Richard Hanania Uses Derogatory Language in Tweet Referencing Florida Politics

Prominent right-wing commentator Richard Hanania recently posted a controversial message on social media, deploying offensive language while referencing political discussions in Florida. In a tweet dated October 21, 2025, Hanania stated, > "I don’t know what this is, but it involves Florida, Republicans and worries about pedophilia, so 99% chance it’s retarded." The statement quickly drew attention due to its derogatory term and its connection to ongoing political debates.

Hanania, known for his work as a political science researcher and founder of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology (CSPI), has a history of controversial remarks. Investigations in 2023 by publications like HuffPost revealed that he previously wrote for white supremacist and misogynistic websites under the pseudonym "Richard Hoste," advocating for eugenics and race-mixing bans. Although he later disavowed these past writings, critics argue that his views have not significantly moderated.

The tweet's reference to "Florida, Republicans and worries about pedophilia" alludes to a contentious political narrative that gained prominence in the state. Florida Republicans, particularly in discussions surrounding the "Parental Rights in Education" bill—dubbed the "Don’t Say Gay" bill by critics—have frequently used the term "groomer" to describe opponents of the legislation. Christina Pushaw, then-press secretary for Governor Ron DeSantis, famously tweeted, "If you’re against the Anti-Grooming Bill, you are probably a groomer or at least you don’t denounce the grooming of 4-8 year old children."

This rhetoric has been widely criticized by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who reported a significant surge in online hate speech, including terms like "groomer" and "pedophile," directed at the LGBTQ+ community following the bill's passage. Organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the Center for Countering Digital Hate documented a 406% increase in such tweets in the month after the bill passed, expressing concern over the normalization of language that conflates LGBTQ+ individuals with child abuse. Hanania's recent tweet further injects inflammatory and offensive terminology into this already charged political discourse.