Policies that pump financial markets disproportionately benefit asset holders, widening the wealth gap and fueling social angst. As a result, the mega-cap tech companies symbolizing this inequality are becoming prime targets for populist politicians seeking to channel public anger for electoral gain.

The adoption of ad-blocking software by over half of internet users constitutes a massive, decentralized protest against invasive advertising. This forces companies to weigh the risk of alienating their user base for short-term ad revenue.

The true power of an economic boycott lies not in its direct revenue loss, which is often negligible (around a 1% stock decline). Its effectiveness comes from creating negative media attention that pressures corporate leaders to reverse decisions in order to quell the public relations crisis.

The government's response to protests involved a near-total information blackout, shutting down not just the global internet but also Iran's controlled domestic network. This paralysis extended to essential services like ATMs, making it an unsustainable tactic for the regime as it halts the entire economy.

For a consumer spending strike to impact the economy, it must mobilize the wealthiest 10% of Americans. This group accounts for half of all consumer spending and can easily reduce discretionary purchases. In contrast, the middle class has little room to cut essentials like rent and groceries, making them a less effective target for such actions.

The massive, AI-driven surge in the stock market creates a perception of economic strength. This provides political leaders with the "cloud cover" to pursue controversial or authoritarian actions that would face intense scrutiny and opposition during an economic downturn.

The robust performance of the AI sector buoys the stock market, creating a positive economic narrative. This economic stability acts as 'cloud cover,' distracting the public and enabling politicians to pursue controversial or anti-democratic actions without immediate economic backlash that would otherwise trigger public outrage.

The swift reversal by Sinclair and Nexstar on blacking out Jimmy Kimmel demonstrates that coordinated economic pressure from consumers and advertisers can be a more effective and rapid check on corporate political maneuvering than traditional political opposition, which often lacks the same immediate financial leverage.

Tech executives like Tim Cook, who attend White House events after state-sponsored killings, are immune to moral shaming. The only effective leverage against their complicity is threatening their company's stock price, as shareholder value is their primary, and perhaps only, motivator.