Steakn Shake's right-wing pivot reveals corporate thirst for culture war engagement
Source: Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends
A regional burger chain's transformation into a political commentary account—complete with attacks on "woke" culture—exposes how brands now see culture war positioning as a growth lever, banking on algorithmic amplification and tribal loyalty over product differentiation. This isn't accidental brand voice drift; it's a calculated bet that inflammatory takes generate more engagement (and customer acquisition) than burger promotions, particularly among audiences fatigued by traditional advertising. The actual risk isn't backlash—it's saturation. Shock-value politics is becoming vanilla as every regional chain with a social team chases the same performative audience.