Roundup: Electricians gathering lightning

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We’re still in “extremely slow news day” territory, so the discourse yesterday revolved around video clips of Pierre Poilievre praising electricians who “capture lightning from the sky” and run it through copper wires to light the room that he’s in—and that he’s used this particular turn of phrase on at least four occasions, one of which was in the House of Commons (though nobody said anything at the time). While all of his reply-guys on Twitter are insisting that he’s being “lyrical” or what have you (one of them tried to tell me this was “anthropomorphism”—it most certainly is not, and yes, I do have a degree in English literature), I do suspect that this is possibly some kind of troll, so that he can claim that the people laughing at him are really laughing at the blue collar electricians, whom he has been praising as “extraordinary” for their apparent superpowers. And yes, stoking grievances is his schtick, so let’s keep that in mind.

Ukraine Dispatch:

Ukraine and Russia had the largest single exchange of prisoners since the start of the invasion. Here’s a look at the losses faced by those whose apartments have been hit by Russian missiles. Türkiye has blocked the passage of two minehunters donated by the UK to Ukraine, citing the 1936 Montreux Convention.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1742484948349575331

Good reads:

  • It’s time for the annual hand-wringing about the prime minister’s vacation, as we are assured it is at no cost at the Jamaican home of family friends.
  • Steven Guilbeault admits that Poilievre has effectively demonised the carbon levy because the government hasn’t communicated it very well. (You think?)
  • François-Philippe Champagne says that Canada is reaching the end of its capacity for renewable electricity, and we need to develop more for the clean economy.
  • The head of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is warning that we have no current way to de-authenticate faked video or audio in an election campaign.
  • Here’s a deeper dive into the conflicting federal departments when it comes to trying to get a tidal power project off the ground.
  • Here’s a look into the controversy around Bill C-53 on Métis self-governance, and why it’s being opposed by First Nations and even some Métis settlements.
  • As some Israeli ministers are openly musing about displacing Palestinians to countries like Canada, Canada and allied nations are pushing back.
  • Some 32 students in Saskatchewan who may be trans or gender diverse were outed thanks to an education software glitch that violated their privacy.
  • Supriya Dwivedi explores the hate facing women in politics, most especially toward women of colour.

Odds and Ends:

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