Latest news with #Lorenz
The Intercept
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Intercept
The Disinformation Machine After a Murder
In the wake of the political assassination of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, prominent right-wing figures moved quickly to assign blame. Utah Sen. Mike Lee pinned the killings on 'Marxism.' Elon Musk pointed to the 'far left.' Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, said it 'seems to be a leftist.' But the facts quickly told a different story: The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter is a Trump supporter who held radical anti-abortion views. 'There's an entire right-wing media machine aimed at pushing disinformation around breaking news events and specifically attributing violence to the left,' says Taylor Lorenz, independent journalist and author of 'Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet.' 'You see this over and over and over again, no matter who is perpetrating the violence.' 'The reality is that the vast overwhelming majority of political violence in recent years has come from the right,' adds Akela Lacy, The Intercept's senior politics reporter. 'It basically treats that fact as if it's not real, as if it doesn't exist,' she says — a dynamic that then fails to address the root causes. This week on The Intercept Briefing, host Jordan Uhl talks with Lorenz and Lacy about how online disinformation is distorting public understanding of major events — from political violence to immigration to potential war with Iran. In this chaos-driven ecosystem, the right — and Trump especially — know how to thrive. 'There are these right-wing influencer networks that exist to amplify misinformation and shape narratives online,' says Lorenz. 'A lot of them coordinate, literally directly coordinate through group chats,' she explains. 'They receive messaging directly from leaders in the Republican Party that they immediately disseminate.' That messaging loop reinforces itself — seeping into mainstream culture, dominating social media, and driving Trump's policies. Lacy points to a striking example: Democratic Sen. Tina Smith from Minnesota confronting Lee over his false claim that the shooter was a Marxist, and his apparent surprise at being held accountable. ' There's no reason that a sitting U.S. senator is spreading these lies, should not expect to be confronted by his colleagues over something like this. And that says volumes about the environment on the Hill,' says Lacy. But this right-wing narrative war doesn't work without help to boost their legitimacy. 'These manufactured outrage campaigns are not successful unless they're laundered by the traditional media,' says Lorenz. 'If the New York Times or the BBC or NPR — which is one of the worst — don't launder those campaigns and pick those campaigns up, they kind of don't go anywhere.' You can hear the full conversation of The Intercept Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Two B.C. men fined $40,000 for illegal prawn harvest off Vancouver Island
Two men have been fined more than $40,000 for illegally harvesting prawns and other fishing offences. In separate cases, commercial fishers Scott Castle and Terry Lorenz were accused of fishing illegally in a closed area of Stuart Channel near Ladysmith off the south coast of Vancouver Island in 2022. On April 29, Castle was found guilty in Nanaimo provincial court of remotely instructing vessel master Lorenz to fish in the closed area over several days. The illegal harvest was reported to Fisheries and Oceans Canada on May 30, 2022 during a commercial prawn fishery closure in the area. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Castle was also found guilty of the sale of the illegally harvested prawns and for failing to complete mandatory forms as required under the Fisheries Act. Lorenz was convicted of the same offences on May 15 in Nanaimo court. Castle was fined $30,000 for fishing during a closure and for the licence violations and $8,228 from the proceeds of the sale of the illegally caught harvest. Lorenz was fined $3,000 and banned from fishing for five years. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said illegal harvesting harms B.C.'s lucrative commercial prawn fishery, which was worth over $50 million in 2022, and threatens conservation efforts. Fishing in closed areas could deplete the population of female prawns needed for reproduction, said the federal agency. In B.C., female prawns typically spawn between January and April. chchan@
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Waymo Hiring For a "Public Affairs Specialist" in Los Angeles While People Are Settings Its Cars on Fire
Waymo is hiring a "community and public affairs specialist" — at the same time that the company's self-driving vehicles were becoming unwitting participants in Los Angeles' anti-immigration raid protests. After rabblerousers set fire to a bunch of Waymo's driverless cabs, the company suspended service in the city of Angels and San Francisco, where satellite solidarity protests also broke out. While it was all going down, the public affairs specialist listing was live, like a cautionary tale for the challenges of the role. "Our focus is implementing advocacy, grassroots, and grasstops campaigns to drive acceptance and adoption of our life-saving technology," reads the listing. "We work directly with key third party groups and influencers to educate the public on the safety benefits of Waymo's fully autonomous driving technology." With compensation ranging from $125,000 to $175,000 per year, the Google-owned robotaxi service is seeking someone who can "develop and sustain relationships with influential community organizations and (non-elected) leaders" as the company attempts to "build trust" and "maintain Waymo's ability to operate in Los Angeles County." Though there's ample allusion to "community" — a word used a total of 10 times on the job listing — Waymo was not explicit in the ad about why it's hiring for such a liaison at this precise moment. And to be fair, those outside of leftist circles in LA and online may also be a bit perplexed about why the company was targeted amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As tech journalist Taylor Lorenz noted on X over the weekend, it appears that activists zeroed in on Waymos as a symbol of state surveillance because, as 404 Media flagged earlier this year, the Los Angeles Police Department has used footage from the company for investigative purposes. "People view the cars as an extension of the police," Lorenz wrote, linking to the 404 piece. Because the more destructive aspects of the anti-ICE protests were seemingly decentralized and spontaneous, there's no way to know for sure whose idea it was to start torching Waymos. With that in mind, the company clearly wants to start doing the hard work of extricating its brand from that of the massively unpopular federal agency — though issuing a statement in solidarity with the communities it's trying to court would probably make for a better start. Take note, applicants. Updated to clarify that the job listing was already up at the time of the attacks on Waymo vehicles. More on robotaxis: Elon Musk's "Robotaxis" Have a Dirty Secret
Cision Canada
11-06-2025
- Cision Canada
Court imposes significant penalties on two B.C. commercial prawn harvesters Français
NANAIMO, BC, June 11, 2025 /CNW/ - On the Pacific Coast of Canada, the lucrative commercial prawn fishery is a significant source of revenue for commercial harvesters, as well as providing processing-related jobs that benefit coastal communities. Excess and illegal harvesting undermines these economic benefits, harming not only harvesters and communities, but also recreational anglers and Indigenous peoples who rely on prawn as a vital food source. Excess and illegal harvesting also poses a serious threat to conservation efforts. In two recent, related court cases, individuals were found guilty of offences related to illegal fishing. On April 29, 2025, in Nanaimo Provincial Court, Scott Castle was found guilty of remotely directing the Vessel Master Terry Lorenz to illegally fish in a closed area of Stuart Channel near Ladysmith, British Columbia (B.C.), over several days. He was also convicted of the illegal sale of prawns from the closed area, and of not completing his mandatory fish slips, which is a requirement of the conditions of licence for prawn harvesters under Canada's Fisheries Act. On May 15, 2025, in Nanaimo Provincial Court, the Vessel Master, Mr. Lorenz, was found guilty of the same offences. Mr. Castle was fined $30,000 for fishing during a closed time and the licence violations, plus an additional $8,228 from the proceeds of the sale of the illegally caught prawns. Mr. Lorenz was fined $3,000 and prohibited from fishing for five years. DFO protects and conserves marine resources, and enforces the Fisheries Act. As part of DFO's work to disrupt and prevent illegal activity, the Department asks the public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and regulations. Anyone with information can call DFO Pacific Region's toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to [email protected]. Quick Facts: The case stems from a May 30, 2022, report to DFO of a vessel fishing during a commercial prawn fishery closure in several sub-areas off the south coast of Vancouver Island. All prawns begin life as males. After they mate, at 2.5 to 3 years of age they transition to female. The females then spawn between January and April, and die within a few weeks, around the age of 4. Fishing in a closed areas depletes the population of female prawns needed for reproduction. Retaining undersize prawns prevents smaller males from mating and reaching maturity. Only fish caught under a licence permitting the sale or purchase of fish may be purchased or sold in Canada. Any fish sold must be processed through a licensed plant to ensure quality and public safety. Fish that has not been inspected may be unsafe for consumption and could pose significant health risks. Stay Connected SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Court imposes significant penalties on two B.C. commercial prawn harvesters
NANAIMO, BC, June 11, 2025 /CNW/ - On the Pacific Coast of Canada, the lucrative commercial prawn fishery is a significant source of revenue for commercial harvesters, as well as providing processing-related jobs that benefit coastal communities. Excess and illegal harvesting undermines these economic benefits, harming not only harvesters and communities, but also recreational anglers and Indigenous peoples who rely on prawn as a vital food source. Excess and illegal harvesting also poses a serious threat to conservation efforts. In two recent, related court cases, individuals were found guilty of offences related to illegal fishing. On April 29, 2025, in Nanaimo Provincial Court, Scott Castle was found guilty of remotely directing the Vessel Master Terry Lorenz to illegally fish in a closed area of Stuart Channel near Ladysmith, British Columbia (B.C.), over several days. He was also convicted of the illegal sale of prawns from the closed area, and of not completing his mandatory fish slips, which is a requirement of the conditions of licence for prawn harvesters under Canada's Fisheries Act. On May 15, 2025, in Nanaimo Provincial Court, the Vessel Master, Mr. Lorenz, was found guilty of the same offences. Mr. Castle was fined $30,000 for fishing during a closed time and the licence violations, plus an additional $8,228 from the proceeds of the sale of the illegally caught prawns. Mr. Lorenz was fined $3,000 and prohibited from fishing for five years. DFO protects and conserves marine resources, and enforces the Fisheries Act. As part of DFO's work to disrupt and prevent illegal activity, the Department asks the public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and regulations. Anyone with information can call DFO Pacific Region's toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to Quick Facts: The case stems from a May 30, 2022, report to DFO of a vessel fishing during a commercial prawn fishery closure in several sub-areas off the south coast of Vancouver Island. All prawns begin life as males. After they mate, at 2.5 to 3 years of age they transition to female. The females then spawn between January and April, and die within a few weeks, around the age of 4. Fishing in a closed areas depletes the population of female prawns needed for reproduction. Retaining undersize prawns prevents smaller males from mating and reaching maturity. Only fish caught under a licence permitting the sale or purchase of fish may be purchased or sold in Canada. Any fish sold must be processed through a licensed plant to ensure quality and public safety. Fish that has not been inspected may be unsafe for consumption and could pose significant health risks. Associated Link: Integrated fisheries management plan summary: Prawn and shrimp (Pandalus spp.) by trap - Pacific Region, 2025/2026 Stay Connected Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
