Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Attorney General Ashley Moody on Thursday announced a $49.5 million settlement as part of multistate action against the software company Blackbaud over a massive 2020 ransomware attack.
Blackbaud develops software for various organizations, including nonprofits, universities, K-12 schools and health care organizations. The donor contact software is built to manage sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers, which were exposed in the ransomware data breach three years ago.
The attack is estimated to have compromised the personal information of millions of consumers across the country. Due to the action brought by Moody and Attorneys General from several other states, Blackbaud is required to overhaul its data security and breach notification practices to strengthen and increase data protection for consumers.
Blackbaud is also required to pay $49.5 million to the states, with Florida receiving more than $3 million. Moody lauded two high-level staffers for helping secure the funds: Consumer Protection Division Multistate and Privacy Bureau Chief Patrice Malloy and Senior Assistant Attorney General Henry Johnson.
“We are holding Blackbaud, an international software company, accountable for a massive ransomware attack that compromised the personal information of potentially millions of consumers across the country, including those donating to charities, health care organizations and other nonprofits. Now, we’ve secured more than $49 million and the company must take steps to ensure customers’ personal data is protected,” Moody said.
Evening Reads
—”Ron DeSantis is still running for President” via Philip Bump of The Washington Post
—“Ruling on DeSantis veto of Black congressional district in North Florida could reshape political map” via Michael Moline of the Florida Phoenix
—“Donald Trump considering trip to Congress before speakership election” via Sarah Ferris of POLITICO
—“Who did in Kevin McCarthy? Maybe not Matt Gaetz. Maybe not even Trump.” via Timothy Noah of The New Republic
—“McCarthy got what he wanted” via Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic
—“To the world, McCarthy’s exit is just another example of U.S. disarray” via Peter Baker of The New York Times
—“How RFK Jr.’s media paranoia shapes his worldview” via Brian Stelter of Vanity Fair
—“The feds aren’t just going after Google and Amazon. They’re suing the garbage internet.” via Scott Nover of Slate
—“State ethics commission finds North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham’s London trip was a prohibited gift, but decides ignorance of law is an excuse” via Francisco Alvarado of the Florida Bulldog
—“Vince Gilligan’s next act” via Ethan Shanfeld of Variety
Quote of the Day
“And I’m thinking to myself, I’ve been going to events for how long, I’ve never met anybody in Florida who had been mugged.”
— Gov. Ron DeSantis, pontificating on how many mugging victims he’s met on the campaign trail.
Put It on the Tab
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
If U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s new ad is any indication, he should be sipping on a Hurricane.
Order a round of Endorsements for Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who the Governor appears to be backing in the House Speaker race.
DeSantis 2024 spox Carly Atchison deserves a True Believer for sunshine pumping the campaign’s “huge haul” in Q3. Actually, just order her one-third of one.
Snag Sen. Shev Jones a Long Shot, or maybe a DOA, because his ‘stand your ground’ repeal bill is almost certainly going nowhere.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Tonight
7 p.m. — Florida Panthers @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Saturday
3:30 p.m. — Virginia Tech @ Florida State
4 p.m. — Vanderbilt @ Florida
4 p.m. — UCF @ Kansas
4 p.m. — USF @ UAB
6 p.m. — Tulsa @ Florida Atlantic
8 p.m. — Georgia Tech @ Miami
Sunday
9:30 a.m. — Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills
1 p.m. — New York Giants @ Miami Dolphins
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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
