By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following the January 6th Capitol attack, then-President Trump’s team has been in conflict with various media outlets, including the BBC, over their reporting. The controversy stems from the BBC’s editing of a speech Trump gave before the riot, in which he urged his supporters to “fight like hell.” Despite the availability of the full speech, Trump’s camp has criticized the BBC, which echoes the sentiment that the media has portrayed “fake news.” This backlash highlights the challenges of reporting on Trump, where any criticism is seen as bias.
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The BBC was right about the Capitol riots, and the reality is, in a sane world, Trump would be in jail. It’s almost too obvious to state, yet here we are, still grappling with the fallout of the January 6th insurrection and its instigator walking free. It’s hard not to look at the situation and see the stark contrast between the consequences faced by leaders in other countries, like Bolsonaro in Brazil, and the apparent impunity enjoyed by Donald Trump. The fact that 77 million people voted for him *after* everything is a testament to the state of affairs.
There’s a clear parallel between the January 6th events and the attempted autogolpe in Brazil. Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence serves as a stark reminder of the accountability that should exist for such actions. The fact that Trump is still free, considering the blatant attempts to overturn an election, the incitement of a riot, and the alleged obstruction of justice, suggests a fundamental dysfunction in the American system. The lack of decisive action is disheartening, and the constant calls for “forgive and forget” are a core part of the problem.
The BBC, in its reporting of these events, has come under fire, but the core issue remains: Trump’s actions were dangerous and should have had consequences. The criticism of the BBC, particularly regarding editing of Trump’s speech, feels like a deflection. The focus should be on the core message, what the words meant, and what they unleashed. The idea that the news media is the enemy while the actions of Trump and his supporters are ignored is a recurring and frustrating theme.
The attempts to portray the BBC as biased, or even as perpetrators of “fake news,” are part of a larger strategy to undermine legitimate journalism and distort the truth. The amount of money paid by media outlets in settlements, including sums paid to Trump by YouTube and others, is a telling sign of the times. The fact that a former member of the BBC Standards Committee would accuse the corporation of dishonest editing is a distraction from the broader issue.
The violence at the Capitol was premeditated, and it resulted in five deaths. The fact that lawmakers had to be evacuated to safe rooms speaks volumes about the severity of the situation. The evidence is clear. From the fake electors who admitted guilt to the recorded calls to find votes in Georgia, there’s overwhelming proof of malfeasance. The fact that Pence had first-hand knowledge of Trump’s attempts at an autogolpe coup and didn’t act to stop him is alarming.
The problem runs deeper than individual actors. The lack of accountability, from Merrick Garland’s perceived inaction to the hesitancy of Democrats to take decisive action, is contributing to the current crisis. The idea that Trump is free is evidence that the world is mad, especially considering the evidence against him. He should have been in prison in the 1980’s.
It seems that the US legal and political systems are not up to the task. The fact that the US is still grappling with these issues, while other nations have taken strong action, is a source of frustration. The lack of a collective memory of autocracy, combined with a highly polarized political landscape, has created an environment where such behavior is normalized. Brazil’s approach is a stark contrast, as is South Korea’s.
It’s a reminder of how propaganda works. From the fraud and rape convictions to the handling of top-secret information and the allegations of misconduct, the reasons for his incarceration are more than enough. The fact remains that he walks free, is a testament to the state of US society. The “Banana Republic” analogy is apt, and the criminal organizations running Fox News and other outlets have contributed. In a world where the majority of students score below average on standardized tests, it’s not surprising that critical thinking has been severely compromised.