There are few media outlets that command universal respect.
Scratch that, there aren’t any.
We have entered the disinformation age. A time where the right screams fake news at anything that doesn’t fit their narrow world view. Where anything that contradicts their self-conceit is smothered in Schadenfreude and lobbed back at its progenitors via profanity-laden tweets.
There is no neutral ground, no place of refuge where ideas can be disseminated and debated. There is no give, and there is no take. We live in a world of bespoke reality where far too many people have coddled ourselves in veils of willful ignorance.
Most are proud of it.
We’re better than that of course, we have to be. We still possess the ability to listen, to fine tune our attitude as the tides of evidence wash our way. We like views that match our own, sure, but we’re not afraid to dip our toes in waters less familiar.
We’re not afraid of balance; we can take the dissonance.
That’s just one reason that the BBC’s light has shined so brightly for so many years.
Do they have universal respect? No.
But being in possession of the next best thing is no small achievement.
The Siberian Candidate
So when they produce a major investigation into the connection between president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, you kind of have to sit up and take notice.
The documentary, led by veteran investigative journalist John Sweeny, aired on British television earlier this week and began with the observation that the alleged collusion between the two leaders represented:
“The most serious blow to our democracy since Watergate.”
What followed was a systematic rundown of the events followed by revelations that culminated in some truly shocking footage.
Confirmation that the DNC was indeed hacked by Russian intelligence appears early in the film hinting that the worst was yet to come. The sight of Trump rage quitting an interview when questioned about his mafia ties will be a chilling sight to most Americans.
“Maybe you’re thick?” he asked Sweeny before storming off.
Top Putin adviser Alexander Dugan fared no better. When questioned about the murder of Putin critic Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down just 100 yards from Kremlin, he too stormed off in a huff.
Later he took to his blog to describe Sweeny as a “repulsive bastard, utter cretin, and globalist swine.”
Such is the language of the New World Order.
Get used to it y’all.
Reality Bites Back
Despite a running time of fewer than 30 minutes, the film manages to encapsulate the narrative that is unfolding before our very eyes. It provides insight into what a Trump presidency might mean. It shows us a world dominated by Russian intrigue, blackmail, shady dealings and worse, it reveals the concerted, global attack on democracy for what it really is.
It’s no swivel-eyed conspiracy theory cooked up in the dark corners of the internet. Nobody has felt compelled to grasp at straws or leave ethics and integrity at the door in order to grab headlines. Far from it.
This is the kind of film that every American should watch, the kind that should be shared to all and sundry.
Because this is the BBC doing what it does best. Good old-fashioned journalism.
And all the more frightening for it.
You can watch the full documentary here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsw65Ye6wf8
Featured image from YouTube video.
