CNN’s coverage of the Los Angeles riots has ignited conservative fury. Dana Bash’s interview with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., reveals a troubling bias, downplaying the chaos as less than a “real riot.” Her reporting echoes the discredited “mostly peaceful” narrative, infuriating those who value law and order.
Bash noted that in the 1992 Rodney King riots, California’s Republican Gov. Pete Wilson requested National Guard activation, while President Trump acted unilaterally on Saturday. She added that the last such presidential action was in 1965 in Alabama. This comparison aims to question Trump’s authority.
Mullin swiftly countered, explaining why President Lyndon Johnson sent the Guard in 1965: “Because local authorities refused to enforce federal law.” He stressed the same applies today, saying, “Why did President Trump send in the Guard in 2025? Because local authorities refused to enforce federal law.”
Mullin highlighted California’s failures, stating, “You’ve got a very weak, lawless governor in Governor Newsom, who’s not enforcing the nation’s laws.” He criticized the Biden administration’s four-year neglect of immigration laws, adding, “Regardless of what they’re doing right now, they entered the country illegally, and therefore they are illegal, and they are criminals.”
The senator emphasized Trump’s resolve: “I don’t know why a governor would want to try to protect illegal activity inside a state. And the president has made it very clear, if the governor or the mayor of a city isn’t willing to protect the citizens of his state or the city, then the president will.” This underscores the federal government’s duty to act when locals fail.
Bash’s claim that the 1992 riots were “so different” from today’s violence drew sharp rebuke. She asserted, “I just want to state for the record that what did happen in 1992 was a real riot.” Mullin fired back, “Dana, if you have people… You and I can look at this and we can obviously see that this is not under control. It’s not under control.”
Mullin clarified, “A riot is a riot. They’re throwing all types of objects at law enforcement. And the president’s absolutely right. It’s pretty bad.” Videos and reports show rioters attacking ICE agents, starting fires, and blocking roads, contradicting Bash’s minimization of the unrest.
The article argues Bash overstepped her role. “Dana, it’s not your job to state anything for the record. It’s your job to report,” the author writes. Bash’s attempt to frame the riots as less severe than 1992’s is seen as shielding defiant local officials.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom have defied federal authority. They’ve ordered local law enforcement not to support ICE and Homeland Security, which are constitutionally tasked with immigration enforcement. This rebellion, the article claims, forces Trump’s hand.
The situation is dire. Rioters are not just protesting; they’re attacking federal agents and property. The author asserts, “A riot does not have to encompass a defined geographical extent to be a riot, Dana. Whether the riot is city-wide or confined to one neighborhood, a riot it is.”
CNN’s reporting is labeled a disgrace. The article states, “Her partisan reporting on this issue is a disgrace; she should be ashamed of herself, and CNN should be ashamed to have her face above their logo.” Bash’s bias is seen as undermining public safety.
Trump’s actions have curbed illegal immigration, the article claims. “Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped,” it declares, crediting his leadership over new legislation. This reinforces conservative support for his policies.
Republicans rally behind Trump’s decisive response. The National Guard’s deployment aims to restore order, exposing the left’s failure to enforce laws. Conservatives demand accountability, ensuring radicals face justice while America’s borders remain secure.
