[New post] Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.27.23
Peter Schorsch posted: "Good Friday morning. Welcome to the world — Paulina Andrea Perez, the new baby daughter of Speaker-designate Daniel Perez and his wife Stephanie, and baby sister to Camila Lucia and Matias Daniel Perez. "Mom and baby are doing great," Daniel Perez posted" Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.
Welcome to the world — Paulina Andrea Perez, the new baby daughter of Speaker-designate Daniel Perez and his wife Stephanie, and baby sister to CamilaLucia and Matias Daniel Perez. "Mom and baby are doing great," Daniel Perez posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We are blessed to welcome Paulina to the world."
Happy birthday, Paulina Andrea Perez. Image via X.
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Ruth's List Florida is bringing on new staff as it gears up for the 2024 Election cycle.
Shakhea Hinton joins Ruth's List as Communications Director. She most recently worked as the Deputy Communications Director for Florida Rising and previously served as the Public Information Officer for now-suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell.
Hinton, one of INFLUENCE Magazine's 2022 "Rising Stars,'' is also the Co-Chair for the Campaign and Candidate Engagement Committee of Delta 4 Women in Action (D4) and a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority member.
Ruth's List picks up Shakhea Hinton as its new Communications Director.
Ruth's List also welcomes Jadyn Gonzales on board as Development Coordinator. Gonzalez has experience in field, research, and management for women candidates at the state and local level in Florida, including former Sen. Janet Cruz and Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan.
Gonzalez is a member of the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) and Pinellas County Young Democrats. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration at Florida State University.
"These two talented and passionate women bring valuable and diverse experiences in Florida politics that will be essential as we build our infrastructure ahead of the 2024 Election cycle," Ruth's List CEO Christina Diamond wrote in an announcement email.
"We are confident these additions to our team will further advance our mission to elect more Democratic pro-choice women in Florida and support our endorsed candidates and women elected officials."
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
Tweet, tweet:
The U.S. must continue to fully support our ally Israel & the Iron Dome Missile Defense System.
—@RonDeSantis: Casey and I were shocked to hear the news coming out of Lewiston, Maine. While the facts are still coming in, this could be another example of a failure of our nation's mental health system. We are praying for those injured, the comfort of the families of the victims, and the law enforcement officers who are working to bring this evil individual to justice.
—@RonDeSantis: Today's GDP numbers are reflective of the wider (President Joe) Biden economy — inflated. Much of last quarter's growth was driven by unsustainable government spending and monetary policy. In reality, consumer confidence is falling, inflation is still nearly double the average of the last 30 years, our oil reserves are at a 40-year low, auto loan delinquencies and credit card debt are near all-time highs, and more Americans are forced to take on multiple jobs to cover basic expenses. Bidenflation is killing the average American's bottom line, and things will only get worse in the months ahead as credit dries up and gas prices increase even further because of Biden's anti-energy policies.
—@VoteRandyFine: Why did it take me endorsing @realDonaldTrumpto get you to take action? I gave you all of this on October 9th. I have the texts. All I got back was a bunch of handwringing. While I am glad it is happening now, it is sad that you couldn't do the right thing because it was the right thing and only did it to minimize the political fallout of today's events.
—@Jason_Garcia: When deciding who to believe on this, it's worth noting that Randy Fine is willing to speak on the record while Ron DeSantis' office is hiding behind some anonymous "senior official close to the Governor."
—@JacobOgles: In a roomful of @UCFstudents, likely none of them homeowners, there's great concern with insurance rates, which the students see as a chief reason rents are rising in Central Florida.
—@FinchWalker: One member resigned from Brevard's book committee via email, saying: "When individuals are unwilling to 'listen' to one another, actually speak to make themselves heard rather than listen to one another, everyone loses. In this case, it is the students of Brevard County schools."
—@srl: Judges have now found that Republicans in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida all used their redistricting power to discriminate against Black voters after the 2020 Census.
—@sabah_h: I worry about how much trauma we are collectively exposed to as a society and how we never really process that trauma because by the time we want to, something else awful consumes us and we don't prioritize mental health care.
— DAYS UNTIL —
The Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership summit — 1; Apple launch event to announce new MacBook laptops — 3; Suncoast Tiger Bay Club hosts 'Evening with the Tigers' — 12; 2023 Florida Chamber Mental Health Innovation Summit — 13; 'The Marvels′ premieres — 15; Formula 1 will take over the Las Vegas Strip — 21; Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' premieres — 26; 2023 Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 26; 'Squid Game: The Challenge' premieres — 27; Florida TaxWatch's Annual Meeting begins — 33; Florida TaxWatch's 2023 Government Productivity Awards Ceremony — 40; 2023 Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 48; Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon' premieres — 56; Michael Mann's 'Ferrari' premieres — 59; Matt Dixon's 'Swamp Monsters: Trump vs. DeSantis ― the Greatest Show on Earth (or at Least in Florida)' released — 74; 2024 Florida Chamber Legislative Fly-In and reception — 74; Florida's 2024 Regular Session begins — 74; 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards — 80; Florida TaxWatch's State of the Taxpayer Dinner — 81; South Carolina Democratic Primary — 99; New Hampshire and Nevada Democratic Primaries — 102; South Carolina GOP holds first-in-the-South Primary — 120; Michigan Democratic Primary — 122; Trump's D.C. trial on charges related to trying to reverse his 2020 Election loss — 129; Super Tuesday — 130; 'A Quiet Place: Day One' premieres — 134; 2024 Oscars — 136; Georgia Democratic Primary — 137; 'Dune: Part Two' premieres — 141; 2024 Leadership Conference on Safety, Health & Sustainability — 196; 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' premieres — 205; Republican National Convention begins — 259; New 'Alien' premieres — 263; 'Captain America: Brave New World' premieres — 272; Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games — 273; Georgia Tech to face Florida State in 2024 opener in Dublin — 303; Swift's Eras Tour stops in Miami — 347; 2024 Florida Chamber Annual Meeting & Future of Florida Forum — 359; 'Thunderbolts' premieres — 420; 'Blade' reboot premieres — 476; 'Fantastic Four' reboot premieres — 555; 'Moana' premieres — 611; 'Avatar 3' premieres — 785; 'Avengers: The Kang Dynasty' premieres — 916; Untitled 'Star Wars' movie premieres — 939; Another untitled 'Star Wars' movie premieres — 1,152; 'Avengers: Secret Wars' premieres — 1,291; 'Avatar 4' premieres — 2,247; 'Avatar 5' premieres — 2,610.
The resignation ends months of drama since DeSantis chose the former New York financial adviser to lead the housing corporation, an independent state entity that oversees and distributes billions of state and federal affordable housing dollars.
It's really over for Mike DiNapoli.
In July, the corporation's Board Chair placed DiNapoli on paid leave while its inspector general investigated allegations that he was abusive and sexist.
A month later, DeSantis reinstated DiNapoli, with a spokesperson saying the investigation had "found nothing to justify the placement of Mr. DiNapoli on administrative leave."
In September, the corporation's inspector general, Chris Hirst, presented his investigation to the Board, reporting that employees alleged DiNapoli screamed at staff, made sexist comments, talked about their weight and threatened their jobs.
The Board then placed him on leave a second time, prompting a DeSantis administration official to call the inspector general report a "media hit piece." DeSantis' Press Secretary, Jeremy Redfern, blasted the Board, mostly made up of DeSantis appointees, as members of the "deep state" who lacked the "ability to sort fact from fiction."
— THE TRAIL —
"Trump-skeptical GOP rainmakers are taking another look at Donald Trump" via Matt Dixon, Katherine Doyle, Brian Schwartz and Jonathan Allen of NBC News — "There is no doubt in my mind that Donald Trump will be the nominee of our party," said Ed Broyhill, a longtime GOP donor who was Trump's North Carolina finance Chair in 2020. "The grassroots are a solid foundation for Donald Trump." Earlier this year, Broyhill was considering supporting other candidates, like DeSantis or Pence. But he is now firmly a Trump supporter. Broyhill is part of a notable slice of donors who helped fund Trump's first two presidential campaigns but were, for various reasons, at least considering alternatives in the 2024 primaries. However, members of the group have started to write checks once again for Trump in recent months. "Why? It is easy; I want to win," said a GOP donor who has been a significant Trump supporter in the past but was looking at supporting other candidates, including DeSantis and (Sen. Tim) Scott.
Donors looking for a win are giving Donald Trump a second look.
"DeSantis tries to lure Trump onto debate stage" via Seth McLaughlin of The Washington Times — DeSantis is trying to bait Trump into entering the debates by saying Trump has lost his fastball and feels entitled to win the nomination. Scrambling to make up ground on Trump, DeSantis says the front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination "owes it to the voters to show up" onstage Nov. 8 in Miami and in the subsequent debates. DeSantis said he's even "willing to allow him to bring his teleprompter."
"DeSantis reaches a new low in Pennsylvania, with 14% support in GOP Primary" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis has asserted a cultural affinity with Pennsylvania, but the state's Republicans seem to be saying they want Trump as President. The new Franklin & Marshall (F&M) Poll shows the former President with 55% support, his high-water mark by far in this outfit's polling. DeSantis, at 14%, is at his lowest point since F&M's first poll of this field in April 2023, before his formal launch. Back then, Trump only led DeSantis 40% to 34%. But with this poll as with so many others, the prospect of a DeSantis campaign apparently was more exciting than the reality for Republican voters. By the time this survey was in the field in August, Trump's lead had tripled from the Spring's 6-point spread to a 39% to 21% advantage.
"DeSantis falls to 8% nationally, tied with Nikki Haley in second place" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — A new national poll of Republican Presidential Primary preferences is the worst yet for DeSantis. The McLaughlin and Associates survey of 449 likely voters shows DeSantis at 8% in the polls, 47 points behind Trump. More worrisome for DeSantis is that the field is closing in on him in the survey, fielded from Oct. 22 through Oct. 26. DeSantis is tied with Haley in second place, the latest evidence that Haley is competing for primacy as the Trump alternative in the race. Meanwhile, two other names are marginally behind Haley and DeSantis.
"Ahead of Florida-Georgia football game, DeSantis buried the Gators in campaign speeches" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — The football game once called the World's Largest Cocktail Party is headed to Jacksonville Saturday, but DeSantis seemingly doesn't expect it to be much of a contest. DeSantis already has gone on record suggesting that he expects the Florida Gators, who enter the contest with a respectable 5-2 record, to have problems matching the Georgia Bulldogs. "I will say, as somebody who was born and raised in Florida, the Florida-Georgia game was a little easier lift for us back in the day than it is now. And you Georgians know what I mean," said DeSantis. "We've done better on almost everything policy-wise. I can point out many things. College football has not necessarily been one of them. So, we're trying to turn the corner," DeSantis added.
— MORE 2024 —
"Judge rules Georgia's political maps must be redrawn before 2024 Elections" via Amy B Wang of The Washington Post — A federal judge has struck down Georgia's political district maps and ordered state lawmakers to redraw them by Dec. 8, in a win for voting rights activists who argued that the state's maps dilute the power of Black voters. In a ruling issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones wrote that Georgia's congressional and state legislative maps, which were redrawn by Republican lawmakers in 2021, violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and that Black voters in Georgia have "suffered significant harm." The 2021 maps also cannot be used in any future elections.
"Republicans float a quiet conspiracy theory that Joe Biden won't be on the ballot" via Matt Dixon, Dasha Burns and Alex Tabet of NBC News — Biden announced in April that he is running for re-election. His campaign and its fundraising entities have a combined $91 million in the bank, and he has hired key political staffers to help helm his 2024 re-election campaign. He has no serious opposition that threatens to kick him off his party's ballot. So, he will obviously be the Democratic nominee for President, right? Right? Though no incumbent President has declined to seek a second term since Lyndon Johnson in 1969, there is an unfounded conversation among a faction on the political right that goes something like this: Democratic power brokers will intervene at the last minute to replace a weakened 80-year-old Biden with someone else as the party's nominee.
Conspiracy theories abound in the Joe Biden campaign.
"Dean Phillips' Primary challenge of Biden will face many obstacles" via Meryl Kornfield, Michael Scherer and Tyler Pager of The Washington Post — Political scion Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running as a Democrat could have spelled trouble for Biden, but his decision to run as an independent made his candidacy at least as much of a problem for Republicans in the short-term. Progressive scholar Cornel West left the Green Party to similarly run as an independent, mucking up his ability to get his name on the ballot. And Democratic groups have moved to squash a third-party ticket supported by centrist organization No Labels.
"Tim Scott tests his campaign on a mostly Black audience — to mixed reviews" via Nnamdi Egwuonwu of NBC News — Scott's staunch focus on winning over Republicans in early-voting states means he has spoken to predominantly White audiences at nearly all of his campaign events. That changed this week in Chicago, where Scott, a Senator from South Carolina, delivered a campaign speech before a mostly Black group of prospective voters, testing his messaging on a group that's typically skeptical of the Republican Party and remained skeptical after it heard what Scott had to say, attendees said in interviews.
Who knew? — "Larry Elder drops out of 2024 GOP Primary, backs Trump" via Julia Mueller of The Hill — Elder is suspending his 2024 campaign for the White House and has endorsed Trump as the party nominee. "As I look at the path forward, and after careful consideration and consultation with my campaign team, I have made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign," Elder said in a statement announcing the end of his campaign. "Now that I am exiting the race," he continued. "I am proud to announce my endorsement of Donald Trump for President of the United States."
"Prosecutors withdraw second subpoena in Trump fundraising inquiry" via Alan Feuer and Maggie Haberman of the Tampa Bay Times — Federal prosecutors have quietly withdrawn a subpoena seeking records from Trump's 2020 campaign as part of their investigation into whether Trump's political and fundraising operations committed any crimes as he sought to stay in power after he lost the election, according to two people familiar with the matter. The decision this week by the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, to effectively kill the subpoena to the Trump campaign came on the heels of the withdrawal of a similar subpoena to Save America, the political action committee that was formed by Trump's aides shortly after he lost the race in 2020.
"Trump fraud trial: Judge finds Trump's testimony was 'hollow and untrue'" via Peter Charalambous and Aaron Katersky of ABC News — Trump is on trial in New York in a $250 million lawsuit that could alter the personal fortune and real estate empire that helped propel Trump to the White House. Trump, his sons Eric and Don Jr., and Trump Organization executives are accused by New York Attorney General Letitia James of engaging in a decadelong scheme in which they used "numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation" to inflate Trump's net worth in order get more favorable loan terms. The trial comes after the judge in the case ruled in a partial summary judgment that Trump had submitted "fraudulent valuations" for his assets, leaving the trial to determine additional actions and what penalty, if any, the defendants should receive.
The judge found Donald Trump's testimony to be not credible.
"Donald Trump Jr. goes after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Iowa appearance" via Alex Tabet of NBC News — It was junior-on-junior warfare at Trump's Iowa campaign headquarters on Thursday afternoon. Trump Jr. said Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 candidacy was a ploy by the Democrats when he was asked about the independent's campaign by a Trump volunteer. "It legitimately always felt like it was a Democrat plant to hurt the Trump thing," Trump Jr. said to a crowd of about 40 Iowans volunteering for the Trump campaign, adding, "He wouldn't be there if the Democrats didn't want him."
— DESANTISY LAND —
"DeSantis says Florida helped send weapons to Israel — a move that could boost him in the GOP Primary" via Adriana Gomez of The Associated Press — DeSantis said he's arranged to send drones, weapons and ammunition to Israel as it prepares for an incursion of Gaza in response to Hamas' attack. It's the latest official response DeSantis has taken to back Israel as he competes in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. Florida has sent cargo planes with health care supplies, drones, body armor and helmets, said Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for the Governor's Office. The Governor's Office said it acted at the request of Israel's consul general in Miami. Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, the consul general, initially said Thursday he did not request drones, body armor or helmets, nor had he talked to the Governor about help getting weapons or ammunition through private parties.
Ron DeSantis is helping arm Israel to respond to the Hamas attack.
"Israeli official clarifies Florida's role in weapons shipment after DeSantis' claims" via Ana Ceballos and Michael Wilner of the Miami Herald — Israel's consul general in Miami clarified DeSantis' role in facilitating a claimed transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel, telling McClatchy that he asked DeSantis' office, among other parties, to provide final clearance for a private shipment of weapons parts in the early days of the war with Hamas. DeSantis' office and presidential campaign said earlier in the day that he had helped ship weapons and drones to Israel at the consulate's request without providing details. In an interview, the consul general, Elbaz-Starinsky, said that a private donation of rifle inserts and other parts was scheduled to be sent on a commercial El Al flight within the first week of the war but that a final bureaucratic approval was necessary to get the shipment on the plane.
"DeSantis says Maine mass murder 'could be another example' of failed mental health system" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — In the wake of a gunman's rampage through Lewiston, Maine, that has left at least 18 people dead according to The Associated Press, DeSantis isn't blaming unfettered access to guns, and is instead assigning culpability to a lack of psychological help for the murderer. "While the facts are still coming in, this could be another example of a failure of our nation's mental health system," DeSantis posted to social media. For DeSantis, who signed a permitless carry law just this year in Florida, the muted response is just the latest in a series of reactions to mass murders where he offered little commentary on the weapons themselves.
"DeSantis says 'involuntary commitment,' not red flag laws, would have stopped Maine mass murder" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis says that the murder of 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, likely would have been avoided if the killer had been locked in a mental hospital, but that red flag laws like Florida's wouldn't have helped avert the tragedy. DeSantis argued for "involuntary commitment" and not "red flag" laws as the mechanism that would have stopped Robert Card, the U.S. Army Reservist who authorities say shot up a bowling alley before heading to a nearby bar to shoot at more people. "I mean, I think he obviously was a well-trained individual. There were these flags when he was training; he did go to the hospital. I think the question is why wasn't he committed? Beyond that. We'll probably figure out going forward. But clearly, this is a guy that's very dangerous because he's got the training and then he seems to have had a breakdown," DeSantis told Kaitlan Collins.
DeSantis says 'involuntary commitment' would have been the best way to stop Maine mass shooter Robert Card.
— D. C. MATTERS —
"Biden meets with new Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House to discuss aid for Israel and Ukraine" via Lisa Mascaro, Farnoush Amiri and Seung Min Kim of The Associated Press — Biden met with new House Speaker Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries at the White House on Thursday to discuss his request for nearly $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other national security needs. Johnson has shown little interest in providing additional money from Congress to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Biden met briefly with Johnson and with Jeffries before the House leaders joined a classified briefing with other congressional lawmakers on the assistance package. "It was a productive meeting," Johnson told reporters. "I enjoyed my visit with the President."
Newly named Speaker Mike Johnson meets with Biden, talking Israel and Ukraine.
"Could Johnson, the new House Speaker, undermine the 2024 Election?" via Luke Broadwater of The New York Times — Ever since Johnson assumed office on Wednesday, a question has been on Democrats' minds: Could the elevation of Johnson, who worked in league with Trump in trying to undermine the 2020 Election results, allow him to succeed in 2024 where he failed the last time? The speakership, which is second in line to the presidency, comes with broad powers over the functioning of the House. And Johnson, a constitutional lawyer whose stature in his party has grown with his election to the top post, could try again to interfere. But there are several reasons that Johnson's new job alone would not allow him special powers to overturn the will of the voters unilaterally.
"U.S. House Republicans eye stopgap funding measure to head off shutdown risk" via Richard Cowan and David Morgan of Reuters — Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday were debating their next move on how to avert a partial government shutdown next month, with one prominent lawmaker saying they needed to agree quickly on a "path forward." Newly installed Speaker Johnson was floating the possibility of extending funding through mid-January or mid-April to give lawmakers more time to negotiate 12 separate bills funding the government through the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, 2024.
"Florida leaders pass on Biden's solar panels for low-income families" via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida leaders passed on a chance to secure up to $400 million in federal money to help low-income households install solar panels, disregarding an initiative by the Biden administration to promote clean energy in disadvantaged communities. Florida is among a handful of states that didn't apply for the federal government's $7 billion "Solar for All" competition. DeSantis and his Republican allies are hurting Floridians by not seeking federal money that could help lower energy bills, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto said.
"Rick Scott warns Hamas terror could come across the Mexican border" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Could a porous Southern Border lead to terror attacks in the United States similar to those in Israel earlier this month? Scott isn't counting it out, saying that there has never been a danger to the United States like there is right now. "I'm scared to death of who's coming into our country over the last three years. We saw it didn't take a lot of people and it didn't take a lot of money to do what Hamas did in Israel," Scott said during a radio interview on the Clay and Buck Show. The Senator posed rhetorical questions to illustrate his point.
"Maxwell Frost, Daniel Webster want to close gaps on sending hurricane alerts" via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Most people who die in hurricanes are senior citizens. Now, U.S. Reps. Frost and Webster want to review what can be done to prevent those deaths. The Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act would task the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with conducting a review on how to better communicate storm preparedness to specific populations. The legislation focuses on how better to meet the needs of seniors, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and rural and urban populations.
"Was all the Speaker drama worth it? Matt Gaetz's latest fundraising appeal says yes." via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Twenty-two days ago, U.S. Rep. Gaetz pulled off the historic ouster of a sitting House Speaker. Was it worth it? A campaign fundraising email sent out by Gaetz immediately after Johnson's election as Speaker suggests it was. "The Swamp lost today, friends. And the American People WON!" Gaetz wrote. "I know one thing — there's not a single conservative in America who won't appreciate the new direction we're headed under our new leadership."
"Who is Rep. Byron Donalds? He could be a rising star after Speaker bid" via Steven Lemongello of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — U.S. Rep. Johnson has finally been elected House Speaker on Wednesday, but before that happened one name kept coming up through rounds of GOP voting: Donalds. Donalds, a sophomore Congressman from Southwest Florida, has gained national prominence over the last year, including getting votes in the first election for Speaker in January and being widely considered a potential candidate for Governor in 2026. The telegenic Black Republican from Naples could be the candidate the Democrats least want to face as they attempt to recapture the Governor's Mansion after nearly three decades out of power, political analysts said, especially compared with another frequently mentioned possibility, the incendiary Gaetz.
People are paying attention to rising GOP star Byron Donalds.
"New York House Republicans forcing a vote to expel George Santos" via Rebecca Kaplan, Kyle Stewart and Dareh Gregorian of NBC News — New York House Republicans moved to force a vote on whether to expel their embattled and indicted colleague Rep. Santos from Congress. The privileged resolution offered by Rep. Anthony D'Esposito means the House must vote on the resolution within two legislative days. A two-thirds majority vote would be needed to expel the Congressman, who's scheduled to be arraigned on Friday on a superseding indictment in his federal fraud case. The resolution, which says that "George Santos is not fit to serve" as a Congressman, was read on the House floor by D'Esposito late Thursday afternoon.
Swing State Florida? National Dems think so — The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) isn't giving up on Florida just yet. There have been widespread reports of the DSCC's "Republican accountability program" in the Sunshine State and others, including Texas. The news comes as GOP U.S. Sen. Scott gears up for re-election. According to DSCC Executive Director ChristieRoberts, Scott and other Senators, namely Texas' TedCruz, have exhibited "self-serving politics and … toxic policy agendas" such that their races are "prime offensive opportunities for Senate Democrats,"reports NBC. So, expect the junior Senator to catch some heat from the DSCC's investment, reportedly in the seven-figure range across 10 states.
— STATEWIDE —
"Florida orders pro-Palestinian student group off its university campuses" via Divya Kumar of the Tampa Bay Times — The head of Florida's university system has directed schools to disband campus chapters of a pro-Palestinian student group he alleges are in "support of terrorism." In a letter to the state's 12 university presidents, State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said the Florida chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine "must be deactivated." A spokesperson for DeSantis said the Governor directed that the University of Florida and the University of South Florida remove the groups immediately. He said that a "tool kit" released by the group described the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel as "the resistance" and "unequivocally states: 'Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement.'"
DeSantis gives the boot to pro-Palestinian student groups. Image via Jeislian Quiles-Sierra/Oracle.
"Dual insurance crises hitting Florida customers with no end in sight" via Casey Albritton of ABC Action News — Everyone in the state of Florida is familiar with the ongoing property insurance crisis. But another type of insurance has started to see rates that are leaving Floridians in an unaffordable state. According to data from Kelley Blue Book, Florida has seen car insurance rates rise 30% over the last year. "Unbelievably. I can't believe I'm paying that much for insurance … and I have two different vehicles, I have an RV as well as my car, and I'm really paying a lot of insurance," said Patrece Colburn, who lives in Pinellas County. "The bottom line is a lot more than any of us were expecting," she said.
"Here's why Floridians, more than other Americans, believe climate change is real" via Bill Kearney of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Floridians, more than other Americans, believe climate change is actually happening. They also want the government to do something about it. FAU's Center for Environmental Studies (CES) found that 90% of Floridians believe climate change is underway, whereas only 74% of Americans as a whole think climate change is happening. One showed that close to 90% of Americans surveyed said they'd experienced extreme weather in the past five years. Of that 90%, 75% think climate change is at least partially responsible, and 74% think climate change is happening, though they disagree as to the causes.
Simply Healthcare 100% trained for 100 Percent Club — Simply Healthcare announced this week that its entire team is now trained as part of its commitment to the 100 Percent Club, an initiative launched by Attorney General Ashley Moody that encourages organizations to take proactive steps to end human trafficking. The training helps employees recognize the signs of human trafficking and how to report it. Simply said the training will help it "safely and effectively protect the well-being of our members." The company added, "We encourage other organizations to join us in this crucial mission to
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