'We’re Being GASLIT': Mehdi & Owen on the BBC, Palestine, and Trump’s $1bn Threat

Quick Overview

Mehdi Hasan and Owen Jones criticize the BBC for allegedly gaslighting the public and prioritizing perceived right-wing sensitivities over accurately reporting on Israeli actions in Gaza, contrasting it with the BBC's alleged harsh treatment of figures critical of Israel, such as the prior coverage of Jeremy Corbyn.

Key Points: Mehdi Hasan points out that Donald Trump is still threatening to sue the BBC for $1 billion over coverage of the January 6th Capitol riot, which he claims was gaslighting. Owen Jones references a 2015 meeting where Keir Starmer was pictured in front of a banner reading 'Kick Israeli Racism Out of FIFA,' suggesting hypocrisy given current political stances. The speakers criticize the BBC for heavily covering alleged Israeli crimes (like the Gaza hospital bombing) with terms like 'allegedly' while using unequivocal language for Hamas actions, citing statistics that the BBC covered Israeli casualties 34 times less than Palestinian casualties in a previous conflict. The discussion highlights the perceived right-wing bias in UK media and institutions, exemplified by reports suggesting the British government and BBC are eager to appease right-wing/pro-Israel sentiment. Owen Jones mentions that the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza genocide claims is one of the 'great journalistic crimes of our age,' contrasting it with the hardline stance taken against Jeremy Corbyn. Mehdi Hasan notes that the Israeli government and military officials are allegedly being investigated by the ICC for war crimes, but the BBC's coverage downplays this or ignores it, while aggressively pursuing criticism against pro-Palestinian figures.

Context: Mehdi Hasan and Owen Jones host a segment discussing perceived media bias, specifically focusing on the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict and its perceived difference in tone compared to coverage of domestic UK politics or figures critical of Israel, such as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The conversation draws parallels between past political incidents involving UK politicians and current media framing of international events to illustrate a pattern of institutional bias.