In recent years, progressive leaders have pushed for tighter regulations, increased taxes, and a stronger corporate role in political advocacy within the United States.

Many CEOs embraced these popular trends, committing to climate initiatives and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, sometimes while admonishing the very customers and shareholders who contributed to their success.

However, a significant shift is currently underway.

Businesses in America are making a quiet but decisive move.

Across the nation, companies and their executives are opting to leave traditionally liberal states like California, choosing instead to set up shop in more business-friendly states such as Florida and Texas.

The reasons are not complicated. High taxes, aggressive regulation, rising crime and politicized governance are driving businesses away from the very states whose policies they once claimed to support.

Even companies and executives that once embraced progressive politics are discovering that ideology makes for a poor business strategy.

Consider the recent announcement from Howard Schultz, the longtime leader and former chairman of Starbucks. 

Schultz revealed that after more than four decades in Washington state, he and his wife are relocating to Florida as they enter what he called the “retirement phase” of their lives.

The move comes at a telling moment. Washington lawmakers have advanced what critics describe as a “millionaire tax,” a proposal that would impose a new tax on high-income households. 

While Schultz did not explicitly cite the tax as the reason for his relocation, the timing highlights a broader trend. 

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When states adopt increasingly punitive tax policies, capital and talent eventually move elsewhere.

Florida, of course, has no state income tax.

That contrast is becoming impossible to ignore.

Schultz’s move is not an isolated case. Increasingly, high-profile executives and companies are leaving blue-state policy environments behind and choosing red-state economies that emphasize growth, stability and predictability.

Take Palantir Technologies. Earlier this year the technology firm moved its headquarters from Denver to Miami, joining a growing list of companies shifting operations away from cities that have become increasingly hostile to business growth.

Other companies have made similar moves in recent years. 

Chevron relocated its headquarters from California to Texas. Tesla famously moved from California’s Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas. SpaceX has shifted major operations to Texas as well.

These are not minor relocations. They represent billions of dollars in capital investment and thousands of high-paying jobs that have deserted states like California.

The underlying lesson is simple: Progressive policy choices have consequences.

For years, progressive states assumed corporations would tolerate almost any regulatory or tax environment. After all, many corporate leaders publicly supported progressive policies and political messaging.

But when those policies begin to materially affect profitability, investment decisions and executive lifestyles, the calculus changes quickly.

Markets impose discipline.

That reality is particularly evident when comparing states like California and Washington with pro-growth states like Florida and Texas.

Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has built one of the most business-friendly environments in the country. The state offers low taxes, predictable regulations and leadership that has consistently pushed back against the politicization of corporate governance.

As a result, Florida has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the national corporate migration. 

Executives and entrepreneurs are not just moving their companies. They are moving their families, their capital and their long-term investment plans.

The irony in all of this is difficult to ignore.

Many of the companies and executives now leaving blue states previously supported the very political agendas that helped create these policy environments. 

Corporate leaders spent the last decade embracing political activism, often aligning themselves with progressive lawmakers and causes.

But when those same policymakers begin raising taxes, expanding regulation and creating increasingly hostile business climates, corporate leaders suddenly rediscover the value of economic freedom.

At the American Conservative Values ETF, we have long warned that corporate activism carries real risks. When companies prioritize political messaging over their core mission of delivering value to shareholders, they undermine the very foundation of a healthy market economy.

Markets reward discipline and punish ideological experimentation. Firms that spend more time managing political narratives than serving customers eventually lose both investor confidence and competitive advantage.

The growing migration of corporations and executives from blue states to red states is a powerful reminder of a basic economic truth: Businesses go where they are welcome.

If policymakers in California and other blue states want to reverse the trend, they must rethink the policies that are driving companies away. 

Until then, the exodus will continue.

And with every CEO who relocates and every headquarters that moves south, the message becomes clearer: When it comes to economic policy, reality still matters. 

Tom Carter is the president and co-founder of The American Conservative Values ETF (ACVF) is an actively managed, diversified large-cap ETF traded on the NYSE with over $140MM in AUM (Assets under Management). Learn more at www.investconservative.com 

Air travelers expressed disbelief following reports that the body of a deceased passenger was allegedly kept in a heated galley for over 13 hours during a lengthy flight.

The incident involved a woman in her 60s who passed away approximately an hour after takeoff on British Airways Flight BA32, which was en route from Hong Kong to London last Sunday. Rather than turning back, the pilots decided to continue the flight to Heathrow Airport, as reported by The Sun.

An insider revealed to the publication that the Airbus A350-1000’s galley features a heated floor, which reportedly led to an unpleasant odor being noticeable in that section by the journey’s end.

A British Airways Airbus A391-131 is pictured landing at Heathrow Airport in west London on April 29, 2024. (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

“Understandably, the woman’s family was devastated, and the crew was equally upset,” the source conveyed. “Many suggested returning to Hong Kong, but bluntly put, once a passenger has died, it’s not categorized as an emergency situation.”

British Airways told Fox News Digital that its crew followed all procedures.

“A customer sadly passed away on board and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time,” the airline said. “We are supporting our crew and all procedures were correctly followed.”

Travelers walk through a terminal at Heathrow Airport. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

A source told The Sun that a discussion took place about what to do with the body, with the crew rejecting a request from the flight deck to lock it in the plane’s bathroom.

“So they had to isolate the body, wrap it in materials, and move it to a galley at the rear of the plane,” the source said, adding that the area had a heated floor.

British Airways Boeing 777 taxiing for take off, surrounded by other planes on the runway. (iStock)

The outlet said that once the plane landed last Sunday, police asked the 331 passengers on board to stay in their seats for roughly 45 minutes while they investigated the onboard death.

British Airways did not receive a formal complaint regarding the incident, but The Sun reported that some passengers took time off work to recover from the ordeal.

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Pop star Chappell Roan has landed in hot water following allegations that her security personnel allegedly targeted Jude Law’s daughter after an accidental encounter at a Sao Paulo hotel. The incident reportedly took place when the child, whose identity has not been confirmed but is believed to be Ada Law, inadvertently bumped into the “Hot To Go” singer.

Chappell Roan, whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, is currently in Brazil to perform at the country’s edition of the Lollapalooza music festival. The accusations against the singer were brought to light by Jorginho, a former soccer star known for his time with Chelsea and Arsenal, who shared his discontent on social media.

Jorginho, who now plays for Flamengo in Brazil, is married to Catherine Harding, the mother of the child involved and Jude Law’s former partner. In his Instagram post, he openly criticized the 28-year-old performer, calling out the actions of her security guard toward the child.

“Earlier today, my family and I experienced a very distressing situation,” Jorginho, 34, stated in a detailed social media post, expressing his frustration over the encounter.

‘I went through a very upsetting situation with my family earlier today,’ the 34-year-old began in a lengthy statement.

‘My wife (@catcavelli) is in Sao Paulo for @lollapaloozabr. This morning, my daughter woke up incredibly excited, she even made a sign because she was so happy to see an artist she really admires, or used to admire.’

Pop star Chappell Roan is being blasted for her security guard’s interaction with a young fan

The child in question is the eleven-year-old daughter of Jude Law and Catherine Harding

The criticism came from the Instagram account of Harding’s husband, footballer Jorginho

He continued: ‘By coincidence, they’re staying at the same hotel as this artist. During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognized her, got excited, and just wanted to make sure it was really her.

‘And the worst part is she didn’t even approach her. She simply walked past the singer’s table, looked to confirm it was her, smiled, and went back to sit with her mum. She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything.

‘What happened next was completely disproportionate. A large security guard came over to their table while they were still having breakfast and began speaking in an extremely aggressive manner to both my wife and my daughter, saying that she shouldn’t allow my daughter to “disrespect” or “harass” other people.

‘Honestly, I don’t know at what point simply walking past a table and looking to see if someone is there can be considered harassment. He even said he would file a complaint against them with the hotel, while my 11-year-old daughter was sitting there in tears. My daughter was extremely shaken and cried a lot.

‘I’ve lived with football, public exposure, and well-known people for many years, and I understand very well what respect and boundaries are. What happened there was not that. It was just a child admiring someone.

‘It’s sad to see this kind of treatment coming from those who should understand the importance of fans. At the end of the day, they are the ones who build all of this. I sincerely hope this serves as a moment of reflection. No one should have to go through this, especially not a child.’

Jorginho concluded: ‘@chappellroan WITHOUT YOUR FANS, YOU WOULD BE NOTHING. AND TO THE FANS, SHE DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR AFFECTION.’

Representatives for Chappell Roan did not immediately respond to The Daily Mail’s request for comment.

While Jorginho didn’t name the child, he appears to refer to his step-daughter, Ava who was pictured at this hotel in Sao Paulo just hours before the footballer’s Instagram story post

Jorginho, who won the Champions League with Chelsea, says his 11-year-old step-daughter walked past the singer’s table during breakfast at a hotel they shared and smiled at her

The footballer then says that a security guard for Roan spoke to his wife and daughter in an ‘extremely aggressive manner’ and said the child shouldn’t ‘harass’ other people

Roan, 28, has previously called out fans for ‘creepy’ behavior online and in public

Roan has had an occasionally contentious relationship with her fans, with the artist previously calling out behavior that she considered ‘creepy’ and ‘invasive’ in previous social media posts.

In August 2024, around the time of her sudden rise in popularity, Roan posted a video to TikTok where she said, ‘I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking, whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous or a little famous.

‘It’s weird how people think that you know a person because you see them online and you listen to the art they make … I’m allowed to say no to creepy behavior, okay?’

She followed that up with a lengthy post to Instagram, saying, ‘I want to be an artist for a very long time. I’ve been in too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions and I just need to lay it out and remind you, women don’t owe you s**t.’

Roan continued: ‘When I’m on stage, when I’m performing, when I’m in drag, when I’m at a work event, when I’m doing press…I am at work. Any other circumstance, I am not in work mode. I am clocked out.’

She added, ‘If you’re still asking, “Well, if you didn’t want this to happen, then why did you choose a career where you knew you wouldn’t be comfortable with the outcome of success?” – understand this: I embrace the success of the project, the love I feel, and the gratitude I have. What I do not accept are creepy people, being touched, and being followed.’

Jorginho, who was born in Brazil but represents Italy at the national team level, enjoyed a lengthy career in European football, winning the 2021 UEFA Champions League and the 2019 Europa League with Chelsea. He also played with Arsenal and Napoli among other clubs. 

Jorginho and Harding share a son, Jax, four, while she also has a daughter called Ada, nine, with her ex-partner Jude Law 

In 2023, Jorginho got down on one knee for Harding, and the two married last year. They are pictured above during their engagement 

Jorginho and Harding married last year after four years of dating. In 2023, the departing Arsenal footballer got down on one knee for the singer, surrounded by red roses and candles, while being serenaded by a violinist.

The pair also starred together on fly-on-the-wall series Married To The Game, which premiered in February 2024, and follows the partners of some of the best Premier League footballers, shedding light on their lives beyond the pitch.

Catherine has previously spoken about the challenges of having a blended family, admitting it is difficult when different households have different rules for their children.

Catherine was 23 when she dated Jude, then 41, who was filming on location in the Czech Republic as he grew close to the aspiring musician.

He and his now wife Phillipa Coan also have two children – born in 2020 an 2023 – whose identities have not been made public.