On Monday, NBC’s Today show lamented how Disney was supposedly “thrust into the culture wars” when the woke corporation chose to hurl political attacks at Florida’s new Parental Rights in Education law preventing young grade school students from being indoctrinated with radical classroom discussions of sexual orientation. Only once did the network morning show actually mention the real name of the state legislation, the rest of the time it was tagged with the false left-wing smear of being the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
“Culture clash. Republican lawmakers in Florida targeting Disney, threatening to revoke the company’s special status over its opposition to that controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law,” co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed at the show open. Teasing the upcoming segment again minutes later, fellow co-host Hoda Kotb repeated: “Coming up, the culture war that’s erupted in Florida, pitting Republican lawmakers against Disney. The new controversy over the state’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law.”
While introducing the report in the 7:30 a.m. ET half hour, Guthrie once more uttered the partisan phrase, but at least acknowledged “critics” were the ones using it: “...fallout is growing over Florida’s controversial new law, called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ by critics.” Co-host Craig Melvin chimed in by ranting: “Yeah, the state’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis lashing out at Disney, one of the state’s biggest drivers of tourism, over its opposition to the law.”
Reporting live from Orlando, correspondent Kerry Sanders breathlessly hyped: “You know, this is unprecedented. No Florida governor has ever taken on Disney because the power of the mouse is unparalleled in this state.”
The headline on screen throughout the segment laughably portrayed Disney as the victim: “Disney Thrust Into Culture Wars.” Sanders wailed: “This morning, the so-called happiest place on Earth plunging into the middle of a culture war. Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis targeting Disney, the state’s largest single site employer.”
At no point in the coverage was it ever suggested that Disney was “targeting” DeSantis or those who support the popular legislation.
Sanders finally briefly mentioned the actual name of the measure in question, though not without also including the nasty left-wing label:
The Governor angry at Disney’s opposition to the state’s controversial new Parental Rights In Education legislation, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. It bans classroom discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade.
NBC offered no fact-check of the dishonest framing by pointing out that the law “does not ban the word ‘gay’ in school settings” and “does not ban casual discussions of topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.”
Instead, Sanders touted Disney’s blatantly partisan lobbying effort: “In a statement, Disney says, ‘Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed in the legislature or struck down in the courts.’”
The reporter then fretted that “conservatives” were politicizing the issue: “It’s all amid the backdrop of cultural and political battles over the law and issues of representation, which conservatives hope to make a central issue of the coming midterm election. DeSantis fundraising off the fight.”
Moments later, Sanders promoted opponents of the legislation putting pressure on Disney but never examined their political motivation:
This dispute comes after protests and a walk-out by some Disney cast members, when the company did little to oppose a bill before it was signed. Disney’s CEO apologizing to employees last month in a letter, writing, “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down.”
The radical left demanded Disney cave to woke ideology and jump head first into the “culture wars” by engaging in partisan lobbying against legislation that enjoys broad public support, yet NBC pretends as if the powerful media conglomerate is somehow a victim.
Disney doesn’t even own NBC, it owns ABC, which airs Today show competitor Good Morning America.
NBC’s dishonest smear of Florida’s parental rights legislation was brought to viewers by Subaru and Citi. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a full transcript of the April 4 coverage:
7:01 AM ET TEASE
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Culture clash. Republican lawmakers in Florida targeting Disney, threatening to revoke the company’s special status over its opposition to that controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. This morning, how Disney is responding and what it might mean for your next trip to Orlando.
7:20 AM ET TEASE
HODA KOTB: Coming up, the culture war that’s erupted in Florida, pitting Republican lawmakers against Disney. The new controversy over the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. And the potential impact on the iconic theme park and its visitors.
7:33 AM ET SEGMENT
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Well, also this morning, fallout is growing over Florida’s controversial new law, called “Don’t Say Gay” by critics.
CRAIG MELVIN: Yeah, the state’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis lashing out at Disney, one of the state’s biggest drivers of tourism, over its opposition to the law.
KOTB: NBC’s Kerry Sanders joins us now from Orlando with the latest. Hey, Kerry, good morning.
KERRY SANDERS: Well, good morning. You know, this is unprecedented. No Florida governor has ever taken on Disney because the power of the mouse is unparalleled in this state. But Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is not backing down.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Disney Thrust Into Culture Wars]
This morning, the so-called happiest place on Earth plunging into the middle of a culture war. Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis targeting Disney, the state’s largest single site employer.
GOV. RON DESANTIS [R-FL]: And they are treated on a pedestal, this one corporation is treated differently than everybody else. Now in the legislature, you see a movement to reevaluate those special privileges.
SANDERS: The Governor angry at Disney’s opposition to the state’s controversial new Parental Rights In Education legislation, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. It bans classroom discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade.
In a statement, Disney says, “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed in the legislature or struck down in the courts.”
It’s all amid the backdrop of cultural and political battles over the law and issues of representation, which conservatives hope to make a central issue of the coming midterm election. DeSantis fundraising off the fight. Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz tweeting, “I’ll tell you how to trap this rodent.” And commentators taking aim.
LAURA INGRAHAM [FOX NEWS]: Why not just rename the roller coaster, you know, “Sex Mountain.”
SANDERS: DeSantis is suggesting a repeal of Disney’s special status, established by a 1967 law. It created a unique self-governing district around the 43 square miles encompassing Disney World, an area twice the size of Manhattan. As a result, Disney effectively has its own security force, and building, zoning, and fire departments.
PROTESTERS: Say gay! Say gay! Say gay!
SANDERS: This dispute comes after protests and a walk-out by some Disney cast members, when the company did little to oppose a bill before it was signed. Disney’s CEO apologizing to employees last month in a letter, writing, “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down.”
As for the escalating feud, Maryland’s Republican governor criticizing DeSantis, calling it a crazy fight.
GOV. LARRY HOGAN [R-MD]: We have a thing called freedom of speech.
KOTB: Okay, so Kerry, break it down, what would it mean if Disney’s special status is revoked?
SANDERS: Well, ultimately it would be time and money. Example, I think any homeowner can understand this, if you’ve ever tried to do a renovation at your house or do an add-on, you have to go through that very laborious process with the building department to get all the paperwork done. Right now Disney doesn’t have to deal with that. But if they lost their status, they’d have to go through the local government, which would slow the process down. And of course they’re constantly building out at Disney. Hoda?
KOTB: Alright, Kerry Sanders for us there. Kerry, thank you.
