[semigroupoid]

I don't think the situation is as simple as you make it out to be. Due to the geoblock, latimes.com clearly does not offer its services to people in the EU in the sense of Article 3.2(a) of the GDPR. Now, Article 3.2(b) states that the GDPR would still apply if they track your behavior while you are located in the EU. Since you are using a VPN it could be argued that, from the perspective of latimes.com, your behavior takes place in the US and not the EU and that therefore the GDPR does not apply.