A local CBS reporter in Austin, Texas, is being hailed as a hero for allegedly defying his corporate bosses who sought to censor local crowds cheering President Donald Trump for his Operation Epic Fury against Iran over the weekend.
Multimedia journalist Vinny Martorano of CBS Austin was preparing to broadcast a live shot in front of a crowd chanting its support of the Trump and Israel with the military action against Iran.
A fellow crew member with the TV station then handed him a phone with an apparent message from his higher-ups to frame the demonstration at the Texas Capitol in a certain manner that did not reflect the Trump support.
When Martorano read the message on the phone, he asked his colleague: “What does that mean?”
The crew member said: “It means they don’t want us to focus on this.”
“All right,” Martorano said as he handed back the phone. “Well, I am.”
BREAKING – A CBS reporter in Austin, Texas, is being massively praised after refusing to follow a text message from his superior telling him not to focus on a massive crowd praising President Trump’s actions in Iran.
“They don’t want us to focus on this.”
“Well, I am.” pic.twitter.com/Pll2AJgXjp
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) March 1, 2026
The journalist then boldly voiced his report in defiance of his editors, saying: “All right. There are a lot of mixed opinions across Austin about the joint attack between the United States and Israel against Iran that happened earlier this morning. Some people like this group behind me are thanking Trump and the United States government for following through with this attack against Iran, while other people across the city say there needs to be more peace across the Middle East.”
He also posted video online of demonstrators chanting: “Thank you Trump.”
“A large group of people in front of the Texas Capitol are celebrating the coordinated strike against Iran early this morning,” Martorano posted on X.
“Some people I spoke with moved to Austin from Iran.”
“Thank you Trump”
A large group of people in front of the Texas Capitol are celebrating the coordinated strike against Iran early this morning.
Some people I spoke with moved to Austin from Iran.@cbsaustin pic.twitter.com/y7frrIrcPy
— Vinny Martorano (@VinnyMartorano) February 28, 2026
Massive praise is being voiced online for Martorano, including:
“Holy s*** a real journalist? I thought they were extinct!”
“We need more j journalists like him, and less propagandists.”
“Good for you! Doing what journalists are supposed to do – report on the truth … not steering the story.”
“That’s all we need to know about legacy media.”
“This young man has a bright future and probably more character and morals than all his bosses combined.”
Your the man keep it up…..Fox News hire this man pic.twitter.com/0V5uemaGyF
— Jwhitty (@Jwhitty16) March 2, 2026
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
