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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Crist Ads Misrepresent DeSantis Statements on Abortion and Background Checks on Guns

Crist Ads Misrepresent DeSantis Statements on Abortion and Background Checks on Guns

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to eliminate state permit requirements for carrying concealed firearms, and he supports banning abortion, with limited exceptions, after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But political ads from former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s campaign misleadingly claim that DeSantis opposes “any background checks” on gun buyers and “wants to ban abortion” in all cases.

Florida GOP Attacks Crist with Misleading Claims About the IRS and Police

Florida GOP Attacks Crist with Misleading Claims About the IRS and Police

President Biden and Democrat Charlie Crist have said that they don’t support calls to defund the police. And a law that both men supported provides funding for the IRS to potentially hire tens of thousands of new employees — mostly in customer service, not tax auditing, bureau officials have said. But a Florida GOP ad makes distorted claims about both issues.

Kathy Griffin Shares Satirical Trump Tweet, But Not Everyone Is in on the Joke

Kathy Griffin Shares Satirical Trump Tweet, But Not Everyone Is in on the Joke

Dozens of former President Donald Trump’s supporters gathered outside his Florida home to protest a recent FBI search of the building. The activity triggered a satirical tweet falsely attributed to Trump’s eldest son, purportedly telling supporters to disperse, and saying, “We have many important people coming through the club and need to keep it clean.”

DeSantis vs. Disney Q&A

DeSantis vs. Disney Q&A

Here we review what we know about the ongoing conflict between the entertainment company and the Republican governor.

Florida Video Shows Legal Migrant Workers, Not ‘Busloads of Illegals’

Florida Video Shows Legal Migrant Workers, Not ‘Busloads of Illegals’

Dozens of people stayed at a Florida hotel in January while employed as temporary farmworkers for a wholesale plant nursery. But a Facebook video and a tweet by State Rep. Anthony Sabatini falsely claimed they were “illegals” — sparking a protest outside the hotel. Attorneys for the nursery said all of them had visas to work in the U.S.

DeSantis, Social Media Posts Mislead on COVID-19’s Toll in Florida

DeSantis, Social Media Posts Mislead on COVID-19’s Toll in Florida

Florida’s total COVID-19 case rate is higher than the national rate and 10th highest in the U.S. But social media posts and the state’s governor point to a recent decline in daily cases as evidence of Florida’s success in handling COVID-19, while ignoring the full impact of the pandemic’s toll on the state.

Posts Show Manipulated Image of T-Shirt Held by DeSantis

Posts Show Manipulated Image of T-Shirt Held by DeSantis

A manipulated image online shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holding a T-shirt reading, “Your mask is as useless as Joe Biden.” DeSantis and the White House have sparred, including on the issue of masks, but the original photo is from 2019 and actually shows DeSantis holding a Popeyes restaurant shirt.

COVID-19 Surges Among Unvaccinated in Florida, Contrary to Baseless Claims

COVID-19 Surges Among Unvaccinated in Florida, Contrary to Baseless Claims

Florida health officials have reported a 60% rise in COVID-19 cases, and hospitals are reporting that 95% of COVID-19 patients are not fully vaccinated. But a Facebook post makes the baseless claims that Florida’s numbers are not going up, and that all COVID-19 patients recently admitted to a Palm Beach County hospital had been vaccinated.

Meme Featuring DeSantis Presents Misleading Picture of COVID-19 and Vaccine Safety

Meme Featuring DeSantis Presents Misleading Picture of COVID-19 and Vaccine Safety

COVID-19 was the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020. But a meme featuring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis minimizes the toll the pandemic already has taken — particularly among the elderly. The meme also questions getting inoculated, despite the safety record of the vaccines and DeSantis’ public support for vaccines.