After a brief investigation, there was an arrest made in the firebombing of a Las Vegas Tesla service center. The evening network newscasts provided this arrest with coverage that could most charitably be described as “mixed”.
The most comprehensive coverage came via NBC Nightly News. Below is that report in its entirety:
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
3/27/25
6:43 PM
LESTER HOLT: There was an arrest today connected to an arson attack on Tesla cars in Las Vegas earlier this month. Liz Kreutz has more.
LIZ KREUTZ: Tonight, authorities announcing the arrest of a 36-year-old man who they say is responsible for using Molotov cocktails to torch several Teslas at a Las Vegas service center.
KEVIN MCMAHILL: The suspect's name is Paul Kim.
KREUTZ: According to officials, Kim is facing both state and federal charges including arson, unlawful possession of an explosive, and discharging a firearm into a vehicle.
MCMAHILL: Our searches revealed numerous items of interest to include multiple rifles, a shotgun, as well as a black backpack with pink paint, face masks…
KREUTZ: Police say when Kim arrived at the Tesla service center last week, he began shooting into the surveillance cameras before spray painting “resist” across the front door and setting multiple cars on fire. Authorities say they are looking into social media to determine a motive.
MCMAHILL: A preliminary assessment of the suspect’s social media activity indicates some very loose but self-proclaimed ties to the Communist Party USA social media group, as well as social media groups called Revolutionary Communist International, Hidden Palestine, Palestine Action…
KREUTZ: The arrest coming amid a rise in violence and vandalism of Tesla dealers and cars nationwide. Earlier this week, a 33-year-old man in Texas was arrested for allegedly ramming a mini four-wheeler into multiple Teslas around the city of Texarkana, just one day after incendiary devices were found around a Tesla showroom in Austin. And with more protests planned at Tesla this weekend, Tesla sales in Europe have dropped by at least 40%, according to an industry trade group. Tesla’s U.S. quarterly earnings are expected next week, the company has not commented. Lester.
HOLT: Okay, Liz. Thank you.
In less than two minutes, NBC managed to disclose the alleged bomber’s charges, a breakdown of the bombing incident, and the evidence seized during the arrest. Correspondent Liz Kreutz also lists some of the weapons seized during the arrest. NBC even let the camera roll as local law enforcement went through the alleged bomber’s associations with radical communist and anti-Israel groups.
ABC’s coverage was much more brief, buried towards the end of the newscast:
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
3/27/25
6:52 PM
WHIT JOHNSON: An arrest in that fiery attack on a Las Vegas Tesla dealership. 36-year-old Paul Kim facing charges, including arson and discharging a firearm into a vehicle. Video from earlier this month showing flames and explosions. Police raiding Kim's home, saying they found firearms and a gun belt. They do not believe anyone else was involved, but they are trying to determine whether Kim is part of an organized group targeting Tesla.
There was no mention of Kim’s affiliations, plans, or anything related to the attack. ABC’s minuscule highlight reel, though, was more generous than CBS, which did not cover this story, either on CBS Evening News or CBS Evening News Plus.
All-around coverage of this arrest was spotty at best, with two glaring omissions: First, at no point do you hear the words “terrorist” or “terrorism”. Second, there is no real discussion of motive.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
