This week we are talking about boycotts—when they work, when they don’t, and why the recent Disney boycott was so effective.
We wanted to start with a moment of celebration: Jimmy Kimmel is back on ABC, and Sinclair and Nexstar have resumed airing his show. For once, a boycott delivered fast, visible results. We think that’s worth a little dance, a little cheer, and a reminder that wins—especially these days—are worth savoring.
So why did this boycott succeed when others fizzle? We see three main reasons:
* Disney’s reach is massive. Parks, cruises, streaming services, movies, merchandise, ESPN—consumers had countless ways to apply pressure. Revenue dropped immediately and market value followed.
* The outrage was bipartisan. It wasn’t just liberals pushing back on the attack on free speech; conservatives joined in. That gave Disney cover to reverse course.
* Disney didn’t need anything from the administration. Unlike Nexstar and Sinclair, which rely on government approvals for mergers, Disney wasn’t vulnerable to short-term federal leverage. That gave them more freedom to prioritize their customers over political pressure.
The immediacy of consumer action also mattered. People canceled or paused Hulu and Disney+, cut trips to the parks, and shared screenshots of their cancellations online. The speed and visibility amplified the impact.
And here’s an important lesson: once Disney reinstated Kimmel, many of us restarted our subscriptions. Rewarding companies when they do the right thing is as powerful as punishing them when they don’t. It keeps the leverage alive.
Boycotts aren’t always quick fixes. Target and Starbucks, for example, continue to feel the drag of ongoing consumer pushback but haven’t shifted course. Sometimes it takes months or years. But this Disney case reminds us that collective, coordinated action can work—and can work fast.
As always, we close with a few actions for this week:
* Keep talking about Proposition 50 (redistricting) in California, and if you can, donate or sign up for canvassing and phone calling.
* Join a No Kings Day event near you on October 18.
* Write postcards to voters in Pennsylvania, where judicial elections are critical for protecting voting rights.
And on a personal note, we shared some joyful moments too: celebrating Rosh Hashanah with family, reconnecting with neighbors at our block party, and looking forward to our upcoming road trip to Southern California.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for being part of a community that reminds us we do have power when we act together.
