SWAMP MONSTERS

Inside the rise and (likely) fall of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2024 presidential ambitions.

As the leader of one of the country’s most politically divided states, DeSantis has gained (and chased) national attention for his pugnacious attacks on Disney, public health officials, and LGBTQ+ youth. Dixon, a national politics reporter for NBC News and former Florida bureau chief for Politico, doesn’t have much to share about his main subject’s inner feelings, but that’s less a function of the author’s reporting chops than DeSantis’ notoriously aloof demeanor (he “has a social circle that could fit in the back seat of a Mini Cooper”). Instead, Dixon focuses on Sunshine State realpolitik, explicating Florida’s recent political history and DeSantis’ skill at strong-arming the state’s legislature and leveraging wealthy donors, his constant Fox News appearances, and the early support he drew from Donald Trump. Dixon also has a deep well of sources to explain—if not humanize—the governor. As his presidential ambitions accelerated in 2022, DeSantis sought to brand himself as a “sensible” alternative to Trump, but with Trump leading the race, DeSantis has struggled to separate himself while still kissing Trump’s ring. Dixon goes deep on the governor’s efforts to land endorsements and find a message that might resonate with voters, which is mainly a chronicle of missteps. (His glitchy candidacy announcement on Twitter was just the start.) Add to that a growing reputation as being a bit odd—Dixon offers a host of details about when DeSantis was seen gobbling down the contents of a pudding cup with his fingers—and DeSantis is unlikely to capture America’s heart in 2024. Still, the book is valuable as a time capsule of the right’s recent obsession with culture wars and how DeSantis was able to take advantage—for a time.

Trump once called DeSantis a “brilliant cookie.” Read within to watch him crumble.