Why We Have The Worst Media In The Western World | Downstream 

I’m 70 years old and the only hope we have are young people like you Wish we could see more off you on TV your honesty integrity and knowledge is amazing

As a retired (fairly senior) British Police officer I cut an unlikely profile as a subscriber to your channel, however I find your content is refreshingly accurate and impartial in a way which gives the lie to the modern political zeitgeist and cuts through the establishment propaganda machine (and a lazy brained population sleepwalking through the relentless glacial erosion of their own living standards whilst the ruling classes cynically exploit their sedentary status through a mainstrem media driven strategy of misinformation and gaslighting). Having served in a very large northern police force for 30 years from the early 80s I can attest to it's being a microcosm of the operation of the malign intent and contrived divisions now prevailing in broader British society. NM is required viewing for me and I fervently hope you will continue to thrive, indeed my instinct is that history will judge your work as pivotal in driving what must inevitably become an age of enlightenment when the emperor's nakedness will be there for all to see. To that end, and in my own modest way, I'll be supporting you via your website…Keep the faith guys, All the best, David

I’m 63, a white southerner home owner and I love Novara Media and what you guys are doing. I don’t agree with everything you say, but here’s the thing, that’s good! Beliefs need to be challenged, otherwise how will you know if you believe the correct things?

I am 80 and love N M . Left the Guardian 2 years ago after years of reading it . Please keep going . WWE need you and thank you

I’m 74 years old and love to listen to you guys. So refreshing, informative and encouraging. Keep going. ❤

I’m 67! White bloke and I love you! A breath of fresh air. Keep up the great work.

Small independent media like you guys will hopefully be the saving grace of British news media

I’m a 65 year old white male served in the forces then spent 25 years in the fire service I’m depressed by the state of the British politics and the British media I see no way out

63 years white Scottish, thank gdness for NM. Really appreciate real humans who know their stuff and speak intelligently and truthfully, about the state of things we all can see happening. Love you both for your clear and honest comment. Keep up the good work.

It could be worse… thankfully we have NOVARÁ MEDIA❤❤🎉

I'm what would have been called a blonde haire, bye eyed , Anglo Saxon male, who is in his 71st year, and I have to say that you guys are doing a brilliant job, Thank you 👍

Great discussion guys although it would have been good to also discuss Murdoch’s role in the UK media and how his ownership of several publications and the constant propaganda from them has successfully shaped the national narrative, people’s thinking and voting habits, and government policy for the last 50 years. There’s a reason why many people see him as the most powerful figure in the country (some would say the world with the ownership of fox) as he alone has personally picked every PM and US president for that period. People think we live in Tory britain when in reality we live in Murdoch’s Britain! Even the rise of Nigel farage is effectively because of Murdoch’s support!

A really beautiful, informative episode of Downstream. I'm 53, worried about my country and my world, and struggling personally. Don't believe in this young and old divide. I know there is some validity to it statistically, but most ordinary people, though some may be in denial, are suffering at the hands of the current regime whether they're willing to fully acknowledge it or not. You're not alone, you're doing great work. Genuine and thoughtful criticism aside, take every idiot who slurs you as a badge of honour. You are, it seems, pissing off all the right people.

I'm thankful for the day I discovered Novara. I'm 75. I love you young people. It gives me hope for the future. My Dad was a trade union man on the railways. He was intelligent and quietly gave me a grounding in democratic socialism. I have never lost it.

I’m weirdly glad I was born in Newry in 1970. When you’re from British-Occupied Ireland, you never need illusions of media-veracity dispelled. “D-notice Great Britain”, 4th Estate? My arse.

When _did_ the Guardian become so reactionary? Was it when Rushbridger left? Was it when the security services took a hammer to their hard drives after the Snowden fiasco? Or was it earlier?

Friendly discussion like this between friends is refreshingly educational .

Guardian is the most underhand newspaper… they caused Jeremy’s defeat in 2019 .. always suspicious of guardian .

50 year old straight white guy here and NM is the best news channel I've had the pleasure of watching and listening to. I don't always agree with everything you have to say but I love what you are all doing - especially when you get invited onto mainstream tv!

I lived in the same area as Rose Gentle whose son Gordon was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra. I saw what grief had done to that one woman and I swore I'd never vote labour again until Tony Blair is In Jail. I know that probably won't happen. I'm sure I'm not the only who turned away from labour following that monumentally bad decision. I also believe that MSM was aware of the veracity of the intelligence leading to the Iraq war, so I think they are complicit is feeding false information

I think the media reporting on the anti-poll tax campaign was a major factor in my dissolution with them. Add in studying sociology where we looked at how the media reported things like the miners strike and on youth cultures my disposition towards it was forever tainted. Incidents like Hillsborough just reinforce that perception. The lies around the second war against Iraq was gutting to me and the lies were blatant.

Im from New Zealand, and recently we've recieved poll results showing decreased trust in media. Some experts then discussed this on our public radio station, one of them was from Finland where the media was much more trusted. Somebody raised the point that Finland had much less neoliberalism in it. This is rather obvious i know.

I was already sceptical of the media from my teens (I mean, isn't it obvious?), but it was properly confirmed to me in the late '90s when I attended a Reclaim the Streets demonstration where the police hemmed the crowd in and squeezed us so much that we had to push back (there were women there with young children) - and then got home to find it reported on the local news as protestors rioting and police having to intervene.

Why do you think that the banking crisis was a failure? It was a total success; it made the rich richer - just "exactly" what they wanted.

You guys give me hope. Thank you for honest and brave journalism.

Ash is so good on the BBC, keeps her cool so well. And nice to see how many older viewers Novara has.

70 yo Scottish woman here Ash! Yes, am really concerned about way country is going. Never want to see people struggling once again as they did in the 50's. MSM doesnt tell us properly what is going on in England and UK wide. Keep on speaking up, all of yous!

Your scrutiny is amazing, you're both coming from a fabulous angle on matters its so refreshing to listen to your coverage. Many Thanks and do continue.

I'd like to add my voice in support. Novara's such a breath of fresh air in the UK media landscape. I've been watching you guys for a while and have gradually stopped watching any TV news programmes at all. I watch a lot of Novara on yt and haven't contributed for a while. Will send you some money soon. All the best.

We criticise north Korea propoganda environment and laud Western countries for having a very different media envirinment. However, it is just a difference in form or degree. There is just as much content manipulation and control. It is slightly more subtle but Julian Assange is a glaring example of what happens to those that dare to challenge the true hidden boundaries of what is acceptable to share with the working class.

59 year old North East Scot not a teen an occasional student on and off I am done with the EBC and so-called non biased or liberal media. I found you folks during lockdown, and yup, you hit the spot

White, 73 and really appreciate the work NM does - thanks. Can’t wait to hear about “all the fucked-up shit” Ash hears in the green room…

I am 77 what brilliant news reporting, well done ❤❤

White working class HS male in 50’s - I’m all in. You guys rock.

Speaking truth to power is a brave act. You both lead the way.

Whoa there @AaronBastani and @AyoCaesar , slow down there. I’m an American. The title of worst media belongs to us. You’re a close second but you’ve still got a ways to go catch up to us.

Love Novara Media as along with other independent media you are telling the truth rather than the bull we get from the mainstream. Just a small but significant point retirement is now 66 not 65 and for 50s 60’s women it’s been a big struggle when our pension age changed from 60 to 65 and then 66 without notice

With you on this. I scan the headlines but never buy a newspaper (I buy Private Eye). I scan the BBC headlines online but usually cannot bear to read the content. I rely on people like you, Owen, A Different Bias, DoubleDown, Brian Taylor cohen and similar to tell me the truest and MOST DEPRESSING news. Private eye = same. Truth but so depressing. that's a bit of an argument I have with myself, do I really want to know. So far, yes.

I don't 100% agree with all you say but it's incredibly interesting to listen too, particularly your critique of the UK media. Great discussion! This is new media

I have been watching you guys grow since well before lockdown. I watch all you produce. I don’t agree with everything you say, but then I am not looking for a mirror. What I am looking for are ideas and intelligence, and you deliver it in buckets. As you build momentum will you consider championing causes that will make people’s lives better. You have the power. Btw I am a 72 yr old Corbynista.

Great discussion Aaron and Ash. I am the son of very hardworking Irish immigrants to the UK who both met in London, plus I am also older than both of you. My father (who was a British Ulsterman by the way) had to endure in the late 50's No Irish, No Blacks, No dogs discrimination. Which was prominent in billboard and print advertising. Landlords would open the door when he wanted to find a place to live with words to the affect of " Oh I am sorry young man but I can't rent a room to you because if I did, all my other tenants would leave" As his father, my grandfather, fought in the Battle of Britain, this was quite upsetting and confusing for him at the time. But they endured and brought up six children who have done very well for themselves. Without a penny received from any benefit culture whatsoever. As children from immigrant families yourselves, I appreciate and cannot disagree with what you both say. This is very refreshing and please keep up the great work.

I lost faith in journalism around 2015. I'm a Hungarian living in Kent and I used to follow both British and Hungarian media. When the Syrian refugee crisis hit Europe, it banged on Hungary's doors being a border country for Schengen. A video broke into the news in the UK with the dramatic headlines like "anti-migrant Hungary tears refugee families apart", and in the video you see a middle eastern woman and a baby being dragged away from a middle eastern man by force, while both of them fight hard to shake off the policemens' arms, all the while standing on the train tracks of a train station. Right before I made my mind up on how terrible my fellow Hungarians treat refugees, I stumbled upon the same video on a Hunagrian news site. It was about 1 minute longer. In it, the husband and the wife with the baby tied to her chest have a heated argument on the platform of the station, and as it elevates, the husban pushes the woman down onto the train tracks. Policemen around jump straight down to help her up, but the husband seeing this jumps down too, as he doesn't wish her wife being approached and touched by strange men. The struggle starts and the policemen consider it's best to remove the husband from the scene so they can help the woman off the tracks. At which point the cut video broadcasted by british media starts. It's absolutely bonkers. Hungary has a terrible reputation on the international stage, and I'm not saying it's all unjustified but there's a ton of subtle yet untrue information western people are told about my country and its people, and I honestly don't see who that benefits apart from the news agencies themselves hunting for clicks and views.

Novara Media, Owen Jones, Declassified UK, Gary's Economics... These channels have become some of the most important voices of our generation. Keep up the good work!

Brilliant podcast ,at 71 I feel at home

64 and rarely miss Novara's shows. Fills a big gap in the market, indeed. Well done, guys!

don't hate the media, become the media - Jello Biafra

The Guardian aims to keep the left-hand side of the overton window afixed, whilst the Daily Mail aims to move the right-hand side of it further rightward.

These downstreams are wonderful. So much to think about - Ash is so sharp. thanks.

The strange death of David Kelly

I want to read that book Ash! Great chat, great knowledge and integrity. Thanks for all your hard work. 🙏

Wow! what an interesting debate about what is really going on from our multi cutlural friends who share our British sense of honesty and decency! Well done! Please can we have more!

Always enjoy Ash on politics live always comes across as the only sane decent human being on the panel, dignity and decorum, sadly lacking in the political/media culture on terrestrial/satelite tv

When in 2017 our State Broadcaster's Board became all but one Government appointed who could have guessed that within 5 years the Chairman would be the PM Sunak's old Boss at Goldman Sachs...

Enough with the ageism, NovaMedia. "Ooo I met an old dear, and she was left of centre. Bless." STOP IT. Being over 60 is not a pass to the local Conservative club nor and indication of mental (or moral) decline.

"Harold Shipman opining on a good beside manner" classic

I am a 75 Yr old white ciswoman who is very, very worried about the direction this country is going in and I listen to Novara Media because of your intelligent, well informed and in depth reporting thank you.

To be honest a machete wielding Ash is a hard image not to like!

Great show, thanks. This is why i follow Aljazeera or Even China Global network for global / business news.

I’ll see your British media and raise you one US Corporate Media.

You're a sweetheart Aaron Bastani. A good guy. My mother thought so and so do I.

Cancelled my Labour Party membership and upped my donation to Novara. Big things to come from you guys 💪✊

Im a 63 yr old norn irish white prod... Novara is a beatifull orchard, a lush, green, shady grove, surrounded by a hostile barren desert. Thanks for the journalism!

I live in Scotland and I sent my Mum in Ireland a NM clip. A few days later she shared a NM video with me. SUCCESS! Her RU-vid recommendations were getting very "American far right pipeline"-y there for a minute. 😅 Novara Media, to the rescue!

Brilliant conversation much needed.

Thank you Novara Media for confirming what I suspected had been going on for quite sometime in the mainstream media.

I really appreciate your factual and amazing show 😊 thank you Novara Media 👌👍

Keep going guys. Massive love for what you’re doing ❤

I think the fact that Ash thinks of Phil Collins as a drummer for Genesis rather than a vocalist implies a familiarity with their excellent early work rather than their later dreadful illegal alien decadence - and now I know she's a prog fan who almost certainly has a copy of Foxtrot I am keen to get her perspective on Van Der Graaf Generator. PFM. Magma.

thank you Novara , a sane voice in an insane country

It’s about who owns the media

When the Iraq war happened I was STILL elated from the ‘97 victory. That completely clouded my judgement. The Thatcher years left so many scars - not least that when Labour finally came to power, some people like me having grown up feeling the brunt of her devastating policies, misguidedly felt that Blair could do no wrong…

Pleased to hear an acknowledgement that not all post 60s are the same! I’m 73 and subscribed to Novara in your early years. Rather than forays to M&S I am a pensioner activist for improvements locally, supporting recent strikes and climate action. Keep doing what you are doing! I’m having trouble remaining in the Labour Party so need your alternative views. Irene

I love what you guys do in the field of honest-hard working- gutsy journalism😊👍 Believe me in the years to come NM will be more powerful and relevant.

Last time I loved an interview on the BBC was when a innocent female interviewer was given the job of interviewing Jeffrey Sacks at the beginning of the Russian SMO my god did he freak out the poor girl

64 Here and could see the Media going down this slippery slope 20 years ago...Glad I found Navara Media and a few others otherwise we would be in Trouble !

Never read a line from printed English media. Now i will stop with tv broadcast as well.

Excellent (from the US). Congrats on the network; I’m hooked

Spot-on. Keep going. We need many more people, like you. Excellent debate as always.

Love the conversations amongst members of the team on specific topics to really have space to flesh them out.

*reads the title* Me, an italian looking at italian newspapers: i ain't sure about that mate

The power of discrimination. Essential skill. Keep going!

Amazing convo, love the precision and depth of analysis here. My two favorite people ❤

Great comments guys, made me cry tbh, when truth, is told

Me and my partner are in our 60's there are a lot of people my age watching you

Hi from Canada. Love the debate and NM content in general. This video brought me back to halcyon days of 1978, with a more subdued version of Valerie Perrine''s Superman wardrobe.

Totally agree with Arron .. I find that out when I was a member of Labour Party.

Regarding the push for Iraq, what was weird to me is that my internet friends in France, in the Netherlands, in Sweden, in South Africa all bought the Rumsfeld lies about Iraq having these weapons of mass destruction etc. It was so strange to me because I live in the US. The propoganda was largely meant for me, not them. It was such a strange feeling for them to buy the nonsense while I could point out the flaws and they instead went with the claims from US department of defense personnel.

u.k. finest government pundits. u.k. needs smart people like you 🎉🎉 ash is beautiful and beautiful

Proud northern boy (Cumbrian specifically) I love Novara, I listen every night at work and I am encouraging all of my family members to do the same

I live in Spain and I frankly disagree. In fact I suspect the same happens on almost every western liberal capitalist regime

It's so uplifting to read the age of everyone and the reasons for watching. Everyone are norm-stormers and amazing for it.

Aaron is absolutely spot on about Ash.

37:00 Trouble with Rees-Mogg is more than any of the other figures you mention, sometimes he comes across as incredibly condescending. Maybe its something of an overblown act, and isn't so bad in real life? At least with Portillo you could talk about trains.

I really respect, appreciate and am amazed at you're bravery. Journalists are scared of speaking the truth and I don't blame them but we must understand that our silence is what imprisons us ! Our leaders must be held to account, otherwise we the people lose our basic human rights. The rich take over and the government as well as the media collaborate to benefit only themselves.

The "public conversation" is POISON.

Thank you Owen. Everything you said, brother. You are my daily dose of sanity. So I know the whole world hasn't got the memory span of goldfish. Keep talking I'll keep listening because it the truth and it makes sense. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Just discovered novaro Media, and I'm totally hooked .43 year old..and this channel represents the people

35:17 got to love Ash when the expletives start flying 😂❤👌🏾

Ships are sinking but the orchestra is amazing

Bless you Aaron it must be hard to contemplate the whole iraq debacle. How we lied, and what we did, and yet you live here. It must be painful. yet we love you.