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Corporate America is at a breaking point. In recent years, major companies have abandoned financial responsibility in favor of woke activism, ESG mandates, and DEI-driven policies—and the results have been disastrous. Businesses once trusted by the public have alienated their customers, seen their stock values plummet, and faced growing backlash from consumers, investors, and lawmakers.
On a recent episode of United Patriots Uprising, host Gary Binford sat down with Charles Gasparino, veteran Fox Business Network correspondent and New York Times best-selling author, to discuss the findings in his latest book, Go Woke, Go Broke. Together, they examined how radical activism infiltrated corporate America and why some of the biggest business names are scrambling to undo the damage.
The Cost of Woke Policies
During the conversation, Gasparino outlined the troubling trend that has swept through corporate America, leaving businesses weakened and vulnerable. He pointed to Silicon Valley Bank as a prime example. This financial institution collapsed partly because executives focused more on diversity training and ESG compliance than essential risk management. Instead of protecting their clients and stabilizing their balance sheets, SVB leaders were busy signaling their progressive values, and when the economy shifted, the bank folded under its mismanagement.
Then came Bud Light, a brand that had spent decades establishing itself as a staple in American culture. But when the company made a marketing decision that alienated its core customer base by featuring trans activist Dylan Mulvaney, the backlash was swift and unforgiving. Sales plummeted overnight, leading to billions in lost revenue and a public relations nightmare from which Bud Light has yet to recover.
Disney found itself in a similar predicament. Once the gold standard for family-friendly entertainment, the company turned sharply into progressive politics, injecting woke messaging into its content. Parents fed up with the ideological shift voted with their wallets, canceling Disney+ subscriptions and skipping visits to the theme parks. The financial strain became evident, and now, Disney is quietly rolling back some of its DEI policies to regain public trust.
How Did Corporate America Get Here?
Gasparino explained that corporate leaders didn’t just wake up one day and decide to embrace radical activism—they were pressured into it. The rise of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores played a significant role in shaping business decisions. Investment firms like BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street used their financial influence to strong-arm CEOs into adopting progressive policies, tying ESG compliance to access to capital. If companies refused to play along, they risked losing funding and institutional backing.
At the same time, DEI activists infiltrated human resources departments, reshaping hiring and promotion policies. The emphasis shifted away from merit and experience, with companies instead prioritizing racial and gender quotas. This not only eroded workplace morale but also led to weakened leadership structures where ideological conformity mattered more than competence.
Adding to the problem, government intervention and media influence further reinforced woke policies. Gasparino pointed to the Obama administration’s role in pushing progressive regulations and left-wing media outlets that worked to smear and discredit companies that resisted. The pressure to comply was immense, and many CEOs went along rather than risk public attacks or activist-led boycotts.
The Growing Backlash
For years, these policies went largely unchallenged. But now, the tide is turning.
Conservative-led states like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee have begun divesting billions from ESG investment firms, cutting off the financial incentives that fueled corporate activism. Lawsuits challenging DEI-based hiring practices are gaining traction, with courts now weighing whether these policies violate civil rights laws.
Meanwhile, consumer-led boycotts have delivered a severe financial blow to brands that went too far. Bud Light’s losses continue to mount, Target has seen declining sales after its aggressive Pride Month marketing campaign, and Disney is struggling to recover from its political missteps.
Even some of the biggest ESG pushers are retreating. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, once one of the most vocal proponents of ESG, has begun to soften his stance, acknowledging the backlash from shareholders and conservative lawmakers.
What Comes Next?
Gasparino believes that while the corporate landscape is beginning to shift, the fight is far from over. Businesses that have suffered losses are now quietly reversing course, but many remain deeply entrenched in the woke ideology that led to their decline. Consumers, investors, and policymakers must keep up the pressure to see meaningful change.
His message to those who want to push back is simple: vote with your wallet. Support businesses that prioritize financial performance over activism. Hold corporations accountable when they promote ideological policies that undermine their success.
Gasparino’s book, Go Woke, Go Broke, provides a deep dive into how corporate America lost its way and what can be done to fix it. This book is essential for anyone looking to understand why businesses are in crisis and how the fight against corporate wokeness is playing out.
The full interview with Gary Binford is available on YouTube, Rumble, and other conservative platforms. As businesses continue to face economic fallout from ideological missteps, one thing is clear: corporate America can’t afford to ignore its customers any longer.
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Go Woke, Go Broke: The Inside Story of the Radicalization of Corporate America by Charles Gasparino (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
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A New York Times bestselling author and veteran Fox Business financial journalist’s explosive deep-dive into the progressive madness that has infected and corrupted the world’s biggest corporations, threatening the stability of the global economy—and life as we know it.
