Listen: Ron DeSantis’s presidential launch suffers major technical issues
Since his 2024 campaign got off to a shaky start on Wednesday evening with its much-derided Twitter Spaces launch, Ron DeSantis has been doing the rounds of right-wing media outlets, reminding voters of his record in Florida and taking the occasional dig at chief rival, former president Donald Trump.
In one interview he said, if elected president, he would consider pardons for those charged with January 6 Capitol riot offences, and when pressed as to whether that would include Mr Trump, acknowledged it would be everyone.
His remark was criticised not just by Democrats, but was also sharply rebuked by former Republican Rep Liz Cheney, who tweeted: “Any candidate who says they will pardon Jan. 6 defendants is not qualified to be President.”
Meanwhile, in the Florida governor’s ongoing feud with the Walt Disney Company, Disney urged a federal court to reject a request by Mr DeSantis to disqualify the judge overseeing the company’s lawsuit saying it amounted to political retaliation.
Disney filed its First Amendment lawsuit against the governor in April, saying it was punished for speaking out against Florida legislation that critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay”.
Key Points
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Civil rights groups sound the arm over ‘hostile’ DeSantis agenda
Alex Woodward explores why three of the largest civil rights groups in the country issued Florida travel advisories in an effort to draw attention to the presidential candidate’s far-right campaign.
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 21:30
How the War on Terror shaped the Florida governor
John Bowden explains how Yale-educated Ron DeSantis became the highest-profile Republican seeking to dethrone Donald Trump.
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 21:00
Why is DeSantis at war with Disney?
Alex Woodward explains how a year-long feud between the governor and Disney has boiled over into legal battles that could shape the company’s future in the state.
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 20:30
Florida government employees soliciting for DeSantis donations, report says
Florida lobbyists who work with the Sunshine State government have been left aghast by demands that they donate to Governor Ron DeSantis’ newly launched presidential campaign, according to a report from NBC News.
Andrew Feinberg has the details.
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 20:00
DeSantis signs Florida bill limiting liability of spaceflight companies to passengers and crew
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed into law a spaceflight bill that protects companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin from legal liability if crewmembers or passengers are injured or killed during missions.
The Spaceflight Entity Liability bill, or CS/SB 1318, was one of 27 bills he signed a day after launching his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination during an event on Twitter with its owner, Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX.
The new law effectively shields SpaceX and other commercial space companies from lawsuits in the event that anyone on their rockets or capsules are seriously hurt or killed.
The bill now requires crewmembers and passengers to acknowledge the risks of spaceflight by signing a waiver that contains the following statement: “WARNING: Under Florida law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant or crew in a spaceflight activity provided by a spaceflight entity if such injury or death results from the spaceflight activity.”
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 19:30
Disney opposes DeSantis request to disqualify judge in free speech lawsuit
Disney is opposing a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis to disqualify a judge overseeing the company’s First Amendment lawsuit against the Florida governor and others in which Disney says it was punished for speaking out against Florida legislation that critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”
Disney said in court papers filed Thursday that the request by attorneys for DeSantis, who declared his candidacy for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination earlier this week, didn’t come close to meeting the standards set out in Florida law for requiring a judge to be disqualified.
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 19:00
Forbes CEO doesn’t think 2024 GOP nominee will face Biden
Steve Forbes the chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media told Jacqui Heinrich on Fox News this morning that he doesn’t think Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party nominee in 2024 based on new polls about the economy.
Asked whom he thought could step in, Mr Forbes said he thinks there could be a replay of 2020 and fearing a takeover by Bernie Sanders as the nominee, Democrats might instead look to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, or Vice President Kamala Harris instead.
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 18:30
Shaky DeSantis 2024 campaign launch suffers another technical glitch
On day two of the much-anticipated Ron DeSantis 2024 run for the White House, the Florida governor suffered another technical glitch, this time mid-interview.
Mr DeSantis spent the first full day of his campaign on a tour of rightwing media outlets, appearing on Eric Bolling’s Newsmax show The Balance on Thursday afternoon.
Find out what happened…
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 18:00
ICYMI: ‘He’s admitting he’s a swamp creature?’
Why a simple image of a Floridian reptile caused a stir ahead of the DeSantis campaign launch.
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 17:30
DeSantis says Trump is ‘different guy today than he was running in 2015 and 2016′
Oliver O’Connell26 May 2023 17:15