Publix Donated $100K to DeSantis Weeks Before Vaccine Rollout

Over the course of the weekend, CBS News' "60 Minutes'' reported a story detailing vaccine rollouts in wealthier zip codes versus less affluent zip codes. One part of the 60 Minutes story zeroed in on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis favoring Publix, a ubiquitous supermarket chain in Florida, as the top choice for vaccinations only weeks after the supermarket chain donated $100,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis super-PAC. 

The story picked up steam after footage of CBS reporter Sharyn Alfonsi confronting DeSantis at a press conference last month aired on Friday, April 2, accusing him of a pay-to-play scheme. DeSantis, who has been criticized for favoring wealthier, more conservative voters with the vaccine rollout, denied that any quid pro quo and, per CBS 60 Minutes, called the accusation a "fake narrative." 

Over the weekend, Twitter erupted with many either defending the embattled governor's choice of Publix to distribute vaccinations, while others saw it as a clear example of quid pro quo and corruption. 

Many on Twitter were quick to point out that this could be a clear sign of corruption…

Others did not see a clear line to corruption.

Others still criticized CBS News' framing of the investigation as melodramatic.