108 - DeSantis' Florida Fascism? & Hitchens Vs. Genetic Determinists ft. Thomas Kennedy
Mar 8, 2023
auto_awesome
Thomas Kennedy joins Matt & Dave to discuss Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' moves restricting critics. They also explore Hitchens' battle against genetic determinists and the dangers of pseudoscientific beliefs. The episode sheds light on DeSantis' control over Florida legislation and the implications of proposed oppressive immigration measures.
Governor DeSantis wields unprecedented power in Florida, allowing him to push extreme anti-immigrant measures and restrict independent journalism.
DeSantis and other politicians prioritize attention-grabbing laws over constitutionality, using tactics like mandatory disclosure of blogger funding sources.
Florida's political landscape reflects a right-wing stronghold influenced by historical, demographic shifts, and COVID-related changes, leading to the decline of the Democratic Party.
Deep dives
Extreme Anti-Immigrant Legislation
The proposed bill in Florida mandates disclosing immigration status of patients, enforces eVerify for employment, prohibits undocumented individuals from practicing law, restricts the use of out-of-state driver's licenses, and imposes third-degree felony punishments for harboring or transporting undocumented persons within Florida.
Blogger Registration Bill
The blogger registration bill in Florida, sponsored by Jason Bredor, aims to require independent journalists and bloggers to register with the state. Failure to register while covering political topics like Governor DeSantis would result in fines, resembling laws from Russia and Hungary.
Unprecedented Legislative Control by DeSantis
Governor DeSantis holds significant control over the legislature in Florida, unmatched by any recent governor. With supermajorities in both chambers and all executive cabinet positions, DeSantis has unparalleled power to push legislation and influence state policies.
Impact of Republican Dominance in Florida
The Republican Party's stronghold in Florida, dating back over 20 years, has intensified under DeSantis's leadership. The legislature, primarily complying with DeSantis's agenda, now wields unchecked power to advance bills, including extreme anti-immigrant measures and restrictions on independent journalism.
DeSantis' Political Strategy and Tactics
The podcast delves into Governor DeSantis' political tactics, highlighting his approach of enacting laws for headlines and attention rather than based on constitutionality. Desantis and other politicians aim for attention-grabbing moves that appeal to their base, even if they may be unconstitutional or legally shaky. This political strategy includes pushing laws, like the one requiring bloggers and journalists to disclose funding sources, under the guise of election transparency, while targeting advocacy journalism.
Florida Politics and Shifts in Power
The episode discusses the political landscape in Florida, attributing the state's right-wing dominance to historical and demographic factors. It explores the decline of the Florida Democratic Party and the growing influence of right-wing immigrants on state politics. The analysis includes insights on the impact of COVID-related shifts in demographics and political messaging on the rise of extremist right-wing politics in the state, contrasting traditional views of a purple state with its current right-wing dominance.
