(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



Giving in to a Mean and Heartless President [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-07-07

Thinking of going to the movies? Getting yourself a soft drink? Hiring a lawyer? Starting college?

Here are the companies that have shamed themselves by giving in to Trump's absurd and mean-spirited demands, in many cases without putting up much -- or any! -- resistance.

Keep them in mind as you make your decisions where to spend your hard-earned dollars.

Media Organizations:

Paramount Global (CBS): Agreed to pay $16 million to settle Trump's legal action against "60 Minutes" over the editing of an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. This was widely seen internally as a capitulation to clear the path for a merger.

ABC News (Disney): Agreed to pay $15 million towards Trump's presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit. Disney reportedly feared a protracted legal battle and escalated attacks from Trump.

Washington Post: Jeff Bezos announced that the Post's opinion section would narrow its focus to "personal liberties and free markets," and that "viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others." Editors and staff left the paper in droves, citing Bezos's desire to "mollify an intensely vindictive president" and protect his other business interests, such as Amazon and Blue Origin.

Law Firms:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP: Agreed to a deal that included commitments regarding pro bono services for Trump-supported causes and changes to their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom: Reached a similar deal, agreeing to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services and to disavow DEI considerations in hiring.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher: Agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono services for Trump-supported causes, commit to merit-based hiring and promotion, and represent clients regardless of political affiliation.

Milbank: Agreed to a deal to shield themselves from becoming a target of an executive order.

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP: Agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono services to Trump-supported causes, represent clients regardless of political affiliations, and commit to merit-based hiring practices, reportedly to avoid being targeted by an executive order. They also agreed not to engage in any DEI programs.

Allen Overy Shearman Sterling; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Latham & Watkins; Kirkland & Ellis: Several large U.S. law firms agreed to provide a combined $500 million in pro bono services to Trump-supported causes, represent clients regardless of political affiliation, and commit to merit-based hiring practices to avoid an executive order targeting their practices. They also agreed to end their DEI programs.

Universities:

Columbia University: Disclosed policy changes and overhauled rules for protests and student discipline after being threatened with the loss of billions of dollars in federal funding, following accusations of inaction during campus protests. They also created a new senior administrative position to find the right "balance" in Middle East, South Asian and African Studies.

Harvard University: While initially resisting some demands and even suing, Harvard quietly dismantled its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office and ceased funding affinity group celebrations during Commencement, amid investigations from the Trump administration's civil rights offices.

Technology and Financial Companies:

Meta (Facebook): Agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump against the company after it suspended his accounts. This settlement came after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated to Trump's inaugural fund. Additionally, Meta has ended its diverse-slate hiring approach and disbanded its internal DEI team, citing the "shifting legal and policy landscape."

Six biggest US banks (Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citi Bank, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan): Reportedly withdrew from a key industry climate alliance amid a Republican-led campaign against ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing, which aligns with the Trump administration's anti-climate agenda. Citigroup also "pulled the plug" on most of its DEI, citing government contracts. Goldman Sachs also dropped a stipulation requiring companies it takes public to have at least two diverse board members.

BlackRock: Withdrew from the Net-Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative, an international group committed to reaching net-zero emissions.

Google: Has scrapped its goal to hire more employees from underrepresented groups and is reviewing other DEI initiatives.

Accenture: Scrapped its global diversity and inclusion goals, following an evaluation of the changing political landscape in the US.

Capital One: Reportedly stepped away from DEI programs.

Truist: Reportedly stepped away from DEI programs

Consumer Companies:

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/7/2332241/-Giving-in-to-a-Mean-and-Heartless-President?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/

You are viewing proxied material from magical.fish. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.