Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) press team often attacks the reporters who cover his state. On Monday, they cost one of those journalists, Ben Montgomery, his job with Axios.
Axios, shame on you.
Kudos to Ben Montgomery, who has a good head on his shoulders and told the truth too succinctly for Axios to handle. I’m sure Montgomery will land on his feet.
The takeaway for me, overall, is to recognize that the Trumpian attacks on journalists and journalism are sharpening. Montgomery has it right—it’s mean. And it will take some steady people and organizations to withstand what is going to be dished out. Book banning is just one form of the censorship on full display in Florida and elsewhere.
Is it true that under Florida law if DeSantis declares he is running for an office, president in this case, that he would have to resign as governor? If so it would be sweet that he formally declares he is running, resigns as governor and loses the election and so is unemployed.
Apparently DeSantis does not like views that are contrary to his from anyone. And he will force whatever news outfit that employs reporters to fire those reporters should they write a story he does not like. So much for supporting the First Amendment.
So how long until other Republican governor’s press people pick up this DeSantis’ PR office method?
No surprise that a shitty, thin-skinned little fascist like DeSantis would try to silence anyone who doesn’t kiss his ring, but I’m very disappointed that Axios would accede to what are obviously his demands. No doubt Axios was threatened with the loss of their credentials or other access, but their response says as much about them as it does him.
Axios sounds like a great place to work. I’m sure this will be prominent on their recruiting brochure.
Among other things. Desantis is practicing in full view the Republican intention of stifling all. They no longer believe in this country. Just their personal outcomes.
Confirmation, if such were necessary, that the press is unwilling or unable to hold fascists accountable and we are on our own.
Winning elections is the core of everything. There’s nothing passive about it. It is where you finally stand or fall.
Many of us have this belief that there is a set of rules beyond politics we must resort to if we really mean business — making new laws, charging people with crimes. It’s like we believe there’s a referee out there to go to to call balls and strikes. But there’s not. That to me is the big takeaway from the last decade of our history.
Axios sux.
Axios’ response in firing Montgomery is all the more shameful (no other word for it) because his message to the Governor’s office was an email, it was private. Had it been a public tweet, or other social media post, Axios’ response vis a vis Montgomery might be understandable, but that’s not what he did. Axios just help set back the cause of a free press.
Seems DeSantis owns the Florida government
Businesses are the first to fold when dictators of any stripe come to power, and that includes universities, even (and especially) public ones. Media orgs are no different. For every decent reporter, there are 10 lickspittle acolytes who will carry the water. The rest keep silent.
Ah, asking the pertinent question, I see: office pool? Will it be Hutchinson, Abbot, or the dingbat in VA–he wants to be Prez, doesn’t he?
Behold, the Axios of Evil! Journalistic integrity cowards!
Cancelled my Axios subscription.
If you’re talking about Asa Hutchinson, he’s been replaced by Sarah Huckabee, who I believe would go whole hog on this dick move. Between Abbott and Youngkin, I can see Abbott’s PR people over Youngkin’s folks.
The legislature would just repeal that law so DeSantis can run without repercussion.