Florida’s Top 5 Fake News Reporters for the Week of 1/16-1/23
Florida’s Conservative Voice Presents Florida’s Top 5 Fake News Reporters of the Week: Every week, FCV will rank the worst reporters covering Florida politics. Our team, and readers, have noticed a stark uptick of fake news “journalists” that are consistently lying or misleading the public on Florida affairs in politics, ranging from Governor Ron DeSantis to COVID-19. In an effort to promote more journalistic integrity, these individuals will be cited for their attempts to mislead the public.
January 24, 2021 Updated 9:16 A.M. ET
5: Mary Ellen Klas
In a Tweet last week, Klas from the Miami Herald went after Governor DeSantis for proposing a new redistricting for Florida’s congressional districts, claiming that the role of the Florida governor “has been to sign or veto, not draft:”
There is no legal problem with the Florida Governor doing this, Mary. It is within his authority – just because other governors for the past few cycles chose not to propose a map does not mean he is stepping outside his “role” as governor.
The process of redistricting is outlined on Ballotpedia: the legislature must pass the new district map, and the governor can veto it. Clearly, Florida’s system allows for the governor to have a say in the process.
4: Lesley Abravanel
Lesley did a lot less ‘reporting’ and pulled another Nikki Fried by comparing DeSantis to another violent dictator:
“#KimJongRon” is in reference to North Korea’s own Kim Jong Un, who is responsible for countless humanitarian rights violations and has cut his country off from the rest of the world as much as possible.
Abravanel’s tweet is referencing a potential new law that would give DeSantis $1 billion in emergency funds, but the misleading tweet Abravanel is referencing claims he will receive a “slush fund,” giving the impression it would be used for more personal reasons.
3: Zac Anderson
At a press conference in Sarasota County last week, Anderson asked DeSantis if he received his booster shot – a private medical decision:
Anderson claims DeSantis “declined to answer,” referencing his “mentor” Trump.
First of all, the reported feud between Trump and DeSantis has been debunked.
Second, why does Anderson feel entitled to DeSantis’ personal medical records? Why do left-wing reporters feel the need to intrude on medical privacy?
2: Glenna Milberg
Reporter Glenna Milberg from WPLG Studios at Local 10 held Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried’s hand in walking back her comments comparing DeSantis to German dictator Adolf Hitler.
In the video, Fried’s comments are played in context – after the interviewer from WLRN asked Fried if she is “comparing DeSantis to Hitler,” Fried responded, “In a lot of ways, yes.”
In a desperate attempt to save Fried, Milberg jumped in and told Fried that “You really compared the rise of Hitler, not necessarily the dictator himself, although the headlines sort of obscured that.” Fried took Milberg’s lifeline and went on to divert and walk back her original problematic comparisons.
1: Brendan Farrington
In an article from the Associated Press, Farrington led readers to believe two incorrect things: that a new anti-CRT bill in education and employee training is meant to “shield whites,” and that DeSantis’ office “didn’t respond” to a request for comment.
In reality, though, both of these are wrong. The referenced bill would actually enforce individuality and prevent employers and schools from teaching that one is racist based on that person’s skin color.
Additionally, Farrington’s claim that DeSantis’ office did not respond to a request for comment was disproved by Christina Pushaw, the Press Secretary for DeSantis:
https://twitter.com/ChristinaPushaw/status/1483570719527215106
Farrington then updated the story to include their comment, but did not mark in the article that this update occurred. Shady journalism at its finest.
