Pepsi sponsored the 2022 Texas Republican Convention
Today's newsletter has facts you won't find covered anywhere else. That’s because Popular Information has a comprehensive plan to monitor corporate political activity. In an era of expanding corporate power, it's absolutely critical. Corporations can't be held accountable for their actions if no one is paying attention. But Popular Information is a three-person newsletter, and this is a massive undertaking. You can help Popular Information expand its capacity with a paid subscription. Several of the companies named in today's report regularly sponsor other political newsletters. To stay completely independent, Popular Information accepts no advertising. As a result, this newsletter only exists because of the support of readers like you. The Texas Republican Party is one of the largest and most influential state parties in the nation. But it is also among the most radical. Successful candidates nominated by the Texas GOP have implemented a near-total abortion ban, ordered investigations of the parents of trans youth, and filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Over the weekend thousands of Texas Republicans descended on Houston, where the Texas GOP held its annual convention. During the gathering, the party produced its platform. The new platform makes clear that the Texas Republican Party intends to pursue an even more extreme agenda. Among the platform's declarations:
The platform also condemns Senator Cornyn and other Senate Republicans working with Democrats on a package of modest gun safety measures. Less than a month ago, 21 people, including 19 children, were murdered during a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The vote on the platform still needs to be "tallied and certified," but it's just a formality. The delegates already rejected efforts to tone down the most controversial policy planks. And "party chairman James Wesolek said planks presented to delegates are generally accepted." Further, the Texas GOP rejected an application from the Log Cabin Republicans of Texas, a group representing LGBTQ conservatives, to have a booth in the convention hall. It was a decision made by party leadership. "Texas Republican Party Chair Matt Rinaldi was the deciding vote denying the application," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. "I think it’s inappropriate given the state of our nation right now for us to play sexual identity politics," Rinaldi said in defense of his vote. While the Texas Republican Party embraces an exclusionary, extremist agenda, it enjoys support from decidedly mainstream corporations — including those that claim to champion LGBTQ rights. Pepsi, for example, was an official sponsor of the 2022 Texas Republican Party convention, according to signage on display at the event. Corporate sponsorship of the convention costs between $5,000 and $150,000. Pepsi also donated $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party on August 5, 2021, according to the Texas Ethics Commission. Meanwhile, Pepsi, through its Bubly brand of sparkling water, recently produced a short film "that showcases an LGBTQ+ nightlife space and the chosen families that find each other there." In announcing the film, PepsiCo stressed the importance of "safe spaces where people can come together as their authentic selves without the fear of being exposed to discrimination or harassment." The company says it "has supported the LGBTQ+ community 365 days a year." In 2020, PepsiCo's CEO, Ramon Laguarta, stated that the company was working to "dismantle the systemic racial barriers that for generations have blocked social and economic progress for Black people in this country." Laguarta said he understood "the urgent need for racial and social justice in this nation, and I am committed to using my position as CEO to lead this change." Presumably, this does not include repealing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was passed to combat discrimination against Black voters at the polls. Popular Information first reported on Pepsi's donation to the Texas Republican Party after Texas imposed its abortion ban last year. Pepsi defended its financial support of the Texas Republican Party and tried to claim the donation, dated August 2021, was actually from summer 2020:
The point of this hair-splitting on timing was to suggest that Pepsi donated to the Texas Republican Party before state Republicans banned nearly all abortion in May 2021. As #BoycottPepsi trended, the company wanted to give the (false) impression that it would not donate to the Texas Republican Party anymore. Popular Information contacted Pepsi about its sponsorship of the 2022 Texas GOP convention and asked if Pepsi planned on supporting the Texas GOP in the future. The company did not respond. Chevron donates $30,000 to the Texas GOP, sponsors 2022 conventionChevron was also a sponsor of the 2022 Texas Republican Party convention, appearing at the top center of event signage. Chevron also donated $30,000 to the Texas GOP in March and April of 2020. While the convention excluded the state’s largest conservative LGBTQ group and derided LGBTQ people as “abnormal,” Chevron touts its “alliance and support of the LGBTQ+ community.” It posted a five-minute video on YouTube promoting its support of LGBTQ employees. Chevron did not respond to a request for comment. Other corporations backing the Texas Republican PartyOther major corporations did not sponsor the 2022 convention but have supported the Texas GOP over the last two years. Verizon: $15,000 to the Texas Republican PartyVerizon donated $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party on September 3, 2020. The Texas GOP's new platform states: "We oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity." Verizon has publicly validated transgender identity, pitching its service as a way for trans people to "stay connected." When the pandemic hit, we all felt isolated. For Dayley, a transitioning individual, the feeling was amplified. She stayed connected with others in her community using the power of the network. We’re stronger when we’re connected. America’s most reliable network. #Verizon #Pride In August 2020, Verizon also tweeted that "racial justice" should be "the core, the bottom line, and the public face of corporate America." Verizon did not respond to a request for comment. Charter Communications: $55,000 to the Texas Republican PartyCharter Communications, which offers internet and cable TV service under the brand name Spectrum, has donated $55,000 to the Texas Republican Party since 2020, including a $20,000 donation on January 31, 2022. On Twitter, however, Charter Communications celebrates LGBTQ people. Spectrum On Demand Highlights Pride Month With LGBTQ-Themed Films, Including 'Dallas Buyers Club,' 'Carol,' 'Moonlight,' and 'Boy Erased,' Beginning June 1. Learn More: bit.ly/38zHprU Charter Communications did not respond to a request for comment. Anheuser-Busch: $15,000 to the Texas Republican PartyAnheuser-Busch donated $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party on April 7, 2020. "Led by Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch has a strong track record of industry leadership in supporting the LGBTQ+ community," the company states on its corporate website. It has promoted a new partnership with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce on Twitter. #CheersToPride in the U.S., where @budlight has joined forces with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce @NGLCC to support local LGBTQ+ businesses impacted by COVID-19.
For more: budlight.com/nglcc/
#FutureWithMoreCheers Anheuser-Busch also claims to have "a strong foundation when it comes to addressing issues of inequality and fighting systemic racism by promoting fundamental civil rights." The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which the Texas Republican Party wants to repeal, is a core law that protects fundamental civil rights. Anheuser-Busch did not respond to a request for comment. The restOther corporations that have supported the Texas Republican Party since 2020 include Altria ($90,000) Juul Labs ($10,000), Microsoft ($5,000), and NuStar Logistics ($100,000). None of these companies responded to a request for comment. |
Older messages
Popular Information x Oxford (Reader Survey)
Friday, June 17, 2022
Popular Information has teamed up with the Oxford Internet Institute to create a reader survey. It's completely anonymous, and the data will be shared only with Popular Information (to help make
Starbucks versus Gen Z
Friday, June 17, 2022
Last weekend, during an interview with The New York Times, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, said he believes employees at Starbucks' stores are pushing for unionization and better working conditions “
Exposing hypocrites
Friday, June 17, 2022
Here are a few highlights from Popular Information's reporting over the last month: 1. Popular Information exposed the hypocrisy of 25 rainbow-f…
Drunk Giuliani
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
In a hearing Monday morning, the January 6 Committee laid out an extraordinary scene in the White House as the results came in on Election Night in 2020. On the one hand, many of Trump's closest
Crypto comes to Washington
Monday, June 13, 2022
Last week, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) made a joint appearance on CNBC to discuss their bipartisan bill regulating the cryptocurrency industry. Host Andrew Ross Sorkin
You Might Also Like
How the Supreme Court weaponizes its own calendar
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Plus: Great news about air travel, bad news about bird flu, and more. April 25, 2024 View in browser Good morning! Today, the Supreme Court will hear former President Donald Trump's suit over
Desperately Trying To Fathom The Coffeepocalypse Argument
Thursday, April 25, 2024
... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
The largest for-profit hospital chain is putting pregnant women at risk. Shareholders are fighting back.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, 14 states have imposed near-total abortion bans. (Arizona may soon join them.) While all of these states include exemptions to save the life
Numlock News: April 25, 2024 • Octocorals, Pinyin, Wizards
Thursday, April 25, 2024
By Walt Hickey Digital Books Libraries pay extra when it comes to e-books that they lend out, and it can pinch them financially. For instance, Britney Spears' memoir The Woman In Me cost a library
☕ Getting the trophy (again)
Thursday, April 25, 2024
How TikTok can avoid a ban... April 25, 2024 View Online | Sign Up | Shop Morning Brew PRESENTED BY GACW Good morning. And so it begins: Cicadas are emerging in South Carolina. In Newberry County,
If Britain is so bothered by China, why do these .gov.uk sites use Chinese ad brokers? [Thu Apr 25 2024]
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Hi The Register Subscriber | Log in The Register {* Daily Headlines *} 25 April 2024 A map of the UK If Britain is so bothered by China, why do these .gov.uk sites use Chinese ad brokers? One wonders
Abort the Court
Thursday, April 25, 2024
SCOTUS heard arguments in what could be the most consequential post-Dobbs abortion case. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
How to build a “Bloomberg for X” media company
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Many companies that attempted to monetize media outlets with non-media tech products have stumbled. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Prefer to Skip Mother’s Day Emails?
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Tap a button, and you won't hear from us. The Strategist Prefer to Skip Mother's Day Emails? Mother's Day is coming up, and we understand that this can be a difficult time for some. So if
GeekWire Mid-Week Update
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Read the top tech stories so far this week from GeekWire GeekWire Mid-Week Update Top stories so far this week After lobbying by Uber and DoorDash, new proposal would overhaul Seattle's minimum