For the propagandistic media, including sports media, it's not enough that everyone needs to ascribe to their hivemind way of thinking. They now need people's private lives to reflect the same groupthink.
Enter ESPN college football analyst and NFL commentator, Kirk Herbstreit.
In September, the former Ohio State quarterback spoke with Mississippi Today about having Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on ESPN's College GameDay the previous weekend. They asked about Cruz being allowed to advocate for the Protect College Sports Act. Herbstreit said, "I don't really get into politics," as part of his longer answer.
Fast forward to October 21, and Herbstreit reportedly was the keynote speaker at a Business Council of Alabama (BCA) event, which raised money for the BCA's political PAC, Progress PAC. The PAC primarily contributes to Republican candidates, but has also been known to donate to a Democratic candidate here and there.
NBC Sports writer Mike Florio seems to have a continuing bone to pick with Herbstreit.
On September 18, Florio wrote a piece for Pro Football Talk calling out Herbstreit for his "flimsy defense" of having Cruz on College GameDay. A month later, Florio continued his displeasure with Herbstreit by writing a subsequent article saying Herbstreit is akin to "liars, grifters, and charlatans" since he spoke at the BCA event a month after saying that he didn't "really get into politics."
Look, Herbstreit can speak at any political event he wants. That’s not the issue. The issue is that he responded to the blatant effort by ESPN to boost the PCSA by saying, essentially, “I don’t know nothing about no politics.”
Whatever the specific context, bullshit smells the same in all of them. Even if Herbstreit thinks that taking his dog everywhere he goes will make people feel less inclined to call him out for it.
Come on, Mikey. Don't bring Peter (Kirk's dog) into this.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha took to X to point out the double standard of Florio's criticism of Herbstreit.
"I can absolutely guarantee that if Herbstreit spoke at a PAC event for Democrats, Pro Football Talk would not be writing a “gotcha” piece — or any piece — about it," Concha posted.
I can absolutely guarantee that if Herbstreit spoke at a PAC event for Democrats, Pro Football Talk would not be writing a “gotcha” piece — or any piece — about it.
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) October 29, 2026
Indeed.
Think of it this way...During his September interview with Mississippi Today, Herbstreit said the following after saying that he doesn't get into politics:
I’m kind of an independent guy, right down the middle of the fairway. I’m for America. So, whoever helps us as a country, I’m for, whether it’s somebody on the left, somebody on the right. So I don’t — I don’t really follow it.
God forbid someone just wants what's best for everyone instead of only people who Mike Florio agrees with.
