John,

I was just in Barcelona making small talk with some of the locals, like I love to do (I adore that city, by the way – if you ever get the chance to visit, please do! I promise you won’t regret it!), and I came across an older couple who were also on holiday (that's what they call vacationing in Europe) visiting from the UK.

Hello from Barcelona!

So, we struck up a conversation and they asked me: “What is going on in Florida? Why is the governor at war with Mickey Mouse? And is it true that he’s outlawing math and history to be taught in the schools there?!”

I have to admit the that way they phrased it really had me puzzled for a second, but when I thought about it a little more, I realized they were 100% right! Florida's governor Ron DeSantis is waging war, on Disney and education alike.

Now why would he do that? I'll tell you why: for the headlines, that's why. Does Ron DeSantis really believe children in Florida's schools are being indoctrinated like he claims? No, of course not. Does he really want to take on Disney, the largest employer in his state? Also no! What he is trying to do is make national headlines, grow his base, and well … you know what comes next.

You guessed it: He’s going for the Presidency, and rather than try to campaign on policy and merit he is going the Trump route – cheap gimmicks and publicity stunts.

But DeSantis is just one of the players in the Republican party who want to take on President Biden in 2024 – his evil counterpart Greg Abbott in Texas is also auditioning for the role.

Governor Abbott made national headlines this week, too, after he launched a harassment campaign on delivery and cargo trucks entering the U.S. from Mexico, causing millions of dollars in food to go bad in the process and worsening our supply-chain delays.

Why on Earth would he do that? Three reasons, in this order:

1. To get his name in the papers.

2. To show his anti-immigrant base that he’s “tough” on the southern border (ever notice how they only care about one of our borders?).

3. So he can turn around and blame President Biden for the shortages and higher prices his stunt will cause.

Millions of dollars in food has been wasted, the prices of gas and goods are going to go up even more for folks in Texas and the rest of America, and do you think Abbott cares? Nope. Because now he gets to tell his racist base that he is protecting this country from “illegal invaders” while blaming everything that makes them unhappy – and that he is actively contributing to! – on the Democrats.

You and I know he’s full of it, but that’s not how the headlines will read.

Look, folks, the 2024 Presidential race has already started, and I haven’t even mentioned Trump yet, who’s sitting on the largest campaign chest in U.S. history, with over 9 figures in the bank!

We need to get ready now. We’re in for the fight for our lives. But let's not overlook the midterms in the meantime.

What we learned in 2020 is that the Republicans think they’ve found a loophole in the Constitution to circumvent the will of the people and put the Presidential election in the hands of Congress.

In 2020, Nancy Pelosi was the Speaker, so we could rest easier knowing she’d put an end to that nonsense. What do you think will happen if that spineless coward Kevin McCarthy is the Speaker in 2024? Do you think he’ll do the right thing and save democracy? 

I'll leave that to you to ponder as I ask you to donate to the No Dem Left Behind 2022 House Fund.

I'll check in with you guys from the Vatican soon.

Sappers clear the way, Airborne all the way!

--Richard