DeSantis walks back 'territorial dispute' remark on Ukraine
Ron DeSantis is walking back his characterization of Russia's war in Ukraine as a "territorial dispute," following criticism from a number of fellow Republicans who expressed concern about the potential 2024 presidential candidate's dismissive description of the conflict. I don’t think legitimately, but they had," DeSantis said, according to excerpts. DeSantis made his initial comments last week in a written response to questions sent to declared and potential GOP presidential candidates by Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, John Cornyn of Texas and Roger Wicker of Mississippi said they disagreed with DeSantis’ framing. In the interview with Morgan, DeSantis sought to toughen his position toward Russia, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” and arguing that his detractors had incorrectly characterized his “territorial dispute” remarks.
wftv.comDeSantis walks back 'territorial dispute' remark on Ukraine
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is walking back his characterization of Russia’s war in Ukraine as a “territorial dispute,” following criticism from a number of fellow Republicans who expressed concern about the potential 2024 presidential candidate’s dismissive description of the conflict. In excerpts of an interview with Piers Morgan set to air Thursday on Fox Nation, DeSantis said his earlier comments referenced ongoing fighting in the eastern Donbas region, as well as Russia's 2014 seizure of Crimea.
news.yahoo.comWATCH LIVE: Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference with state education officials
Ron DeSantis is planning to hold a news conference Thursday morning with state education officials. DeSantis is planning to speak around 10 a.m. at Ridgeview High School in Clay County. The governor will be joined by Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz. Watch: Central Florida high school cancels after-school ‘Drag & Donuts’ eventThe governor’s press office did not say what DeSantis and Diaz are planning to discuss at the event. Channel 9 will monitor the news conference and provide updates on Eyewitness News.
wftv.comLocal after-school drag event canceled as DeSantis aims to expand Parental Rights in Education
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Drag and Donuts Annual after-school event was canceled at Boone High School Wednesday. It comes amid a push to expand the Parental Rights in Education law that bans instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade. Ron DeSantis’ administration is looking to ban those lessons through fourth grade as well. “If a sports group invites a sports educator to come what’s wrong with a queer group inviting someone from the queer community,” Deshazo said. READ: Meet the Squeeze: Orlando’s new Major League Pickleball teamVIDEO: Florida responds to ‘Don’t Say Gay’ confusion, says enforcement will be limited Florida attorneys provided some insight into how the state Department of Education plans to enforce the new Parental Rights in Education law.
wftv.comGOP operative who advised Youngkin moves to pro-DeSantis PAC
COLUMBIA, S.C. — (AP) — A top Republican operative who worked as an adviser on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's winning campaign has signed on to work for a super PAC urging Florida Gov. Roe ran Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign and has advised numerous other GOP politicians, including Eric Greitens, who resigned as Missouri governor in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign violations. The move comes as DeSantis readies for an expected 2024 Republican presidential campaign and works on building up a campaign infrastructure to support a potential bid. In an interview, Roe called Youngkin "a unicorn in American politics," as the first GOP governor elected in Virginia in more than a decade.
wftv.comAfter calling the Russia-Ukraine war a 'territorial dispute,' DeSantis says Putin is a 'war criminal' and 'basically a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons'
When asked about his "territorial dispute" comment, DeSantis said his words were "mischaracterized" and that Russia was "wrong" to invade Ukraine.
news.yahoo.comPoll: Signature DeSantis policies unpopular with Americans ahead of likely presidential run
The poll of 1,582 U.S. adults, which was conducted from March 16 to 20, suggests a bumpy road ahead for DeSantis after he launches his widely expected presidential campaign later this spring. One bright spot for DeSantis, however, has been the consistent perception that Trump would be a weak general-election candidate. Head-to-head against President Biden, Trump currently trails 43% to 45% among registered voters; in a similar matchup, DeSantis and Biden are tied at 43%. Elsewhere in the survey, Yahoo News and YouGov asked a detailed question about gender-affirming care, which DeSantis has restricted in Florida. But for now, the Yahoo News/YouGov poll illustrates some of the risks of trying to outflank Trump on the right.
wftv.comPoll: Signature DeSantis policies unpopular with Americans ahead of likely presidential run
If Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defeats former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, he may have a harder time winning the general election than his supporters expect, according to the latest Yahoo News/YouGov poll.
news.yahoo.comDeSantis moves to expand law critics call ‘Don’t Say Gay’ into high schools
Ron DeSantis is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” as the Republican governor continues a focus on cultural issues ahead of his expected presidential run. The proposal, which would not require legislative approval, is scheduled for a vote next month before the state Board of Education and has been put forth by state Education Department, both of which are led by appointees of the governor. The rule change would ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades 4 to 12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take. The measure comes after DeSantis championed a law last year that prohibited instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade. The board oversees municipal services in Disney’s theme park properties and was instrumental in the company’s decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
wftv.comDeSantis to expand 'Don't Say Gay' law to high schools
Ron DeSantis is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call "Don't Say Gay" as the Republican governor continues a focus on cultural issues ahead of his expected presidential run. The proposal, which would not require legislative approval, is scheduled for a vote next month before the state Board of Education and has been put forth by state Education Department, both of which are led by appointees of the governor. Spokespeople for the governor’s office and the Education Department did not immediately return an emailed request for comment. The measure comes after DeSantis championed a law last year that prohibited instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade. The law drew widespread backlash nationally, with critics saying it marginalizes LGBTQ people, and kicked off a feud between the state and Disney, which publicly opposed the law.
wftv.comFlorida agriculture commissioner credits News 6 in developing gas manipulator bill
Florida’s new agriculture commissioner, Wilton Simpson, told News 6 he is confident legislation that will carry penalties for the use of so-called “gas pump manipulation devices,” will pass with full support by state lawmakers and Governor Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis to expand law critics call 'Don't Say Gay' into HS
Ron DeSantis is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call “Don't Say Gay” as the Republican governor continues a focus on cultural issues ahead of his expected presidential run. The proposal, which would not require legislative approval, is scheduled for a vote next month before the state Board of Education and has been put forth by state Education Department, both of which are led by appointees of the governor. Spokespeople for the governor’s office and the Education Department did not immediately return an emailed request for comment. The measure comes after DeSantis championed a law last year that prohibited instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade. The law drew widespread backlash nationally, with critics saying it marginalizes LGBTQ people, and kicked off a feud between the state and Disney, which publicly opposed the law.
wftv.comDeSantis to expand 'Don't Say Gay' law to all grades
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ' administration is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call “Don't Say Gay” as the Republican governor continues a focus on cultural issues ahead of his expected presidential run. The proposal, which would not require legislative approval, is scheduled for a vote next month before the state Board of Education and has been put forth by state Education Department, both of which are led by appointees of the governor. The rule change would ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades 4 to 12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take.
news.yahoo.comPresidential waiting game: GOP hopefuls hold off campaigns
But don't call them presidential candidates — at least, not yet. Ron DeSantis to former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, there appears to be little rush to join the field of official presidential candidates. While such a move would mark a historic moment in American politics, the presidential campaign still moves forward with the first debates slated for August and Iowa's leadoff caucuses less than a year away. "There is not an unlimited supply of quality staff," said Republican strategist Jesse Hunt, who worked on the 2016 presidential campaign of former Florida Gov. But Youngkin has not yet scheduled visits to early presidential nominating states this year or had conversations with prospective campaign staffers in those states.
wftv.comLooming Trump indictment puts his GOP competitors in a tough spot
“Checking the box, saying you’re concerned, isn’t going to cut it.”Now Trump’s Republican rivals are scrambling to figure out what tone to take. Chris Christie said "the circus continues" when asked about Trump's preemptive response to the possible indictment. “So I don’t think that the American people probably see this as a huge crime.”Ron DeSantisAt a Monday press conference, Florida Gov. Shortly after news of the possible indictment broke, Ramaswamy wrote that it would be a "national disaster" and asked Bragg to drop the case. “I called on my fellow GOP candidates @RonDeSantisFL and @NikkiHaley to join me in condemning the potential Trump indictment because those of us *running against Trump* can most credibly call on the Manhattan DA to abandon this disastrously politicized prosecution,” Ramaswamy wrote.
wftv.comArizona Senate advances parental rights bill that would ban books promoting sexually explicit content
Arizona lawmakers have advanced a parental rights bill that would instruct the state Department of Education to create a list of books banned for sexually explicit LGBTQ+ content.
foxnews.comRamaswamy calls looming Trump indictment ‘national disaster’ but urges against ‘protests in the streets’
Republican presidential candidate, who's a 2024 rival to former President Donald Trump, says it would be 'it would be a national disaster' if Trump's indicted but opposes street protests
foxnews.comTrump vs. DeSantis: Rivals’ very different styles on display
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a leading Republican presidential prospect who has emerged as a potent force in national politics while avoiding the personal connections, intimate moments and unscripted questions that have long fueled successful White House bids.
Divide on Ukraine support emerges in early 2024 GOP field
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are emerging as leading rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, but when it comes to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they are united in arguing that stopping the aggression isn’t a vital U.S. strategic interest.
Trump vs. DeSantis: Florida pastors mull conservative issues
With the early 2024 conservative field led by two Floridians, the priorities for faith leaders in the state who have interacted with former President Donald Trump and/or Gov. Ron DeSantis might end up impacting the national campaign on issues ranging from abortion to education and immigration.
‘It’s dangerous:’ Worrell accuses DeSantis of politicizing Pine Hills tragedy to get her suspended
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell announced Thursday that she answered Gov. Ron DeSantis’ investigation into her office with the documents he requested, but not without once again defending her office against claims by DeSantis and other officials that she called “political fearmongering.”