(DCNF)—Conservative activist Robby Starbuck pushed back against some of CNN contributor and former Obama administration official Van Jones’ claims about his stances on equity policies on Tuesday.
Jones said during a panel discussion at the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) “Blueprint” conference in Louisville, Ky., that Starbuck should not say that people who have previously embraced “equity” efforts in the workplace are “communists” or “don’t believe in merit.” Starbuck quickly denied calling everyone in attendance at the conference “communists,” also reiterating that he believes “equity” is inherently a “Marxist concept.”
“I don’t see any communists here, I don’t see anybody that doesn’t believe in merit here, I see people who are trying to solve real problems,” Jones said.
“I don’t know where I called anybody here a communist,” Starbuck replied. “I will say, statistically, there’s probably one or two [in] here.”
“You said ‘Marxist’ on this stage,” Jones shot back.
“Equity is a Marxist concept,” Starbuck said. “A thousand percent. I mean, it’s been a pillar of every Marxist revolution that we’ve had over the last 200 years.”
Starbuck, a visiting fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, has publicly called for several U.S. companies to terminate their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over the past few years. He has also previously compared DEI to “poison.”
Starbuck wrote in an Aug. 27 X post that he believes it is now “socially unacceptable” to “promote” trans causes or DEI efforts in corporate America, adding that it is also “unacceptable to use our money for Pride events.”
Later on during the SHRM panel discussion, Jones criticized Starbuck for using what he claimed was “bully tactics” to get American companies to abandon their diversity policies.”
“I think you may give yourself a little too much credit for the force of your argument,” Jones told Starbuck. “I don’t think people are being won over by your argument, I think they are being run over by your bully tactics and are afraid of the government. And so that’s something I think you have to be careful about.”
“You may be right about that, the CEOs may just be kissing up to me when they say that I’ve won them over with my arguments,” Starbuck said. “But to be honest with you, I don’t really care whether it’s a byproduct of me running them over with bully tactics or whether it’s because they loved my argument privately.”
The activist also added that he was achieving success at getting corporations to drop their DEI policies even when former President Joe Biden was in office.
“The truth is, I was doing this before [President Donald] Trump was in office, before he won the [2024] election, when it was very probable, a lot of people thought Kamala [Harris] was going to win. They were still dropping these [DEI] policies as we went after each company because they saw the financial reaction from the marketplace, they saw their in-store customers dipping [and] they saw it was a serious problem,” he said.
“I can definitely humble myself to say everybody in this room is not a communist, I don’t think I ever said that, but in the case that I did, I do not believe you guys are all communists,” Starbuck later added.
Many human-resources (HR) professionals were reportedly extremely upset over SHRM’s decision to invite Starbuck to its fall conference. Some HR professionals have backed out of attending the conference or have ended their memberships in SHRM, The Wall Street Journal reported on Oct. 17.
Additionally, Trump unveiled an executive order in January to terminate “radical” and “immoral” DEI programs in federal agencies.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
For Emergency Preparedness, Don’t Forget the Meds
Being prepared is more than just a good idea—it’s essential. We stock up on non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, and first-aid supplies, but one critical aspect often gets overlooked: access to vital medications. What happens if pharmacies close, prescriptions can’t be filled, or you’re cut off from medical care during an emergency?
That’s where Jase Medical steps in, offering a reliable solution to ensure you and your family have the medications you need when it matters most.
Jase Medical specializes in emergency preparedness kits designed to provide peace of mind through physician-reviewed, prescription medications delivered right to your door. Their flagship product, the Jase Case, is a comprehensive emergency antibiotic and medication kit priced at $289.95.
This kit includes 10 essential medications—five life-saving antibiotics and five symptom relief meds—that can treat over 50 common infections and illnesses, from urinary tract infections and pneumonia to skin infections and traveler’s diarrhea. With 28 add-on options available, you can customize the kit to fit your specific needs, including a KidCase for children ages 2-11.
The process is straightforward and hassle-free. Simply visit Patriot.tv/meds, complete an online evaluation, and have your order reviewed by a board-certified physician. Once approved, the medications are shipped discreetly from a licensed pharmacy to your U.S. address (with plans for Canada shipping coming soon). Each kit comes with detailed Med Cards outlining symptoms, dosing, and usage, making it easy to administer even in high-stress situations. These medications are shelf-stable and designed for long-term storage, empowering you to handle medical emergencies without relying on external help.
For those on the move, Jase Medical also offers the Jase Go kit for $129.95, a compact travel med kit covering over 30 common conditions encountered during adventures or trips. And for ongoing needs, Jase Daily provides an extended supply of your prescribed chronic medications to safeguard against disruptions in supply chains or extreme weather events.
Don’t just take our word for it—thousands of satisfied customers have given Jase Medical a 4.9-star rating, praising its role in true preparedness. As radio host Glenn Beck warns, “The supply lines for antibiotics already are stressed to the max. Please have some antibiotics on hand… You can do it through Jase.”
Whether you’re prepping for a hurricane, a power outage, or simply the uncertainties of daily life, Jase Medical ensures you’re not caught off guard. Head to patriot.tv/meds today to customize and order your emergency kit—because when it comes to your health and safety, it’s better to be prepared than sorry.