Florida’s attacks on academic freedom just got even worse | Moira Donegan

Ron DeSantis has put the rightwing activist Christopher Rufo in charge of reforming' a liberal arts college and remaking it in a rightwing mold

Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign is flailing: the Florida governor, once considered a formidable contestant for the Republican nomination, is polling at a pathetic 14.8% among the Republican contenders. His camp is struggling to raise money, and the candidate's public appearances have revealed him to be interpersonally unpleasant - coming off stiff, judgmental and creepy.

At the Iowa state fair last week, DeSantis was caught on video telling a little girl, who was clutching a fairground treat, that's probably a lot of sugar". The governor, a man so joyless that he scolded a child for eating candy, was later the subject of a taunting banner flown over one of his events: Be Likable, Ron!"

Moira Donegan is a Guardian US columnist