>>> MY BODY, MY CHOICE.
>> IT'S MY BODY, MY CHOICE.
>> MY BODY.
>> UNITED WE'LL NEVER BE DEFEATED.
>> WE GOT PRIDE, YES WE DO. WE GOT PRIDE, HOW ABOUT YOU?
>> RON DeSANTIS IS ALWAYS ON ABOUT HOW FLORIDA IS THE FREE
STATE IN THE COUNTRY. BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK HIM
THE FREEST STATE FOR WHO EXACTLY.
>> FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS LEANING INTO CULTURE WARS.
>> THE GOVERNOR TODAY SIGNED A CONTENTIOUS BILL THAT RESTRICTS
TEACHING ABOUT GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUALITY IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
>> WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO
SCHOOL TO GET AN EDUCATION, NOT AN INDOCTRINATION.
>> THIS IS ABOUT OSTRACIZING, SHAMING LGBTQ KIDS.
>> THE SO-CALLED HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH PLUNGING INTO THE
MIDDLE OF A CULTURE WAR.
>> DISNEY SAYS ITS GOAL IS TO GET THE SO-CALLED "DON'T SAY
GAY" BILL REPEALED.
>> WE LOVE WALT DISNEY, NOT WOKE DISNEY.
>> ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON SOLVING THE REAL
ISSUES OF FLORIDIANS.
>> THE STOP WOKE ACT CODIFIES FLORIDA'S CURRENT BAN ON CRT
CURRICULUM.
>> NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS SHOULD BE USED TO TEACH OUR KIDS TO HATE
OUR COUNTRY.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY, WHICH IS AMERICAN
HISTORY.
>> FLORIDA IS AT THE EPICENTER OF THE ESCALATING BATTLE OVER
ABORTION RIGHTS.
>> GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS SIGNING A 15-WEEK ABORTION BAN INTO LAW
WITHOUT EXEMPTIONS FOR RAPE, INCEST OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
>> IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
>> THIS IS THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE GOP MOVING FORWARD.
WHICH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RALLYING THE BASE GOING INTO THE
MIDTERMS.
>> FLORIDA CAN DETERMINE WHO CONTROLS THE U.S. HOW MANY TIMES
CONTROLS THE U.S. HOW MA S THE CONTROLS THE U.S. HOW MA S S THE
CONTROLS THE U.S. HOW MA S S SE CONTROLS THE U.S. HOW MA S SS TE
CONTROLS THE U.S. HOW MA S SS SE CONTROLS THE U.S. HOW MA S SS T
REPRESENTATIVES.
>> IS RON DeSANTIS CREATING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF 2024?
>> HERE I STAND. I'M NOT BACKING DOWN.
>> UH-OH.
>> A FEAR.
>> OH MY GOD.
>> AH.
>> HERE SHE IS.
>> YOU SHOULD SEE THE OTHER GUY.
>> I MEAN, YOU'RE LIKE TINY TIM.
>> DID COVID CAUSE YOUR FOOT TO SWELL UP?
>> THIS IS A COMPLETELY UNRELATED INJURY.
>> OH!
>> HERE IT COMES.
>> OH MY GOD.
>> I WANT ALL OF YOURS AND MINE.
>> THAT'S AMAZING.
>> LET THE ROUND TABLE BEGIN.
>> I LIKE THAT.
>> LAST EPISODE ABOUT TO GO AWAY.
THERE IS A LOT OF SHIT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE MONTHS
WHEN WE'RE OFF THE AIR. BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S
GOING TO DEFINE OUR POLITICS IN THESE MIDTERMS, REPUBLICANS FOR
WHATEVER REASON HAVE DECIDED THAT IN 2022, LIKE THE ECONOMY
IS NOT ENOUGH. JOE BIDEN'S 39% APPROVAL RATING
IS NOT ENOUGH. COVID IS NOT ENOUGH.
THEY DECIDED THE WAY TO WIN IN THESE MIDTERMS IS TO WAGE AN
OVER-THE-TOP CULTURE WAR.
>> THERE IS STUFF LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, ABORTION AND TRANS
RIGHTS AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT'S OPENED UP INTO THIS INSANE
EXPLOSIVE DEBATE.
>> AND, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE ARRAY OF CULTURE WAR ISSUES ARE
IN PLAY ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN FLORIDA.
YOU CAN POINT YOUR FINGER AT THE REASON WHY.
>> RON DeSANTIS.
>> RON DeSANTIS, THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA, UP FOR REELECTION THIS
YEAR IN 2022, WHICH IF HE WINS, HE IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO RUN FOR
PRESIDENT.
>> DONALD TRUMP MAY BE THE 800 POUND GORILLA IN REPUBLICAN
POLITICS, BUT RIGHT BEHIND HIM IS RON DeSANTIS.
THERE IS A REASON. HE'S GOT LIKE A LABORATORY DOWN
IN FLORIDA WHERE HE IS CREATING ALL THESE BILLS, TESTING THE
LIMITS OF THE CULTURE WARS ON ALL THE ISSUES WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
>> THE HEADLINE ISSUE HAS BEEN THE BIG DEBATE OVER AND THEN
PASSAGE OF THE PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION LAW, CALLED "DON'T
SAY GAY" BY ITS OPPONENTS.
>> THE KEY WORD IS "PARENT."
>> WHO IS AGAINST PARENTAL RIGHTS?
>> EXACTLY. AND THIS BILL PROHIBITS ANY KIND
OF DISCUSSION ABOUT LGBTQ ISSUES IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH
THIRD. PROGRESSIVES ARE SAYING THIS IS
A RIDICULOUS LAW. IT'S GOING TO COMPLICATE REALLY
BENIGN ISSUES IN SCHOOL. AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS
A REALLY FIRED UP CONSERVATIVE SIDE.
>> SO RON DeSANTIS'S PRESS SECRETARY SAID THAT IF YOU POSE
THIS BILL, YOU MAY BE A GROOMER YOURSELF OR THAT YOU TOLERATE
THIS.
>> THEY'RE SAYING IF YOU TALK ABOUT ALL THIS GAY STUFF IN THE
CLASSROOM, YOU ARE INDOCTRINATING OUR CHILDREN
WHERE THEY'RE EFFECTIVELY BEING GROOMED FOR A LIFE OF SEXUAL
DEPRAVITY AND PEDOPHILIA.
>> SO IT'S BEEN REALLY CONTROVERSIAL, AND IT'S PUT A
LOT OF PRESSURE ON BIG BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA
TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> THE NEW CEO OF DISNEY SAID WE ARE STAYING OUT OF THESE
POLITICAL SQUABBLES. WE WANT TO BE APOLITICAL.
AND HIS EMPLOYEES WERE FUCK NO, MAN, THIS BILL IS EVIL AND YOU
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANYBODY HAPPY.
THEY WAIT UNTIL THE BILL HAD ACTUALLY PASSED.
THEY PISSED OFF THEIR EMPLOYEES BY COMING IN LATE.
AND THEN THEY IGNITED THIS BIG FIGHT.
>> THEN BY DIVING INTO THE BATTLE BECOME A TARGET FOR THE
RIGHT.
>> THIS WOKENESS WILL DESTROY THIS COUNTRY WE LET IT
REPUBLICAN UNABATED.
>> AND DeSANTIS CONTINUES TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF DISNEY ON A
DAILY BASIS.
>> YOU KNOW REPUBLICANS ARE FEELING EMBOLDENEDS WHEN THEY
CAN GO AFTER DISNEY.
>> YES.
>> AND THEN YOU GOT CRT.
>> THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED TO BAN CRT IN SCHOOLS LAST
JUN. AND ON FRIDAY FLORIDA'S STATE
DEPARTMENT REJECTED 5 FOUR MATH BOOKS, CLAIMING CRITICAL RACE
THEORY APPEARED IN SOME OF THEM.
>> THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH. THERE IS STILL THE STOP WOKE
ACT. THINKING LAW ALLOWS PARENTS TO
SUE SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES.
>> AND TEACHERS.
>> ON THE BASIS OF STUDENT DISCOMFORT.
>> YEAH. IT'S ALL VERY CATHARTIC I THINK
FOR A RIGHT WING THAT HAS FELT PUNISHED AND MARGINALIZED FOR
YEARS.
>> FLORIDA IS GOING TO BE A PRETTY GOOD TEST OF THE APPEAL
OF THESE ISSUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
RON DeSANTIS IS FUCKING POPULAR RIGHT NOW.
HE HAS A 55% APPROVAL RATING. IF DeSANTIS WINS IN THESE ISSUES
RUNNING IN 2022, THIS IS WHAT HE IS GOING TO TAKE.
THIS IS HOW YOU WIN IN FLORIDA AND OHIO AND WISCONSIN AND
MICHIGAN. FLORIDA IS STILL THE MOST
IMPORTANT STATE IN OUR COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO PRESIDENTIAL
POLITICS.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO CULTURAL WARS, FLORIDA IS THE TIP OF THE
SPEAR.
>> THEY CALL IT GOD'S WAITING ROOM.
>> WE'RE IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA ON THE PICTURESQUE ISLAND OF
SANIBEL. AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE BYRON DONALDS.
DONALD SERIES A FRESHMAN, BUT THAT HAS NOT STOPPED HIM FROM
AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING THESE CULTURAL BATTLES.
>> WHAT THE REPUBLIC REQUIRES IS A ROBUST DEBATE ON ALL THE
ISSUES AND ALL THE IDEAS AND ALL THE POLICIES, BECAUSE IT IS
THROUGH DEBATE THAT WE FORGE A MORE PERFECT UNION.
THE LAST THING I WANT IS A MONOLITHIC THOUGHT PROCESS
GOVERNING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> TODAY THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT THESE 41% OF MATH
TEXTBOOKS ARE BEING EFFECTIVELY REJECTED BY THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION.
>> THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IDEOLOGY.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT EDUCATION'S ALL ABOUT.
>> WHY IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION REJECTS THESE BOOKS?
>> WHY ARE WE HAVING CONVERSATIONS DEALING WITH
SOCIAL EQUITY OR CLIMATE CHANGE MELDED INTO A WORD PROBLEM IN K
THROUGH 5 MATH? IF THE PURPOSE IS TEACHING MATH,
THEN HAVE IT BE ALICE HAS TWO APPLES, JIMMY HAS 3.
IF JIMMY EATS TWO, HOW MANY ARE LEFT?
THAT'S HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN OUR TEXTBOOKS.
WE DO NOT WANT POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION IN MATERIALS.
>> YOU USE THE WORD "INDOCTRINATION."
>> YES.
>> EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> I WAS TALKING TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THEY HAD A
MACROECONOMICS TEXTBOOK ON THE TABLE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND IT WAS BASICALLY A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN
CAPITALISM AND COMMUNISM. IT PUT CAPITALISM AND COMMUNISM
ON THE SAME FIELD, AS IF THEY'RE EQUALS.
THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION IS TO ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO
PROMOTE THE IDEALS THAT HAVE MADE AMERICA THE GREATEST NATION
IN THE WORLD. DO.
>> YOU THINK BY INCLUDING COMMUNISM IN THE LESSON, YOU'RE
ENCOURAGING KIDS TO BE COMMUNIST?
IS THAT? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE INDOCTRINATION PART OF THIS IS.
>> THAT TELLS THE READER THAT OH, MAYBE THIS ONE IS JUST AS
GOOD AS THAT ONE. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.
>> OTHER PIECE OF THIS, THE STOP WOKE ACT.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS NOTION OF NOT TALKING ABOUT RACE
IN A WAY THAT GIVES PEOPLE DISCOMFORT IN CLASSROOMS?
>> SO YOU CAN HAVE THE HISTORICAL DISCUSSION OF BLACK
AMERICANS, THE CONTRIBUTIONS, THE PITFALLS, THE PERILS, THE
TRAGEDIES. WHAT YOU CAN'T DO IS PUT IN
SUBJECTIVE VIEWPOINTS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF THIS AND WHAT
HAVE BEEN THE OUTCOMES OF IT ON AMERICAN SOCIETY TODAY.
>> THE BILL ISN'T ABOUT TEACHING SUBJECTIVE LESSONS.
THE BILL IS ABOUT TEACHING HISTORY IN A WAY THAT MAKES
PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. SLAVERY IS AN INHERENTLY
UNCOMFORTABLE TOPIC, RIGHT?
>> WHITE KIDS TODAY DON'T OWN SLAVES.
WHITE KIDS TODAY DIDN'T PERSECUTE PEOPLE FROM VOTING IN
THE JIM CROW SOUTH.
>> WHAT IF YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE LEARNING ABOUT JIM CROW?
WHAT IF YOU THINK WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WHAT WHITE PEOPLE
DID? WHY YOU TALKING WHAT WHITE
PEOPLE DID TO THE NATIVE POPULATIONS OR WHAT WHITE PEOPLE
DID TO BLACK PEOPLE?
>> SUBJECTIVITY.
>> IT CAN MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> THE PURPOSE OF THAT ACT IS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT INTRODUCING
STUFF THAT BRINGS UNNECESSARY SUBJECTIVITY INTO HISTORY.
SHOULD IT BE FACTUAL.
>> THIS IS ABOUT RACE, BUT THEN THERE ARE THESE BILLS ABOUT
SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THE WORD INDOCTRINATION IS USED.
>> SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY SPECIFICALLY IN K
THROUGH 3 CLASSROOMS.
>> YEAH.
>> IN WHAT WORLD IS IT OKAY FOR A TEACHER TO TALK TO A CHILD
ABOUT THEIR SEXUAL IDENTITY OR GENDER FLUIDITY, GENDER
ORIENTATION, WHATEVER PHRASE AND AT THE SAME TIME NOT DISCUSS
THAT WITH PARENTS? THE GOVERNOR HAS EXPRESSLY
TALKED ABOUT IT. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE SCHOOL
PERSONNEL TALKING ABOUT GENDER FLUIDITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
YOU SHOULD NOT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS
EVEN COMFORT.
>> TEACHERS IN FLORIDA ARE SAYING I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN
TALK ABOUT CHILDREN WHO HAVE TWO MOMS OR TWO DADS IN THE
CLASSROOM. THIS IS TEACHERS IN YOUR STATE.
>> THE LAW CLEARLY STATES THAT THE TEACH KERR NOT ENGAGE OR
BEGIN THESE CONVERSATIONS. WE HAVE TO BE GRANULAR ABOUT
THESE CONVERSATIONS.
>> LET'S GET GRANULAR. LET'S USE A GRANULAR EXAMPLE.
IT'S MOTHER'S DAY AND THEY'RE MAKING BASKETS FOR MOTHER'S DAY.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MOMS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TWO MOMS, AND
SOME PEOPLE HAVE MOMMY AND DADDY.
IS THAT -- IS THAT ALLOWED?
>> BASED UPON HOW YOU DESCRIBE THAT AND READING THE LAW?
YEAH, THAT'S ALLOWED.
>> BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONCERN THAT'S NOT ALOUD.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.
PEOPLE NEED TO READ THE LAW.
>> THEN THERE IS THE NEXT STEP OF THIS WHICH IS THE ASSERTION
THAT PEOPLE WHO TALK TO KIDS ABOUT SEXUALITY ARE SOMEHOW
GROOMING CHILDREN FOR PEDOPHILIA.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOWN THE CONSPIRACY THEORY
LINE. DO.
>> YOU THINK TEACHERS ARE GROOMING THEM?
>> DO I THINK TEACHERS ARE GROOMING THEM?
>> YES.
>> NO.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS CONTENDING.
>> HOLD ON. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS THIS.
PUT PARENTS BACK IN THEIR PROPER PLACE.
>> SO YOU DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY POTENTIAL PRATFALLS FOR
REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE AS THEY MOVE FORWARD ON THIS?
>> NO.
>> FULL STOP.
>> THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS ISSUING NEW STATE
GUIDELINES FOR TRANS YOUTH, DENYING PUBERTY BLOCKERS OR
HORMONE THERAPY FOR ANYBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
>> SAFE SCHOOL SOUTH FLORIDA WAS CREATED TO HELP FOSTER A SAFE
COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS.
THERE IS GOING TO BE 20 HIGH SCHOOLS FROM SOUTH FLORIDA.
THE TRAINING TODAY WILL FOCUS A LOT ON GOVERNOR DeSANTIS' NEW
PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION DUBBED "DON'T SAY GAY" BILL BY
ITS OPPONENTS. WHEN THE LAW WAS BEING
CONSIDERED, IT PROVOKED A PRETTY BIG BACKLASH AMONG STUDENTS IN
FLORIDA. THERE WERE MASSIVE WALKOUTS.
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS NOW HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY
LIVE UNDER THIS.
>> SAFE SCHOOLS IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWER YOU TO GO AND LOBBY IN
TALLAHASSEE NEXT YEAR. WE ARE THE EPICENTER OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN OUR NATION FOR LGBT PEOPLE.
>> WE HAVE FOLKS ASK QUESTIONS. THEY WANT TO TALLAHASSEE.
WE TALKED TO THE AIDES OF THE SENATORS AND THE LEGISLATORS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE BILL IS CREDIBLY HOMOPHOBIC AND
SPEWS A LOFT OEND A GAY ANTI-TRANS RHETORIC.
IT WAS REALLY HARD. THEY WERE NOT LISTENING TO US.
>> I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALL
THIS BIG STUFF, AND THEN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CARE OF
STUDENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE.
>> ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES LAST NIGHT SPOKE WITH REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSMAN WHO SUPPORTS THE LAW.
HE ACTUALLY SAID, LIKE HOW IS THIS CONTROVERSIAL?
>> SEXUALITY, GENDER ORIENTATION IS NOT BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS
ANY WAY. THIS WAS NOT ON THE CURRICULUM
FOR OUR YOUNG FOURTH GRADERS. SO IT WAS NEVER A PROBLEM IN THE
FIRST PLACE. WANTING STUDENTS TO KNOW ABOUT
THEMSELVES, HOW TO BE HEALTHY, HOW TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, I
THINK NOT DOING THAT IS ACTUALLY THE CONTROVERSIAL PART.
>> BEING THERE MADE ME REALIZE THAT NO MATTER HOW STRONG THEIR
HATE IS, I KNOW THE LOVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER, AND
WE CAN FIGHT WHATEVER THEY TRY TO PUSH TOWARDS US.
>> HARASSMENT OF LGBTQ COMMUNITY ONLINE HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY
WORSE. HAVE YOU ALL EXPERIENCED THAT?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE BILL IS THAT IT KIND
OF PROMOTES THIS ATMOSPHERE WHERE IT'S OKAY TO BULLY AND
IT'S OKAY TO HAVE HATRED TOWARDS SOMEONE.
>> SAY RON DeSANTIS WAS HERE.
>> OOH, THE THINGS I WOULD SAY TO HIM.
>> THIS BILL DIRECTLY SAYS IT'S OKAY TO, LIKE, COMPLETELY
EXCLUDE A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE.
THE WAY THEY CAN SILENCE VOICES LIKE THAT, IT JUST MAKES KIDS
SCARED TO BE THEMSELVES. I FEEL LIKE THIS LEGISLATION IS
ACTUALLY, IF ANYTHING, BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A WAY.
I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE FIGHTING AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION,
ACTUALLY.
>> TODAY WAS THE BEST. WE ALL CAME TOGETHER.
LIKE 200 PLUS STUDENTS WERE HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND WE ALL
CARED ABOUT EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTED EACH OTHER THROUGH
EVERYTHING. IT WAS AMAZING.
>> YEAH. AND WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.
>> KEEP DOING IT.
>> SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
>> PLEASE SAY GAY! PLEASE SAY GAY!
>>> NOW TO THE ESCALATING FEUD BETWEEN FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR AND
HIS STATE'S LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER, DISNEY.
>> TODAY THE FLORIDA SENATE APPROVED A MOVE THAT WOULD
REVOKE DISNEY'S STATUS AS A SPECIAL DISTRICT.
THE MOVE COMES JUST ONE DAY AFTER DeSANTIS URGED LAWMAKERS
TO DO JUST THAT.
>> HE IS HITTING ALL OF THESE TOUCHSTONE CULTURAL ISSUES.
>> I DO SEE LOTS OF CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS REALLY LIKING WHAT
THEY SEE.
>> WE'RE HERE IN TALLAHASSEE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING. THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE IS
ABOUT TO CONVENE TO DEAL A SIGNIFICANT BLOW TO DISNEY AND
STRIP AWAY ITS SPECIAL DISTRICT STATUS IN AN ACT OF NAKED
POLITICAL RETRIBUTION OVER ITS OPPOSITION TO THE SO-CALLED
"DON'T SAY GAY" BILL.
>> IT'S UNDER THIS FACADE THAT HE IS BEING TOUGH ON
CORPORATIONS. I THINK DEMOCRATS NEED TO CALL
HIM OUT. TAKING OUT CORPORATIONS IS A
VERY POPULIST MESSAGE, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I AM VERY, VERY
LOUD AND PROUD OF.
>> EXPLAIN TO ME THE REEDY CREEK SPECIAL DISTRICT STATUS.
WHAT ARE THEY LOSING IF IT'S STRIPPED AWAY?
>> IT'S TAXING THE DISTRICT. DISNEY TAXES THEMSELVES TO HAVE
MORE AUTHORITY OVER THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND OVER THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY LIKE DISNEY IS KIND OF GRANTED A
SELF-GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE LIKE THEIR OWN LITTLE
STATE WITHIN A STATE.
>> CORRECT.
>> DISNEY'S, YOU KNOW, AN ECONOMIC ENGINE HERE.
IT EMPLOYEES TONS OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT
FOR SURE.
>> CORRECT.
>> HOW CAN IT BE A WIN FOR THE GOVERNOR IN THE STATE TO BE SEEN
AS I'M THE GUY ATTACKING DISNEY AND CALLING OPPONENTS PEDOPHILIA
AND GROOMING THEM. IT'S CRAZY.
>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT HIS BASE WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY FLORIDA
VOTERS. IT'S THE NATIONAL BASE.
HE WANTS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. SO THE EFFORT TO REFER TO THOSE
TO OPPOSE THIS BILL AS BEING PEDOPHILES AND GROOMERS HAS
REALLY TAKEN A HOME IN THE QANON MOVEMENT, IN ALT-RIGHT SPACES.
AN THAT'S WHO HE IS TRYING TO APPEAL TO.
>> YOU SAW THIS WOMAN, MALLORY McMORA, A STATE SENATOR OUT OF
MICHIGAN, A VIRAL VIDEO WHERE THEY CALLED ME A GROOMER.
HERE'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
>> I SAT ON IT FOR A WHILE WONDERING WHY ME.
AND THEN I REALIZED BECAUSE I AM THE BIGGEST THREAT TO YOUR
HOLLOW HATEFUL SCHEME, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CLAIM THAT YOU ARE
TARGETING MARGINALIZED KIDS IN THE NAME OF, QUOTE, PARENTAL
RIGHTS IF ANOTHER PARENT IS STANDING UP TO SAY NO.
>> I THINK SHE WAS SO POWERFUL. AND IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE
REALITY THAT A LOT OF US ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
I ENCOURAGE FOLKS DON'T GET DROWNED BY THE CULTURE WARS, BUT
YOU CAN'T IGNORE THEM. YOU TO RESPOND AND YOU HAVE TO
SHIFT TO SOLVING REAL PROBLEMS.
>> GOP STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED TO STRIP DISNEY OF ITS
SELF-GOVERNING DISTRICT.
>> 70 AYES, 38 NAYS. THE BILL PASSES.
>> DISNEY WAS SILENT ON THIS PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL, AND THEY
WAITED AND WAITED UNTIL THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL, AND
THEY GOT SO MUCH PRESSURE FROM THE WOKE LEFT THAT THEY DECIDED
TO STAND UP IN OPPOSITION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.
THAT'S OFFENSIVE TO ANY PARENT.
>> YOU SAID IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE THAT DISNEY, QUOTE,
HAS NOW BEEN PERVERT BADE WOKE MOB OF LIBERAL EXTREMISTS INTO A
LABORATORY OF GENDER IDENTITY SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION IN WHICH
OUR CHILDREN ARE THE GUINEA PIGS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN SPECIFICALLY?
>> WELL, I STARTED LOOKING AT SOME OF THE VIDEOS IN SOME OF
THEIR CARTOONS, AND GON HAS NOW BECOME TRANSGENDERED.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
>> GONZO?
>> GONZO FROM THE MUPPETS IS NOW A TRANSGENDER.
THEY'RE SHARING THESE VIEWS THAT SOME PARENTS MAY NOT BE
COMFORTABLE WITH. AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND
OUR RIGHT AS PARENT TO SHARE THOSE VALUES AND MORALS WITH OUR
CHILDREN.
>> THAT IS PART OF A NUMBER OF THESE BILLS THAT ARE GOING ON
AND ACTIONS BY THE GOVERNOR. YOU'RE ALSO OUTLINING A BUNCH OF
MATH TEXTBOOKS, RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> WHY MATH TEXTBOOKS?
>> THEY STARTED INCLUDING CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN MATH.
>> HOW DID THEY DO THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW. BUT WE FOUND IT IN TEXTBOOKS.
>> BUT WHAT DID YOU FIND IN TEXTBOOKS, SPECIFICALLY?
>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
>> BUT WHAT? WHAT DID IT SAY ABOUT CRITICAL
RACE THEORY?
>> I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE MATH BOOKS BECAUSE IT RECENTLY CAME
OUT WITHIN A WEEK AGO. BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE GOING
THROUGH ALL THE MATH BOOKS. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. IS WE'RE UNCOVERING YEARS OF
INDOCTRINATION, THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW AS PARENTS.
>> AND THIS NOTION OF TEACHERS GROOMING CHILDREN?
GROOMING IS A PRETTY SERIOUS CHARGE.
>> I THINK WHEN YOU START TO TELL CHILDREN OKAY, WE'RE GOING
TO FIRST OF ALL CHANGE OUR VOCABULARY.
WE'RE GOING CHANGE PRONOUNS, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A HE OR
SHE, BECAUSE THIS PERSON CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS A -- THAT IS
IMPOSING YOUR BELIEFS ON ANOTHER PERSON.
>> BUT IS IT IMPOSING BELIEFS OR IS IT JUST TELLING CHILDREN HERE
IS KIND OF THE WORLD IN WHICH YOU'RE LIVING AND GROWING UP IN
AND PEOPLE CAN BE WHO THEY WANT TO BE?
THEY'RE NOT SAY JOUG TO THE TRANSGENDER OR THIS OR THAT.
>> NO, BUT THEY'RE ENCOURAGING IT.
>> HOW ARE THEY ENCOURAGE IT?
>> OH, JOHNNY, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY WITH TRUCKS, GO AHEAD
AND PLAY WITH DOLLS AND YOU CAN -- WE CAN CALL YOU A
DIFFERENT NAME. THAT'S GOING BEYOND WHAT I THINK
IS NORMAL. I THINK THAT'S GROOMING SOMEONE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF GAY TEENAGERS OR TRANSGENDER YOUTH
WHO FEEL VULNERABLE AND FEEL LIKE NOW THEY'RE BEING ATTACKED
BY THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION?
>> I -- I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE GAY OR VULNERABLE YOU DON'T EVEN
WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THAT, THESE TYPE OF DISCUSSIONS.
>> REALLY?
>> I DO. I DO.
I'VE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE GAY.
>> AND YOU THINK THEY WOULD RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT IT, RATHER
NOT BE THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION?
>> I LIKE THEIR MESSAGE ON LOVE WHO YOU LOVE, WHO YOU WARMFRONT
TO WHO YOU LOVE, WHO YOU WARMFRONT
WANT TO LOVE.
>> YOU USED TO MARCH IN PARADES.
>> I SPONSORED THE EQUALITY BILL.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAYS.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE YOU SHOULD IMPOSE YOUR BELIEFS ON ME OR MY
CHILDREN. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
THEY WENT TOO FAR.
>> THIS WAR AGAINST DISNEY, AMONG OTHER CULTURE WARS, HAS
BEEN VERY GOOD FOR DeSANTIS.
>> GOVERNOR DeSANTIS HAS MADE SOME GAINS IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ACTIVIST REPUBLICAN BASE BY
TAKING THESE MUSCULAR MOVES.
>> RON DeSANTIS, YOU KNOW, HE IS KIND OF A ZERO FOX GIVEN
GOVERNOR TO BEGIN WITH. THAT'S HOW HE HAS BUILT HIS
BRAND.
>> RON DeSANTIS IS THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR THAT COVID BUILT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE COVID, THE GOVERNOR DeSANTIS WE SEE TODAY
DOESN'T EXIST, BECAUSE HIS LIBERTARIAN INSTINCTS WERE DON'T
LISTEN TO THE EXPERT CLASS. DON'T LISTEN TO THE MEDIA.
DON'T LISTEN TO THE SCIENTISTS. THAT'S HIS INSTINCTS.
HE GETS MASSIVELY CRITICIZED. AND BECAUSE HE STARED DOWN THE
PRESS.
>> GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YOUR PROFESSION WHO WAX POETICALLY
FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS ABOUT HOW FLORIDA WAS GOING TO BE JUST
LIKE NEW YORK. WAIT TWO WEEKS.
FLORIDA IS GOING TO BE NEXT. WELL, HELL, WE'RE EIGHT WEEKS
AWAY FROM THAT, AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED.
>> BECAUSE HE HAD GOTTEN IT RIGHT IN THEIR VIEW, HE BECAME A
CONSERVATIVE HEARTTHROB.
>> WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A FLORIDA GOVERNOR AS STRONG AS
THIS, EXERCISING AS MUCH PURE POLITICAL POWER.
>> JEB BUSH WAS A VERY STRONG GOVERNOR, BUT PEOPLE WOULD DEFY
HIM. RON DeSANTIS DOESN'T HAVE THAT.
>> HE HAS BEEN AT THE VERY EDGE PUSHING THE CULTURE WAR ISSUES.
>> FLORIDA IS A LABORATORY FOR THE UNITED STATES.
WE'RE A MODERN STATE AND WE'RE AN OLD SOUTH STATE.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND WE'RE KIND OF MIXING EVERYWHERE USA.
>> AND YOU THINK BECAUSE DeSANTIS HAS GOVERNED THAT KIND
OF BROAD A SPECTRUM, IS THAT THE REASON HE MIGHT APPEAL TO THE
REST OF THE COUNTRY AND WHY HE IS RUNNING REALLY WELL RIGHT
BEHIND TRUMP IN TERMS OF 2024?
>> I THINK GENERALLY, DeSANTIS' STRENGTH IS HIS AUTHENTICITY,
AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HATE ME SAYING THAT.
BUT TRUMP IS THE RACONTEUR, THE STORYTELLER ON THE BARSTOOL.
RON DeSANTIS IS THE ANGRY GUY IN THE BARCALOUNGER.
AND THAT SPEAKS TO A HUGE PORTION OF PEOPLE.
>> DeSANTIS IS WAGING THIS CULTURE WAR BECAUSE, A, IT WORKS
IN FLORIDA. B, IT SETS HIM UP NICELY FOR A
PRESIDENTIAL RUN BECAUSE OF THE REPUBLICAN BASIS, OR C, BOTH?
>> I THINK C, BOTH, AND MAYBE D, IT JUST WHO HE IS AND THE MOMENT
HAS MET WHO HE IS.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THE MOMENT CAN ALWAYS CHANGE.
>> DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THIS BETWEEN NOW AND
NOVEMBER?
>> YES.
>> ALL UNTIL THE ELECTION?
>> EVENTUALLY HE MIGHT RUN OUT OF TARGETS.
>> NO NOT ON THE LEFT.
>> FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS LOOKING LIKE HE IS ABOUT TO
NOTCH TWO VICTORIES, SIGNING BILLS TODAY PUNISHING DISNEY FOR
OPPOSING THE "DON'T SAY GAY" BILL AND PUT RESTRICTIONS ON HOW
SCHOOLS CAN TALK ABOUT RACE AND GENDER.
>> VERY HIGH-UP PEOPLE IN DISNEY, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
THEIR INTENTIONAL AGENDA TO INJECT SEXUALITY IN THE
PROGRAMING THAT'S PROVIDED TO OUR YOUNGEST KIDS.
CONCEPTS LIKE PAN SEXUALISM. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT I KNOW I DON'T WANT MY 5-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER TO BE TAUGHT IT. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM VERY GLAD TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
RON DeSANTIS, HE IS ANTI-LGBTQ. HE IS ANTI-WOMEN.
HE IS ANTI-AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE AND YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
ALL OF THIS HATE, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA IN YOUR LIFETIME WHO HAS
HAD THIS DEGREE OF POWER AND CONTROL AND EXERCISED IT WITH
SUCH AGGRESSIVE FORCE?
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN A GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA THIS ARROGANT.
IT'S A TURNOFF. I CALL PEOPLE ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR HELP AND THEY GO FLORIDA?
SO YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST DeSANTIS?
AND I SAID YEAH. WHERE DO I SEND THE CHECK?
>> PEOPLE JOKE ABOUT FLORIDA, MAN.
I THOUGHT ABOUT FLORIDA PAUL, SOMEBODY WHO HAS SEEN IT ALL,
DONE IT ALL. YOU KNOW THIS STATE FROM EVERY
POSSIBLE ANGLE. HE IS RUNNING THIS MULTIPRONGED
CULTURE WAR. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?
>> I THINK HE IS SO FOCUSED, JOHN, ON 2024.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THE HARD RIGHT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTER.
HE IS DREAMING ABOUT BEING IN THE OVAL OFFICE.
AND I THINK HE IS INTOXICATED BY THAT.
I THINK HE HAS MISCALCULATED.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD SAY THE SAME THING
YOU'RE SAYING, THAT HE HAS GONE TOO FAR, OVERPLAYED HIS HAND.
>> HE HAS DONE IT.
>> WHAT'S THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT?
>> APPROVAL RATINGS HAS JUST GONE UP.
THE LAST GOVERNOR'S RACE, THE ONE HE WON, WAS THE CLOSEST
GOVERNOR'S RACE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE.
HE WON BY 0.4 OF 1%, WE'RE ABOUT A THIRD REPUBLICAN, A THIRD
INDEPENDENT, A THIRD DEMOCRATIC. FLORIDA IS STILL PURPLE.
NO QUESTION IN MY MIND. I THINK HE DOESN'T THINK THAT.
>> YOU'RE BASICALLY THINKING YOU'RE GOING TO GET THIS
NOMINATION AND SORT OF LEAD, WHAT, A COALITION OF THE DECENT?
>> WHAT DID BIDEN DO? YOU HAD A ROOKIE PRESIDENT,
TRUMP. WE HAVE A ROOKIE GOVERNOR.
YOU HAD BIDEN, SEASONED, TRUSTED, DECENT MAN.
I THINK I'M THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
I HOPE. SO THEY'LL SAY WE KNOW CHARLIE.
HE IS NOT A NASTY, MEAN-SPIRITED GUY.
AND HE HAS BEEN GOVERNOR BEFORE. HE KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS STUFF.
>> THE WAY DeSANTIS IS RUNG, HE IS ALL IN ON THIS, RIGHT?
ON LGBTQ, ON CRT, ON ABORTION. WHAT DOES IT SAY IF HE WINS?
>> HE IS NOT GOING WIN. HE IS NOT GOING WIN.
>> OPEN YOUR MIND TO THE POSSIBILITY.
IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A WINNING STRATEGY, WHAT DOES IT
SAY ABOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE STATE OF NATIONAL POLITICS?
>> I CAN'T ENVISION THAT. I CAN'T.
I'M SORRY. I CAN'T ENVISION THAT.
I HAVE MORE FAITH IN FLORIDA, IN PEOPLE.
LIGHT THE FUSE, WATCH IT BURN DOWN, EVERYTHING IS RUN AWAY
THE SOUND OF FREEDOM RISING UP FROM UNDERNEATH