AI is the new buzzword in business and the Securities and Exchange Commission is putting companies on notice for how it’s used. On Monday, March 18, the SEC fined two investing firms a collective $400,000 for “AI washing,” named after greenwashing. “One shouldn’t greenwash and one shouldn’t AI-wash, I don’t know how else to say…

The state of Tennessee is suing BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, for violating consumer protection laws. The lawsuit is described as the first of its kind and takes the Republican war against ESG investing to a new level. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti accused BlackRock of misleading investors about its ESG investing strategy. On…

The first Republican presidential debate is on Aug. 23, and just as the country prepares for a contentious 2024 election year, X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is making its own preparations ahead of the election cycle. The company is now hiring as it looks to add employees to its Trust and…

ESG, the practice of rating companies based on environmental, social and corporate governance, has become a hot-button issue in recent years. With political pressure building, the movement is losing steam. Here are five of the latest blows to ESG in this week’s Five For Friday. 5: Don’t say ESG The term ESG alone is enough…

When beer drinkers soured on Bud Light following a controversial promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, it was clear Bud Light’s closest rivals — Coors Light and Miller Lite — would benefit. But before long, it was a Mexican lager on everyone’s lips. In the weeks following Bud Light’s dramatic decline, Constellation Brands’ Modelo Especial…

An investor is suing Target over its LGBTQ Pride merchandise controversy that led to a $15 billion drop in the company’s market value. The shareholder wants to recoup losses over the company’s so-called woke decision-making. It started in June during Pride month when the retailer displayed LGBTQ-friendly clothing for all ages, including “tuck-friendly” women’s swimsuits for…

When conservatives first shunned America’s best-selling beer Bud Light following the brand’s promotional beer can made for transgender TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney, experts quickly pointed out across the media that boycotts rarely work. But week after week, Bud Light’s beer sales plunged compared with the year before. Less than two weeks into the controversy, Anheuser-Busch…

A concerted effort to increase the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States is positioned as a significant driving force behind the nation’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To support this clean transportation initiative, the Biden administration has allocated over $24 billion. However, as the funding for EV proliferation grows, so…

Rare earth minerals, known for their immense value to the global economy, have become a focal point for the United States. Lawmakers and leaders want to boost domestic production to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries like Russia and China. Mineral exploration company NioCorp is working to establish a first-of-its-kind mine in the Midwest that would…

The Senate voted 50-49 to overturn an EPA rule that would create significantly stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks. All 49 Republicans and Democrat Joe Manchin, W.V., voted in favor of the bill, which used a provision in the Congressional Review Act that allows Congress to overturn final agency rules with a joint resolution.  The…