On Tuesday, hours before President Joe Biden gave a home run of a State of the Union address, sad orange clown Donald Trump went on his sad clown social media platform to do what he always does when he tries to communicate: lash out at his real and perceived enemies. On Tuesday, Trump threw down the gauntlet (and made sure the gauntlet was very low) by implying Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ had “grooming”-style relationships with the girls he taught at a high school in Georgia a couple of decades ago.
On Wednesday, when asked by a reporter about the accusation flung his way by the de facto leader of the Republican Party, Ron DeSantis did his best Donald Trump impression and said, “I spend my time delivering results for the people of Florida and fighting against Joe Biden. That’s how I spend my time. I don't spend my time trying to smear other Republicans.” Does fflllppppppppssss work as an onomatopoeia for a big warm-air balloon quickly deflating?
As many people have already remarked after seeing the clip, DeSantis is projecting big Jeb Bush energy, or what Donald Trump might call “low energy.”
RELATED STORY: Trump goes low on DeSantis and the internet is here for all of it
First thing’s first: Both Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are horrendous people. Absolutely horrendous. The bullying and fear and anguish they have put millions of people through as they claw for power and hide their own corruption is unforgivable.
Wowsers.
But let us remember, a negative multiplied by a negative equals a positive. In this case both Trump and DeSantis are actual bankrupt trash heaps (negatives), and Trump bullying a bully (multiply) makes things positive—for humanity.
Will this rebuttal end the QAnon wing or the MAGA wing of the Republican Party’s belief in the Florida governor’s possible connection to Pizzagate?
I really cannot say.
Just in case you have a moment’s pause, here’s a reminder of who Ron DeSantis actually is.
There’s something perfect about this GIF.
I might be plopping this into every Twitter reaction roundup I do from now on. It’s an instant classic.
And finally:
RELATED STORY: DeSantis shamelessly tries to take credit for something Democrats built
We're chatting with one of our favorite fellow election analysts on this week's episode of The Downballot, Kyle Kondik of Sabato's Crystal Ball. Kyle helped call races last year for CBS and gives us a rare window inside a TV network's election night decision desk, which literally has a big button to call control of the House—that no one got to press. Kyle also dives into his new race ratings for the 2024 Senate map, including why he thinks Joe Manchin's unlikely tight-rope act might finally come to an end.
In their Weekly Hits, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard recap big developments in two Senate contests: Rep. Adam Schiff's entry into the race to succeed Dianne Feinstein, and the GOP's unexpected show of unity in the open-seat election in Indiana. They also dissect the first poll of this year's hotly contested race for governor in Kentucky and highlight another 2023 battle that shouldn't get overlooked: the race for a vacant seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
