* Academic freedom shouldn’t be some outlandishly insulting oxymoron. Nor is it a feel-good, higher-ed abstraction. Or is it? Floridians and University of Florida Gators of all stripes are hoping the upshot of an Administration/Faculty Senate agreement results in First Amendment basics trumping the DeSantis/Republican-driven agenda. Whatever the ultimate outcome, the sheer necessity of such a process in what should be a bastion of free speech is still disturbing and embarrassing.
* Another 2024 box checked. Gov. Ron DeSantis wants $8 million to allow the state to contract with private companies to transport “unauthorized aliens” out of Florida—using buses to transport them to other parts of the country. Head’s up, targeted blue states. By doing so, DeSantis helps assure that immigration will be a political wedge issue—one that will enable pot shots at President Joe Biden, appease and please the Trump-cult following, and keep his political profile in ascendance for 2024.
* “Florida voters are choosing the Republican Party over the Democratic Party because we value freedom and liberty and reject Democrat-led government controls.”–That was vintage Ron DeSantis, exclusively appropriating “freedom” and “liberty” and hypocritically aligning the Dems with government-control priorities.