The Donald Trump thread

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

So you didn’t watch it all James, but you felt you could make a comment about the presenters being “outraged”. If they were outraged, it wasn’t because of news from a fortnight or more ago (why would they make a podcast about the BBC’s stupid mistake in the editing of that programme about Trump now?), it was because of the very concerning censorship of a small part of the Reith Lecture because it was critical of Donald Trump.

I think they had a right to be outraged.

[jon1959]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov/27/bbc-donald-trump-corruption-line-removed-from-rutger-bregman-reith-lecture

BBC presenters and journalists have been told they cannot quote a line removed from its prestigious annual lecture, in which a Dutch writer accused Donald Trump of being “the most openly corrupt president in American history”.

Rutger Bregman accused the BBC of cowardice after it decided to remove the line from the first of his Reith lectures, which he was invited to give by the corporation. The BBC said the decision was made after it received legal advice.

Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for up to $5bn (£3.8bn) for the way Panorama edited a speech he gave on the day of the Capitol riots in January 2021.

BBC outlets have been told not to repeat Bregman’s corruption allegation against Trump even in its news coverage of the decision to cut the line from the speech.

In an episode of BBC Radio 4’s Media Show that discussed Bregman’s claims of censorship, the presenter Ros Atkins said: “Also, for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”

An earlier article on the BBC News website covering the edit of Bregman’s speech stated: “BBC News is not repeating the line in question on the same legal advice.”

Bregman said the BBC’s decision to not even mention his comments in news coverage suggested deeper problems.

“If BBC journalists are not allowed to mention a sentence in a story about censorship, then the problem is far bigger than one line in my lecture,” he said. “That is precisely the dynamic my first Reith lecture describes: institutions censoring themselves out of fear of those in power.

“It’s essential that the British public learn who made this decision, when, and on what grounds. I was told the decision was made because of US lawyers. But lawyers don’t make decisions. Leaders do. And I share this with full respect for BBC journalists, who do crucial work under increasingly difficult conditions.”

[JamesWales]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

So you didn’t watch it all James, but you felt you could make a comment about the presenters being “outraged”. If they were outraged, it wasn’t because of news from a fortnight or more ago (why would they make a podcast about the BBC’s stupid mistake in the editing of that programme about Trump now?), it was because of the very concerning censorship of a small part of the Reith Lecture because it was critical of Donald Trump.

I think they had a right to be outraged.

I didn't watch it all, no. It was quite a long video.

It is clearly connected to the wider story though. The BBC clearly obtained legal advice not to air the comment in light of what's going on. I assume that's because accusing someone of a crime (corruption) needs to be backed up.

I do worry about free speech, but it seems the speech was freely made, the BBC just chose not to broadcast every word. I can understand why in the circumstances tbh.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

I didn't watch it all, no. It was quite a long video.

It is clearly connected to the wider story though. The BBC clearly obtained legal advice not to air the comment in light of what's going on. I assume that's because accusing someone of a crime (corruption) needs to be backed up.

I do worry about free speech, but it seems the speech was freely made, the BBC just chose not to broadcast every word. I can understand why in the circumstances tbh.

You've never got it about what a slippery slope we're on have you? Does Trump ever "back up" what he says with hard evidence when he accuses political opponents of corruption or dismisses media stories against him as "fake news"?

[JamesWales]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

You've never got it about what a slippery slope we're on have you? Does Trump ever "back up" what he says with hard evidence when he accuses political opponents of corruption or dismisses media stories against him as "fake news"?

I don't have to believe we are on a slippery slope, if I don't think we are.

Are you saying that the BBC should have overriden their legal advice?

I'm more worried about restrictions on our own freedoms tbh

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

I don't have to believe we are on a slippery slope, if I don't think we are.

Are you saying that the BBC should have overriden their legal advice?

I'm more worried about restrictions on our own freedoms tbh

Yes.

[jon1959]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

[JamesWales]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

Yes.

Well that was never going to happen.

[Heathblue]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

Is Trump on the verge of joining Obamas war mongering club by going into Venezuela?

[jon1959]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

Is Trump on the verge of joining Obamas war mongering club by going into Venezuela?

He joined the warmongering club years ago - despite the ritualistic claims by his followers that he is 'different'.

Don't you remember Syria, Yemen and Iran?

That was before Trump and Hegseth started to blow up fishing boats in international waters - illegal posturing even if you believe that they were 'narco boats'. The body count is going up every day.

Trump obviously wants regime change in Venezuela - lots of lovely profits there for the Trump organisation and his golf buddies - but I would be very surprised if he puts 'boots on the ground'. Blockade and proxy war more likely.

[goats]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

Is Trump on the verge of joining Obamas war mongering club by going into Venezuela?

Think he has enough on his hands with Russia, mind you despite Putin trying to big Russia up saying they are ready for war ( they can’t even overcome a former soviet state at the moment) he’s already lost almost a million men in the little military operation, word on the street is he hasn’t got that many left….. or will he just keep using North Koreans?

[Wales-Bales]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

Think he has enough on his hands with Russia, mind you despite Putin trying to big Russia up saying they are ready for war ( they can’t even overcome a former soviet state at the moment) he’s already lost almost a million men in the little military operation, word on the street is he hasn’t got that many left….. or will he just keep using North Koreans?

Proxy wars are complicated.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

Is Trump on the verge of joining Obamas war mongering club by going into Venezuela?

Isn't that where the election machines were situated?

[Dorcus]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

He joined the warmongering club years ago - despite the ritualistic claims by his followers that he is 'different'.

Don't you remember Syria, Yemen and Iran?

That was before Trump and Hegseth started to blow up fishing boats in international waters - illegal posturing even if you believe that they were 'narco boats'. The body count is going up every day.

Trump obviously wants regime change in Venezuela - lots of lovely profits there for the Trump organisation and his golf buddies - but I would be very surprised if he puts 'boots on the ground'. Blockade and proxy war more likely.

AND ....he wants the Nobel Peace Prize when he declares this new war over

[Dorcus]

Re: The Donald Trump thread

Think he has enough on his hands with Russia, mind you despite Putin trying to big Russia up saying they are ready for war ( they can’t even overcome a former soviet state at the moment) he’s already lost almost a million men in the little military operation, word on the street is he hasn’t got that many left….. or will he just keep using North Koreans?

As long as he has nuclear weapons he'll take on anyone