On NPR, LA Mayor Karen Bass claimed that the reason people in Los Angeles are afraid is because the conservative press is “exploiting” the “spectacular-type crime” happening in the city.

It’s deeply concerning when the mayor blames the media for stirring up fears instead of focusing on fighting crime. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass seems to believe that the media—not the criminals terrorizing our communities—is responsible for the “sense of fear” in the city. This is not just misguided; it’s dangerous.

Crime is not a figment of the media’s imagination. When organized retail theft rings are ransacking businesses, when residents are afraid to walk their streets at night, and when families feel unsafe in their neighborhoods, the issue is real. The media reports these incidents because they are happening. There would be nothing to report if crime were truly under control and not impacting our communities.

This blame game is not something politicians should flirt with. It’s a diversion tactic, one that shifts responsibility away from those who are supposed to protect us and onto those who simply report the facts. But here’s the reality, Mayor Bass: you wanted this job, you fought for this title, and with it comes the headaches, criticisms, and yes, the accountability. The people of Los Angeles entrusted you to make their city safer, not to point fingers at the press when things go wrong.

The morning after holding a press conference vowing to crack down on organized retail theft, Mayor Bass took to NPR—a platform she knew wouldn’t challenge her narrative—to blame the press, especially conservative outlets, for the crime crisis in Los Angeles. This isn’t leadership; it’s deflection. The notion that the press is the problem and not the criminals is a disservice to every business owner, every resident, and every family in this city.

Mayor Bass, the citizens of Los Angeles deserve more than excuses and finger-pointing. They deserve a leader who will stand up to the criminals, not one who blames the messengers. It’s time to stop passing the buck and deliver the promised results. The safety and security of Los Angeles depend on it.