'Not a real riot?' Dr. Phil trashes media over 'manufactured' LA coverage
TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, who came to prominence after being promoted by Oprah Winfrey, trashed the media's response to unrest in Los Angeles on his podcast, "The Real Story With Dr. Phil."
"Your eyes don't deceive you, but the media does," McGraw said over video of burning cars.
McGraw first took aim at CNN's Dana Bash, who "compares this madness to what happened in L.A. in 1992."
On video, Bash said, "What happened in 1992 is so different from what we're seeing now. I mean, that was a real riot."
"Guess this isn't a real riot," McGraw said, pausing for effect.
He then moved on to MSNBC and an interview the network did with Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), "a Democrat, who calls this, quote, 'a manufactured crisis.' What does that even mean?" McGraw asked. "This crisis isn't manufactured; MSNBC's news coverage is manufactured. That's what's manufactured."
While playing the clip of Chu calling the violent protesters "outliers," McGraw interjected, "She apparently had no idea that on her split screen were burning cars set ablaze by 'outliers.' So, while she's talking, well, it just didn't seem to go with her rhetoric at the time."
McGraw then castigated an MSNBC reporter for saying the protesters were settling into a "celebratory atmosphere."
"The third one is the charm for MSNBC," McGraw said, playing a clip of a reporter claiming, "These are peaceful people that want to get their message across. They've got signs, they're out with families in some places."
"Great place to take kids! I don't think so," McGraw quipped while chuckling in disbelief.
McGraw then read through headlines from outlets like The L.A. Times that said, "Trump wants L.A. to set itself on fire. Let's rebel smarter."
"Well, little too late to rebel smarter. L.A. is already on fire," McGraw said. "And, for what reason?"
He then recounted the bios of some of the "charmers" recently arrested by ICE who had criminal records, insinuating that the Los Angelenos were upset that criminals were being deported.
"Look, this was not a witch hunt to round up 'Abuela Maria,'" McGraw said. "It's law enforcement getting criminals off the street. So, what does the left do? Encourages everyone to become criminals by blocking freeways, setting fires, throwing rocks, destroying city property, and attacking federal agents."
Mayor Karen Bass refuted McGraw's claims that the Trump administration was only targeting criminals.
"When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you deploy troops to our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe – you’re trying to cause fear and panic. These raids must stop," Bass said.