Alternative Culture: The exposure of the lies of the BBC

 

Logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the world’s oldest national broadcaster and the United Kingdom’s public-service media organisation. It prides itself on being impartial, fair and accurate.

For decades, BBC News was seen as the most trusted news source in the world (Reuters Institute rankings 2015-2022). Its style—calm, fact-based, no shouting—is copied by public broadcasters in Canada (CBC), Australia (ABC), Japan (NHK), etc.

Yet in 2025, a scandal rocked the BBC, calling into question its integrity. A 19-page internal memo by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee, was leaked to The Daily Telegraph. Chief among the examples of clear bias was a misleading edit in a Panorama documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance?, broadcast in October 2024. 

The program spliced together non-consecutive parts of U.S. President Donald Trump's January 6, 2021, speech—specifically combining his remark "I’ll be there with you" (about marching to the Capitol) with a later phrase "fight like hell"—creating the false impression that he directly urged supporters to storm the Capitol and engage in violence

Other several examples of alleged systemic bias, including pro-Palestinian slant in BBC Arabic's Gaza coverage and suppression of stories critical of transgender activism (e.g., favoring "pregnant people" over "women"). Prescott accused the BBC of inaction despite internal warnings.

As a result, BBC Director-General Tim Davie and CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness resigned on 9 November 2025. The latest YouGov survey (covering this scandal) revealed that 50% of Britons feel that BBC is biased (31% feel that BBC shows left-wing bias while 19% view BBC favors the right-wing). 

To summarise: It is a state-funded broadcaster caught doctoring primary-source footage of a sitting world leader, followed by the resignation of its entire top tier, during a funding-review year, while facing a billion-dollar lawsuit. That combination makes it arguably the worst crisis in the BBC’s 103-year history.

Leeds Castle, 2011

What does this mean for Christians?
Again, the purpose of this blog is to look at the theological aspect rather than to blame or defend the parties involved.

First lesson is that the truth is sacred. Jesus himself states that he is the truth, and therefore Christians should seek to present information as honestly as possible.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

The Lord detests lying lips,

    but he delights in people who are trustworthy. - Proverbs 12: 22

The second lesson is to beware of institutional loyalty trumping Christ. We can love our church/denomination/ministry, but never more than we love Jesus and His truth. If we see patterns of dishonesty or favouritism, we speak up.

Many in the BBC were aware of the bias, but chose to remain silent to keep their jobs.

Better is open rebuke

    than hidden love. - Proverbs 27: 5

Lastly, we should pray for those in authority to do the right thing. The BBC shapes more worldviews than most pulpits. Its journalists, editors, and regulators are also children of God, and therefore need salvation and wisdom.  

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. - 1 Tim 2:1-2

Personally, it is a bit surreal for me that the scandal happened. Having studied and lived in the UK for 4 years, I often relied on the BBC for accurate information. This incident reminded me to "trust but verify".

Alternative Culture: The attempted assassination of Donald Trump

 

After the shooting, Trump raises his hand to encourage his base

On 13 July 2024, a person opened fire at presidential candidate Donald Trump at a Trump Rally in Pennsylvania. While Trump survived, two others (David Dutch and James Copenhaver) were wounded and one (Corey Comperatore) was killed. The secret service opened fire and killed the shooter. Trump later would attribute his safety to a chart (Trump shifted his head to look at it, causing the shooter to hit Trump's ear), the secret service, and God.

The purpose of this post is not to talk about the politics, security or even any conspiracy regarding the incident. This blog is a theological blog, and I will give my theological thoughts on this.

Is Trump the anti-Christ or the chosen one?
As with any major public event, there many Christians who are too hasty to condemn or praise Trump. 

Because of Trump surviving a head wound and Revelations 13, some point out that that he could be the anti-Christ, or the beast of the anti-Christ. 

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. - Rev 13:3

On the other extreme end, some supporters see him as divinely chosen as he was shot at 6:11 pm. 

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil - Ephesians 6:11

As with any interpretation, Christians ought to be open but cautious. In fact, the Bible itself encourages believers to be wary of following such trends.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. - 1 John 4: 1-3

In my sceptical mind, I reject notions him being the anti-Christ because his wound was obviously not fatal. And I also reject the use of Ephesians 6:11 to support Trump as it is obliviously arbitrarily chosen. Why not John 6:11 or Hosea 6:11?

Was his survival the luck of the draw?

How did Trump see his survival?
On 19 July 2024, Trump gave a speech at the Republican National Convention. As part of his speech, he covered the assassination attempt from his point of view. I put a few quotes below:

"There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet in a certain way I felt very safe because I had God on my side."

"I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God."

"But if the events of last Saturday make anything clear, it is that every single moment we have on Earth is a gift from God. "

Trump felt that his survival was due to the intervention of God. In my opinion, his speech at the RNC surprisingly showed much humility as he thanked the Secret Service for protecting him and his supporters for not panicking at the event.

"Bullets were continuing to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage. And they really did. They rushed to the stage."

"This massive crowd of tens of thousands of people stood by and didn’t move an inch. In fact, many of them bravely but automatically stood up, looking for where the sniper would be. They knew immediately that it was a sniper. And then began pointing at him. You can see that if you look at the group behind me. That was just a small group compared to what was in front. Nobody ran and, by not stampeding, many lives were saved."

He also provided a moment of silence for Corey Comperatore, a retired fireman who was killed, shielding his family from the bullets.

His speech was also more unifying than usual.

"As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart. I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America."

Now I do not know how much God intervened for Trump's survival, but I do know that whatever happens, God is in charge. 

"The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord." - Proverbs 16:33

Looking ahead
Now whether America becomes more or less divisive from this incident, or whether Trump goes back on his speech of unity remains to be seen.

Regardless of outcome, know that God is ultimately in control.

Do you not know? Do you not hear?
    Has it not been told you from the beginning?
    Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
    and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
 who brings princes to nothing,
    and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. (Isaiah 40: 21-23)

Alternative Culture: Sam Harris and the corpses of children quote

 

A quote from Sam Harris during his interview on Triggernometry

In a 2022 August interview, atheist philosopher Sam Harris made an appalling statement about the 2020 American Presidential Election. He claimed that even if Hunter Biden (President Biden's son) had "corpses of children in his basement", former President Trump was worse in his "Trump University Scam". Therefore (in the same interview), he suggested that any conspiracy (if it had existed) to keep Trump from being president was justified.

The shifting of a philosopher's mind
When I first heard the comments, I was stunned. Here was a philosopher who in my younger days advocated for a truth without religion. While I disagree with him on many issues, I did follow his dialogues and blogs a little. I read two of his works, Letters to a Christian Nation and End of Faith, and liked that he popularised the idea of steel-manning an argument, (i.e. to debate an idea in its strongest form) rather than to strawman it. I enjoyed that he advocated free speech and freedom of expression.

Yet here I was shocked that now he was advocating for the censorship of the New York Post (a right-wing tabloid) and accepting any method to rig an election (although he would deny this in his tweets post-interview).

What does the Bible say about truth?
But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?  - Romans 3:5-7

In his letters to the Romans, Apostle Paul clearly denounced the deliberate use of falsehood to enhance the outcomes (in this case, Christ righteousness.)

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left - 2 Corinthians 6: 3-7

Apostle Paul also highlights the importance of truth to prevent the discrediting of Christian ministry.

In fact truth is so important that Jesus himself described himself as that:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” - John 14: 6-7

As Christians, we have an obigilation to discuss issues honestly and with grace. Anything less is a compromise on the truth of Jesus.

Peace if possible, truth at all costs. -- Martin Luther

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