Peter Schorsch
ÁGood Monday morning.
Breaking overnight — “‘Oppenheimer’ wins best picture, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy earn acting awards” via The Washington Post — “Oppenheimer” won best picture while Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Stone and Da’Vine Joy Randolph took home acting trophies at the 96th Academy Awards. After eight nominations, Christopher Nolan is finally taking home some hardware for directing “Oppenheimer.” Nolan was calm and collected as he thanked everyone who made his three-hour-long film a reality, from the cast to the crew. Most notable, though, was “the incredible Emma Thomas, who produces all our films and all our children.” Mstyslav Chernov, director of the best documentary winner “20 Days in Mariupol,” said in the press room that the people of Mariupol in Ukraine and other occupied cities had been top of mind over the past two years. “This is not a political question,” he said. “This is a humanitarian emergency and a matter of supporting the civilians that are being attacked and being killed.”
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You heard it here first: Mat Bahl is returning to the Florida House as Chief of Staff for soon-to-be Speaker Daniel Perez.
Florida Politics has exclusively confirmed that the veteran COS, who has been serving as an adviser to FSU President Richard McCullough, will be returning to the process at the end of this year as COS for House Speaker-designate Perez.
Perez, is set to take over for exiting Speaker Paul Renner in November. Ahead of the elections, Perez will be leading the House Republicans’ primary campaign arm in an effort to preserve the historic majority. The current split is 84-36, advantage GOP, with 80 being the threshold for a supermajority.
“Post-Session my focus will be completely on House campaigns and maintaining our majority, but yes, it is true that my friend Mat is coming back to the House as chief during my term,” Perez told Florida Politics.
Bahl, a legend in the Capitol, has served as Chief of Staff for three previous Speakers — Chris Sprowls (2020-22), Richard Corcoran (2016-18) and Dean Cannon (2010-12) — making this his fourth time serving as Chief of Staff for the Florida House.
In addition to his track record in the top nonelected post in the House, Bahl is known as a formidable campaign operative. During the 2020 cycle, when Sprowls led the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee, Bahl’s efforts contributed to the GOP growing its majority from 73-47 to 78-42.
— DAYS UNTIL —
Georgia Democratic Primary — 1; Arizona/Florida/Illinois/Kansas/Ohio Primaries — 9; James Madison Institute’s ‘2024 Naples Dinner’ with keynote speaker Laura Ingraham — 10; ‘3 Body Problem’ premieres on Netflix — 10; Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial begins — 14; The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the mifepristone/abortion pill case — 15; Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2024 season — 17; March Madness Final Four (women’s) begins — 24; March Madness Final Four (men’s) — 27; Florida TaxWatch’s Spring Meeting — 31; The Masters begin — 32; Kentucky Derby — 55; 2024 Leadership Conference on Safety, Health & Sustainability — 60; ‘Bridgerton’ new season (part one) premieres on Netflix — 68; French Open begins — 70; ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ premieres — 72; Dave Matthews Band 2024 Summer Tour begins in Tampa — 72; Monaco Grand Prix — 76; the 2024 World Cup begins — 92; ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ premieres — 110; Republican National Convention begins — 126; the 2024 World Cup ends — 130; 2024 MLS All-Star Game — 135; Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on NBC/Peacock — 137; ‘Alien: Romulus’ premieres — 156; Democratic National Convention begins — 162; Georgia Tech to face Florida State in 2024 opener in Dublin — 166; Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stops in Miami — 221; 2024 Florida Chamber Annual Meeting & Future of Florida Forum — 224; 2024 Presidential Election — 239; Las Vegas Grand Prix — 252; MLS Cup 2024 — 267; ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ premieres — 337; ‘Moana’ premieres — 467; ‘Thunderbolts’ premieres — 498; ‘Fantastic Four’ reboot premieres — 501; ‘Blade’ reboot premieres — 606; ‘Avatar 3’ premieres — 648; ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ premieres — 785; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 801; Another untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 1,012; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 1,152; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 2,111; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 2,833.
— TOP STORY —
“Florida Republicans inch away from Ron DeSantis” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — This year marked the first instances of lawmakers giving mild pushback against the Governor, who was widely considered one of the state’s most powerful Governors before he dropped out of the presidential race in January. Republican legislators rejected some of his appointees and rebuffed his push to bring gambling to a Miami Beach resort hotel owned by a top DeSantis donor.
Instead of a Session dominated by conservative hot-button issues designed to boost DeSantis’ campaign, legislators wrestled with top priorities of its Republican legislative leaders — including a contentious crackdown on social media for minors and securing hundreds of millions of dollars toward health care initiatives.
It was a turnabout from just one year ago, but the big question is whether this is just a temporary pause in the tremendous sway enjoyed by the Governor or a reset following DeSantis’ loss in the Republican Primary to Trump. DeSantis had successfully used the Legislature in Tallahassee to create attention-grabbing laws that became the foundation of his campaign.
Unlike previous years, DeSantis didn’t enter Session with a lengthy agenda for lawmakers to follow. He started the year on the campaign trail instead of focusing on Tallahassee. And without a strong hand pushing culture war bills, many of the Legislature’s signature conservative proposals died this year, including a measure to protect “unborn children,” legislation banning LGBTQ+ rainbow flags from government buildings and another that would have prevented the removal of Confederate statues.
“A big difference between this Legislative Session and the last two is that we didn’t have Gov. DeSantis’ thumbs on the scale as much,” said Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the House Democratic leader. “I think he was trying to recover from his failed presidential campaign.”
— EPILOGUE — PART 1 —
“Florida legislative leaders leave a large ‘to-do’ list for future Sessions” via Lawrence Mower and Romy Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times; Alexandra Glorioso and Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald — When Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo end their terms as legislative leaders later this year, they will leave behind a daunting to-do list. Even though Floridians’ painfully high homeowners insurance premiums are the top issue among their constituents, lawmakers’ main relief this Session was a modest tax cut that could save people at most a couple of hundred dollars. Lawmakers tried to address real-world problems but faced criticism that they didn’t go far enough. Amid rising homelessness attributed to a lack of affordable housing, they required counties to remove homeless people sleeping in public spaces, such as sidewalks and parks. Lawmakers passed legislation that could lead to lower wages and tougher work conditions. They preempted counties from adopting stricter guidelines for working in the heat.
—”Sine die done: Here are the winners and losers of the 2024 Florida Legislative Session” via USA Today Network
—”Kathleen Passidomo celebrates Live Healthy, other Senate wins” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Optometrists win the 2024 eyeball wars” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics — It came down to the wire, but the Florida Optometric Association again beat back efforts to ban optometrists from being able to describe themselves as physicians by keeping SB 1112 from being sent to the Governor. The bill pitted the optometrists against the ophthalmologists, a long-standing battle that was infamously coined the “eyeball wars” by former Senate President Don Gaetz. “In the (2024) eyeball wars, neither side blinked,” said Jacksonville lawyer and health care lobbyist Christopher Nuland. Passidomo’s initial bill prevented health care providers from using any titles to advertise themselves that aren’t included in their professional practice act, or in the laws that govern the care and services they are allowed to provide.
“Lawmakers pass Citizens surplus lines take out bill, more data reporting for insurers” via Gray Rohrer of Florida Politics — Bills to prioritize funding for a home hardening grant program, require insurers to report more data to regulators and allow surplus lines companies to take over some policies from state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. are soon headed to Gov. DeSantis’ desk. The Senate passed SB 7028, which includes $200 million for the My Safe Florida Home program after Senators agreed to a $100 million boost to the program made by the House. The program provides matching grants to homeowners looking to harden their homes against storms. Other parts of the bill prioritize applicants by age and income, with low-income homeowners older than 60 given the first shot at the funds.
“Lawmakers pass Gabby Petito-inspired domestic violence bill” via Kevin Accettulla of WFLA — Lawmakers unanimously passed a domestic violence bill that includes language pushed for by the family of Petito. Part of the language in the bill was pushed for by Gabby’s father, Joe Petito. “We are thrilled to see the child welfare and lethality assessment bill 1224 pass in the state of Florida,” Petito said in a statement. “It’s a significant milestone in the fight against domestic violence and a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. This achievement brings hope and protection to survivors, ensuring their safety and well-being.” The bill was introduced by Sen. Colleen Burton, a Lakeland Republican, and co-sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall, a Fort Pierce Republican.
“House sends to Governor amended energy bill backing gas, banning windmills” via Bruce Ritchie of POLITICO — The House on Thursday passed an amended energy bill backed by Renner that strikes climate policies in state law and bans near shore windmills. Renner says the bill is needed to support utilities against pressure from the Joe Biden administration and others who pursue “unrealistic” climate goals. The bill also relaxes siting requirements for natural gas pipelines and allows gas storage tanks in all local commercial, industrial and manufacturing land use categories. Homeowners associations are banned from regulating energy sources in neighborhoods. There was no debate Thursday on the measure as amended by the Senate. The House voted 81-29 along party lines to pass the bill, FL HB1645 (24R).
“Florida reins in euphoric-inducing Hemp products” via Arek Sarkissian of POLITICO — Florida lawmakers approved a measure that tightened controls over the state’s hemp industry, with new limits proposed for products like Delta-8 that contain euphoric-inducing chemicals. But legislators also failed to approve a measure that sought to limit THC in marijuana if voters legalize it in November. The new hemp restrictions are now in the hands of DeSantis, who said he has not yet reviewed the bill. The measure would limit delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration for hemp products to 5 milligrams per serving and 50 milligrams per container. The limits, which were sought by the House, were approved by the Senate, which unanimously approved FL SB1698 (24R) Wednesday night. The bill would also ban a variety of products from containing Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC, and other chemicals designed to give users a euphoric feeling.
“Legislature approves flavor-targeting vape restrictions, but exempts e-liquids” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Flavored vapes are safe in the Sunshine State for now, just not the disposable kind. The Florida Legislature has passed a heavily amended bill (HB 1007) that could spell the end for colorful and flavorful vape products with a one-use life span. But the measure carves out refillable devices and e-liquids, which may enable vape enthusiasts with more wherewithal — adults, essentially — to continue their habit without much issue, if not entirely unabated. “This completely exempts, quote, open systems, (unquote), that vape shops specialize in,” Rep. Toby Overdorf said.
“Legislature raises minimum age for strippers to 21” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — SB 796, which includes language from legislation from Sen. Clay Yarborough and Rep. Carolina Amesty to lift the age limit for performers and other employees of adult establishments from 18 to 21, was the basis for an amendment to the substituted House companion bill HB 7063. The Senate passed that bill with just three “no” votes, and the House followed suit Friday with a 104-3 vote of its own. In support of the amendment, Republican Rep. David Borrero said strip clubs were hotbeds of human trafficking and exploitation, with minors and undocumented immigrants serving as prey for owners of strip clubs, massage establishments and brothels. “Strip clubs are safe havens for sex trafficking,” Borrero said, wondering why people would want “teenagers” to be “targeted” in those dens of iniquity.
— EPILOGUE — PART 2 —
“‘Republicans need to grow a spine:’ Florida Legislature disappoints some conservatives” via Skyler Swisher of Florida Politics — Despite Republicans holding a supermajority, the Florida Legislature disappointed some conservatives and left them wanting more this year. GOP lawmakers didn’t approve controversial bills on guns, mail voting, transgender issues and abortion, all on conservative wish lists. “Republicans need to grow a spine,” said Bob White, Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida. “What’s the point of having a Republican majority if you are going to govern like Democrats?” But what critics saw as political cowardice, Democrats viewed as Republicans backpedaling from what they called an “extremist” culture war agenda alienating most Florida voters.
—“Democratic leaders wish they could have done more during 2024 Legislative Session” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Workers could see changes to their wages in 2026 if DeSantis signs bill” via Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald — Starting in September 2026, tens of thousands of workers may see their wages change in 11 municipalities — including Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties as well as the cities of Miami Beach and St. Petersburg. That’s because Florida lawmakers on Friday approved legislation that would block local governments from requiring contractors to pay more than the state’s minimum wage, which will be $15 per hour in 2026. Lawmakers had initially proposed barring local governments from going beyond the state’s minimum wage starting this summer, but a compromise was reached on the last day of the Legislative Session that now seeks to delay such a ban until September 2026. “At least people have two years to save some money so they don’t lose their homes or cars or whatever when this preemption sets in place,” said state Rep. Ashley Gantt. The proposed legislation — which now heads to DeSantis’ desk — also includes language that would prohibit local governments from having predictive scheduling laws.
“Legislature ignores proposal to raise minimum teacher pay to $65K” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Bills to give public schoolteachers a 37% starting pay bump got locked out of class this year. Leadership in the Legislature ignored the proposals (SB 136, HB 13), dubbed the “Save Our Teachers Act,” which aimed to increase the base salaries of full-time classroom teachers, including preschool teachers, to $65,000 a year. The base salary today, last increased in 2020, is $47,500. Florida ranks 16th in the nation for average teacher starting salaries and 48th among all states for average teacher pay, according to the National Education Association. The average starting teacher salary nationally is $42,844, up 2.5% from the year prior. Public schoolteachers across the country, on average, earn $66,745 yearly.
—”PEN America warns Florida will get sued over youth social media ban” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Legislature OKs new veterans history program, expanded benefits” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Lawmakers have cleared a bill that would create the Florida Veterans’ History Program and name it in honor of decorated World War II veteran Major John Leroy Haynes. The bill (HB 1329) calls for the collection and preservation of Florida-based veterans’ stories so they may be shared with future generations. “When I led the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs under Gov. DeSantis, I tried to find Florida D-Day veterans to help us commemorate the 75th anniversary, but it was nearly impossible,” Senate Bill (SB 408) sponsor Sen. Danny Burgess said.
“Legislature again snubs ban on no-cash businesses” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Sen. Shevrin Jones and Rep. Joel Rudman carried the legislation (SB 106, HB 35), which sought to curb a growing trend of no-cash businesses in and outside the state. The proposal was a priority for Jones, who said in January that some of the Sunshine State’s older and less well-to-do residents are being left behind in an increasingly digital commerce climate. “At a time when many businesses have transitioned to electronic-only means of payment, we must not forget about those individuals and families who do not have access to those forms of payment,” he said. “Everyone, regardless of their financial status or background, should have the ability to fully participate in the economy.” Lower-income Americans are four times likelier than their higher-income neighbors to make all or almost all of their purchases in cash.
—”Everglades Trust hails restoration funds” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Florida citrus growers celebrate $47M in budget wins” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — With Session wrapped and the budget finalized, Florida’s citrus growers are praising lawmakers for pouring in several big buckets of funding to help the industry. Florida’s citrus production has struggled in recent years, in part due to the significant impact of storms as well as the effects of citrus greening. Some of the funding available in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget will help address production hurdles. A release from Florida Citrus Mutual, the state’s largest citrus grower organization, spotlighted those funding wins in a release following the end of the 2024 Session. They include $18 million for the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Program and the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) to research citrus treatments and therapies. They also include $9 million for the Florida Department of Citrus marketing to promote the state’s citrus products among consumers and influencers.
“Who’s a good boy? Bill allowing virtual vet visits in Florida passes, awaits Governor’s signature” via Fresh Take Florida — Milo, a 3-year-old goldendoodle, was recently diagnosed with Addison’s disease, which means he lacks the steroid production to calm down when stressed. “(He) can die from it if (he’s) not treated. But with treatment (he’s) perfectly fine,” said Varesha Mauney, 56, of Palm Beach Gardens in South Florida. Mauney said Milo’s health care requires daily treatment. “He has to take medication for the rest of his life,” she said. Caring for his condition can be costly and time-consuming — care that may now become less burdensome for Mauney and thousands of others across the state now that the Legislature unanimously passed a bill authorizing virtual veterinary care.
— OTHER STATEWIDE —
“GOP judges: DeSantis violated the Constitution again. Lawyers made $725/hr” via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida politics has become so routinely ridiculous that you might be prone to tune out a lot of it, figuring it’s just typical theatrics. But you should never ignore politicians who are trying to strip you of your constitutional rights. And that is happening time and again in Florida. A recent ruling blocked DeSantis’ attempt to silence discussions he disliked inside private companies through the “Stop WOKE” act. The decision was authored by a judge who worked for George W. Bush, clerked for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and was appointed by Trump. The three-judge panel — which also included another Republican member of the Federalist Society — said Florida politicians violated the basic principles of free speech when they tried to tell companies that they couldn’t hold employee training sessions that espoused ideas DeSantis disliked.
“DeSantis picks Ashley Moody Chief of Staff for state Board” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis is picking James Percival, the Chief of Staff for Moody, to serve on the State Retirement Board. A current Commissioner for the 1st District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission, Percival previously served as the Deputy Attorney General of Legal Policy and Chief Deputy Solicitor General. Percival earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. He has made news from time to time, including playing a key role in demanding communications from the former Reedy Creek Improvement District Board after they moved to limit the power of the panel that replaced them, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
“Banned Ripley’s book? Yes, please!” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — The demand for the banned Ripley’s Believe It or Not books have surprised and delighted the entertainment company. So far, about 17,500 Floridians requested a copy of a book after Ripley’s announced it was giving them away for free when a school district banned the title, the company said recently. “Recently, officials in Florida’s Escambia County Public Schools district have plunged into a literary adventure of their own: removing and flagging over 1,600 books for review and potential banning. In a weird plot twist, this includes eight encyclopedias, five dictionaries, and hundreds of reference books — including three of our very own Ripley’s Believe It or Not! titles,” the company said on its website. Spokesperson Sabrina Sieck expressed the confidence Ripley’s won’t run out of books to give away and added that the response has been “wonderful.”
— 2024 —
“Donald Trump mocks Joe Biden’s stutter again, drawing outrage” via Lauren Weber and Carolyn Y. Johnson of The Washington Post — Trump mocked Biden’s stutter at a campaign rally in Rome, Georgia, on Saturday, the latest in a series of insults he has hurled at his rival but one that disability advocates regard as a demeaning form of bullying. Trump asked the crowd sarcastically if Biden would “bring the country t-t-t-together” while talking about Biden’s State of the Union address. “I’m gonna bring it together,” Trump added, slurring the words. But according to transcripts of the speech, Biden did not say that. It was similar to an attack on Biden earlier in January, where Trump accused Biden of stuttering through a speech and then play-acted as if he were Biden. “He’s saying I’m a threat to democracy,” Trump said earlier this year, segueing into a taunt in which he imitates Biden. “He’s a threat to d-d-democracy.”
Biden-Harris launches $30M ad buy — Biden’s re-election campaign is launching a $30 million ad campaign in battleground states (aka not Florida) that highlights Biden’s accomplishments and legislative agenda during his first term. The opening ad of the campaign is titled “For You,” and is a direct-to-camera from Biden. The campaign’s description presumably pokes at questions about the incumbent’s age, claiming to answer “frankly about the question on every Washington reporter’s mind … the President’s historic legislative agenda!” (He does touch on that, however.) The six-week ad flight will air on national cable and local broadcast and cable television in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina.
To watch the ad, please click the image below:
“Biden leans into age, effectiveness in new battleground state ad” via The Associated Press — Biden is making no excuses for his age in the first campaign ad of a $30 million buy across battleground states after Super Tuesday, casting himself as more effective than his predecessor, Trump. The 60-second spot opens with Biden, 81, addressing one of voters’ top concerns about his bid for a second term, acknowledging to viewers, “Look, I’m not a young guy, that’s no secret.” “But here’s the deal, I understand how to get things done for the American people,” Biden adds, ticking through a list of accomplishments, including leading the country through the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting drug prices and strengthening the economy. The six-week advertising blitz on TV and digital platforms is designed to highlight the main themes from Thursday’s State of the Union address and is geared to Black, Asian, and Hispanic communities. But the opening ad is meant to tackle a concern shared by a wide swath of voters.
“The Biden-Trump rerun: A nation craving change gets more of the same” via Adam Nagourney and Shane Goldmacher of The New York Times — “Change vs. more of the same” read a hand-scrawled placard posted on a wall in the campaign war room for Bill Clinton when he captured the White House in 1992. Yet this year, Americans, who by nearly every measure are hungering for a new direction, are confronted with the choice between a continuation or a restoration. The contest between Biden and Trump is the rare election without a major party candidate who can be presented as a fresh face and a new tomorrow. Whoever better navigates a contest that is, in so many ways, a mismatch with the moment could well prove to have the upper hand over the next eight months.
“Seven states and events miles apart: How the Trump and Biden campaigns approach a rematch” via The Associated Press — Biden and Trump each won the White House by razor-thin margins in key states. Now, with a reprise of their bitter 2020 campaign all but officially set after Super Tuesday, the two campaigns are unveiling their strategies for a matchup between a President and his immediate predecessor. Both campaigns will fight the hardest in seven battleground states, five of which flipped from Trump in 2016 to Biden four years ago. Biden’s re-election campaign claims a jump on hiring staff and targeting swing-state voters. Trump campaign officials are finalizing a takeover of the Republican National Committee this week and looking to expand their field operation. Biden and Trump will each hold events in Georgia on Saturday, a week after they did simultaneous U.S.-Mexico border trips in Texas.
“Battle for the House: 9 races that will determine the majority” via Jared Gans and Julia Miller of The Hill — The battlefield for the House majority is starting to come into focus as more states hold primaries ahead of November. California, which is certain to be key to both parties’ efforts to win the lower chamber, just held its primaries on Tuesday, while New York — another all-important battleground — will hold its House primaries in June. With Republicans holding just a slim majority in the lower chamber, several races in these states are headed for contentious, close finishes.
“Democrats hope IVF issue might topple key Republican in Pennsylvania. swing seat” via Colby Otkowitz of The Washington Post — Rep. Scott Perry, a conservative Republican representing a moderate suburban district in the Harrisburg area, insists he supports in vitro fertilization though he sponsored a bill last year that would make it federal law that life begins at conception. But some voters in his district, like new mom Ashley Moyer, don’t believe him. “I don’t really know how you can support IVF and believe that life begins at conception,” Moyer said. “The two things are very contradictory.” Moyer, 32, who conceived her 9-month-old baby boy through IVF, voted for Trump in 2016. But she said she’s been energized by conservative attacks on reproductive rights in the last several years. Now, she said she doubts she would ever vote for a Republican again — especially not Perry.
“Crypto Super PAC to target races in Ohio and Montana that could swing the Senate” via Shane Goldmacher of The New York Times — Fresh from spending more than $10 million to help defeat Rep. Katie Porter, a progressive Democrat, in California’s open Senate race, the crypto industry’s big new super PAC has identified its next political targets for this Fall. Atop the list are two races featuring the most endangered Democrats up for re-election, in Ohio and Montana. The crypto industry and its aligned super PACs, which entered 2024 with more than $80 million in the bank, are aiming to use their financial and political might both to elect allies and ultimately shape a favorable set of regulations in Congress. Josh Vlasto, a spokesperson for Fairshake, the biggest of a group of three new crypto super PACs, said the super PAC had made the decision to play in four Senate races this year. “We’ll have the resources to affect races and the makeup of institutions at every level,” Vlasto said. “And we’ll leverage those assets strategically to maximize their impact in order to build a sustainable, bipartisan crypto and blockchain coalition.”
— D.C. MATTERS —
“Biden’s State of the Union made Republicans squirm on Ukraine, immigration” via Aaron Blake of The Washington Post — Shortly after launching into his State of the Union address on Thursday night, Biden served notice he was about to drive some wedges into the Republican Party. “If anybody in this room thinks [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will stop in Ukraine, I assure you he will not,” Biden said. Biden added: “My message to President Putin, who I’ve known for a long time, is simple: We will not walk away.” When Biden hailed the bipartisan border security bill that Republicans ultimately killed last month as being historically tough, many Republicans jeered. “Oh, you don’t like that bill, huh?” Biden responded, a big smile growing on his face. “That conservatives got together and said it was a good bill? I’ll be darned. That’s amazing.”
“Florida Democrat: Marginalized communities won’t ‘survive’ a second Trump term” via Lauren Irwin of The Hill — Rep. Maxwell Frost argued that communities of color are “incredibly critical” in helping re-elect Biden in November and said he thinks marginalized communities “won’t survive” another term with Trump. “Here’s the thing, you know, it’s one thing to receive an endorsement from an organization. It’s another thing to receive an endorsement from three leading organizations that are saying ‘not only will we endorse the President, but we’re going to put $30 million behind ensuring that we deny Donald Trump a second term and that we re-elect President Joe Biden,” Frost said.
“Sen. Rick Scott proposes resolution supporting in vitro fertilization treatments” via Stephany Matat of The Palm Beach Post — The burgeoning nationwide debate over protecting in vitro fertilization treatments is now an issue in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, too. Scott has introduced a resolution to reaffirm the Senate’s commitment to the “growth of families,” including through IVF. But one of the Democrats seeking to unseat him said Scott’s resolution is a meager, symbolic action considering that much stronger legislation has been proposed by a Senator. Scott, who is running to win a second term this November, said in a statement that he believes “it is important for the Senate to make clear our unwavering support for current and aspiring parents using IVF to start and grow their families.”
“TikTok is a “national security issue,” Sens. Mark Warner and Marco Rubio say” via Kaia Hubbard of CBS News — “We might have slightly different ways on how we go at this, but we think this is a national security issue,” Warner, a Virginia Democrat, said of himself and Rubio on Face the Nation. TikTok has been under fire by U.S. officials for years amid warnings that China’s government could gain access to its data and use it to manipulate or spy on Americans. But a renewed push targeting TikTok has gained momentum on Capitol Hill in recent days, with a House bill that would compel the company to either sell the app or be banned from U.S. app stores. “If you don’t think the Chinese Communist Party can twist that algorithm to make it the news that they see reflective of their views, then I don’t think you appreciate the nature of the threat,” Warner said.
“No evidence of extraterrestrial technology, report finds” via Caroline Coudriet of Roll Call — A Pentagon office responsible for investigating and analyzing reports of unidentified aerial phenomena has found no evidence of any confirmed sighting of extraterrestrial technology, according to a newly released report. The Department of Defense last week sent Congress the first volume of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office’s Historical Record report, a requirement lawmakers included in the fiscal 2023 defense policy bill. Lawmakers established AARO within the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act to serve as a central office for UAP matters. The review encompasses all UAP investigations conducted by the U.S. government since 1945 and includes materials from classified and unclassified archives as well as interviews.
— DOWN BALLOT —
“George Riley to return as Florida GOP Executive Director” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — It looks like Riley will once again call the day-to-day shots at the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF). Chair Evan Power announced that Riley will return as Executive Director of the state party. Meanwhile, Alexander Pantinakis will serve as the RPOF Political Director. “George Riley is a tremendous asset to our Party, and I’m pleased to have him serve as Executive Director as we continue to make Florida a Republican stronghold,” Power said. Riley has worked professionally in Republican politics in Florida since 2008, when he worked as a field staffer in Tampa. Since then, he has served under seven Florida GOP Chairs in a variety of positions within RPOF.
“Democratic Women’s Club of Alachua County hosts U.S. Senator candidate” via Kayla Lewis of WCJB — During a Women’s History Month brunch Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is challenging Scott in the upcoming election stopped by to strengthen her campaign. “My priority is representing every single Floridian regardless of political affiliation,” Powell said. She was the first Ecuadorian American to ever serve in the U.S. House. “She is a true American Dreamer,” said Marcia Storch, a Gainesville resident. Powell came to the country from Ecuador when she was 14, worked a minimum wage job at 15 to help her family make ends meet, and because of that she became associate dean of the medical school at FIU. Along with reducing gun violence, she advocates for protecting Medicare and Social Security access, the climate crisis and women’s rights.
“‘Tan mom’ Patricia Krentcil drops out of U.S. Senate race” via TMZ — Tan Mom is bowing out of the race for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida, and, oddly, Wendy Williams — of all people — played a role in her decision. The bronzed mother of 5, whose real name is Patricia Krentcil, says in a new video obtained by TMZ that she’s dropped out of the running after watching the new Wendy documentary, and comparing it to her own reality series, “Tan to 10.” Another factor … mass layoffs at struggling and bankrupt Vice Media. Tan Mom says she was filming a documentary about her campaign for Vice, but the media company pulled the plug and has not paid her or her team a dime, despite a contract she says she signed with Vice.
“DeSantis faces pushback in Florida as voters tire of war on woke” via Lori Rozsa of The Washington Post — Florida has firmly cemented itself in recent years as ground zero for the nation’s culture wars. The Sunshine State is the birthplace of conservative parental rights group Moms for Liberty, the original law restricting LGBTQ+ discussion in classrooms, one of the strictest abortion laws in the country and legislation that has led to the banning of more books than in any other state in America. But the pushback is growing. Parents and others have organized and protested schoolbook bans. Abortion rights advocates gathered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot. GOP voter registration numbers continued to surpass Democrats, but the party lost two local races they were expected to win: the Mayor’s Office in Jacksonville, and a closely contested special election to replace a Republican state representative near Orlando.
“Measles outbreak at Broward elementary school is officially over, school district says” via Michelle Marchante of the Miami Herald — A measles outbreak at a Broward elementary school is officially over, the school district confirmed Friday. The 21-day infectious period at Manatee Bay Elementary, 19200 Manatee Isles Dr., in Weston, “ended on March 7,” John Sullivan, chief communications and legislative affairs officer for the Broward Public School District, told the Miami Herald in an email Friday. “We appreciate the tremendous support of the school’s administrators, staff and families — as well as the guidance and collaboration from the Florida Department of Health — Broward — throughout this time.” Broward County confirmed nine cases of measles in February, and seven of them were students at the Weston K-5 elementary school. At Manatee Bay, 3% of its student body are not vaccinated. The other two Broward measles cases involved children aged 4 or younger, though the kids did not attend school in the district.
“As some Broward schools face closure, what comes next for all those valuable properties?” via Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — A plan to downsize Broward schools could turn into a major land grab for local cities and developers. Aging schools, office buildings and vacant land could become the sites of commercial development, workforce housing, parks and recitational facilities, health care facilities and city-run charter schools. Those are some of the ideas that have been suggested by some local cities as the district considers a plan to close or repurpose under-enrolled schools and dispose of unneeded property. The district owns about 38 million square feet worth of property in a county where open land is scarce. The district has sought out the input of Mayors and city managers as it proposes to close or repurpose anywhere from five to several dozen schools in 2025. With more than 54,100 empty seats at district schools, and an increased number of people working remotely since the pandemic, the district has a lot of space it doesn’t need, School Board member Allen Zeman said.
“If Miami can tunnel its way to the port, why not build a train tunnel in Fort Lauderdale, expert asks” via Susannah Bryan of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Christopher Hodgkins, the guy who helped build the award-winning Port of Miami tunnel, sat back and watched while Fort Lauderdale’s Mayor championed a Tesla tunnel to the beach — an idea the Mayor now admits was a pipe dream. Hodgkins says he knew right away that plan wouldn’t work, but he kept quiet. Then he noticed headlines about Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and his fierce opposition to Broward County’s plan to build a bridge for commuter rail through downtown Fort Lauderdale. Trantalis keeps on insisting a tunnel is the best way to get commuter trains across the New River, even if it costs more. Hodgkins happens to agree. “I heard one County Commissioner say, ‘A tunnel doesn’t make sense because we’re right at sea level here, and a tunnel will flood,’” Hodgkins said. “Well, we have floodgates. The safest place to be during a hurricane is probably inside a tunnel. Our floodgates take 20 minutes to come down (when a hurricane is heading this way). They seal the tunnel watertight.”
—”Take a look: Spring Break marches on in Miami Beach with fewer crowds, more restrictions” via Devoun Cetoute and David J. Neal of the Miami Herald
— LOCAL: C FL —
“Democrats worry how DeSantis ally Glen Gilzean will run Orange elections” via Steven Lemongello and Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel — DeSantis’ surprise appointment of staunch Republican ally Gilzean as Orange County elections supervisor has some Democrats and analysts worried about how elections will be run in the heavily Democratic county. A supervisor determines early voting days, including the important Souls to the Polls Sunday for Black voters, and how many drop boxes are available for mail-in ballots. They also decide how strongly their office promotes voting. “There are things that a partisan appointee can do that have partisan intent,” said Matt Isbell, a Democratic elections analyst. “Even if he just comes in and basically says we’re here to run the election, we’re here to mail out ballots, but we’re not here to do any major outreach efforts and we’re going to be more strict on [some things].”
“Dirty tricks in Maitland library campaign? Hit mailer flouts political laws” via Tayeba Mussein of the Orlando Sentinel — A mystery mailer that appears to flout Florida campaign laws has inflamed the campaign for a $14 million library bond in Maitland, making exaggerated claims about the true costs of the city’s library project. There is no record that the group taking credit for the mailer, which dubs itself Maitland’s Folly but uses a seemingly bogus address in St. Petersburg, has registered as a campaign committee as required. That leaves the source of its funding unknown as well as any actual connection to the Orange County city of 19,000. Lindsay Hall Harrison, who holds seat 4 on Maitland’s City Council, said that library backers have not been able to solve the mystery behind who is running the opposition campaign. The mailer sent out by anonymous members of Maitland’s Folly purports to demonstrate that the library project will cost $40 million, more than double the $18.7 million the city has been saying.
“Winter Garden City Commission race pits neighbor vs. neighbor vs. neighbor” via Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel — No matter who wins the nonpartisan, three-candidate race for Winter Garden City Commission District 2, residents of Lake Cove Pointe, a small gated community on Lake Apopka, will have a voice in the Board’s meeting chambers. Incumbent Commissioner Ron Mueller and both challengers, Iliana Ramos Jones and Danny “DJ” Culberson, not only live in the same neighborhood, about a mile north of City Hall and downtown, they live on the same street. Their race is one of two on Winter Garden’s municipal ballot on March 19. Chloe Johnson and Karen McNeil, both first-time candidates who reside in east Winter Garden, are bidding to succeed Mark Maciel as District 3 Commissioner. Culberson, 39, said he decided to run before he knew either of his neighbors would be on the ballot again. Three years ago, Mueller bested Jones by 66 votes to win the seat.
“Bill targeting Pinellas County transit authority gets pulled by St. Pete Senator” via Henry Queen of the Tampa Bay Business Journal — The Legislative Session will end with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s Board of Directors intact. Sen. Darryl Rouson pulled a local bill that Rep. Linda Chaney introduced with the goal of improving the transit agency’s transparency. The effort to reduce PSTA’s Board size, among other policy changes, also came about amid backlash in St. Pete Beach to the SunRunner bus rapid transit line that began service in 2022. Chaney’s bill passed along party lines in the Florida House of Representatives on March 4, but Rouson eliminated the bill from consideration in the Senate on Thursday. “Pulling the bill from the Senate’s agenda was a necessary step to avoid undermining our ongoing efforts to improve and expand transit access in our community,” Rouson said.
“State purchases conservation easements for two ranches in Polk County” via the Lakeland Ledger — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has approved conservation easements for two agricultural properties in Polk County. The Department bought easements on K-Rocker Ranch II and Kuder Ranch, paying $3.2 million and $3.9 million, respectively, Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced. The agency secured the protections against development through its Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Conservation easements allow owners to continue agricultural operations but remove the option of developing the land. The K-Rocker Ranch, covering 707 acres, has been in business near Lake Wales since 1952, the department said in a news release. The third generation of the Keen family grows Bahia sod as its primary operation.
— LOCAL: N. FL —
“FSU, FAMU, TCC expected to get millions in Legislature’s state budget. Here’s a breakdown” via Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat — Florida State and Florida A&M universities as well as Tallahassee Community College are in line to receive millions toward several key legislative requests in this year’s state budget — all while some big-ticket wish list items were left out. The Legislature’s proposed budget report shows the operating money that would go toward the universities, where FSU is slated to receive a grand total of $622.7 million and FAMU is expected to get nearly $122 million. In preparation for this year’s Legislative Session, FSU’s top request from its wish list was $50 million to grow the university’s national prominence while FAMU’s priority was a request for $45.5 million to go toward its own academic excellence efforts.
“Budget includes millions to buy land above cave to protect Wakulla Springs from gas station” via James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat — What was planned to be a 16-pump gas station on environmentally sensitive land is now on the way to becoming preserved greenspace the size of Tallahassee’s Tom Brown Park. Thank the Florida Legislature’s budget negotiators. The final 2024-25 state budget to be voted on this Friday includes $3.7 million for Conservation Florida to buy 225 acres at the intersection of U.S. 319 and State Road 267, 14 miles south of the Capitol in Wakulla County. DeSantis would have to sign off on the expenditure. The land is right above an underground cavern known as Chip’s Hole Cave. Divers for the Woodville Karst Plains Project have documented that the cave opens to an underground river connecting the iconic Wakulla Springs, 4 miles to the east, to the Floridan Aquifer — a giant underground reservoir that provides drinking water for four states.
“JEA trial: Herschel Vinyard testifies he warned public would ‘light themselves on fire’” via David Bauerlein of The Florida Times-Union — Former JEA executive Vinyard testified that if he had known at a July 2019 Board meeting that an incentive plan approved that day could generate massive payments to JEA employees, it would have caused him to object even more strongly to a plan he said was not normal for a government agency. “I probably would have left JEA,” said Vinyard, a former secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection who joined the utility in April 2019 as chief administrative officer. In testimony without jurors in the courtroom, Vinyard said he had told then-CEO Aaron Zahn several weeks before the Board meeting, he was uncomfortable with the concept of the “performance unit plan.” “I did tell Aaron Zahn that if you make $1 off this, the public will light themselves on fire,” Vinyard said.
“Lawmakers want $3.5 million for clean water pipeline in Ocala” via Max Chesnes and Christopher O’Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times — Florida officials have known for years that chemical pollution from a state firefighting college in Ocala has threatened the drinking water supply of nearby homes, prisons and businesses, but efforts to remove the area from at-risk well water have gone nowhere since 2021. This year, that may finally change. Lawmakers on Friday approved an annual budget that includes $3.5 million for a nearly 7-mile pipeline to deliver clean drinking water to the Lowell area. The budget now heads to DeSantis’ desk, where he can choose to veto specific projects. Firefighters at the Florida State Fire College trained with foam extinguishers that contained dangerous levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly called PFAS or “forever chemicals,” that are linked to a slew of health problems. The state discovered in 2018 that the chemicals had seeped into the groundwater around the college, eventually spreading to neighboring properties and threatening the drinking water at nearby state-run prisons, including the women’s Lowell Correctional Institution.
— LOCAL: SW. FL —
“Donations rolling in: NCH receives $5 million for new heart and stroke center” via Liz Freeman of Naples Daily News — Additional NCH supporters have stepped forward with a $5 million gift for the new $200 million heart center next to the Baker Hospital near downtown Naples. The gift is from The Ahuja Foundation and trustees Monte and Usha Ahuja. The heart center gained zoning and other necessary approvals from the city of Naples in early February after nearly three years of debate among nearby residents and application reviews from the city. The project site is 350 Seventh St. N. To date $135 million has been raised toward the $200 million construction cost. The Telford Education Center on the south side of the Baker Hospital will be demolished to make way for the five-story complex with 187,000 square feet of building space.
“Planning Commission approves North Naples commercial development with self-storage” via Samantha Roesler of WINK — The southeast corner of Livingston Road and Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Collier County could be the site of a self-storage facility following a unanimous vote by the county’s Planning Commission on March 7. The northern half of the 4.6-acre property in North Naples, east of Allura Naples apartments and south of the Mediterra community, is already designated for commercial use with plans to add a car wash and a gas station. The applicant, Livingston Veterans Commercial LLC, requested that commercial uses be expanded to the southern half of the property to allow up to 100,000 square feet of indoor self-storage. The entire property is limited to 100,000 square feet of intensity, so any retail space will take away from the allowed size of the self-storage facility. The concept member plan shows access on both Livingston Road and Veterans Memorial Boulevard with a private interconnect with Allura to allow residents of the complex to access the site without using the public roadways.
“50-foot sperm whale beached off Venice near Service Club Park not expected to survive” via Earle Kimel of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Mote Marine Laboratory scientists, with the help of local law enforcement marine units, are attempting to treat a beached sperm whale that was spotted Sunday on a sandbar off Venice Beach. The whale is on a sandbar about 50 yards off Service Club Park, which is about a half-mile north of the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier. Hundreds of spectators had lined the shore by late morning. Thursday afternoon, officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it was too rough to approach the whale to give it a sedative.
— TOP OPINION —
“A scripted Session strips away needed protections” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — Stripping away protections was a recurring theme of the 2024 Session. Republicans defanged Citizen Review Boards to monitor excessive force by police (HB 601) and gutted a state ethics law by requiring future complainants to have personal knowledge of wrongdoing (SB 7014). That terrible decision could actually increase political corruption by preventing citizens from basing complaints on newspaper exposés. For 60 days, Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate largely stuck to their own script, while also ignoring most Democratic ideas. Republicans had mercifully little input from DeSantis, who was distracted for part of the Session trying to salvage his doomed presidential hopes. But DeSantis’ distractions were mostly a blessing. Stumping across Iowa, he wasn’t in Tallahassee to dictate a legislative agenda dominated by ludicrous culture-war issues, as he has in previous years.
— OPINIONS —
“A court saves Florida from more First Amendment damage” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — The politicians who control Florida today demonstrate less respect for the First Amendment than the often-reviled “pork choppers” who ran things back in the 1950s. But it took a federal appeals court to deal the current crowd a thorough, timely and well-deserved lesson on freedom of speech. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit of Appeals did that by overturning a major element of DeSantis’ comically mislabeled “individual freedom” legislation — also known as the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act” — which was aimed at preventing schools and colleges from teaching candidly about the nation’s historic and enduring legacy of racism. It banned truth under the Orwellian pretense of forbidding discrimination. The court did not rule on the necessity or wisdom of the instruction the state was trying to prevent. The only question involved the First Amendment.
“New Florida law is an attack on ethics accountability. DeSantis should veto it” via Kedric Payne and Danielle Caputo of the Miami Herald — Sen. Danny Burgess’ last-minute amendment to an ethics reform bill requires that all complaints filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics are “based upon personal knowledge or information other than hearsay.” That is a fancy legal way of saying that the only person who can file an ethics complaint against an official is the person involved in the ethics violation who has firsthand knowledge of the act. In other words, no more complaints from the public — no more complaints from concerned citizens who see something and want to say something. Floridians have the right to know that their government officials are serving the public interest and not their own personal interest, financial or otherwise. The Florida Legislature should be making every effort to increase the Commission’s effectiveness, not render it ineffective.
“Pamela Burnett: Florida’s leaders expand breast & cervical cancer early detection efforts” via Florida Politics — During the 2024 Legislative Session, DeSantis and the Florida Legislature continued to prioritize cancer research, detection, and treatment efforts to improve survivorship in the state. This included a significant increase in the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, commonly referred to as the Mary Brogan program. This bold move not only demonstrates a commitment to the health and well-being of Floridians but also signifies a crucial step forward in our fight against breast cancer. Ensuring adequate funding is key to ensuring that low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women continue to have access to vital screening services, providing newly insured women access to health education, and patient navigation services, as well as enabling proper monitoring of state and local breast cancer patterns and trends. Any delay can mean that a woman won’t seek care until the cancer has spread beyond the breast, making it up to five times more expensive and much harder to successfully treat.
“Following the JEA trial? Don’t forget to turn your clocks back to 2019.” via Mark Woods of the Florida Times-Union — As we approach the Spring of 2024, defense attorneys have turned back the clocks to the Fall of 2019, back to when we were being told things that made some of us wonder aloud (and in print) if, beyond electricity and water, JEA was selling gaslighting. In 2019, JEA leaders and the Mayor’s Office were doing the gaslighting. And the targeted group was the public. It was wrong on many levels, involving many people, some who are not spending their days in a federal courthouse now. This isn’t to say it was criminally wrong, that the two people there, former CEO Aaron Zahn and CFO Ryan Wannemacher, are guilty of the charges they face. That will be up to two sets of jurors. And I don’t envy them. It’s quite clear that a lot of wrongs happened in 2019. To suggest otherwise in 2024 is beyond revisionist history. It’s epic gaslighting. But was it criminally wrong? That’s another question, one for the jurors to answer.
— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —
— ALOE —
“Disney has its best shot at a Best Picture win in nearly two decades” via Robbie Whelan of The Wall Street Journal — When was the last time a Walt Disney Co.-owned studio or production company had a hand in making a best picture-winning film? Way back in 2007, with the Coen Bros.’ “No Country For Old Men,” a gory murder spree starring Javier Bardem that took home the top prize at the 2008 Academy Awards. “No Country” was distributed by Miramax Films, Bob and Harvey Weinstein’s famous auteur film shop. From 1993 to 2010, Miramax was owned by Disney, a tumultuous marriage that ended after CEO Bob Iger decided that Weinstein’s cult movies were not core to Disney’s strategy of tentpole animated features and its emerging franchise in superhero blockbusters. A decade later, Disney got back into the business of making Oscar-bait movies for grown-ups by acquiring Searchlight Pictures as part of its 2019 purchase of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets.
—”The 10 wildest moments in Oscars history” via Sophie Lloyd of The Hollywood Reporter
“Hollywood flashback: Will Rogers was the first (and only) Native American Oscar host” via Angela Aleiss of The Hollywood Reporter — By the time Rogers was roped into serving as emcee for the sixth Academy Awards, he was a celebrated performer who had appeared in more than 30 features and was on his way to becoming the No. 1 box office star of 1934, topping the likes of Clark Gable and Shirley Temple. Having honed his wit as a lariat-twirling vaudeville humorist (and as a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist), Rogers exuded charm at the March 16, 1934, ceremony at L.A.’s Ambassador Hotel. Offering his thoughts on the prized gold statuettes, he told the room, “It represents the triumph of nothingness over the stupendousness of zero.” THR reported that “Rogers, as toastmaster, was in ‘ribbing’ form and, while he had his serious moments, gave everyone a lot of laughs.”
— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —
Celebrating today are Emily Jeanne Barber, Nichole Geary, and Janet Scherberger.
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Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.
