DeSantis news – latest: Florida governor most popular with rich Republicans as he defends move to fly migrants to California
DeSantis on campaign trail hoping to raise national profile as 2024 race hots up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Florida governor Ron DeSantis appears to be the preferred Republican candidate among right-leaning millionaires, according to the latest CNBC Millionaire Survey, although his arch-rival and front-runner Donald Trump is seemingly also picking up support among wealthy Americans.
The poll shows that 32 per cent of Republicans with qualifying millionaire status currently support Mr DeSantis, a drop from 54 per cent at the end of 2022, while Mr Trump now has the backing of 28 per cent, up from 17 per cent last year.
Meanwhile, the governor has met with sheriffs in Arizona and defended his state’s recent decision to fly migrants from the US-Mexico border to Sacramento, California, a move widely derided as a cruel political stunt but which he insisted was above board because the west coast state had essentially invited them with its liberal immigration policies.
“I think the border should be closed. I don’t think we should have any of this,” Mr DeSantis said. “But if there’s a policy to have an open border, then I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones that have to bear that.”
Earlier: Walt Nauta pleads not guilty in classified documents case
Nearly a month after former president Donald Trump was arraigned on the 38-count federal indictment that he and his longtime aide Walt Nauta are facing for allegedly unlawfully retaining national defence information and obstructing justice, the ex-president’s co-defendant has pleaded not guilty to charges of having assisted Mr Trump in concealing classified documents from the government.
Andrew Feinberg has the story.
Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta pleads not guilty in classified documents case
Mr Nauta has retained a Florida-based defence attorney, Sasha Dadan
NBC: White House cocaine found in different place to previously reported
NBC News reports that multiple officials involved in the White House cocaine inquiry now say the bag of powder was found in a cubby near the West Executive entrance, not the formal West Wing lobby as was previously reported.
Investigators expect to be done with the investigation by Monday, according to two sources familiar with the process. The inquiry was previously expected to take a couple of weeks.
The area in which the cocaine was found is also heavily transited by people as it is an entrance near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV park.
It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.
How can the spike in turnout from younger voters in recent elections be repeated?
Gustaf Kilander learns from elections coordinator Ruby Belle Booth that there’s an ‘opportunity between now and 2024 to make sure that every single young person has the information and resources they need to get registered to vote and to cast their ballot’.
This is what’s needed for high young voter turnout in 2024
Elections coordinator Ruby Belle Booth tells Gustaf Kilander there’s an ‘opportunity between now and 2024 to make sure that every single young person has the information and resources they need to get registered to vote and to cast their ballot’
Pence changes his tune on whether he would pardon Trump
Former Vice President Mike Pence is now taking a more vocal stand to defend his former boss, even as the ex-president continues to belittle and dismiss his former running-mate’s bid for the GOP nomination – and runs for it himself.
Mr Pence was speaking in Sioux City, Iowa, on Wednesday when he addressed the issue of pardoning Donald Trump — a question he had been outright avoiding for weeks.
Read more...
Mike Pence changes his tune on whether he would pardon Trump
Ex-president faces two criminal indictments and DoJ is reportedly considering a third
Florida will make Republican candidates sign loyalty pledge
Florida is joining the national Republican Party in the bid to enforce unity and loyalty among the party’s 2024 field of candidates.
Politico reported on Thursday that candidates seeking to appear on the ballot in the Sunshine State, site of a winner-take-all primary where 125 delegates are at stake, will be required to pledge their loyalty to the party’s eventual nominee, in the event that they lose.
John Bowden explains what’s behind this unprecedented move.
Florida will make GOP candidates sign loyalty pledge to back eventual nominee
Move comes after 2016 nomination of Trump splintered off some of his critics
Marjorie Taylor Greene ousted from House Freedom Caucus following fight with Lauren Boebert
Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the House’s most vocal conservative culture warriors, is now feeling the sting of the far-right’s backlash after a perceived betrayal on her part.
The Georgia congresswoman and ally of Donald Trump was booted out of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus last month, a member told Politico on Thursday, as a rift grows between her and some of the most conservative members of her party.
At issue are two instances — Ms Greene’s vote to support a debt ceiling deal reached between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the White House, which conservatives complained was insufficient in its cuts of federal programs, and her recent spat with Rep Lauren Boebert, another member of the caucus.
Read more here:
Marjorie Taylor Greene ousted from ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus
Georgia congresswoman faces backlash from the right after making nice with Kevin McCarthy
ICYMI: Prosecutors knew Trump was hiding more documents thanks to Mar-a-Lago CCTV tapes
Federal investigators knew Donald Trump was most likely concealing classified documents among the myriad boxes of presidential records and other paraphernalia stored at his Mar-a-Lago estate, because of surveillance footage obtained by subpoena, according to a less redacted version of the affidavit used to secure a search warrant for his property last year.
Andrew Feinberg has the details.
Prosecutors knew Trump was hiding more documents thanks to Mar-a-Lago CCTV tapes
A less redacted version of the affidavit used to obtain a search warrant for Mr Trump’s property shows how prosecutors determined that he was likely hiding more classified documents
Voices: Why Friday is a crucial test for Joe Biden and ‘Bidenomics’
Eric Garcia explains why today’s jobs report is so crucial for Joe Biden’s decision to put “Bidemonics” at the centre of his 2024 reelection campaign.
Why Friday is a crucial test for Joe Biden and ‘Bidenomics’
All signs show the economy is doing well. Can the president convince voters of that?
South Dakota governor slams Ben & Jerry’s for July 4 call to return ‘stolen indigenous land’
...including Mount Rushmore.
Kelly Rissman reports on why Governor Kristi Noem is particularly angry at the suggestion.
South Dakota governor slams Ben & Jerry’s call to return ‘stolen indigenous land’
The South Dakota Republican called Mount Rushmore “the greatest symbol of our freedom” in US history.
Ex-Trump supporter jailed for her role on Jan 6 says she was ‘brainwashed’: ‘It’s a cult’
Pam Hemphill, who received a two-month sentence in federal prison for her involvement in the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, says she was “brainwashed”.
In an interview with CNN, the 70-year-old said she was a part of “the Trump cult”.
Earlier, Ms Hemphill, the self-proclaimed citizen journalist said that “You don’t see it as a cult when you’re in it.” She told the Daily Beast. “You don’t recognise it.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments