DeSantis touts role in organizing flights out of Israel, but some details are murky
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made a push to arrange Israel evacuation flights part of his presidential campaign pitch Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made a push to arrange Israel evacuation flights part of his presidential campaign pitch, apparently seeking to show off his role as a state leader amid an unfolding international conflict. Chartered jets, paid for by the state under a recent executive order, began arriving in Florida from Israel early this week. But some key details are still emerging, including how many people from Florida have been brought home amid the intensifying Israel-Hamas war -- and how much the flights are costing taxpayers. DeSantis announced his involvement with his executive order last Thursday, pledging "to bring Floridians home and transport the necessary supplies to Israel," according to a news release. With that move, DeSantis gained a popular talking point and thrust himself to an Israel-heavy news cycle that has in recent days all but ignored ...