Good morning, Wake Up Right fam! Cracker Barrel, the restaurant chain known for its old-fashioned Southern charm, sparked backlash online over its decision to rebrand – overhauling everything from its interior design to the iconic logo:

Minimalist, depressing slop. The southern charm was Cracker Barrel’s unique draw. Now it looks like an IHOP or Denny’s.

• 📉 Dems lost 2.1 million registered voters since 2020

• 📈 GOP gained 2.4 million registered voters since 2020

• 🗓️ On this day in 1959, Hawaii becomes 50th state

• 🏈 45% prefer Washington Redskins, 35% prefer Commanders

^{Sources: NY Times, NY Times, History, Economist}

Texas passes Big Beautiful Map, nets five new GOP seats

The Texas House passed a new congressional map, setting Republicans up to gain as many as five additional seats ahead of the 2026 midterms — cementing a major win for President Donald Trump and Republicans.

The details: The vote passed 88-52 right along party lines, after weeks of drama that saw Democrats flee the state to prevent the legislative body from having enough members to proceed.

• The Texas GOP wrote on X: "The Big Beautiful Map is one step closer to being a reality in Texas!... Thank you to President [Trump] for your leadership in this matter!"

The numbers: Texas has 38 congressional districts. Republicans currently hold 25 of them. This new map could increase that number to 30.

Dems cry racism: The left and the mainstream media claim this move is steeped in racism and voter suppression. However, Republicans point out that four of the five new districts are Hispanic-majority.

Double standard: While Democrats staged protests around the state capital, they ignore how states like Illinois and Massachusetts have long gerrymandered their maps.

Big picture: This is all about 2026. Historically, the party out of power performs well in the midterm elections. If Democrats are able to take control of the House, the second half of Trump’s second term will be filled with impeachment charades, sham investigations, and stalled legislation – just like they did in 2019-2020. Five extra Republican seats in Texas will help avoid that nightmare.

What’s next: Abbott is expected to sign quickly. And Democrats are already prepping federal lawsuits, but Republicans argue that Supreme Court precedent is on their side.

The last word goes to President Trump, who praised the passing on Truth Social, writing:

• "Big WIN for the Great State of Texas... Florida, Indiana, and others are looking to do the same thing. More seats equals less Crime, a great Economy, and a STRONG SECOND AMENDMENT. It means Happiness and Peace.

[Source: NY Post, Daily Wire]

🤡 A judge appointed by Bill Clinton has denied President Trump's attempt to release grand jury testimony from the Jeffrey Epstein case. Read more.

🇮🇱 Israel hammered Gaza City and its outskirts overnight – initial steps in its push to capture Hamas’s last major stronghold. Read more.

✅ DNI Tulsi Gabbard will cut her agency’s workforce by up to 40% and eliminate several offices accused of politicizing intelligence. Read more.

🎯 Target CEO Brian Cornell is stepping down as the retailer deals with declining sales and boycotts from both sides of the political aisle. Read more.

🏳️‍⚧️ A “non-binary” park ranger was fired by Yosemite National Park after she was caught hanging a transgender pride flag from the park’s famous El Capitan rock formation. Read more.

📃 The House Oversight Committee will release some Jeffrey Epstein case documents to the public later this week. Read more.

🏚️ President Trump called for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign following allegations of mortgage fraud, but she voted to stay at her post. Read more

👨‍⚖️ A Kentucky judge, fatally shot in his chambers last September by a close friend, is now accused posthumously of running a sex ring, coercing young women into sex parties in exchange for avoiding jail. Read more. Sounds like an episode of Law & Order: SVU.

🤼 Gable Stevenson, an Olympic gold medalist wrestler and one of the most dominant heavyweights of his generation, will make his MMA debut on Sept. 12. Read more.

🏋️ The Federal Trade Commission is suing LA Fitness for making it too difficult for customers to cancel their memberships. Read more.

🇨🇳 China told Afghanistan it was keen on mining minerals in the country and wants it to formally join its Belt and Road Initiative. Read more. Two decades, trillions of dollars, countless American lives. Just to watch our #1 enemy stroll in and benefit.

🎥 Trump assures there will be NO American boots on the ground in Ukraine. Watch.

🎥 An illegal alien charged with sexual battery against a child CRIES like a baby during arrest. Watch.

 🎥 Stephen A. Smith rightly blames Clinton, Obama, and Biden for the war in Ukraine. Watch. I don’t agree with his last point.

🎥 Stephen Miller goes SCORCHED EARTH on "elderly White hippie" protesting efforts to clean up D.C. Watch.

🎥 LMAO, Cop triggers white liberal woman, tells her she's appropriating Palestinian culture. Watch.

🎥 Black community in Brooklyn chases away ANTIFA freaks trying to start riots in their neighborhood. Watch.

🎥 V.P. Vance and Secretary of Defense Hegseth point and laugh at pathetic liberals. Watch.

🎥 Jesse Watters asks RFK Jr: Why do you wear jeans at the gym? Watch.

🎥 Beloved Judge Frank Caprio passed away yesterday from pancreatic cancer. Here's one of the many videos that endeared him to millions of Americans. Watch.

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A few months ago, I was at a butcher in my neighborhood and saw a diagram of a cow, with all the cuts of meat labeled. And that gave me an idea for a t-shirt:

DOGE Butcher Shop — but instead of the cow, we use a pig. And the cuts of meat in the diagram represent all the waste, fraud, and abuse being butchered by the Trump admin.

Over the last few weeks, I worked with a really talented graphic designer who brought it to life. And on Friday I got a sample in the mail and I’m happy to say, it came out better than I’d hoped.

Also, my wife told me I had to mention that the t-shirt it’s printed on is Comfort Colors. Apparently, they’re well-known for high-quality materials. I just chose them because they are printed in the U.S. and made with 100 U.S. cotton.

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