Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis run for president

Also: Over a million migrants have illegally crossed the border this year.

Editorial Team
May 25, 2023

👋 Good morning, and welcome back. Ron DeSantis made his presidential campaign official last night on Twitter Spaces, accompanied by tech mogul Elon Musk. Critics are buzzing about the technical issues, and overall vibe of a Zoom meeting, accompanied by DeSantis’s pre-scripted speech. The high turnout led others to declare that the Governor had "broke the internet." Musk himself gave the event his stamp of approval, hailing the "massive attention" it garnered as a clear victory.

Today the team is covering:

📈 Over a million illegal migrants crossed the border in 2023,
🗳 Tim Scott’s presidential campaign,
⚾ The L.A. Dodgers to host drag queens,
➕ And everything else you need to know.

—Ari

IMMIGRATION

Illegal migrant population bigger than Delaware crossed the border since 2023

The numbers are in: In the first four months of 2023, just over a million people illegally crossed the U.S. southern border—a group larger than the populations of Delaware, Vermont, Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, or South Dakota. And that was before the end of the pandemic-era regulation known as Title 42 this month, which is expected to dramatically increase illegal border crossings.

Biden’s border response: The Biden administration has repelled over 11,000 migrants from the border since May 12 and touts that there’s been a 70 percent drop in border encounters since that date. But that doesn’t account for the hundreds of thousands who evade capture, which is thought to be greatly underreported. The administration has called on numerous federal agencies to assist border officials.

In Congress: As President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats fight strict border security proposals and push for leniency, the House GOP conducts committee investigations to scrutinize Bidden’s border policies. However, a new bipartisan bill in the House would enact a series of long-term measures to prevent and punish illegal border crossings while offering “dignity and redemption” to illegal immigrants through various programs that would let some stay in America.

In the states: The federal government’s response simply isn’t enough to secure the border in the near future. For now, state-level leaders across the country are throwing their weight behind Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, including 24 governors who have offered to lend him personnel and supplies. Officials of the border state have managed to effectively block some points of entry at the southern border. Additionally, Florida sued the Biden administration for its plans to release migrants without court dates, leading a judge to place a two-week restraining order on the administration’s plan.

FROM THE TEAM

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—Ari

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, 2007

⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers spark controversy by hosting drag queens for Pride Night. Catholic organizations, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Twitter users derided the baseball team for hosting the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” a group of male drag queens dressed like nuns whose performances center around a sexualized mockery of Christianity. The Dodgers initially canceled the group’s Pride Night performance due to the backlash before quickly walking back the decision and offering its “sincerest apologies to … the LGBTQ+ community.” The Sisters will appear on the Dodgers’ field on June 16.

💰 Black Lives Matter took big financial hits in 2022, tax records show. The nonprofit’s global foundation ran an $8.5 million deficit last year while its investment accounts lost almost $10 million of value. This follows a history of financial troubles for the far-left organization, including an 88 percent drop in donations in the last fiscal year and an inability to comply with transparency requirements in several states. It risks bankruptcy if it doesn’t restrain its spending going forward.

🏥 Another hospital whistleblower speaks out against child sex changes, this time in Texas. An anonymous person who has worked at Texas Children’s Hospital, the largest children's health facility in the U.S., alleges that doctors routinely put children on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones with “no critical analysis of the process,” often the same day that a child expresses a desire for transition. The hospital is currently under investigation by the Texas Attorney General for its pediatric sex-change procedures, which it provided in secret for months.

🚫 Montana becomes the first state to ban Drag Queen Story Hour for children. While Republicans in other states have targeted the sexual elements of drag shows, the bill that Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed on Monday bans anyone dressed in drag from reading to children at public schools and libraries, the first of its kind to become law in the United States. Gianforte argued that these events are “wildly inappropriate.”

POLITICS

Tim Scott’s presidential campaign

What’s happening? Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott announced his presidential campaign on Monday. He argues that America needs a president with “compassion for those who disagree with us” and that the country must choose victory over victimhood. Supporters believe his optimistic and patriotic message sets him apart from other contenders, but skeptics argue he stands no chance.

Support: The conservative magazine National Review wrote that Scott is a good face for conservatism and that his friendly approach could attract voters from across the aisle. As the only black Republican senator and the only black man to ever serve in both congressional chambers, his supporters believe he could attract black voters.

Criticism: Others have cited black Republicans’ long history of failing to win over their black constituents, arguing an attempt to do so on a national scale would be futile. Critics at The Spectator argue that he lacks the “venom” necessary to crack down on leftist ideology and policies. Scott previously also drew criticism for not being conservative enough—in 2020, he supported the Black Lives Matter cause during the anti-police protests and has been accused of playing into cancel culture.

Could he succeed? Donald Trump welcomed Scott to the race, saying he’s a “big step up” from Ron DeSantis, who announced his candidacy yesterday. More candidates could increase Trump’s chances of winning the primaries by splitting Republican votes between his contenders. It seems unlikely Scott stands a chance against frontrunners Trump and DeSantis.

SEE YOU TONIGHT?

Everything about the 2024 elections you need to know

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Get ready for a full-spectrum analysis of their strategic playbooks, robust discussions of their perceived strengths, and an honest evaluation of their potential weaknesses.

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IN THE LOOP

🏳️‍🌈 In anticipation of Pride Month, The North Face tells its customers to “come out” in an ad that features a drag queen.

✈️ Florida’s new immigration law is reportedly causing some illegal aliens to leave the state.

🍻 Top beer industry insiders are reportedly “in shock” that the cultural backlash against Bud Light has endured this long. They’re predicting that non-woke competitors will have shortages in the coming months due to high demand.

👀 2022 Arizona Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s response as to whether she will run for the Senate in 2024: “Well, not today.” She is launching an extensive ballot-chasing campaign in the state.

POLL

Who would you vote for if Republican primaries were held today?

Poll results will be in tomorrow’s newsletter.

POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY

What is a more important issue to fight for?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 📚 Parental rights (96.3%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🪁 Child 'autonomy' (2.5%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (1.2%)

“It is a parent’s responsibility to teach, develop and guide their children. It is NOT the responsibility of the State or any part of the government to do that or to infringe on parents’ rights to do their duty as a parent.”

“Children are entitled to and need parental guidance. As they grow and mature they assume more control of their lives. This is a slow process; the human brain becomes mature only during the final stages, which normally occur in the 18-25 year range.”

“Until a child is fully developed physically and mentally, they shouldn't have such an extreme level of autonomy. It's why we have age restrictions on drinking, buying weed and cigarettes, tattoos, piercings, and drivers’ licenses. Let parents be parents.”

721 votes

✍️ Today’s newsletter was written by Ari, Hudson, and Joanna and edited by Alyssa.