For weeks, Target has been the subject of a boycott after its decision to pull back on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. And early data shows it's taken a toll on the company. But in other instances, boycotts haven't made much of a splash. Today on the show, when does a boycott actually make a difference?
Related episodes: SPAM strikes back (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
The most famous battles of the US Civil War all occurred in the eastern theater, such as Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh, and Bull Run.
However, one of the most important battles, from both a strategic and tactical standpoint, took place in the west.
It was one of the most brilliant led battles of the entire conflict, and it vaulted into prominence a man who would go on to lead the Union to victory and ultimately the Presidency.
Learn more about the Battle of Vicksburg and how it changed the course of the Civil War on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
One of the biggest and most important industries in the world is banking.
Banks are large, control an enormous amount of money, and are often the most influential economic institutions in most countries.
Yet, banks are not a modern invention. Banks, in one form or another, have been around for thousands of years and have evolved into the modern institutions we have today over that time.
Learn more about the history of banking and how it came to be on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
Zadie Smith's White Teeth marked its 25th anniversary in January. The now canonical novel tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a shy Englishman named Archie Jones and his friend Samad Iqbal, a devout Bengali Muslim. Both men are trying to pass on their religious and moral beliefs to their children. In today's episode, we revisit a conversation between Smith and NPR's Liane Hansen that aired shortly after White Teeth's release. Then, we'll hear some of Smith's conversation last month on NPR's Wild Card with Rachel Martin in which Smith reflects on the novel's anniversary. The two discuss the author's distance from the person she was when she wrote White Teeth and the novel's place among the canon of books for teenagers.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday