In the standoff between the city of Austin and ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber, the momentum clearly has shifted to those companies because of the City Council’s refusal to compromise — but also because Lyft and Uber so far are winning the messaging war.

They have persuaded much of the public — including those who hail rides by smartphones and those who drive for the companies (but please don’t call them employees) — that the City Council is engaged in regulating them out of business. (Full story Austin-American Statesman)