One of the reasons that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has become so popular across the United States is that he and his team are entirely unafraid to directly call out and fiercely push back against the blatant dishonesty and false narratives of the liberal-leaning mainstream media.

The latest example involves the DeSantis team completely cutting off NBC News and MSNBC after host Andrea Mitchell delivered a "non-apology" following an unmitigated lie days earlier about the governor supposedly banning the teaching of slavery in Florida schools, the Tampa Free Press reported.

Mitchell's blatant lie and half-hearted "non-apology"

During an interview last week with Vice President Kamala Harris, MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell falsely stated, "Let me ask you, what does Governor Ron DeSantis not know about Black history and the Black experience when he says that slavery and the aftermath of slavery should not be taught to Florida schoolchildren?"

Harris predictably used that as an opportunity to launch broad attacks against Gov. DeSantis and other Republicans, but it was a false premise to begin with, as Florida law actually requires that all schools teach students about slavery and racism and discrimination and other things related to Black history as part of the normal curriculum.

Mitchell and her employer were immediately called out for that blatant lie by the DeSantis team and were urged to issue an apology and correction -- which Mitchell purported to do as a "postscript" to her Wednesday show, but which in actuality just perpetuated the dishonest smear.

"In my interview last Friday with Vice President Harris, I was imprecise in summarizing Governor DeSantis’ position about teaching slavery in schools," Mitchell said, according to Mediaite.

She added, "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."

NBC cut off by Team DeSantis

Around the same time as that unsatisfactory "non-apology" from Mitchell, a blistering email response was issued from the governor's press secretary Bryan Griffin to NBC News and MSNBC to inform them that "There will be no consideration of anything related to NBC Universal or its affiliates until and at least Andrea Mitchell corrects the blatant lie she made about the governor" and NBC and its affiliates can consistently provide "truthful reporting."

In a tweet to share that response publicly, Griffin also wrote, "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."

Just one day later, Gov. DeSantis himself addressed the issue during a speech and referenced the lie from Mitchell as well as other false narratives against him, such as that he is "banning books," that were put forward by partisan activists and dutifully parroted without question by the equally partisan "corporate media."

"We are required to teach all aspects of black history, not queer theory...They are lying to you!"

Ron DeSantis eviscerates the media's lies that he doesn't want students to learn about slavery. pic.twitter.com/zUg3LIDTNP

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 23, 2023

This is the way

The Federalist reported on the back-and-forth throughout this particular incident with MSNBC's Mitchell and suggested that the DeSantis team had provided a clear example of how all Republicans should respond to the blatant dishonesty and clear partisanship of the media by simply cutting them off.

"Time and time again, history proves that corporate media approach Democrats’ political enemies with hostility and bad faith. The media’s incessant bullying of conservative politicians, voters, and beliefs ends only when their utter lack of credibility is exposed and their power to control narratives is neutralized," the outlet stated. "DeSantis and his team recognize this, which is why they confidently ignore liars and smear artists. If other Republicans are serious about winning the culture war and getting the country back on track, they will do the same."

"The only way conservatives can shed their status as media victims is to cut off the propaganda press once and for all," The Federalist concluded, and we couldn't agree more.