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Miami Herald
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
The future of the GOP post Trump is being built in Florida, and it's unapologetic
It's been a decade since President Donald Trump took his infamous ride down the golden escalator to announce his candidacy for president in 2016. What initially looked like a political stunt became a turning point for the Republican Party. Since that time, I've watched the party undergo a transformation that few predicted. What began as a movement by Trump has evolved — and nowhere is that clearer than in Florida. Trump is the Republican Party and his influence has shaped the GOP for the foreseeable future. Trump is in his second and final term, and the question of who will carry the party forward looms. While these answers are hazy, one thing is certain: the post-Trump GOP is being built in Florida, and state Republicans are writing a national conservative playbook that will outlast him. This transformation has made Florida a launchpad for conservative politics. Over the weekend at Florida's Freedom Forum in Orlando, I witnessed something remarkable: for the first time in years, the direction of the GOP made sense. Although Trump still dominates headlines, Florida Republicans are looking beyond his tenure and their grassroots-driven leadership offers a roadmap for what comes next. 'Florida leads the way,' Evan Power, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said during his remarks at the event. He's right. In 2018, I met with former Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam's Republican campaign for Florida governor, and they asked me about a comment I made on air, saying 'Florida is Trump country.' I told them it was, and the Putnam campaign was in trouble. Indeed, I was right; Putnam lost the GOP primary to Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom Trump had endorsed, by double digits. Fast-forward seven years later, the next generation of conservative leaders shaped by Trump's success are being forged in Florida not Washington, D.C. Florida's Freedom Forum wasn't just a pep rally — it was a strategy session. Trump wasn't the focus. Instead, speakers recounted how Florida became a Republican stronghold — through political infrastructure, grassroots efforts and unapologetic commitment to ideology. With a 1.3 million Republican voter-registration advantage, the state party is mobilizing its base year round, and it's paying off. Florida isn't just red — it's the foundation for national expansion. The ambition was echoed with conviction by newly minted Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, whose 'Top 10 Rules for Republican Success' called for unapologetic conservatism and ending political correctness. Ingoglia's grassroots rise reflects a broader shift away from establishment-type figures. This shift is seen in gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds. Donalds said at the event his frustration with his son's math homework led him to get into politics. 'Our children have to know our history and economics, and see conservatism as the path forward,' Donalds said. His story reflects a new conservative archetype — a grassroots parent-turned-politician turning grievance into a public mission. While DeSantis' political future remains uncertain, his role in Florida's GOP success is undeniable. He's won the state twice and helped deliver Florida to Trump in 2020 and 2024. DeSantis has also reshaped education by appointing Republicans to Florida university and school boards and championing reforms. His blueprint is now a model for GOP educational reform across the country. 'We've drawn a clear contrast by being very strong on conservative policy,' DeSantis said at Florida's Freedom Forum. 'The reason we've grown the party is because people know you stand for something.' This clarity of purpose is a cornerstone of Florida Republicans' success. The Florida model is built on absolutes: win or lose. No hedging. No hand-wringing. Just direct, combative messaging that wins elections. The GOP is no longer steeped in Reagan-era conservatism. Florida's Republicans have learned from the past, and now they're using Florida as a strategy lab and talent incubator to move the Republican agenda forward. Trump may have created the movement; but now Florida is building the political machine to expand it beyond any single personality. Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@
Straits Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Nepal blocked access to the app on July 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. KATHMANDU - Rights groups on July 31 urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy. The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on July 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. 'The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision,' said Mr Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog. 'This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning.' Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an 'immediate' reversal of the ban. 'The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication,' said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations. Mr Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive. 'We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office,' Mr Aryal told AFP. In a statement sent to AFP, Telegram said it had 'always responded to Nepal's legal requests' and that it 'actively moderates harmful content on its platform and removes cases of fraud and money laundering as soon as they are discovered, although we have not received any reports of this from Nepalese authorities'. Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past. In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries. Telegram's Russian-born founder and chief executive Pavel Durov was briefly detained in France last year and questioned again this week about the platform's alleged complicity in criminal activity. AFP
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Rights groups demand Nepal revoke Telegram ban over freedom concerns
KATHMANDU: Rights groups on Thursday urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy. The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on July 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. 'The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision,' said Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog. 'This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning.' Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an 'immediate' reversal of the ban. 'The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication,' said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations. Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive. 'We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office,' Aryal told AFP. Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past. In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries. Telegram's Russian-born founder and chief executive Pavel Durov was briefly detained in France last year and questioned again this week about the platform's alleged complicity in criminal activity. – AFP
CNA
31-07-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
KATHMANDU: Rights groups on Thursday (Jul 31) urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy. The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on Jul 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. "The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision," said Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog. "This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning." Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an "immediate" reversal of the ban. "The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication," said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations. Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive. "We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office," Aryal told AFP. Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past. In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries.
The Star
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
KATHMANDU: Rights groups on Thursday (July 31) urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy. The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on July 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. "The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision," said Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog. "This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning." Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an "immediate" reversal of the ban. "The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication," said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations. Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive. "We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office," Aryal told AFP. Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past. In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries. Telegram's Russian-born founder and chief executive Pavel Durov was briefly detained in France last year and questioned again this week about the platform's alleged complicity in criminal activity. - AFP
