“Thank you for that image, senator,” co-host Michael Knowles joked. “I think there are people who are misguided, trying to drive Disney stepping in, saying, you know, in every episode now they’re going to have, you know, Mickey and Pluto going at it,” he said on his “Verdict” podcast. Since acknowledging the fears and concerns of marginalized groups is not exactly Cruz’s “brand,” he chose instead to make a misleading joke that Disney is going to start showing Mickey Mouse and Pluto having sex. The Texas Republican was griping about Disney’s opposition to Florida’s new “Don’t Say Gay” law that critics fear will endanger LGBTQ children who are often already bullied, ostracized and isolated at home or in their communities. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) attempted to own the Walt Disney Company on Tuesday by making a lewd joke about Mickey Mouse and Pluto ― but only managed to skeeve people out.
