The author, Cory Doctorow, is 52 years old and when he italicizes "a new vibe" it's an understated "(sic)" analog, which is to say that he's consciously introducing the reader to a colloquialism of the pertinent milieu.

Or were you referring to some other idiom?

Yes, flagged for claiming that unions were the main reason for the increase, when it's clear that fast food wages have gone up all over the country due to inflation and a tight labor market on the low end, even where fast food workers aren't unionized, and also for an insufferably cringe writing style.