Free Republic

Among the larger states, the two that are closest to each other in population and demographics are New York and Florida. According to the latest U.S. Census data (from July 1, 2024), the population of New York was 19,867,248, while the population of Florida was 23,372,215. More recent estimates from a source called World Population Review put New York’s 2025 population at 19,997,100 (an increase of about 130,000 on the year), and Florida’s at 23,839,600 (an increase of about 467,000 over the same year). Yet in terms of the approach to state government — taxing, spending, and government programs overall...

Video posted Semafor reporter Shelby Talcott shows Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Saturday campaigning for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination by shoving sticks in hardboiled eggs at the Iowa State Fair. The video shows DeSantis more engaged in how to prepare the eggs than engaging with voters coming up to take the eggs. In turn, the voters don’t seem that interested in DeSantis. Granted, it is a thirty-three second video, however no one engages DeSantis in campaign talk, with one person calling out, “We’re just here for the eggs!” One woman who said, “Thank you!” to DeSantis was given only...