UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Will Trump destroy the BBC?
26 snips
Nov 15, 2025 
This discussion features Burt Neuborne, a legal expert from NYU, who dives into the implications of Trump's potential defamation lawsuit against the BBC. Veteran journalist Joshua Rozenberg sheds light on the BBC's internal handling of complaints and its perceived biases. Seth Stern from the Freedom of the Press Foundation warns about the chilling effects such lawsuits could have on press freedom. Together, they explore the intersection of legal challenges, media integrity, and the future of public broadcasting under political pressure.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Risk Of Universal Jurisdiction
- Allowing global suits would create 'universal jurisdiction' and chill international reporting.
- Neuborne warns judges will resist precedent that lets anyone sue anyone anywhere over global media content.
Damages Are Hard To Prove
- Proving large damages will be hard because Trump arguably suffered little harm and may be 'libel-proof.'
- Neuborne notes juries decide damages, creating risk of politicized, unpredictable awards.
Apologize To Reduce Legal Risk
- Apologising was both legally and journalistically the right move for the BBC after the editing error.
- Neuborne says owning mistakes restores trust and reduces legal risk of larger damages.