Reporter Vinny Martorano of CBS Austin was in a live broadcast on Facebook when he allegedly received guidance from a superior not to cover a pro-Israel, pro-U.S., and pro-Trump protest following the attacks on Iran.
Martorano was outside the Texas Capitol on Saturday, February 28, covering demonstrations after the joint attack by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.
A camera operator handed the reporter a cellphone, and he said out loud: “What does this mean?” “It means they don’t want us to focus on this,” the other man replied.
“Well, I’m going to focus on it,” the reporter responded, continuing his coverage.
The owner of CBS Austin, Sinclair Broadcast Group, insisted that Martorano did not receive instructions to avoid certain perspectives. A spokesperson for the group told the New York Post that the reporter was instructed to follow standard procedure.
“Remain on the perimeter, gather the necessary content, complete the live entry, and move to a safe location,” the email said.
“There was no instruction to avoid or minimize any specific perspective,” the spokesperson added.
“The guidance was focused on safety, logistics, and ensuring comprehensive coverage in a rapidly evolving situation. The safety of our teams is the highest priority,” the statement concluded.
Internet users theorize that the 35-second clip may be an attempt by U.S. media to cover up demonstrations supporting Trump.
Martorano’s broadcast shows several demonstrators with flags from Iran, Israel, and the U.S. shouting: “Thank you, Trump” and “Thank you, Bibi,” referring to Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Source and images: X @ImMeme0. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
🚨BREAKING: Austin CBS reporter is being praised for defying a superior’s order to ignore a massive crowd of Iranian nationals cheering President Trump and U.S. military action.
“They don’t want us to focus on this.”
“Well, I am.” pic.twitter.com/Ze1o8iCDeB
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) March 1, 2026
