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Apple's shareholders voted to continue the tech giant's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on Tuesday, rejecting a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to end them. Predictably, President Donald Trump is mad about it.

The NCPPR's attempt to abolish Apple's DEI initiatives was shot down in a landslide during the company's annual shareholder meeting this week, garnering only 210.45 million votes compared to 8.84 billion against it. In its proposal, the self-described conservative think tank claimed that DEI programs pose "litigation, reputational and financial risks," and that their mere existence potentially breaches companies' duties to shareholders.

Apple's shareholders clearly didn't find the NCPPR's arguments compelling though, ultimately following the board's recommendation that the proposal be rejected. 

SEE ALSO: Google scraps diverse hiring targets following Trump's crusade against DEI

"The proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well‑established compliance program and the proposal inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies," Apple wrote in its proxy statement. "Our Board and management maintain active oversight of legal and regulatory risks and compliance for our global business."

Further responding to the NCPPR's proposal, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the company has "never had quotas or targets," but that its DEI programs are key to its corporate culture guided by "dignity and respect for everyone."

"Our strength has always come from hiring the very best people and then providing a culture of collaboration," said Cook.

Despite Apple shareholders' decision to retain the company's DEI programs, Cook did acknowledge that changes in legislation may force adjustments to its policies regardless. But for now, Apple's commitments to equity remain in place.

"As the legal landscape around these issues evolves, we may need to make some changes to comply," Cook stated. "We’ll continue to work together to create a culture of belonging and we’ll remain committed to the values that have always made us who we are."

As of 2022, Apple reported that almost 65 percent of its global workforce was male, while approximately 42 percent were white, 30 percent were Asian, 15 percent were Hispanic/Latinx, and just nine percent were Black.

The NCPPR has sent similar anti-DEI proposals to over two dozen companies according to the Washington Post, including Airbnb and General Motors. Costco's shareholders voted on its proposal from the NCPPR during their own meeting in January, where it also failed.

Trump criticises Apple's DEI shareholder vote

Of course, Trump was not pleased by the results of Apple's shareholder vote. The president railed against Apple's decision to adhere to its shareholders' decision on his social media platform Truth Social, continuing his aggressive attacks on DEI programs.

"APPLE SHOULD GET RID OF DEI RULES, NOT JUST MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM," wrote Trump (emphasis original). "DEI WAS A HOAX THAT HAS BEEN VERY BAD FOR OUR COUNTRY. DEI IS GONE!!!"

Interestingly, Trump's close ally Elon Musk recently took to X to stress the sanctity of the shareholder vote in December. This was in response to a judge ruling that Tesla's shareholders couldn't reinstate Musk's $55.8 billion compensation package after the court had already ruled it unlawful.

Dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion has been one of Trump's primary concerns since his inauguration, with one of his first acts being to issue an executive order terminating all federal DEI programs. While this order only directly impacted government entities, tech giants have also been falling in line with Trump's directive of their own volition. After all, the U.S government is far more likely to grant lucrative contracts to companies whose values align with its own.

Meta preemptively scrapped its DEI initiatives just prior to Trump's inauguration in January, altering its Hateful Conduct policy to be more friendly to divisive and discriminatory content. Similarly, Amazon reportedly told employees it was "winding down" some DEI programs, and scrubbed mention of diversity and inclusion from its recent annual report. Google also got rid of its diverse hiring targets earlier this month — as well as deleted its pledge against using AI for weapons or surveillance.

Stop me if you've heard this one before: An underestimated woman takes over a failing sports team whose players include a gruff veteran, a talented but out-of-control diva, and a sweet newbie. That's Ted Lasso, right? Wrong! It's Running Point.

SEE ALSO: Kate Hudson and Mindy Kaling join forces in 'Running Point' trailer

Or what about this one: A dysfunctional group of four siblings — three brothers, one sister — fights over their father's lucrative empire. Is that Succession? No! It's Running Point!

All this is to say that Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen's basketball comedy Running Point feels like the love child of two of the biggest shows of recent years — and that's not a bad thing. (Ted Lasso definitely has the dominant genes.) The series mixes familiar storylines with a tone more akin to Kaling's other shows, resulting in a glossy sports comedy buoyed by a winning ensemble.

Running Point remixes the Ted Lasso formula with basketball. Kate Hudson in "Running Point." Credit: Katrina Marcinowski / Netflix

Like Ted Lasso, Running Point brings us behind the scenes of a high-level sports team that's seen better days. This time around, it's the Los Angeles Waves, a fictionalized version of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Waves executive suite is a family affair, with the four Gordon siblings running the organization in the years since their father — the legendary but brash Jack Gordon — passed away. Eldest son Cam (Justin Theroux) is the president, former pro player Ness (Scott MacArthur) serves as the GM, and business-savvy Sandy (Drew Tarver) is the CFO. Meanwhile, the oft-excluded Isla (Kate Hudson) is left to manage the Waves charity, even though she knows more about the game than her brothers care to acknowledge.

SEE ALSO: 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 ending explained: One final game, and a whole lot of mess

Isla gets the chance to put her extensive basketball IQ to the test when Cam unexpectedly appoints her team president. (Isla is loosely based on current Lakers president Jeanie Buss, who serves as an executive producer on Running Point.) Suddenly, she finds herself at the head of a very male-dominated sports organization full of people — including her own family members — ready for her to trip up. Ted Lasso viewers may see quite a bit of Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) in her, from her competitive spirit to her high-profile position in men's sports. However, there are major differences, too, from Isla's bubblier personality to the fact that she doesn't start the series wanting to tank the Waves. Instead, she's tasked with the impossible: turning around a lifeless team.

That's easier said than done, especially when decorated team captain Marcus Winfield (Toby Sandeman) is checked out of the season and point guard Travis Bugg (Chet Hanks) courts controversy at every turn. They're not not similar to Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), just as the players' himbo locker room antics don't not call to mind the Richmond Greyhounds. Yet the basketball elements keep the team dynamic feeling fresh, even if you don't understand much about basketball.

You don't need to watch basketball to love Running Point. Scott MacArthur, Kate Hudson, and Drew Tarver in "Running Point." Credit: Katrina Marcinowski / Netflix

Sure, a bit of basketball knowledge may come in handy while watching Running Point's game sequences or boardroom scenes, where characters rattle off facts about salary caps, outside shooting, and player trades. Still, if you don't know your free throws from your three-pointers, don't worry. Running Point is much more interested in what's happening in interpersonal relationships off the court versus the details of what happens on it. That's because Running Point is, at its heart, the story of a screwed-up family who just happens to run a multi-billion dollar basketball team.

At the start of most episodes, Isla recounts stories about her father Jack in voiceover, recalling his casual misogyny, his judgmental nature, and the way he viewed his players as assets instead of people. Running Point explores the ways these qualities have trickled down into his children and how they're trying to unlearn them. It's as if Succession's Roy kids actually learned to open up emotionally and were way less intense. Plus, Running Point throws in a curveball in the form of Jack's secret son Jackie (Fabrizio Guido), who yearns for familial connection with the other Gordons.

The Gordon family ties allow for a number of laugh-out-loud story beats, including a squabble at an engagement party and an argument about player trades that devolves into a paintball shootout. It also allows Running Point's core cast to showcase their killer chemistry. Hudson leads the team with pitch-perfect comedic timing, committing totally to Isla's many pratfalls. As support, MacArthur and Tarver make for a delightful odd couple: Ness is loud and bro-y, and Sandy is more reserved yet cutting. Theroux is less present, but he's an absolute hoot whenever he shows up, and Guido rounds out the Gordons with an endearing innocence that contrasts nicely with the rest of his siblings' billionaire blunders. Closing out Running Point's all-star team are Brenda Song as Waves chief of staff Ali, Max Greenfield as Isla's fiancé Lev, and Jay Ellis as Waves coach Jay.

Running Point's endlessly watchable cast carries the show through some bumpier pacing moments since, like with many streaming comedies, Running Point feels like it would benefit from a longer season. That way, it wouldn't have to squeeze important events like the lead-up to playoffs into such a short amount of time.

Despite these pacing issues, Running Point remains a sharp comedy that skewers both professional basketball and dysfunctional families with glee. Here's hoping it joins Never Have I Ever as another multi-season Kaling Netflix series. It has all the right pieces, and with a little more time, it could cement itself as an absolute slam dunk.

Running Point is now streaming on Netflix.

TL;DR: Discover the joy of piano with a Skoove Premium Lifetime Subscription for £118.20 (reg. £236.40), giving you unlimited access to interactive lessons, real-time feedback, and music you love.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription £118.20 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office for life and Windows 11 Pro for just £43.32 (reg. £345.16) if you buy this bundle before 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

Tired of software subscriptions? Cancel them. You actually don't need a Microsoft 365 subscription to get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and all the other productivity tools you rely on. Instead, you can switch to a Microsoft Office lifetime device license that comes with the same apps for a one-time payment. And now, you also get Windows 11 Pro included, and the whole package is just £43.32 (reg. £345.16) at the Mashable Shop.

No more software subscriptions

Microsoft Office Pro gives you lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. There are no hidden fees or recurring costs of any kind. Download each of these apps onto your Windows computer, and your access lasts as long as you have your device.

Now, if you're used to Microsoft 365, these tools might look a little different (but not much). The 2021 Microsoft apps still work great, so you can keep relying on Excel for work or Word for school, minus the constant cost. 

Windows 11 Pro is a serious upgrade, even if you're just coming from Windows 11 Home. It gives you access to more advanced security tools like Bitlocker device encryption and TPM 2.0. You also get to use Windows Copilot, your own built-in AI you can use to generate text, conduct research, or just answer a quick question.

Gamers even get their own boost with DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is super useful for getting the most out of your hardware for graphically intense games. 

Remember: You only have until 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for just £43.32 (reg. £345.16). 

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