Future historians looking for a crisp illustration of the cultural divisions in 2020s America will find it hard to resist this one: a 100-year-old company built on family fun in a political showdown with a conservative governor looking to make his name. That showdown intensified in May when Disney canceled a $1 billion development project in Orlando as part of its feud with Governor Ron DeSantis. Companies that endure, says Bob Iger, who unexpectedly returned as CEO in November, do not abandon core values. And Disney remains formidable: In 2022, its film studio was the world’s top-grossing for a seventh straight year.
A weekly newsletter featuring conversations with the world’s top CEOs, managers, and founders. Join the Leadership Brief.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024