Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) continues to unload on Ambassador Nikki Haley (R). During a joint interview with the Des Moines Register and NBC News, Governor DeSantis discounted Ambassador Haley’s presidential candidacy because she’s “phony.”

With the Iowa caucus looming nearer and nearer, the presidential candidates are making their final pitches to Iowans. President Donald Trump (R) is leading the pack of candidates by a wide margin, and this has pitted Governor DeSantis and Ambassador Haley for the second spot.

During the joint interview, Governor DeSantis commented on Ambassador Haley’s campaign, and when he was asked if it would be beneficial for him and Ambassador Haley to team up in a ticket to defeat President Trump, Governor DeSantis immediately turned the idea down.

“I don’t think that that would be something that would be viable,” he said.

Calling her “phony” and someone who “doesn’t have a core set of convictions,” Governor DeSantis further assessed that Ambassador Haley is “trying to be relatable.”

Echoing his remarks earlier this week that she was not ready for “prime time,” Governor DeSantis expressed that “she’s not good offscript,” citing what happened “in New Hampshire a week ago.”  The incident he was referring to saw Ambassador Haley being asked to explain the reason behind the Civil War and not mentioning slavery. This quickly received blowback, and she rescinded her comments.

Ambassador Haley now finds herself in more controversy after saying in New Hampshire that “Iowa starts it, but New Hampshire corrects it.”

During an interview with Dana Loesch, Governor DeSantis slammed Ambassador Haley’s comments, saying that “it was very disrespectful to Iowa voters.” He went on to explain that she made the comment because she doesn’t have much support in the state.

Sharing a segment of the interview on social media, the Florida Governor expressed that Ambassador Haley “thinks she is above hardworking Iowans.”

The post DeSantis Calls out 'Phony' Haley appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has released a new advertisement, dubbing Ambassador Nikki Haley (R)“the new John Kerry.” The advertisement shows footage of Ambassador Haley transmitting conflicting messaging regarding President Donald Trump (R).

Governor DeSantis and Ambassador Haley are both trailing President Trump in Republican polling. However, both are also the only Republicans that will take the stage and debate on January 10^th in the final Republican primary debate before the Iowa caucus.

Both have ramped up their criticism against each other, but a new advertisement from the DeSantis campaign paints the former governor of South Carolina as a “flip flopper.” The comment came from a nine-year-old who also called Ambassador Haley “the new John Kerry” after her recent Civil War flub. Governor DeSantis also commented on the controversy, suggesting that she isn’t “ready for prime time.”

In the advertisement, footage of Ambassador Haley admitting that she “would not run if President Trump ran” is shown contrasted with her campaign advertisement, announcing her presidential candidacy.

The advertisement also shows footage of Ambassador Haley commenting that she considers President Trump “a friend” contrasted with a statement wherein she criticizes President Trump and says that he has no future in the Republican party.

As reported by POLITICO, Ambassador Haley expressed “I don’t think he’s going to be in the picture. I don’t think he can. He’s fallen so far. We need to acknowledge he let us down. He went down a path he shouldn’t have, and we shouldn’t have followed him.”

The rivalry between President Trump and Ambassador Haley has been clear with President Trump dubbing her “bird brain.” In recent weeks, Ambassador Haley has surged in the polls, gaining significant conservative endorsements while sparring with Governor DeSantis over second place in the polls.

In sharing the advertisement, the DeSantis campaign captioned the video with “this is what it looks like to have no core convictions.”

Earlier this week, Governor DeSantis accused Ambassador Haley of “running on her donors’ issues”instead of running to address the needs of Americans.

The post DeSantis Advertisement Dubs Haley ‘the new John Kerry’ appeared first on The Floridian.

Miami- The Miami-Dade Republican Executive Committee, which is lead by Rep. Alex Rizzo, a staunch supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis,  held a 2024 presidential preference straw poll during the group’s planned monthly meeting, and members of the committee resoundingly voted in favor of former President Donald Trump over Governor Ron DeSantis.

The vote tally was small, but telling.

Of the 65 votes submitted, President Trump received 53, DeSantis 5 votes, Nikki Haley 3 votes, and Vivek Ramaswamy 1.

Gov. DeSantis has used his 2022 midterm reelection results on the presidential campaign trail, pitching his 11-point victory in Miami-Dade as an indicator of the support he enjoys from Republicans in the state’s most populous county.

Republicans like the idea of DeSantis being president one day, but they love the possibility that President Trump could be reelected to a second term

"Florida is Trump country! #MAGA," stated Laura Loomer, a conservative journalist and supporter of Trump.

The post Trump Wins Miami-Dade GOP Presidential Primary Straw POLL appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) will square off in the final Republican primary debate ahead of the Iowa caucus. Before taking the debate stage later this month, Governor DeSantis took part in a town hall, directing political jabs at his opponents while affirming that he will "turn the country around" as president.

President Donald Trump (R) will not be joining Governor DeSantis and Ambassador Haley on the debate stage as he has scheduled a town hall hosted by Fox News at the same time as the debate. However, this isn’t deterring Governor DeSantis from making it clear that President Trump isn't fit to be in the White House again.

“Donald Trump is running on his issues. Nikki Haley is running on her donors’ issues. I’m running to address your issues, your family’s issues, and to turn the country around,” He responded, adding that he sees himself as a “vessel for your hopes, dreams, and aspirations."

For him to do that, Governor DeSantis says that he needs “a congress that’s gonna work with me,” adding that he will do everything in his power to make sure that Republicans get elected. Moreover, the Florida Governor says that “this is a time for putting your money where you mouth is” when it comes to Republicans in office. He lamented that Republicans “haven’t really delivered” when it comes to being fiscally responsible, and he believes that he is the most qualified person that can deliver on that promise.

Governor DeSantis also highlighted other concerns that his presidency would address, which includes “structural reform in Washington, D.C.,” “term limits for members of Congress,” “a Balanced Budget Amendment,” and giving “the president line-item veto.”

In recent weeks, Ambassador Haley’s support has grown in the United States, but President Trump remains the clear front runner as well as polling higher than President Joe Biden (D).

The post DeSantis Says He'll 'Turn the Country Around' as President appeared first on The Floridian.

With the 2024 Iowa Caucuses less than two weeks away, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has kicked his presidential campaign into high gear, traversing the Hawkeye State trying to cram in as many meet and greet events in hopes of upsetting former President Donald Trump, or at the very least, come in a respectable second place. During a town hall interview with Gray TV in Des Moines, Iowa, Gov. DeSantis continued to try to contrast himself with President Trump on issues, particularly with the ongoing illegal immigration crisis along the southern border with Mexico.

As more than 300,000 illegal immigrants came across last month alone, DeSantis reaffirmed his position that he would “declare” the border crisis a “national emergency on day one.”

DeSantis is vowing to deport all those who have crossed over illegally.

I'm going to have the military on the border to stop the invasion cold. But one of the things we have to do is, people come illegally, we've had millions under Biden, I'm going to deport them back to their home country,” said DeSantis.  You have got to do that.”

In contrasting himself to Trump on border security, DeSantis said that under his administration, Mexico would pay for the border security wall by charging Mexican workers employed in the US “fees” on the remittances they send back home.

In addition, DeSantis swiped at Trump for not delivering on his promise to deport more illegal aliens than any of his predecessors.

“Donald Trump promised the largest deportations in history. He deported less, believe it or not, than Barack Obama even did. So I'm going to do that. Number two, we are going to build the wall and have Mexico pay for it. How do you do that? Mexico is not just going to give us money. You charge fees on the remittances that workers send overseas. That'll raise billions. We'll build the wall,” added DeSantis. “But most importantly, we're going to hold the Mexican drug cartels accountable. I'm going to categorize them as foreign terrorist organizations. That's going to give us an ability to use deadly military force against them.”

Trump did deport fewer illegal aliens than Obama, but that was because there were significantly fewer attempts by migrants to cross into the U.S. illegally during his first term as president.

Under Trump, both legal and illegal immigration drastically slowed down.

DeSantis first stated that he would use military force against Mexican drug cartels when The Floridian pressed him on the issue at an official executive office event in Miami prior to his run for president.

The post DeSantis Asserts he is More Hawkish Than Trump on Illegal Immigration appeared first on The Floridian.

Maine has become the second state to remove former President Donald Trump from its primary ballot, sparking outrage among the right. Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) appeared on Fox News's Ingraham Angle to discuss, saying the decision "opens up Pandora's Box" and suggested such moves are a means to distract voters from Biden's polling numbers and policies.

"The idea that one bureaucrat in an executive position can simply unilaterally disqualify someone from office. That turns on its head every notion of constitutional due process that this country has always abided by for over 200 years. It opens up Pandora's Box," said Gov. DeSantis, adding that a Republican Secretary of State can remove President Biden from their state's ballot by the same logic for his handling of the border crisis, which could be interpreted as knowingly aiding and abetting our enemies.

While Maine's decision is not likely to stand by the U.S. Supreme Court, Gov. DeSantis suggested similar events about Trump's legal cases will occur throughout the coming election year because Democrats "do not want to face accountability for their failed policies," similar to comments made by Representative Cory Mills (R-FL), who has said actions have intentionally been taken against Trump shortly after damning information about Joe and Hunter Biden has been revealed.

Substitute host Jason Chaffetz asked what the Republican Party and other primary candidates should do next.

DeSantis answered that if he wins the Republican nomination, he "will be able to keep the focus on the Democratic failures, but then more importantly, after you win the election, start holding these people accountable who have weaponized the legal system to go after their political enemies. And that starts on day one, firing somebody like Jack Smith that goes to dealing with people who are violating constitutional rights at the state and local government area. Republicans have turned a blind eye to abuses of power for too long," DeSantis concluded.

Trump continues to dominate in the polls, and this latest removal will likely make the point spread even wider.

The post DeSantis Suggests Removal of Trump from Maine Ballot is to Distract from Biden's Failures appeared first on The Floridian.

Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) is facing scrutiny over her response to being asked the cause of the Civil War. After initially omitting slavery from her response, the presidential hopeful has since rescinded her statement, clarifying that slavery was the cause. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has responded to the campaign snafu, citing it as an example that Ambassador Haley isn’t “ready for prime time.”

During a New Hampshire town hall, Ambassador Haley was asked to comment on the cause of the Civil War.

In her response, she said that “the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run – the freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do.”

Given the negative reaction to the response, Ambassador Haley has since clarified her answer, adding that “Biden and the Democrats keep sending Democrat plants to do things like this to get the media to react.”

Governor DeSantis, while speaking to reporters, commented on the incident, questioning the accusation that the attendee was a “Democrat plant.”

“I noticed Nikki Haley has had some problems with some basic America history,” said Govrnor DeSantis, adding that “she’s asked a very simple question and responded with just really incomprehensible word salad.”

“I just think that it shows this is not a candidate that is ready for prime time,” Governor DeSantis added, arguing that Ambassador Haley’s “gotten a pretty free ride from a lot of the corporate press.” However, “the minute that she faces any type of scrutiny, she tends to cave, and I think that that’s what you saw,” he answered.

Governor DeSantis went on to explain that it’s “not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role that slavery played in the Civil War, and yet that seemed to be something that was very difficult.”

“I don’t even know what she was saying.”

The post DeSantis Feels Haley Isn’t ‘Ready for Prime Time’ appeared first on The Floridian.

With just weeks away before the Iowa Caucus, the candidates in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary not named President Donald Trump do not seem to be gaining any real traction. Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is in a (distant) second to Trump, has been under the most scrutiny, and rumors of his campaign's suspension are swirling again.

The Washington Examiner reported that Ryan Tyson, a long-time adviser of Gov. DeSantis, has supposedly said the campaign is in the "make the patient comfortable" stage, a phrase used for a person in hospice care.

However, Gov. DeSantis's communications director, Andrew Romeo, denied the quote, dismissing Tyson's remark as the "same media hit job based on unnamed sources with agendas" and said DeSantis has come out against the odds before, and the campaign will do so again in January.

Matt Gorman and Tim Hogan, political strategists for Targeted Victory and Arc Initiatives, respectively, discussed the supposed Tyson quote on Fox News's Faulkner Focus. Gorman said the issue is ultimately up to the voters.

"I think with two weeks to go, Tim [Hogan] and I both spent time on presidential campaigns. I think, at this point, it is with the voters. It is for them to make that call. The morning after voting, whether it is the day after Iowa for someone like DeSantis or Vivek [Ramaswamy] or New Hampshire with someone like [Chris] Christie, if they do not meet expectations, they will have to make some hard decisions, and they should do it quickly," said Gorman.

Hogan, meanwhile, agreed with Donald Trump in saying DeSantis's campaign has been "falling like an ailing bird from the sky" and called him "Ted Cruz without the personality instead of Trump without the drama which we were promised."

"I think he is going to stay until Iowa. He needs a first or a very good second-place finish in order to continue, in order for this campaign to go on," Hogan concluded.

The Floridian has chronicled the troubled history of DeSantis's campaign and Never Back Down super PAC, which saw multiple members quit or fired in a short span of months, and the latest Real Clear Politics poll update puts Donald Trump at an average of 51 points ahead of DeSantis.

Will Tyson's supposed remark become a self-fulfilling prophecy as Romeo's becomes self-defeating?

The post Is This the End? Rumors of Suspension Plague DeSantis Campaign appeared first on The Floridian.

The Florida Democratic Party has effectively canceled their primary race by only putting Biden's name on the ballot, despite challengers rising against the president in his own party.

In 2020, former President Donald Trump (R) faced a primary challenge from long-shot candidates himself.  Although not heavily reported, President Trump blew these Republican challengers out of the water.  Even this primary cycle, he will most likely do it again to even more prominent Republicans like Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

Democrats are now enraged that the Florida Democratic Party led by Nikki Fried has essentially ended the primary contest, especially US Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN).  Phillips is running for president against President JoeBiden and has accused the Florida Democratic Party of "rigging" the election in a quote given to Politico.  The congressman further stated he would consider suing, and a push at the national convention if he was not at least put on the ballot.

However, somebody had already beat Phillips to the punch.  A Tampa attorney is now suing the Florida Democratic Party for omitting primary challengers from the primary ballot.  Michael Steinberg, a former chair for the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee and former candidate for Congress and the Florida Legislature filed the suit.

In the federal lawsuit, Steinberg claims the decision violates the constitutional rights of voters by excluding Phillips in an "arbitrary" fashion and violates people's due process and equal protection rights.  Steinberg has also insisted that Phillips is a legitimate candidate, making it unethical for him to be disqualified off the ballot for political reasons.

"He has appeared on numerous television news programs and his candidacy has been discussed by multiple media sources including television, print and social media," Steinberg says in his lawsuit. "The Florida Democratic Party cannot dispute the Democratic Party credentials of Congressman Dean Phillips. His platform is consistent with the platform of the Democratic Party, he is currently a member of Congress, and has mostly supported the position of President Joe Biden."

Steinberg also noted that the Democratic party in Florida has a "non-discretionary duty to prepare and approve a list of all recognized Democratic Presidential candidates, not just the ones they favor or choose."

Other candidates such as famous internet personality, Cenk Uygur and author Marianne Williamson have threatened litigation against the Florida Democratic Party for being disqualified off of the primary ballot.  These candidates have additionally raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for their campaigns.

The post Florida Democratic Party Sued for Shutting Down Presidential Primary appeared first on The Floridian.

The gutter politics war being waged between the presidential campaigns of Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former President Donald Trump (R) has been nothing less than the biggest spectacle of the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. The America First Policy Institute is a group closely associated with Donald Trump in terms of its policy positions and outward appeal toward Trump voters.  But things shook up when the group expanded into Florida and quickly gathered prominent Florida Republicans in their corner.

The Florida chapter of America First Policy Institute announced that former state Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-FL) will lead its Florida chapter.

"At a time when our communities value safety, opportunity, and freedom more than ever before, the commitment of the America First Policy Institute to Florida demonstrates a determination few entities are willing to consider these days," said Bondi. "As we look to better the lives of all Floridians, I’m honored to be able to contribute to AFPI’s efforts to help the state continue to flourish and further the America First movement."

"America First Policies proved to work at the national level, and they are working in dozens of states across our country,” said Brooke Rollins, AFPI’s president and CEO.“From high crime rates and homelessness to businesses and families struggling to make ends meet, we believe now is the time for the people to demand proven policies that can get the state back on the right track."

Rollins also stated that Florida is already a model for conservative governance, but the new chapter wants to "make it better and continue to help Florida model for the country what fighting for freedom looks like under an America-First banner."

While the move may look uniting to conservatives, it is crystal clear that Trump and DeSantis have two different visions of what conservative governance means to them.  With Pam Bondi seemingly joining Trump's circle, Team DeSantis should now be noting Florida as a possible toss up state in the upcoming Republican primary election.

The post Trump Think Tank 'America First Policy Institute' Moves to Florida appeared first on The Floridian.

With 2023 coming to a close, the state of Florida has gone under great changes this year, the most notable being the use of capital punishment.  Florida was one of the leading states this year in executions along with states like Texas.

The state of Florida only executed less people than Texas, with six executions ordered by the state government and eight ordered by the state of Texas.  The death warrants signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) were given to offenders such as Darryl Bryan Barwick, who murdered a Panama City woman in 1986.

Death penalty changes in Florida are not only chalked up to being about increasing the use of the death penalty, but also changing the definition of what constitutes capital punishment.  Governor DeSantis signed a bill last summer that extended the use of capital punishment to child rapists.

During a press conference in Titusville, Florida with Attorney General Ashley Moody and local law enforcement officials, Gov. DeSantis challenged the U.S. Supreme Court ruling negating the death penalty from being used in the crime of rape, adding that the death penalty is an “appropriate punishment” for heinous crimes like rape.

DeSantis has also tore down another hallmark of the death penalty standard in the United States by throwing out the mandatory unanimous jury decision to penalize a convicted offender with capital punishment, and instead has signed legislation that only requires a supermajority of a jury to impose the death penalty.

In the wake of mass shootings, the issue became a bipartisan one as even  Senator Lauren Book (D-FL) and Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-FL) have come out in support of strengthening capital punishment.  "There is a stark difference between those who do not deserve to live, and those who deserve to die,” Sen. Pizzo said in regard to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooter. “And Nikolas Cruz did not deserve to live, and he did deserve to die."

Now with 2023 near the rearview mirror, Florida has become the death penalty state.  While this may be a very "law and order" way of prosecuting crimes, many wonder how ethical these new practices are with the Supreme Court of the United States siding against many of the moves Florida has made on the practice.

The post Florida Became the Death Penalty State in 2023 appeared first on The Floridian.

The rumor mill is working overtime this holiday season as reports indicate that President Donald Trump (R)has a possible Vice-Presidential candidate in mind. Despite both engaging in a tense rivalry, it’s speculated that President Trump is considering Ambassador Nicki Haley (R) as his vice-president. The Republican primary is not over yet, and the choice has been a surprise for supporters of President Trump.

According to Politico and CBS News, insiders have notified them that President Trump is considering offering the Vice-Presidential position to Ambassador Haley.

President Trump has often referred to Ambassador Haley as “bird brain” on the campaign trailer, and the former Ambassador to the United Nations under President Trump has been critical of the former president.

This began when Ambassador Haley announced her candidacy earlier this year, arguing that presidential candidates should take a competency test. It was seen as an affront to both President Trump and President Joe Biden (D) given their ages.

Insiders have allegedly come forward to say that President Trump has asked his allies what they think of Ambassador Haley being his vice-president. However, the suggestion has been widely panned.

What further adds fuel to the fire is that Donald Trump Jr. was recently interviewed on Newsmax, and he commented that he would “go to great lengths to make sure” that a Trump-Haley ticket does not happen. Similarly, Tucker Carlson has expressed that he would “advocate against” a Trump-Haley ticket “as strongly as I could.”

Last week, while speaking at a conservative conference, Steven Bannon, President Trump’s former strategist, called Ambassador Haley “Lucifer,” adding that the Republican establishment would pressure President Trump to pick her.

Ambassador Haley has quickly risen up the ranks in the Republican primary, claiming second place in the race. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) was once viewed as an alternative to President Trump, but political pundits argue his campaign has not performed as effectively as it should have.

President Trump leads both in the primary polls by a wide margin.

The post Trump Reportedly Considering Haley as Vice President appeared first on The Floridian.

Because Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis decided to run against former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, no love is lost between the two men, as the amount of disdain that is spewing out from both camps against each other is almost Biblical.

President Trump has been targeting Gov. DeSantis since before he announced his presidential run for office earlier this year.

Sources close to the Trump campaign say that the former president loathes DeSantis and his lack of “loyalty.”

The attacks against DeSantis have ramped up over the past several months as Trump’s surge in all the public opinion polls has elevated his primary election status to almost unbeatable status.

It hasn’t always been this way between Trump and DeSantis.

We all can remember when both men would trip over each other in praise before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lovefest between Trump and DeSantis was almost nauseating, at least to Progressive Democrats who were very bitter that Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, and DeSantis beat uber-Progressive Andrew Gillum.

Many of you will not remember Trump’s grandiose tweet of support for DeSantis during his first congressional race in 2012.

I do because I was probably the only reporter to write about it for our Shark-Tank website.

In 2012, Trump was simply a billionaire land developer with TV personality status.

His endorsement didn’t really go far then, but speaks volumes now after he catapulted himself to be the undisputed leader of the national Republican Party and kingmaker to Republican candidates for elected office.

Trump tweeted our story here, listing DeSantis’s accolades and calling him “very impressive.”

Ron DeSantis, Iraq vet, Navy hero, bronze star, Yale, Harvard Law, running for Congress in Fla. Very impressive

At the time, Trump told me he was not ruling out a run for office as an Independent candidate, but said he would probably stay in the Republican Party.

He did just that and thee rest is history.

Iowa’s Caucus is on January 15, and New Hampshire’s primary election is January 23.

The post When Trump Thought DeSantis was 'Very Impressive' appeared first on The Floridian.

Republicans are now seeking to remove President Joe Biden (D) from ballots in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Three Republican lawmakers from the states have announced that they are drafting a bill to remove President Biden from the respective ballots.

The effort comes after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump (R) would be removed from the Colorado Republican primary ballot. The decision received widespread panning from Republicans across the country, and it has also received criticism from members from across the aisle.

As California Democrats looked to follow suit, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) relayed a message to his fellow Democrats, saying that “there is no doubt that Donald Trump is a threat to our liberties and even to our democracy, but in California, we defeat candidates at the polls. Everything else is a political distraction.”

The three Republicans that are drafting the bill to remove President Biden from the ballots are Pennsylvania Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R), Georgia Rep. Charlice Byrd (R), and Arizona Rep. Cory Mcgarr (R).

In speaking to Breitbart News, the Republicans commented that they “are joining forces to introduce legislation to REMOVE Joe Biden from the ballot in Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.”

“The absurdity of radical Democrat judges removing Donald Trump from the ballot in Colorado will be a stain on the American political system for decades. By their very own interpretation of the law, Joe Biden is 100% not eligible to run for political office,” they explained.

Should President Biden be removed from the primary ballots, it would be difficult for President Biden to win the nomination as all three states are crucial in the election process.

“Democrats’ insane justification to remove Trump can just as easily be applied to Joe Biden for his ‘insurrection’ at the southern border and his alleged corrupt family business dealings with China,” the lawmakers added.

The post GOP Bill Bars Biden From Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania Ballots appeared first on The Floridian.

Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) is referring to Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) as a “grinch” this Christmas after he rejected the $320 million federal grant for transportation infrastructure.

The rationale for the decision was based on the notion that the grant was “politicized” to address climate change, according to Business Insider. The grant would’ve been facilitated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) Carbon Reduction Program (CRP).

In a letter to Gov. DeSantis, Rep. Castor and five other Democratic U.S. Representatives from the state of Florida call for the Florida governor to reverse course as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had a plan in place to use the funds for “public transit, safe rest stop areas, and reduced congestion.” However, Gov. DeSantis denied the proposal.

“This decision constitutes a stark policy reversal, following months of FDOT planning and the development of the state’s Carbon Reduction Strategy, a prerequisite step for Florida to receive the program’s $320 million in funding,” wrote the lawmakers. “FDOT’s own documents outline the importance of the Carbon Reduction Program — and the investments it would have provided — to the state’s transportation goals. Such goals include: providing safe and convenient transportation options, improving traffic flow and reducing congestion and idling, improving energy efficiency, and reducing climate impacts.”

Castor and the legislators continued by saying that “the people of Florida deserve answers” regarding his decision.

“Plainly, your repeated rejection of federal investment opportunities will lead our state to a future with more traffic fatalities, higher energy and transportation costs, and worse air pollution. The people of Florida deserve answers, and they deserve a Governor who will not sacrifice the best interests of our state to further an extreme agenda,” they stated.

The Democratic lawmakers brought up the fact that a reversal from DeSantis is not unprecedented. Recently, the Florida governor had a change of mind on energy-saving rebates. The lawmakers believe it was due to pressure from Castor and her fellow legislators.

They concluded, “After months of pressure from Castor and her colleagues, Gov. DeSantis appears to have reversed his decision on the energy-saving rebates. DeSantis also blocked investments for electric vehicles, EV charging and solar for all - all of which would lower costs for Florida families. Bah, Humbug!”

The signers of the letter alongside Rep. Castor included Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and Lois Frankel (D-FL).

The post Castor Calls DeSantis 'The Grinch' After Turning Down $320 Million Infrastructure Grant appeared first on The Floridian.

Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis (R-FL) spoke at a campaign event in Hawkeye State just weeks before the Iowa Caucuses, where he spoke on the idea of "draining the swamp" and limiting the sluggishness of the bureaucracy in the federal government.

Specifically, the Florida governor brought up the prospect of Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution which gives the President of the United States the ability to fire government employees.

"Well, look, so you have Article II power, people say all this stuff, here's the thing: firing people for cause is inherent in Article II. Yes, there'll be litigation over it, but I think we would win on this stuff, and I think that Presidents have not been willing to use Article II power. We're going to use it to be able to shape this bureaucracy in a way that is going to be accountable to the American people," said Gov. DeSantis.

So what does the Constitution say exactly? It says this:

"He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments." - Article II, Section II

With this in mind, The National Constitution Center provided some interpretations by Constitutional law professors who believe that this issue has already been pretty much settled.

“Those cases do not determine, however, whether Congress may limit the President’s own removal power, for example, by conditioning an officer’s removal on some level of ‘good cause.’ The Supreme Court first gave an affirmative answer to that question in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States(1935), which limited the President’s discretion in discharging members of the Federal Trade Commission to cases of “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.’” - Professors John O. McGinnis and Peter M. Shane

Should Gov. DeSantis reside in the White House, he has a case and, more importantly, precedent, to possibly significantly reduce the number of federal employees in Washington D.C.

The post DeSantis Points to Constitution as Permission to Drain the Swamp appeared first on The Floridian.

Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) has gained significant support according to the most recent New Hampshire poll. The once political friend turned rival to President Donald Trump (R) has made an effort to distance herself. According to a poll from Saint Anselm College, Ambassador Haley is now in second place in the first primary state.

Since September, Ambassador Haley has doubled her support in New Hampshire. Moreover, almost a third of Granite State voters that are likely to vote in New Hampshire’s Republican primary shared that Ambassador Haley was their preferred candidate. Despite this boost in support, President Trump still leads the rest of the Republican challengers in state-level and national polls.

In recent weeks, Ambassador Haley has received a number of coveted endorsements. The most recent endorsement came from New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R).

In his endorsement, Governor Sununu praised Ambassador Haley’s work, affirming that “America has an amazing opportunity to have a president that understands national policy but that connects with communities at a retail level.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) was once seen as the alternative to President Trump, but Governor DeSantis’ performance in the primary has received criticism from political pundits. Although Governor DeSantis has struggled to overtake President Trump in the polls, he’s still received endorsements from the likes of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R).

Andrew Romeo, Governor DeSantis’ campaign communications director, released a statement to USA today, commenting on Governor Sununu endorsing Ambassador Haley.

“What happens in New Hampshire will be significantly impacted by the outcome in Iowa where the true Trump alternative will emerge,” Romeo said. “And when Ron DeSantis comes out in that position he will be joined by over 60 New Hampshire state legislators who stand ready to take the fight to the establishment and their candidates of yesteryear to return power to grassroots conservatives,” he added.

In addition to leading his Republican challengers, President Trump is also leading President Joe Biden (D) in national polls.

The post Haley Catching up to Trump in New Hampshire Poll appeared first on The Floridian.

During every Republican presidential primary election, candidates seeking to win the GOP presidential nomination always, always seek the support and endorsements from the ever-important evangelical vote, and in the 2024 sweepstakes, both former President Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis are trying to out-Jesus one another in the pivotal Iowa Caucuses.

Gov. DeSantis’s campaign came out singing Hallelujah the loudest, courting Iowa evangelicals on Day 1 and eventually garnered the endorsement of Bob Vander Platts, an influential pastor.

DeSantis also rolled out the support of about 150 local faith leaders, but he was quickly countered by President Trump, who has not rolled out 300 Iowa faith-based leaders.

"President Trump is the clear choice for people of faith in America. Unlike other politicians, when President Trump promises he will do something, he keeps his promises,” said Pastor Jamison Plank from Henry County, Iowa. “President Trump has an unmatched record of defending family values, promoting religious freedom, and championing moral clarity and biblical authority."

By garnering a significant amount of support from the evangelical community in Iowa, President Trump continues to steamroll Gov. DeSantis and the rest of the field of candidates, as a new Iowa-centric Fox Business public opinion poll shows the former president leading both DeSantis and Ambassador Nikki Haley by 34 and 36 percentage points, respectively.

In New Hampshire, the first primary election state, Haley has surged past DeSantis, who is in single digits but is still 14 points down from Trump.

Nationally, Trump’s surge continues to spike. The four latest national polls by Quinnipiac, Yahoo News, Economist/YouGov, and Morning Consult, show Trump leading Haley and DeSantis by 41 to 56 percentage points.

President Trump’s Iowa Faith Leader Coalition includes: 

Paul Figie, Pastor, Jackson County

Richard Kessler, Pastor, Wapello County

Josue Rodriguez, Pastor Scott County

Korene Sturtz, Pastor, Clinton County

Rick Bick, Pastor, Wapello County

Tony Hacker, Pastor, Scott County

Dave Tyree, Pastor, Lucas County

Rose Kessler, Pastor, Keokuk County

Marti Puls, Minister, Scott County

Darin Sturtz, Pastor, Clinton County

David Lage, Ministry Leader, Warren County

Joshua Graber, Pastor, Benton County

Brad Sherman, Pastor, Iowa County

Jimmy Tyree, Pastor, Marion County

John Johnson, Ministry Leader, Polk County

Greg McCall, Ministry Leader, Polk County

Jerry Reynolds, Pastor, Clinton County

Joel Koebnat, Pastor, Scott County

Patrick Wiedemeier, Pastor, Hamilton County

Travis Decker, Pastor, Wapello County

Brad Schroeder, Pastor, Story County

Robert Klaus, Ministry Leader, Linn County

Dean Scott, Pastor, Dallas County

Dan McCoy, Pastor, Polk County

Mike Griffiths, Pastor, Scott County

Cyril Mckay, Pastor, Mahaska County

Janice Barger, Pastor, Muscatine County

Mike Simiele, Pastor, Howard County

Ernie Rudolph, Elder, Dallas County

Dick Green, Ministry Leader, Linn County

Michael Elmore, Pastor, Jones County

Roger Adkins, Pastor, Scott County

Tammy Adkins, Pastor, Scott County

Stephen Cohenour, Ministry Leader, Fayette County

Roland Waterman, Pastor, Fayette County

Linda Nichols, Elder, Clinton County

Tim Nichols, Elder, Clinton County

Lorie Hartman, Elder, Clinton County

Don Culp, Pastor, Lee County

Patricia Lage, Ministry Leader, Warren County

David Sixtos-Villa, Pastor, Polk County

Kathryn Bohn, Ministry Leader, Scott County

Steven Sears, Elder, Clinton County

Kathy Cline, Worship Leader Story County

Jennifer Bramble, Youth Leader, Polk County

Kelly Wyllie, Ministry Leader, Polk County

John Gilworth, Elder, Wapello County

Mark Densmore, Elder, Polk County

Scott Hill, Pastor, Guthrie County

Madison Sturtz, Board Member, Clinton County

Luana Stoltenberg, Ministry Leader, Scott County

Katherine Watsey, Ministry Leader, Jefferson County

Glen Meyers, Pastor, Audubon County

Joshua Davis, Pastor, Scott County

Paul Dykstra, Ministry Leader Ringgold County

Darren Young, Pastor, Marshall County

David Brown, Pastor, Warren County

Adam Whitty, Pastor, Floyd County

Mary Merritt, Missionary, Guthrie County

Dennis Merritt, Missionary, Guthrie County

Ken Bose, Pastor, Greene County

Susan Bose, Ministry Leader, Greene County

Sandra Hanlon, Ministry Leader, Woodbury County

Mike Hanlon, Ministry Leader, Woodbury County

Dianne Schafer, Fellowship Leader, Adair County

Diane Collette, Small Group Leader, Polk County

Doug Campbell, Elder, Cerro Gordo County

Don Buhrow, Pastor, Polk County

Garrett Lamb, Pastor, Polk County

The post Trump Bests DeSantis With Iowa Evangelicals, Garners Support From 300 Faith Leaders appeared first on The Floridian.