The Intelligence from The Economist Difference between right and Ron: DeSantis miscalculates
May 4, 2023
Alexandra Sewitch-Bass, a senior correspondent specializing in Florida politics, and Kinley Semon, Africa correspondent covering jihadist crises, engage in a provocative discussion. They unpack Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s controversial rightward shift and its implications for his presidential ambitions. Meanwhile, they delve into the harrowing rise of jihadist violence in Burkina Faso, impacting children’s lives, and highlight America’s rural shift towards Japanese Kei trucks, exploring changing consumer preferences and the evolving trucking market.
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Florida's Rightward Shift
- Florida's legislative session reflects a rightward shift, with DeSantis using it to showcase potential presidential policies.
- Republicans hold supermajorities, allowing them to push policies without compromises.
Legislative Productivity Under DeSantis
- Speaker Renner stated the legislature achieved four sessions' worth of work in one, passing nearly all of DeSantis's priorities.
- This rapid progress underscores the governor's influence and the legislature's alignment with his agenda.
DeSantis's Culture War Focus
- DeSantis's legislative agenda includes culture war issues like restrictive abortion laws and anti-'woke' crusades.
- Laws limiting media access to travel records raise concerns about transparency.