How Corporations Rob Americans Of The Joys Of Fixing Their Own Property
At the heart of the Right to Repair movement is human agency — the agency to use your property as you see fit.At the heart of the Right to Repair movement is human agency — the agency to use your property as you see fit.Robby Starbuck on Jack Daniel's exposé: We're 'winning our country back'
Conservative filmmaker turned consumer advocate Robby Starbuck was three for three — but he wasn't about to rest on his laurels.
On Monday his social media-fueled boycott of Harley-Davidson convinced the iconic American motorcycle company to walk back various leftist initiatives, including mandatory "LBGTQ+ ally" training for employees and DEI-focused hiring policies.
That same day, he informed Align that he was already working on another big target.
The victory against Harley-Davidson followed similarly effective campaigns against Tractor Supply and John Deere.
Brands like these are so much a part of our history that we can't just let them "go woke, go broke." We owe it to ourselves to preserve them.
The woke desecration of Harley-Davidson has been especially insulting. As Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck puts it:
Harley is one of the brands that helped win World War II. The Harley-Davidson WLA carried American GIs to war against the Nazis. The WLA was brought back to the United States, and a new era of motorcycles was born after the veterans began chopping them up for civilians to use. The “chopper” was born.
Veterans returning from war from the 1940s through today have ridden Harleys as both a therapeutic mechanism to deal with what they saw on the battlefield and as an homage to experience the openness of American freedom. And that legacy has been taught and handed down to Harley-Davidson riders from father to son enthusiastically since 1903.
Thanks to Starbuck's efforts, that legacy has been preserved — for now.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
Shortly after Harley-Davidson's capitulation, Starbuck told Align that he and his small team were already at work on the next target.
While he declined to name the company — "We have someone in the field filming and can’t take any risk something accidentally gets out" — Starbuck promised "a powerful takedown" in the near future.
Word did get out. Less than twelve hours later, Starbuck revealed that his intended target — Jack Daniel's — had gotten wise to his plan. Incredibly, the mere threat of exposure was enough to make the company pre-emptively change its DEI-motivated policies.
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"We are winning and one by one we will bring sanity back to corporate America," posted Starbuck.
It's nothing Starbuck takes credit for personally. "We’re just a megaphone for the anger Americans have towards this divisive ideology," he said.
What started as a grassroots movement has encountered some growing pains as it expands, admits Starbuck: "To be perfectly candid, right now our biggest issue is scaling this. We have well over 1,000 whistleblowers and need to hire some trusted people to get the tips and evidence coming in. To appropriately organize the stories and put them out takes a lot of manpower hours."
Those who want to help with funding Starbuck's work holding companies accountable can subscribe to his X page (@robbystarbuck) for $5 a month.
But your time and attention can also make a difference. "Stay engaged with what we’re posting and take the five minutes to email or call the companies we expose," urged Starbuck. "That time investment is winning our country back."
Harley-Davidson went WOKE — it’s up to us stop other American icons from doing the same
If there’s one company you’d expect to be exploding with hardcore American values, it’s the famed, American made, tough guy motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson.
Which is why Glenn Beck was absolutely shocked when filmmaker Robby Starbuck exposed Harley-Davidson, among others, for DEI-related policies that flew directly in the face of what being an American means.
“There used to be a time when we took pride in the maintenance of America, the maintenance of American heritage,” Glenn says. “It’s exactly what it was: American heritage. American brands like John Deere, Tractor Supply, Ford, Chevrolet, Indian, and Harley-Davidson.”
“We protected their legacy. We worked on their products in the fields, in our home, garages,” he continues, adding, “There was no agenda here outside of pure American greatness.”
Now, these companies are being infiltrated by people who “get their marching orders from people like Larry Fink at Black Rock” — which becomes obvious when you see what they’ve been supporting.
Harley-Davidson not only got behind the “equality act,” which would allow men into girls bathrooms, sports, and locker rooms, but the company funded an all-ages Pride event that featured a rage room next to the drag queen story time.
In addition, 1800 employees had to finish a virtual training on how to become LGBTQ+ allies, and the CEO signed the CEO action for diversity and inclusion pledge — making February and March “months of inclusion.”
White male employees were sent to a white male-only diversity training program, and the company itself is attempting to lower the number of white suppliers and employees it has.
While the company has apologized and is now walking back its leftist agenda, Glenn believes it's up to Americans to remind these companies of why they’re here and what they stand for.
“Do yourself a favor, do your country a favor. Reconnect your children to the basics of what American products are, what made them so great, why 'American Made' is more than just a slogan,” Glenn says.
“It represents the weary men and women working in factories, in small towns, all across middle America, who are trying to give their kids a better life,” he continues. “Teach your kids that getting their hands dirty is a good thing, something fought, bled, and sweat for has meaningful value.”
“And that’s who we are as Americans. It benefits the family. It supports the community. It spreads that beloved American brand all over the country and the world. That connection goes all the way to the top of the corporate boardroom, that connection that you have, that power that that spirit creates, that’s what globalists fear most.”
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The end of DEI hires? LEGENDARY companies make shocking anti-woke changes
Americans across the country are undoubtedly getting sick of the woke virus invading every facet of their everyday lives — but they’re not the only ones.
“It’s not just individual people waking up now. Massive corporations, many of whom have been the prime drivers of this woke nonsense, they’re waking up too,” Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” explains.
One of those companies is Microsoft, which has just laid off its entire DEI team.
It was reported that a team leader sent an email out explaining that the DEI initiatives were no longer necessary. The company Zoom also laid off a DEI team earlier in the year, while Google and Meta (Facebook) have made cuts to DEI following their 2020 pledges.
Last year, CNBC reported that DEI related job postings declined 44% in mid 2023 from the same time period in 2022. By November 2023, the job postings had dropped by 23%.
Farm equipment manufacturer John Deere jumped on the bandwagon as well. The company has said it will no longer sponsor “social or cultural awareness” events. In a statement posted to X, the company also said it would audit all training materials “to ensure the absence of socially motivated-messages.”
“Do you guys realize how absolutely massive this is?” Rubin asks. “DEI and these woke programs and bringing in engineers based on the color of their skin, or bringing in technical people because they like to have that genital in their mouth as opposed to that genital in their mouth was never a thing that was going to help you do business.”
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After Tractor Supply victory, a normalcy advocate is taking John Deere to task over its woke capture
The Tennessee-based retail chain Tractor Supply Co., established in 1938, fell captive to DEI and other systems ostensibly crafted to maximize corporate compliance with leftist ideology.
As Carmel Richardson recently noted in Compact magazine, the company not only required its employees to undergo compulsory "LGBTQIA+ training" but funded sex-change mutilations through its health plan and sponsored so-called "family-friendly" transvestite performances.
Having undoubtedly gleaned insights into corporations' low tolerance for consumer backlash from the Bud Light saga, conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck and others campaigned to test Tractor Supply's commitment to race-obsessive policies, gender ideology, and an altogether alienating radical worldview.
Realizing that such commitments were unpopular with its customer base, Tractor Supply quickly abandoned its woke posturing, announcing on June 27 that it had taken "this feedback to heart."
The company revealed that it would no longer submit data to the mammoth LGBT activist group known as the Human Rights Campaign; would eliminate "DEI roles and retire [its] current DEI goals"; withdraw its carbon emission goals; and refocus its team member engagement groups on mentoring, networking, and supporting the business.
While this singular battle against woke was won in short order, the broader war rages on.
Starbuck shared a video to X on Tuesday, indicating that the next battle would be aimed at liberating John Deere. Deere & Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as DE — a stock that has taken a tumble in recent months.
The conservative filmmaker noted that John Deere "has been one of the most beloved brands by conservative farmers but recently on CEO John May's watch, they've gone woke."
Starbuck cited the company's sponsorship of pride events for children, its expectation that employees state their "preferred pronouns" -- "such as he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs" -- in all communications, and its commitment to DEI policies as three of several signs of the company's ideological capture.
According to the company's code of business conduct, employees are expected to support diversity, equity, and inclusion and complete "required diversity awareness training to better understand [their] responsibilities in this area."
'John Deere seems to have forgotten who their customers are.'
Last year, Human Rights Campaign gave John Deere a score of 95 out of possible 100. According to the LGBT lobby group, Deere & Co.
- provides "four LGBTQ+ internal training elements (including an intersectionality training)";
- provides at "least one LGBTQ+ inclusive data collection effort";
- provides "Gender Transition Guidelines and ata least one additional transgender inclusive policy or practice for its employees";
- has "either an LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group or an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Diversity Council";
- has at least five distinct "LGBTQ+ efforts of Outreach or Engagement to Broader LGBTQ+ Community";
- follows "an LGBTQ+ Supplier Non-Discrimination policy ... and an LGBTQ+ inclusive philanthropic giving guideline"; and
- has an employment non-discrimination policy that "includes sexual orientation and gender identity for all operations."
Besides the company's apparent efforts to pander to LGBT activists, Starbuck took issue with John Deere's apparent de-prioritization of American workers, noting that "Deere also just announced layoffs in the US and that they plan to shift large segments of production away from the US to Mexico."
The company is planning to fire roughly 600 employees across three American factories amidst a shift of production to a facility in Ramos, Mexico, reported CNN.
As of Aug. 30, around 310 American employees will lose their jobs at two Iowa-based John Deere plants in Dubuque and Davenport. Another 280 workers will be laid off from a factory in East Moline, Illinois.
Extra to canning American workers and chasing after LGBT activists' approval, the company appears immune to the pleading of groups like the National Legal and Policy Center, which has criticized in recent months John Deere's pursuit of so-called "green" policies, which appear to be at odds with the very industries it serves.
"To put it mildly," wrote Starbuck, "John Deere seems to have forgotten who their customers are. Having a farm myself, I'm disgusted that a once great American brand is now taking this turn to seemingly embrace leftist policies that are diametrically opposed to the values of most farmers."
"What's unknown is whether CEO John May is knowingly forcing these policies or if it's gotten out of control and he's out of the loop on how bad it is," continued Starbuck. "His response to this story will be very revealing as to his culpability in the implementation of woke policies."
In his video, Starbuck provided potential customers who might want to speak out with the company's email and corporate service number, noting that his intent is not destruction but rather to "inform consumers about the values major companies are adopting so they can make choices about what they're willing to support."
"When we use our voices and wallets to vote our values, we can change the world and we can restore great American companies to a culture of sanity, meritocracy and culture war neutrality OR we can inspire competitors to step up to the plate to fight for our business," added Starbuck.
As with his previous video criticizing Tractor Supply, Starbuck's latest critique appears to have gone viral, netting well over 4 million views just on X.
Blaze News has reached out to John Deere for comment and will update this article in the event of a reply.
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'Oppressive child labor': DOL fines manufacturer for illegally employing migrant children to 'operate dangerous machinery'
The United States Department of Labor imposed nearly $2 million in fines against a Tennessee manufacturer for "employing children to operate dangerous machinery" and "requiring them to work more hours than the law allows," a Monday press release from the agency revealed.
A Labor Department investigation found 10 children subjected to "oppressive child labor" at a Tuff Torq factory in Morristown. The manufacturer produces outdoor power equipment components for several companies, including John Deere, Toro, and Yamaha.
The children working at the facility were immigrants as young as 14 years old, according to NBC News.
According to the DOL's Wage and Hour Division, the children worked "dangerous" positions at the facility.
"Division investigators began its probe months ago but obtained clear evidence of the unlawful conduct on Jan. 23, 2024, when they returned to the Tuff Torq facility and observed a child operating a power-driven hoisting apparatus, an occupation prohibited for workers under the age of 18," the department's press release read. "As a result, the department objected to the shipment of goods from the Morristown facility, citing the Fair Labor Standards Act's 'hot goods' provision, which prevents employers from shipping goods produced by oppressive child labor."
Tuff Torq was ordered to pay a $296,951 civil penalty and "set aside $1.5 million as disgorgement of 30 days' profits related to its use of child labor."
"The proceeds paid by Tuff Torq will be used for the benefit of the children employed illegally," the DOL stated.
In addition to paying the civil fine, the manufacturer has also agreed to provide staff training, establish a child labor tip line, permit "unannounced and warrantless searches" for three years, and avoid using staffing agencies with child labor violations.
Wage and Hour Division administrator Jessica Looman declared, "Even one child working in a dangerous environment is too many."
"Over the past year, we have seen an alarming increase in child labor violations, and these violations put children in harm's way. With this agreement, we are ensuring Tuff Torq takes immediate and significant steps to stop the illegal employment of children. When employers fail to meet their obligations, we will act swiftly to hold them accountable and protect children," she stated.
Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda believes the DOL's agreement with Tuff Torq will hold the manufacturer accountable and discourage future child labor violations.
"This agreement puts in practice what we have long been saying. The department will not tolerate companies profiting on the backs of children employed unlawfully in dangerous occupations. Tuff Torq has agreed to disgorge profits, which will go to the benefit of the children. This sends a clear message: putting children in harm's way in the workplace is not only illegal, but also comes with significant financial consequences," Nanda said.
Ryan Pott, Tuff Torq's legal representative, stated that the children who were illegally working at the facility were temporary hires not directly employed by the manufacturer, NBC News reported. According to the company, the children provided falsified identification to a third-party staffing agency.
Tuff Torq is "transitioning" away from partnering with the staffing company, Pott explained.
"Tuff Torq is dedicated to ensuring that their products and services are produced under ethical conditions, with a strong emphasis on fair labor practices, and Tuff Torq is further strengthening our relevant training and compliance programs," Pott told NBC News. "We are also actively engaging with our suppliers to reinforce our expectations regarding ethical labor practices and collaborate with them on implementing our updated policies."
The DOL investigated 955 child labor violation cases involving 5,792 children in fiscal year 2023.
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