Monday, December 4

Tag: Ron DeSantis

2024 presidential race: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over Trump on Monday
Politics

2024 presidential race: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over Trump on Monday

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, providing a potential boost for his presidential campaign that has anchored itself in Iowa — but while he still trails former President Donald Trump in early state polling. Reynolds will back DeSantis at a campaign event in Des Moines on Monday, before appearing at another stop Tuesday morning in Davenport, according to sources familiar with the planning. Iowa's Republican caucus on Jan. 15 is the first nominating contest of the 2024 election. Reynolds has been a special guest at events for multiple candidates, but she is seen as a close ally for DeSantis and touts a similar record as governors on the issue of COVID-19 in particular. She also appeared at his campaign events earlier in the summer, and at one separate e...
Nikki Haley files to appear on South Carolina’s presidential primary ballot as new Iowa poll shows momentum
Politics

Nikki Haley files to appear on South Carolina’s presidential primary ballot as new Iowa poll shows momentum

White House hopeful Nikki Haley speaks during a presidential campaign stop at the South Carolina State House on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Columbia, S.C.  James Pollard / AP Nikki Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, officially filed Monday morning to appear on South Carolina's 2024 presidential primary ballot after a major shakeup this past weekend, the exit of former Vice President Mike Pence from the field.In the state House where she was once governor, Haley signed the necessary paperwork ahead of Tuesday's primary filing deadline and said "let's do this" to a crowd of supporters holding signs reading "Pick Nikki" "Nikki Haley for president" and "...
Could Gov. Newsom’s vetoing of bills be a sign of next political steps?
Politics

Could Gov. Newsom’s vetoing of bills be a sign of next political steps?

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing criticism from some in his party for vetoing popular Democrat-sponsored bills that made it to his desk.Some Assembly bills that breezed through the state house and Senate did not find a friend in the governor when the time came. The bill authors wouldn't say that it was the governor playing to national politics, but political experts think it may be a long game for what comes next in Newsom's political life."O wouldn't say he doesn't care about California politics, but what are they going to do to him? He's not running again for governor," CBS13 political analyst Gary Dietrich said.One bill, AB 316, advocated for more regulation regarding automated trucks on the road. AV industry advocates see the veto as a victory."There's a very robust ...
Ron DeSantis super PAC debate memo advises him to defend Trump and “hammer” Ramaswamy
Politics

Ron DeSantis super PAC debate memo advises him to defend Trump and “hammer” Ramaswamy

A Republican firm with ties to a super-PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign is suggesting DeSantis should "take a sledgehammer" to biotech entrepreneur and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and defend former President Donald Trump "in absentia" if former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie attacks Trump on the debate stage. This debate strategy is included in an expansive set of polling and opposition research, as well as an overarching memo on debate strategy, that was posted on the "Axiom Strategies" website ahead of next Wednesday's Republican debate in Milwaukee. This was first reported on by The New York Times. Axiom Strategies was founded and is led by GOP strategist Jeff Roe, who is a top advisor on the pro-DeSantis super PAC "Never Back Down."The New York...
Disney’s governing district in Florida slashes all DEI programs
Politics

Disney’s governing district in Florida slashes all DEI programs

CNN  —  In the ongoing battle between Walt Disney World and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Disney’s governing district – whose current board was hand-picked by DeSantis and took control of the district in February – abolished all of its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the district said in a Tuesday news release. The statement from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District cited an internal investigation into the Reedy Creek Improvement District’s policies, claiming the district “implemented hiring and contracting programs that discriminated against Americans based on gender and race, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.” “The so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were adv...
DeSantis barnstorms through Iowa to boost his candidacy, as his campaign adjusts
Politics

DeSantis barnstorms through Iowa to boost his candidacy, as his campaign adjusts

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis barnstormed Iowa this week with six events in two days, hoping to spark a new beginning for his campaign after a series of recent setbacks.The bus tour, hosted by the super PAC "Never Back Down," which is supporting his run, featured the trappings of a traditional primary campaign: DeSantis spoke to more intimate crowds and did more of the retail politicking early-voting states value. The tour featured more engagements with press, all adjustments his campaign's top brass laid out to donors last weekend. Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets local residents during a meet and greet at the Hotel Charitone, Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Chariton, Iowa. Charlie Nei...
Ron DeSantis campaign fires staffers after fundraising shows high spending rate
Politics

Ron DeSantis campaign fires staffers after fundraising shows high spending rate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign fired several staffers on Thursday, a sign that the campaign is retooling after continually lagging former President Donald Trump in polling and after a fundraising quarter in which the campaign spent nearly 40% of what they raised. While the exact number of staffers is unknown, the campaign confirmed on Saturday that  fewer than 10 staffers were laid off. The staffers were involved with event planning, the campaign said. The news was first reported by Politico."Never Back Down," the super PAC backing DeSantis, has received resumes from some of the staffers laid off, a person familiar with the group confirmed. Two other staffers, media advisor Dave Abrams and advisor Tucker Obenshain, left the group earlier this week to help a non-profit that wil...
Some 2024 GOP competitors echo Trump on the campaign trail
Politics

Some 2024 GOP competitors echo Trump on the campaign trail

Donald Trump's rhetoric and slogans are practically ubiquitous on the 2024 campaign trail – sometimes even at rallies and events where the former president isn't the featured candidate.  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his presidential campaign by declaring, "I'm running to lead the Great American Comeback." It's a slogan Trump used in his 2020 State of the Union speech, and it was the title of a digital video released by the Trump White House previewing the address. Whether DeSantis intended to borrow the phrase from Trump or happened upon it on his own, the use of the quote prompted a quick response from the Trump campaign.  "ICYMI: Ron DeSantis Blatantly Plagiarizes President Trump's "Great American Comeback," the subject line of one Trump...
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Is Now Accidentally Fighting Furries
Gaming

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Is Now Accidentally Fighting Furries

Image: SOPA Images / Sergey Bezgodov / KotakuAs Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempts a presidential run, he’s still finding time for his ongoing hobby of angering different communities with his legislation and bad views on people and things. Now, it sounds like he’s got a new community to add to that list: furries.The Week In Games: Midnight Suns And Callisto ProtocolsMegaplex, a furry convention dedicated to the art of making and wearing costumes of anthropomorphic characters based in Orlando, has announced it will have to raise an age restriction in response to Florida SB 1438, or the Protection of Children Act that makes “knowingly admitting a child to an adult live performance” a first-degree misdemeanor. The legislation was primarily enacted to target drag performers because right-w...
Ron DeSantis unveils legislative move targeting Disney over their transfer of power
Politics

Ron DeSantis unveils legislative move targeting Disney over their transfer of power

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday unveiled a new legislative push targeting Disney that, if passed, would void a last-hour agreement they made to strip power from his state-appointed board.The move from the potential 2024 presidential contender continues a year-long battle with the entertainment company after they publicly opposed his "Parental Rights in Education" bill, which prohibits instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity before the third grade. There are currently attempts in Florida's legislature to expand this bill to higher grades.Disney's governance over the district home to Walt Disney World and its resorts was overhauled by Florida's legislature in retaliation to the company's public opposition to this bill. In February...