Ben Fenton
@benfenton.bsky.social
Media/politics(Covered 2 US presidential elections); Fairness - Author of TO BE FAIR https://menschpublishing.com/books/to-be-fair/ Formerly: Chair, Orwell Journalism Prize; FT chief media corr; Telegraph Senior Reporter & Washington Correspondent
Pinned
Ben Fenton
@benfenton.bsky.social
· Dec 16
Luigi Mangione, folk hero
The man suspected of murdering the CEO of America’s largest healthcare company has been lionised because of a yearning for fairness
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
I wrote a thing about how the folk-hero-worship of Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of a health-insurance CEO, is a result of our profound instincts of fairness and unfairness.
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
As I mentioned as a joke yesterday, Chris Ruddy of Newsmax, who knows Trump very well, just suggested on Today prog that our King could help smooth over their King's upset with the BBC.
November 11, 2025 at 8:25 AM
As I mentioned as a joke yesterday, Chris Ruddy of Newsmax, who knows Trump very well, just suggested on Today prog that our King could help smooth over their King's upset with the BBC.
Chris Ruddy of Newsmax just said that the BBC would win in court because there was no malice and that 1st Amendment would protect them.
What he did not say was that a Congressional inquiry found that the sting of the BBC programme - he incited the Capitol invasion - was true.
What he did not say was that a Congressional inquiry found that the sting of the BBC programme - he incited the Capitol invasion - was true.
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Chris Ruddy of Newsmax just said that the BBC would win in court because there was no malice and that 1st Amendment would protect them.
What he did not say was that a Congressional inquiry found that the sting of the BBC programme - he incited the Capitol invasion - was true.
What he did not say was that a Congressional inquiry found that the sting of the BBC programme - he incited the Capitol invasion - was true.
Big difference not mentioned re Trump's suit agst BBC is that the US broadcasters who settled all had M&A processes that were before the FCC. The BBC operates in the US, but they can rely on the 1st Amendment for protection which CBS/ABC simply abandoned for commercial reasons.
November 11, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Big difference not mentioned re Trump's suit agst BBC is that the US broadcasters who settled all had M&A processes that were before the FCC. The BBC operates in the US, but they can rely on the 1st Amendment for protection which CBS/ABC simply abandoned for commercial reasons.
Key thing re the belated defence of the Beeb just emerging: people talk about the “holding to account” bit and ignore cohesion, anti-misinformation, universality, public-interest. It’s like a BBC crisis from 2003 - same attack, same defence, as if the world hadn’t been turned upside down since then.
November 11, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Key thing re the belated defence of the Beeb just emerging: people talk about the “holding to account” bit and ignore cohesion, anti-misinformation, universality, public-interest. It’s like a BBC crisis from 2003 - same attack, same defence, as if the world hadn’t been turned upside down since then.
If the BBC pays Trump, will anyone believe any of its US reports again?
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
November 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
If the BBC pays Trump, will anyone believe any of its US reports again?
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
Reposted by Ben Fenton
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
We have been eagerly awaiting the publication of the BBC Board's letter to the MPs select committee.
I gather there has been a slight delay because the BBC is simultaneously trying to add a last-minute contestant to next season's series of Celebrity Traitors.
I gather there has been a slight delay because the BBC is simultaneously trying to add a last-minute contestant to next season's series of Celebrity Traitors.
November 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
We have been eagerly awaiting the publication of the BBC Board's letter to the MPs select committee.
I gather there has been a slight delay because the BBC is simultaneously trying to add a last-minute contestant to next season's series of Celebrity Traitors.
I gather there has been a slight delay because the BBC is simultaneously trying to add a last-minute contestant to next season's series of Celebrity Traitors.
If we are to believe that the BBC is the worst of British journalism and the press is the best (for which view we must credit Donald Trump) then the world has truly turned upside down.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
November 10, 2025 at 10:33 AM
If we are to believe that the BBC is the worst of British journalism and the press is the best (for which view we must credit Donald Trump) then the world has truly turned upside down.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
My apologies to Emma Barnett and Anna Foster. It’s been a busy morning for everyone involved in this strange game.
Tells Anna Foster, not Emma Barnett, but yes. And Moore, of all people.
Charles Moore tells Emma Barnett on Today that the problem with the BBC is that "you" keep defending yourselves rather than admitting "you" are wrong and biased. That speaks volumes: especially that Charles has forgotten that presenters/reporters are not commentators. At least not on the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
My apologies to Emma Barnett and Anna Foster. It’s been a busy morning for everyone involved in this strange game.
Reposted by Ben Fenton
Tells Anna Foster, not Emma Barnett, but yes. And Moore, of all people.
Charles Moore tells Emma Barnett on Today that the problem with the BBC is that "you" keep defending yourselves rather than admitting "you" are wrong and biased. That speaks volumes: especially that Charles has forgotten that presenters/reporters are not commentators. At least not on the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Tells Anna Foster, not Emma Barnett, but yes. And Moore, of all people.
Reposted by Ben Fenton
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
November 9, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
Charles Moore tells Emma Barnett on Today that the problem with the BBC is that "you" keep defending yourselves rather than admitting "you" are wrong and biased. That speaks volumes: especially that Charles has forgotten that presenters/reporters are not commentators. At least not on the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Charles Moore tells Emma Barnett on Today that the problem with the BBC is that "you" keep defending yourselves rather than admitting "you" are wrong and biased. That speaks volumes: especially that Charles has forgotten that presenters/reporters are not commentators. At least not on the BBC.
This is one of the best pieces of data journalism I have ever seen, certainly in the UK. World class journalism.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
This is one of the best pieces of data journalism I have ever seen, certainly in the UK. World class journalism.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Moby is planning on spending most of the day with his birthday present.
November 6, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Moby is planning on spending most of the day with his birthday present.
This lad is 19 today. Hope I look this good (and “I take no crap”) if I make it into my 90s.
November 6, 2025 at 8:48 AM
This lad is 19 today. Hope I look this good (and “I take no crap”) if I make it into my 90s.
If it was anyone but Infantino you’d think that FIFA were taking the peace here.
on.ft.com/43eaW3y Fifa to award new ‘peace prize’ in Washington next month
on.ft.com/43eaW3y Fifa to award new ‘peace prize’ in Washington next month
Fifa to award new ‘peace prize’ in Washington next month
Head of football governing body is close ally of Donald Trump, fuelling speculation that US president may be first recipient
on.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:52 PM
If it was anyone but Infantino you’d think that FIFA were taking the peace here.
on.ft.com/43eaW3y Fifa to award new ‘peace prize’ in Washington next month
on.ft.com/43eaW3y Fifa to award new ‘peace prize’ in Washington next month
Tottenham play so much better with a man sent off.
November 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Tottenham play so much better with a man sent off.
And another brilliant goal!!! 4-0
November 4, 2025 at 9:26 PM
And another brilliant goal!!! 4-0
Micky van de Ven!!! What a man. What a goal!!
November 4, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Micky van de Ven!!! What a man. What a goal!!
He's lucky he was wearing his sub vest.
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
November 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
He's lucky he was wearing his sub vest.
Reposted by Ben Fenton
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
November 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
Reposted by Ben Fenton
My thoughts and prayers to all the racists trying to hold on to their bigotry in the face of inconvenient facts.
November 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
My thoughts and prayers to all the racists trying to hold on to their bigotry in the face of inconvenient facts.
Reposted by Ben Fenton
If parties want credit for telling hard truths, they need to tell them when they're genuinely hard.
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
She is telling an accurate story of recent history - the triple punch of austerity, Brexit and covid. It's spot on. But it is terribly strange to say it now in government when you were not prepared to say it in opposition.
November 4, 2025 at 9:49 AM
If parties want credit for telling hard truths, they need to tell them when they're genuinely hard.
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
I don't know, people with non-Anglo-Saxon names, who don't look exactly the same as me, coming over here, risking their lives for others, sustaining life-threatening injuries when others ran to hide, stealing our headlines...
November 4, 2025 at 11:26 AM
I don't know, people with non-Anglo-Saxon names, who don't look exactly the same as me, coming over here, risking their lives for others, sustaining life-threatening injuries when others ran to hide, stealing our headlines...
Wall Street Journal's editorial board publish absolute takedown of Trump's tariffs and his argument in the imminent Supreme Court case.
The WSJ says it would be both wrong in law and a disaster for the US if the Supremes find for Trump.
Shots fired, as they used to say in Lexington and Concord.
The WSJ says it would be both wrong in law and a disaster for the US if the Supremes find for Trump.
Shots fired, as they used to say in Lexington and Concord.
November 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Wall Street Journal's editorial board publish absolute takedown of Trump's tariffs and his argument in the imminent Supreme Court case.
The WSJ says it would be both wrong in law and a disaster for the US if the Supremes find for Trump.
Shots fired, as they used to say in Lexington and Concord.
The WSJ says it would be both wrong in law and a disaster for the US if the Supremes find for Trump.
Shots fired, as they used to say in Lexington and Concord.