The Covid Reckoning America Needs

Florida governor Ron DeSantis performed impressively in a CNN town hall hosted by anchor Jake Tapper. If you missed the whole broadcast, the highlight reel is also instructive of what might have been.

DeSantis evinced all the warmth and empathy that he has often struggled to summon throughout the campaign. He sloughed off the false pugilistic affect designed, we must assume, to mimic Donald Trump’s style. Instead, he emphasized the bridge-building skills that dismantled Florida’s Democratic coalition in 2022. He distinguished his appeals to the Republican electorate and the manner in which he evaluates moments of crisis in ways that established a real contrast with the frontrunner in the race rather than a comparison.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

Featured Tags

Florida governor Ron DeSantis performed impressively in a CNN town hall hosted by anchor Jake Tapper. If you missed the whole broadcast, the highlight reel is also instructive of what might have been.

DeSantis evinced all the warmth and empathy that he has often struggled to summon throughout the campaign. He sloughed off the false pugilistic affect designed, we must assume, to mimic Donald Trump’s style. Instead, he emphasized the bridge-building skills that dismantled Florida’s Democratic coalition in 2022. He distinguished his appeals to the Republican electorate and the manner in which he evaluates moments of crisis in ways that established a real contrast with the frontrunner in the race rather than a comparison.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.