NBC’s Today has had a penchant as of late (see here and here) for attacking Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in an attempt to defend sexual exploitation of children that he and the legislature have fought to stop, but protect their company’s bottom line (with parent company Comcast being owners of Universal Studios in Orlando) and maim DeSantis’s likely 2024 presidential campaign.
“Alright, the feud between Disney and Ron DeSantis is escalating just as the Florida governor appears closer to entering the 2024 race. The head of Disney now accusing Florida officials of retaliating against the company,” co-host Hoda Kotb began.
National correspondent Gabe Gutierrez suggested DeSantis’s Saturday trip to Iowa would be marred by Disney’s threats:
Governor DeSantis plans to visit tomorrow in what is widely seen as a one step closer to announcing a presidential run. But his ongoing feud with Disney is making new headlines. Disney’s CEO now suggesting the company’s plans to invest billions of dollars in Florida over the next decade could be in jeopardy.
Gutierrez further explained, cheering Disney CEO Bob Iger’s bellyaching in an earnings call about having only done “one thing” wrong in DeSantis’s eyes (by supporting young children being taught and shown sexually explicit material) and “exercis[ed] our right to free speech”, they’re being targeted.
The NBC reporter then boasted Iger could try to sink Florida’s economy:
GUTIERREZ: While Iger says Disney plans to invest $17 billion over the next 10 years at Walt Disney World, he pointedly asked this question.
IGER: Does the state want to invest more, employ more people, and pay more taxes or not?
Having been the reporter on the hook for these anti-DeSantis stories, Gutierrez yet again had a summary that paid homage to the left’s terminology and refused to debunk it: “The battle began last year when Disney opposed the Parental Rights in Education Act DeSantis signed that opponents labeled the Don’t Say Gay law. The policy banned teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity in Florida classrooms.”
Explaining Florida has been “trying to get rid of Disney’s deal, allowing the company to essentially govern itself,” Gutierrez passed along Iger’s laments that Disney’s been “unfairly target[ed]” as “many of the almost 2,000 other special districts in the state, like those surrounding the Daytona Speedway and The Villages retirement community, have not faced the same scrutiny.”
After a brief DeSantis soundbite, Gutierrez tried to make it seem like Floridians are split on a dispute in which “a happy ending” is “looking increasingly unlikely” (click “expand”):
GUTIERREZ: In conservative Lake County, Florida, some 40 miles from Walt Disney, many tell us they support their governor.
FLORIDA MAN: Definitely on DeSantis’s side. Go woke, go broke.
GUTIERREZ: But other voters doubt whether DeSantis’s rhetoric matches his record.
FLORIDA WOMAN: Going around the country and now the world saying is that Florida is free, that he’s made us more free. He hasn’t made us more free.
GUTIERREZ: Governor DeSantis also just signed a transportation bill that gives the state authority to inspect Disney’s monorail system, so the Disney drama continues with a happy ending looking increasingly unlikely.
Friday’s anti-DeSantis meltdown and attempt to ruin his 2024 campaign by defending wokeism was made possible thanks to the backing of advertisers such as Citi and Dove. Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page.
To see the relevant transcript from May 12, click “expand.”
NBC’s Today
May 12, 2023
8:05 a.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: DeSantis in Iowa Amid Disney Feud]
HODA KOTB: Alright, the feud between Disney and Ron DeSantis is escalating just as the Florida governor appears closer to entering the 2024 race. The head of Disney now accusing Florida officials of retaliating against the company. NBC national correspondent Gabe Gutierrez is here with all the details. Hey, Gabe.
GABE GUTIERREZ: Hoda, good morning. Governor DeSantis plans to visit tomorrow in what is widely seen as a one step closer to announcing a presidential run. But his ongoing feud with Disney is making new headlines. Disney’s CEO now suggesting the company’s plans to invest billions of dollars in Florida over the next decade could be in jeopardy. As speculation mounts over his potential run for president, Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, is facing even more pushback from Disney. On an earnings call with investors, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger responding when asked about the company’s ongoing fight with the state of Florida.
BOB IGER: This is about one thing, and one thing only and that’s retaliating against us for taking a position about pending legislation. And we believe that in — in us taking that position we are merely exercising our right to free speech.
GUTIERREZ: While Iger says Disney plans to invest $17 billion over the next 10 years at Walt Disney World, he pointedly asked this question.
IGER: Does the state want to invest more, employ more people, and pay more taxes or not?
GUTIERREZ: The battle began last year when Disney opposed the Parental Rights in Education Act DeSantis signed that opponents labeled the Don’t Say Gay law. The policy banned teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity in Florida classrooms. DeSantis and Florida legislators are now trying to get rid of Disney’s deal, allowing the company to essentially govern itself. Iger is accusing Florida of unfairly targeting Disney, saying that many of the almost 2,000 other special districts in the state, like those surrounding the Daytona Speedway and The Villages retirement community, have not faced the same scrutiny. DeSantis is not backing down, telling Newsmax last week.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS (R-FL): You can’t have a situation where the legislature has spoken and one company just decides to contract out against the will of the people. [SCREEN WIPE] At the end of the day, I think that they just have to understand the party is over for them.
GUTIERREZ: In conservative Lake County, Florida, some 40 miles from Walt Disney, many tell us they support their governor.
FLORIDA MAN: Definitely on DeSantis’s side. Go woke, go broke.
GUTIERREZ: But other voters doubt whether DeSantis’s rhetoric matches his record.
FLORIDA WOMAN: Going around the country and now the world saying is that Florida is free, that he’s made us more free. He hasn’t made us more free.
GUTIERREZ: Governor DeSantis also just signed a transportation bill that gives the state authority to inspect Disney’s monorail system, so the Disney drama continues with a happy ending looking increasingly unlikely.
KOTB: Alright, Gabe, thank you so much.
