Crash Course: Ron DeSantis launches a trend: Local prosecutors are now central players in the culture war

DeSantis' feud with Tampa prosecutor Andrew Warren is just the beginning — and it goes well beyond abortion rights [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci81NjQyVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images) Ron DeSantis launches a trend: Local prosecutors are now central players in the culture war Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is consistently up for a fight, apparently in hopes of seizing the mantle of Donald Trump's divisive politics. His newest opponent is Andrew Warren, the two-time elected local prosecutor of Hillsborough County, Florida, which includes Tampa and has a population of 1.5 million, greater than that of 12 U.S. states. Warren recently joined 90 of his colleagues from across the country who asserted, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision in [Dobbs v. Jackson](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2NvdHVzYmxvZy5jb20vY2FzZS1maWxlcy9jYXNlcy9kb2Jicy12LWphY2tzb24td29tZW5zLWhlYWx0aC1vcmdhbml6YXRpb24vVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), that they would [decline to prosecute](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RpaHR0cHM6Ly9mYWlyYW5kanVzdHByb3NlY3V0aW9uLm9yZy93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMi8wNi9GSlAtUG9zdC1Eb2Jicy1BYm9ydGlvbi1Kb2ludC1TdGF0ZW1lbnQucGRmVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) people who "seek, provide, or support" abortions. DeSantis branded Warren's statement a "blatant abuse of power," and [immediately suspended](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmxnb3YuY29tL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDIyLzA4L0V4ZWN1dGl2ZS1PcmRlci0yMi0xNzYucGRmVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) and replaced him. [Warren has sued](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2JzbmV3cy5jb20vbWlhbWkvbmV3cy9maWdodC1vdmVyLXN1c3BlbmRlZC10YW1wYS1hcmVhLXN0YXRlLXByb3NlY3V0b3ItaGVhZGVkLXRvLXRyaWFsL1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) the governor, alleging that his First Amendment rights have been violated. The closely watched case will be tried in November, and predicting the results is perilous. Florida law gives the governor broad removal power "for any . . . good and sufficient reason," where "the ends of justice would be best served." But with no actual case having been rejected by Warren, a court might conclude that the prosecutor was simply exercising his right of free speech. [Read the rest from David J. Toscano.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvcm9uLWRlc2FudGlzLWxhdW5jaGVzLWEtdHJlbmQtbG9jYWwtcHJvc2VjdXRvcnMtYXJlLW5vdy1jZW50cmFsLXBsYXllcnMtaW4tdGhlLWN1bHR1cmUvVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) The ReAwaken America Tour is The Warped Tour for right-wing Cuckoo birds This weekend, a cabal of right-wing figures — some who are looking to win votes, and some who are looking to save souls, have rallied together at the perfectly named Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Pennsylvania for an anti-vax, anti-trans, pro-QAnon rally called The ReAwaken America Tour. Eric Trump, one of the speakers of the event along with a long list that includes [Roger Stone](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTYvcm9nZXItc3RvbmUtaXMtZmVkLXVwLXdpdGgtYW5kLXVzZXMtb2YtdmlvbGVuY2UtdG8tbWFrZS10aGF0LXZlcnktY2xlYXIvVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), pillow man Mike Lindell and Doug Mastriano, gave the audience a thrill during Friday's kick-off when he called his dad from the stage and played the audio into a mic for all to hear. [Read the rest from Kelly McClure.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvdGhlLXJlYXdha2VuLWFtZXJpY2EtdG91ci1pcy10aGUtd2FycGVkLXRvdXItZm9yLXJpZ2h0LXdpbmctY29vLWNvby1iaXJkcy9XA3NwY0IKY0_MHlVjGx9f4VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - These Martha Stewart-inspired [pumpkin bars](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvdGhlc2UtbWFydGhhLXN0ZXdhcnQtaW5zcGlyZWQtcHVtcGtpbi1iYXJzLWFyZS1wYWNrZWQtd2l0aC10aGUtYmVzdC1mbGF2b3JzLW9mLWZhbGwvVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) are packed with the best flavors of fall - Why more people are seeking out "[ego death](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvd2h5LW1vcmUtcGVvcGxlLWFyZS1zZWVraW5nLW91dC1lZ28tZGVhdGgtdmlhLXBzeWNoZWRlbGljL1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" via psychedelic drugs - With the movie ‘[Till](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvd2l0aC10aGUtbW92aWUtdGlsbC1tYW1pZS10aWxsLW1vYmxleXMtcXVlc3QtdG8tZWR1Y2F0ZS1hYm91dC1oZXItc29ucy1seW5jaGluZy1tYXJjaGVzLW9uL1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~),’ Mamie Till-Mobley’s quest to educate about her son’s lynching marches on - Soup on the [van Gogh](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvc291cC1vbi10aGUtdmFuLWdvZ2gtdGhlLXBhaW50aW5ncy1maW5lLWFuZC10aGUta2lkcy1hcmUtYWxsLXJpZ2h0L1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~): The painting's fine, and the kids are all right - [Fiona Apple](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvZmlvbmEtYXBwbGUtcmluZ3Mtb2YtcG93ZXItd2Fycmlvci13b21hbi9XA3NwY0IKY0_MHlVjGx9f4VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): "Rings of Power" warrior woman - [Who invented music?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvaW52ZW50ZWQtbXVzaWMtdGhlLXNlYXJjaC1mb3Itc3RvbmUtZmx1dGVzLWNsYXktd2hpc3RsZXMtYW5kLXRoZS1kYXduLW9mLXNvbmdfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKY0_MHlVjGx9f4VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) The search for stone flutes, clay whistles and the dawn of song - How I found myself [befriending a wild fox](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvaG93LWktZm91bmQtbXlzZWxmLWJlZnJpZW5kaW5nLWEtd2lsZC1mb3hfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKY0_MHlVjGx9f4VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Appeals court blocks [Biden's student debt relief](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvYXBwZWFscy1ibG9ja3MtYmlkZW5zLXN0dWRlbnQtZGVidC1yZWxpZWYtcHJvZ3JhbS10ZW1wb3JhcmlseV9wYXJ0bmVyL1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) program temporarily - Michael Cohen says [going after Trump on tax charges](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvbWljaGFlbC1jb2hlbi1zYXlzLWdvaW5nLWFmdGVyLW9uLWNoYXJnZXMtd291bGQtYmUtdGhlLWVhc2llc3Qtcm91dGVfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKY0_MHlVjGx9f4VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) would be the easiest route - [If Trump runs in 2024](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvaWYtcnVucy1pbi0yMDI0LWl0cy1saWtlbHktaGVsbC1jaG9vc2UtbWFyam9yaWUtdGF5bG9yLWdyZWVuZS1hcy1ydW5uaW5nLW1hdGVfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKY0_MHlVjGx9f4VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), it's likely he'll choose Marjorie Taylor Greene as running mate Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. (Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+) "The Good Fight" differentiates between who has the luxury of tuning out our political troubles The signature image of the sixth and final season of ["The Good Fight"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0QqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL3RvcGljL3RoZS1nb29kLWZpZ2h0VwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) features Christine Baranski's Diane Lockhart holding a sunflower, beaming serenely with her sunglasses on. This comes from a scene where she's just received a dose of a [therapeutic psychedelic called PT-108](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMDMvMDYvd2h5LW1lbnRhbC1oZWFsdGgtcmVzZWFyY2hlcnMtYXJlLXN0dWR5aW5nLXBzeWNoZWRlbGljcy1hbGwtd3JvbmcvVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), administered by the handsome Dr. Lyle Bettencourt, played by the handsome actor [John Slattery](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTQvMDEvMTgvbWFkX21lbl9zdGFyX2pvaG5fc2xhdHRlcnlfbWFrZXNfZGlyZWN0b3JpYWxfZGVidXRfd2l0aF9nb2RzX3BvY2tldC9XA3NwY0IKY0_MHlVjGx9f4VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). Diane's view of the world takes on a golden hue as she exits his office softly singing a few bars to "Something's Coming" from the musical ["West Side Story.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0QraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL3RvcGljL3dlc3Rfc2lkZV9zdG9yeVcDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" She carries her feather-light mood down the street with her, past lines of police in riot gear and the incessant din of protests outside of her that never seems to let up. [Read the rest from Melanie McFarland.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjIvdGhlLWdvb2QtZmlnaHQtZGlmZmVyZW50aWF0ZXMtYmV0d2Vlbi1oYXMtdGhlLWx1eHVyeS1vZi10dW5pbmctb3V0LW91ci1wb2xpdGljYWwtdHJvdWJsZXMvVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Alex Jones seeks new trial after $1 billion Sandy Hook verdict," [CBS News](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2JzbmV3cy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbGV4LWpvbmVzLXNlZWtzLW5ldy10cmlhbC1hZnRlci0xLWJpbGxpb24tc2FuZHktaG9vay12ZXJkaWN0L1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Congressman adds FBI’s Wray to possible post-election impeachment list," [MSNBC](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL3JhY2hlbC1tYWRkb3ctc2hvdy9tYWRkb3dibG9nL3JlcC1hZGRzLWZiaXMtd3JheS1wb3NzaWJsZS1wb3N0LWVsZWN0aW9uLWltcGVhY2htZW50LWxpc3QtcmNuYTUyOTM3VwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "RNC suing Google for sending campaign emails to spam," [The Hill](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly90aGVoaWxsLmNvbS9yZWd1bGF0aW9uL2NvdXJ0LWJhdHRsZXMvMzY5OTY4OS1ybmMtc3VpbmctZ29vZ2xlLWZvci1zZW5kaW5nLWNhbXBhaWduLWVtYWlscy10by1zcGFtL1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Kanye West Defiant On Business Cancellations," [Deadline](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly9kZWFkbGluZS5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC9rYW55ZS13ZXN0LWRlZmlhbnQtYnVzaW5lc3MtY2FuY2VsbGF0aW9ucy13ZS1oZXJlLWJhYnktd2UtYWludC1nb2luZy1ub3doZXJlLTEyMzUxNTI2NzQvVwNzcGNCCmNPzB5VYxsfX-FSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Deal or no deal: Whoopi Goldberg gives Meghan Markle a stark lesson in showbiz," [The Los Angeles Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGF0aW1lcy5jb20vZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC1hcnRzL3R2L3N0b3J5LzIwMjItMTAtMjAvbWVnaGFuLW1hcmtsZS1kZWFsLW9yLW5vLWRlYWwtbW9kZWwtd2hvb3BpLWdvbGRiZXJnLWNsYXVkaWEtam9yZGFuP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9cmVkZGl0LmNvbVcDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (Getty Images/Devon OpdenDries) Day care workers face felony charges for wearing Halloween masks and screaming at toddlers Four former employees of Lil' Blessings Day Care Center in Hamilton, Mississippi face felony child abuse charges after videos circulated showing them terrifying toddlers. In the videos, which were captured on a cell phone by one of the day care attendants, the women are shown stalking the day care room wearing a mask similar to the one in "Scream" while shrieking in various children's faces. [Read the rest from Kelly McClure.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlN6PIP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMjEvZGF5LWNhcmUtd29ya2Vycy1mYWNlLWZlbG9ueS1jaGFyZ2VzLWZvci13ZWFyaW5nLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi1tYXNrcy1hbmQtc2NyZWFtaW5nLWF0L1cDc3BjQgpjT8weVWMbH1_hUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Have a tip for Salon? 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