A.G. Gancarski
Peter SchorschLincoln Project hitches Donald Trump to Puerto Rico ‘island of garbage’ remark in new ad
‘You are the one that is garbage. And we know where real garbage belongs, in the trash.’
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4min
Fresh Take FloridaDemocrats fielded candidates for every legislative seat; some live hundreds of miles from districts where they’re running
‘These are districts that are not necessarily winnable.’
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15min
FAU study finds teens are using pot less frequently
Adolescents are smoking up less now that more states are legalizing the drug.
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4min
News & Trending
Guest Author
October 29, 2024
Staff Reports
Staff Reports
Last Call for 10.29.24 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida
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12min
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October 29, 2024
Jacob Ogles
Jacob Ogles
Firefighter unions rally around Laurel Lee’s re-election effort
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6min
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October 29, 2024
Drew Dixon
Drew Dixon
Floridians who lost jobs after Hurricane Helene can get additional help from state
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3min
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2024 – Presidential
Lincoln Project hitches Donald Trump to Puerto Rico ‘island of garbage’ remark in new ad
‘You are the one that is garbage. And we know where real garbage belongs, in the trash.’
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4min
Male voters drive big lead for Donald Trump in Florida poll, as he’s on track to win Election Day voters by 50 points
A new survey suggests Florida is not in play after all.
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3min
Associated PressKamala Harris reaches for a big moment in her closing argument for ‘turning the page’ on Donald Trump
‘He is focused and actually fixated on his grievances, on himself and on dividing our country.’
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10min
As Democrats court Nikki Haley supporters, the former U.N. Ambassador is still waiting to hear from Donald Trump
Haley has made clear that she’s supporting her party’s nominee in the General Election, even though some of her voters aren’t as convinced.
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7min
Will Donald Trump rally rhetoric give Florida Democrats a fresh opening to flip an increasingly red state?
A joke at Donald Trump’s New York rally riled up Florida’s Puerto Rican community, Democrats say.
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8min
China syndrome: Marco Rubio wants answers on Tim Walz’s alleged communist tryst
‘Voters deserve to know everything.’
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3min
2024 – Initiatives
Gabrielle RussonNew poll shows abortion rights initiative just short of passage, but with 11% undecided
In the survey, about 54% of men say they support Amendment 4, as do about 61% of women.
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3min
Jesse SchecknerPoll: Recreational pot amendment has just enough support to pass
Just 43% of Donald Trump voters are for Amendment 3 even after the former President voiced support for it.
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4min
Tony Dungy joins Ron DeSantis at rally against abortion rights initiative
DeSantis has been stumping against Amendment 4 for weeks.
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6min
Judge blocks state from threatening TV stations over abortion rights initiative ads
Floridians Protecting Freedom, the political committee backing Amendment 4, filed a federal lawsuit on Oct. 16.
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5min
Recreational pot campaign seeks to clear the air of misinformation
A 30-second spot referenced both an anti-Amendment 3 ad and public spending by Gov. DeSantis’ administration.
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4min
2024 – Down Ballot
Democrats fielded candidates for every legislative seat; some live hundreds of miles from districts where they’re running
‘These are districts that are not necessarily winnable.’
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15min
Firefighter unions rally around Laurel Lee’s re-election effort
6 unions in Florida’s 15th Congressional District backed the Republican incumbent.
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6min
Race for open HD 115 seat pits well-funded GOP firefighter against underdog Dem educator
Like most of South Florida, HD 115 has trended redder in recent years.
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7min
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell up 18 points with independents in new poll. But will it be enough to upset Rick Scott?
The GOP has dominated voter registration, creating a challenge for any Democratic candidate.
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4min
Laurel Lee won swingy CD 15 easily 2 years ago. Will she do as well against Pat Kemp?
The Democrat said Lee has a ‘veneer’ of respectability but pushed extreme policies.
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7min
Race for open HD 89 seat pits nonprofit executive against education administrator
They agree that improving education, addressing affordability issues and supporting small businesses are vital endeavors for the district’s next Representative.
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7min
Cory Mills flipped CD 7 red in 2022. Can Jennifer Adams win the seat back this year?
National Democrats haven’t invested in the race, but the Democratic candidate hopes voters view the Republican as too extreme.
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7min
Janelle Irwin TaylorWhitney Fox, national Democrats hope for underdog victory in Florida’s best shot at a flip against Anna Paulina Luna
It’s an R+6 district, but polls show a tightening race.
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19min
Can Debbie Mucarsel-Powell become the first Democrat to defeat Rick Scott?
If Rick Scott wins, he will be on track to spend 2 decades in public office.
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7min
Phil Ehr again in an uphill battle for a Washington job, this time against Carlos Giménez in reddening CD 28
They’ve been neck-and-neck in fundraising and spending, but the incumbent has deeper reserves and far better name ID in the district.
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10min
Carolina Amesty faces Disney-tied Leonard Spencer in fight to represent most magical district on earth
The Disney-based district was competitive before the incumbent faced multiple felony indictments.
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7min
With 5 million-plus Floridians having voted, the GOP nears 600,000 early vote edge
The partisan break continues.
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3min
Dan Franzese hopes the second time’s the charm against Lois Frankel in CD 22
She beat him by 10 points 2 years ago.
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6min
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell deletes polling place pics after Rick Scott alleges illegal photography
State law prohibits photography inside polling places.
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4min
Rick Scott maligns Mitch McConnell for hurting him down the stretch
‘He attacks me and then doesn’t support me financially.’
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4min
Legislative, Influence & Policy
Floridians who lost jobs after Hurricane Helene can get additional help from state
FloridaCommerce moves into new phase for those Floridians made jobless due to Hurricane Helene.
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3min
Seminole Tribe settles legal challenges to online sports gambling exclusivity in Florida
It’s another major legal win for the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
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4min
Computer advocacy group files federal lawsuit challenging Florida’s social media protection law
The lawsuit comes only days after asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in its constitutionality.
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5min
Drew WilsonBallard Partners launches Latin American presence through strategic partnership with Cefeidas Group
‘We are thrilled to collaborate with Ballard Partners.’
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3min
Personnel note: Stefanie Sass, Lizzie Pittinger join Uber public affairs team
‘We’re thrilled to welcome Stef and Lizzie to the Uber team.’
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2min
Gov. DeSantis appoints 1, reappoints 3 to Florida Building Commission
Each will serve a 4-year term.
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6min
Culture Wars
Too hot at Disney World? Some fear climate change’s impact in Orlando
Florida Politics spent months obtaining public records to understand climate change’s effect at Disney World.
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17min
Gov. DeSantis stonewalls question about climate change, accuses media of ‘virtue signaling’
‘I don’t subscribe to your religion.’
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10min
Florida GOP denounces Donna Deegan’s ‘antisemitic rhetoric’ regarding ‘concentration camps’
Chair Evan Power pilloried the Jacksonville Mayor’s ‘unhinged’ statements about Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
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3min
Book bans are down in Florida but the fight over censorship remains, advocate group says
Some of the contested books in Florida this year are over classic titles.
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5min
Dockworkers’ union to suspend strike until Jan. 15 to allow time to negotiate new contract
The walkout raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks.
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7min
Gov. DeSantis launches Florida workaround to Longshoremen strike
Hurricane Helene makes the ILA action ‘simply unacceptable.’
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4min
Jacksonville
NE Florida
Orlando
St. Pete
SW Florida
Tampa
William March
Panhandle
Tallahassee
Communities
South Florida
Video shows candidate for Miami-Dade elections chief yelling at, touching U.S. Senate candidate
Other videos show the Senate candidate approaching the crowd.
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8min
Ryan Nicol‘Incredibly honored’: Palm Beach business orgs back Joel Flores for County Commission
Flores is a small-business owner, giving him ties to the local business community.
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4min
Fort Lauderdale among 10 spookiest U.S. cities during Halloween season
Fort Lauderdale ranked as the ninth-best U.S. city for celebrating Halloween thanks to access to candy stores and costume shops.
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3min
Overlooked and underfunded, Jackie Gross-Kellogg keeps things positive in HD 113 bid
‘Jackie knows how to play team ball, which is crucial in all this, and she’s just cool.’
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14min
Miami-Dade GOP Chair predicts red ‘sweep’ based on early voting numbers
‘We will not lose a Republican seat in the House or the Senate, and I feel very confident we are going to have all of the five constitutional officers.’
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11min
Freddy Ramirez, Miami-Dade’s former top cop, endorses James Reyes for Sheriff
‘Chief Reyes grew up in Miami-Dade and has the experience to get the job done.’
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6min
Federal
Rick Scott floats HSA-style plan for homeowners’ storm hardening, with Jimmy Patronis in support
The Senator claims this gives homeowners a ‘triple tax advantage.’
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3min
War of words: Rick Scott ‘shocked’ by Mitch McConnell accusing him of playing ‘victim’
Hurt feelings from a rocky 2022 have not healed with time.
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4min
Ashley Moody sues feds over thwarted Donald Trump assassination attempt probe
‘We don’t believe the law supports that.’
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3min
Florida congressional delegation makes bipartisan call for more flexibility from FEMA on storm debris collection
‘As you drive through our community, you can’t miss the piles of debris and trash that has been rotting along roadways and in driveways for weeks.’
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5min
‘Recruit more companies’: Rick Scott says competition would fix property insurance spikes
The Senator has been outspoken in describing market failings in the Ron DeSantis era, though not mentioning the current Governor’s name while doing so.
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5min
Super PAC that backed Ron DeSantis for President transfers leftover cash to his renamed committee
Of the $145.5M that Never Back Down amassed since its February 2023 founding, just $625K was left at the end of the last quarter.
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6min
Foreign Affairs
Cuba’s power grid goes offline after power plant fails, but some power is back
The supply crunch is unprecedented outside of the aftermath of hurricanes.
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2min
Florida political leaders reflect 1 year after Oct. 7 attack on Israel
Florida is home to America’s third-largest population of Jewish people.
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51min
As major hurricane threatens Florida, Ron DeSantis weighs in on UK Tory leadership fight
Kemi Badenoch could be ‘inspiration for conservatives not just in the United Kingdom but around the world.’
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3min
Florida Dems cry foul as Donald Trump threatens to revoke TPS for Haitians
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he will revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians if he wins in November. That’s a move that could affect tens of thousands of Haitians living legally in Florida. Trump made his comments to NewsNation at a Texas fundraiser while discussing a high concentration of Haitian immigrants in Ohio. […]
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10min
Rick Scott invokes Israel-Hamas war, United Nations in latest Senate leadership pitch
The Senator is backing the Israeli government amid its conflict with the Secretary General.
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4min
Ron DeSantis, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott back Israel amid Iranian attacks
Florida Republicans make it clear where they stand as war threatens to widen in the Middle East.
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4min
Emails & Opinions
EVs weathered the storm: How electric vehicles are helping during extreme weather events
‘Scarce fuel supplies and long lines were not further burdened by those of us with EVs.’
Apolitical
Hurricane strikes sow doubt among Florida consumers in October
Consumer sentiment drops in aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. UF researches expect a rebound soon.
Travis Kelce named most popular sports star to use as Halloween costume
A new study shows Kelce’s popularity is, of, course, boosted by his girlfriend, pop star Taylor Swift.
Tech
AP: Chinese hackers target phones of Donald Trump, JD Vance, Harris ops
Can the feds ‘mitigate’ this?
Universities
Liam FineoutFSU NAACP chapter wants action after Honors student refers to Black students as ‘chimps’ on social media
‘We demand immediate and decisive action from the FSU administration to address this incident.’
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3min
New study finds 10% increase in Florida higher ed enrollment could mean billions in gains
‘This report comes at a critical time.’
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3min
Florida Poly ranked among top 10 best universities in America for outcomes for students
Lakeland-based university Florida Polytech credits career development services for recent high ranking for career outcomes for students.
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3min