I don’t know the place I heard about PublicSquare, and I’m unsure why individuals in my sphere (together with me) are simply now studying about this four-year-old, not-new firm. In all probability as a result of it’s silly and who cares? However for no matter motive, all of my algorithms in the previous couple of weeks have been bombarding me with posts about this nationwide “anti-woke on-line market,” whereby companies can signal themselves as much as be collated into a giant Trumpy database. Then, utilizing the positioning’s map function, consumers who don’t need to give cash to wokes can search-near-me to search out MAGA-aligned nail salons, and occasional outlets, and authorized public accountants. No extra woke fingernails. These people have had sufficient.
Scratching the floor a bit of: PublicSquare was began up in San Diego in 2021 by Michael Seifert, hardcore Christian fundie and alum of the sometimes-accredited Liberty College—that’s the one based by Jerry Falwell—as a right-wing “values-driven different” to Amazon. (Who… does this man suppose earnings from Amazon? Not conservatives? As a result of.) The corporate helps the pro-life motion, the Trump administration, and “conventional American values.” It additionally owns EveryLife, “the nation’s first pro-life diaper web site,”and Credova, a buy-now-pay-later on-line gun retailer. Donald Trump, Jr., and Republican former US senator Kelly Loeffler are on PublicSquare’s board of administrators. “Child bonuses” are awarded to PublicSquare workers who start or undertake youngsters. You recognize. Shit like that.
In July 2023, following a Particular Function Acquisition Firm (SPAC) merger with Colombier Acquisition Company, PublicSquare went public on the New York Inventory Alternate. So apparently, conservatives are consuming this up with a giant wood tradwife spoon.
That’s all actually cute, however right here’s the factor. This MAGA chud who got down to compile a database of right-wing companies has unwittingly carried out us an awesome service. Now we all know how one can keep away from giving our cash to MAGA chuds, if certainly we’re inclined. Man, these guys can’t do something proper.
Doodling across the PublicSquare map is illuminating. I didn’t need the positioning to know my location, so I entered my ZIP code manually, clicked “Close to me” on the high proper, after which clicked “Search this space” on the high left. (For the love of canine, don’t settle for this web site’s cookies.) As one would count on, Seattle is extra sparsely populated with PublicSquare, uh, members in comparison with the remainder of the nation, however there are nonetheless an excellent 60+ native companies on there. Martial arts studios, auto restore outlets, regulation corporations, all kinds of issues. Naturally, there’s the next incidence within the Eastside, Tacoma, Everett, and the suburbs in between. They dwell amongst us.
I’m often a meals author, so I instantly looked for native eating places upon discovering PublicSquare, and lo, I discovered a couple of. Enterprise-upscale pastaria Barolo Ristorante in downtown Seattle and intensely middlin’ bakery Belle Epicurean by the Arboretum are each repping. I see Grazie in Southcenter, which I went to on a nasty date about 20 years in the past. There’s one thing on there referred to as Pilgrim Coffeehouse in North Seattle that I’ve by no means heard of in my life but it surely sounds actual Mars Hill-y. Burbs Burgers too, quelle shock, though it’s the now-defunct location in Montlake, so it’s seemingly been on there for a minute.
(Some lore: Though Burbs Burgers 1.0 was initially owned by space antivaxxer, wage thief, and RFK Jr. superfan Josh Henderson, who additionally began Skillet again within the day, he filed for chapter in late 2023 and the enterprise was subsequently bought in Could 2024 to former Burbs worker Bersain Gutierrez, whose politics aren’t recognized to me. Gutierrez now runs the meals gap at Final Name Bar in Frelard, legally as “B’s Burgers,” though the menus say Burbs and he claims to make use of the identical recipes. If he’s not MAGA-aligned, he could wanna do one thing about this itemizing.)
When map-scouting round exterior of Seattle, I didn’t count on to see Seattle Restaurant Provide in Shoreline, on 149th and Aurora, and am very glad to have noticed it. By clicking round randomly in Tacoma, I discovered an occasion venue referred to as The Realm whose proprietor is stoked to have attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration in particular person, in addition to all places of Anthem Espresso, which I’m going to generally. Not no extra.
Anyway, listed here are all the companies that I discovered listed on PublicSquare inside the better Seattle metropolitan space:
Abby London Music, Adeptec, Aldaris CPA Group, Barolo Ristorante, Seashore Revolution, Belle Epicurean, Past Clothes, Blaise Inventive, Blossoming New child Care, Brett Menear at Comparion Insurance coverage Company, Burbs Burgers, Corry’s Positive Dry Cleansing. CrossFit Deliverance, Cue CrossFit, Curtis Rowe—Monetary Advisor, Ehm Structure, Emerald Metropolis Window Tinting, Flamespray Northwest, Focus Core, Gian DeCaro Sartoria Tailors & Shirtmakers, Glass Masters Window Cleansing, Gods Canines, Hagen’s Automobile Care, Hallmark Administration Group LLC, Heft Shifting, Helisports LLC, Home to House Interiors, iLocal Inc, Illuminata Artwork Glass Design, J and S Design Firm, J&M Carpet Renewal, Lockerby Legislation PLLC, mapunlimited, Mely Luciano at Comparion Insurance coverage Company, MK Steel Fab Inc., Northwest K9 Mattress Bug Detectives, NW Homeworks, One Accord Karate, Pics By Pix Images, Pilgrim Espresso Home (and Pilgrim Espresso Truck), Plan-It Imaginative and prescient, posterGIANT, Defend My Life with Logan, Rebekah Truman at Seattle Type Salon, Reflective Auto Detailing, r.evolution psychotherapy, Seattle Auto Glass Store, Seattle Canine Walker, Seattle Estates, Seattle Built-in Martial Arts, Seattle Mortgage Professor, Seattle Restaurant Retailer, Sharper Instruments LLC, Steve Parco at Premier Mortgage Sources, Sugar Cease, Surgent Inc, TJ Hoisington, Television Tech, TommyTQL LLC, Tukwila Household Chiropractic, and unlo motor membership.
Once more, there are heaps extra enterprise listings within the suburbs and the rurals, and it’s an excellent reminder that we don’t at all times spend our cash completely within the metropolis. I’m taking a highway journey to Japanese Washington quickly, and also you’re rattling proper I’m gonna seek the advice of this map earlier than I’m going. And yeah, I notice this isn’t a complete roster of each Republican enterprise proprietor within the nation. But it surely doesn’t damage to verify both.
Am I telling you to boycott these companies? And even to not patronize them? Nope. You positive can try this, although, in order for you. I’m simply telling you the names of some native companies whose homeowners are lined as much as kiss the ring—and consciously sock their prospects’ cash behind issues like denying American ladies entry to abortion, stripping LGBTQ+ individuals and non-white individuals, and girls of their civil rights, imprisoning and deporting immigrants of any authorized standing, and murdering everybody in Palestine. And/or they vote for these issues to proceed. Doowutchyalike, however I personally wish to know if somebody’s an abject fucking villain earlier than I give them cash.
I additionally encourage y’all to analysis any of those companies that you simply’re involved about and to ask questions on this topic on the whole. Up right here within the nook, it may be straightforward to neglect that we’ve loads of Trumpers in our neighborhood, and I believe it’s prudent—and ethically essential—to take the time, each time potential, to search out out who your cash’s going to. The MAGA chuds are doing the identical.
