Marsha McLeod
@marshamcleod.bsky.social
Investigative reporter @winnipegfreepress.com | Tips welcome: mmcleod@freepress.mb.ca, marshamcleod@protonmail.com
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
Elon Musk’s Grok ‘Undressing’ Problem Isn’t Fixed
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
Elon Musk’s Grok ‘Undressing’ Problem Isn’t Fixed
X has placed more restrictions on Grok’s ability to generate explicit AI images, but tests show that the updates have created a patchwork of limitations that fail to fully address the issue.
www.wired.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Elon Musk’s Grok ‘Undressing’ Problem Isn’t Fixed
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
Indigenous legal experts and advocates were not shocked by the findings, but say it shines a light on systemic issues that persist after centuries of colonization.
Indigenous adults overrepresented in prison by 10 times: Stats Can
Advocates say a new report showing that Indigenous adults are overrepresented in the prison system by 10 times is staggering.
www.aptnnews.ca
January 15, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Indigenous legal experts and advocates were not shocked by the findings, but say it shines a light on systemic issues that persist after centuries of colonization.
"The Manitoba wheat farmer turned Central America crop duster did not know what lay ahead of him – whether he could buy the fuel he needed or what might come next."
By Nathan VanderKlippe
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
By Nathan VanderKlippe
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
As Venezuela begins releasing prisoners, a Manitoba man held there since 2013 seeks Ottawa’s help
David Sawatzky denies the drug-trafficking charges that led to his conviction and says his continued detention is politically motivated
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:42 PM
"The Manitoba wheat farmer turned Central America crop duster did not know what lay ahead of him – whether he could buy the fuel he needed or what might come next."
By Nathan VanderKlippe
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
By Nathan VanderKlippe
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
This documentary, which aired last May, by W5’s Avery Haines is horrific. It's disturbing, but worth a watch.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QRE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QRE...
Sleeping with the Enemy: A W5 investigation
YouTube video by Official W5
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:18 PM
This documentary, which aired last May, by W5’s Avery Haines is horrific. It's disturbing, but worth a watch.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QRE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QRE...
A big year-end thank you to our @winnipegfreepress.com readers, who, far from shying away from a 7,600-word piece, made this story on Conor Rae, an 18-year-old who was fatally shot by an RCMP officer, the fourth-most engaged with story on our site in 2025.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/featured/202...
www.winnipegfreepress.com/featured/202...
Fatal police shooting and subsequent IIU investigation leave trail of troubling questions in wake of teen’s death in Portage la Prairie
After two years, Tara and Kaylan still cannot comprehend how their mild-mannered homebody son, who didn’t cause them any problems or get into trouble at school, who’d never interacted with the police ...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:03 PM
A big year-end thank you to our @winnipegfreepress.com readers, who, far from shying away from a 7,600-word piece, made this story on Conor Rae, an 18-year-old who was fatally shot by an RCMP officer, the fourth-most engaged with story on our site in 2025.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/featured/202...
www.winnipegfreepress.com/featured/202...
NYTimes: "local and federal officials were immediately divided on how the shooting unfolded.”
@doubleemmartin.bsky.social "Yes, they are divided by the fact that federal officials are lying."
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
@doubleemmartin.bsky.social "Yes, they are divided by the fact that federal officials are lying."
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Opinion: Video record of ICE killing Minnesota mom lays bare Trump’s disgraceful lies
There were stuffed animals spilling from the glove box of her SUV, because she was a mother. A mother of three children, including a six-year-old who was thankfully in school that day, and not in the ...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:50 PM
NYTimes: "local and federal officials were immediately divided on how the shooting unfolded.”
@doubleemmartin.bsky.social "Yes, they are divided by the fact that federal officials are lying."
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
@doubleemmartin.bsky.social "Yes, they are divided by the fact that federal officials are lying."
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
A former Winnipeg police officer who previously pleaded guilty to a long list of charges involving corruption and other inappropriate actions has now also admitted to selling drugs over a period of years — both to civilians and other officers.
Story: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Story: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Former Winnipeg police officer pleads guilty to selling drugs — including to other officers | CBC News
A former Winnipeg police officer who previously pleaded guilty to a long list of charges involving corruption and other inappropriate actions has now also admitted to selling drugs over a period of ye...
www.cbc.ca
January 7, 2026 at 4:37 PM
A former Winnipeg police officer who previously pleaded guilty to a long list of charges involving corruption and other inappropriate actions has now also admitted to selling drugs over a period of years — both to civilians and other officers.
Story: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Story: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
LLMs are not sentient, are not human. Grok cannot “apologize” or explain how or why any of this is happening. But of course major outlets such as Bari Weiss’s CBS News wrote that Grok “acknowledged ‘lapses in safeguards'." @jasonkoebler.bsky.social with more:
Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT9l...
Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT9l...
January 7, 2026 at 3:33 PM
LLMs are not sentient, are not human. Grok cannot “apologize” or explain how or why any of this is happening. But of course major outlets such as Bari Weiss’s CBS News wrote that Grok “acknowledged ‘lapses in safeguards'." @jasonkoebler.bsky.social with more:
Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT9l...
Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT9l...
This is my favourite take:
"In the era of disinformation and AI slop, hard-hitting, deeply reported investigative stories relevant to real people and real communities will once again be seen as valuable. Not just journalistically, but economically as well."
"In the era of disinformation and AI slop, hard-hitting, deeply reported investigative stories relevant to real people and real communities will once again be seen as valuable. Not just journalistically, but economically as well."
We @niemanlab.org published 210 predictions for journalism this year. It was our biggest (and @joshuabenton.com says best) batch yet.
If you're not a future of news sicko who's already read every one, we've highlighted some of the most notable for you here. www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/what...
If you're not a future of news sicko who's already read every one, we've highlighted some of the most notable for you here. www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/what...
What’s coming for news in 2026? These predictions offer a clue
The inspiration you need for the new year? It's all in here.
www.niemanlab.org
January 6, 2026 at 10:19 PM
This is my favourite take:
"In the era of disinformation and AI slop, hard-hitting, deeply reported investigative stories relevant to real people and real communities will once again be seen as valuable. Not just journalistically, but economically as well."
"In the era of disinformation and AI slop, hard-hitting, deeply reported investigative stories relevant to real people and real communities will once again be seen as valuable. Not just journalistically, but economically as well."
And now I've got insulated, nearly-knee high wellies! Why have I spent so many years with winter boots that barely go past my ankle? Times are changing around here! Snow is not going down the shoes first thing in the morning! No more wet socks!
Moving to Winnipeg has made me confused about why I didn't buy a pair of snow pants before this. As children, it's obvious that our legs would get cold when it's punishingly frigid out, but as adults, somehow our legs are expected to become self-warming? My legs have always been freezing! Until now!
January 5, 2026 at 7:50 PM
And now I've got insulated, nearly-knee high wellies! Why have I spent so many years with winter boots that barely go past my ankle? Times are changing around here! Snow is not going down the shoes first thing in the morning! No more wet socks!
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
I've been tracking the spread of nonconsensual deepfakes on X for more than two years. Here's a timeline of how Musk's leadership allowed the practice to flourish from a once-underground market to a viral trend, with little recourse for victims or legal enforcement.
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
How Grok's sexual abuse hit a tipping point
Nonconsensual deepfakes on X are nothing new, but now it's built into the platform.
spitfirenews.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I've been tracking the spread of nonconsensual deepfakes on X for more than two years. Here's a timeline of how Musk's leadership allowed the practice to flourish from a once-underground market to a viral trend, with little recourse for victims or legal enforcement.
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
As of Oct. 10, the term "child pornography" has been removed from Canada's Criminal Code and other federal laws – replaced with "child sexual abuse and exploitation material," in a move that's meant to more accurately reflect the harm of this abuse.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Calling child exploitation what it really is matters, protection advocates argue
More than 30 years after “child pornography” was specifically criminalized in Canada, the terminology has been eliminated from federal laws in favour of the phrase “child sexual abuse and exploitation...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
As of Oct. 10, the term "child pornography" has been removed from Canada's Criminal Code and other federal laws – replaced with "child sexual abuse and exploitation material," in a move that's meant to more accurately reflect the harm of this abuse.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
WFP Investigation🧵: How does a teacher groom a student from Grade 3, admit to being "obsessed" with her, and still get to quietly resign without charges? My investigation into the systemic failure that protected David Wray and shattered a Winnipeg family: www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Winnipeg family shattered as teacher’s obsession with young girl went unnoticed, unpunished
On the surface, David Wray was the perfect teacher. Charismatic and approachable, he never wasted an opportunity to socialize with parents before the morning bell. He was creative, too, reaching kids....
www.winnipegfreepress.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:32 PM
WFP Investigation🧵: How does a teacher groom a student from Grade 3, admit to being "obsessed" with her, and still get to quietly resign without charges? My investigation into the systemic failure that protected David Wray and shattered a Winnipeg family: www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
“With this change at the legal level — and if media follows suit — we end that implication that this could somehow be entertainment," said Kalyn Danco, associate general counsel with @cdnchildprotect.bsky.social, referring to how the term "pornography" can connote an entertainment purpose.
As of Oct. 10, the term "child pornography" has been removed from Canada's Criminal Code and other federal laws – replaced with "child sexual abuse and exploitation material," in a move that's meant to more accurately reflect the harm of this abuse.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Calling child exploitation what it really is matters, protection advocates argue
More than 30 years after “child pornography” was specifically criminalized in Canada, the terminology has been eliminated from federal laws in favour of the phrase “child sexual abuse and exploitation...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
“With this change at the legal level — and if media follows suit — we end that implication that this could somehow be entertainment," said Kalyn Danco, associate general counsel with @cdnchildprotect.bsky.social, referring to how the term "pornography" can connote an entertainment purpose.
As of Oct. 10, the term "child pornography" has been removed from Canada's Criminal Code and other federal laws – replaced with "child sexual abuse and exploitation material," in a move that's meant to more accurately reflect the harm of this abuse.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Calling child exploitation what it really is matters, protection advocates argue
More than 30 years after “child pornography” was specifically criminalized in Canada, the terminology has been eliminated from federal laws in favour of the phrase “child sexual abuse and exploitation...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
As of Oct. 10, the term "child pornography" has been removed from Canada's Criminal Code and other federal laws – replaced with "child sexual abuse and exploitation material," in a move that's meant to more accurately reflect the harm of this abuse.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Moving to Winnipeg has made me confused about why I didn't buy a pair of snow pants before this. As children, it's obvious that our legs would get cold when it's punishingly frigid out, but as adults, somehow our legs are expected to become self-warming? My legs have always been freezing! Until now!
December 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Moving to Winnipeg has made me confused about why I didn't buy a pair of snow pants before this. As children, it's obvious that our legs would get cold when it's punishingly frigid out, but as adults, somehow our legs are expected to become self-warming? My legs have always been freezing! Until now!
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
Nearly three years after receiving updated guidance for alcohol consumption, Health Canada has not yet published that information on its website.
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Nearly three years after receiving updated guidance for alcohol consumption, Health Canada has not yet published that information on its website.
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
Big news!
"The fact is that we cannot govern who First Nations fall in love with," said Sen. Paul Prosper.
Story by @karynpugliese.bsky.social ⬇️
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
"The fact is that we cannot govern who First Nations fall in love with," said Sen. Paul Prosper.
Story by @karynpugliese.bsky.social ⬇️
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
‘We cannot govern who First Nations fall in love with’ says Senator
A Senate committee voted ten to one to amend to the government’s Bill S-2, and implement a one-parent rule for 'status Indians'
www.aptnnews.ca
November 19, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Big news!
"The fact is that we cannot govern who First Nations fall in love with," said Sen. Paul Prosper.
Story by @karynpugliese.bsky.social ⬇️
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
"The fact is that we cannot govern who First Nations fall in love with," said Sen. Paul Prosper.
Story by @karynpugliese.bsky.social ⬇️
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
A bill is being reviewed in Senate that will restore Indian status to about 3,000 people.
But witnesses say they want the bill to recognize more people – and the Senate is listening.
Is this the end of second-generation cut off?
That’s on N2N.
But witnesses say they want the bill to recognize more people – and the Senate is listening.
Is this the end of second-generation cut off?
That’s on N2N.
Senator proposes major amendments to end second-generation cutoff | Nation to Nation
YouTube video by APTN News
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 11:58 PM
A bill is being reviewed in Senate that will restore Indian status to about 3,000 people.
But witnesses say they want the bill to recognize more people – and the Senate is listening.
Is this the end of second-generation cut off?
That’s on N2N.
But witnesses say they want the bill to recognize more people – and the Senate is listening.
Is this the end of second-generation cut off?
That’s on N2N.
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
After hearing from more than 50 witnesses, the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples is preparing to go further than the government ever intended in restoring legal recognition to “non-status Indians.”
That's on Nation to Nation.
That's on Nation to Nation.
Senators will consider legal amendments to "Indian Status"
Sen. Paul Prospers is answering the call to make amendments to a bill that will restore status to tens of thousands of First Nation people
www.aptnnews.ca
October 30, 2025 at 11:40 PM
After hearing from more than 50 witnesses, the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples is preparing to go further than the government ever intended in restoring legal recognition to “non-status Indians.”
That's on Nation to Nation.
That's on Nation to Nation.
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change.
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Decades-long fight to repeal discriminatory second-generation cut-off rekindled on Parliament Hill
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change and thei...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change.
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
I am currently off work and not responding to e-mails. Because of the long wait times for endometriosis surgeries in Canada, I chose to go to the U.S. to get excision surgery for Stage IV endometriosis, where I had a four hour surgery on Monday. It went well and I expect to return to work on Dec. 1.
November 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I am currently off work and not responding to e-mails. Because of the long wait times for endometriosis surgeries in Canada, I chose to go to the U.S. to get excision surgery for Stage IV endometriosis, where I had a four hour surgery on Monday. It went well and I expect to return to work on Dec. 1.
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change.
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Decades-long fight to repeal discriminatory second-generation cut-off rekindled on Parliament Hill
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change and thei...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change.
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
I continue to cover the second-generation cut off and am closely following the Senate committee meetings over the last few weeks on Bill S-2. I'll be writing something next week on the meetings and am always interested to hear from people affected by the cut off. Feel free to drop me a line.
Indian Act's ‘second-generation cut-off’ poses an existential threat to treaty people in Canada
Thanks to the Indian Act’s ‘second-generation cut-off,’ First Nations people face a baffling and offensive equation when it comes to their status rights.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I continue to cover the second-generation cut off and am closely following the Senate committee meetings over the last few weeks on Bill S-2. I'll be writing something next week on the meetings and am always interested to hear from people affected by the cut off. Feel free to drop me a line.
Reposted by Marsha McLeod
Thanks to the Winnipeg Free Press for covering our special event, marking the 50th anniversary of the Department of Indigenous Studies at @umanitoba: www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
University of Manitoba Indigenous studies department reaches milestone
It was a day of celebration and of recognition Wednesday, as the University of Manitoba Indigenous studies department marked a half-century of scholarship, honouring decades of students and scholars i...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Thanks to the Winnipeg Free Press for covering our special event, marking the 50th anniversary of the Department of Indigenous Studies at @umanitoba: www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...