Happening this Monday: Israel expands military offensive to southern Gaza… NBC’s Matt Dixon writes about how Roger Stone convinced Donald Trump not to attack Ron DeSantis in his home state, according to Dixon’s forthcoming book, “Swamp Monsters”… DeSantis teases plan to “supersede” Obamacare in “Meet the Press” interview… And DeSantis and Dem Dean Phillips campaign in New Hampshire.

But FIRST… We’ve told you to take former President Donald Trump’s words both seriously and literally, including his recent comment comparing political opponents to “vermin.”

Yet what if Trump’s own Republican opponents don’t see that rhetoric as problematic? Or don’t make it part of their campaigns against the GOP frontrunner?

We saw that play out — again — in Kristen Welker’s “Meet the Press” interview with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the weekend.

WELKER: You bring up former President Trump. So, let me ask you about the GOP frontrunner. Mr. Trump is campaigning on the idea of retribution. He’s promising to jail his political enemies, if he’s reelected. He’s also referred to some of his political opponents as “vermin”…

DESANTIS: Well, I think even beyond that, the issue is why are you running? Are you running for your personal issues? Are you running for the American people’s issues? And I’m running for the American people’s issues.

Later in the interview, after DeSantis doesn’t comment on Trump’s “vermin" remark…

WELKER: Do you condemn the use of the word “vermin,” then?

DESANTIS: I don’t use the term. But what I don’t do is play the media’s game, where I’m asked to referee other people. He’s responsible for his words. He’s responsible for his conduct. I’m responsible for mine.

DeSantis says he doesn’t “use the term.” Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said she didn’t agree with the comment. And entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said the actual “vermin” live in San Francisco.

(New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, however, has criticized Trump over the remark, saying it’s reminiscent to language used by Nazi Germany.)

It’s all a reminder: If Republicans don’t have a problem with Trump’s most controversial comments — or don’t criticize him for saying those things — then they turn into 50-50 jump balls in our polarized political climate.

With independents and swing voters having the final say.