Alabama Senate Passes Dog Tethering Bill

0:00In Birmingham today, March 16, big news from the latest corporate equality index data for 2026. A nonprofit called 1792 Exchange dug into the numbers and found a massive drop in participation from Fortune 500 companies. Last year, 377 took part, but this year only 131 did, a 65% plunge. That's a real shift away from these rankings. The index, run by the Human Rights Campaign, used to demand proof of things like coverage for certain surgeries, special restroom rules, pronoun, policies, and require trainings on LGBTQ topics. Many companies that once chased perfect scores are now sitting it out, even big names pulling back quietly. Reactions are mixed with some blaming pressure from the Trump administration on diversity programs. But critics say companies only bailing now show they were just going along before. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign cut its own standards to keep up appearances, perfect

1:02scores dropped 30% to 534. But it was easier to get one, and they added lots of law firms to the list. The group even laid off 20% of its staff last year. In places like Alabama, local giants such as Regents Financial saw their scores tank from 100 to just 60, unverified. Other firms there either skipped it or scored low, signaling a regional trend matching the national pullback. This data points to companies rethinking the costs of these ideological ratings. Tools like the back-to-business tracker highlight who's stepping away from such programs, and everyday folks, shoppers, investors, workers have ways to. Push back through choices and accountability. A quick thank you to our sponsor of today's episode, a pillow that plays your sound quietly, comfortably, effortlessly. Built for nighttime listening.