A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis are countering questions about Hope Florida finances in a familiar area of the state.
Appearing at St. Augustine’s Anchor Faith Church, the First Couple told a crowd in what once was his congressional district not to believe what they’ve heard about Hope Florida.
Roughly an hour after a House subcommittee’s probe into the program was frustrated by not getting voluntary witnesses to show up, the Governor addressed critics of the Hope Florida Foundation.
Gov. DeSantis said a letter from the Agency for Health Care Administration’s lawyer, which said the unorthodox fund transfer was legal, “totally debunks the bogus media narratives that were out there” about the money being diverted from the program’s core function of helping people emerge from what the Governor and First Lady call “the culture of dependency.”
At issue is the funneling of $10 million — that the Governor called previously a “cherry on top” — of a $67 million settlement payment in Medicaid settlement funds through the Hope Florida Foundation. That money then went to political committees that used a bulk of it to message against constitutional amendments in 2024.
In response to a reporter’s question, DeSantis said the media pushed “phony narratives” for nefarious and political ends.
“Why are they doing narrative? They’re not doing it because they really care about that. They’re doing it to try to impugn Hope Florida. They’re trying to smear this program,” DeSantis told reporters.
“Some of these lefty journalists don’t like it. They don’t like you working with the faith-based community. Some of these people view it as a way to attack the First Lady and all the great things she’s done because they view her as a threat. So that’s what’s motivating this.”
Ahead of the press exchange, both Ron and Casey DeSantis offered more aspirational variations on the same theme.
“When you see some of these political attacks, that’s just because people know this is effective. That’s because they’re threatened by this mode,” the Governor said.
“Some people are threatened politically because the First Lady’s been so good at doing this, but that’s what that’s about. It’s not about the actual substance of this. And shouldn’t we, as Floridians, put aside political agendas to embrace things that have actually lifted people up, offered them hope and put them on a pathway to self-sufficiency? You should not wield a political agenda to try to kneecap something that is helping people do really, really big things.”
The First Lady addressed the “misunderstanding” about “what Hope Florida is,” saying it’s “not a program” but is an “idea” or a “philosophy” intended to drive people down a “pathway to economic self-sufficiency” with the help of “navigators.”
“What we are doing is good. What we are doing is just. Sometimes you have to put on the full armor of God and you fight, because you know what you’re doing is righteous,” Casey DeSantis said.
She offered one more high-road framing of the ongoing scandal.
“No matter what is written, don’t ever let politics get in the way of purpose,” she counseled.
16 comments
Paul
April 24, 2025 at 11:42 am
All DeSantis ever has is a political agenda.
Michael K
April 24, 2025 at 11:43 am
“Misunderstanding?” A $10 million “idea” or “philosophy”? Is that what they now call grifting, abusing power, and the misappropriation of public funds? And now it’s “God” on her $ide?
No wonder they want to destroy public education. They like people stupid and misinformed. In what “God” do they “tru$t”?
Foghorn Leghorn
April 24, 2025 at 1:29 pm
“In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States. Been that way since 1956. If you have a problem with that you can always leave.
JD
April 24, 2025 at 1:41 pm
There is where you are wrong. We have the power to change it (it was changed in 1956, which it means it can be changed again). That’s the USA.
If you have a problem with that, you can always leave.
Foghorn Leghorn
April 24, 2025 at 1:49 pm
Of course it can be changed but I highly doubt it will. Like I said yesterday, I am not a religious person so that official motto does not bother me. I say keep it. If you are offended by that statement then leave. There are millions that your party allowed in this country that obviously have no problem with that motto either.
JD
April 24, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Careful there boy, I say boy (Foghorn Leghorn quip) on the “my party” slinging. I’m an NPA. It’s the right that’s moved their party from anything I believe in that we shared in common (or with common sense). And if you are bothered by that statement, then leave.
As for the motto – it never bother me as it was mostly ignored, but I am tired of giving religious nutters anything that would be considered fodder for their ideology we are anything but a secular nation. Especially in schools.
Michael K
April 24, 2025 at 3:54 pm
E Pluribus Unum, at the founding of our nation. Out of many, one. A much more inclusive motto – uniting rather than dividing.
Keep church and state separate as the founders intended.
Ron DiSaster
April 24, 2025 at 11:53 am
Always somebody else’s fault with these people. How about we blame the Governor who was caught with hand in the cookie jar?
Did “the media” tell him to steal from the taxpayers? The “deep state”. George Soros? Easier to blame some boogeyman than to take responsibility for your crimes.
JD
April 24, 2025 at 11:57 am
Answer the question. Are public records requests being stonewalled? That’s probably the least of it if a subpoena is being ignored. We’re done with the deflection. If you’re innocent, show the full hand. The people of Florida have every right to see it.
If this charity received state money, then those records belong to us. Period.
Or are you about to start barking “legal”? Reminder: legal doesn’t mean ethical. That horse has been ridden into the ground. Damn, you all are shady as f@ck.
“Florida: a sunny place for shady politicians.”
Foghorn Leghorn
April 24, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Speaking of shady politicians, what happened to Leticia? 🤣
JD
April 24, 2025 at 1:38 pm
You want to elaborate? I want to make sure you didn’t typo the name before commenting.
Foghorn Leghorn
April 24, 2025 at 1:43 pm
My bad. Letitia. Do I need to elaborate?
JD
April 24, 2025 at 1:56 pm
Please do. Being ambigous leaves it too open. I believe I know the referenced person, time is limited.
Foghorn Leghorn
April 24, 2025 at 2:07 pm
The information is out there JD. You can read it yourself if you chose to. Be advised your source of news / propaganda might not mention a word of it.
JD
April 24, 2025 at 3:54 pm
So just to clarify, you mean that while the allegations have been formally presented, James’ legal team has provided substantial evidence refuting them, and the DOJ hasn’t taken any official action? OK.
If she’s proven guilty in a court of law, fine, she should face the penalties. Just like DeSantis and his wife should. But I don’t think she was hiding from it like DeSantis is deflecting.
But tossing out a whataboutism doesn’t clear your side, and it sure as hell doesn’t discredit my NPA. Fry them all. If we’re going tit for tat, I’d bet your aligned party’s rap sheet is comfortably in the lead.
Anne Floryn
April 24, 2025 at 1:08 pm
The old saying, “Don’t believe what people say, believe what they do.”
What they say: It’s an ideal. A philosophy.
What they do: Take a $10 million (probably illegal) contribution and pass it to two dark money groups who then funnel it to the campaign against legalizing pot in Florida.