Did the state of California turn on In-N-Out, or did the burger chain turn on it?
Last week, on the 'Relatable' podcast, Snyder told conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey that she's leaving the Golden State for Tennessee. 'There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,' said Snyder, who became president of the family-run chain in 2010 at age 27, making her one of the country's youngest billionaires.
It must be rough.
Her comments set off a disinformation blitz, launching the Double-Double into the middle of a red-state/blue-state culture war where, clearly, nothing is sacred. Anti-Cali factions incorrectly posted, podcast and crowed about yet another business fleeing the West Coast. More proof that Gov. Gavin Newsom's 'failing' state sucks! It appeared that In-N-Out was following Tesla and Charles Schwab, companies that cited regulatory challenges and operational costs among their reasons for relocating. Chevron also fled. Perhaps it was the high gas prices.
Many Californians, particularly those in SoCal, felt abandoned and disrespected. They, after all, propped up the chain for 76 years, only to be told by its owner that the place that made her family's business — their home — is no longer to her liking. On X, Oracle Park Seagull posted ''Not easy for In N Out to do business in California…' Said the person who became a billionaire doing business almost exclusively in California. So much so, it was a point of pride for the chain. Gotcha.'
Snyder's grandparents opened their first In-N-Out in Baldwin Park in 1948, and for decades, the chain was renowned for serving a magical burger that could only be found in Southern California. Locals felt, and still feel, a sense of pride and ownership in the successful, homegrown business. It's a symbol of West Coast entrepreneurship, its cups and packaging decorated with images of palm trees. And if we're honest, the mere suggestion of In-N-Out leaving the state triggered a primal fear among Angelenos. Where else were we going to sit in a milelong drive-thru line at midnight waiting for a delicious burger and debatable fries?
Newsom even chimed in, starting his X post with, 'For those interested in the facts, rather than fiction, In-N-Out is expanding East — creating a second HQ in Tennessee.' In SoCal, the company is shutting down its office in Irvine, consolidating its corporate operations to Baldwin Park. Today, In-N-Out operates in more than 400 locations across eight states.
Snyder responded Monday to the kerfuffle in an Instagram post: 'Where I raise my family has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our customers in California.'
It's not the first time In-N-Out has made its stance clear on polarizing issues and politics. The company made news in 2021 when it pushed back against Newsom and California's COVID-era proof-of-vaccination mandates.
In-N-Out's packaging also includes Bible verses, a practice started in the late '80s by Snyder's uncle, co-founder Rich Snyder. John 3:16 can be found on the bottom of the In-N-Out soda cup. The milkshake cup features Proverbs 3:5: 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.' On your next visit, you can check for a verse in your fries container. That is, if there is a next time. Instead of the memory of a tasty burger, many lifetime In-N-Out loyalists have been left with a bitter taste in their mouths.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
2 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Why China is pursuing Taiwan: Geopolitical objectives, potential outcomes, and public theories explained
Over the past decade, China's rhetoric, military build-up, diplomatic pressure, and policy strategy surrounding Taiwan have intensified—leading many to question whether a full-scale capture of Taiwan is inevitable. This analysis explores China's motivations, what would change if control is established, and the dominant geopolitical narratives discussing this issue. 1. Historical and ideological roots Civil War legacy: Taiwan is governed by the Republic of China (ROC), which emerged victorious in a 1912–1949 civil war. China's Communist Party established the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 and has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under Beijing's jurisdiction. Article 8 of China's 2005 Anti‑Secession Law formalizes this. National reunification principle: The PRC's official policy—'one China' and Xi Jinping's 'peaceful reunification' under the 'one country, two systems' framework—frames Taiwan as a breakaway province rather than a separate international entity. Political legitimacy: Taiwanese unification is a powerful domestic symbol for the CCP, often used in propagating nationalism and consolidating Xi's political mandate internal to China. 2. Strategic and economic incentives a. Strategic position and power projection Military anchoring in the First Island Chain: Taiwan sits on the so-called 'first island chain,' providing strategic depth in the Western Pacific. Controlling it would significantly extend China's naval and air capabilities, reducing US forward-operating access. Maritime chokepoint control: The Taiwanese straits are adjacent to vital shipping lanes—roughly 60 per cent of Asian maritime trade flows through nearby corridors. Chinese dominance over Taiwan would strengthen its hold over the South China Sea's commercial arteries. b. Technological and economic gain Semiconductor supremacy: Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry, responsible for over 50 per cent of global chip fabrication. Full integration could accelerate China's ambitions in semiconductor independence and technological parity. Supply chain control: Taiwan plays a central role in global supply chains—particularly in electronics and green technology manufacturing. Its absorption would give China a critical advantage in these sectors. 3. What would change if China controls Taiwan? a. Shifts in global security and balances of power Decline of US strategic influence in Asia: Losing Taiwan would seriously weaken Washington's ability to project force in the Western Pacific and could unravel alliances with Japan, Korea, and Australia. Expansion of China's 'kill‑chain' reach: Models show that with Taiwan under PRC control, air-and-missile denial coverage expands, forcing US bases like Guam or the Philippines to operate at reduced effectiveness. b. Global economic fallout Unprecedented disruption: Even a brief conflict or aggressive blockade over Taiwan could cost the world economy over $10 trillion—short-term shocks similar to, or bigger than, the Ukraine war or 2008 financial crisis. Impact on capital and technology: Taiwan is a key conduit for foreign-invested capital and advanced microelectronics. Its loss could throttle foreign inflows, affecting Beijing's broader innovation-driven growth strategy. c. Political and cultural consequences Erosion of democratic autonomy: Taiwan's integration would mean dissolving its democratic institutions, curtailing civil liberties, and subsuming it under the PRC's authoritarian model—something sharply resisted by approximately 90 per cent of Taiwanese people. Continued 'political warfare': China would likely escalate its cognitive warfare campaigns—disinformation, political infiltration, propaganda—aimed at conditioning Taiwanese public opinion to accept Beijing's supremacy. 4. Public and strategic theories on Beijing's motivations Theory / Framework Key Idea Source Great Power Assertion Annexing Taiwan reinforces China's self-declared status as a leading global power, challenging the U.S.-led world order. Reddit , Wikipedia , Barron's 'Cognitive Warfare' Mastery Over time, China could annex Taiwan without force by eroding public will through propaganda and election manipulation. TIME , Wikipedia 'Anaconda Strategy' Beijing applies gradual diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to strangle Taipei's autonomy before physically seizing control. Council on Foreign Relations , Small Wars Journal Premptive Window Strategy Some Western analysts argue China might strike before U.S. internal political changes reduce deterrence or alliances weaken. Reddit , , Domestic Consolidation Taiwan serves as a rallying symbol at home, diverting attention from domestic issues and strengthening leadership legitimacy. Reddit , Small Wars Journal 5. Challenges and limits to a Taiwan takeover Massive military cost and human toll: Models show an amphibious invasion would be extraordinarily difficult—due to Taiwan's terrain, US and allied intervention, and Taiwan's own reserve mobilization plan. Economic blowback: China would face isolation from global markets, capital outflows, and loss of critical technology access—particularly in high-end semiconductors and foreign investment. Domestic risk amid PLA reforms: Xi's ongoing military leadership reshuffle raises questions about the People's Liberation Army's readiness for such a complex operation. 6. What the international community is doing US deterrence doctrine: US policymakers advocate a 'reassure and deter' framework—maintaining ambiguous support for Taiwan's defense while discouraging aggressive PRC action. Allied formation in the Indo-Pacific: Countries like Australia and Japan have pledged closer defense cooperation. A US congressional delegation is visiting Taiwan to reaffirm support. Taiwan civilian readiness: Under the 'Territorial Defense Force' model, Taiwan is enhancing its reserve system and investing in low-cost mobile defense weapons to make occupation prohibitively costly. Conclusion China views Taiwan as integral to its national identity and global power projection plan, but control requires overcoming immense global and domestic resistance. Economic gain and strategic depth are key motivators, yet the full takeover presents massive economic and geopolitical costs, including undermining Beijing's longer-term modernization strategy. Multiple scholarly frameworks—from great power theory to cognitive and political warfare—explain why China may pursue Taiwan even short of war. International deterrents and Taiwan's own resilience planning are central to preventing conflict, although no one can accurately predict Beijing's next move. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Vipul Sipani is a qualified IT professional with over eight years of active working experience. He is a trained web technologist and a certified Ethical Hacker v8 security analyst. Vipul has also been a consultant with the detection and prevention of cyber crimes, with the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) of Rajasthan State Police. Vipul is currently working as editor-in-chief at and he is reachable on [email protected]
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Mob of anti-Israel protestors clash with police after attempting to storm Grand Central Terminal: cops
Anti-Israel protesters clashed with police outside Grand Central Terminal Saturday — resulting in four arrests, cops and sources said. The chaos erupted around 3:30 p.m. when hundreds of demonstrators that had been marching in Manhattan attempted to storm the transit hub's doors, forcing officials to lock and barricade the iconic building. The unruly crowd was part of a protest organized by Palestinian activist group Within Our Lifetime that started outside City Hall earlier in the afternoon, according to police. Advertisement The group, waving Palestinian flags and chanting, scuffled with NYPD and MTA officers outside the station's Vanderbilt Hall entrance, according to cops and shocking videos on social media. One video of the melee showed protesters hurling profanities at a female officer before a group of cops tackled an agitator, while others formed a barrier to keep the hostile group from entering the terminal. 4 NYPD and MTA police officers confronting Palestine protestors at Grand Central Station. Some cops were seen using batons to fend off the protestors. Advertisement 4 NYPD officers detaining Palestine protestors at Grand Central Terminal. 4 Some cops were seen using batons to fend off the protestors. A handful of the rowdy flag-waving demonstrators, shouting 'Free Palestine' and banging on drums, made it into the main concourse, but were removed by authorities, a video shared by WOL showed. Advertisement None of the arrested protesters were publicly identified by cops. Two of them were arrested by the NYPD, charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct and issued Criminal Court summonses, a police spokesperson said. 4 Footage of a scuffle between NYPD officers and Palestine protestors at Grand Central Terminal. MTA officers took two other demonstrators into custody, but no details about what charges may be facing were immediately made public. Advertisement Train service didn't seem to have been disrupted after the wild skirmish. A heavy police presence remained hours later, blocking off the area where the tussle erupted.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine officials held in military drone corruption probe
A Ukrainian MP and other officials have been arrested after the country's anti-corruption agencies uncovered what they call a large-scale bribery scheme in the purchase of drones and electronic warfare systems. In a statement on X, President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Ukrainian MP, heads of district and city administrations and several National Guard service members had been exposed for their involvement, which involved state contracts with suppliers being signed at prices inflated by up to 30%. Zelensky wrote that there can be "zero tolerance" for corruption in Ukraine, and thanked the agencies for their work. The independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies was restored on Thursday, following nationwide protests. Zelensky's government faced an extensive backlash after introducing a bill that would strip the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, known as Nabu and Sap respectively, of their independence. The president claimed the agencies needed to be "cleared of Russian influence", and sought to give the general prosecutor the authority to decide who should be prosecuted in high-level corruption cases. Many saw the move as a step backwards for corruption in Ukraine, resulting in the largest anti-government demonstrations since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country in 2022. Zelensky acknowledged public anger and submitted a new bill restoring the agencies' former independence, which was voted through by parliament just nine days after the original bill had been passed. The head of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), Kyrylo Budanov, thanked Zelensky for "hearing the public's call" regarding the powers of anti-corruption agencies and "not making a mistake". The move was also praised by EU allies, who had voiced concerns over the implications of the original bill. Young Ukrainians get their way as Zelensky overturns law to defuse crisis Backlash grows after Zelensky strips anti-corruption bodies of independence The fight against corruption is significant in Ukraine's bid to join the EU. The creation of Nabu and Sap was a requirement set by the European Commission and International Monetary Fund in 2014, in order to move towards a relaxation of visa restrictions. As a result, Kyiv was granted EU candidate status in 2022, bringing the nation another step towards closer ties with the West. Since their establishment, Nabu and Sap have been involved in far-reaching investigations into the misappropriation of millions of dollars' worth of assets and bribes across various ministries and sectors. A joint investigation in 2023 resulted in the arrest of the head of Ukraine's Supreme Court, Vsevolod Kniaziev, in connection with a $3m (£2.4m; €2.9m) bribe.
