"Newsom's Surprise Visit to Florida College Amid DeSantis Culture War"

California Governor Gavin Newsom met with students and faculty members from the New College of Florida, a liberal arts institution targeted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's higher education overhaul and the country's culture wars. Newsom accused DeSantis of "bullying and intimidating vulnerable communities" and of waging an "all-out assault on public education" in conservative states. DeSantis has installed conservative board members who have voted to dismantle New College's diversity office and replaced the school's president with a Republican politician. The changes coincide with broader efforts by DeSantis to reimagine education in Florida by banning gender studies majors and prohibiting affirmative action programs, among other proposed changes.