DeSantis offers Florida’s State Guard to Los Angeles. No thanks, says Newsom

AftertheTrumpadministrationsentMarinesandNationalGuardtroopstoLosAngelesinresponsetotheprotestsagainstimmigrationenforcement,Gov.RonDeSantisproposedaddinganothergrouptothemix:theFloridaStateGuard. CaliforniaGov.GavinNewsom,however,declinedDeSantis’offer. “Giventheguardwerenotneededinthefirstplace,wedeclinedGovernorDeSantis’attempttoinflameanalreadychaoticsituationmadeworsebyhisparty’sleader,”NewsomspokespersonDianaCrofts-PelayotoldtheHeraldinanemail. Astateguard,maintainedin23states,isastate-trained,state-fundedvolunteerforcemeanttorespondto“man-madeandnaturaldisasters.”Florida’sguardwasinactiveforaround75yearsuntilDeSantisreactivateditin2022.Hesentitacrossstatelinesin2024tofortifytheTexasborderandagaintoaidNorthCarolinainthewakeofHurricaneHelene. TheFloridaStateGuard,whichfacedcontroversyforitsmilitaristictraining,wasrevivednotjustforemergencies,butalsoaidinglawenforcementwithriotsandillegalimmig