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In this episode: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Legislature just approved an odd new law that tries to choke off funding for fact-checking organizations and media-monitoring firms that rate news outlets based on their accuracy and ethics. The unusual measure had a hidden backer: Newsmax, the right-wing cable news network that rose to prominence by promoting phony election-fraud claims after the 2020 presidential election.
Editor’s note: A written version of this story first appeared in the Seeking Rents newsletter: A right-wing news network lobbied Florida lawmakers to defund fact-checkers, records show
Show notes
Senate Bill 2502 — Implementing the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act
House Bill 1449 — Agency Contracting with Media Reliability and Bias Monitors
Newsmax Will Pay $67 Million to Settle Dominion Defamation Lawsuit
Newsmax paid $40 million to settle defamation suit over US 2020 election claims
Newsmax Analyst Lauds DeSantis for New Anti-Censorship Law
Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]
Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify
Watch the show: YouTube
By Jason Garcia5
4848 ratings
In this episode: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Legislature just approved an odd new law that tries to choke off funding for fact-checking organizations and media-monitoring firms that rate news outlets based on their accuracy and ethics. The unusual measure had a hidden backer: Newsmax, the right-wing cable news network that rose to prominence by promoting phony election-fraud claims after the 2020 presidential election.
Editor’s note: A written version of this story first appeared in the Seeking Rents newsletter: A right-wing news network lobbied Florida lawmakers to defund fact-checkers, records show
Show notes
Senate Bill 2502 — Implementing the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act
House Bill 1449 — Agency Contracting with Media Reliability and Bias Monitors
Newsmax Will Pay $67 Million to Settle Dominion Defamation Lawsuit
Newsmax paid $40 million to settle defamation suit over US 2020 election claims
Newsmax Analyst Lauds DeSantis for New Anti-Censorship Law
Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]
Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify
Watch the show: YouTube

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