First of all, the source is CNBC, so it is not a “weir vendetta […] solely on the .ml instances.” This and e.g. their prior article (https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/26/organized-retail-crime-and-theft-not-increasing-much-nrf-study-finds.html) are well in-line with economics reporting as their core business. And then, it is Target and CEO Brian Cornell and NRF — where Cornell is also a board member — pushing this narrative (e.g. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/business/target-store-closures-theft.html), that lead to news outlet to their investigative reporting. There are further legitimate concerns by press regarding NRF’s legislative lobby effort based on non-existent evidence: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/26/retailers-lobby-congress-to-pass-combating-organized-retail-crime-act.html