The people have the power, if only they knew it
Disney thought it could silence Jimmy Kimmel after he dared to call out Trump and MAGA’s exploitation of Charlie Kirk’s death. They caved to the bullies, pulled him off air – and within days, their market value dropped by US$5 billion. Suddenly, Kimmel was back.
That’s not an accident. It’s a lesson. Nothing terrifies corporations more than consumers waking up to their own power.
Boycotts Work Faster Than Politics
Parliaments stall. Courts grind slowly. Politicians hedge. But consumer choices can cut through in days.
Disney didn’t reinstate Kimmel because of principle or bravery. They reinstated him because audiences voted with their wallets. Parents thought twice about that Disney+ subscription. Families postponed theme-park trips. The market turned cold overnight – and the boardroom felt the chill.
We’ve seen this before:
In the U.S., Bud Light lost billions when conservatives staged their backlash (for very different reasons, but with very real impact).
In Australia, Victorians remember the millions poured into trying to force Kyle & Jackie O onto air – only to find that audiences weren’t easily bought.
When people push back as consumers, it’s instant and undeniable. The market isn’t abstract. The market is us.
Why This Matters Now
Trump and MAGA can bully corporations, but the backlash is just as real – and much faster. Their intimidation works only if the public forgets its power.
Consumer action is one of the fastest and most effective tools against authoritarian creep. You don’t have to wait for politicians to save you. You don’t need a Senate vote. You don’t need a High Court ruling.
When you walk away, corporations feel it in real time. Stock prices tumble. Advertisers panic. Boards demand action. And even the biggest, most arrogant companies fold.
The Deeper Truth
This is about more than Jimmy Kimmel. It’s about the wider attempt to suffocate dissent, to bully corporations into silence, to intimidate media into parroting authoritarian narratives.
But here’s the twist: authoritarian movements rely on controlling narratives, and corporations rely on us. If we stop buying the story and the product, the balance shifts. Suddenly, the “strongman” looks weak, because money is power – and the money is ours.
The Call
The next time a company buckles to MAGA bullies – or to any authoritarian pressure – remember this: you have power. You are the market. You are the people. And if you walk away, they notice – fast.
The market isn’t theirs. It’s ours.
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Excellent piece.
It’s been fascinating to watch how Americans are responding to this same article now published on Daily Kos (thanks Michael). The feedback shows that many ordinary people are already taking peaceful, everyday action — cancelling subscriptions, refusing to spend money with companies that cave to MAGA intimidation, and encouraging each other to push back with their wallets.
They’ve also been generous in appreciating the solidarity shown from Australia. Quite a few made a point of saying that international support matters, especially when corporations try to pretend it’s only a “local” problem.
And, in true Kos style, the humour has been flowing thick and fast. A few of the sharper one-liners from the comments:
“Disney’s spine is made of churros.”
“Five billion dollars later and Goofy still makes better business decisions.”
“If Mickey had balls, they’d be in a vault next to Walt’s head.”
“Disney spent $5 billion learning that MAGA won’t buy a churro anyway.”
“If Trump ever ran a theme park, the rides would only go down.”
So not only is the message landing, it’s sparking action and laughter at the same time — exactly the kind of combination that takes the sting out of authoritarian bluster.