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Breakfast in a Floridian diner is never for the faint-hearted.

There’s the biscuits and gravy, the grits, the oversized breakfast tacos, the waffles, the pancakes, the corned beef hash and, of course, the all-American drip coffee.

If you survive all that, and if you nudge the locals a little, then the passionate yet divisive politics of this state and this nation all comes tumbling out.

The moment I mention Ron DeSantis, the cards are on the table.

“I love him… I think he’s doing the things that most of us would like him to do,” Patricia Barra says.

“He’s just kept Florida very productive; open through COVID. I think he wants to make America the way we were used to having it.”

Patricia Barra says she "loves" Ron DeSantis
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Patricia Barra says she “loves” Ron DeSantis

Her husband, Gerald, finishes her thought: “Californians moving to Florida, Massachusettsans moving to Florida, New Jerseyans moving to Florida, New Yorkers moving to Florida. Must be something!”

But, a table away: “He’s bigoted, a white supremacist, a Trump wannabe…” Robin Mix says.

They say the Starlite Diner is a Daytona Beach landmark, an unofficial community meeting place for the locals. Where better, then, to find out more about Florida’s governor?

This is where the political career began for the man who wants to be president.

Mark Stone - Ron DeSantis story
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There were differing opinions over Ron DeSantis at Starlite Diner

Robin Mix calls the Florida governor a "bigoted white supremacist"
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Robin Mix calls the Florida governor a “bigoted white supremacist”

Daytona Beach is in his old district back when he was a congressman, way before he made waves nationwide.

I’ve come to find out what the allure is and whether that landslide vote for governor last year really could propel him all the way to the White House.

‘Make America Florida’ is his line. It’s a neat play on the tagline of his fan-turned-foe, Donald ‘Make America Great Again’ Trump.

Read more on Sky News:
The controversial Florida governor – five things about DeSantis

Disney scraps plans for new campus following DeSantis dispute
Florida school bans poem read at Biden’s inauguration

Trump is the clear favourite to clinch the Republican Party nominee for president. But DeSantis is behind him and hopes to close, fast.

He is Trumpian without the chaos. Maybe he can deliver on policy where Trump didn’t manage to? That’s exciting for some; frightening for others, and it turns out they’re all represented in the Starlite Diner this morning.

The vibe from his fans reflects a view that America has lost its way and needs to return to traditional values – conservative ones.

‘He would make a wonderful vice president’

“I like that idea…” another diner says when I put the Make America Florida tag to her.

“I think he would make a wonderful vice-president under President Trump…” another says.

It reflects what some see as the dream conservative ticket, however improbable it may be given the pair’s current animosity.

If there is one theme which gets to the heart of what Ron DeSantis is all about, it’s culture wars – his war on woke.

He has recognised that cultural issues – tapping into the idea that values have been eroded – so often resonates more with voters than issues like the economy.

Trump harked back to a time when America was apparently greater. DeSantis has gone further, identifying issues which, for his conservative support base, represent societal erosion – wokery.

Daytona Beach
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Daytona Beach

“We will fight woke in the schools, we’ll fight woke in the corporations. We will never surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die,” he says in varying forms repeatedly.

And yet, even channelling Churchill in Florida, by no means everyone here in the Starlite Diner is buying it.

“You know, his big thing is he wants to get rid of wokeness and I’m happy to be woke myself,” Peter Stephenson says.

“You know, I feel the definition of wokeness is having an acceptance for all types of people.”

His wife, Karen, adds: “And this stuff about all the gays and all that. Just let them live. Let everybody get along.”

Ron DeSantis has never explicitly said anything against the gay community.

Peter Stephenson says he's "happy to be woke"
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Peter Stephenson says he’s “happy to be woke”

DeSantis’s policies represent erosion of minority rights, say critics

But his policies, for his critics at least, represent an erosion of minority rights whether they be gay rights, racial rights or the freedom to be who you want to be.

“He wants to make everything like the 50s television shows where all the people were white, all the people were ‘normal’. Dad goes to work, mum stays at home. We can’t go back to the 50s. But that’s what they want,” Robin Mix says.

His recently published book is called The Courage To Be Free.

Critics say there’s a deep irony that a man who champions freedom has been so busy restricting so many different things.

On abortion he has introduced legislation banning it after six weeks.

On drag shows, laws now make it illegal for children to be present. There are restrictions on gender-neutral toilets. He was elected governor with these policies as promises.

And then there is the so-called book ban. It’s a headline that’s not wholly accurate.

He hasn’t banned books but has taken a hard line on what books are available to school children of different ages. In that sense, some books are banned for some age groups.

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen some books in some of these libraries – you’re talking about kids in middle school – some of the stuff that’s ended up there is incredibly disturbing stuff,” he said recently.

The governor’s grassroots support comes from mothers like Tina Descovich, who founded the group ‘Moms for Liberty’ here in Florida. It now has branches nationwide.

Tina Descovich, founder of Moms for Liberty
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Tina Descovich, founder of Moms for Liberty

She raises a book in her hand as we chat.

“Gender Queer has obscene images throughout. It was found here in a local middle school library that shared middle school in high school and not only was it in the school, it was on display on one of the display cases at the end,” she tells me.

“A lot of school districts around the country have decided that this is appropriate for as young as six grade so 11 and 12-year-olds here in the United States.”

There is no evidence that this book is widely available to that age group across America.

But for Tina, his strong stance represents leadership.

“He takes action. You know, we are tired in our country and in our state of spineless leaders, who change their mind, who flip-flop, who go with the flow. What we saw with Governor DeSantis as he looked at facts, and he made decisions even though they were unpopular.”

‘DeSantis is not for freedom for all people’

Denise Soufrine, a teacher, is considering leaving Florida due to Mr DeSantis' governorship
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Denise Soufrine, a teacher, is considering leaving Florida due to Mr DeSantis’ governorship

Down the coast in one of Florida’s few remaining Democratic counties, I met Denise Soufrine, a teacher who is considering leaving Florida.

“He touts that we’re the Free State of Florida, and I don’t understand how he could possibly say that when you are restricting the rights,” she says.

“The Moms for Liberty will say ‘we’re protecting children’. Well, what about all the other parents that want their children to be exposed to ideas of all sorts so their children can grow?

“I don’t really think that’s what this country wants. I don’t think so.

“That’s not what this country was founded on. And this governor is not for freedom for all people. He’s only for freedom for certain people.

“Years ago, there were hardly any books in libraries that showed black characters, African American characters, Hispanic characters.

“So as a librarian, as a teacher, I’m someone that wants to make sure that everyone in the class feels comfortable and knows that they’re accepted.”

She adds: “There’s no kindness in any of the bills that he is promoting at all.”

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs holds head in his hands as jury reaches a partial verdict

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs holds head in his hands as jury reaches a partial verdict

Jurors in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs have reached a verdict on four of the five counts against him – but the hip-hop mogul will have to wait to learn his fate.

In tense scenes towards the end of the court day on Tuesday, jurors sent a note to say they had reached verdicts on two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation for prostitution, but had been unable to reach a unanimous decision on the charge of racketeering conspiracy.

Combs‘s lawyers surrounded him at the defence table after the note was sent to the court, and at one point he held his head in his hands.

After discussions with prosecution and defence lawyers, Judge Arun Subramanian told jurors to continue deliberating on Wednesday rather than deliver a partial verdict.

Diddy trial – live updates

Sean 'Diddy' Combs and his attorney Marc Agnifilo. Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg
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Combs and one of his lawyers, Marc Agnifilo, earlier in the day. Pic: Reuters/Jane Rosenberg

The jury has testimony from more than 30 witnesses to consider – including Combs’s former long-term partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another former girlfriend called “Jane”, who testified under a pseudonym to protect her identity.

Prosecutors allege the 55-year-old rapper used his fame and power to force Cassie and “Jane” into drug-fuelled sex sessions with male sex workers, which were referred to as “freak-offs”, “wild king nights”, or “hotel nights”.

He was also physically violent and blackmailed them with footage, jurors were told.

They also heard from “Mia”, a former employee who alleged she was sexually assaulted by the rapper on several occasions during her career. She also testified using a pseudonym.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and his defence team has argued that prosecutors are attempting to criminalise what they say was a consensual “swingers lifestyle”.

The rapper chose not to testify and his lawyers did not call any witnesses, building their arguments instead through lengthy cross-examinations of the witnesses called by the prosecution.

The charges against Diddy – and potential sentences

Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy – up to life in prison

Count 2: Sex-trafficking of Cassie Ventura – a minimum of 15 years and maximum of life in prison

Count 3: Transporting individuals including but not limited to Cassie Ventura to engage in prostitution – a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison

Count 4: Sex-trafficking of Jane* – a minimum of 15 years and maximum of life in prison

Count 5: Transporting individuals including but not limited to Jane to engage in prostitution – a maximum of 10 years in prison

What is racketeering conspiracy?

Racketeering conspiracy, which is count one on the verdict sheet, is the most complicated of the charges against Combs.

Jurors need to decide not only whether the rapper created a “racketeering enterprise”, but also if he was involved in various offences as part of this, including kidnapping, arson and bribery.

The charge falls under the US’s RICO laws (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act), which is best known for being used in relation to organised crime and drug cartel cases.

Read more:
Prosecution’s closing argument
Defence’s closing argument

After closing arguments last week, jurors began deliberation on Monday and had spent about 13 hours discussing in total by the time they sent their note.

Before reaching the verdict on the four counts, they had requested to review crucial testimony from Cassie about her account of an assault in a hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.

Captured on CCTV, the footage was played in court several times – showing Combs, wearing only a towel and socks, beating, kicking and dragging Cassie in a hallway.

His defence team admitted in their opening statement that this was domestic violence, and said the music star regretted these actions – but that they did not amount to any of the federal charges against him.

Read more:
The rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
What we learned from Cassie’s testimony

As well as Cassie’s evidence on that assault, they asked to see her testimony on an incident at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 – when she said Combs accused her of taking drugs from him and kicked her off of his yacht.

On their way back to the US, she told the court, he threatened to release explicit videos of her having sex with an escort.

Jurors also wanted to review testimony given by a male sex worker at the start of the trial.

Combs could face 15 years to life in prison if he is convicted of all charges.

Jurors will continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy charge on Wednesday.

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Elon Musk steps up attacks on Trump once again – as the president fights back

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Elon Musk steps up attacks on Trump once again - as the president fights back

Elon Musk has stepped up his attacks on Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill – weeks after a spectacular fallout between the world’s richest man and the US president.

Following weeks of relative silence after clashing with Mr Trump over his “big beautiful bill”, the billionaire vowed to unseat politicians who support it.

In a post on X, Musk said those who had campaigned on cutting spending but then backed the bill “should hang their heads in shame”.

He added: “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

Musk also threatened to put their faces on a poster which said “liar” and “voted to increase America’s debt” by $5trn (£3.6trn).

The posts attracted a swift reply from Mr Trump, who claimed the billionaire “may get more subsidy than any human being in history” for his electric car business.

“Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

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Elon’s dad on the Musk-Trump bust-up

Musk spent at least $250m (£182m) supporting Mr Trump in his presidential campaign and then led the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which sacked about 120,000 federal employees.

He has argued the legislation would greatly increase the US national debt and wipe out the savings he claimed he achieved through DOGE.

As the Senate discussed the package, Musk called it “utterly insane and destructive”.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO said the bill’s massive spending indicated “we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”

“Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” he wrote.

Read more from Sky News:
Stab victim describes horrible reality of knife crime
Royal train to be scrapped with family to rely on helicopters

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Musk previously said some of his social media posts during his dramatic fallout with Mr Trump “went too far”.

He had shared a series of posts on X, including one that described Mr Trump’s tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination”.

He also claimed, in a since-deleted post, that the president appeared in files relating to the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

But Musk later wrote: “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”

In response, the president told the New York Post: “I thought it was very nice that he did that.”

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What’s in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’?

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What's in Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'?

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Martha Kelner and Mark Stone break down what’s in Donald Trump’s huge tax and spending bill. He’s trying to sign it into law by the end of the week.

They also discuss the State Department’s decision to revoke US visas for British band Bob Vylan after their Glastonbury performance.

If you’ve got a question you’d like the Trump100 team to answer, you can email it to trump100@sky.uk.

You can also watch all episodes on our YouTube channel.

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