mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06Editor, @pressprogress | Send tips and story ideas: llebrun@pressprogress.ca
The collapse of Twitter for (basically) self-inflicted reasons makes a strong case for building online infrastructure structured as a non-profit or public utility.
People rely on these platforms for public information, use them for democratic debate and many invest their livelihoods in them.
These platforms are too important to public safety, peoples’ livelihoods and democracy to leave in the hands of eccentric billionaires or the whims of stock markets.
NEW: Top Shopify executive’s right-wing media website rails against immigrants while defending a legally designated terrorist group.
The right-wing Canadian media website ‘True North’ deleted its interview with the founder of the Proud Boys shortly after being contacted by PressProgress:
Pierre Poilievre meets with far-right extremist group at Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border.
“Everyone’s happy with what you’re doing,” Poilievre tells conspiratorial fringe group camped out on side of highway.
NEW: One of the spokespersons at the bizarro convoy press conference last week was on a parliamentary security ‘banned’ list.
In fact, two people who got into the House of Commons press conference had been recently denied entry by security.
https://www.convoywatch.ca/p/convoy-press-conference-spokesperson
NEW:
National Post columnist Adam Zivo says he spied for a foreign intelligence agency at the same time as he was working for the National Post
Zivo told me he sees “no problem” with what he did when he strapped a wire to his chest before dinner while foreign intelligence agents watched through tinted windows in a car outside last year, but experts in journalism ethics told me his behaviour is “unethical” and “absurd”
NEW: The Pentagon and NORAD are denying Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s suggestion that they are spraying chemicals over Alberta
Smith told a recent town hall she heard the US Department of Defence could be responsible for chemtrails
Ottawa Police were treated to a dazzling urban fireworks display celebrating the two-year anniversary of the invocation of the Emergencies Act this weekend.
Videos show police left the scene following an aggressive confrontation by convoy supporters:
https://www.convoywatch.ca/p/ottawa-police-dazzled-by-urban-fireworks
Most people know Ed Broadbent as a political party leader, but he also pursued social and democratic change outside partisan politics in academia and civil society.
Luke Savage, who co-authored Broadbent's book "Seeking Social Democracy," joined me on our podcast to help explain Broadbent's ideas.
https://pressprogress.ca/ed-broadbent-spent-a-lifetime-seeking-democracy-equality-and-real-freedom/
Ottawa By-law and Ottawa Police confirm no fines or arrests after a group of aggressive convoy supporters confronted police and shot off fireworks in downtown Ottawa.
OPS suggested officers may have ‘pulled back’ from the scene over concerns for the safety of police officers.
https://www.convoywatch.ca/p/city-of-ottawa-no-fines-or-arrests
My story from the budget media lock-up:
The federal government says Budget 2024 will make the wealthy pay their ‘fair share’. Economists say the rich could be paying a lot more.
Right-wing media personality Derek Fildebrandt is going viral after posting a “weird” and “creepy” video recorded inside an airport washroom.
Ottawa’s Airport Authority says it is aware of the video, which has been viewed over 3 million times, and is referring complaints to police.
NEW: Far-right convoy groups are planning to occupy Canadian police stations until government officials are arrested.
In a planning meeting last night, they suggested bringing ‘tents and BBQs’ to occupy police stations for weeks or even months.
Canadian intelligence says India likely used ‘clandestine activities’ to interfere with Canada’s 2021 federal election.
Documents tabled at Foreign Interference Inquiry Thursday allege India used ‘proxy agents’ and secretly provided ‘illicit financial support’ to candidates.
