'Low circulation right-wing' blog with close ties to DeSantis has 'fired all of its staff': report
"One of the only outlets" Florida governor and 2024 GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis "regularly granted interviews" is shutting down, Rolling Stone reports.
The fall of The Florida Standard, which Rolling Stone calls a "low circulation right-wing rag," comes as the governor's campaign and super PAC "Never Back Down" both consistently face massive turnover.
The publication reports:
A Politico review of the site’s content, conducted for an interview with The Standard's Editor in Chief Will Witt, found that many of its articles read like press releases from the campaign's PR office. It's no surprise given that according to The Floridian's investigation, DeSantis' Rapid Response Director Christina Pushaw has spoken to multiple people about her contacts at The Standard. The site has operated as the central hub in a web of friendly outlets to which DeSantis’ team can feed scoops in exchange for positive press.
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Furthermore, "Sources who spoke to The Floridian stated that Desantis had been instrumental in propping up the flailing outlet and that the governor’s office and campaign had worked closely with the website's management — even encouraging donors, lobbyists, and communications firms to contribute financially to publication."
Per Rolling Stone, the blog "has fired all of its staff and will cease operating before the new year."
Rolling Stone's full report is here (subscription required).
