Latest news with #Lendrum
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DHS speechwriter linked to hateful social accounts while claiming American conservatives are ostracized like Jews in Nazi Germany
A speechwriter at the Department of Homeland Security has been linked to hateful posts on social media, reportedly claiming that American conservatives are ostracized like the Jews were in Nazi Germany. A blog post reportedly authored by Eric Lendrum celebrated the January 6 insurrection and compared the following fallout for conservatives to the Holocaust and slavery, Notus reported. 'American conservatives are, right now, on a course for being every bit as ostracized and alienated from broader society as Jews were in the years leading up to Nazi Germany,' he claimed in a 2021 blog post on American Greatness, a rightwing opinion and news site. Lendrum posted on the site until March of this year. His podcast, The Right Take, is listed in the author's description on the site. On one episode of the podcast, he said he liked watching videos of scared legislators during the Jan 6 insurrection. 'There's something so gratifying about seeing the images of these members of Congress — especially the Democrats — crouching under their chairs, putting on those stupid, like, bubble masks, those anti-gas bubble masks, and then taking selfies,' a laughing Lendrum said just days after the Capitol riot. In another episode, published in October 2022, Lendrum said immigrants put Europe at risk, while also backing the 'great replacement theory.' The far-right theory claims that nonwhite immigrants are damaging the influence of white people. 'Given the direction of Europe right now, we could use a far-right government at this point,' said Lendrum. On X, the account @realEricLendrum has argued for the removal of transgender 'ideology' and compared asylum seekers to 'scum.' In another podcast episode, Lendrum referenced his brief period as a press assistant at the Interior Department during the first Trump administration, saying that he would only return to government if he could be closer to the president. 'If I could work more closely with him, that is the one case in which I would ever go back into government work,' said Lendrum, whose online profile was first reported by Notus. 'Government work is not fun.' The Independent has attempted to reach Lendrum for comment. The DHS Office of Public Affairs states that a speechwriter at the department is responsible for preparing 'speeches, talking points, editorials, Congressional testimony, video scripts, web content, and other written content for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary.' The department ranks as the largest federal law enforcement agency. In one of the blog posts linked to Lendrum, he appeared to argue that conservatives were facing political oppression similar to that of slaves and victims of the Holocaust. 'It has been said that the most surefire way to create an authoritarian regime is to completely dehumanize a significant portion of the population, so that their subsequent enslavement by the state will not face any larger resistance. It was true during slavery, it was true during the Holocaust, and it is true now,' the blog post stated. Responding to questions from The Independent, DHS shared a link to the text of the First Amendment. The X account linked to Lendrum argued that the U.S. should treat immigrants as an 'invading army.' 'They are not migrants. They are not 'undocumented.' They are an invading army. The largest invasion in American history,' one post stated in May 2023. 'And what are you supposed to do with an invading army? Crush it, by any means necessary. That's the #AmericaFirst way.' Also in the blog post about January 6, the author said, 'The Democrats were absolutely terrified — literally cowering under their seats, horrified at the prospect of mere peasants walking through the halls of their castle.' The lawmakers, including Republicans, were escorted by Capitol Police through the Capitol complex. 'The truth is that they are grateful the events of that day unfolded as they did,' the post argued regarding the Democrats. In a podcast episode published in April 2023, he said he would 'always properly deadname t***** freaks.' 'I will keep calling them t******* because I know it's derogatory, and I know they freakin' hate it. That's why I deadname them. That's why I use their original pronouns,' he said. 'You control the language. Don't give these freaks an inch on the language.' 'We need to eradicate transgenderism. Wipe it off the face of the Earth. Destroy it. Get rid of it,' he added. 'As a disclaimer, I'm not saying to wipe the people out. I'm not saying get rid of the people. I'm saying eliminate the ideology. Cure these people.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE Barbie Speechwriter Said J6ers ‘Did Absolutely Nothing Wrong'
A devout supporter of President Donald Trump hired as a speechwriter for the Department of Homeland Security has a long record of praising the Jan. 6 attack and espousing extremist and racist rhetoric online. Eric Lendrum, who writes speeches for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—dubbed 'ICE Barbie' for her love of highly stylized cosplaying in a variety of uniformed roles—has repeatedly defended Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol, according to posts reviewed by NOTUS and the Daily Beast. According to his LinkedIn profile, Lendrum was hired as a speechwriter by DHS. 'The J6'ers did nothing wrong. Absolutely no violence was committed by Trump supporters on that day. Fact. Period,' Lendrum wrote in August 2023. In a December 2021 blog post, he falsely described the Capitol riot as 'peaceful' and compared the treatment of conservatives to the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust and the enslavement of Black people. 'It has been said that the most surefire way to create an authoritarian regime is to completely dehumanize a significant portion of the population, so that their subsequent enslavement by the state will not face any larger resistance,' Lendrum wrote on the American Greatness blog. 'It was true during slavery, it was true during the Holocaust, and it is true now.' Despite insisting Jan. 6 was 'peaceful,' Lendrum mocked lawmakers who hid from Trump supporters—which included members of far-right groups found guilty of seditious conspiracy, those who attacked police officers, and people carrying zip ties—on his Right Take podcast just weeks after it took place. 'There's something so gratifying about seeing the images of these members of Congress—especially the Democrats—crouching under their chairs, putting on those stupid, like, bubble masks, those anti-gas bubble masks, and then taking selfies,' he said. Lendrum further said the Great Replacement Theory—a white supremacist conspiracy that minorities and immigrants are replacing white Americans through immigration and demographic growth—was 'real' on another episode of his podcast in October 2022. NOTUS and the Daily Beast also uncovered multiple hateful posts from an X account belonging to Lendrum. In November 2023, he advocated for drivers to plow through pro-Palestinian protesters blocking traffic. 'Cars are bigger and heavier than any one of these freaks. All it takes is one brave driver to do what needs to be done, then others will follow,' he wrote. The same account, which follows several DHS and White House staffers, repeatedly attacked members of the LGBTQ+ community, calling them 'freaks." He referred to trans people as 'child molesters,' using a slur, and on multiple posts on the American Greatness dismissed transgender identity as a 'mental illness.' In response, a DHS spokesperson emailed the Daily Beast a link to the First Amendment of the Constitution, which protects freedom of speech.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EXCLUSIVE: Printemps on Wall Street Makes Change in Command
After just six weeks since its opening on Wall Street, Printemps is making a change of command in the U.S., WWD has learned. Thierry Prevost has been named chief executive officer of Printemps America, succeeding Laura Lendrum who is shifting to chairman of Printemps America's advisory board, a new role. More from WWD Saint James to Open Pop-up at Printemps in New York Chef Gregory Gourdet Showcases the Broad Influence of French Cuisine at Maison Passerelle in Printemps New York Printemps Group Taps Laëtitia Henry, Mélanie Turpin for Key Roles 'Thanks to her visionary leadership, we have redefined the retail landscape for the 21st century, creating a unique experience that blends retail and hospitality. In her new role as chairman of our advisory board, Laura will continue to bring her unique expertise to guide our growth and innovation in this dynamic market,' said Jean-Marc Bellaiche, global CEO of the Paris-based Printemps Group, in a statement. He said Printemps on Wall Street is 'a testament to Laura's entrepreneurial spirit.' Asked how business is at Printemps on Wall Street so far, Lendrum told WWD, 'Everything is going so well. We've had really strong foot traffic and are exceeding expectations in terms of performance. The feedback has been so strong.' She also said that her shift into a different role at Printemps provides an opportunity to pursue new projects. Four years ago, Lendrum was hired by Printemps in New York, becoming the luxury store's first employee. 'Lendrum has played a pivotal role in creating a very innovative shopping experience that emphasizes deep customer engagement and community building,' Printemps said in its statement. Prior to her appointment, Lendrum was a consultant, and earlier was in charge of global markets and retail for Dean & DeLuca, and before that, was North American president at Saint Laurent, Gucci and Ralph Lauren. Since its opening in late March at One Wall Street in Manhattan's financial district, Printemps has been the talk of the town, primarily because of its stunning architecture, fresco artwork, unique layout and emphasis on hospitality with three restaurants and two bars. The store also features the landmarked 1920s red and gold mosaic-tiled Red Room which houses footwear. That section of the store was formerly a bank. The Paris-based Printemps' expansion to New York's financial district is a gamble since the neighborhood is not perceived as a destination for designer and luxury shopping, which hasn't exactly blossomed downtown. A Saks Fifth Avenue women's store and separate men's store, as well as Barneys New York, came and left, while 10 Corso Como did the same at the South Street Seaport. However, in the past decade there's been a modest buildup of luxury and designer stores with the openings of Tiffany & Co. and Hermès on Wall Street, and Elyse Walker and Thom Browne in TriBeCa. On the west side, Brookfield Place houses Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton and Zegna. 'This has been the project of a lifetime, and I thank Jean-Marc and the Printemps board for giving me the freedom to create a vibrant ecosystem centered around joy and connection where clients immediately feel welcome and can find many ways to engage more deeply with Printemps,' Lendrum said in a statement. 'This has always been the plan: for me to envision, conceptualize, and execute a new vision for retail, and then step back from the day-to-day once the project launched. I can't believe that after four years we are here, and I am so eager to see how the project evolves once Printemps New York has time with customers in the market.' Prevost has over 30 years of experience working with department stores in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Most recently, he led the launch of Printemps Doha and served as general manager for the past four years. 'His expertise is centered on enhancing the customer experience and developing bespoke journeys tailored to each market, all while driving profitability through effective management and brand strategy. Thierry's leadership will be critical in advancing the success of Printemps New York as it embraces its innovative approach to luxury retail,' the company said. 'We are entering an exciting new chapter for Printemps New York, and I am committed to continuing to create a unique shopping experience that embodies the spirit of hospitality and community,' said Prevost. Bellaiche added: 'Having worked with Thierry for the last four years, I am confident that he will continue to build on the success of Printemps New York. He will undoubtedly cultivate a culture of belonging for our new team members and push the boundaries of what is possible in retail, exploring endless opportunities for innovation and growth.' Founded in 1865 by Jules Jaluzot, the Printemps Group operates 20 department stores in France as well as nine Citadium stores, Place des Tendances, a fashion and beauty e-commerce site and Made in Design, an online store for designer furniture, lighting and decoration. Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns 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
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Judge sentences criminal caught at airport with jacket full of contraband: 'This case sends a clear message'
Staff at Heathrow Airport in London discovered something strange one summer's day in 2018: a man wearing a large coat with 19 large bird eggs strapped to his body. He was trying to smuggle the eggs, two of which had already hatched, into the country to sell on the black market for up to $10,000 apiece, Rare Bird Alert reported. The man's name is Jeffrey Lendrum, and last month, he was sentenced to over three years in jail for the attempted smuggling of fish eagle, vulture, and kestrel eggs out of South Africa. Several of the species found on him were endangered species, Rare Bird Alert explained. But get this — it's not even his first time. According to the outlet, he was also sentenced to two-and-a-half years of jail time for trying to bring Welsh Peregrine eggs from the U.K. to the Middle East in 2010 and was found guilty of stealing falcon eggs from Canada in 2002 and from Zimbabwe as far back as 1984. The serial egg thief has been around the block, to say the least, and has likely profited off of this kind of poaching and smuggling in the past without getting caught. This story is certainly a wild one and does have a comedic element, but unfortunately, smuggling endangered wildlife is no laughing matter. Thousands of animals are captured and killed every year by people like Lendrum. Common victims are elephants, tigers, pangolins, chimpanzees, sharks, sea turtles, macaws, and rhinos, all targeted usually for just one part of their body that humans eat or turn into a product. Likewise, rare trees, plants, and flowers are also mined all over the world, according to the Rainforest Trust. These illegal practices directly harm the targeted species and their offspring. Endangered wildlife already struggles with human-caused stress in their habitats, and poaching their young further decreases their ability to survive another generation. Plus, when species go extinct, entire ecosystems suffer the consequences. The scales of biodiversity that keep our planet healthy can tip, triggering a domino effect that also reaches human life. Should it be illegal to throw away old clothes? Heck yes No way I'm not sure Only if it's free to recycle them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Thankfully, there are trained experts monitoring transit hubs to catch people like Lendrum in the act. In his case, specialists identified the stolen eggs to be protected by legislation that controls imports into the U.K. of more than 35,000 animals and plants. These officers were able to care for the eggs and live chicks once they were confiscated from Lendrum and eventually got them into the safe hands of the International Centre for Birds of Prey. "This case sends a clear message that we are determined to bring cases like this before the courts," said Chris Hill, National Crime Agency investigations manager at Heathrow, per Rare Bird Alert. Want to fight back against poachers and smugglers? Supporting animal sanctuaries like the ICBP and other habitat conservation groups like the Rainforest Trust is a great way to start. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
