When the parental rights group Moms for Liberty held the Joyful Warriors summit in Philadelphia in early July, they were met with left-wing protesters who vandalized a museum hosting one of the group’s events and mobbed attendees shouting threats at women and children. One of the speakers at the conference was Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), a 2024 presidential contender who has embraced the flashpoint causes of parental rights in education and medicine. In a wide-ranging interview after his speech, DeSantis explained why he has done so. The following has been edited for clarity and space.