The end of state perks for Disney World?

Florida lawmakers vote to end Disney's special status; Russia claims its first major victory in Mariupol.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.

Florida lawmakers dissolve Disney's special status

Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

• Florida lawmakers voted to revoke Walt Disney World’s ability to essentially govern itself on Thursday, in a move widely seen as retaliation for Disney speaking out against Gov. Ron DeSantis’s LGBTQ culture war. [Associated Press / Anthony Izaguirre]
• A 1967 deal made as part of negotiations to bring Disney World to Florida allowed the company to avoid certain taxes and regulations by paying for services (like 911) within the theme park’s borders. [Reuters / Maria Caspani and Dawn Chmielewski]
• Saying “woke” Disney crossed a line in disparaging a Florida law prohibiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for kids in grades K-3, and in pausing political donations in the state due to the law, DeSantis requested Disney’s government be dissolved.  [New York Times / Brooks Barnes]
• It’s not yet clear what costs Disney might suffer because of the bill. Critics worry costs once covered by Disney, such as road maintenance, will now fall on residents of nearby counties. [Washington Post / Lori Rozsa]
• If DeSantis signs the bill into law, as expected, Disney’s special status will end on June 1, 2023. Disney — and the nearby counties — would have just over a year to prepare for the changes. [CNBC / Sarah Whitten]

Russia claims victory in Mariupol

• Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the southern Ukraine city of Mariupol on Thursday, though thousands of Ukrainian troops are bunkered down in a steel factory there. [Washington Post / Adela Suliman, Michael Birnbaum, Bryan Pietsch, Mary Ilyushina and Miriam Berger]
• The announcement is partially propaganda: Putin has appeared eager to fully capture a major city amid a war that’s reportedly dragged on longer than he’s expected. [CBS News / AP] 
• A key city, Mariupol’s been the site of some of the invasion’s fiercest fighting. Holding it allows Russian forces to move more easily through the eastern Donbas region, where the war’s next stage has begun. [BBC / Toby Luckhurst]
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has continued appeals for more military aid. On Thursday, the US announced it would send an additional $800 million in heavy weapons and artillery. [Reuters / Pavel Polityuk]  

The Obamas are leaving Spotify, and are searching for a nonexclusive deal with another audio production company. [Bloomberg / Ashley Carman and Lucas Shaw]

• Thursday, a series of explosions across Afghanistan killed at least 10 people. [AP / Tameem Akhgar and Rahim Faiez]

• The Supreme Court has ruled 8-1 that Americans residing in any territory (except the Mariana Islands) are excluded from Supplemental Security Income federal aid for the disabled and elderly. [Washington Post / Robert Barnes]

• The US Capitol was temporarily evacuated on Thursday because of a flyover that was part of a pregame show at a Washington Nationals game. [NBC News / Jonathan Allen and Julie Tsirkin]

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“This isn’t even really about Disney. This is about staying on Fox.”

[Republican Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes, in the Washington Post]

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