Topic: Sleeping Giants

Matt Rivetz, the founder of Sleeping Giants, appeared on The New Abnormal podcast to discuss his campaign to pressure advertisers to leave conservative sites like Breitbart. Rivetz, a copywriter, started the movement anonymously on Twitter by tagging companies whose ads appeared next to controversial content. The campaign utilizes the automated nature of ad networks to force corporate brands to reconcile their public values with their media placements.

The Sleeping Giants campaign claims credit for driving 40 advertisers away from Bill O'Reilly's show, which eventually led to his departure from Fox News. The group is currently targeting Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham, labeling their programs as "racist agitprop." Activists argue that brands tweeting about diversity and inclusion cannot logically justify sponsoring programs that they characterize as promoting white supremacy.

The discussion shifts to the psychological toll of "cancel culture" on YouTubers, with claims that the threat of de-platforming causes extreme distress. The hosts argue that corporate advertisers, rather than politicians like Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnell, are the true arbiters of online speech. They suggest boycotting unpatriotic advertisers who stifle free expression to protect their brand image.

"Cancel culture" is defined as an online phenomenon where individuals are forced to apologize or face professional destruction regardless of the truth of the accusations. Jordan Peterson's refusal to use mandated pronouns is cited as the catalyst for his "cancellation," leading to labels of racism and bigotry. Organizations like Sleeping Giants and Media Matters are identified as key drivers of this movement against authors and public figures.

Actor Wil Wheaton left the decentralized social network Mastodon after being harassed by an online mob. This incident is used to discuss the effectiveness of groups like Media Matters and Sleeping Giants, who use advertiser boycotts to force corporate censorship. The "Soros Media Matters" document is cited as the blueprint for this strategy.