New York Attorney General Letitia James has a long history of lawfare, pandering to her political base by targeting Donald Trump, the National Rifle Association, and others. Now, she is thrilling her base by promising to go after Condé Nast after the company fired four employees who had a confrontation with Condé Nast Chief People Officer Stan Duncan outside of his office.
As part of the confrontation, the union members demanded to know what the company was doing to stand up to Donald Trump. However, the main objection concerned layoffs.
Some of the layoffs in question were the result of a restructuring of Vogue’s operations, which included a reduction in staff. Teen Vogue is being moved into Vogue.com as part of the change. There were also layoffs at WIRED.
Union activists have objected that the majority of the editorial staffers laid off were women of color or transgender. According to the union, the move exposes “the trend of layoffs at Condé disproportionately impacting marginalized employees.”
Condé Nast is now under fire from the NewsGuild of New York for firing four of the employees involved in the confrontation with the HR chief outside his C-suite office. The Guild claims that the terminations constitute “grossly illegal tactics” and union busting.
However, the company insists that the four caused a disruption and refused repeated requests to leave the office to allow Duncan and others to work. They will undoubtedly file grievances, but union contracts and federal laws do not give activists the right to disrupt operations anywhere at any time of their choosing.
However, James gave a speech to activists promising to intervene, declaring When we fight, we win,” and “People, united, will never be defeated,” before suggesting the economy is “rigged against working people.” She added:
“Since when is it illegal for an individual, or individuals, to express, or recognize, their First Amendment rights? Since when is that illegal? When is it illegal to ask a question? When is it illegal to speak truth to power? When is it illegal to get answers from your employer?
To all of those who are responsible for the termination of these individuals, let me introduce myself. My name is Letitia James, otherwise known as Tish, and I am here to let you know that I stand with workers now, and I will stand with workers forever.”
James has learned that it does not matter that her efforts often collapse in court, such as her ridiculous effort to shut down the NRA.
The company has stood firm, stating, “The employment terminations were lawful and based on clear violations of company policies. We have an obligation to protect our workplace from harassment and intimidation. If the Attorney General has concerns, we are happy to respond to her.”
The video shows Bon Appétit digital producer Alma Avalle, a NewsGuild of New York leader and trans activist, confronting Duncan with Wired senior White House reporter Jake Lahut, The New Yorker senior fact-checker Jasper Lo, and Condé Nast Entertainment videographer Ben Dewey.
Notably, the company not only claims that the widely circulated videotape does not depict the most disruptive conduct, but also that it has filed three previous grievances this year with the union regarding such behavior. The company told the National Labor Relations Board that the NewsGuild of New York has carried out “repeated and egregious disregard of our collective bargaining agreement.”
The merits of these claims will have to be hashed out by the NLRB and the parties within the grievance process. However, James’s effort to insert herself into the dispute is bizarre. She is suggesting that somehow her office may target the company for downsizing staff and firing those who allegedly disrupted the workplace.
It is another ratcheting up of rhetoric against companies in New York, adding to what is viewed as an increasingly hostile environment in the city. With the election of a Democratic Socialist as mayor, many executives and residents are reportedly considering possible moves to more supportive jurisdictions.
The time to have put a stop to these attempts to create a progressive state of insanity was just prior to when the Senate censured Senator Joseph McCarthy on December 2, 1954. It’s been all down hill since then.
Seems this sense of entitlement is not just at Conde Nast, DNC union erupts in outrage over ‘shocking’ and ‘callous’ order to work in-person 5 days a week
https://nypost.com/2025/11/13/us-news/dnc-union-erupts-in-outrage-over-shocking-and-callous-demand-to-work-in-person/
OMG, She’s right! free speech isn’t illegal! In fact this employer exercised theirs by saying “You’re Fired!!”. Sounds fair.
New York is an “at-will” state, meaning that an employer can fire an employee for any reason, or for no reason. Whatever race or sex they are, or gender delusion they may have, firing a disruptive employees is legal.
“Union activists have objected that the majority of the editorial staffers laid off were women of color or transgender.” (JT)
Maybe the people who were fired were the low performers or non-performers and had nothing to do with their sex, race or . . . whatever.
Wouldn’t it stand to reason that the mostly “last hired” group would be the coerced employment of persons based on DEI characteristics rather than merit and that they should be the most naturally first let go as workforces cut back.
Everyone has different abilities so modern management requires that you first fire the stupid, then fire the ones that defend them. You don’t make money hiring the stupid.
Way to go AG Letitia James !!! Yeah that’s the ticket.
Go after the New York based Publishing Houses, kill Madison Avenue, and destroy Midtown Manhattan.
She’s so sharp, Everybody can see that She really thinks it through. You Go Girl!
And yet she’s the AG of the State of NY.
“And yet she’s the AG of the State of NY.”
New Yorkers idolize morons. E.g., Gov. Kathy Chokul.
Don’t forget deBlasio, Schumer, AOC, Jeffries, etc., etc.
I’m guessing that James didn’t take Constitutional Law in law school (or slept through it) – explaining why she doesn’t know the 1st Amendment doesn’t apply to private workplaces.
Pushing the envelope … its what all politicians do. Just like President Trump.
Sounds to me like a good time to move the corporation elsewhere. Several wonderful places north of Indianapolis, very good schools, wonderful Universities a short drive away, relatively easy access to the airport, very good shopping and a city eager to make deals for incoming businesses. The Attorney General and Governor are very pro business. Lots of sports, college and professional. Might have to change to Cubs fans. Well maybe not, that is asking a bit too much. Right to work state also.
Moving will not matter, woke children everywhere. Just like you, wherever you go, you’ll dump your personal history on people who have no interest in your pathetic life.
Clearing you don ‘t know what you’re saying – Indianapolis and burbs are a shithole.
GEB,
Many Southern Red states are benefiting from Blue states bad policies. Although I would seriously question if I would want a company like Conde Nast knowing some of their highly illiberal bias.
Good thing you’re not the one making those type of decisions. You’d bankrupt …
Ah, Tish James! I bet she looks good in an orange jumpsuit, with “Caution Wide Load, Stay 50 ft. Back” stenciled across her a**.
You couldn’t be more misogynist or racist if you tried. Wonder Mrs. Falzetta looks like? Tish James but just white.
“When we fight, we win” Tish is a commie and desires that commie control over others possesions like all commies do. Sorry commie! we have rights here so you will be ineffective always.
Notice she says ‘we’, yet ‘she’ isn’t going to be able to do anything about this firing, but she would have her imbecile followers believe she can.
Evil politicians used to hide their evil plans to step all over who they wanted. Now, with all the cultivated civics ignorance they can finally appeal to their basest urges.
Conde Nast should sue her for stepping on their rights.
Anonymonopus’s appeal to victim identity and public shaming is so worn out. They shame, yet have no shame themselves, Oblivious to their hypocracy.
LIEtitia James should buy them each a house to live in, and declare the homes as her four new primary residences. Tish is good at lying on mortgage applications. Just ask her fathusband.
“. . . four employees who had a confrontation with Condé Nast Chief People Officer Stan Duncan outside of his office.” (JT)
When professionals desire a meeting, they *schedule* one. Spoiled brats show up unannounced and demand a meeting *now*.
Then when an adult imposes standards and limits, to the effect — “No. You can’t run around the restaurant screaming.” — the Chief bully defends the spoiled brats: “My name is Letitia James.”
How do you know they were professionals? Your analogy is stupid.
Sam,
Well said. But they believe they are entitled to this kind of behavior.
As your are entitled to your opinion and behavior. That’s why you’re a farmer.
I would trust a Farmer over an anonymous city slicker any day of the week. A blind man would too.
Well said. Farmer’s tend to be quite hard working and intelligent. It’s a tough job with high risk. Great patients and fun to talk to. They talk and I am happy to listen.
UF: Thanks.
Completely OT: Any tips on how to keep mice away from the wiring on my vehicles over the winter? (And why do they eat the wiring insulation?)
New York is a lost cause. The fact that they elect, then re-elect, such loons speaks for itself. Let it collapse sooner rather than later so that the impact on the rest of the country is minimal.
Collapse? Impact? Let me guess, you live in NY?
Clarke Penley,
I agree. Let them drive NYC into the ground. Serve as a warning to everyone else what a hot mess Democrats are. Although, as you point out, they are not smart enough to learn and keep re-electing the same loons over and over again and again. Just look at the Failed states of CA and IL.
TIsh is the moron’s moron. New York State must have a death wish to keep electing clowns like her
She’s NY’s AG, has a lot of power. And you, a lowlife anon commenter with a big chip on your white racist shoulders. .
How demented is this particular Anonymous loon? Grow up, get a job, move out of your mother’s house and meet a girl. Loser!
Hey Darren, this Anonymous creep is why some of beg you to force commenters to create a name so we can ignore idiots like this juvenile more easily.
Creep? Idiot? Loon? Loser? Grow up? Get a job? Shall I stop whiner?
What a cry baby… listen you hockey puck, you lack smarts and you’re a whiner. Name or not, you’ll still read any comment an anon posts and attack them for all being the same person.. You then attack in unison, insults and threats etc. and then whine to Turley to ban people. Thought you were a big 1st A guy? Suggest you do a rage quit.
There are many people that comment as Anonymous, but we all know you, we all know your comments and we are all tired of you trying to ruin this site.
Ruin the site? You’re joking? Your so called comments are riddled with stupidity,. You want to make it your exclusive club? Guess attacking people with insults and threats is a requisite for membership?
And BTW, who is we. I only see you.
Suggest you stop right there man. This website is not your exclusive club. If your comments can’t stand scrutiny from others, maybe you should think longer and harder before you comment.
Not that anon. If I were you I’d shutup. You’re not exactly an angel on this blog.
hullbobby wrote:
“Hey Darren, this Anonymous creep is why some of beg you to force commenters to create a name so we can ignore idiots like this juvenile more easily.”
In fact, Darren may have gone out of his way to avoid allowing posters who do not have a WP account to use a consistent, unique identity. About 6 months ago, the field on the comment form that allowed the entry of such a name disappeared, at least for Firefox browser users. I have alluded to that many times at this site. I don’t know if it resulted from a WP upgrade, or from Darren making a deliberate settings change, but I have posted about that issue on this site many times since it happened, so he doesn’t appear to give a damn. For that matter, apparently neither do other users like you, who, in spite of complaining about unidentified posters, have never responded to my explanation of that problem.
About 6 months ago, the field on the comment form that allowed the entry of such a name disappeared, at least for Firefox browser users.
No, it hasn’t, it’s just hiding. Click on the last icon, the one with an envelope on it, and the fields appear. Fill them in once, and slide the bottom slider to “Save my name…”, and then click Reply. The next time you do this your fields will already be filled out and you can just click the Reply button
I despise James, but I regard any company that gives its top HR executive a brain-dead title like “Chief People Officer” as completely undeserving of my sympathy.
$2b in sales and 7k employees and your problem is someone’s job title?
How long you been standing in the unemployment line – decades?
Giving a corporate officer the title of Chief People Officer rather than a more traditional title is meant to send a signal.
It’s like when left wing trash began using the phrase “undocumented immigrant” rather than “illegal alien” – which is the term used in federal statutes. Undocumented immigrant is, of course, intentionally misleading because the illegals often have documents proving they are citizens of foreign countries. I still haven’t figured out why the left wing trash switched from “homeless people” to “unhoused people” other than to signal to other left wing trash which side they are on.
Nothing changes in practice. It’s all just co-opting the language to signal you are part of the trash.
And what a great gig it is eh?
Hey, that was mean. Take it back! signed, Jeff, Chief Officer of Polite Speech (COPS)
Keyword: “ratcheting.” Tish James’ entire career in one verb.
Present participle of ratchet.
What happened to the rest of your column? This is how it appeared on X:
James has learned that it does not matter that her efforts often collapse in court, such as her ridiculous effort to shut down the NRA.
The company has stood firm, stating, “The employment terminations were lawful and based on clear violations of company policies. We have an obligation to protect our workplace from harassment and intimidation. If the Attorney General has concerns, we are happy to respond to her.”
The video shows Bon Appétit digital producer Alma Avalle, a NewsGuild of New York leader and trans activist, confronting Duncan with Wired senior White House reporter Jake Lahut, The New Yorker senior fact-checker Jasper Lo, and Condé Nast Entertainment videographer Ben Dewey.
Notably, the company not only claims that the widely circulated videotape does not depict the most disruptive conduct, but also that it has filed three previous grievances this year with the union regarding such behavior. The company told the National Labor Relations Board that the NewsGuild of New York has carried out “repeated and egregious disregard of our collective bargaining agreement.”
The merits of these claims will have to be hashed out by the NLRB and the parties within the grievance process. However, James’s effort to insert herself into the dispute is bizarre. She is suggesting that somehow her office may target the company for downsizing staff and firing those who allegedly disrupted the workplace.
It is another ratcheting up of rhetoric against companies in New York, adding to what is viewed as an increasingly hostile environment in the city. With the election of a Democratic Socialist as mayor, many executives and residents are reportedly considering possible moves to more supportive jurisdictions.
You just rewrote Turley’s article.. stupid.
Looks like it already arrived. Its here not “her” stupid. Get an education.
dustoff is here
Democrats love Fascists!
Time to Outlaw public unions the political army of the Democrats
and DEFUND Democrats…no more federal aid to cities, states, non-profits and colleges
You won’t win over Democrats being NICE TO THEM…does work…they are too greedy for power and money!
Fascist? Hey stupid she’s the AG not Trump.
Nope.. she is just a hater. Much like you
Nope? You mean she’s not a fascist or she’s not the AG?
Much like you? Do you actually know what you’re writing?
Fascists like Tish never change. Watch what they do. Her lawfare would make Hitler and Stalin blush.
Win? With cretins like you doing the wooing, don’t expect any crossovers.
Once again she feeds and fuels the mob to her benefit. New Yorkers what has happened to you?
Just like Trump eh?
“New Yorkers what has happened to you?”
The typical New Yorker has had his or her head thrust far up their ventral orifice for quite some time. It’s just that they previously fantasized that they had their heads in the clouds, and that the masses they were viewing were celestial bodies. Recent history has impaired those hallucinations…
ventral orifice? The term “ventral orifice” can refer to different anatomical structures depending on context. In male anatomy, the external urethral orifice is normally located on the tip of the penis.
So that makes you an actual dickhead, assuming you’re from NY.
The Glass Canyon was the nickname for the NYC neighborhood north of Grand Central Station on Park Ave & vicinity, so-called because of the location thereabouts of numerous Post-Bauhaus buildings. Many corporations had their HQs there, but in recent years have been migrating their back offices elsewhere. Letitia James may empty it out completely.
Since the context of the comment was New Yorkers in general, irrespective of birth sex, an even half-way intelligent reader could be expected to understand that it was an intended humorous reference to the human alimentary canal, ending at the anus, which is the most common usage.
That orifice is dorsal, not ventral.
Where are the clowns?
Not to worry, they will be her soon defending Letitia actions.
Looks like it already arrived. Its here not “her” stupid. Get an education.
“Where are the clowns?”
For starters, one was just elected mayor of NYC.