Scott Galloway: To Weaken Trump, Stop Buying iPhones |
Minnesota has been in turmoil the past few weeks as federal agents have swarmed the streets and killed two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The local community has responded to the show of force by meticulously documenting law-enforcement activity and staging demonstrations, including a one-day general strike that saw thousands of businesses close up shop in protest of the Trump administration’s takeover of the city. On the latest episode of Pivot, co-hosts Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss how a larger nationwide economic strike could bring about change.
Twice weekly, Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher host Pivot, a New York Magazine podcast about business, technology, and politics.
Scott Galloway: To move to potential ideas around how to counter ICE: I always go to Timothy Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson’s feeds to try to find some clarity around this. And Timothy said something really powerful. He said, “If you’re waiting …”
And this is my fault. I’m always waiting for a Democratic Jesus to pop up and lead us like Mandela to the promised land. And typically, real movement doesn’t happen from political parties; it happens from people or citizens. Protest is really powerful — it’s very symbolic. But in this instance, I think it’s … I don’t want to say it’s not effective, but I don’t think the administration cares. I don’t think that’s going to move the needle in the short run. It may in the medium and the long run.
I think what Governor Walz and some politicians have said is more powerful, and that is “Start making a list.” And very publicly saying “the statute of limitations on murder is never. And in exactly two years and 11 months, we’re coming for you.” I think we have to create new incentives here.
Something I’m spending a lot of time thinking about and trying to get some politicians and public figures onboard with is the following: If you want to look at the fastest political movement in history, it was actually about exactly six years ago, and that was 2020, when the GDP went down 31 percent because of COVID. We had the greatest political movement in history in terms of actual move to action. And my fear is that every few years, we protest, we make signs, we chant, we gather. It feels good, it looks great on CNN — and then nothing happens. If you want to understand real power and the difference between being right and being effective, stop watching protests and start watching gross domestic products, specifically........