The Waves: Gender, Relationships, Feminism · Slate Podcasts

Why All The First Ladies Want to Be Jackie O.

·34 min·3 clips

Casey DeSantis wore a floor-length hot pink satin gown with elbow-length white gloves in the middle of the day—why is she dressing like a cartoon first lady?

This episode of The Waves analyzes the political fashion and strategy of Casey DeSantis, wife of presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. Hosts Saatchi Cole and guest Ruby Cramer, a Washington Post politics feature writer, examine why potential first ladies often emulate Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Cramer wrote a major profile on Casey DeSantis, tracing her transition from a Jacksonville TV anchor to a powerful political spouse. Casey DeSantis posted a photo of herself in a formal, hot-pink satin gown with elbow-length gloves to watch a state of the state address. She has frequently worn caped dresses and formal wear, including mint green and ice blue gowns, during her husband's campaign. Ruby Cramer notes Casey is unusually involved, attending every campaign event and receiving her own speaking slot as a headliner. In Florida, she established her own office attached to the governor's office and lobbied lawmakers on bills, unlike previous first ladies who worked from the mansion. Cramer describes the DeSantis partnership as an "inner circle of two," with Ron DeSantis reportedly listening closely to her input. Casey DeSantis leads an initiative called "Mamas for DeSantis" to mobilize mothers and grandmothers around parental rights. A surprising insight is that former colleagues from her TV news career describe her as intensely private, with Cramer finding few close friends willing to discuss her. Despite her modern, influential role, Casey DeSantis publicly defers heavily to her husband, creating a mix of traditional and modern presentation. Cramer argues that while some see her as a "co-governor," Ron DeSantis has long been a hardline conservative focused on golf, baseball, and the Constitution. The episode suggests Casey DeSantis is a more effective softener for her husband's abrasive style than Melania Trump was for Donald Trump. One memorable detail is a leather jacket she wore that read "Florida: Where Woke Goes to Die," explicitly signaling policy alignment. The conversation explores whether it's fair to critique her appearance since her fashion choices are intentional political messaging. Cramer shares that Casey DeSantis was known to be highly self-critical of her appearance when reviewing broadcast tapes. The discussion concludes that the most appropriate critique might be to mock her husband's choices, like his selection of a Quest bar at a gas station. The tone is conversational, analytical, and peppered with witty cultural commentary. The style blends political reporting with observations on gender, fashion, and power dynamics. Listeners interested in the intersection of politics, media, and gender performance would find this episode compelling. Those seeking a straightforward policy discussion or who are disinterested in political spouse narratives might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A sharp look at Casey DeSantis as a political actor inside a conservative campaign.

The episode treats Casey DeSantis as a political actor in her own right, not just Ron DeSantis's wife, and uses that angle to ask how much power a first lady can carry inside a conservative campaign.

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Why you'd press play

Hear why Casey DeSantis reads as a political asset, not just a candidate's spouse.

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