Last week, The Floridian detailed Politico's attempt to politicize Hurricane Ian and the backlash on Twitter. One week later, it is PolitiFact that is in hot water.
Yacob Reyes asserts that Gov. Ron DeSantis' claim of Lee County not being in the cone of the storm 72 hours before landfall is "mostly false." Reyes "proves" his assertion by pointing out that Cayo Costa, one of Lee County's barrier islands, was in the cone in each advisory.
Reyes even concedes "there is an element of truth in that most of Lee County was not in the forecasted center of the storm 72 hours of landfall;" yet still rates the claim "mostly false."
Naturally, the response has been harsh, but in looking into Reyes's work as a journalist, there could be bias against Gov. DeSantis and other Republican elected officials like Sen. Marco Rubio.
According to Reyes's very own website, he is a "reporter of Puerto Rican descent," who has focused on the Parental Rights in Education law, "U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's attendance record, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' tirade against masking."
"I have written about the "Don't Say Gay" law, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's attendance record, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' tirade against masking. I have spent days sifting through public records to hold those with power in Florida accountable. I have withstood aggressive," states Reyes.
Taking a closer look at Reyes' past work, it appears as if over 90% of these stories are anti-Republican or anti-DeSantis in nature. There are critical stories written about some Florida Democrats, but the focus of Reyes's work targets Gov. DeSantis.
In response to Reyes's story, DeSantis' Press Secretary Bryan Griffin says he is "not surprised."
"There is an element of truth in that most of Lee County was not in the forecasted center of the storm 72 hours of landfall" and you still give a 'mostly false' rating. Why am I not surprised, @PolitiFact?
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) October 5, 2022
""There is an element of truth in that most of Lee County was not in the forecasted center of the storm 72 hours of landfall" and you still give a 'mostly false' rating. Why am I not surprised, @PolitiFact?" Griffin asks rhetorically.
DeSantis's Rapid Response Director Christina Pushaw points out that Cayo Costa, as a barrier island, is uninhabited. "Governor DeSantis was right, again. And PolitiFact cannot handle it, again," stated Pushaw.
Fact Check: Cayo Costa is an uninhabited island. Almost the entirety of Lee County *where people actually live* was outside the cone. Governor DeSantis was right, again. And @PolitiFact cannot handle it, again. https://t.co/RRLkojzC9r pic.twitter.com/s2llVo2Sw8
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) October 5, 2022
"Fact Check: Cayo Costa is an uninhabited island. Almost the entirety of Lee County *where people actually live* was outside the cone. Governor DeSantis was right, again. And @PolitiFact cannot handle it, again," Pushaw's full tweet reads.
Similarly, Deputy Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern says that Cayo Costa is "0.3% of Lee County," 95% of which is managed by FL State Parks. Additionally, while there are 16 private houses on the southern end of the island, "many [are] used as rentals," says Redfern.
Fact check the fact-checkers:
95% of Cayo Costa is owned by Florida and managed by @FLStateParks.
19 private homes as of 2016. Many used as rentals, and they’re on the southern part of the island.
Cayo Costa accounts for 0.3% of Lee County.
But yeah… “mostly false.” 🙄 https://t.co/zvcI2q3bUl
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) October 5, 2022
"Fact check the fact-checkers: 95% of Cayo Costa is owned by Florida and managed by @FLStateParks. 19 private homes as of 2016. Many used as rentals, and they’re on the southern part of the island. Cayo Costa accounts for 0.3% of Lee County. But yeah… “mostly false," said Redfern.
Finally, DeSantis War Room points out that DeSantis is echoing what FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said about the projected path of Ian, but only DeSantis is fact-checked by "liberal media activists."
Notice how Governor DeSantis gets "fact checked" by liberal media activists for saying...well, exactly the same thing that the FEMA Administrator said. Which, by the way, is accurate.@PolitiFact @AmySherman1 how was the editorial decision made to "fact check" Gov. DeSantis? pic.twitter.com/DtoOo0Ragl
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 #FloridaStrong (@DeSantisWarRoom) October 5, 2022
"Notice how Governor DeSantis gets "fact checked" by liberal media activists for saying...well, exactly the same thing that the FEMA Administrator said. Which, by the way, is accurate. @PolitiFact @AmySherman1 how was the editorial decision made to "fact check" Gov. DeSantis?" DeSantis War Room asks PolitiFact.
The Federalist puts it best when they say "DeSantis' opponents in the press launched efforts to make Hurricane Ian the Governor's Hurricane Katrina."
Publisher Javier Manjarres contributed to this story.
