Florida Gov. DeSantis repeatedly targeted by false viral claims amid 2024 speculation

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has so routinely battled with the mainstream media since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that he released a "Top Gun"-themed campaign ad highlighting his "dogfighting" with members of the press on Monday evening.

Left-leaning news organizations and liberal operatives have breathlessly covered DeSantis’ handling of the pandemic, as well as laws passed in his state. 

But both news organizations and liberal operatives have been repeatedly caught peddling false narratives about the governor widely considered to have one of the best shots at winning the 2024 Republican nomination.

Most recently, a fake list of "banned books" in Florida racked up thousands of retweets this week, duping prominent liberals like "Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" was on the fake list, as were other well-known titles including "A Wrinkle in Time," "The Giver," and "Of Mice and Men."