MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Comes Clean About Falsely Smearing Ron DeSantis: “I was imprecise in summarizing Governor DeSantis’ position”

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell caved and corrected the record on her show Wednesday when she admitted to being “imprecise” when claiming Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) didn’t want slavery taught in Florida schools.

In an earlier interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, Mitchell asked why DeSantis did not want “slavery or the aftermath of slavery” to be taught in Florida schools. Harris did not correct her during the interview and after the false smear, DeSantis said no interviews to NBC or MSNBC until the network apologizes.

DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin said: “To all of the bookers and producers reaching out to our office from @NBCNews and @MSNBC for @GovRonDeSantis to join your shows, this will be the standard response from our office until @mitchellreports apologizes and your track record improves.

“Shameful.

“This question from @mitchellreports exemplifies everything wrong with corporate media. 

To all of the bookers and producers reaching out to our office from @NBCNews and @MSNBC for @GovRonDeSantis to join your shows, this will be the standard response from our office until @mitchellreports apologizes and your track record improves. pic.twitter.com/8kQcLLEVzW

— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) February 22, 2023

“They’re not accidentally terrible at their jobs–they’re maliciously intent on deceiving people. 

“Ron DeSantis never said this, and FL has extensive black history requirements.”

Mitchell said today: 

“In my interview last Friday with Vice President Harris, I was imprecise in summarizing Governor DeSantis’ position about teaching slavery in schools.

“Governor DeSantis is not opposed to teaching the fact of slavery in schools.

“But he has opposed the teaching of an African American studies curriculum as well as the use of some authors and source materials that historians and teachers say makes it all but impossible for students to understand the broader historic and political context behind slavery and its aftermath in the years since.”

Jeremy Redfern, Deputy Press Secratary for DeSantis, was not impressed with Mitchell’s weak apology and said:

“Once again, @mitchellreports is “imprecise” in her description because she relies on unnamed “historians and teachers.”

“Florida statute requires the teaching of slavery and its aftermath. We just know that “queer studies” has nothing to do with Jim Crow.

“Saying one was “imprecise,” when what they said was a blatant lie, is not an apology @MSNBC NBC “News should not be viewed as an objective media organization. Stop letting the corporate media be the gatekeepers of truth.”

Once again, @mitchellreports is “imprecise” in her description because she relies on unnamed “historians and teachers.”

Florida statute requires the teaching of slavery and its aftermath. We just know that “queer studies” has nothing to do with Jim Crow.https://t.co/tHKJW30L9l pic.twitter.com/h6l1RDsC4f

— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) February 22, 2023

Saying one was “imprecise,” when what they said was a blatant lie, is not an apology.@MSNBC /@NBCNews should not be viewed as an objective media organization. Stop letting the corporate media be the gatekeepers of truth.https://t.co/rGj7uc8kEm

— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) February 22, 2023