At HPE’s annual meeting of shareholders, the company faced a shareholder proposal from a BR client over political neutrality in the company’s charitable partnerships. Presenting at that meeting was Bowyer Research's director of corporate engagement Isaac Willour, who laid out (1) the case for risk mitigation around controversial corproate partnerships, (2) what activist ratings indicate about the company's policy stances on critical issues like gender transition surgery, and (3) why peer companies, and the Fortune 500 is broadly moving away from these sorts of partnerships and choosing political neutrality.

At HPE&rsquo;s annual meeting of shareholders, the company faced a shareholder proposal from a BR client over political neutrality in the company&rsquo;s charitable partnerships. Presenting at that meeting was Bowyer Research's director of corporate engagement Isaac Willour, who laid out (1) the case for risk mitigation around controversial corproate partnerships, (2) what activist ratings indicate about the company's policy stances on critical issues like gender transition surgery, and (3) why peer companies, and the Fortune 500 is broadly moving away from these sorts of partnerships and choosing political neutrality.

Meeting of Minds brings together the top minds in history, theology, finance, economics, language, mathematics and science. Host Jerry Bowyer invites guests to be both intelligent and clear and to follow truth wherever it leads.

Meeting of Minds brings together the top minds in history, theology, finance, economics, language, mathematics and science. Host Jerry Bowyer invites guests to be both intelligent and clear and to follow truth wherever it leads.

Meeting of Minds Podcast

I talk to the smartest people in the world about the wisest people who have ever lived, and I ask them not to dumb it down and not to follow any party line.

I talk to the smartest people in the world about the wisest people who have ever lived, and I ask them not to dumb it down and not to follow any party line.

Meeting of Minds

BR’s Isaac Willour: HPE, Reexamine Controversial Charitable Partnerships

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/67711371-336d-4d9c-b49f-b44e00bafaa6/transcript

At Cummins' 2026 annual meeting, the company faced a shareholder proposal from David Bahnsen, founder of The Bahnsen Group, over the company's participation in activist rating systems like the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. Listen to David's presentation, urging the company to prioritize core business over activist scorecards.

"Cummins’ rating from the Human Rights Campaign does not indicate political neutrality. It indicates alignment with highly controversial medical interventions, including hormone regimens and gender transition surgery. Further, Cummins’ active participation in activist indices is concerning for shareholders who expect the company to avoid political controversy.

Cummins should not be grabbing headlines for political stances. And it does not need to seek applause from activists. Its core business, meeting the needs of humanity by building the diesel engines and the generators that help power our world, is a noble, commendable, and vital business model that every investor can and ought to be proud of."

Learn more about The Bahnsen Group at thebahnsengroup.com.

At Cummins' 2026 annual meeting, the company faced a shareholder proposal from David Bahnsen, founder of The Bahnsen Group, over the company's participation in activist rating systems like the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. Listen to David's presentation, urging the company to prioritize core business over activist scorecards.
"Cummins&rsquo; rating from the Human Rights Campaign does not indicate political neutrality. It indicates alignment with highly controversial medical interventions, including hormone regimens and gender transition surgery.&nbsp;Further, Cummins&rsquo; active participation in activist indices is concerning for shareholders who expect the company to avoid political controversy.
Cummins should not be grabbing headlines for political stances. And it does not need to seek applause from activists. Its core business, meeting the needs of humanity by building the diesel engines and the generators that help power our world, is a noble, commendable, and vital business model that every investor can and ought to be proud of."
Learn more about The Bahnsen Group at <a href="https://thebahnsengroup.com">thebahnsengroup.com</a>.

David Bahnsen: Cummins, Power America - Not Activism

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/a09de66c-5830-4634-ab89-b4570011e095/transcript

In Ep. #128, Jerry talks with Tom Carter, president and co-founder of Ridgeline Research. Join us for a conversation on:
Why companies like Exxon and Starbucks are moving to business-friendly red states
Navigating corporate impact as part of a conservative coalition
How Ridgeline’s American Conservative Values ETF handles corporate engagement

In Ep. #128, Jerry talks with Tom Carter, president and co-founder of Ridgeline Research. Join us for a conversation on:
<ul>
<li>Why companies like Exxon and Starbucks are moving to business-friendly red states</li>
<li>Navigating corporate impact as part of a conservative coalition</li>
<li>How Ridgeline&rsquo;s American Conservative Values ETF handles corporate engagement</li>
</ul>

Ridgeline’s Tom Carter: Blue State Corporate Exodus and Defeating Wokeness

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/f7ddddb2-5ce4-4019-bf25-b45600b96084/transcript

At Gilead Sciences' 2026 annual meeting, the company faced a shareholder proposal from David Bahnsen, founder of The Bahnsen Group over the use of ESG and DEI metrics in executive compensation. Listen to David's presentation, urging the company to prioritize executive clarity and business performance over activist incentives.

"Gilead does not need to be grabbing headlines or seeking activist plaudits over inclusion initiatives. Its core business, meeting the needs of humanity by combatting the world’s deadliest diseases, is a noble, commendable, and lifesaving model that every investor can and ought to be proud of. Gilead has done it so very well."

Learn more about The Bahnsen Group at thebahnsengroup.com.

At Gilead Sciences' 2026 annual meeting, the company faced a shareholder proposal from David Bahnsen, founder of The Bahnsen Group over the use of ESG and DEI metrics in executive compensation. Listen to David's presentation, urging the company to prioritize executive clarity and business performance over activist incentives.
"Gilead does not need to be grabbing headlines or seeking activist plaudits over inclusion initiatives. Its core business, meeting the needs of humanity by combatting the world&rsquo;s deadliest diseases, is a noble, commendable, and lifesaving model that every investor can and ought to be proud of. Gilead has done it so very well."
Learn more about The Bahnsen Group at <a href="https://thebahnsengroup.com">thebahnsengroup.com</a>.

David Bahnsen: Gilead, Prioritize Business Performance

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/1b57ed5e-5640-4970-a2ae-b4500142211a/transcript

BR’s Isaac Willour: HPE, Reexamine Controversial Charitable Partnerships

Meeting of Minds Podcast

In 1 playlist(s)

Meeting of Minds

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips