Summary

• The Trump administration’s first few weeks of “flooding the zone” include multiple direct attacks on LGBTQ+ equality, steps to undermine reproductive freedom, and many other efforts to undermine our democratic norms and values.
• Both Uber and its CEO gave $1m to the Trump inaugural fund to curry favor with Trump.
• Lyft did not. Lyft has also kept its promise to withhold donations from election deniers, a promise Uber never made. Lyft is not a perfect company, but on these two issues they’ve made the right call.
• If reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, or any of the many other rights, freedoms, and values Trump is attacking are important to you, we recommend switching from Uber to Lyft.

Read more about our reasons and process for recommendations here.

What about all the other companies supporting Trump?
The list of companies that opted to support Trump, despite his threatened (and now real) attacks on LGBTQ+ communities, reproductive freedom, and democratic values and norms is lengthy. We’ll learn more about who is on this list as we hit upcoming campaign contribution reporting deadlines later in Q1, and will be factoring that information into our recommendations. But for now, we know Uber was a major Trump donor, that many of us may be unknowingly contributing to their support of Trump’s agenda, and that there are alternatives that make this a relatively easy switch for many people. We will absolutely bring you more updates and recommendations as the campaign contribution data becomes clear, but switching from Uber is an action we can take today.

Background and Context – Persistent Actions in the Face of Overwhelming Attacks
I don’t know about you, but ever since the inauguration I have been feeling overwhelmed by the barrage of actions by the Trump administration – the “flooding the zone” – including actions that attack many of the values and principles I hold. At times I’m simply exhausted by the constant din of crazy, and feel guilty when I just want to put my head in the sand and see if Spain and Portugal are still offering those citizenship deals.

Somehow, fortunately, I always come back to the question that led to the founding of Spending Spotlight in the first place – what can I actually DO to make a difference? What meaningful actions or steps are within my power to take?

Our answer to this question remains the same. Anti-choice politicians, anti-LGBTQ+ politicians, anti-democracy politicians – they all depend on corporate funding to push their agendas. Our consumer dollars fund their efforts, and we have the power to change how/where we spend those dollars every day.

At Spending Spotlight, we research and shine a light on the companies and brands making the work of extreme politicians and legislators possible. At least once a month we’ll be highlighting a company or brand funding anti-choice and/or anti-LGBTQ+ efforts, as well as calling out organizations doing great work in this space. In the coming weeks we will be focusing on grocery stores, health and beauty suppliers, sporting goods and athletics, streaming services and entertainment – the places where many of us spend our consumer dollars.

Uber is just one of too many companies that have made the choice to financially support the politicians working against our values, rights, and beliefs, and we will be spotlighting many more in the coming weeks. But switching from Uber is an action we can all take starting today, an action to begin letting these companies know that their decisions have consequences.

Please join us by clicking “Switch” from Uber above – and if you already avoid Uber, show your support by clicking Switch as well.

The onslaught – the “flooding the zone” with so many outrageous actions and pronouncements – is designed to wear us down, to weaken our resistance, to plant seeds of doubt and despair. But if you can cut through the noise, there are many ways we can take action and fight back. For us, this includes making one switch, taking one action, changing one spending choice at a time. We hope you join us today, and for the long haul.

Question of the Month
AT&T and Verizon were also big contributors to Trump’s inaugural fund as well as to the politicians working most actively against reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ autonomy. T-Mobile appears to be a better option, but still has a history of contributing to some of the more extreme politicians and organizations. Other than giving up your cell phone, any suggestions for wireless carriers or alternatives that aren’t funding work against these issues?  Let us know!

Organizations we’re following/supporting

Here are a few of the other organizations we’re following that you might want to check out, focused on reproductive freedom this month:

• Abortion Access Front
• Reproductive Freedom for All
• Shout Your Abortion
• We are Ultraviolet