The Michael Knowles Show - Ep. 1804

Title: WE WON: Cracker Barrel Abandons Gay Millennial Rebrand
Date: August 29, 2025
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael Knowles analyzes recent developments in American politics and culture, focusing on Cracker Barrel's decision to reverse its attempted "gay millennial rebrand." He interprets this as a cultural victory for traditionalists and dives into topics such as the politicization of national museums, conservative approaches to expression and culture, policy debates over marijuana, and broader questions of political and religious integrity. The episode is rich in Knowles' noted sharp, irreverent tone and includes multiple memorable rants, especially regarding the role of tradition in institutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Culture Wars at the Smithsonian ([04:08]–[20:00])

• Trump and the Smithsonian Art Purge

  • Knowles discusses reports that President Trump intends to remove several pieces of art from the Smithsonian that are seen as left-wing or anti-American.
  • He describes the 250th anniversary of America as an opportunity to "reexamine" how America is portrayed in national institutions.

• Examples of Targeted Artworks

  • Rigoberto Gonzalez's painting: Depicts a family climbing the Mexican border wall. Knowles rebukes its celebration of illegal immigration and critiques its artistic merit.
    • Quote: "This should be sold at TJ Maxx or something... next to your 'Live Laugh Love' sign in your living room. This has no place at the Smithsonian." ([09:10])
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture: Knowles lambasts the museum’s segregation from the main history museum and derides the inclusion of Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to Be an Anti-Racist” as politically driven and lacking quality.
  • Statue of Liberty as Drag Queen (“Transforming Liberty”): Criticizes both aesthetics and message, calling it a “big doodle” and “boring and ugly and gross.” ([14:20])

• On Limits of Artistic Expression

  • Knowles claims conservatism is not about “limitless expression” but about “taste, class, order, propriety.”
    • Quote: "There’s no difference between limitless expression and the ignorant braying of the lower beasts... We are civilized people. We establish museums to cultivate something in people." ([17:00])

2. Cracker Barrel’s Failed Rebrand ([21:35]–[29:30])

• Initial Response vs. Full Reversal

  • Cracker Barrel’s first response to backlash over its logo and Pride initiatives was met with Knowles’ skepticism:
    • Quote: "That's not enough. The whole value of Cracker Barrel is that you don't change. That's your product." ([22:38])
  • The company eventually announced it would abandon the new logo and return to traditional branding, deleting Pride materials online.

• Cultural Commentary

  • Knowles frames Cracker Barrel as a symbol of American resistance to modernity and “fruitless” change:
    • "I want my old country store, 'cause I want my old country is what I want." ([24:49])
  • Notes bipartisan unity in opposition to the rebrand: "It was so catastrophically awful that... it's the one thing that got the Republicans and the official Democrat Party to agree..." ([25:48])

• LGBT Policies and Corporate History

  • Reviews Cracker Barrel’s fluctuating history with LGBT policies, noting its current backpedaling as a sign of a shift towards tradition.

3. Marijuana and White House Policy ([29:30]–[35:40])

• Rumors of Marijuana Rescheduling

  • Addresses speculation Trump may soften his stance on marijuana, positioning it as a “very liberal” move at odds with current conservative momentum.
  • Emphasizes the link between progressive pushes for marijuana and support from groups/individuals like the ACLU and Rachel (Richard) Levine, adding, "If all the bad people are on one side of an issue, probably you should be on the other side of the issue." ([32:53])

• Scientific & Political Pushback

  • Cites NIH study on marijuana and violence.
  • Claims majority of Americans now view marijuana as negative, and sees little upside to rescheduling: "The juice is not worth the squeeze here." ([35:17])

4. Party Politics and National Identity ([38:25]–[40:58])

• Trump’s Proposal for an RNC Before Midterms
  • Analyzes Trump’s suggestion for a Republican National Convention before the midterms as a way to unify the party and gain electoral advantage.
  • Knowles frames the move as unconventional but potentially savvy, invoking Trump’s rule-breaking style: “If you’re constantly losing elections running on something, playing by the established rules, then you gotta change the rules. That’s one of Trump’s observations.” ([40:00])

5. Catholicism, Integrity in Politics, & Natural Law ([41:07]–[45:49])

• Pope Leo’s Statement
  • Praises the Pope’s stance that politicians should integrate their faith into their legislative duties—not split their Catholic identity from their public office.
    • Quote: "There is not on one side the politician and on the other the Christian... There is the politician who, under the gaze of God and of his conscience, lives out his commitments and his responsibilities in a Christian manner." ([41:57])
  • Critiques the “Mario Cuomo” split-faith model as dishonest and “schizophrenic.”

6. Israel, Gaza, and Christian Minorities ([45:50]–[48:57])

• Displacement of Gaza Christians
  • Highlights joint statements from religious leaders about the dangers of evacuation orders for Christians and other vulnerable populations in Gaza.
  • While acknowledging Israel’s security claims, Knowles stresses: "You can’t displace the Christians. Can’t do it. This is the only oldest Christian population in the world." ([47:07])
  • Warns Israel against harming these populations, noting waning Western support.

7. Mailbag Highlights ([49:00]–[52:45])

• On Racial Tensions Online ([49:00])

  • Responds to concerns about rising racial identitarianism on platforms like Twitter, advocating for prudential balance and solidarity:
    • Quote: "Aristotle reminds us that virtue is the mean between two extremes... you have to keep that within its proper place and recognize that at a fundamental level, we’re all made in the image and likeness of God.” ([50:54])

• Priest Scandal and Faith ([51:07])

  • Counsels a listener through the scandal of a priest’s arrest, explaining the distinction between human failings and the truth of the Church.
    • Quote: “Thank God sacraments don’t depend on the sanctity of the priest or on the sanctity of any human being.” ([52:35])

• Explaining Purgatory ([53:00])

  • Lays out Catholic doctrine on purgatory with scriptural evidence (Matthew 12:32; 1 Cor 3:11-15), correcting misconceptions that it’s a “second chance”:
    • Quote: “When you’re in purgatory... you’re going to heaven. But there’s this period of purgation...” ([54:00])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cracker Barrel:
  “The whole value of Cracker Barrel is that you don’t change. That’s your product. It’s not your dumplings, it’s not even your peg game. What you are selling is not changing.” ([22:38])

• On Modern Art Flaws:
  “Often the political message is a kind of clever trick to get around the fact that the quality of the art, the technical skill involved in the art, just isn’t that good.” ([10:37])

• Conservatism & Censorship:
  “I, a conservative, do not stand for limitless expression. I think that’s hippie and stupid and incoherent and lib... My understanding of what conservative means involves taste and class and order and propriety.” ([17:00])

• On Integrating Faith and Public Duty:
  “You can’t be schizophrenic. There is not on one side the politician and on the other the Christian... you are therefore called to strengthen yourselves in faith... and to put it into practice in the exercise of your responsibilities and in the drafting of laws.” ([41:57])

Important Timestamps

• Smithsonian Art Debate: 04:08–20:00
• Cracker Barrel Rebrand Backlash: 21:35–29:30
• Marijuana Policy Rant: 29:30–35:40
• Trump’s RNC Proposal and Party Unity: 38:25–40:58
• Pope Leo on Political Integrity: 41:07–45:49
• Gaza Christians’ Plight: 45:50–48:57
• Mailbag (race, scandal, purgatory): 49:00–52:45

Tone & Style

Michael Knowles combines biting sarcasm, cultural criticism, and unapologetically traditional (often Catholic) perspectives throughout the episode. He uses memorable analogies, pop culture references, and a distinctive, polemical tone to parse news stories and listener questions, providing a show that is both ideologically charged and rhetorically entertaining.

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary provides a comprehensive overview of Knowles’ most compelling arguments, his key criticisms of contemporary culture and politics, and the memorable moments that define his unvarnished commentary.