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☆ Florida Governor DeSantis to enter US presidential race next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, according to two sources familiar with the decision, immediately becoming Donald Trump's biggest rival for the Republican nomination and shaking up a contest that largely has been one-sided. DeSantis will likely file paperwork declaring his candidacy on May 25 to coincide with a donor meeting in Miami, with a more formal launch the week of May 29, according to a source. Those attacks have taken a toll on DeSantis’ standing in national polls. But DeSantis and his advisers hoped to use the legislature’s session as a springboard to a campaign announcement and have stayed true to their timetable. DeSantis, 44, was re-elected as governor just last year, trouncing his Democratic opponent by nearly 20 percentage points.

☆ DeSantis to enter presidential race next week: sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsDeSantis to enter presidential race next week: sourcesPostedSources say Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially join the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, making him Donald Trump's biggest rival for the Republican nomination. Gabe Singer reports.

☆ Florida teacher says she is under investigation after showing 5th grade class Disney movie with gay character
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Melissa Alonso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I am the teacher that’s under investigation with the Florida Department of Education for indoctrination for showing a Disney movie,” Barbee said in a TikTok post over the weekend. In the post, Barbee explained she played the Disney movie to a class which was partially full after a day of standardized testing. Jordan also provided CNN with a copy of the announcement from the school district to parents. “Yesterday, the Disney movie ‘Strange World’ was shown in your child’s classroom,” the school district said. CNN has reached out to Rodriguez and Hernando County School District and the Florida Department of Education for comment.

☆ Matt Gaetz slams 2 Fox News hosts for over-sexualizing AOC and joking that he might divorce his wife and marry her instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gaetz spoke out against Fox News and accused two of its hosts of over-sexualizing Ocasio-Cortez. Two hosts on "The Five" joked last week about how Gaetz could divorce his wife and marry Ocasio-Cortez. Gaetz also slammed Pirro, saying: "And then Judge Jeanine — Judge Jeanine, who starts out saying I am happily married. Judge Jeanine, who was sitting at my table at Mar-a-Lago the night I proposed to my wife. Representatives for Fox News, Gaetz, and Ocasio-Cortez did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular working hours.

☆ Democrats are so desperate to win in Florida that they are considering NBA legends Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill for the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some prominent Florida Democrats are eyeing former NBA stars in a bid to reverse their losing streak. NBC News reported that Democrats have talked to Grant Hill and tried to coax Dwyane Wade into running. Democrats are searching for a challenger to Sen. Rick Scott, who is up for reelection in 2024. Having Wade County is great," Wade told the publication. He hasn't been officially approached, but he is on the list of four or five dream candidates to challenge Rick Scott.

☆ Disney Says DeSantis, Allies Are ‘Weaponizing the Power of Government’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Robbie Whelan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

After a year of trying to outmaneuver each other, Walt Disney Co. is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. WSJ’s Arian Campo-Flores explains what’s behind the lawsuit. Photo Composition: Rachel RogersWalt Disney Co. has fired back at Florida Gov. That measure, which seeks to retroactively void a contract that Disney signed to lock in planning approvals to potentially expand its theme parks and hotels in Florida, escalated a year-long fight between Disney and Florida Republicans.

☆ Republicans dismiss fears that their debt ceiling bill would make the housing crisis worse for 1 million families as 'scaremongering'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

House Republicans' debt ceiling bill would cut significant funding from federal housing services. HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said the agency would suffer "the most devastating impacts in HUD's history" if the funding cuts in the bill are made law. He went on, "It's being positioned as congressional Republicans are heartless because they want to pass these spending cuts. "The House bill reduces spending to the levels we had in 2022. The last I checked, 2022 was not a horrid apocalypse sweeping across our country," Cruz told Insider on Wednesday.

☆ Ex-Clinton pollster promoting DeSantis as a way to defeat Trump is 'dangerous,' Democratic group warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An ex-Clinton pollster boosted Ron DeSantis and dismissed Joe Biden as the way to defeat Donald Trump. Mark Penn's commentary is "significant" and "dangerous," on Democratic group, Third Way, warns. Ron DeSantis — and dismissal of President Joe Biden — as the way to defeat former President Donald Trump in 2024 is "significant" and "dangerous," one Democratic group warned on Monday. "There is nothing 'dangerous' in questioning whether Joe Biden can beat Donald Trump," he added. "If we do get to the Biden/Trump rematch, I will surely be writing 'How Joe Biden can beat Donald Trump,'" he wrote.

Law Firms Boies Schiller Flexner LLP FollowMay 1 (Reuters) - A lawyer in the Florida attorney general's office has left to join U.S. law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, the firm said Monday. Deputy Solicitor General Evan Ezray has rejoined the firm's Fort Lauderdale, Florida office as a partner, the firm said. Ezray previously worked at the law firm co-founded by prominent lawyer David Boies from 2017 to 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. The solicitor general is the chief appellate attorney for the state of Florida and part of the Florida attorney general's office. Read more:Florida board to countersue DisneyU.S. appeals court upholds Florida voting law that judge found discriminatoryDisney sues Florida's DeSantis for 'weaponizing' governmentFlorida judge blocks Republican-backed voting law as discriminatoryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rubio warned politicians against going after companies for 'political purposes' after Disney sued DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marco Rubio said lawmakers should avoid looking like they are going after companies for "political purposes." Disney has sued Florida Republican Gov. Fox host Brian Kilmeade asked Rubio about comments by some Republicans, who criticized DeSantis for targeting the company. Disney sued DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president, on Wednesday, saying that the governor was trying to "weaponize government power" by targeting the company. But when it comes to Disney, Rubio said he doesn't think the company is going to leave Florida.

☆ Democratic insiders are all over the map about whether they'd prefer DeSantis or Trump versus Biden in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Others want a rematch with the legally challenged Trump or say that the younger, lesser-known DeSantis would be a bigger threat to Biden. Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said she prefers Trump because Biden beat him in the 2020 presidential election and will "beat him again." Trump has proven he could turn out Republican voters and win the presidency, but he's under indictment and could face even more charges. "That said, this will be a tough race no matter who the Republican nominee is, and every Democrat needs to take it extremely seriously." And both DeSantis and Trump are pushing "extreme" agendas to try and "outmaneuver the other one."

☆ Fed watchdog objects to Senate bill overhauling leadership selection
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Michael S. Derby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 27 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's in-house watchdog agency is pushing back against proposed legislation in the U.S. Senate that would overhaul how the government department is led. Scott and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren have co-sponsored the bill to change how the Fed IG is selected and vetted. The letter also noted that making the Fed IG subject to presidential appointment would cut pay for the job, meaning the person in that position would earn less than the department's current staff. This upside pay arrangement has been faced by other government IGs and it "deters experienced, high-quality candidates from seeking the position." The Fed's IG has garnered the most attention in recent years for its investigations into central bank officials' personal trading activities.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. "Disney now is forced to defend itself against a State weaponizing its power to inflict political punishment," the company said. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in Florida, had been enjoying unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight body on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks are located and attract millions of visitors each year. In the action filed in federal court in Tallahassee, Disney said it had no choice but to take legal action. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in the Florida, had been operating with unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight board on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

☆ Explainer: How did the battle between Ron DeSantis and Disney escalate?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a federal court to overturn state efforts to exert greater control over the Walt Disney World theme parks. DeSantis responded by urging the legislature to abolish a special district that gave Disney virtual autonomy over the development of its theme parks in central Florida. The Florida State legislature created the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 1967 to promote the development of Walt Disney World on a 38.5-square miles of land. HOW DO VOTERS FEEL ABOUT THE DESANTIS VS. DISNEY BATTLE? Forty-four percent of Republican respondents in an April Reuters/Ipsos poll said they had a more favorable view of DeSantis because of the fight with Disney.

☆ DeSantis could win Republican votes with Disney clash -Reuters/Ipsos poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Independents were evenly divided in the Reuters/Ipsos poll. Polling shows DeSantis trailing former President Donald Trump among Republican voters. DeSantis has argued that his actions against Disney were rightfully rolling back special treatment for the company. Some 64% of Republicans in the Reuters/Ipsos poll agreed, with 37% of them siding with the vast majority of Democrats, who said DeSantis was punishing Disney for exercising free speech. The new Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses from 1,005 adults across the United States, including 450 self-described Democrats and 366 Republicans.

☆ Ron DeSantis' month from hell just got even worse thanks to Disney's legal team
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Already this month, DeSantis has seen more fellow Florida Republicans back Trump instead of him. April was supposed to be the crescendo for the Florida governor before his widely expected presidential announcement. Instead, DeSantis has been pummeled on all sides, including by many of his fellow Florida Republicans. "Floridians want him focused on Florida," Rep. Greg Steube, yet another Florida Republican who endorsed Trump, told Politico, "which is the job they elected him to do." Last month, DeSantis began to punch back at Trump in a feisty Piers Morgan interview where he stressed that he was a "winner."

April 26 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a court to overturn state efforts to control the Walt Disney World theme parks and intensifying a battle between a global entertainment giant and a potential White House contender. A DeSantis spokesman called Disney's action "an unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of Florida voters." Disney also argues it was denied its First Amendment rights to free speech. State Republicans last year targeted Disney after it publicly clashed with DeSantis. But before the takeover by DeSantis' appointees, Disney pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the board's action for decades.

☆ Dr. Fauci Looks Back: ‘Something Clearly Went Wrong’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( David Wallace-Wells | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +55 min

Dr. Fauci Looks Back: ‘Something Clearly Went Wrong’ In his most extensive interview yet, Anthony Fauci wrestles with the hard lessons of the pandemic — and the decisions that will define his legacy. But when people say, “Fauci shut down the economy” — it wasn’t Fauci. But somehow or other, the general public didn’t get that feeling that the vulnerable are really, really heavily weighted toward the elderly. We also had a public-health system that we thought was really, really good. But it was really, really antiquated.

☆ Ron DeSantis, facing challenges at home, will test presidential ambitions overseas
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

While in Israel, DeSantis will also keynote an event hosted by The Jerusalem Post and the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. The trip will spotlight DeSantis’ foreign policy credentials as he inches toward a White House bid. DeSantis’ predecessor, now-US Sen. Rick Scott, embarked on more than a dozen trade missions during his tenure as governor. Eleven Florida Republicans have endorsed Trump over DeSantis so far – including seven last week. State lawmakers have also balked at a provision in DeSantis’ immigration package that would eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented residents.

☆ Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin dodges 2024 questions as he gears up for Asia trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Glenn Youngkin will travel to Asia next week to meet with political and business leaders, adding more fuel to speculation that the Virginia Republican is considering a run for president. Youngkin will lead a state delegation on a trade-focused visit that includes stops in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Youngkin framed the visit, his first to Asia as governor, as a chance to strengthen his state's supply chains in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. "I'm going to put our best forward to have that foreign direct investment come to Virginia," Youngkin, a former co-CEO of Carlyle Group, said during an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Friday. The planned six-day international visit, set to kick off Monday, prompted questions about whether he had presidential ambitions.

☆ Disney and DeSantis have been in a yearlong feud that began after the company spoke out against a controversial bill. Here's a timeline of the events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

After a yearlong feud, Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging that the Florida governor tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. The state Board of Education voted on Wednesday to expand that law to cover grades four to 12. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, our state has seen record growth in jobs, GDP, and net domestic in-migration. It was the first time the board met since the revelation of the agreement between the prior district board members and Disney. On April 19, the state board approved a ban on classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades, including grades four through 12.

☆ Disney and DeSantis have been in a year-long feud that began after the company spoke out against a controversial bill. Here's a timeline of the events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The feud began after the entertainment giant spoke out last March against a controversial piece of legislation critics have called the Don't Say Gay bill. The state Board of Education voted on Wednesday to expand that law to cover grades 4 to 12. The new district board also is considering more inspection regulations, building workforce affordable housing on land that borders the resort and theme park, and selling the district-owned utilities. It was the first time the board met since the revelation of the agreement between the prior district board members and Disney. On April 19, the state board approved a ban on classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades, including grades 4-12.

☆ DeSantis Greets a Friendly Crowd After a Week of Unwelcome News
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Nicholas Nehamas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After a week in which little seemed to go his way, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida got back into his comfort zone: talking up his lengthy list of policy achievements in front of a receptive conservative audience outside Washington. “We’ve really become the beating heart of the conservative movement in these United States,” Mr. DeSantis said of his state on Friday morning as he addressed the Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative think tank celebrating its 50th anniversary. Prominent donors have expressed concern, and Florida Republicans in Congress have so far shown little inclination to back him. Even as Mr. DeSantis spoke, Mr. Trump shared several critical posts about him on Truth Social, the former president’s social media website.

☆ Signed Letters, Mar-a-Lago Dinners: Trump’s Personal Touch in Fighting DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Michael C. Bender | Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When Anna Paulina Luna’s father was killed in a car crash in January 2022, she received notes from two prominent Florida Republicans. One was from former President Donald J. Trump, a condolence letter that he signed‌, “Donald.”The second letter came not from Gov. The letters meant something to Ms. Luna, who was endorsed by both Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis in the House race she won last year. But in the end, she backed Mr. Trump for president in 2024. “Trump’s operation is personal,” Ms. Luna said in an interview on Capitol Hill, hours before flying to Mar-a-Lago for a dinner with Mr. Trump and the Florida congressional lawmakers who have endorsed him.

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