Florida Politics

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FL teachers’ unions sue over Gov. DeSantis for takeover of dues-paying process

‘The governor is using this legislation to retaliate against his critics,’ FEA leader says

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/05/10/fl-teachers-unions-sue-over-gov-desantis-for-takeover-of-dues-paying-process/?

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Disney scraps plans for new $1 billion Florida campus amid fight with Gov. Ron DeSantis

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. announced Thursday that it was scrapping plans to build a new campus in central Florida and relocate 2,000 employees from Southern California to work in digital technology, finance and product development.

https://apnews.com/article/disney-florida-campus-california-desantis-f68879e039ab85b3f027ddf91d84eb6a?

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Florida Lawmakers Help DeSantis Shovel More Cash To Wall Street

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis positions himself for a presidential bid, his state’s Republican-controlled legislature just sent him a bill that could enrich prospective Wall Street donors he may need to finance his campaign. That includes a GOP mega-donor who DeSantis recently met with as the bill advanced.

https://www.levernews.com/florida-lawmakers-help-desantis-shovel-more-cash-to-wall-street/?

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We aren’t supposed to imply that the Founders (slaveholders) weren’t always paragons of virtue

LONDON–In 2022, the Prince and Princess of Wales (you know them as William and Kate) toured the Commonwealth countries of the Caribbean, former slave colonies. They made a bit of a mess.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/05/22/we-arent-supposed-to-imply-that-the-founders-slaveholders-werent-always-paragons-of-virtue/?

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In New Hampshire, DeSantis says FL ‘provides a ray of hope’ for the nation — but not for all

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spent his Friday in New Hampshire. It was his second visit to the Granite State in the past two months, and comes just days before he is expected to officially enter the race for the presidency in 2024.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/05/19/in-new-hampshire-desantis-says-fl-provides-a-ray-of-hope-for-the-nation-but-not-for-all/?

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DeSantis’s $13.5m police program lures officers with violent records to Florida

Numerous police officers lured to new jobs in Florida with cash from Governor Ron DeSantis’s flagship law enforcement relocation program have histories of excessive violence or have been arrested for crimes including kidnapping and murder since signing up, a study of state documents has found.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/22/ron-desantis-police-relocation-violent-records?

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Exclusive: Texts tie DeSantis closely to Trump insider Lev Parnas in 2018 race

BOCA RATON, Florida, May 22 (Reuters) - Ukrainian-American businessman Lev Parnas and his business partner were arrested in 2019, accused by the U.S. government of funneling a Russian oligarch’s money into American political campaigns. One recipient of Parnas’ donations -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis -- has said he was barely an acquaintance.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texts-tie-desantis-closely-trump-insider-lev-parnas-2018-race-2023-05-22/?

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Ron DeSantis Signs Bill Protecting Elon Musk If His Rockets Explode and Kill Workers

DeSantis signed the bill just one day after his presidential announcement alongside Musk.

https://newrepublic.com/post/173040/ron-desantis-signs-bill-protecting-elon-musk-rockets-explode-kill-workers?

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DeSantis campaign fundraising draws FEC complaint; improper ‘soft money’ alleged

A watchdog organization has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Ron DeSantis’ Florida political committee of transferring $86 million to a federally registered super-PAC backing his presidential election, in violation of federal law.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/05/30/desantis-campaign-fundraising-draws-fec-complaint-improper-soft-money-alleged/?

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DeSantis bid to disqualify judge in Disney case is denied, but judge recuses himself anyway over relative’s stock conflict

A federal judge overseeing Disney’s civil free speech lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recused himself from the case Thursday, days after learning that one of his relatives owns stock in The Walt Disney Company.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/02/judge-in-disney-desantis-case-recuses-over-stock-conflict.html?

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DeSantis Signs Bill Blocking Direct-To-Consumer Car Sales (With A Carveout For Tesla)

You'll be shocked to hear that dealer lobbyists support the bill.

https://jalopnik.com/desantis-signs-bill-blocking-direct-to-consumer-car-sal-1850543086?

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In Ron DeSantis’ Free State Of Florida, His Ear Has A Steep Cost

The Florida governor's version of freedom has come at a steep cost. It's a formula he's taking to the 2024 GOP presidential race.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-desantis-crony-capitalism_n_64960d0de4b007604cf91151

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Veterans quit as training, mission for DeSantis’ State Guard turn militaristic

When the first recruiting class of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Florida State Guard showed up for training last month, they had varied experiences and expectations.

https://www.wmnf.org/the-florida-state-guard-militarized/

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DeSantis-controlled Disney World district abolishes diversity, equity initiatives

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Diversity, equity and inclusion programs were abolished Tuesday from Walt Disney World’s governing district, now controlled by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis, in an echo of the Florida governor’s agenda which has championed curtailing such programs in higher education and elsewhere.

https://apnews.com/article/disney-desantis-florida-dei-theme-park-e3b526acfc6078b6f78626229de2786d?

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DeSantis ousts another Democratic prosecutor — Monique Worrell of Orange County

Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended another elected prosecutor. This time it’s Monique Worrell of Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, in Orange and Osceola counties, a Democrat who was elected in November 2020 and is the second African American to hold the position.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/08/09/desantis-ousts-another-democratic-prosecutor-monique-worrell-of-orange-county/

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DeSantis Still Can’t Find Enough Employees for His Voter Fraud Crackdown

The Florida governor created a new office for prosecuting election crimes — but no one wants to work there.

https://theintercept.com/2023/08/07/florida-ron-desantis-election-crimes-voter-fraud/?

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DeSantis Slips To Third Place In New National GOP Poll, Ramaswamy Surges Ahead

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? Courts slow DeSantis wins

Many of the state laws Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touts as big wins are on hold, mired in court challenges, Axios' Erin Doherty reports.

• Why it matters: DeSantis and the Sunshine State are facing a swarm of lawsuits challenging his policies aimed at abortion, trans rights, drag shows, voting by felons, discussion of racial issues in schools and more.

DeSantis' campaign told us in a statement: "[A]ctivists seek to use the court system to enact their agenda by judicial fiat because their agenda did not succeed at the ballot box."

• Keep reading.

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DeSantis’ appointees ask judge to rule against Disney without need for trial

A Florida judge should rule without trial against Disney as the company fights Gov. Ron DeSantis’ takeover of a board that oversees Walt Disney World, the Republican governor’s appointees said in a Tuesday court filing.

https://apnews.com/article/disney-desantis-lgbtq-florida-47bc50df7aa46efe809a35adaa661c58?

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Insurers Gave Ron DeSantis Millions. He Made It Harder to Sue Them.

The Florida governor’s insurance overhaul is hurting homeowners—and possibly his presidential campaign.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/08/florida-home-insurance-crisis-desantis/?

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DeSantis booed at vigil for Jacksonville shooting victims

Hundreds of people gathered Sunday at prayer vigils and in church, in frustration and exhaustion, to mourn yet another racially-motivated attack in America — this one the killing of three Black people in Florida by a white 21-year-old man who authorities say left behind white supremacist ramblings that read like "the diary of a madman."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jacksonville-shooting-desantis-booed-vigil/?

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Ron DeSantis is a tad more diplomatic than George Wallace was

But, like Wallace, he’s using education to keep Black people down

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/09/03/ron-desantis-is-a-tad-more-diplomatic-than-george-wallace-was/?

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Gov. DeSantis loses first legal round over destruction of Black congressional district

State trial judge cites Florida’s history of racial bias against Blacks

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/09/03/gov-desantis-loses-first-legal-round-over-destruction-of-black-congressional-district/?

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DeSantis drops Park Maitland School, other campuses from voucher programs because of China ties

Florida yanked four private school campuses, including the top-rated Park Maitland School, from its voucher programs because of “direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said late Friday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/09/22/schools-vouchers-china-desantis/?

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Park Maitland School denies Chinese ties; parents decry DeSantis’ stripping of vouchers

Park Maitland School said Saturday that it does not have any connection to the Communist Party of China and does not know why Florida yanked it from participating in its school voucher programs claiming it had “direct ties” to the Chinese leadership.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/09/23/park-maitland-school-denies-chinese-ties-parents-decry-desantis-stripping-of-vouchers/?