Why right-wing boycotts are working

Also: Ron DeSantis campaign struggles.   Thursday, August 31, 2023: How’s it going? It’s Izzie Ramirez, and here’s what we’re following today: Up first: Why protests against major companies are working. In other news: Ron DeSantis tested by recent crises; more than 70 dead in a Johannesburg building fire; and a Backstreet Boy sued for sexual assault. See you in your inbox tomorrow!   UP FIRST The conservative boycott playbook is kind of working Natalie Behring/Getty Images Usually, boycotts rarely succeed. However, this year, boycotts in the US have been a little different: Conservative consumers have been able to do some damage. The lowdown: - Bud Light lost [millions of dollars in sales]( after launching a small marketing campaign with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney earlier this spring. The backlash [ultimately contributed to Bud Light’s dethroning]( as the most popular beer in the country. - Then, over the summer, conservatives [took aim at Target and its annual Pride collection](. Many called for a boycott of the retailer, and some consumers took to going into Target stores to destroy displays and harass employees. Target’s earnings [were down for the second quarter](. The stakes: Money and culture reporter Emily Stewart argues that conservative boycotts are more successful than progressive ones — like those against [Chick-fil-A]( or [Goya]( — because the right is energized, relatively homogenous in their beliefs, and focused. “The culture wars of the moment are likely a contributing factor here,” Emily writes. “Namely, conservatives are united around pushing back against transgender visibility and rights. It’s a hot-button issue and one there’s a lot of frenetic sentiment around within the GOP.” [Read Emily’s full explainer here.](   NEXT UP A Florida hurricane and shooting are testing Ron DeSantis Win McNamee/Getty Images Here’s what you need to know: - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently running for president. He’s the closest competitor to Trump, but the margin remains huge: DeSantis trails Trump by nearly 40 percentage points as of late August. [Vox]( - He’s now had to take time off from his struggling campaign to deal with crises at home: Last weekend, three people were killed in a racially-motivated shooting in Jacksonville. The incident set off protests and a curfew. [The Florida Times-Union]( - And now, Hurricane Idalia threatens to render some Floridians homeless or — because of insurance policies in the state — unable to make affordable repairs. Though damage appears to be not quite as bad as expected, Idalia was still serious: It made landfall as a Category 3 storm. [Vox]( - While DeSantis led a conservative renaissance in the once-swing state of Florida, in the current time of crises, he’s been forced to confront Floridians who believe they’re suffering as a result of his policies. [[Vox]](   PRESS PLAY The Real Housewives of Today, Explained Taking cues from striking actors and writers, reality TV stars are lobbying for better treatment from networks like Bravo and Netflix. [Listen now ▶](   AROUND THE WEB - A building fire in Johannesburg, South Africa, kills more than 70 people, many of whom were homeless. As many as 200 people may have been living in the building. [NPR]( - Backstreet Boys star sued for alleged 2003 sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. It’s the third of such lawsuits against singer Nick Carter, who denies all allegations. The Guardian]( - UNC’s student newspaper responds to campus shooting with an emotional front page, featuring worried texts from loved ones to students under lockdown. President Joe Biden shared the front page on social media. [NBC News]( - Syrian protests call for the ousting of the authoritarian government. The moment feels reminiscent of the Arab Spring. [The New York Times](    [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   MORE READS FROM VOX [What could cause a malaria comeback in the US — and what could stop it]( [How Louisiana — one of the nation’s wettest states — caught on fire]([The myths we tell ourselves about American farming]( [What we know about Mitch McConnell’s health and his future in the Senate](   ONE LAST THING Enjoying the Sentences newsletter? Forward it to a friend so they can [sign up for it right here](. As always, we want to know what you think. We recently changed the format of this newsletter. Send any feedback to newsletter@vox.com.    [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( [unsubscribe](param=sentences). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.