Good morning. It’s Thursday, Nov. 30. Right here’s what you’ll want to know to start out your day.
Hope for substance, brace for spectacle
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are set to satisfy at 6 p.m. PST for a televised 90-minute debate on Sean Hannity’s Fox Information present.
And there’s lots to debate — about coverage, about partisanship, however particularly concerning the debate itself.
As some have famous, the occasion, introduced in September, is a bit bizarre. Newsom and DeSantis aren’t operating in opposition to one another in 2024, although they’ve apparent ambitions for larger workplace that would come to a head in 2028. DeSantis is operating for president, however anybody who’s not Trump is trailing effectively behind in nationwide polls for the Republican nomination (although polls almost a yr earlier than the election needs to be taken with a bag of salt).
And there’s been some notable media consideration, together with in Los Angeles Occasions protection, on California and Florida as two opposing ideological fortresses. So when the figureheads of these two fortresses meet to debate why they really feel their model of governing is best than their rival’s, it’s huge information — and possibly good TV.
In a press launch, Fox Information stated the talk will “look at the vastly completely different approaches the 2 governors have and supply insights into their political philosophies in addition to ambitions for the nation.” Newsom and DeSantis will debate with out an in-studio viewers, discussing a variety of points together with the economic system, immigration, crime and inflation.
However can the talk keep away from turning into a preordained mudfest and attain a great religion dialogue on the problems individuals in California, Florida and past care about?
Christina Bellantoni, a professor at USC Annenberg Faculty of Journalism, hopes voters will “be capable of hear an articulated distinction in get together philosophy.” However expectations are low.
Bellantoni, who was beforehand an assistant managing editor for politics at The Occasions, views the talk as a transparent win for Fox Information’ and different media shops’ scores. It additionally advantages each governors’ nationwide profiles. As for viewers — the individuals that would vote one in all these males into larger workplace in the future — it might show extra significant as a result of it hits nearer to dwelling.
“Lots of people actually are invested of their state versus the get together — they’re California proud or they’re Florida proud,” she stated. “There’s a sense that persons are deeply rooted in what they like about their state.”
Bellantoni advised me the talk has extra potential to be substantive than what could possibly be discovered among the many sea of podiums in latest Republican candidate debates. The matchup additionally serves as a kind of proxy for a Biden-Trump debate, she famous. She hopes they’ll follow coverage dialogue and keep away from steering into id politics, which “can get actually gross actually quick.”
“These usually are not simply political speaking factors — it’s not only a cage match,” she defined. “You actually are speaking about how a lot cash persons are paying for taxes. Whether or not the roads have potholes or not. For those who’re allowed to have an abortion. These are huge, substantive issues that these governors are accountable for.”
“I’d hope that the substance of this dialog doesn’t get misplaced within the spectacle,” Bellantoni added.
This kind of occasion can also be not with out precedent. As my colleague Mark Z. Barabak wrote earlier this yr, the matchup remembers the Could 1967 debate between Ronald Reagan and Robert F. Kennedy, one other opposing pair with huge ambitions.
So, whether or not you plan to tune in for the leisure worth or a considerate debate on points you care about — or possibly somewhat of each — The Occasions might be masking the talk and providing context on the back-and-forth between DeSantis and Newsom.
You possibly can take a look at our California vs. Florida cheat sheet to be taught extra about each governors and their insurance policies forward of the talk.
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Have an incredible day, from the Important California staff
Ryan Fonseca, reporter
Elvia Limón, multiplatform editor
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Laura Blasey, assistant editor
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