The California and Florida governors cosplay 2028 while arguing over immigration, taxes and Joe Biden’s „cognitive decline“ as moderator Sean Hannity insists „I don’t want to be the hall monitor“
Voters perhaps got a peek into the future of American politics Thursday night when California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis squared off in an awkward debate on Fox News, characterized by dueling insults and constant overtalking only occasionally reined in by an unsually tepid Sean Hannity serving as moderator.
But if it was-a-difficult to follow affair, at least the stakes couldn’t be lower. Newsom is not running for president in 2024 because, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Pres. Joe Biden will once again be the Democratic nominee. And while DeSantis is still technically part of the ’24 GOP primary race, his campaign isn’t doing well and even if it was, former Pres. Donald Trump is the clear front-runner.
Yes, Biden is now 81 years old and Trump faces multiple legal trials, so it’s not impossible that things might change, but for now the two dueling governors are looking ahead to 2028 where, they obviously hope, they’ll be their party’s standard bearers.
DeSantis characterized California as catering to criminals and homeless people, while Newsom said Florida has “criminalized women” and demeans minority voices.
The forum, on the Sean Hannity show, offered a stark contrast between the two governors and their states. It also was clear the two governors do not like each other, and could barely stand to let the other answer a question without interrupting.
The two men spared no barbs when insulting each other.
“You’re a liberal bully,” DeSantis said to Newsom at one point, and Newsom said “You’re a walking hypocrite” to DeSantis.
In the sniping over who’s state is better, DeSantis cited disputed statistics showing California losing residents while Florida gained residents last year, which DeSantis attributed mostly to no income tax in his state compared to high state income tax in California.
