Spotify has pulled more than 100 episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” as of Saturday, with some featuring Canadian public figures.
According to the website JRE Missing, 113 episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” had been taken off of Spotify, many of them recorded before Rogan’s COVID-19 controversy.
Some of these episodes have Canadian guests such as Concordia University marketing professor Gad Saad and “2 Drink Minimum” co-hosts Mike Ward and Pantelis.
Saad said he suspects his episode was removed simply because it involved Rogan speaking the “N-word” in naming the title of a book.
“Hence, rather than recognizing the context, @spotify has deemed that singular word to be a nuclear attack even when uttered in an utterly non-racist manner (e.g., stating the word as part of a book’s title),” said Saad in a tweet on Saturday. “This infantilizes human beings in a manner that is grotesque.”
Saad added that Rogan “does not have a racist bone in his body.”
On Friday, Rogan addressed having said the N-word “in context” on his show multiple times over the years.
“I know that to most people, there’s no context where a white person is allowed to say that word, never mind publicly on a podcast,” he said in an Instagram video on Friday. “I agree with that now.”
He said that he has not said the N-word in years. For a long time, he said that he felt it was acceptable to use this word in context.
This new controversy facing Rogan comes after Spotify removed Canadian-American rock singer Neil Young’s music from the streaming platform after the artist told them to choose between “The Joe Rogan Experience” and his songs.
Young made the ultimatum to Spotify in January after claiming that “The Joe Rogan Experience” pushes COVID-19 misinformation on impressionable youth.
“They can have Rogan or Young,” he said. “Not both.”
Within days, Spotify had begun to remove Young’s music.
As the trucker convoy protests officially entered their second week, large crowds returned to Parliament Hill, thousands more Canadians peacefully protested in cities across the country, Pierre Poilievre announced he was running for the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership and protesters in Ottawa were asked if they had seen any of the acts of violence they were being constantly accused of.
Protests against vaccine mandates and other COVID restrictions swept the nation today as huge crowds gathered in Victoria, Edmonton, Toronto, Quebec City and many other cities from coast to coast.
In Coutts, Alberta, hundreds of riders on horseback flying Canadian and Albertan flags showed their support for the blockade and for freedom.
This was the scene in Ottawa today.
A huge crowd at the #TruckersforFreedom protest in the nation's capital sings O Canada.
Scenes from downtown Toronto and Queen's Park #FreedomConvoyCanada2022 right now. Indigenous drumming, some First Nations flags and people enjoying themselves with lots of music/partying. pic.twitter.com/wXObnG0AgB
These are the scenes coming out of Edmonton right now as the #FreedomConvoyCanada2022 makes its way to the Alberta Legislature joined by farm tractors.
Pride flag spotted as protestors line the downtown core cheering on the truckers while horns are blaring. pic.twitter.com/2GrPVg73IB
In Quebec City, huge crowds gathered to protest Premier Francois Legault’s heavy-handed COVID policies.
Clips coming out of Quebec City on social media this afternoon. Large crowd assembled in front of the National Assembly to oppose COVID-19 mandates. High spirits and chanting.
In Ottawa, Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre announced his much-anticipated bid for the CPC leadership. An vociferous critic of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and outspoken supporter of the Freedom Convoy, Poilievre was subsequently endorsed by numerous members of his caucus.
I’m running for Prime Minister to give you back control of your life.
“I’m running for Prime Minister to give you back control of your life,” Poilievre said. “Trudeau thinks he’s your boss. He’s got it backwards. You are the boss. That’s why I’m running for Prime Minister to put you back in charge of your life.”
“Freedom from the invisible thief of inflation,” Poilievre promised. “Freedom to raise your kids with your values. Freedom to make your own health and vaccine choices. Freedom to speak without fear and freedom to worship God in your own way.”
Some of the Conservatives who have already endorsed Poilievre include Michael Barrett, John Barlow, Cory Tochor, Dan Albas, Melissa Lantsman and former cabinet minister John Baird.
Back in Ottawa, an emergency meeting of the city’s police board continued to refer to the freedom protest in terms of a violent occupation, with members calling for an injunction and the truckers to be removed.
True North asked some of the protestors if they had seen any violence, but not one could show us evidence or tell us about any incidents of violence that they had seen.
The legacy media would have you believe that the freedom convoy is some sort of violent occupation.
True North asked protesters today if anyone had seen any acts of violence.
After cancelling the Freedom Convoy’s GoFundMe and withholding more than $9 million in donations from the organizers yesterday, the funding platform agreed under pressure to return the money to its donors without requiring them to fill out a form.
Meanwhile the Givesendgo fundraising campaign for the Freedom Convoy at the time this article was published had reached $1,594,664.
That’s within 24 hours of the campaign’s launch, and with the website constantly being overloaded by demand.
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre has launched a campaign for the Conservative leadership.
In a video posted Saturday evening, Poilievre announced his intent to become his party’s leader and eventually Canada’s prime minister.
“I’m running for prime minister to give you back control of your life,” Poilievre said. “Trudeau thinks he’s your boss. He’s got it backwards. You are the boss. That’s why I’m running for Prime Minister to put you back in charge of your life.”
I’m running for Prime Minister to give you back control of your life.
Poilievre, a longtime MP from the Ontario riding of Carleton, listed a number of issues facing the country as reasons for why he decided to enter the race – including the growing inflation crisis and heavy-handed government measures during the pandemic.
“Together, we will make Canadians the freest people on earth with freedom to build a business without red tape or heavy tax,” Poilievre said.
“Freedom from the invisible thief of inflation. Freedom to raise your kids with your values. Freedom to make your own health and vaccine choices. Freedom to speak without fear and freedom to worship God in your own way.”
Poilievre becomes the first candidate to announce a leadership candidacy after the Conservative caucus voted to eject Erin O’Toole as leader of the party earlier in the week.
O’Toole faced criticism for his waffling support of the Truckers for Freedom convoy – changing his mind about supporting the national movement in a matter of days.
Like many in the Conservative caucus, Poilievre has been a vocal supporter of the convoy and supported the lawful truckers standing up against vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions.
People flying evil confederate or Nazi flags or disrespecting monuments are individually responsible for reprehensible acts.
They do not represent the thousands of lawful truckers who are actually part of the protest and are peacefully championing their livelihoods & freedoms. https://t.co/Km0bQwvg8a
“People flying evil confederate or Nazi flags or disrespecting monuments are individually responsible for reprehensible acts,” Poilievre tweeted in January.
“They do not represent the thousands of lawful truckers who are actually part of the protest and are peacefully championing their livelihoods & freedoms.”
Soon after announcing, a number of prominent Conservative MPs tweeted endorsements for O’Toole, including Melissa Lantsman, Michael Barrett and former leadership candidate Marilyn Gladu.
Videos circulating on social media show an unidentified individual ramming an SUV into protesters in Winnipeg, Manitoba on late friday night at around 9:10 PM CT.
Winnipeg Police held a press conference at noon on Saturday to provide details on the hit-and-run.
VILE: A freedom protester was mowed down by an SUV late last night. Suspect has been arrested. Trudeau vilified these peaceful protests, and now this happens. Shocking. pic.twitter.com/G08LWmExV6
Photos and a video clip show a masked individual driving a white Jeep through a crowd of people. At least one individual was struck. According to police none of the victims sustained life-altering injuries and were treated in the hospital.
Police apprehended a lone male suspect about an hour after the attack. The suspect was arrested after a brief struggle.
According to Winnipeg Police Constable Rob Carver, the suspect is being charged with assault with a weapon times four, dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm times two, dangerous operation of a conveyance, failure to stop after accident knowing that the driver was reckless times two and failing to stop at the scene of an accident times two.
Police say the hit-and-run is currently under investigation. According to protest organizers, four people were hit and rushed to the hospital while the driver of the vehicle was taken into custody.
Protests in support of the Trucker for Freedom Convoy are planned throughout the weekend in Winnipeg and several other major cities.
Parallel demonstrations are being held in Ottawa, Toronto, Victoria and elsewhere.
Prior reports by Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth described the protests as cooperative and peaceful.
Law enforcement has reduced traffic on Broadway to one lane where the attack took place.
This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.
Canadian country star Paul Brandt has publicly thanked the truckers participating in the Coutts, Alberta border blockade.
“While I fully support the right to peacefully protest, I condemn both breaking the law and limiting the protections afforded to Canadians under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” said Brandt in a statement posted to Substack on Friday. “Such measures have no place in Canada.”
Brandt said it is “fascinating” that his songs “Convoy” and “Alberta Bound” have become connected to the protests. The majority of Canadians, he said, want to see these protests and COVID-19 restrictions end.
He added that he does not plan on performing in the Coutts area for the protestors but that he will be “looking on with great interest.”
“May we find our way to unity again,” he said. “God keep our land glorious, and free.”
Brandt appears to have even travelled to the Alberta border by helicopter to give out food to the truck drivers participating in the Coutts border blockade.
“@paulbrandt just delivered food to the border via helicopter,” said Twitter user Buperac in a tweet on Wednesday.
This tweet has not been independently verified by True North. It shows Brandt with a few truck drivers standing in front of a helicopter with thumbs up.
Brandt has shown previous support for the trucker protests.
He took to the Zello walkie talkie app to thank Freedom Convoy 2022 on Jan. 27 as it made its way toward Ottawa.
“I’ve been listening with my wife and two kids, and we want to say thank you for all you are doing in defence of civil liberties and freedoms,” said Brandt. “You are inspiring the world, and we are standing with you.”
He proceeded to break out into lyrics from “Convoy.”
The ongoing border blockade and standoff between the truckers and RCMP in Coutts was shaken up on Thursday when Rebel News reported that the truckers were planning on relocating their protest to Edmonton.
The truckers reversed their decision after a vote, deciding they were going to maintain their ongoing blockade at the Alberta-Montana border.
On Friday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney became only the second premier in Canada to announce that he was planning on ending COVID restrictions in his province soon.
Another convoy is planned for the Alberta legislature in Edmonton on Saturday, one of many weekend protests across the country.
Former Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers has said there should be respect when it comes to dialogue with the truckers’ convoy in Ottawa.
Vickers was lauded as a hero and presented with the Star of Courage for ending the Oct. 22, 2014 Parliament Hill terror attack after shooting gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau
“Respect actually means listening to something you’d rather not hear and listening must include the possibility of recognizing there may be a meaningful grievance on the other side,” tweeted Vickers on Thursday.
´ Respect actually means listening to something you’d rather not hear and listening must include the possibility of recognizing there maybe a « meaningful grievance » on the other side’.
Left-wing politicians and legacy media have demonized the truckers currently assembled in Ottawa, calling them names and painting them as extremists and terrorists.
Additionally, legacy media outlets have compared the protestors to domestic terrorists and insurrectionists, even suggesting the convoy had been organized by Russia.
Despite the smears, truckers and their supporters will continue to demonstrate against COVID-19 measures and the erosion of freedoms under Trudeau this weekend.
On Jan. 29, tens of thousands of Canadians converged on Parliament Hill in support of the truckers and their goal to regain freedoms lost under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ongoing COVID restrictions.
A large police presence in the nation's capital. Police are setting up barricades at the #TruckersForFreedom protest.
Originally, the protest movement was prompted by the Liberal government’s decision to mandate vaccination for cross-border truck drivers. Estimates suggested that nearly 10% of truckers remained unvaccinated, and experts warned that the mandate would have devastating effects on Canada’s already frail supply chain.
Since the convoy began, several other cities have held similar protests with more being planned for this weekend.
Contrary to the example of the governing federal Liberals, even Quebec premier Francois Legault suggested he would be willing to meet with convoy organizers when the Quebec contingent arrives in his province’s capital on Saturday.
Demonstrations are expected to take place in Victoria, Quebec City, Toronto and several other major cities across the country.
As farm tractors surround Queen’s Park and heavy trucks make their way into downtown Toronto to protest Ontario’s two-year-long COVID-19 mandates, Ontario premier Doug Ford is calling the Ottawa trucker convoy an “occupation.”
Ford made the comments Friday while appearing virtually at an online premiers’ conference.
“Regarding Ottawa, the occupation. It’s not a protest anymore. It’s become an occupation,” Ford said. “It’s only hurting families. It’s hurting businesses that these folks are supposed to be supporting, but it’s hurting businesses in a big way. People want to move on and to get through this. It’s time for this to come to an end. And we’re moving in the right direction.”
Ford said he was already planning on getting rid of some COVID restrictions before the Freedom Convoy got to Ottawa on Jan. 29 and before another set course for Toronto on Friday.
“You know what’s a shame?” Ford said. “Everyone worked so well together for 22 months – not just here in Ontario, across Canada, and, you know, the public health measures are being lifted as we speak.”
“We went for the first stage; we are going to the second stage shortly. There’s one thing that brings everyone together no matter if you’re in Ontario or across Canada is working together to get out of this.”
It is currently against the law in Ontario to have private indoor gatherings of more than 10, while outdoor events are capped at 25. Public events are allowed to have 25 people inside, while facilities such as restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theatres are all at half capacity.
As with other provinces, Ontarians need to show proof of two COVID shots to enter restaurants, bars, dance clubs, convention centres, meeting spaces, gyms, waterparks, sporting events, casinos, theatres and other facilities.
People also must wear masks indoors in places such as shopping malls, grocery stores and sporting events.
“If you think myself, or any of the premiers like this, you think we like, you know, lockdowns or public health measures?” Ford asked himself. “We don’t; they were necessary.”
Ontario is set to fractionally increase capacity limits for indoor and outdoor events on Feb. 21, and to remove most capacity limits March 14.
Ford has not, however, announced any plans to get rid of the COVID vaccine passport in Ontario, and the province’s website says even after March 14 that “proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures.”
Ford’s comments came the same day GoFundMe announced it had cancelled the Freedom Convoy’s fundraiser, saying that it “now has evidence that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.”
To date, only Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe have committed to lifting all of their provinces’ COVID restrictions in the near future.
On Day 13 of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy, GoFundMe refused to give the truckers the money people had donated, the fundraising platform Givesendgo stepped up instead and country singer Paul Brandt voiced his support for the truckers in Coutts, Alberta.
GoFundMe announced today that after “releasing” $1 million to the Freedom Convoy earlier in the week, they were withholding the remaining $9 million+ that people around the world had donated to the movement.
In their announcement, GoFundMe claimed there was “evidence that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.”
The statement did not cite any examples of violence.
The Silicon Valley-based crowdfunding giant went on to confirm that $1 million of the donations had been sent to the organizers but that the remaining funds would be withheld and redirected to charities that were “verified by GoFundMe.”
Donors are being given an opportunity to request a full refund by submitting a request by February 18th.
Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms lawyer Keith Wilson released a statement today in response to the decision from GoFundMe.
“Over the past year, the federal government in Canada under Prime Minister Trudeau has taken away Canadians’ Charter rights, constitutional rights, to travel freely, has taken away truckers’ rights to travel, their mobility rights, their ability to make a living under the Constitution for those who’ve chosen to be unvaccinated,” Wilson said.
“This afternoon, the chief of city police for Ottawa made announcements that are disturbing and should trouble Canadians and those around the world who support this trucker protest for freedom. The police chief essentially announced an assault on the protesters. He announced that very specific measures that we normally only see instituted by oppressive regimes around the world would be initiated.”
Wilson pleaded to those that were watching, “We are being censored…Please get this out to the world.”
In response to GoFundMe’s abdication, Christian-run Givesendgo – a competitor to GoFundMe – immediately hosted a new fund for the truckers.
Meanwhile in Alberta, truckers at the blockade in Coutts were letting their horns go earlier in the day in their ongoing protest against vaccine mandates.
To get a full picture of what the blockade looked like Friday night, this aerial footage was posted to Twitter.
Country singer Paul Brandt released a statement in support of the truckers in Coutts, saying that he was watching the blockade “with great interest.”
Country singer @paulbrandt says in a statement he is "thankful for every peace-loving patriot who, over this historic time in our beloved nation, has associated me, my brand, and my music with freedom." He says he's looking on the Coutts protest "with great interest." pic.twitter.com/vf6mCu00ne
The Democracy Fund, a constitutional advocacy group, dispatched two lawyers to Ottawa yesterday to ensure that protesters on the streets understood their rights.
Alan Horner and Adam Blake-Gallipeau caught up with True North today to discuss the important distinction between bylaw offenses and Charter Rights as they pertain to peaceful demonstrations.
Lawyers from The Democracy Fund (@TDF_Can) tell me that protesting peacefully with a parked vehicle as the truckers in Ottawa are doing, is "perfectly permissible."
Major protests are planned this weekend in provincial capitals and other cities across the country.
Speaking to the press today after a virtual premiers’ meeting, Ontario Premier Doug Ford described the protests in Ottawa as an “occupation” whose time had come to an end.
Despite having locked down Ontario repeatedly since the beginning of the pandemic, Ford claimed the protesters in Ottawa were hurting businesses and families.
“It’s not a protest anymore, it has become an occupation. It’s only hurting families, it’s hurting businesses…People want to move on. It’s time for this to come to an end,” Ford said.
The Givesendgo at the time this article was published had reached over $171k. In fact, support for the fundraiser was so high that the website was constantly being overloaded.
GoFundMe has announced that it will not be releasing over $9 million dollars in donations to the trucker Freedom Convoy 2022 organizers.
The online funding platform posted the announcement on Friday on the Freedom Convoy’s fundraising webpage.
In its reasons for cancelling the fundraiser and withholding the money, GoFundMe stated that it “now has evidence that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.”
“To ensure GoFundMe remains a trusted platform, we work with local authorities to ensure we have a detailed, factual understanding of events taking place on the ground. Following a review of relevant facts and multiple discussions with local law enforcement and city officials, this fundraiser is now in violation of our Terms of Service (Term 8, which prohibits the promotion of violence and harassment) and has been removed from the platform.”
The platform goes on to say that while it had “released” an initial $1 million, “no further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers – we will work with organizers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe.”
The platform had originally suspended the convoy’s fundraiser pending a review.
Freedom Convoy organizers had spoken to media about the suspension Thursday.
Co-organizer Tamara Lich said accountants and lawyers working for the convoy had been communicating with GoFundMe and that she had hoped they would be lifting the account’s suspension soon.
Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms lawyer Keith Wilson appeared alongside Lich, saying that most of the money was being held by GoFundMe because they were “bombarded with an orchestrated social media campaign to try and shut it down.” He said that all of the legal and accounting requirements have been met.
“Once we reach the point where GoFundMe has released the funds, the corporate lawyer experts on the team as well as the accountants are currently refining the process for truckers and others who have been involved with the convoy to be reimbursed,” said Wilson.
“Over the past year, the federal government in Canada under Prime Minister Trudeau has taken away Canadians’ Charter rights, constitutional rights, to travel freely, has taken away truckers’ rights to travel, their mobility rights, their ability to make a living under the Constitution for those who’ve chosen to be unvaccinated,” Wilson said.
“This afternoon, the chief of city police for Ottawa made announcements that are disturbing and should trouble Canadians and those around the world who support this trucker protest for freedom. The police chief essentially announced an assault on the protesters. He announced that very specific measures that we normally only see instituted by oppressive regimes around the world would be initiated.”
“He effectively announced that he is going to be taking away Canadians’ Charter rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”
“We are being censored,” said Wilson. “Please get this out to the world.”
Earlier in the day, Ottawa Police chief Peter Sloly gave a press conference and issued a statement, referring to the protest repeatedly as “unlawful” and saying, “(o)ur goal is to end the demonstration.”
“We have increased ability to identify and target protesters and supporters of protesters who are
funding and enabling unlawful and harmful activity by the protesters themselves,” Sloly said. “Investigative evidence gathering teams are collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status and other related evidence that will be used in prosecutions.”
“Every unlawful act including traffic and insurance violations will be fully pursued, regardless of the origin at any time in the future. The primary focus of each of these measures will be on the unlawful behaviour connected to the ongoing demonstrations, this includes parallel and counter demonstrations. We strongly urge all demonstrators and those engaging with the demonstrators to act lawfully, peacefully and respectfully.”
“The hatred, the violence, the illegal acts that Ottawa residences and businesses have endured over the last week is unacceptable in any circumstance,” Sloly said. “The Ottawa Police Service and the City of Ottawa are bringing significantly greater resources to restore order, hold offenders to account and protect our neighbourhoods.”
“The current demonstration in the parliamentary precinct red zone remains unresolved despite significant successes in reducing the number of trucks, and demonstrators while preventing riots, injuries or deaths. We take no solace in these operational successes to date.”
“Our goal is to end the demonstration,” Sloly concluded. “The demonstrators in the red zone area remain highly organized, well-funded, extremely committed to resisting all attempts to end the demonstration safely. This remains as it was from the beginning an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration.”
