Annoyingly I have a sentence in this coming Friday's newsletter calling someone an absolute banquet, which for some reason I'm very fond of. Now I think I need to remove it.
Funny how when multiple no-name people are sent to actual jail in the UK for just planning a peaceful protest, no UK newspaper frames this as a potential threat to democracy and free speech. British culture seemingly cannot fathom powerful people getting punished.
Wow. You're really worked up about this. Excellent article. I live in France, FrancoScottish exile, and this is the best article I've seen about the Marine Le Pen case. It is so good that I immediately subscribed. All power to your typing fingers.
Absolutely spot on, Ian. This has been apparent for some time now and, as you say, look at the horrific damage it's contributed to in the US. I just don't understand the thinking of the media.
Likewise, I've been feeling this way for ages, question time platformed and legitimised Farage. We will have Reform in government at this rate. People who should know better repeat trite and tripe narratives. Brilliant piece Ian.
The fury is how it's coming, as you say, from outlets you'd expect to know and do better. I was listening to the World Service this morning and they gave a full slot to the National Front spokesperson. Nary an interruption or challenge. And boom that was the coverage. I expected them to have an analyst or correspondent straight after, but no. I wanted to scream.
This is all completely correct, obviously, but I also want to bask in the fact that you used the word 'nary'. Incredible self-confidence to bust that one out and think no-one will notice. I NOTICED.
Excellent piece, but might I suggest that the UK coverage that you mention may have been influenced by the way that this has been covered in much of the French media? The way in which the far right have colonised vast sectors of it puts GB News and the right-wing British press in the shade. This deserves to be better known: https://ipi.media/france-media-freedom-threats-capture/
Excellent article. It is extraordinary how so many institutions, not least the media, are crumbling in the face of the far-right. Was the rot always there or is this as sudden as it seems to be?
Wholeheartedly agree. Le Pen is not a victim. I found the BBC coverage last night appalling, treating her as some sort of hero and almost no mention of the offence. Grim times.
It’s the cognitive dissonance between criticism of US outlets for sane-washing Trump, and then doing much the same thing in this case that really surprised me. We had the test case, we saw what NOT to do. And yet all the outlets I would have expected to do better, have done exactly what you describe. Thank you for articulating better than I can, and for at least making me realise I’m not just the odd one out missing something here.
You are so right Ian it’s painful! So many of us now having to endure this daily tirade from the mainstream press be it here the US or anywhere. I heard a BBC headline yesterday and the 2nd line in was given over to the people objecting to the sentence top of the B…y bill Musk !! It makes me boil with rage she broke the law full stop 🛑 if only lawbreaking in politics was not allowed in the US awe would not be in t(e dreadful mess we are all in today…
I laughed out loud at “banquet of cunts”.
Annoyingly I have a sentence in this coming Friday's newsletter calling someone an absolute banquet, which for some reason I'm very fond of. Now I think I need to remove it.
No need, because now we all know what it “really” means.
No self censorship. First role of journalism, I think you must be one of the people who taught me that.
Funny how when multiple no-name people are sent to actual jail in the UK for just planning a peaceful protest, no UK newspaper frames this as a potential threat to democracy and free speech. British culture seemingly cannot fathom powerful people getting punished.
IMHO, most press in the Western world cannot
I had a thought like this yesterday but didn't get as angry about it as Ian does here.
I realise now it's because I've got used to it. Which is terrifying
Exactly this, this morning. I couldn't put into words what was annoying the fuck out of me until I saw Ian's update on Bluesky.
Wow. You're really worked up about this. Excellent article. I live in France, FrancoScottish exile, and this is the best article I've seen about the Marine Le Pen case. It is so good that I immediately subscribed. All power to your typing fingers.
Absolutely spot on, Ian. This has been apparent for some time now and, as you say, look at the horrific damage it's contributed to in the US. I just don't understand the thinking of the media.
Likewise, I've been feeling this way for ages, question time platformed and legitimised Farage. We will have Reform in government at this rate. People who should know better repeat trite and tripe narratives. Brilliant piece Ian.
The fury is how it's coming, as you say, from outlets you'd expect to know and do better. I was listening to the World Service this morning and they gave a full slot to the National Front spokesperson. Nary an interruption or challenge. And boom that was the coverage. I expected them to have an analyst or correspondent straight after, but no. I wanted to scream.
This is all completely correct, obviously, but I also want to bask in the fact that you used the word 'nary'. Incredible self-confidence to bust that one out and think no-one will notice. I NOTICED.
Excellent piece (again). Spot on.
I love you when you’re angry 😁
Excellent piece, but might I suggest that the UK coverage that you mention may have been influenced by the way that this has been covered in much of the French media? The way in which the far right have colonised vast sectors of it puts GB News and the right-wing British press in the shade. This deserves to be better known: https://ipi.media/france-media-freedom-threats-capture/
Excellent article. It is extraordinary how so many institutions, not least the media, are crumbling in the face of the far-right. Was the rot always there or is this as sudden as it seems to be?
Thanks for making sense of it all. I was almost feeling sorry for her till you explained! Justice is clearly needed
Sorry to go all Adam Curtis, but "This is a story about a woman. A woman who committed a crime. A woman who was sentenced for a crime."
Sometimes there is less to a story than meets the eye.
Wholeheartedly agree. Le Pen is not a victim. I found the BBC coverage last night appalling, treating her as some sort of hero and almost no mention of the offence. Grim times.
It’s the cognitive dissonance between criticism of US outlets for sane-washing Trump, and then doing much the same thing in this case that really surprised me. We had the test case, we saw what NOT to do. And yet all the outlets I would have expected to do better, have done exactly what you describe. Thank you for articulating better than I can, and for at least making me realise I’m not just the odd one out missing something here.
You are so right Ian it’s painful! So many of us now having to endure this daily tirade from the mainstream press be it here the US or anywhere. I heard a BBC headline yesterday and the 2nd line in was given over to the people objecting to the sentence top of the B…y bill Musk !! It makes me boil with rage she broke the law full stop 🛑 if only lawbreaking in politics was not allowed in the US awe would not be in t(e dreadful mess we are all in today…
Thanks for this Ian makes my blood boil how differently the media treats populist compared to mainstream politicians
You are so right. There are some exceptions and the editorial in today's Le Momde is focused on Le Pen's crime