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Mina Kimes isn’t one to shy away from complex conversations. Whether it’s a third-down conversion or a national flashpoint, the ESPN analyst brings clarity and nuance- qualities she believes the media sorely lacked in recent coverage of protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles.
This week, Kimes, who lives in L.A., took to Bluesky to challenge what she called a “mischaracterization” of the demonstrations. While headlines and viral videos painted a picture of flaming vehicles and clashes with police, Kimes argued that the situation on the ground looked very different.
“The disparity btwn what’s actually happening in Los Angeles and the way it’s being mischaracterized is one of the biggest stress tests of modern media in recent memory,” she wrote.
As protests continued across L.A. following reports of ICE activity, some major outlets and online accounts shared images of violence and unrest, including videos of Waymo self-driving cars burning and officers under attack. However, Kimes and others questioned the context and accuracy of these reports. She pointed to a media ecosystem flooded with outdated footage, AI-generated content, and manipulated narratives.
Wow: ESPN’s Mina Kimes goes OFF on the media's coverage of the Los Angeles protests against ICE:
“The disparity between what’s actually happening in Los Angeles and the way it’s being mischaracterized is one of the biggest stress tests of modern media in recent memory… Botted… pic.twitter.com/lDY6QDrBrP
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 11, 2025
CNN’s Brian Stelter has long reported on this growing trend, noting how digital platforms amplify sensationalism. A video of police vehicles in flames recently went viral, with claims it was from the current protests. But as California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office confirmed, that clip was from 2020. Even more alarming was a TikTok livestream of someone impersonating a National Guardsman, claiming he was preparing to “gas” protesters, an incident the BBC debunked as entirely fabricated.
Kimes linked the chaos to what she sees as a broader issue: the failure of digital media to filter truth from noise. “Botted socials, AI, old clips, declining literacy—it’s like seeing a broken emergency response system hit by a storm,” she wrote.
While some outlets and independent journalists have reported live from protest sites with accuracy and care, Kimes’ frustration highlights the bigger question: when everything looks like breaking news, how do viewers separate fact from fiction? No one has a clear answer right now, but Kimes is at least asking the right questions.
Also Read: ESPN Analyst Mina Kimes Shares Major Career Update
