California's \"Made in California\" site criticised over owner filters that omit White men
A new state \"Made in California\" business directory lets buyers filter by owner identity, but has no category for White-owned or male-owned businesses. Conservative critics objected; the state had not responded to Fox News.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2A new "Made in California" website for locally made products is drawing criticism because it lets buyers search for brands by owner identity but offers no filter for male-owned or White-owned businesses. New York PostR “but not male- or white-owned businesses.” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “does not offer specific search filters for White-owned or male-owned businesses” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2The filters listed by Fox News include Asian-Owned, Black-Owned, Hispanic-Owned, LGBTQ-Owned, Native American-Owned, Pacific Islander-Owned, Veteran-Owned and Woman-Owned; the New York Post says the filters are optional. Fox NewsR “Asian-Owned, Black-Owned, Hispanic-Owned, LGBTQ-Owned, Native American-Owned, Pacific Islander-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Woman-Owned” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “the website’s optional demographic filters” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Conservative activist Christopher Rufo, a critic of diversity, equity and inclusion policies, called attention to the site on X, writing that it allows selection by "every identity group except for one: White men." Elon Musk replied "Wow." Fox NewsR “allows you to select products by every identity group except for one: White men.”“replying to Rufo's post with, "Wow."” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1The New York Post quoted X users who called for a lawsuit over "discrimination by erasure" and who said the idea was "poisoned by identity politics." New York PostR ““They need to be sued for discrimination by erasure then.””““Sigh. A nice idea poisoned by identity politics.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The Post notes that the missing label does not mean those business owners are barred from participating. New York PostR “The missing label does not mean those business owners are barred from participating.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the initiative on Aug. 28. It is managed by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate and is meant to help consumers and corporate buyers find products manufactured in California. New York PostR “Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the initiative on Aug. 28.” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “the program is designed to help consumers and corporate buyers find products manufactured in the Golden State” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1To qualify, a product must have at least 51% of its wholesale value added within the state; certified businesses appear in the public directory and may use the "Made in California" seal on packaging and marketing. New York PostR “a product must have at least 51% of its wholesale value added within the state.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Fox News cited U.S. Census Bureau figures that about 40% of California's population is Hispanic or Latino, more than 30% non-Hispanic White, roughly 17% Asian and about 6% Black. Fox NewsR “approximately 40% of California's population is Hispanic or Latino, more than 30% is non-Hispanic White, roughly 17% is Asian and about 6% is Black.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Fox News also quoted entrepreneur Will Fry, who backed the directory concept but called the identity focus a "virtue signaling exercise," and Theo Wold, a former Trump administration official, who called race-based preferences "anathema." Fox News said the California Office of the Small Business Advocate and Newsom's office had not immediately responded to requests for comment. Fox NewsR “it comes as no surprise that California seems to have decided to turn it into a virtue signaling exercise about identity”“Race-based preferences — in college admissions or in government-run, taxpayer-backed small business lending — is anathema.”“but did not immediately receive responses.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the site as an example of identity politics, led by the omission of White and male categories and by Rufo's criticism.
- Emphasis
- Social media backlash, Rufo and Musk's reactions, and (in Fox) commentary casting race-based preferences as a Democratic agenda.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No state explanation of the filter design appears; Fox says officials had not responded. No coverage from left or centre outlets.
- Charged language
- “accused of racial ignorance”“excludes White men”“virtue signaling exercise”“sparked backlash”
- For example
-
“catching flak for allowing would-be buyers to search for goods from brands operated by women, minorities and a host of other groups” — New York Post
“sparked backlash by excluding White and male as owner identity categories” — Fox News
What every side reports
- The Made in California site has owner-identity filters but none for White-owned or male-owned businesses.
- The program is managed by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate.
- Products must have at least 51% of wholesale value added in California to qualify.
- Christopher Rufo criticised the site on X.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
‘Made in California’ site selling homegrown product accused of racial ignorance
Mixed Short report built around online anger and Rufo's criticism, while noting White and male owners are not barred from participating.
-
Made in California business directory lets buyers filter by identity but excludes White men
Critical Frames the directory as excluding White men, backed by critic and former Trump official commentary and Census demographics, with no state response yet.
- 15 Oct 03:49 First New York PostR ‘Made in California’ site selling homegrown product accused of racial ignorance
- 16 Oct 00:38 +20h 48m Fox NewsR Made in California business directory lets buyers filter by identity but excludes White men
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…