UK PM, Boris Johnson, tests positive for Covid-19

[Kathianne]

@Kathianne ...

-- Resurrecting this 'Trump's statements are a propagandist gift to adversaries' point, because of what I've continued to hear on LBC Radio.

I didn't see it (the BBC usually relays instances like this). But apparently, Trump gave a news conference yesterday, in which he indulged in some self-praise ? Something about commenting on how good his ratings had become ?

Two of LBC's reporters reacted very badly to that, and of course, they gave vent to their opinions, on-air.

First up was Tom Swarbrick. He is relatively neutral on Trump, usually. Not 'for', but not notably 'against', either. But in reaction, Swarbrick branded Trump a 'dangerous narcissist'.

The other, just a couple of hours ago, was James O'Brien. O'Brien is far more 'anti-Trump', and sometimes vitriolic with it. His comment in reaction was predictable: 'A despicable human being' was O'Brien's judgment.

O'Brien had another comment reserved for Trump's public declaration of his refusal to fund Harry and Meghan's security needs. He attributed that refusal to 'a clear example of racism against Meghan'. He said this refusal was all the more remarkable, as the couple had made no request for funding in the first place.

My point is this: Trump REALLY needs to be guarded and careful in what he publicly says !! Because, as matters stand, he's a propagandist gift for all those who want to bring him down.

Swarbrick isn't even particularly anti-Trump (not compared with many). People, here, WILL listen to such commentators and be influenced by them. They'll believe in Trump being 'despicable'. They'll even judge America badly, on the basis that Trump, by their reckoning, 'should not' be supporting Trump.

Trump is a propagandist gift to his enemies, and his lack of care in such matters could turn entire nations against him.

This needs to stop !!

Hey, you're preaching to the choir! I used this types of behavior on his part, granted on less serious issues, since he ran. It's only a part of the non-presidential behaviors-OPENLY manipulative, as opposed to subtly manipulative, as is the norm.

I'm unsure how you seem surprised by it?

[Drummond]

Hey, you're preaching to the choir! I used this types of behavior on his part, granted on less serious issues, since he ran. It's only a part of the non-presidential behaviors-OPENLY manipulative, as opposed to subtly manipulative, as is the norm.

I'm unsure how you seem surprised by it?

It's not so much surprise, as exasperation.

Trump needs to understand the potential for harm. If the report was accurate, and Trump conveyed self-satisfaction through self-congratulation, this - in a world that's suffering, worried, suffering anguish - cannot play well !

Worse, it taints how the rest of the world will see America, most certainly after the propagandists have got to work.

People will judge America, if it shows fullest approval of Trump, but if this is seen through the filters of propagandists who've used material Trump has given them (!), in a negative light. How many will think O'Brien's charge of 'a despicable human being' holds merit ? How many will judge a country adversely, when it still approves of Trump ?

The trick is NOT to give your enemies rope to hang you with !!

[Kathianne]

It's not so much surprise, as exasperation.

Trump needs to understand the potential for harm. If the report was accurate, and Trump conveyed self-satisfaction through self-congratulation, this - in a world that's suffering, worried, suffering anguish - cannot play well !

Worse, it taints how the rest of the world will see America, most certainly after the propagandists have got to work.

People will judge America, if it shows fullest approval of Trump, but if this is seen through the filters of propagandists who've used material Trump has given them (!), in a negative light. How many will think O'Brien's charge of 'a despicable human being' holds merit ? How many will judge a country adversely, when it still approves of Trump ?

The trick is NOT to give your enemies rope to hang you with !!

Trump is being Trump.I don't think he cares more about the press than he did 3 years ago.

[Drummond]

Trump is being Trump.I don't think he cares more about the press than he did 3 years ago.

Whether or not he cares about the press, he should care about what they can bring about.

A British public that's convinced of Trump being 'a bad man', will be one that will expect its politicians to reflect that view in their own conduct. There could be consequences to them, if they fail to.

An example of that could be found in our past, in Tony Blair. Yes, he was leader of our Labour Party, but that didn't stop our Left from rounding on him. Two of his Cabinet Ministers quit because of him. Why ? Because our press was against the Iraq War (2003).

[You just wouldn't believe the vitriol the Daily Mirror printed. The Independent ceased its neutrality over that war.]

Our press painted Blair as being 'Bush's poodle'. It was the old story: Bush would say 'Jump', Blair would be portrayed as saying 'How high ?'

The Iraq War became deeply unpopular, because our press made it so. Blair was, in some circles, a pariah because of his uncompromising support of Bush ... and most particularly when he committed British forces in military support.

Imagine Boris Johnson, armed with that historic example of defying the press and what it had led to, supporting Trump in something that our press took particular exception to. He'd know that he was putting his political future on the line.

The press does possess power .. power to move a national mood to a direction of their choosing. If Trump wants allies, he could lose them when he most wants them.

[Kathianne]

Whether or not he cares about the press, he should care about what they can bring about.

A British public that's convinced of Trump being 'a bad man', will be one that will expect its politicians to reflect that view in their own conduct. There could be consequences to them, if they fail to.

An example of that could be found in our past, in Tony Blair. Yes, he was leader of our Labour Party, but that didn't stop our Left from rounding on him. Two of his Cabinet Ministers quit because of him. Why ? Because our press was against the Iraq War (2003).

[You just wouldn't believe the vitriol the Daily Mirror printed. The Independent ceased its neutrality over that war.]

Our press painted Blair as being 'Bush's poodle'. It was the old story: Bush would say 'Jump', Blair would be portrayed as saying 'How high ?'

The Iraq War became deeply unpopular, because our press made it so. Blair was, in some circles, a pariah because of his uncompromising support of Bush ... and most particularly when he committed British forces in military support.

Imagine Boris Johnson, armed with that historic example of defying the press and what it had led to, supporting Trump in something that our press took particular exception to. He'd know that he was putting his political future on the line.

The press does possess power .. power to move a national mood to a direction of their choosing. If Trump wants allies, he could lose them when he most wants them.

Hey, I still think he's been awful, at least until the time he got more serious on this virus. Even that hasn't convinced me he isn't a basically horrid person.

So are you now saying that the UK media has changed? They used to write nice about him; suddenly turning out anti-Trump articles? Or that Trump has changed? Suddenly being tone deaf to his effect on the media?

The media is being the media; Trump is being Trump. If anything, both are sometimes toning down their tendencies.