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What Next | Daily News and Analysis

Disney vs. DeSantis

What Next | Daily News and Analysis

Slate Podcasts

News, News Commentary, Daily News

4.32.4K Ratings

🗓️ 13 April 2022

⏱️ ? minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company are at odds over a controversial Florida law dubbed “don’t say gay,” which would limit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. While DeSantis is a big supporter of the legislation, Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek eventually came out against it, vowing to work to repeal the law and setting up a showdown between the governor and the entertainment giant. Guest: Mary Ellen Klas, Capitol bureau chief for the Miami Herald in Tallahassee, Florida. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This episode is brought to you by Slack. With Slack, you can bring all your people and

0:05.9

tools together in one place. It's your digital HQ where you can increase productivity,

0:11.1

enable flexibility and automate workflows. Plus, Slack is full of game-changing features

0:16.7

like huddles for quick check-ins or Slack Connect, which helps you connect with partners

0:20.9

inside and outside of your company. Slack, where the future works. Get started at

0:26.9

Slack.com slash DHQ. Hey, everyone. Quick note of disclosure. The story ahead is about

0:32.9

the Walt Disney company and their relationship with Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis. You

0:37.7

should know I was employed by Disney and ABC. Still have a few retirement accounts with

0:41.8

them. Alright, on with a show. You can tell a lot about somebody's politics by listening

0:52.5

to the way they described this new legislation that was passed in Florida last month. If

0:57.5

you're a Republican, you might be calling it the parental rights and education law. And

1:02.9

if you're not, you're probably calling it something else. Most people do know it as the

1:08.2

don't say gay bill and boy, that has just angered the sponsors and the governor.

1:17.6

Ariel and Klaus covers state politics for the Miami Harold. Well, it seems like to me

1:22.5

like it was kind of a masterstroke of progressive activists to label it that. It was a brilliant

1:30.2

way to take control of the messaging. The original bill definitely prohibited speech

1:37.6

and that's how it got its name. And then they changed it.

1:41.8

What was signed into law does prohibit instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation

1:47.4

for younger kids. It also empowers parents to sue public schools and teachers that they

1:53.3

think cross an ethical line when it comes to topics of sex and gender. Unfortunately,

1:59.0

that ethical line is pretty murky. Right now, there's already a lawsuit against this,

2:04.1

by the way. You know, there may be an injunction before we know it. And this bill may be just

...

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