Tag: Gov. DeSantis

Florida’s GOP governor intervenes to label WWE an ‘essential business’ during coronavirus outbreak

AlterNet logoRepublican Gov. Ron DeSantis intervened to carve out an exemption for professional wrestling in Florida’s “stay at home” order, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings revealed Monday.

DeSantis, a close ally of President Donald Trump, came under criticism for weeks as he refused calls to issue “stay at home” restrictions in spite of a growing number of coronavirus cases in the Sunshine State. DeSantis ultimately caved and issued such an order on April 3, though he included an exemption for religious services.

World Wrestling Entertainment has been airing events from the empty WWE Performance Center near Orlando. Demings told reporters on Monday that the WWE was not labeled an “essential business” that can continue to operate when the order was first issued, but DeSantis intervened. Continue reading.

Gov. DeSantis Falsely Says Nobody Under 25 Infected By Virus

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is under fire this week for making a false claim that the coronavirus does not affect young people.

It’s the latest blowback for DeSantis, who has been roundly criticized for his refusal to close the state’s beaches, even as spring breakers flocked there amid a growing outbreak.

“This particular pandemic is one where I don’t think nationwide there’s been a single fatality under 25. For whatever reason it just doesn’t seem to threaten, you know, kids,” he told a group of educators on Thursday. Continue reading.