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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law that strips The Walt Disney Co. of its 55-year control over a special district covering its Florida theme parks. The move — punishment after the company spoke out against DeSantis’ parental rights legislation last year — means that he will appoint the members of the five-member Reedy Creek Improvement District board. At a signing ceremony held at a fire station on the Disney property, DeSantis said of the company, “When you lose your way, you got to have people who are going to tell you the truth.” DeSantis also announced his nominees for the board, which are subject to Florida Senate confirmation. They include attorney Brian Aungst; attorney Martin Garcia, selected as chairman; Ron Peri, the CEO of The Gathering USA ministry; attorney Michael Sasso; and Bridget Ziegler, a member of the Sarasota County School Board and a supporter of Moms for Liberty. The board members will have oversight over the special district’s … [Read more...] about Ron DeSantis Signs Law That Strips Disney Of Control Of Special District Covering Florida Theme Parks

One of Ron DeSantis ’ appointees to a special district that will oversee Walt Disney World once amplified a conspiracy theory that tap water could be turning people gay, according to a report from CNN. Ron Peri , the CEO of The Gathering, a Christian ministry, also disparaged homosexuality, calling it “shameful,” according to CNN. Peri was one of five people named to the board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District , which was set up 55 years ago to oversee land use, infrastructure and fire services on the theme park property. DeSantis signed a law earlier this week that give him the power to appoint members of the board, subject to approval by the Senate, in a move that stripped Disney over control of the property. The district also will be renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. In a video of a January 2022 Zoom discussion, Peri claimed, without evidence, that higher levels of estrogen in the water from birth control pills led to lower levels … [Read more...] about Ron DeSantis Appointee To Disney World Special District Pushed Conspiracy Theory That Tap Water May Be Turning People Gay — Report

NewsNation is launching an hourlong panel show The Hill , a brand expansion of the Nexstar political website that will be moderated by Leland Vittert . The Hill will be based in Washington, D.C. and will feature a high-profile guest along with four rotating panelists. They include NewsNation’s political editor Chris Stirewalt, senior political contributor George Will, communications consultant Johanna Maska, and Niall Stanage, associate editor of TheHill.com. Rob Yarin will serve as executive producer of the show. It will air at 5 PM ET, going up against Fox News’ panel show The Five , now the most watched cable news show. According to Nielsen, The Five averaged 3.33 million viewers in the first two months of the year, while the current occupant of the slot on NewsNation, Rush Hour , has averaged 132,000. Vittert will continue to anchor On Balance with Leland Vittert at 7 PM ET, with the show moving to a new studio in Washington. Yarin is joining … [Read more...] about Leland Vittert To Moderate NewsNation Panel Show ‘The Hill’

Comcast President Mike Cavanagh said the media giant would of course consider alternative proposals for its stake in Hulu but they’d have to top its longstanding agreement to sell its remaining stake in the streamer to Disney next year. Disney has been going through a bumpy patch and returned CEO Bob Iger indicated recently that paying billions to buy in Hulu may not be a top priority. Under a four-year old, put-call agreement, Comcast can force Disney to buy the stake (or Disney can force Comcast to sell it) early next year. Asked about Iger’s comments at a Morgan Stanley media conference today, Cavanagh, the CFO who was elevated last fall and works very closely with Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, said: “On this one, remember they and we, back in 2019, put together a very clean and good agreement for a put-call that does happen in early 2024.” “We are very happy with that,” he said. “But, if there is something different that comes along, we have to consider … [Read more...] about Comcast “Happy” To Sell Hulu Stake To Disney As Deadline Looms; Other Options “Must Be Better, In Our Minds, Than That”

With the fate of Hulu’s ownership soon to be determined, Disney CEO Bob Iger says it is “very tricky” to pin down its long-term value given that streaming overall is still in a “nascent” stage. “We’re really studying the business very, very carefully, all those competitive dynamics, with an understanding that we have a good platform in Hulu ,” the exec said in an appearance at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference. “We have very strong original programming … and we also have a good library.” The service, he added, is “very attractive for advertisers.” Despite those pluses, Iger said, “the environment is very, very tricky right now. Before we make any big decisions about our level of investment and our commitment to that business, we want to understand where it could go.” RELATED: Comcast “Happy” To Sell Hulu Stake To Disney As Deadline Looms; Other Options “Must Be Better, In Our Minds, Than That” In early 2024, a “put/call” will take … [Read more...] about Disney Chief Bob Iger Says It Is “Very Tricky” To Assess Hulu’s Long-Term Value As Decision Point With Comcast Approaches