Since when don’t judges blocking deportations go immediately to the top of A-block on legacy network newscasts? It turns out that there is not as much interest in covering a blocked deportation when it isn’t immediately useful as Resistance Porn. Case in point: the planned deportations of the family of the accused Boulder fire bombing jihadist.
The exception proving the rule, as is frequently the case, is NBC Nightly News, which aired a full report featuring many relevant details. WATCH:
TOM LLAMAS: We have new developments tonight in that Molotov cocktail and flamethrower attack in Boulder, Colorado. Late today, a federal judge moved to block deportation of the suspect’s family, who are all Egyptian citizens. Here’s Morgan Chesky.
MORGAN CHESKY: Tonight, as the investigation into Sunday's fiery attack in Boulder, Colorado, moves forward, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of terror suspect Mohamed Soliman’s family. His wife and five children were taken into ICE custody yesterday, according to the Homeland Security Secretary. Today DHS said the family came to the U.S. in 2022 and Soliman filed for asylum, listing his wife and children as dependents. Their visas ran out in 2023. This video shared on a pro-Hamas Telegram channel, shot before Sunday’s attack, shows Soliman driving his car, speaking in his native Arabic. Solomon stating, “God is greater than the Zionists… than America, and its weapons.”
CHESKY: Prosecutors now say 15 people were injured in Sunday's rally calling for the release of Israeli hostages.
NAOR BITTON: I feel this huge heatwave on my side. I look to my side and I see this big ball of flames that was engulfing people.
CHESKY: Naor Bitton, who was seen Sunday rushing to help those who burned was there simply by chance, vacationing from Israel to hike Boulder's famous Flat Irons.
BITTON: I feel extremely grateful for being at the right place at the right time.
CHESKY: That suspect Mohamed Soliman, is due back in court here in Boulder tomorrow. And tonight, the FBI tells me additional search warrants have been executed as this investigation continues. Tom.
LLAMAS: Morgan Chesky for us again. Morgan, thank you.
If there is one minor quibble with NBC’s reporting, it is that they could’ve included a fuller, subtitled version of the firebomber’s remarks to include “Jihad is more beloved to me than my mother, wife, and children…”, which is readily available thanks to our friends at MEMRI:
Boulder, CO Firebomber Mohamed Sabry Soliman Recorded Video Before Attack Declaring: Jihad Is More Beloved to Me Than My Mother, Wife, and Children; Allah Is Greater Than the Zionists and America pic.twitter.com/29bZP4L8mR
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) June 4, 2025
ABC and CBS’s entities were paltry by comparison:
JOHN DICKERSON: A federal judge today blocked the government from deporting the family of the alleged Boulder, Colorado, firebomber to ensure they get due process. The Egyptian national is accused of injuring 15 people in the attack on the demonstration in support of Israelis held hostage by Hamas.
DAVID MUIR: Tonight, a federal judge has blocked the deportation of the family of the suspect in the Boulder, Colorado, attack. The order came just as ICE announced it was preparing to depart Mohamed Soliman's wife and five children. Court records show the family filed to have a hearing in their case. A judge now setting that hearing for June 13th. The father is due in court tomorrow, charged with a federal hate crime and 16 counts of attempted murder after the attack in Boulder.
Normally, a temporary restraining order imposed by a Biden-appointee is a guaranteed top story. Not in this case.
It’s hard to keep track, though, of the sliding scale here. Student protesters organizing and inciting violent antisemitic protests still draw top billing on legacy newscasts- or, at least, on ABC and CBS. But unless it can be spun up as Resistance Porn, they have no use for the order blocking deportation of the firebomber’s family. If it weren’t for double standards, there’d be none at all.
