General News Thread

[ClaphamFox]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

You know, a year or two ago I would have agreed 100% with this. The Beeb, among others, has the obligation to fight the good fight. 

 

However, and perhaps it's a sign that I'm becoming too jaded, I'm increasingly beginning to believe that it simply doesn't matter if the Beeb or anyone else is telling the truth about people like Trump - they will lie anyway, people will buy and are buying it, and the results are as you see. Events of the past couple of years are a testament to that. 

 

So, what exactly can be done to address the very clear and present threat that the ideology he drives, that controls or is looking to seize control in a number of places (including the UK) with all the consequences that entails? 

 

Genuine question, because like you I believed the truth could be a defence against that ideology, but now I'm not so sure at all. 

It is clearly not something that is easily addressed and I confess I don't have a simple answer. However I still believe—perhaps naïvely—that the truth finds a way of coming out eventually, and we're more likely to reach that point sooner if those who believe in fighting the good fight continue to do so.

[Jon the Hat]

14 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

You know, a year or two ago I would have agreed 100% with this. The Beeb, among others, has the obligation to fight the good fight. 

 

However, and perhaps it's a sign that I'm becoming too jaded, I'm increasingly beginning to believe that it simply doesn't matter if the Beeb or anyone else is telling the truth about people like Trump - they will lie anyway, people will buy and are buying it, and the results are as you see. Events of the past couple of years are a testament to that. 

 

So, what exactly can be done to address the very clear and present threat that the ideology he drives, that controls or is looking to seize control in a number of places (including the UK) with all the consequences that entails? 

 

Genuine question, because like you I believed the truth could be a defence against that ideology, but now I'm not so sure at all. 

The good fight the BBC has to fight is for truth and good journalism.  Not for a political view or outcome.  Anyhow, Trump will be in an institution in a few years with any luck.

[bovril]

The BBC like any state broadcaster has always tried to portray other countries' politics and societies negatively, it's funny that so many Brits see them as some kind of crusaders for the truth. 

[leicsmac]

15 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

All news channels have a political bias. Fiona Bruce shakes her disapproving head when it's something she doesnt like. Tom Bradby on ITV is unwatchable and C4 News is about unbiased as the Guardian.

 

Rita Chakrabarti is the best in the business. Clive Myrie is good when he's not being flown around the world to report on Australian bush fires due to climate change.

I tend to like Reuters for reportage these days, they just report rather than adding much commentary. 

 

4 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

It is clearly not something that is easily addressed and I confess I don't have a simple answer. However I still believe—perhaps naïvely—that the truth finds a way of coming out eventually, and we're more likely to reach that point sooner if those who believe in fighting the good fight continue to do so.

I hope you're right. 

 

There's more than most people realise at stake here. 

 

1 minute ago, Jon the Hat said:

The good fight the BBC has to fight is for truth and good journalism.  Not for a political view or outcome.  Anyhow, Trump will be in an institution in a few years with any luck.

I think that depends on whether or not the preservation of life is a political outcome or not. 

 

I wish I could share this sentiment about what Trump is in charge of being neutralised so easily and without much collateral damage as that. 

[Jon the Hat]

1 hour ago, st albans fox said:

I can’t give trump any kind of pass for Jan 6th

I just don't buy that it was all a result of a master plan which failed just at the last moment as in fact no one was knew what they were doing once they got inside.  It was a result of lots of different pumped-up (partly by Trump himself, but also in their online echo chambers) groups of nutters with different agendas who went to protest and make some noise who by some remarkable lack of planning found themselves successful in gaining entry to the Capitol.  A massive bunch of arseholes who deserved their jail time no doubt.  Of course some of them were armed, this is the US we are talking about.  As far as I know no one started shooting or blowing anyone up.

[leicsmac]

16 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

I just don't buy that it was all a result of a master plan which failed just at the last moment as in fact no one was knew what they were doing once they got inside.  It was a result of lots of different pumped-up (partly by Trump himself, but also in their online echo chambers) groups of nutters with different agendas who went to protest and make some noise who by some remarkable lack of planning found themselves successful in gaining entry to the Capitol.  A massive bunch of arseholes who deserved their jail time no doubt.  Of course some of them were armed, this is the US we are talking about.  As far as I know no one started shooting or blowing anyone up.

Was it a meticulously planned and orchestrated coup attempt by the hand of Trump? No. 

 

Was the idea of a coup put in the heads of those people by Trump (and others), that they then acted upon and could have succeeded in their aim? Yes. 

 

Is there really that much distinction (and therefore difference in accountability) to be drawn between those two things, given the similarity of intent and outcome had they succeeded? 

Edited 4 November 2025 by leicsmac

[Mickyblueeyes]

Really poor reporting. Shouldn’t it be Muslim immigrant Samir 😃.

 

Some on here won’t like it but a heartening story to come out of this and share.  a genuine hero. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

[foxfanazer]

4 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Really poor reporting. Shouldn’t it be Muslim immigrant Samir 😃.

 

Some on here won’t like it but a heartening story to come out of this and share.  a genuine hero. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Massive respect to anyone who steps up in that kind of situation. Perfectly natural to go into self preservation mode and just leg it.  Well done sir

[st albans fox]

7 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Really poor reporting. Shouldn’t it be Muslim immigrant Samir 😃.

 

Some on here won’t like it but a heartening story to come out of this and share.  a genuine hero. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Bloody foreigners - coming over here and saving lives …..

[CornwallFox]

1 hour ago, Jon the Hat said:

I just don't buy that it was all a result of a master plan which failed just at the last moment as in fact no one was knew what they were doing once they got inside.  It was a result of lots of different pumped-up (partly by Trump himself, but also in their online echo chambers) groups of nutters with different agendas who went to protest and make some noise who by some remarkable lack of planning found themselves successful in gaining entry to the Capitol.  A massive bunch of arseholes who deserved their jail time no doubt.  Of course some of them were armed, this is the US we are talking about.  As far as I know no one started shooting or blowing anyone up.

While you might be right, trump did spent his time watching it on TV, doing nothing to stop it, and then pardoned them all. 

[fox_up_north]

Heard a bloke who also confronted him and basically lost a finger. The attitude to just stand someone off and focus on drawing attention away is unreal. Making the world a better place. 

[Lionator]

Dick Cheney dead, if hell exists let’s hope a space is reserved for that man. 

[StanSP]

40 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Really poor reporting. Shouldn’t it be Muslim immigrant Samir 😃.

 

Some on here won’t like it but a heartening story to come out of this and share.  a genuine hero. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

 

34 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

Massive respect to anyone who steps up in that kind of situation. Perfectly natural to go into self preservation mode and just leg it.  Well done sir

 

26 minutes ago, fox_up_north said:

Heard a bloke who also confronted him and basically lost a finger. The attitude to just stand someone off and focus on drawing attention away is unreal. Making the world a better place. 

Million percent this. 

 

Guessing majority of us may just freeze or go into fight or flight. Amazing what adrenaline can do to people, for good reasons. 

 

Massive respect to anyone who stepped in and helped saved lives of others. 

[foxfanazer]

3 minutes ago, StanSP said:

 

 

Million percent this. 

 

Guessing majority of us may just freeze or go into fight or flight. Amazing what adrenaline can do to people, for good reasons. 

 

Massive respect to anyone who stepped in and helped saved lives of others. 

Yeah definitely. I think a lot of people would say "I'd do the same" but in reality you just don't know. Fear and adrenaline can either make you do incredible things or can simply paralyse you and it's almost not a choice. 

 

It's not like it was just an average knife either, it's a really intimidating looking blade

 

[foxfanazer]

In other news...

 

North Korea have made suicide attempts illegal with the punishment being execution. What kind of punishment is that?

Edited 4 November 2025 by foxfanazer

[Tommy G]

Who could of predicted this 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwynl0q5eynt

[hejammy]

1 hour ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Really poor reporting. Shouldn’t it be Muslim immigrant Samir 😃.

 

Some on here won’t like it but a heartening story to come out of this and share.  a genuine hero. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

It's the Islamification of heroism! How being a hero has "fallen" - what happened to good old English hero folk!

[Super_horns]

Whatever happens she will probably be criticised.

Can the Chancellor win in any situation?

[Foxdiamond]

2 hours ago, bovril said:

The BBC like any state broadcaster has always tried to portray other countries' politics and societies negatively, it's funny that so many Brits see them as some kind of crusaders for the truth. 

Surely not just Brits but in the past the BBC built a trusted reputation among foreign viewers and listeners? If the Telegraph is proven to be correct about the Trump speech that does serious damage to the BBC. I'm no supporter of Trump but I recall my outrage of what he was saying and now it seems not to be the real thing. 

[Foxdiamond]

46 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

Yeah definitely. I think a lot of people would say "I'd do the same" but in reality you just don't know. Fear and adrenaline can either make you do incredible things or can simply paralyse you and it's almost not a choice. 

 

It's not like it was just an average knife either, it's a really intimidating looking blade

 

I remember someone did research on the backgrounds of VC and GC winners. A surprisingly high number either were the eldest child in a family or had to take on early responsibilities because of a loss of a parent or parents. 

[CornwallFox]

52 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Who could of predicted this 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwynl0q5eynt

Government might have to raise tax shocker.

What would you do differently?

[leicsmac]

12 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Surely not just Brits but in the past the BBC built a trusted reputation among foreign viewers and listeners? If the Telegraph is proven to be correct about the Trump speech that does serious damage to the BBC. I'm no supporter of Trump but I recall my outrage of what he was saying and now it seems not to be the real thing. 

As per previous discussion, I would hope that the actions of the man both during and after the event, as well as what he said, would be convincing enough on this topic. 

 

All of this, as problematic as it may appear to some should have next to no effect whatsoever regarding viewpoints of the man himself and what he is trying to do. He is who he is, and what he does, and that's patently obvious in spite of any of this. 

[Foxdiamond]

4 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

As per previous discussion, I would hope that the actions of the man both during and after the event, as well as what he said, would be convincing enough on this topic. 

 

All of this, as problematic as it may appear to some should have next to no effect whatsoever regarding viewpoints of the man himself and what he is trying to do. He is who he is, and what he does, and that's patently obvious in spite of any of this. 

Don't get me wrong. I've not changed my opinion of Trump. More a concern that the BBC felt the need to mislead the public 

[leicsmac]

22 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Don't get me wrong. I've not changed my opinion of Trump. More a concern that the BBC felt the need to mislead the public 

No disagreement there, though I honestly don't think it has as much an effect on the landscape as some think, as I've already explained. 

Edited 4 November 2025 by leicsmac

[Innovindil]

1 hour ago, CornwallFox said:

Government might have to raise tax shocker.

What would you do differently?

Shouldn't it say government might have to raise tax AGAIN shocker? 

 

Y'know... Cuz the first Labour budget  included some £40billion~ in tax rises?