DeSantis announces that Florida is stepping up its efforts to help Texas fortify the southern border



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the Sunshine State will step up to do even more to help Texas combat the massive flow of migrants along the nation's southern border.

"Biden has the authority to close this border today if he wanted to. He lacks the will to get the job done. He lacks the capacity to see the problem for what it is," DeSantis said on Thursday while standing behind a podium bearing a sign with the words "STOP THE INVASION" in all capital letters.

"We're providing up to one battallion of Florida National Guard," DeSantis announced, and "our first ever deployment of the Florida State Guard," he added. He said that the aim is to assist the Lone Star State to "fortify this border."

DeSantis ditched the presidential campaign trail earlier this month and endorsed former President Donald Trump after coming in a distant second place to Trump in the Iowa GOP presidential caucuses.

"Since 2021, Florida has provided direct law enforcement and military assistance to Texas, including FLNG [Florida National Guard], which supported the Texas Military Department through mission sets including static observation points, roving patrols and engineer assistance with obstacle improvement," a press release states. "FHP [Florida Highway Patrol] has made contact with nearly 150,000 illegal aliens, conducted over 27,000 traffic stops, resulting in 2,102 Human Smuggling or Human Trafficking charges with 2,278 overall arrests."

"FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] has sent rotations of officers to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety with arrests of violent felony suspects including gang members. Suspects were arrested on various Texas state charges including human smuggling, burglary, firearms, smuggling of persons, smuggling of persons with a firearm, child endangerment, escape from federal custody and possession of controlled substance. FWC [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] has deployed a total of 540 FWC personnel, 525 four-wheel drive patrol trucks and 24 vessels," the press release notes.

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Sarah Silverman calls out MSNBC's Joy Reid for hysteria over Gov. Ron DeSantis: 'The truth has to matter'



Liberal comedian Sarah Silverman took a shot at MSNBC host Joy Reid Friday for raising hysteria over a new proposal by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

What did DeSantis propose?

The Florida governor announced a proposal on Thursday that would allocate $3.5 million in state funds toward re-establishing the Florida State Guard.

An announcement explained:

The establishment of the Florida State Guard will further support those emergency response efforts in the event of a hurricane, natural disasters and other state emergencies. The $3.5 million to establish the Florida State Guard will enable civilians to be trained in the best emergency response techniques. By establishing the Florida State Guard, Florida will become the 23rd state with a state guard recognized by the federal government.

The Florida State Guard was launched in 1941 during World War II after the federal government activated the Florida National Guard to fight overseas. The FSG was disbanded in 1947 after the Florida National Guard was released from federal active-duty.

The proposal was immediately met with hysteria from Democrats, who claimed DeSantis is a "wannabe dictator." However, as DeSantis' office noted, 22 other states currently have a state-forces similar to the Florida State Guard.

What happened with Reid and Silverman?

Reid claimed Friday that DeSantis' proposal is evidence of authoritarian and fascistic impulses.

"So… y’all know this is fascisty bananas, right…?" Reid said on social media, linking to a CNN story detailing DeSantis' plan.

In response, Silverman pointed out that Reid's comments proved that she did not actually read the story she posted before offering her comment on it.

"Please read the article before you post this stuff you’re a news outlet," Silverman hit back. "The truth has to matter."

Please read the article before you post this stuff you\u2019re a news outlet. The truth has to matter
— Sarah Silverman (@Sarah Silverman) 1638554537

The very CNN story that Reid shared, in fact, showed how DeSantis' proposal is not "fascisty bananas," but rather akin to what 22 other states already have.

From the story:

States have the power to create defense forces separate from the national guard, though not all of them use it. If Florida moves ahead with DeSantis' plan to reestablish the civilian force, it would become the 23rd active state guard in the country, DeSantis' office said in a press release, joining California, Texas and New York.

Only six U.S. states — Arizona, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming — have never established a state defense force.

'Wannabe dictator': Dems aghast after Gov. Ron DeSantis proposes Florida State Guard, even though 22 other states already have such forces



Democratic politicians in Florida are decrying Republican Gov. Ron Desantis' recent proposal for a state guard force as something of a dictatorial power-grab, despite the fact that 22 other states currently operate one.

What are the details?

During a military budget announcement on Thursday, DeSantis proposed allocating $3.5 million in state funds toward re-establishing the Florida State Guard, a volunteer civilian force originally launched during World War II but disbanded in 1947, that would be under his control.

Standing behind a placard that read "Florida State Guard" followed by the motto "Let Us Alone," the governor explained that the funding would go toward training, equipment, and support for up to 200 volunteer guardsmen.

BREAKING: @GovRonDeSantis to recommend Re-Establishing the Florida State Guardpic.twitter.com/UMghfk7Gas
— Benny (@Benny) 1638462557

DeSantis noted that the volunteer service would primarily support the state's National Guard in emergency response efforts following hurricanes, natural disasters, and other state emergencies.

But in a passing shot at President Biden, he added that the force would "not be encumbered by the federal government" and would allow him "the flexibility and the ability needed to respond to events in our state in the most effective way possible," Axios reported.

The outlet noted that state law permits DeSantis to deploy a force "to assist the civil authorities in maintaining law and order," including during protests.

In a press release, DeSantis' office noted that if successful, Florida would become the 23rd state in the country to have a state guard recognized by the federal government.

What else?

Political opponents of DeSantis, however, quickly took to social media to slam the move without any mention of the federal government's long history of embracing and recognizing state guard forces.

DeSantis' gubernatorial challenger, Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) tweeted that "no governor should have his own handpicked secret police."

No Governor should have his own handpicked secret police.https://twitter.com/byJasonDelgado/status/1466440915292233730\u00a0\u2026
— Charlie Crist (@Charlie Crist) 1638464416

Democratic state Sen. Annette Taddeo, who also happens to be running for governor, piled on, claiming that DeSantis is a "wannabe dictator trying to make his move for his own vigilante militia like we've seen in Cuba."

Wannabe dictator trying to make his move for his own vigilante militia like we\u2019ve seen in Cuba. Florida is not and will never be Ronnie\u2019s regime.https://twitter.com/byJasonDelgado/status/1466440915292233730\u00a0\u2026
— Annette Taddeo (She/Her/Ella) (@Annette Taddeo (She/Her/Ella)) 1638466092

CNN contributor Dean Obeidallah tweeted, "Wake up America: GOP Gov. 'DeSantis proposes civilian Florida State Guard military force HE would control.' This is a new 'Red Army.' The GOP wants to be ready for the next Jan 6 with an army!!"