Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis is the Republican Governor of Florida. He is newsworthy due to his recent actions targeting the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a US Muslim civil rights group. DeSantis declared CAIR a foreign terrorist organization, following a similar move by the Governor of Texas. CAIR is suing DeSantis, alleging the designation is intended to suppress their advocacy for Palestine and fuels Islamophobia. This action is significant because only the federal government has the authority to designate terrorist organizations. Separately, a report by Amnesty International alleges human rights violations at Florida immigration detention facilities, including the 'Alligator Alcatraz,' though DeSantis's direct involvement in these allegations is not specified in these articles. The political climate in Florida is shifting, as evidenced by Democrat Eileen Higgins becoming Miami's first Democratic mayor in 30 years, potentially signaling growing resistance to Republican policies.