The cast includes longstanding diverse actors like LL Cool J and newer additions such as Medalion Rahimi as Fatima Namazi (Middle Eastern female agent) and Caleb Castille as Devin Rountree (Black agent), alongside Barrett Foa's openly gay tech specialist Eric Beale, whose identity is occasionally highlighted. These elements contribute to a team that reflects modern DEI emphases, feeling somewhat organic for a Los Angeles setting but increasingly prominent in later seasons.

Specific episodes integrate progressive themes, such as Season 14 Episode 14 'Shame,' which weaves a none-too-subtle message about social attitudes toward sexual identity, and prior seasons' extensions like discussions of racism between Fatima and Rountree or social justice arcs for Rountree. Audience reception shows a segment of fans complaining that seasons 11-14 turned 'woke,' with gripes about catering to agendas, false narratives, and villains like white supremacists, linking the show's cancellation after 14 seasons to this shift akin to NCIS: New Orleans. While not overwhelming the core crime-solving format, these intrusions noticeably influence character interactions and standalone episodes, diluting the traditional focus on action and cases.