pakman’s Analysis:
  • Skeptical of the safety justification, finding it a thinly veiled excuse for anti-LGBTQ policy:

    “I don’t know that the argument that… drivers are used to a white crosswalk, and if the crosswalk is rainbow, it’s dangerous… I kind of struggle with that. I don’t know that I really believe that.” (12:49, Pakman)

  • Challenges the consistency of those who preach “flag code” yet would support patriotic-themed street art.
• Pat’s Rebuttal:
  • Points out the hypocrisy and likely motivation:

    “If anything, I’d imagine that the rainbow colored crosswalk draws more attention to the crosswalk…” (13:41, Pat)

  • Asserts the movement is plainly political, not about safety.
• Cultural Double Standard:
  • Pakman: “Imagine if there were conservative areas that decided to put up red, white and blue crosswalks or thin blue line themed crosswalks, then the Trump administration wouldn’t have any problem whatsoever with that.”
• Discussion on Vandalism:
  • Debate over whether defacing rainbow crosswalks could or should be prosecuted as a hate crime, paralleling how patriotic symbols are policed.

Notable quote:

“Another very important sincerely held principle that is not so important and not so sincerely held as soon as there’s something different that they want to do. So not a surprise at all.” (16:04, Pakman)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 01:53 | David Pakman | “Why are you surprised that the guy who said he hates you hates you.” (on Hispanic voters and Trump, referencing a comedian) | | 02:36 | Pat | “That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re signing up for ICE raids outside the Home Depots or… trying to eliminate protections for DACA recipients.” | | 04:55 | David Pakman | “A lot of these Latin American countries are nominally… very Catholic but they are not culturally conservative in a way that applies to what they want from their government, the way American Republicans are.” | | 06:48 | David Pakman | “…this has triggered especially right wing outrage because… the old logo… was considered associated with traditional values… the logo change is being interpreted as woke.” | | 07:35 | Pat | “Because everything is viewed through this political lens these days, they come up with reasons to make it a political issue.” | | 11:05 | Pat | “The woke have taken over their beloved restaurant chain.” | | 12:49 | David Pakman | “I kind of struggle with [the idea that rainbow crosswalks are unsafe]. I don’t know that I really believe that.” | | 13:41 | Pat | “If anything, I’d imagine that the rainbow colored crosswalk draws more attention to the crosswalk than just the regular crosswalk.” | | 16:04 | David Pakman | “Another very important sincerely held principle that is not so important and not so sincerely held as soon as there’s something different that they want to do.” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:33 – 06:20: Hispanic support for Trump: polling, reasons, demographic significance.
• 06:21 – 11:09: Cracker Barrel logo change, right-wing outrage, culture war framing, menu curiosities.
• 11:09 – 16:05: Florida and rainbow crosswalks, “safety” argument, analysis of the true motivations, discussion on hypocrisy.

Episode Tone & Style

David Pakman and Pat strike a balance between analytical rigor and satirical commentary. The episode is conversational, peppered with humor and exasperation at the absurdities of culture war politics.

Summary

This bonus episode provides listeners with layered, critical analyses of trending political and cultural stories, examining the disconnect between political rhetoric and actual motivations. From the shifting political allegiances among Hispanic voters to the overblown reactions to corporate branding, the show underscores the performative nature of many contemporary “culture war” debates. The hosts’ clear, relatable breakdowns make complex trends accessible, while their wit keeps listeners engaged and informed.