Posted on 03/16/2023 11:25:43 AM PDT by jimwatx
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been accused of attempting to create an anti-press freedom culture in his state. Proposed bills would weaken anti-SLAPP laws, make anonymous sources less credible, and require bloggers to register with the state. Critics have told Newsweek that such legislation would "chill, silence and punish those who criticize public officials and their powerful allies." DeSantis, however, says he wants to "stand up for the little guy against these massive media conglomerates." The governor has yet to confirm whether he will sign the bills into law, but if they are passed, it could trigger a Supreme Court case. Ron DeSantis has been accused of seeking to turn his state into a "petri dish" of "anti-press freedom culture," after bills that critics say could undermine media freedom were introduced to the state legislature. Proposed legislation would make it significantly easier for publications to be sued for defamation, treat anonymous sources as "presumptively false" and require the registration of bloggers who make money writing about elected officials
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Newsweak worried about free speech. ROTFL.
How does the bill define “blogger?”
Since when are anonymous sources credible?
Maybe the establishment media might try not lying about politicians they don’t like? Its perhaps a completely new concept and may not fit into their culture, but it would help them to not be sued for such lies.
According to my expert sources they are extremely credible.
Your expert sources’ opinions would seem to be a bit self-serving ...
;’}
I didn’t know that a governor could propose bills. I thought that was the bailiwick of legislators. #LearnMeSomething
That was a bill that was introduced by Sen. Jason Brodeur.
DeSantis has not put this issue forward nor advocated for it. Newsweek is purposefully obfuscating the facts.
It obviously would not survive a court challenge.
“Maybe the establishment media might try not lying about politicians they don’t like?”
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Establishment media is exempted from this legislation, they are only going after the little guy. Seems unconstitutional on its face, this legislation coming from Florida Republicans too. Not a good sign.
“make anonymous sources less credible”
How can they have less than zero credibility?
DeSantis is against the proposal to make bloggers register with state.
Also, this isn’t a law. It hasn’t passed the FL Legislature.
It’s just a proposed law introduced by a single legislator. Not gonna go anywhere.
But the media never let the facts stop them from writing a story.
Considering Newsweak didn’t reveal its anonymous “petri dish” source, I will conclude they are not presenting anything factual. Actually, I assumed that immediately upon reading Newsweak.
It’s pure baloney. DeSantis has nothing to do with these bills, which are likely being put forward by Trump supporters in the FL legislature to try to falsely smear DeSantis as the author.
He’s tried to speak out and make it clear he doesn’t support them, but those statements are getting little coverage.
Ron DeSantis Disavows Bill That Would Require Political Bloggers To Register With the Government
“DeSantis has not put this issue forward nor advocated for it.”
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“This legislation has been favorably received by DeSantis, though he hasn’t confirmed whether he would sign it into law if it passes the state legislature.
Jeremy T. Redfern, DeSantis’ deputy press secretary, told Newsweek: “It is encouraging to see the legislature taking up these important topics and joining the conversations that the governor began on media accountability and counteracting big tech abuses.”
If he runs against Trump, he will need to appeal to more than just conservative/Repubican voters.
All one has to do is b!tch-slap these media hyenas down when they act up, and immediately one hears their whining of "supressing free speech" and all the other boilerplate BS.
Doom on these media lickspittles.
DeSantis only backed off after receiving criticism, kinda like how now he is slowly changing his perspective on the Ukraine proxy war he once seemed to support after discovering many MAGA Republicans were against it. He’s just a typical politician playing political games with the media.
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