Peter Schorsch
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel McAuliffe, Jim Rosica, and Drew Wilson.
In case you missed it: The latest statewide survey by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) has a bevy of findings to start your day:
— Republican Gov. Rick Scott has maintained a slight lead over Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the U.S. Senate race, 44 to 40 percent, with 17 percent still undecided.
— Ron DeSantis has opened up a lead in the GOP governor’s race on Adam Putnam, 36 to 27 percent, after being up by only one point in May’s BEPI poll.
— Among the Democrats, Gwen Graham leads Philip Levine 20 to 16 percent, after trailing him by one point in May. Jeff Greene jumped into the race with 14 percent support, followed by Chris King at 9 percent and Andrew Gillum at 7 percent. Overall, 23 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of Democrats said they are undecided.
— President Donald Trump had a small drop in his approval rating, which is at 41 percent, down two points from May, when he enjoyed his highest approval rating among Florida voters since taking office. Trump’s disapproval rating is at 47 percent.
— A vast majority of Floridians expressed concern about the toxic algae blooms that have plagued the state’s coasts, with 53 percent saying they are very concerned and 33 percent saying they are somewhat concerned.
— More than 6 in 10 said they are concerned Russia may try to interfere in the 2018 elections, with 39 percent saying they are very concerned and 24 percent saying they are somewhat concerned.
The survey polled 800 Florida registered voters July 20-21 and has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points. Party breakdown among the survey respondents was 35 percent registered Democrats, 33 percent registered Republicans, and 32 percent registered Independents.
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
—@RealDonaldTrump: What kind of a lawyer would tape a client? So sad! Is this a first, never heard of it before? Why was the tape so abruptly terminated (cut) while I was presumably saying positive things? I hear there are other clients and many reporters that are taped — can this be so? Too bad!
—@SenBillNelson: “We need to make sure our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico have access to the food they need as they continue to recover from Hurricane Maria. Have just cosponsored legislation to provide additional food assistance to people on the island as they continue to rebuild.”
—@ScottForFlorida: Congress makes more than double what the average American family makes, but only works part-time. Does that make sense to anyone?
—@MarcoRubio: Congratulations to my friend @GeoffDuncanGA on his victory last night in the GOP runoff. He is going to win in November & be a great Lt. Gov for Florida’s neighbors & fellow Americans in Georgia.
—@AGGancarski: Former self-described “conservative Democrat” Alvin Brown continues to move left as a Congressional candidate, per an endorsement from Angela Rye (former CBC executive director/general counsel), which links him to Maxine Waters.
—@MarcCaputo: Stand Your Ground as it passed in 2005 … says nothing about suing police. And it says someone can be arrested if there’s “probable cause” (a common standard for arrest) Was there probable cause to arrest the shooter? If the sheriff says no, that’s on him
—@PeterSchroschFL: .@ScottforFlorida hosting an event at same time as #MAGA rally also gives @AdamPutnam-leaning Repubs, like @JeffreyBrandes, an excuse not to #MAGA it up.
—@JKennedyReport: As polls show @realDonaldTrump-backed @RepDeSantis rising, .@FlaDems ratchet-up demands for investigation of failings in fading rival @adamputnam’s concealed weapons office. (Many think @RepDeSantis easier oppo in Nov)
—@CapehartJ: .@AndrewGillum “My opinion as to why we’ve been losing is that we keep running these races as if we are running Republican lite …. what Republican voters have shown us is that when they have the choice between the real thing and the fake one, they go with the real one every time.”
— DAYS UNTIL —
Deadline for filing claim bills — 6; ‘The Race for Governor’ Democratic gubernatorial debate in West Palm Beach — 7; Florida’s back to school sales tax holiday begins — 8; Republican gubernatorial debate in Jacksonville — 13; School begins in the first 19 Florida districts — 15; Start of the U.S. Open — 32; Primary Election Day — 33; College Football opening weekend — 35; Labor Day — 39; NFL regular season starts — 42; Future of Florida Forum — 62; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida U.S. Senate debate — 89; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida Governor debate — 90; General Election Day — 103; Florida Chamber Insurance Summit — 124; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 201; 2019 Legislative Session starts — 222; 2020 General Election — 831.
— TOP STORY —
“Poll: Women driving Democrats to lead in U.S. House races” via Quinnipiac University — New polling shows Republicans would get clobbered against a generic Democrat, if the election were held today — 51 percent of respondents say Democrats; 39 percent say Republican. As for women, 57 percent say they’ll vote for Democrat, 32 percent say they’ll vote Republican. Voters are also hesitant to impeach Trump, with only 39 percent say Democrats should impeach Trump, 55 percent say they shouldn’t.
— NELSON VS. SCOTT —
“As Scott targets congressional work schedules, his own shrinks” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida — Under Scott’s new Senate campaign platform on congressional pay, members of Congress would have to work a full week in Washington or their districts to receive their full $174,000 salary, and extended congressional recesses would be eliminated. Since the beginning of June, Scott’s public calendar shows 33 days that have one scheduled event or nothing at all, and another nine that includes just “staff and call time,” a common entry that gives no additional details. Meanwhile, since first announcing his Senate campaign April 9, Scott has raised huge amounts of campaign cash, cut TV ads and crisscrossed the state doing campaign stops. Republican have stressed the time that Scott has spent campaigning in their attacks on Democratic incumbent Sen. Nelson.
“Democratic group’s commercial says Scott cut health care funding” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — A new statewide TV commercial by the Democratic group Majority Forward declares that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Scott slashed Florida health care funding during his nearly eight years as governor. The ad, “Vetoed,” charges that Scott vetoed nearly $200 million in health care funds, “slashing home health care for seniors and vaccinations for kids, cutting doctors at rural hospitals and treatment for opioid addiction. Instead, Scott backed his party and gave tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy — people like him.” Majority Forward is a 501(c)(4) organization affiliated with the Democrats’ Senate Majority PAC. Majority Forward was formed in 2016 and is a “dark money” organization that does not have to disclose its donors — and doesn’t.
To view the ad, click on the image below:
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
—“Georgia gubernatorial race a harbinger of things to come in Florida” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
“Putnam’s office settled lawsuit with former staffer over concealed carry citizenship checks” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida — Agriculture Commissioner Putnam’s department settled a whistleblower lawsuit in 2016 with a former compliance officer who claimed that “illegal and undocumented workers” were able to obtain concealed carry permits through the state’s much-scrutinized processing system. Putnam’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services denied any wrongdoing after the allegations were made by James Daniel Smith, a former compliance director in the Division of Licensing, but ultimately ended a year-and-a-half legal fight with a nearly $25,000 settlement, which included back pay and attorney fees, records show. Applications were being processed so fast that basic citizenship reviews were missed, Smith said. In addition, Smith said there were problems with the process to notarize applications, which led to signature and dates not matching on applications. He said these problems existed not just for concealed carry permit application reviews, but also for people seeking to become licensed, unarmed security guards. He said he was fired because he reported his concerns, a contention the department denies.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg endorses Levine — Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, is backing Levine, the former mayor of Miami Beach and a Democratic candidate for governor. “Philip has shown time and time again that he’s the kind of leader who makes great change possible,” Sandberg said in a statement. “He’s done it in the business world, as the mayor of Miami Beach, and would do it as governor.” Added Levine: “As a native Floridian, Sheryl knows that the keys to creating a 21st-century economy in our state lie in the progressive values that have helped tech hubs around our country thrive: great education, strong wages, and equal rights for all.”
“Levine’s latest TV ad offers muck, blames Scott” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Levine gets down in the muck — literally — in his latest television commercial, pulling a cup full of algae-clotted seawater out of a polluted bay and blaming Republicans and Gov. Scott for neglecting the environment and creating the messes plaguing Florida’s coasts east and west of Lake Okeechobee. The 30-second spot, “A Leader,” also slaps Republican leadership for public education funding with a suggestion that they also made schools less safe. Sitting in a bass boat, Levine scoops some of the green foul out of the water and the pours it back with a plop, saying, “This is what 20 years of neglect looks like because Tallahassee Republicans have ignored our environment.” Levine’s campaign said it would be spending more than $1.5 million to run the ad statewide.
To view the ad, click on the image below:
“Levine: Quest for film business is part of 21st-century economy” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Levine renewed his call for a determined push to bring the movie business back to Florida, using it as an example of 21st-century enterprises Florida is rebuffing. “What’s amazing to me: this is low-hanging fruit,” the former Miami Beach mayor said. “This is an easy thing to do. To me, it’s like passing the ERA Amendment and making history.” But feedback from such individuals as Sheena Fowler of the Orlando Film & Television Commission and Michael Jordan of MJJ Entertainment and Filmotechnic USA was that under Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature over the past eight years, the film industry fled Florida, while other states such as Georgia have become big locations. “We can’t even get into the conversation,” Fowler said. “God willing I become Governor, we are going to be the conservation,” Levine replied. “I think all of us together, and my relationships and knowledge and the contacts that I have, we will make it so known that Florida is back in the film industry.”
Assignment editors — The Levine campaign makes a key announcement, 6:30 p.m., 1255 La Quinta Dr., Suite 212, Orlando.
New Jeff Greene ads feature Parkland survivor, pledge to defend women’s rights — “Parkland” features emotional testimony from Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivor Sarah Brodsky. The ad reinforces Greene’s pledge to stand up to Trump and the NRA to keep kids safe in school. “I didn’t think that at 16 I’d be going to 6 funerals,” says a tearful Brodsky. “Parkland” hits the airwaves just two days after Greene was attacked by former NRA president and longtime lobbyist Marion Hammer for a recent mailer focused on his outspoken commitment to common-sense gun control. In “For Women,” he pledges to protect women’s reproductive health care rights from Trump and Republicans, and fully fund Planned Parenthood.
To view “Parkland,” click on the image below:
To view “For Women,” click on the image below:
Assignment editors — Democratic gubernatorial candidate King joins Tampa Bay-area community and faith leaders to address Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, 3:30 p.m., MLK Jr. Neighborhood Center, 1201 Douglas Ave., Clearwater.
“Sean Shaw sues to get Ryan Torrens off ballot” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Democratic candidate for Attorney General Shaw is suing to knock primary opponent Torrens off the ballot, saying Torrens “failed to properly qualify” because of an “illegal campaign contribution.” Shaw’s lawsuit was filed just before 5 p.m. Tuesday in Leon County Circuit Civil court against Torrens, the state’s Division of Elections and Secretary of State Ken Detzner, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to “immediately decertify Torrens.” The primary election is Aug. 28; Shaw and Torrens are the only Democrats running for attorney general. Both are lawyers in the Tampa area; Shaw also represents House District 61. The most damning accusation in the complaint: “Torrens improperly qualified … through fraudulent and dishonest means by accepting an illegal campaign contribution made via cashier’s check in excess of the legal contribution limits for the clear and obvious purpose of providing funds to pay Torrens’ qualifying fee.”
“New ad hits Ashley Moody for ‘fearmongering’ over crime stats” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics – A new ad from Frank White‘s political committee is hitting Ashley Moody over alleged “fearmongering” in a recent ad. The group, United Conservatives, says Moody was misleading voters in a recent ad for her campaign in the Attorney General’s race. In Moody’s 30-second spot, the narrator beings by saying, “Our streets aren’t safe.” Moody then jumps in to say she will fix the problems plaguing the state. But that reference to unsafe streets doesn’t jibe with the facts, according to United Conservatives. The group’s new ad, titled “Ashley Moody Facts,” points to statements made by the state’s current Republican administration, touting a drop in violent crime in 2017.
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, PART 2 —
“Tom Leek, Anna Eskamani endorse greyhound amendment” via Florida Politics — State Rep. Leek, an Ormond Beach Republican, and Democratic House District 47 candidate Eskamani have endorsed the Protect Dogs-Yes on 13 campaign. The campaign announced the endorsements late Tuesday. The group is promoting passage of Amendment 13, put on the November ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC). The proposal, which needs at least 60 percent approval to be added to the state constitution, aims at ending commercial dog racing in the state. In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted at 11 tracks.
Michael Waltz blasts “hypocrite” John Ward in new ad — Waltz released a new television ad, “Hypocrite Ward,” in his bid for Florida’s 6th Congressional District. The ad calls on the “hypocrisy” of his opponent’s support for Obama and Clinton liberals who oppose Trump. The ad draws from information released on www.CantTrustJohnWard.com, a site dedicated “to telling the truth about Ward’s ties to liberals.”
To view the ad, click on the image below:
“Dana Young challenges Janet Cruz to two debates” via Florida Politics — Young is challenging her opponent, House Minority Leader Cruz, to a pair of debates. Young and Cruz are the only candidates vying for SD 18. “With critical matters facing our local community and the State of Florida, it’s important for voters to know our respective positions and stances before General Election Day in November,” Young said. “That’s why I believe it is imperative that my opponent and I sit down together and discuss our positions in an open forum, so voters can learn what we’re all about and where we stand come Election Day. With so much misinformation out there, I am really looking forward to these debates and the opportunity to wade through all the clutter and show voters where I really stand on the issues.” Young’s campaign said the first of the proposed debates would be held in September at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club and the second debate would be held in October at the University of Tampa.
“Democrats still haven’t fielded a challenger in this key state Senate race. Why?” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times — Democrats have until Monday to field a candidate to face Republican incumbent Jeff Brandes, or he’ll coast to re-election before a single vote is cast. If the party fails to recruit a challenger, it would constitute a wasted opportunity in what might be the perfect year to topple the moderate, deep-pocketed Brandes. But fielding a competitive challenger is much easier said than done. “It’s a big undertaking for people and important conversations need to be had” between potential candidates and their families, Pinellas County Democratic Party Chair Susan McGrath said in an interview. “I’m optimistic that we will have a candidate.” … no candidate has filed the paperwork to replace Pilon. In a district where Republicans only outnumber Democrats by about 15,000 registered voters, a ballot with no Democrat would be conspicuously empty — particularly in 2018, when Democrats have an outside chance to take back the state Senate if everything breaks right. (Beating Brandes, who has already raised $700,000, a staggering amount, would certainly fall into “everything broke right” territory.)
Florida Firefighters endorse Berny Jacques — Florida Professional Firefighters is endorsing Jacques in his bid for House District 66. FPF President/CEO Jim Tolley said: “We believe that you will honorably serve the citizens of Florida, and the interests of the men and women employed in the Fire and Emergency Medical Services, who have made the protection of life and property their life’s work.” Jacques, a Seminole attorney, is facing a primary challenge from Pinellas GOP chair and small-business man Nick DiCeglie.
“Vance Aloupis rolls out Spanish-language ad in crowded race for HD 115” via Florida Politics — Launching his ad entitled “Dominoes” this week in his bid for House District 115, Aloupis uses a cultural touchstone to connect with a community he hopes to represent in the Legislature. The ad hits all the notes it needs to — while Aloupis is a strong candidate and fluent in Spanish, he isn’t of Cuban descent and has an odd name for a Republican primary in Miami. Instead of running away from that, his political team of Alex Miranda and Brad Herold chose to lean into it. The Spanish-language ad opens with a pair of men playing dominoes and talking politics. One of the men says he’s “getting tired of all these career politicians,” and the other says “what about Vance Aloupis?” Rather than passing off “Aloupis” as a typical name for the majority Hispanic district, the ad pokes fun by making it a source of humor — when the first man hears the name, he says “A-Que?” His friend gives him a bit of help by sounding it out: “A-lou-pis.”
To view the ad, click on the image below:
— STATEWIDE —
“Pam Bondi: ‘I don’t think it’s me’ on secret Trump tape” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida — Trump’s controversial contribution to Florida Attorney General Bondi‘s political committee five years ago has started to creep back into Sunshine State politics after the release of a secret recording in an unrelated scandal. In the September 2016 recording — made surreptitiously by Trump’s former lawyer of a conversation that may have concerned a secret payment to hush up an affair with a former Playboy model — Trump is initially heard talking on the phone about an unrelated matter to someone whose name sounds like “Pam.” Bondi said she doesn’t remember all her calls from 2016, but she believes she’s not the one talking to Trump, whose side of the phone conversation was the only one recorded when attorney Michael Cohen walked in the room on an unspecified day in 2016. “I spoke to the president frequently. But I don’t think it’s me,” said Bondi, who still frequently talks to Trump.
“A day after judge blasts state, counties act fast to hold early voting on campus” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times — The Gainesville-area supervisor of elections asked the University of Florida to make its student union available for early voting in the November general election — including on a day when the Gators have a home football game. In addition, Tampa’s chief elections official, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer, said he has begun talks with USF leaders about holding early voting at the Marshall Student Center on the campus. Holding early voting on major college campuses could increase voting among students. Alachua County, largely because of UF’s commanding presence, is an overwhelmingly Democratic county, and the much larger Hillsborough leans Democratic. Alachua Supervisor Kim Barton sent a letter to UF President W. Kent Fuchs, expressing her interest in using the J. Wayne Reitz Student Union for early voting for up to 14 days and checking on parking, security and sign issues.
“SunPass backlog hit 170 million transactions” via the News Service of Florida — Florida’s troubled $287 million upgrade of the SunPass toll system created a backlog of 170 million transactions … More than 122 million of the transactions had been processed as of Wednesday morning. “SunPass is working diligently to clear the backlog of toll transactions,” Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kim Poulton said in a statement. The upgrades involving the SunPass Centralized Customer Service System were supposed to last about a week and be completed June 11. Instead, parts of the system were down for a month and issues remain, including customer access to the SunPass website and mobile application.
“State Farm seeks to shield ‘AOB’ information” via Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida — State Farm filed a lawsuit last week in Leon County circuit court after the state Office of Insurance Regulation received a public-records request for information that State Farm and other insurers were required to submit to the state. The information includes several years’ worth of data about the handling of property-insurance claims and assignment of benefits. State Farm contends the information is a trade secret and is exempt from disclosure under Florida’s public-records laws. A state trade-secret law allows companies to ask courts to keep information confidential. “The OIR’s (Office of Insurance Regulation’s) public disclosure of State Farm’s data call responses, which were submitted to OIR under a claim of trade secret, will cause State Farm immediate and irreparable injury because public dissemination of the documents and information will destroy the trade secret value of the compiled information which gives State Farm a competitive advantage in the Florida property insurance market,” the lawsuit said.
“Regulators nix FPL’s pitch to charge customers for Vero Beach deal, order a hearing” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald – The Florida Public Service Commission put a temporary halt to Florida Power & Light’s deal to buy the Vero Beach municipal utility Wednesday. After receiving four challenges to its June 5 ruling, the PSC swiftly declared the order “null and void” and scheduled a hearing into the matter on Oct. 10-11.
“Florida firefighters sent to help in California” via the News Service of Florida — The Florida Forest Service has deployed 20 “hand crew” firefighters to help suppress a wildfire in California’s Sierra National Forest, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Wednesday. “There are currently 140 wildfires burning throughout the western United States, and our firefighters are ready to support suppression efforts in any way we can to help protect California’s residents, homes and wildlife,” Jim Karels, director of the Florida Forest Service and state forester, said in a prepared statement.
— UBER’S HUGE IN FLORIDA —
A first-of-its-kind study from global ride-sharing giant Uber examines the significant economic impact of its service in the Sunshine State. Among the results, take-home payouts for Florida Uber driver/partners reached $870 million in 2017.
Conducted by the Economic Development Research Group (EDR Group), the study found several examples of Uber significantly contributing to the Florida economy:
— Uber’s activities in the Florida support $1 billion of gross domestic product, the report says, with a net impact of $134 million.
— One quarter (25 percent) of Uber riders in Florida report using the ride-sharing service for daily commutes. Six percent said they used the service to connect to a bus or rail line. Another 11 percent said their most recent trip involved a connection to an airport.
— The most commonly reported amenity for drivers: schedule flexibility. Seventy-six percent of Florida Uber drivers say they benefit from its schedule flexibility; 35 percent report they would not partner with Uber if not for its versatility.
— In Florida, 63 percent of Uber drivers drive less than 20 hours per week. The ability for Uber driver-partners to choose if, when, and where they drive means that there is no such thing as a “typical” driver.
“Since Florida lawmakers voted in 2017 to remove roadblocks and allow residents and visitors alike to have choices when it comes to transportation, the economic impact of ride-sharing, particularly Uber, proved what Florida businesses had said all along: when government gets out of the way, and the market is allowed to flourish, the economy will prosper,” said Associated Industries of Florida President and CEO Tom Feeney.
— D.C. MATTERS —
“Conservative student group that hosted AG Jeff Sessions, chanting ‘Lock her up,’ has 23 Florida chapters” via CD Davidson-Hiers of The Florida Phoenix — Sessions addressed a crowd at a high school leadership summit in Washington, D.C., when the audience began chanting the phrase “lock her up.” Sessions laughed and joined in once. He was there to speak to Turning Point USA, a national student-centric conservative group that’s growing in Florida. The group has chapters in 47 states — Florida has 23 chapters on college campuses statewide, including at Florida State University, the University of Florida, and the University of Central Florida. The group says its mission is to educate students about fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government through “nonpartisan debate, dialogue, and discussion.”
— MOVEMENTS —
“Mike Griffin steps down from Tampa Port Authority” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics — Griffin told Florida Politics he feels it’s a good time to leave the board, and he’d like to direct his full attention to other public service commitments, including a role on a task force charged with consolidating accreditations in the University of South Florida system. “I really feel like [the task force] needs my attention right now,” Griffin said. A longtime advocate for focusing on economic drivers in the Bay area, he described the university as integral to Tampa’s economy.” Announcing his resignation in a letter to Gov. Scott, Griffin cited the Port’s recent accomplishments and expressed optimism for the future.
Personnel note: Dr. Jeffery Skowronek named new head of Pepin Academies Hillsborough campuses — The Pepin Academies’ Hillsborough Board of Directors appointed Skowronek as the new executive director of the Hillsborough County campuses located in Tampa and Riverview, following the death of the former executive director, Dr. Craig Butz. Skowronek has been with Pepin Academies since 2011, and has been chair of the Pepin Academies Foundation Board of Directors since 2016. “For almost seven years, Jeff has been committed to the mission and vision of Pepin Academies,” said Scott Strepina, chair of Pepin Academies’ Hillsborough Board of Directors. “I’ve seen his passion for our students, firsthand. And I believe, under Jeff’s leadership, Pepin Academies will continue to be a leader for exceptional student education and students with learning disabilities.”
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
Matt Bryan, David Daniel, Thomas Griffin, Jeff Hartley, Lisa Hurley, Jim Naff, Andrea Reilly, Smith Bryan & Myers: Attenti Electronic Monitoring, College of Central Florida Foundation
Rachel Cone, Southern Strategy Group: Fidelity Investments
Justin Day, Capital City Consulting: Lennar Ventures
Chris Dudley, Southern Strategy Group: Tom Thumb Food Stores
Kenneth Granger, Ron LaFace, Capital City Consulting: Innovative Emergency Management
Allyce Heflin, Southern Strategy Group: University of Central Florida Foundation
James McFaddin, Southern Strategy Group: One Call Care Management
— ALOE —
PolitiFact to begin offering morning newsletter — The nation’s premier fact-checking service (sorry, FactCheck.org) says it now is offering subscribers a free “newsletter that will deliver our best fact-checks to your email,” Monday through Friday. “We know the truth matters to you. Now it’s served up hot every morning,” the organization said in a Wednesday email announcing PolitiFact Daily. “Throughout the week, we’ll provide you with a morning roundup of our best fact-checks. You’ll be in the know of the exaggerations and the truths in politics — from pundits to news blogs to the politicians themselves.” PolitiFact, the site explains, “started in 2007 as an election-year project of the Tampa Bay Times (then named the St. Petersburg Times) … but in 2018 direct ownership of PolitiFact was transferred from the Times to the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies, the newspaper’s parent company. The move allows PolitiFact to function fully as a not-for-profit national news organization.”
“Trying to capture a never-before-seen photo of ghost orchid pollination” via Adam Friedman of the Naples Daily News — Mac Stone hangs 50 feet over knee-high swamp water with almost no leverage. He’s setting up a camera piece by piece but knows if he makes any mistake, the whole thing could tumble down into the dark water below. All of this work is to capture one never-before-seen photo of the giant sphinx moth pollinating the ghost orchid at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in north Collier County. “You could say the odds of getting this photo are like winning the lottery,” said Stone, a fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers. “I will certainly buy a lottery ticket if we get this photo.” The ghost orchid is one of the rarest flowers in North America because it has been heavily poached, development has destroyed its habitat, and it can’t be grown in captivity.
Happy Birthday to state Rep. Richard Stark, Carol Bowen, and Jason Steele.
