At the beginning of December, the Trump administration launched “Operation Metro Surge,” sending thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal officers to the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area.
The irony here is that these corporations can likely afford any temporary blowback from making a more principled stance. Small businesses losing a day's revenue and giving out free food? That's bound to be more impactful on their bottom line, but they're doing it anyway. Some matters are more important than "number goes up." At least that's how it should be.
Does anyone have a list of local businesses that are doing the right thing and need our help? Perhaps Gov. Walz can find some small business financial support in the state budget? Let’s shift our buying local as we can.
Can we say and do the obvious? Support your community wherever you are through your presence and your dollars spent. Even in large metro areas we are still just small towns held together by the same passion - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is the ideal of America. Do what you can with what you have in the place that you are. Thank you Judd for your daily reminder.
It was murder. In Cold Blood, linked below, explains that almost frame by frame with photos (screen shots from the pink hat lady video). Three peaceful observers were physically assaulted. One was violently physically assaulted, and worse, one was clearly murdered by illegal lethal force. After the fact, federally enforced impunity resulted in criminal obstruction of justice in a conspiracy. The conspiracy involves two heads of cabinet-level agencies and the President of the United States, et al. Watch from the moment that ICE Agent 1 exits his vehicle.
This contrast is devastating. In 2020, these same CEOs explicitly condemned George Floyd’s murder: “suffocating as a police officer kneeled on his neck,” “murder,” “horrific.” In 2026? “Calling for deescalation.” “Finding real solutions.”
Empty language that says nothing.
The difference: In 2020, condemning Floyd’s murder cost them nothing. Public opinion supported it. In 2026, condemning federal agents murdering protesters risks retaliation from a regime that threatens sovereignty, imposes tariffs, and operates outside law.
So corporate courage evaporates exactly when it matters most.
Meanwhile, small businesses in Minneapolis, the ones who actually can’t afford it, closed for a day, gave away free food and coffee, put up signs saying “ICE Out.” Al’s Breakfast owner: “There’s a time to stand up for things, and this is it.”
Target, Best Buy, 3M, General Mills…they won’t even answer whether they condemn the killings. Not “we support law enforcement.” Not “we need more information.” Just silence when directly asked.
This shows more than anything else that the incentive structure is wrong.
This is how authoritarianism consolidates. Small businesses risk everything to protect their neighbors. Corporations with billions calculate that appeasing the regime costs less than opposing it.
The small businesses understand what the CEOs won’t admit: if they don’t stand up now, there won’t be a “later” to stand up.
Do not lose sight of reality - the CEOs of these corporations simply live in a different world than the rest of us. Paid hundreds of times more than the people who actually make the company profitable. Flying private, not commercial. Driven by chauffeurs back and forth to work from their private gated communities. They are far more afraid of and impacted by potential blowback from Trump and his enablers than they are from a furious customer base.
I was just thinking of this when I came upon your remark. Those CEOs have no actual skin in the game in those communities. They can talk out of both sides of their mouth to try to appease enough customers and shareholders to keep raking in profits, while placating this corrupt administration. But they don’t see what is happening day to day on the ground except in the most abstract of ways. We need sustained, broad strikes and boycotts of these big companies. They don’t seem to understand anything except their own bottom line.
Also keep in mind that a large portion of their compensation is tied to the stock price. That's why the Tesla Takedown was so effective, it took close to $200 off the share price (since recovered for no real good reason). Boycott their businesses and demonstrate in front as well. Sadly many of these companies have multiple tentacles and that makes them hard to boycott effectively. But that is not the case with Target, ATT, US Bank, United Healthcare (go after AARP on them as well), etc.
I live in Massachusetts and I think after looking at news footage, interviews, articles and studying a map of Minneapolis, I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE GROUND. Do not excuse the ivory towers of wealth and comfort for a peaceful existence. Judd named names now it is up to us to write emails. Costs nothing, you can say what you want short of threats and you can tell those entitled CEOs what's what because, apparently, they refuse to acknowledge that their city is burning and their people are fn furious. I hope most if not all of these CEOs have children because kids say the darndest things.
It is those CEO's -- with all their contributions to Republican candidates and PACs -- that put the terrorist trump regime into power. They are complicit and they don't get a pass, no matter how many "strongly worded letters" they sign their names to. America will not return to its ideals until the monopolies (Amazon, Meta, etc.) are broken up, Citizens United is overturned and all elections are funded by the public and not by wealthy individuals and corporations. That is where our efforts and pressure need to massively increase. Thank you, Judd Legum and Popular Information for shining the light on the oligarchs.
Trump and Vance are no longer sustainable with or without the silence or corporate cowards. Scott Galloway has some good recommendations on the necessary legitimate and lawful steps to take economically to further bring down this regime.
Twump and Judy were never sustainable but like a bad patch of weather are something we need to get through and shovel the shit after the storm. Meanwhile, we have our VOICES, the power of the pen and our outrage. Any of us could be George Floyd, Renee Good or Alex Pretti, not to mention the neighbors from the South who came to this country seeking a better life, who walked thousands of miles through jungle to get here, who went through the right channels to attain some sort of paperwork to allow them to continue their paperwork for probably 15 years, to become citizens. I know my Irish forebears entered the U.S. in various ways, some by ocean liner, some by passenger ship, some through Canada, and some walked across the border. They dug the subways in NY, built the railroad out west and got good jobs as cops and maids in Georgia. We need our immigrants, they make America America. Let's deport those who suck the freedom out of democracy: Stephen the MIller, Kristi Gnome, Tom (whatsinthebagforme) Homan, that midget Bovino and especially Commander Judy Vance. Send them to North Greenland, they want it so bad.
The lack of calling out the obvious by the Minnesota corporations is directly related to Trump's 2.0 campaign of punishing businesses, law firms, universities, media and individuals who disagree with him. Just ask Tim Cook. Or Jeff Bezos. Or Mark Zuckerberg. Even though Trump appears to be "recalibrating" the ICE assaults on Minneapolis, don't hold your breath that he has come to Jesus. He and Stephen Miller still want immigrant pain and suffering; they just got caught up in the spectacle and off guard that the blowback would be so competent. If it weren't for the amazing push back by protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti would not be the last ones killed. Those corporations ought to think about that.
Do not obey in advance. Since these companies not only obeyed in advance abandoning any possible humanity, push back - boycott AND contact the companies telling them why. Find alternatives. Divest from these companies stocks.
I was encouraged by Mark Carney referencing Vaclav Havel’s book “The Power of the Powerless”, and particularly in Timothy Snyder’ Introduction in a more recent addition to Vaclav Havel’s book. That in turn led me to “On Tyranny”, and the more recent and timely “On Freedom”…
Wise words that needed to be written and read (more widely). I spent my career in the communications / public relations field. We sought to tell stories of fact, bring communities together and be transparent. And we helped our clients make impact. After the murder of George Floyd, I worked closely with a senior colleague on our internal reaction and commitment to respond in the right way. I'm most proud of what we collectively did. The same kind of commitment was seen by so many others. Yet, it was temporal. And today, it seems to be in short supply.
So far, two MURDERS have been committed in Minnesota by Federal Agents. MURDER is a crime. The MURDERERS must be held to account. The Nazi’s in Germany committed murders. THE ONLY difference between the murders by the Nazi’s and the murders committed by Federal Agents in Minnesota, all of which were committed in plain sight, is that the Nazi’s did not lie about the murders they committed. Trump, Miller, Bondi, Noem, Blanche, Patel are all lying about the murders that were committed.
I believe the tepid response from MN Big Corp shows that the year of slurs, intimidation, and actions from the White House and the administration in response to criticism has intimidated them. We know this is the wrong way to face down a bully. I'm very concerned for the next city ICE is deployed to.
Notice the letter came from the chamber and as a group so they could have some distance and collective cover to avoid having to address this as real people. They are all afraid of the wrath of Trump. And, many just don’t care. Let’s not forget Target’s silence when ICE terrorized one of its young workers. Economic protests are the way to hit their bottomline and get their attention but it won’t change most CEO’s mindset.
When peaceful protesters according to Trump & ICE are the worst of the worst domestic terrorists etc disguised in bunny hats boxer shorts & feigning disabilities
Renee Goode & Alex Pretti are just the latest victims.
The corporate response to the ICE surge in Minnesota, or anywhere else, is not surprising. I could argue that corporations have the right to pick and choose which fights they want to get into, they are in the business of commerce not politics. For me it is just like the evangelicals inserting themselves into politics, they, nor any religious group should be anywhere near Congress or the White House. That said, this is the first president since maybe Nixon to use the Justice Department and the courts to persecute corporations suing for settlements that go into his personal bank account. Look at the $5B lawsuit against JPMC. Admittedly it has little chance of even getting to court, it still represents an extraordinary and useless expense on the part of the bank to defend itself while the president can afford himself the unlimited budget of the Justice Department. Let’s not get self righteous here, we should delineate between those corporations like Oracle, META, Amazon, Palantir that are actively “paying to play” and those corporations who remain silent. As a shareholder I can agree that its easy to be self righteous when you don’t have any skin in the game.
I’m not saying I agree with Citizens United, which I don’t but suppose I was a shareholder in the company led by Mike Lindell, the pillow guy. As a shareholder I would stridently tell him that his personal politics have no business in the operation of MyPillow (or whatever the company is called) and that he can do one thing or another but wrapping the identity of the company into his personal crusade is not the role of any CEO. Most companies have to navigate treacherous waters with this dictator in the Oval Office and it is not easy in today’s climate to take a stand that does not alienate one group of another. If you promote LGBTQ friendly policies then you get a raft of red state AG’s filing lawsuits with massive discovery subpoenas. The abuse of the court system to persecute based on personal politics has gotten way out of hand.
Judd! Once again naming names. I love it. This sentence from 2020: “It is hard to watch the video of the event as it is clearly evident Mr. Floyd was not treated with the dignity and respect he was due as a human being.” is a wonderful heartfelt empathetic bunch of words that should be applied to anyone who is shot in the street (et cetera) by law enforcement. Not once did I see de-escalation in either Good's or Pretti's killing. Not once did I see respect or, (ha!) dignity afforded these people, like Floyd, murdered by law enforcement. That letter from the MN CoC is unsweetened pablum.
That “statement” just added insult to injury. These ceos are so afraid of the orange menace they have lost all their morals and humanity by kissing the ring.
Time to demand ICE raid every single property, so called resort & business of TRUMP and SONS..."disappear" all persons with suspicious "coloring/language/accent", fly them to another state, hold them in ill equipped detention centers with poor hygiene, food and no access to their medications, refuse their request to call their lawyer or family, keep them there for weeks and then deport them to their country of origin in the dead of night without due process.
The irony here is that these corporations can likely afford any temporary blowback from making a more principled stance. Small businesses losing a day's revenue and giving out free food? That's bound to be more impactful on their bottom line, but they're doing it anyway. Some matters are more important than "number goes up." At least that's how it should be.
Does anyone have a list of local businesses that are doing the right thing and need our help? Perhaps Gov. Walz can find some small business financial support in the state budget? Let’s shift our buying local as we can.
Can we say and do the obvious? Support your community wherever you are through your presence and your dollars spent. Even in large metro areas we are still just small towns held together by the same passion - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is the ideal of America. Do what you can with what you have in the place that you are. Thank you Judd for your daily reminder.
It was murder. In Cold Blood, linked below, explains that almost frame by frame with photos (screen shots from the pink hat lady video). Three peaceful observers were physically assaulted. One was violently physically assaulted, and worse, one was clearly murdered by illegal lethal force. After the fact, federally enforced impunity resulted in criminal obstruction of justice in a conspiracy. The conspiracy involves two heads of cabinet-level agencies and the President of the United States, et al. Watch from the moment that ICE Agent 1 exits his vehicle.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/in-cold-blood?r=3m1bs
Thank you for calling it what it is: a conspiracy. There's laws against criminal conspiracy.
Since Judd did not, I will mention that the Chamber of Commerce is a right leaning, GOP-loving, ultraconservative organization.
This contrast is devastating. In 2020, these same CEOs explicitly condemned George Floyd’s murder: “suffocating as a police officer kneeled on his neck,” “murder,” “horrific.” In 2026? “Calling for deescalation.” “Finding real solutions.”
Empty language that says nothing.
The difference: In 2020, condemning Floyd’s murder cost them nothing. Public opinion supported it. In 2026, condemning federal agents murdering protesters risks retaliation from a regime that threatens sovereignty, imposes tariffs, and operates outside law.
So corporate courage evaporates exactly when it matters most.
Meanwhile, small businesses in Minneapolis, the ones who actually can’t afford it, closed for a day, gave away free food and coffee, put up signs saying “ICE Out.” Al’s Breakfast owner: “There’s a time to stand up for things, and this is it.”
Target, Best Buy, 3M, General Mills…they won’t even answer whether they condemn the killings. Not “we support law enforcement.” Not “we need more information.” Just silence when directly asked.
This shows more than anything else that the incentive structure is wrong.
This is how authoritarianism consolidates. Small businesses risk everything to protect their neighbors. Corporations with billions calculate that appeasing the regime costs less than opposing it.
The small businesses understand what the CEOs won’t admit: if they don’t stand up now, there won’t be a “later” to stand up.
— Johan
Former Foreign Service Officer
Do not lose sight of reality - the CEOs of these corporations simply live in a different world than the rest of us. Paid hundreds of times more than the people who actually make the company profitable. Flying private, not commercial. Driven by chauffeurs back and forth to work from their private gated communities. They are far more afraid of and impacted by potential blowback from Trump and his enablers than they are from a furious customer base.
I was just thinking of this when I came upon your remark. Those CEOs have no actual skin in the game in those communities. They can talk out of both sides of their mouth to try to appease enough customers and shareholders to keep raking in profits, while placating this corrupt administration. But they don’t see what is happening day to day on the ground except in the most abstract of ways. We need sustained, broad strikes and boycotts of these big companies. They don’t seem to understand anything except their own bottom line.
Also keep in mind that a large portion of their compensation is tied to the stock price. That's why the Tesla Takedown was so effective, it took close to $200 off the share price (since recovered for no real good reason). Boycott their businesses and demonstrate in front as well. Sadly many of these companies have multiple tentacles and that makes them hard to boycott effectively. But that is not the case with Target, ATT, US Bank, United Healthcare (go after AARP on them as well), etc.
I live in Massachusetts and I think after looking at news footage, interviews, articles and studying a map of Minneapolis, I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE GROUND. Do not excuse the ivory towers of wealth and comfort for a peaceful existence. Judd named names now it is up to us to write emails. Costs nothing, you can say what you want short of threats and you can tell those entitled CEOs what's what because, apparently, they refuse to acknowledge that their city is burning and their people are fn furious. I hope most if not all of these CEOs have children because kids say the darndest things.
It is those CEO's -- with all their contributions to Republican candidates and PACs -- that put the terrorist trump regime into power. They are complicit and they don't get a pass, no matter how many "strongly worded letters" they sign their names to. America will not return to its ideals until the monopolies (Amazon, Meta, etc.) are broken up, Citizens United is overturned and all elections are funded by the public and not by wealthy individuals and corporations. That is where our efforts and pressure need to massively increase. Thank you, Judd Legum and Popular Information for shining the light on the oligarchs.
Trump and Vance are no longer sustainable with or without the silence or corporate cowards. Scott Galloway has some good recommendations on the necessary legitimate and lawful steps to take economically to further bring down this regime.
Twump and Judy were never sustainable but like a bad patch of weather are something we need to get through and shovel the shit after the storm. Meanwhile, we have our VOICES, the power of the pen and our outrage. Any of us could be George Floyd, Renee Good or Alex Pretti, not to mention the neighbors from the South who came to this country seeking a better life, who walked thousands of miles through jungle to get here, who went through the right channels to attain some sort of paperwork to allow them to continue their paperwork for probably 15 years, to become citizens. I know my Irish forebears entered the U.S. in various ways, some by ocean liner, some by passenger ship, some through Canada, and some walked across the border. They dug the subways in NY, built the railroad out west and got good jobs as cops and maids in Georgia. We need our immigrants, they make America America. Let's deport those who suck the freedom out of democracy: Stephen the MIller, Kristi Gnome, Tom (whatsinthebagforme) Homan, that midget Bovino and especially Commander Judy Vance. Send them to North Greenland, they want it so bad.
The lack of calling out the obvious by the Minnesota corporations is directly related to Trump's 2.0 campaign of punishing businesses, law firms, universities, media and individuals who disagree with him. Just ask Tim Cook. Or Jeff Bezos. Or Mark Zuckerberg. Even though Trump appears to be "recalibrating" the ICE assaults on Minneapolis, don't hold your breath that he has come to Jesus. He and Stephen Miller still want immigrant pain and suffering; they just got caught up in the spectacle and off guard that the blowback would be so competent. If it weren't for the amazing push back by protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti would not be the last ones killed. Those corporations ought to think about that.
And, Trump the bully will never let up. Nothing or no one he takes and destroys will be enough for him.
When he gets to hell the devil will never let him win. That's his eternity: losing to the monsters he pardoned.
I am glad you are optimistic about Good and Pretti being the last ones killed. I believe they are only the beginning.
Tim Snyder in “On Tyranny” stated:
Do not obey in advance. Since these companies not only obeyed in advance abandoning any possible humanity, push back - boycott AND contact the companies telling them why. Find alternatives. Divest from these companies stocks.
I was encouraged by Mark Carney referencing Vaclav Havel’s book “The Power of the Powerless”, and particularly in Timothy Snyder’ Introduction in a more recent addition to Vaclav Havel’s book. That in turn led me to “On Tyranny”, and the more recent and timely “On Freedom”…
Snyder gave us a blueprint to not let this happen, but too many people continue to ignore it. Carney’s speech was inspirational..
Wise words that needed to be written and read (more widely). I spent my career in the communications / public relations field. We sought to tell stories of fact, bring communities together and be transparent. And we helped our clients make impact. After the murder of George Floyd, I worked closely with a senior colleague on our internal reaction and commitment to respond in the right way. I'm most proud of what we collectively did. The same kind of commitment was seen by so many others. Yet, it was temporal. And today, it seems to be in short supply.
So far, two MURDERS have been committed in Minnesota by Federal Agents. MURDER is a crime. The MURDERERS must be held to account. The Nazi’s in Germany committed murders. THE ONLY difference between the murders by the Nazi’s and the murders committed by Federal Agents in Minnesota, all of which were committed in plain sight, is that the Nazi’s did not lie about the murders they committed. Trump, Miller, Bondi, Noem, Blanche, Patel are all lying about the murders that were committed.
And Twump, Stephen the Miller, Spam Bondi, Kristi Gnome, Commander Judy Vance, Blaaaanche and Pitter Patter Patel will all pay in one way of another.
I believe the tepid response from MN Big Corp shows that the year of slurs, intimidation, and actions from the White House and the administration in response to criticism has intimidated them. We know this is the wrong way to face down a bully. I'm very concerned for the next city ICE is deployed to.
Sixty CEOs collectively intimidated? No, I would say some of these big shots thought the letter went too far.
Notice the letter came from the chamber and as a group so they could have some distance and collective cover to avoid having to address this as real people. They are all afraid of the wrath of Trump. And, many just don’t care. Let’s not forget Target’s silence when ICE terrorized one of its young workers. Economic protests are the way to hit their bottomline and get their attention but it won’t change most CEO’s mindset.
When peaceful protesters according to Trump & ICE are the worst of the worst domestic terrorists etc disguised in bunny hats boxer shorts & feigning disabilities
Renee Goode & Alex Pretti are just the latest victims.
Resist MAGA gangster grifter authoritarianism!
Vote Sane. #VoteBlue!
The corporate response to the ICE surge in Minnesota, or anywhere else, is not surprising. I could argue that corporations have the right to pick and choose which fights they want to get into, they are in the business of commerce not politics. For me it is just like the evangelicals inserting themselves into politics, they, nor any religious group should be anywhere near Congress or the White House. That said, this is the first president since maybe Nixon to use the Justice Department and the courts to persecute corporations suing for settlements that go into his personal bank account. Look at the $5B lawsuit against JPMC. Admittedly it has little chance of even getting to court, it still represents an extraordinary and useless expense on the part of the bank to defend itself while the president can afford himself the unlimited budget of the Justice Department. Let’s not get self righteous here, we should delineate between those corporations like Oracle, META, Amazon, Palantir that are actively “paying to play” and those corporations who remain silent. As a shareholder I can agree that its easy to be self righteous when you don’t have any skin in the game.
Thanks to Citizens United, corporations are people, right?
But people whose only motivation is money, I guess.
I’m not saying I agree with Citizens United, which I don’t but suppose I was a shareholder in the company led by Mike Lindell, the pillow guy. As a shareholder I would stridently tell him that his personal politics have no business in the operation of MyPillow (or whatever the company is called) and that he can do one thing or another but wrapping the identity of the company into his personal crusade is not the role of any CEO. Most companies have to navigate treacherous waters with this dictator in the Oval Office and it is not easy in today’s climate to take a stand that does not alienate one group of another. If you promote LGBTQ friendly policies then you get a raft of red state AG’s filing lawsuits with massive discovery subpoenas. The abuse of the court system to persecute based on personal politics has gotten way out of hand.
Judd! Once again naming names. I love it. This sentence from 2020: “It is hard to watch the video of the event as it is clearly evident Mr. Floyd was not treated with the dignity and respect he was due as a human being.” is a wonderful heartfelt empathetic bunch of words that should be applied to anyone who is shot in the street (et cetera) by law enforcement. Not once did I see de-escalation in either Good's or Pretti's killing. Not once did I see respect or, (ha!) dignity afforded these people, like Floyd, murdered by law enforcement. That letter from the MN CoC is unsweetened pablum.
That “statement” just added insult to injury. These ceos are so afraid of the orange menace they have lost all their morals and humanity by kissing the ring.
You give 60 companies a lot of credit to suggest that they had morals and humanity to lose. I'm dubious.
Time to demand ICE raid every single property, so called resort & business of TRUMP and SONS..."disappear" all persons with suspicious "coloring/language/accent", fly them to another state, hold them in ill equipped detention centers with poor hygiene, food and no access to their medications, refuse their request to call their lawyer or family, keep them there for weeks and then deport them to their country of origin in the dead of night without due process.