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US labour watchdog halts Apple cases after group’s lawyer picked for top job

(www.ft.com)
275 points belter | 2 comments | 02 Apr 25 11:50 UTC | HN request time: 0.511s | source
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rchaud ◴[04 Apr 25 13:15 UTC] No.43581873[source]▶
Apple CEO Tim Cook made a personal $1 million "donation" to the Trump inauguration in January 2025:

> Cook, a proud Alabama native, believes the inauguration is a great American tradition, and is donating to the inauguration in the spirit of unity, the sources said.

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/03/tim-cook-apple-donate-1-mil...

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jedberg ◴[04 Apr 25 15:02 UTC] No.43583474[source]▶
He was in a tough spot. I’m sure he doesn’t support the admin, but also he knows Apple needs tariff relief, and paying a “donation” to Trump is a good way to do that.

He basically paid $1M to try and save thousands of jobs at Apple (and of course increase Apple’s value)

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1. pornel ◴[04 Apr 25 15:45 UTC] No.43584075[source]▶
It's incredible that paying fealty to the president is talked about so casually, and framed as just a normal and necessary thing to do.

This is something that should be expected in an absolute monarchy, not a democracy.

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2. freedomben ◴[04 Apr 25 19:44 UTC] No.43586882[source]▶
I agree completely, and I think it's disgusting and despicable. But honestly this sort of thing has been happening for many, many decades, maybe even centuries, it's just been done a lot more discreetly in the past. The big difference now is that it's so blatant.

While that might sound like an improvement (and kind of is as at least we're getting more honest), I also view it as a big regression. At least when there's perceived shame in being corrupt, people aspire to be better. When it just becomes routine, I fear it's the beginning of the end.