Los Angeles burns while media spins.

On his show "The Real Story", Dr. Phil McGraw exposed what he sees as legacy media's distortion of violent anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles, using raw footage to challenge their narrative, Fox News reported. 

He argued that outlets like CNN and MSNBC are not just misreporting but actively encouraging criminal behavior by downplaying the chaos.

In Paramount, California, on June 7, 2025, a protester was caught on video tossing debris into a fire as Border Patrol stood watch. Dr. Phil aired this clip, letting the images speak louder than the media's "celebratory atmosphere" claims. The footage showed a stark contrast to the family-friendly protest MSNBC described.

Violence Erupts in Downtown LA

Two days later, on June 9, 2025, downtown Los Angeles saw protesters clashing with police in riot gear. Dr. Phil's show featured photos of the mayhem, which he sarcastically contrasted with an MSNBC host's claim that the protests were "peaceful" and kid-friendly. "Great place to take kids. I don’t think so," he quipped, exposing the disconnect.

CNN's Dana Bash compared the current unrest to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, saying, "That was a real riot." Dr. Phil fired back, "Guess this isn’t a real riot," dripping with sarcasm as he showed cars ablaze on a split screen during an MSNBC interview with Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif. The media's selective framing, he argued, buries the truth.

Rep. Chu called the riots a "manufactured crisis" on MSNBC, a claim Dr. Phil dismantled as dismissive of the real destruction. He accused the left of encouraging lawlessness, saying, "So what does the left do? Encourages everyone to become criminals by blocking freeways, setting fires, throwing rocks." His point: the media rewards bad behavior by sugarcoating it.

Media Narrative Fuels Chaos

Dr. Phil presented evidence of violent criminals apprehended by ICE, countering narratives that paint the agency as targeting innocent migrants. "This was not a witch hunt to round up ‘Abuela Maria,’" he said, stressing that ICE is removing dangerous offenders. Yet, media outlets, he argued, portray these enforcement actions as unjust, stoking public outrage.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attributed the riots to former President Trump’s ICE raids, claiming, "things in LA are calm." Dr. Phil scoffed at this, pointing to videos of burning cars and debris-strewn streets as proof of anything but calm. The mayor’s statement, he suggested, mirrors the media’s refusal to face reality.

The media’s betrayal, Dr. Phil argued, goes beyond immigration debates. "This isn’t just about immigration, it’s about media betrayal," he said, accusing outlets of lying to viewers despite clear video evidence. He believes this distortion fuels a movement hostile to law enforcement.

Protests or Lawlessness?

Dr. Phil emphasized that protests are a cherished right, saying, "Everybody has the right to protest, that’s one of the things that makes this country such a wonderful place." But he drew a line at what he sees as media-enabled anarchy, where blocking freeways and attacking federal agents are excused as activism. The line between dissent and destruction, he argued, is being erased.

MSNBC’s portrayal of the riots as having a "celebratory atmosphere" drew particular ire from Dr. Phil. He aired clips showing the opposite—fires, confrontations, and chaos—challenging viewers to trust their own eyes. "Your eyes don’t deceive you, but the media does," he said, urging skepticism of polished narratives.

The media’s role, Dr. Phil contended, is not just passive misreporting but active encouragement of crime. "They’re actually saying, ‘Hey, this is okay,’" he said, accusing outlets of creating criminals by glorifying destructive acts. This, he argued, is why trust in mainstream media is crumbling.

Trust in Media Collapses

Dr. Phil pointed to plummeting viewership as evidence of public distrust. "This is why mainstream media viewership has tanked," he said, urging people to seek truth independently. His call to action: cut through the "legacy media noise" and demand unfiltered facts.

The riots, in Dr. Phil’s view, are a symptom of a broader issue: media outlets prioritizing agenda over accuracy. By framing violent protests as peaceful or celebratory, they undermine law enforcement and public safety, he argued. His show aimed to set the record straight with unedited visuals.

Ultimately, Dr. Phil’s message was a plea for clarity in a fog of distortion. "If you want the truth, you need to look for the truth, find it, demand it," he said, emphasizing that the real story is out there for those willing to see it. The media’s failure, he believes, is a betrayal of the public’s trust.