On April 21 2022, several news organizations reported that Florida revoked Disney’s tax status in retaliation for the company’s position on the “Don’t Say Gay” (formally called the Parental Rights in Education) bill —
Publication: florida
Snopes→ Florida Gov DeSantis Pushes to End Disney Self-Government
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the Legislature to repeal a law allowing Walt Disney World to operate a private government over its properties in the state.
Poynter→ Fact-checking 3 prominent claims about Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
Florida classrooms have become a site of regular battles in the culture wars. The most recent fight is over sexual orientation and gender identity. State lawmakers approved a bill that […] The post Fact-checking 3 prominent claims about Florida&#
Truth or Fiction?→ Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Amendment Outing LGBT Kids
On February 21 2022, several Imgur posts featured tweet by journalist Judd Legum, which contained a claim that a proposed amendment to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bills would mandate that students’ sexual preferences be
Snopes→ Brrr! It Got So Cold in Florida, Iguanas Fell from Trees
A cold snap in Florida is different than in other places.
Snopes→ Florida Considers Ousting Mockingbird from Honorary Perch
After nearly a century on its lofty perch, the northern mockingbird may be singing its last melodies as the state bird of Florida.
Snopes→ Florida Zoo: Man Injured by Jaguar After Crossing Barrier
The man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, zoo officials said.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Biden Energy Sec. Suggests Climate Change Could Have Caused Florida Building Collapse’
On June 29 2021, a Bongino Report clip (“Biden Energy Sec. Suggests Climate Change Could Have Caused Florida Building Collapse”) was shared to video hosting site Rumble.com, covering the devastating June 24 2021 collapse of a building in M
Snopes→ Florida Town Accidentally Sells Municipal Water Tower
“We’re human,” the Brooksville, Fla. city manager said. “Sometimes we make a mistake.”
Snopes→ ‘Stand Your Ground’ Defense Rejected in Iguana Killing
Prosecutors say the suspect “savagely beat, tormented, tortured, and killed” the 3-foot iguana in a half-hour attack caught on surveillance video.
Truth or Fiction?→ Jensen Beach Cracker Barrel Employee Death Facebook Post
On May 18 2021 — in the middle of an ongoing national discussion about labor rights and essential workers — a self-identified former Cracker Barrel employee shared a public Facebook post concerning the purported death of a co-worker at the
Snopes→ Monkey Business: Researchers Find Origins of Florida Monkey Colony
A colony of monkeys has lived for about 70 years in urban South Florida, near jets taking off from a nearby airport and fuel storage tanks.
Snopes→ DeSantis Signs GOP-Drafted Florida Voting Bill, Legal Fight Begins
“Right now I have what we think is the strongest election integrity measures in the country,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said as he signed it.
Snopes→ Did a Bear in Florida Use a Woman’s Pool After Ripping a Hole in Her Screen?
The bear didn't even ask.
Snopes→ Supreme Court Gives Georgia Win in Water War with Florida
The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Florida's water lawsuit against Georgia, ending the long-running legal fight between the two states.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘GME Frenzy Claims First Life’
On February 4 2021, a screenshot of a purported news article (“GME frenzy claims first life as 28yo retail trader shoots himself in Florida”) spread on Facebook and Reddit, appearing to report the death of a man named Jake McGuirrey of Peb
Poynter→ U.S fact-checkers debunked at least 10 hoaxes involving Pennsylvania and Florida on Election Day
Fact-checking organizations based in the United States debunked at least 10 claims and photos regarding the electoral process in two states on Election Day. An overview of this work shows that Florida and Pennsylvania were heavily targeted by disinform
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Trump Campaign Send Armed Men to a Polling Location in Florida?
A pair of armed security guards’ appearance near a voting location in St. Petersburg, Florida drew concern from observers both on the scene and online, as the story mushroomed on social media into a sign of something more sinister. According to
Truth or Fiction?→ Threatening Messages Sent to Democratic Party Voters in Battleground States
In a preview of more organized disinformation campaigns to come in the 2020 U.S. elections and subsequent interregnum period, Democratic Party voters in swing states received threatening emails the week of October 19 2020, ordering them to switch thei
New York Times→ Trump’s False Claims as He Resumes His Rallies After Hospitalization
In Florida, the president made a series of inaccurate claims about his election opponent, the coronavirus pandemic, the Nobel Peace Prize and Cuba, among other topics.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A Florida Woman Has Been Accused of Driving a Motorized Shopping Cart Through Target, Drinking Wine, Eating Sushi and Cinnamon Rolls’
On September 16 2020, a Facebook page shared the following highly questionable screenshot about a Florida woman purportedly accused of drinking wine and eating sushi and cinnamon rolls while riding on a motorized shopping cart in a Target store: Ab
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Florida Congressional Candidate Tweet That White Women Join Black Lives Matter ‘to Fornicate With Black Men’?
On July 16 2020, purported screenshots of a tweet by Florida congressional candidate KW Miller began circulating; in them, Miller appeared to assert that white women “join Black Lives Matter” with the sole intent of “fornicating with
Truth or Fiction?→ Did News Outlets Publish Old Photographs of Crowded Jacksonville, Florida Beaches in April 2020?
On April 18 2020, multiple news organizations published photographs purportedly showing newly-reopened beaches in Jacksonville, Florida, in articles with headlines such as, “Jacksonville beach packed as Florida coronavirus cases hit recordR
Truth or Fiction?→ Were Florida Residents Spotted Packing Beaches During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
A photograph of beachgoers ignoring social distancing guidelines concerning the COVID-19 pandemic prompted local officials to close their gathering place to the public. The photo, attributed to Clay Archer of Jacksonville Beach, was shared thousands o
Snopes→ Florida Republican: ‘We Should Hang’ Treasonous Democrats
Local and national GOP leaders distanced themselves from a Florida congressional candidate who sent a fundraising letter stating that "anti-American radical Democrats" should be hung for treason.
Truth or Fiction?→ Could Trump’s Florida Move Qualify Him for a Tax Exemption?
While the motives behind it are unclear, United States President Donald Trump’s decision to claim Florida as his place of residence could put him in line for a tax exemption it shares with a few other states. The president announced at the end
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Detective Who Led Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Die after a ‘Brief Illness’ At 50 in September 2019?
In early September 2019, a large number of Facebook users shared an article (archived here), compellingly titled “Detective Who Led Epstein Investigation Died After ‘Brief Illness’ At 50.” Based on the visible shares to Facebo
Snopes→ It’s No Joke, Mom: Florida Teen Arrested in School Threat
Authorities have posted a video of their arrest of a 15-year-old Florida boy who allegedly posted an online threat to kill at least seven people at a high school.
Snopes→ Florida Vacation Home Invaded by Vomiting Vultures
A New York couple’s luxurious vacation house in Florida has been taken over by dozens of black vultures that are vomiting and defecating everywhere.
Truth or Fiction?→ 2019 ‘Reported Cases of Flesh Eating Bacteria’ Map on Facebook
On July 17 2019, a Facebook user shared a post (archived here), claiming an image of a map plotted the locations of “reported cases of flesh eating bacteria” that summer. In the status update, the user wrote: I will no longer be going to
Snopes→ ‘Like the World was Ending’: Shopping Plaza Blast Injures 21
Though firefighters found ruptured gas lines afterward, authorities said it was too early to determine a cause.
Snopes→ Snake Slithers Out of Toilet, Bites Florida Man on Arm
The nonvenomous snake bit the man after he lifted the toilet seat.
Truth or Fiction?→ Charles Kinsey Shooting
On March 20 2019, the following screenshot and text (archived here) was publicly shared on Facebook, accruing a six-figure share count in under a week: Charles Kinsey is his FUCKING NAME. Edit: the officer who shot him is Jonathon Aledda In the screen
Snopes→ Florida Pardons 4 Black Men Accused of 1949 Rape
"The way this was carried out was a miscarriage of justice," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Snopes→ In Year of Democratic Hopes, GOP Comes out on Top in Florida
After a recount dragged on for nearly two weeks, top Democratic candidates in the state came agonizingly close but fell short of their avowed goal.
Snopes→ Were 53,000 Dead People Found on Florida’s Voter Rolls?
Zombie voters, or zombie claims?
Snopes→ Bitter US Senate Race Headed to a Hand Recount
Six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee, and at least one in state court.
Snopes→ Federal Judge: Florida is ‘Laughing-Stock of the World’
"We have been the laughing-stock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this," U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said in court.
Snopes→ Did a Broward County Employee Witness Elections Staff Filling Out Blank Ballots?
A temp worker signed an affidavit in 2016 stating she saw elections officials filling out blank absentee ballots.
Snopes→ Would a Proposal by President Trump Exclude Overseas Military Votes in Florida’s Elections?
If it was carried out, the president's call to finalize the preliminary election results before 16 November would discount ballots cast by Floridians overseas.