You can tell which news stories best advance the left’s narrative, by the similarities in how they are covered among the networks. There is a sameness and fluidity to the stories, which often touch the same points. On inconvenient, counternarrative stories you often get disjointed coverage- mixed at best and often reluctant. Case in point, coverage of the rash of violent attacks against Tesla vehicles and service centers.
Coverage was mixed across the networks. The most thorough report, shown below in its entirety, comes via the NBC Nightly News (click “expand” to view transcript).
LESTER HOLT: Fiery scenes in Las Vegas and Kansas City, Missouri overnight as Tesla vehicles were set on fire. It appears to be the latest in a string of vandalism attacks against the company. Here’s NBC’s Liz Kreutz.
LIZ KREUTZ: Tonight, authorities investigating what they are calling a targeted attack on a Tesla repair center in Las Vegas.This dramatic video showing multiple cars in flames. According to authorities, the suspected arson occurred early this morning. When police arrived, they found five vehicles set on fire or damaged, and the word “resist” spray-painted on the front of the business.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SPOKESPERSON: We believe the suspect approached the business wearing all black clothing, and he used what appeared to be molotov cocktails and a firearm to conduct his attack.
KREUTZ: Just hours before in Kansas City, two Tesla Cybertrucks set ablaze at a dealership there. Tonight the FBI stepping in to help local police investigate both incidents.
SPENCER EVANS: To those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know it’s a federal crime. We will come after you.
KREUTZ: While authorities say the identities of the suspects and the motivation behind the attacks are still unknown, it comes amid at least 16 reports of vandalism to Tesla vehicles and dealerships across the country, as people nationwide protest Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his prominent role in the Trump administration.
PROTESTER: We are out here because we are defending democracy.
KREUTZ: President Trump sending a warning to those who vandalize Tesla property:
DONALD TRUMP: If you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company, we are going to catch you and you are going to go through hell.
KREUTZ: Tesla’s stock seeing a sharp drop, down more than 40% this year. Tonight, Musk reposting the video from Las Vegas, calling the incident “terrorism.”
And Lester, here in Vegas authorities have blocked off the street as they continue the investigation. They’re working to figure out who owns these vehicles. Because it is a repair shop, it is likely that many are owned by people, individuals, and not the company. Lester.
HOLT: All right. Liz Kreutz tonight, thank you.
NBC covered everything. The attacks in size and scope, the likely motivation behind the same, and a broad scope of incidents across multiple cities. There was no ambiguity in how NBC covered the Tesla attacks. Even if correspondent Liz Kreutz was uncomfortable pulling the trigger on the term “terrorism”, only using the word when citing Tesla CEO Elon Musk, it was made clear to viewers that this was the likely motivation behind the attacks.
While imperfect and shunted off the A-block, NBC at least delivered a full report. In contrast, CBS and ABC did their level best to avoid reporting on the matter, relegating the story to tiny briefs devoid of most or all context.
Here’s a transcript of CBS’s 24-second brief:
MAURICE DuBOIS: Police in Las Vegas are searching for whoever targeted a Tesla repair shop. At least five vehicles were shot at or set on fire. A growing number of Teslas have been vandalized nationwide, apparently, to protest Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration. Tesla stock fell more than 5% today. Forbes says Tesla’s now been replaced by SpaceX as Musk’s most valuable company.
On the one hand, there is a mention of a potential political motive behind the attacks- the basis for a terror charge. But anchor Maurice DuBois also threw in a non-related mention of Tesla’s stock price.
But the worst clearly was ABC’s report- which did not get into a motive at all.
DAVID MUIR: Tonight, the FBI and ATF are investigating possible arson attacks targeting Teslas and Cybertrucks in multiple states. Police say five Teslas were damaged in a targeted attack at a Tesla collision center- these pictures from Las Vegas. A suspect seen in surveillance throwing Molotov cocktails at two Teslas and firing a gun into several others. Federal authorities also investigating likely arson- this is Kansas City, Missouri right here, two Cybertrucks set on fire at a Tesla dealership.
David Muir avoided any mention of Elon Musk or his role within the administration, or DOGE or anything else as a potential motive. The lack of mention or hint at terrorism is tantamount to apologia for domestic terrorism.
Because terror attacks against Elon Musk are counternarrative, the media had no hymnal from which to sing in unison. Left to their own devices, coverage was spotty. Reasonable people may infer that coverage would be (D)ifferent if the partisan affiliations were inverted.
