Target’s Post-Pivot Purgatory

Communication Breakdown · May 9, 2025 · 30m · transcript

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll dissect the reputational fallout from Target's controversial turnabout on diversity. Fourteen weeks after reversing key social commitments, Target finds itself caught between political pressure from the Trump administration and backlash from longtime allies and customers. Steve and Craig break down the retailer's internal memo to employees, assess its effectiveness, and debate whether Target is piloting its way through crisis or simply riding out the storm. Using the ACCESS framework, they explore the fine line…