Amid the aftermath of President Trump’s Operation Epic Fury, which decisively took out Iran’s oppressive leader Ayatollah Khamenei, a CBS reporter in Austin refused to let corporate overlords silence the story of jubilant Iranians hailing America’s bold move.
The scene played out at the Texas Capitol, where a crowd of Iranian expatriates gathered with American and pre-revolutionary Iranian flags, expressing gratitude for the strike that ended decades of regime terror.
As captured in a widely shared video from the event, a higher-up instructed the reporter not to highlight the positive reactions. “They don’t want us to focus on this…,” the order went.
? BREAKING: This Austin CBS reporter is being praised nationwide for REFUSING to follow orders from a higherup to IGNORE massive support for Trump and Israel obliterating Khamenei
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 1, 2026
"They don't want us to focus on this…"
"Alright. Well, I AM."
THAT'S how you do it! ?? pic.twitter.com/FvB8o4d4dM
But CBS Texas reporter Vinny Martorano stood firm, replying, “Alright. Well, I AM.”
Martorano shared the celebrations directly on X, posting:
“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.
“Thank you Trump”
— Vinny Martorano (@VinnyMartorano) February 28, 2026
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
This act quickly drew praise across social media, highlighting frustration with media gatekeeping.
This is what real journalism looks like! You cannot censor the joy of a nation liberated.
— National Cooperation Ottawa (@NatCoOttawaIRN) March 1, 2026
From Austin to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, thousands of us are celebrating the end of the tyrant. The world is finally seeing the truth. Thank you for refusing to be silenced. ????
???… pic.twitter.com/HxFRLhPjZj
I genuinely want to buy this man a drink. He just risked his career to do the one thing journalists are supposed to do, tell the truth his bosses didn’t want told.
— The Undercurrent (@NotTheirScript) March 1, 2026
They always hide the truth. pic.twitter.com/M4gW16sl0L
— Aria DD (@M_K7721) March 2, 2026
https://t.co/WdwMHH4e2v
— Alpha (@CryptoA59729) March 1, 2026
You are a legend.
This episode comes amid broader pushback against media spin on the Iran strikes and criticisms of outlets like The New York Times for soft-pedaling Khamenei’s brutal legacy.
You do not hate the New York Times enough pic.twitter.com/4YmIRsBLl1
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 1, 2026
New York Times, Washington Post write flowery eulogies for the Ayatollah because of course https://t.co/OymKwzjcO3
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) March 1, 2026
Revisiting this vintage piece of useful idiocy, from the NYT in 1979
— Tom Slater (@Tom_Slater_) January 11, 2026
‘The depiction of [Khomeini] as fanatical, reactionary and the bearer of crude prejudices seems certainly and happily false’
‘Iran may yet provide us with a desperately?needed model of humane governance’ pic.twitter.com/cip7Mi6eSS
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