When you peddle fake news, you're going to get torched. The New York Times should've been raked over the coals more for their horrendous reporting in Gaza, where they, and other outlets, set off a firestorm in the Muslim world for blaming Israel for striking a hospital. As it turned out, it was Palestinian Islamic Jihad who hit the hospital with an errant rocket salvo. The damage was done, and it's given anti-Semites all the ammunition they need to march in the streets, claiming to be for Palestinian rights. It's really about these folks seizing an opportunity to scream about killing Jews.
This story isn't as consequential internationally, but it indirectly relates to the 2024 election as the music artist P!nk decided to weigh in on "book bans" in Florida—and got it wrong. Undeterred, she doubled down when called out for it, chalking it up to MAGA rage. It's not that, lady. What you posted was demonstrably false.
Even with the Israel-Hamas war raging in the background, you have these little commentaries seeping through the airwaves: conservative book bans are really scary. The reason some are trying to refocus on this issue, despite it being laughably untrue, is that there is no good news for Democrats. The economy is still in shambles. It's so bad that new migrants are self-deporting. Inflation remains high. Regardless of how many economic reports this administration peddles showing a rosier picture, Joe Biden is losing to Donald Trump in almost every key swing state. Democrats can't focus too much on Israel, as there are vast clusters of Muslim voters in Michigan and Minnesota, which Biden needs to win, who are pro-Hamas.
So, talk about something that will unite the party ahead of an election year: bashing the GOP, Trump, and Ron DeSantis. That's what P!nk tried to do here. The artist claimed that "Forrest Gump," "A Catcher in The Rye," "The Hill We Climb," "Girls Who Code," "Atlas Shrugged," "1984," "The Kite Runner," "The Bluest Eye," "A Wrinkle In Time," and "The Diary of Anne Frank" were banned in the Sunshine State. They're not.
The following are some titles of books that have been banned from schools in Florida…. Lmk which book is pornography…. To Kill A Mockingbird, The Hate You Give, Forrest Gump, A Catcher In The Rye, The Hill We Climb, Girls Who Code, Atlas Shrugged, 1984, The Kite Runner, The…
— P!nk (@Pink) November 14, 2023
Hahahaha MAGA cult is mad tonight y’all. Their panties are in quite a bunch 😂 they really dislike being challenged and get even angrier when they can’t silence you. Oh well READ BANNED BOOKS!
— P!nk (@Pink) November 15, 2023
Here's the community note:
This list has been proven incorrect. These books are not banned in Florida. In fact, some are on Florida’s required reading list.
Fact check: Fake list of banned Florida books circulates widely online.
But let's not waste too much time on this, folks. We have other fights ahead that need our attention. Also, are we shocked that someone from the ultra-lefty music industry doesn't know anything? No. We called it out. It got community noted. She retreated into her Soma state. We won.
I’m not MAGA. No one is silencing you. You posted embarrassing, lazy misinformation & got called out on it. Do better. https://t.co/uzR7VHYCfK
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) November 15, 2023
This is complete nonsense.
— AG (@AGHamilton29) November 14, 2023
Not only are these books not banned
in Florida, but several of them (ex: The Diary of Anne Frank & TKAM) are actually on the state’s list for recommended texts. https://t.co/T3uCQVZzXk https://t.co/PLpdfhUeOG pic.twitter.com/NGiwpyaToW
You’re confusing Florida with California pic.twitter.com/UoqVAHGGod
— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) November 14, 2023
