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

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