DeSantis says if elected he would abolish education, energy and IRS departments to fight ‘woke ideology’
Gov Ron DeSantis of Florida said in an interview on Fox News on Wednesday morning that he supports eliminating multiple federal government agencies including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Mr DeSantis, who has struggled to gain traction since launching his presidential campaign in the spring, didn’t hestitate when the network’s Martha MacCallum asked him if he is in favour of eliminating any government agencies. “So we would do Education, we would do Commerce, we would do Energy, and we would do the IRS,” Mr DeSantis said. “And so if Congress will work with me on doing that, we will be able to reduce the size and scope of government.” A number of Republican presidential candidates over the years have said they would like to eliminate various federal agencies, without any success. As Mr DeSantis indicated, it is Congress that establishes departments and agencies and Congress that would have to vote to eliminate them. But Mr DeSantis said that if Congress doesn’t allow him to cut agencies like the IRS — a move that could plunge the country’s tax collection system into chaos and hamper federal oversight — he is prepared to use those agencies to advance his political aims. “What I’m also going to do, Martha, is be prepared, if Congress won’t go that far, I’m going to use those agencies to push back against woke ideology and against the leftism that we see creeping into all institutions of American life,” Mr DeSantis said. Mr DeSantis, who talks frequently about “woke ideology” on the campaign trail, pointed to his record in Florida as an example of how he would like to use federal agencies as president. “For instance, with the Department of Education, we reversed all the transgender sports stuff — women’s sports should be protected,” Mr DeSantis said. “We reversed policies trying to inject the curriculum into our schools. That will all be gone. We will make sure we have an accreditation system for higher ed, which is not trying to foment more things like DEI and CRT. So we will be prepared to do both. Either way, it will be a win for conservatives.” Under Mr DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has curtailed free speech in schools, radically changed its tenure system, and passed abortion and gender-affirming care bans. Mr DeSantis himself has sparred with Disney over its social stances and endorsed violence against immigrants. All that has not made Mr DeSantis a particularly popular national figure. An average of recent polls from FiveThirtyEight shows that just over 36 per cent of Americans view Mr DeSantis favourably, while more than 45 per cent view him unfavourably. He’s currently trailing former President Donald Trump by a wide margin in the Republican primary race. Read More DeSantis proposes Disney trial schedule that puts start date in 2025, after elections DeSantis supporter blames Trump camp for leaking racist and antisemitic messages Watch as LA immigrant groups hold solidarity rally in protest of Florida law DeSantis proposes Disney trial schedule that puts start date in 2025, after elections DeSantis supporter blames Trump camp for leaking racist and antisemitic messages
1970-01-01 08:00
Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes placed on the 10-day IL with lower back inflammation
Ke’Bryan Hayes has been placed on the 10-day injured list by the Pittsburgh Pirates because of inflammation in his lower back
1970-01-01 08:00
NBA rumors: Lakers could steal key role player from champion Nuggets
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly showing 'significant interest' in free agent wing Bruce Brown fresh off winning a title with Denver.The Denver Nuggets eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA Playoffs in convincing fashion. So perhaps Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office...
1970-01-01 08:00
Federal judges in Kentucky and Tennessee block portions of transgender youth care bans
Federal judges in Kentucky and Tennessee on Wednesday blocked portions of bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, handing down the rulings just days before the statutes were set to go into effect
1970-01-01 08:00
White House reveals Biden uses CPAP machine for sleep apnea after president seen with marks on his face
Joe Biden suffers from sleep apnea, and has begun use of a medicial CPAP device at night to treat the condition, the White House said on Wednesday. Sleep apnea, which is a relatively common sleep disorder, refers to the condition that inhibits oxygen intake during sleep, often causing snoring. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device is sometimes used in more aggressive cases to ensure proper oxygen flow overnight. The president’s press team made the revelation shortly after reporters noticed a set of indentations on Mr Biden’s face as he spoke to the press line — the indentations were a residual souvenir of the mask worn over one’s face while sleeping during use of a CPAP device. “Since 2008, the president has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in thorough medical reports. He used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history,” a White House spokesman said on Wednesday. Though many of the president’s supporters chafed at media reports disclosing the president’s use of the device, it’s commonly accepted that any medical condition which affects the US commander-in-chief takes on an importance which other politicians are often spared. Though sleep apnea is not a condition which could reasonably be considered likely to affect the presidency in any way, Mr Biden’s use of the device was nevertheless instantly picked up on by experts who were eager for a presidential light to be shown on sleep disorders. In fact, the White House’s statement only shortly followed an educated guess floated by the National Sleep Foundation, which this morning blasted out a press release to DC-area reporters in which a medical expert on sleep hypothesised that Mr Biden had CPAP-device indentations on his face. "It looks like the sort of indentation one would expect from a CPAP mask. If you look at photos of popular CPAP mask styles you can see how the strap would leave a similar mark as the one we see on President Biden. Sleep apnea is very common and the risk increases with age. As the oldest U.S. President ever, it would not be surprising if President Biden was being treated for sleep apnea,” said Dr Joseph Krainin, a sleep expert with SleepApnea.org and the National Sleep Foundation. Dr Krainin added: “We also know that President Biden has a history of a ruptured brain aneurysm which could predispose him to a certain type of sleep apnea where his brain forgets to breath during sleep." Mr Biden’s health has been closely watched by reporters since he took office in 2021, and with particularly renewed interest in 2023 following the official launch of his 2024 campaign for reelection. The president has attended a handful of campaign events since that announcement so far, but is due to see that ramp up as the election nears. In 2020, Mr Biden won election to office following a campaign season where many events changed from live to virtual venues as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read More ‘Any Republican not named Trump’: Paul Ryan says former president is only candidate who would lose to Biden What next for Biden’s billion dollar broadband expansion? Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump Biden touts his economic record in fiery speech: ‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’ US public debt is projected to reach 181% of American economic activity in 30 years Biden urged to declare climate emergency as millions under heat wave warnings and air quality alerts — live
1970-01-01 08:00
Analysis-Where are Russia's top generals? Rumours swirl after mercenary mutiny
By Andrew Osborn LONDON Russia's most senior generals have dropped out of public view following a failed mercenary
1970-01-01 08:00
Connor Bedard, as expected, taken first in the NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks have selected Connor Bedard with the first pick in the NHL draft
1970-01-01 08:00
Relatives of man who died during admission to psychiatric hospital seek federal investigation
Lawyers for the family of a Virginia man who died of asphyxiation after he was pinned to the floor for about 11 minutes while being admitted to a psychiatric hospital have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation
1970-01-01 08:00
Derek Carr's new Saints teammate takes a ruthless shot at Raiders
Derek Carr's Saints teammate, Juwan Johnson, recently paid Carr one of the greatest compliments ever while also dissing his former team.There's plenty of love lost between Derek Carr and his old team, the Las Vegas Raiders. Put simply, the two did not end on good terms.As Carr begi...
1970-01-01 08:00
Human remains thought to be found in Titan sub debris
US medical professionals will conduct a formal analysis of presumed remains, the coast guard said.
1970-01-01 08:00
3 Mets who could be traded after Steve Cohen's alarming press conference
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen didn't rule out selling at the trade deadline if the team didn't improve. Here are three players who could move.The New York Mets aren't living up to the lofty expectations that were set after all of the money they spent this offseason. Entering Wed...
1970-01-01 08:00
'Godfather of AI' urges governments to face dangers
Geoffrey Hinton, one of the so-called "godfathers" of artificial intelligence, urged governments on Wednesday to step in and make sure that machines do...
1970-01-01 08:00
