Peter Schorsch
Good Thursday morning.
Breaking overnight — “Astronomers detect a possible signature of life on a distant planet” via Carl Zimmer of The New York Times — A team of researchers is offering what it contends is the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. A repeated analysis of the exoplanet’s atmosphere suggests an abundance of a molecule that on Earth has only one known source: living organisms such as marine algae. “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and an author of the new study, at a news conference on Tuesday. Still, he said, the best explanation for his group’s observations is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life. “This is a revolutionary moment,” Madhusudhan said. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”
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Must read — As James Uthmeier goes under the microscope for his role in the Hope Florida scandal, former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson is coming to his defense, saying his efforts to defeat Amendment 3 “were certainly not illegal.” The Lawson Huck Gonzalez founding shareholder backs up his take with a dive into the timeline surrounding Centene’s $10 million donation and its use in the fight against recreational pot. “From everything I’ve seen, nothing about Mr. Uthmeier’s actions or conduct during the Amendment 3 fight was illegal, or even scandalous,” Lawson writes. Read Lawson’s exclusive op-ed here:
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Updates from the Road: Lauren Book is on the move! Today, the Walk in My Shoes journey continues with a powerful walk through Daytona Beach. Walkers will begin at the iconic Daytona International Speedway for a 14-mile trek to Andy Romano Beachfront Park, with Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the Family Life Center — Sexual Violence Center Volusia Flagler, and local advocates taking steps toward healing and prevention. Every mile matters! Learn more, watch Lauren walk LIVE, or register to join her at LaurensKidsWalk.org.
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
Tweet, tweet:
—@JonLovett: Law firms cave, the demands don’t stop. Columbia caves, the demands don’t stop. Paramount enters settlement talks with (Donald) Trump over a frivolous lawsuit; Trump still pushes FCC to revoke CBS’s broadcast license over 60 Minutes. Capitulation doesn’t save you. You torch your reputation and prove yourself to be a soft target. You willingly give Trump power he could not take. Fighting back is the only way. And the more who do, the weaker Trump will prove to be.
—@Fineout: Just to note for your calendars: The Legislature has until April 29 — 15 days from now — to finish all work on a new state budget in order to end the Session by May 2. Lawmakers don’t plan to work Friday through Sunday due to Easter. Could be crunch time from April 21 on.
Tweet, tweet:
Tweet, tweet:
— DAYS UNTIL —
‘Andor’ season two premieres — 5; ‘Carlos Alcaraz: My Way’ premieres on Netflix — 6; ‘The Accountant 2’ premieres — 8; ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ premieres on Netflix — 11; Beyoncé‘s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour begins in Los Angeles — 11; ‘Thunderbolts’ premieres — 15; Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting — 26; Florida Chamber Leadership Conference on Safety, Health + Sustainability — 28; Epic Universe grand opening — 35; Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ premieres — 36; ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’ premieres — 36; Florida Chamber Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solution Summit — 42; ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ premieres — 43; Tony Awards — 52; Special Election for SD 19 — 54; Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet will meet — 55; Special Primary Election for Senate District 15 to succeed the late Geraldine Thompson — 68; Florida Chamber Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit — 68; ‘Squid Game’ season three premieres — 71; James Gunn‘s ‘Superman’ premieres — 85; ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ premieres on Netflix — 99; “Fantastic Four – First Steps” premieres — 99; Florida Freedom Forum — 107; ‘Eyes of Wakanda’ premieres on Disney+ — 111; Florida Chamber Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit — 117; Special Election for Senate District 15 — 138; the Emmys — 150; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 153; Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio premieres — 162; Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber annual meeting — 193; ‘Wicked: Part 2’ premieres — 218; Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 230; Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 230; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 244; ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres — 246; Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 295; ‘Avengers 5’ premieres — 383; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 400; FIFA World Cup 26™ final — 421; Another untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 611; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 751; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres — 897; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 1184; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 1300; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1700; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 2431.
— TOP STORIES —
“Bad blood: Daniel Perez rips Ron DeSantis’ ‘temper tantrums’ and ‘lies’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — House Speaker Perez is having his say after days of attacks from Gov. DeSantis.
After Wednesday’s floor Session, Perez responded to “lies and stories that never happened” and “temper tantrums” from the Chief Executive, which was the latest indication that the bad blood flowed both ways.
“It seems that we’re getting into this regularity where he has a temper tantrum. He gets in front of a camera and he starts to do one of two things,” Perez said. “Willingly choosing to lie about what he is telling the people in front of a camera, or he is choosing not to read the bills or look at our budget.”
“What you have is a Governor (who) is speaking one way and acting in a completely different way. And I’m OK, I’ll play the part. You can go on TV and do what he does. It’s OK. We’re big boys, we’re big girls. We have thick skin. But I’m not going to allow him to lie.”
The Speaker also discussed First Lady Casey DeSantis’ charity, Hope Florida, suggesting the unfolding scandal about the $10 million that Centene gave the charity — that ultimately ended up in a political committee helmed by DeSantis’ former Chief of Staff and current Attorney General Uthmeier — was the tip of the reform iceberg.
“The House is definitely trying to restructure and rewrite the way that Tallahassee functions today. Just because it’s functioned a certain way for the last several decades doesn’t mean that it’s been functioning in the proper posture,” Perez explained.
“We are looking to change the House, of course. That is the No. 1 priority. But there is more that is involved with this process that doesn’t involve the House. But whatever we control, whatever comes through the legislative process, we are considering change on — not for the sake of changing something, but for the sake of making something better, more transparent and more accountable.”
“Hope Florida Foundation releases missing tax documents amid scrutiny, DeSantis scathes ‘hoax’” via Amber Jo Cooper of Florida’s Voice — Following media and legislative scrutiny, the Florida Department of Children and Families released documents Wednesday related to the Hope Florida Foundation, a privately funded nonprofit supporting the state’s Hope Florida initiative. The release includes a draft 2023 IRS Form 990, bylaws, and incorporation articles. A Board meeting is set for Thursday to discuss governance and finances amid questions over a $10 million grant distribution and reporting lapses. DeSantis defended the Foundation as a private charity separate from the successful state program, calling legislative scrutiny a “hoax” to smear the initiative. Foundation Chair Joshua Hay acknowledged “mistakes were made” regarding filings and is reviewing the $10 million disbursement.
“Hope Florida executive director resigning amid House scrutiny of First Lady’s initiative” via Ana Ceballos and Alexandra Glorioso of the Miami Herald — The executive director of Hope Florida said Wednesday that he will be resigning his post effective May 1, a move that is being made public a day after he testified before a House Committee about his work with First Lady DeSantis’ top initiative. Erik Dellenback’s time as the executive director of Hope Florida — a state program intended to help wean people off government aid by connecting them with churches and faith-based charities — was short-lived. On Tuesday, he told the House Committee that he started the job in January. On Wednesday, he said in an email that he announced his resignation internally on March 10, after he accepted a new job as the CEO of Florida Family Voice, a Christian organization influential in conservative political circles.
— LEGISLATIVE —
“DeSantis calls House probe into troubled Hope Florida a ‘total flop’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis continues to fume about scrutiny of First Lady Casey DeSantis’ charity, Hope Florida, calling it a “manufactured fraud” and deeming a House Subcommittee meeting on the subject a bust. “I thought the whole thing yesterday was a total flop. I think that these are people that are … desperate for any type of attention that they can get, but they’re not doing the people’s business,” Gov. DeSantis said in Fort Myers. The House Health Care Budget Subcommittee is scrutinizing a $10 million Medicaid settlement that ended up being slotted to Hope Florida, then passed on to a political committee chaired by Attorney General Uthmeier that successfully worked against a citizen’s initiative to legalize pot. “Hope Florida has changed lives for the better. Hope Florida, because of the First Lady’s vision and leadership, has made a real difference in our communities. And there’s some people that are threatened by that. There’s some people (who) don’t like that.”
“‘Donkey in an elephant suit’: DeSantis says House is defunding the police” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — The Governor said the House budget “defunds 84 state trooper positions” and “the ballistic armor that the Highway Patrol needs,” and “defunds the raises that we had set for law enforcement officers in the state of Florida.” “This is a donkey in an elephant suit when they’re going after law enforcement,” DeSantis said. “This is not what they campaigned on when they sought your vote. You elected this House under false pretenses. They didn’t tell you that they were going to throw away their principles and just follow whatever the leadership told them to do, but that’s exactly what they’re doing with this budget.” The Governor said “leadership thinks they can jam through whatever they want regardless of what the voters want, and that come election time, they can raise enough money from special interests to be able to send you mailers, text messages and run advertising to basically lie to you and tell you that these members actually stood for the conservative values that they ran on.”
“House advances higher education bill despite DeSantis’ veto threat” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Despite DeSantis’ looming veto threat, the House has passed a bill to limit DeSantis’ direct involvement in university presidents’ job searches and allow more oversight in the hiring process. “This is about showing the voters what we’re doing,” said Rep. Michelle Salzman, the bill’s sponsor, before the 104-8 vote. “The bill brings transparency. It is good governance.” HB 1321 would remove secrecy behind the vacant president jobs at Florida’s public universities and state college colleges, making all candidates — not just the finalists — public. Notably, after a 2022 law restricting information earlier in the process, the University of Florida announced it only had one lone finalist for president — Ben Sasse. Sasse’s controversial tenure featured a scandal surrounding his lavish spending and hiring GOP contacts.
“Bill mandating access to minors’ social media messages advances to Senate floor” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Legislation aimed at safeguarding minors from online predators is heading to the Senate floor after clearing its last Committee hurdle. The Senate Rules Committee voted 21-0 for SB 868, requiring social media companies to provide Florida law enforcement authorities with tools to decrypt encrypted messages if the user is underage. Police and prosecutors would have to present the companies with a subpoena or warrant to gain access to messages. The bill would also require companies to grant a minor’s parent or legal guardian access to all the child’s accounts, and the platforms would be forbidden from allowing minors to use or access messages designed to disappear, like those on Snapchat and Instagram. The bill, sponsored by Spring Hill Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, faced opposition Wednesday from over a dozen youths and tech advocacy groups like NetChoice and TechNet.
“Senate bill to ease public-to-charter school conversions clears last Committee hurdle” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — A bill to make it significantly easier for parents to trigger the conversion of a public school into a charter school is en route to the Senate floor after clearing its last Committee on a divided vote. The Senate Rules Committee voted 18-5 for the measure (SB 140), which would change Florida’s standard by which municipalities can turn over public school facilities to a private education company. SB 140 would modify state statutes to remove district School Boards, principals, teachers and school advisory councils from being able to apply for a conversion charter school. It would also remove an existing requirement that at least half of teachers employed at a given school approve the conversion.
— MORE LEGISLATIVE —
“Senate passes Wilton Simpson’s priority Florida Farm Bill despite fluoride flap” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ agency bill (SB 700) has passed the Senate primarily on partisan grounds. But not before two days of robust discussion about public water systems and additives. Democrats likened the move to dump “proven” fluoride from the water supply to “anti-vax” theories, but the argument didn’t carry with Republicans. Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky said the bill would lead constituents to “suffer.” But those arguments from her and others didn’t move the Republican supermajority. Sen. Keith Truenow, the bill sponsor, noted during his closing that the bill “does not specifically speak to fluoride” but intends to address “how medicines or vaccines are delivered in the future.” “We’re here to hydrate, not medicate,” Truenow said ahead of the 27-9 vote.
“House moves ahead with hemp package that imposes more modest 15% excise tax” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — A regulatory framework is advancing in the House that would prohibit hemp sales in convenience stores and levy a 15% tax elsewhere. The House Budget Committee reported two bills favorably, one (HB 7027) regulating where consumable hemp goods can be sold and how much THC they can contain, and another (HB 7029) that imposes a tax on goods similar to cigarettes and alcohol. The Committee unanimously approved an excise tax on THC-infused goods, and Rep. Salzman said more changes are in the works before the package reaches its next Committee stop. That includes a further exploration of how Florida regulates the level of THC, the same intoxicant as marijuana, that can be contained in edible products and beverages sold in retail stores.
“House approves river drilling ban; Senate eyes softer version” via James Call of USA Today Network — The Florida House unanimously approved a bipartisan proposal on Wednesday, April 16, that effectively bans oil drilling for 52 miles along the banks of the Apalachicola River. Now the bill (HB 1143) goes to the Senate, where a less stringent companion bill is ready for that full chamber to consider. With the Legislative Session set to end by May 2, it’s anybody’s guess whether a compromise will make it to the Governor’s desk. The House proposal by Rep. Jason Shoaf and Rep. Allison Tant prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection from approving an oil and gas drilling permit within 10 miles of the state’s three National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) – which include the Apalachicola, Tolomato Mantanzas near St. Augustine, and Rookery Bay south of Naples.
“With strong Senate support, Florida moves closer to statewide fluoride ban” via Martin E. comas of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida is on its way to becoming the second state in the country to ban adding fluoride to public drinking water, parting with a practice once regarded among the most significant public health achievements of the last century. The Senate approved a wide-ranging agricultural bill that includes a provision ceasing fluoridation by cities and counties. The vote was 27-9. The bill now goes to the Florida House, which is also GOP-controlled and where similar legislation has received favorable votes in Committee. If approved, it would then head to DeSantis’ office, who almost certainly would sign the prohibition into law. “We’re here to hydrate, not medicate,” said state Sen. Truenow, who sponsored the bill, before the vote. “Here in Florida, we are saying no additives can be used in purifying water.” Opponents of a statewide ban said it would lead to more tooth decay and other health issues, especially among young children in poor communities.
“House passes bill to bar golf courses, hotels in state parks” via Max Chesnes and Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times — The Florida House unanimously passed a bill Wednesday to prohibit golf courses, hotels and other amenities from being built on state park land, a dramatic response to a widely condemned plan pursued last year by the DeSantis administration. The vote was 115 to 0 in support of the bill, with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle heaping praise. Multiple lawmakers said they were proud of how the Legislature was taking up the rallying cry of Floridians who protested the plans to develop nine state parks from Miami to the Panhandle. “I think we were all shocked to hear what they were going to do to our state parks,” said Rep. Robin Bartleman. “We can turn to (Floridians) and say, ‘We heard you, and we acted.’”
“House passes higher payout caps for lawsuits against governments, but Senate support in doubt” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Legislation to revise Florida’s rules for payouts in government negligence lawsuits for the first time in 15 years just passed on the House floor, but it faces a gloomy future in the Senate. House members voted 103-11 for the bill (HB 301), which would update the state’s sovereign immunity statutes that restrict how people can seek compensation for government carelessness, and for how much. The measure, effective Oct. 1, would raise Florida’s current payout caps of $200,000 for one person and $300,000 for each incident to $500,000 and $1 million, respectively. They were last adjusted in 2010 and are long overdue an increase, according to the bill’s sponsor, Sarasota Republican Rep. Fiona McFarland. Sovereign immunity is a centuries-old standard in all but 11 states that shields state and local governments from having to settle pricey lawsuits without their consent.
“Eyeball wars: Optometry scope of practice bill clears final House panel, but future is uncertain” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics — A bill that would expand optometrists’ scope of practice has cleared its second and final House Committee despite objections from ophthalmologists. Sponsored by Rep. Alex Rizo, HB 449 is this year’s edition of the long-running “Eyeball Wars.” Optometrists have for years sought authority to provide more advanced care, such as laser surgeries. Ophthalmologists firmly oppose any scope of practice expansion. Both professions require extensive post-baccalaureate education. Ophthalmologists attend medical school, receive a medical doctorate and complete a multiyear residency under the supervision of one or more established ophthalmologists; optometrists hold doctorates in optometry, and while sometimes referred to as “optometric physicians,” they neither attend medical school nor do they complete a residency.
“House advances path to tighten term limits for School Boards, County Commissions” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — HJR 679 passed by an 82-33 vote; the measure puts a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot to impose eight-year term limits on County Commission and School Board members statewide. Sponsored by Rep. Salzman, the measure faced skepticism from Democrats who argued it overrides local decisions, disenfranchises voters in smaller counties struggling to find candidates, and could invite legal challenges. Democrats called the bill unfair and an attempt to defy local will. Despite House passage, the companion bill in the Senate (SJR 802), sponsored by Sen. Ingoglia, has stalled, facing two more Committee stops with limited time remaining in the Session.
“House passes ‘Brooke’s Law’ to give deepfake victims recourse” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — The legislation was inspired by what Jacksonville’s Brooke Curry went through in 2023, when a deepfake nude of her was posted to social media. The measure would conceivably create a mechanism to stop the victimization she suffered from happening to others. The measure would require internet platforms to develop and prominently promote a policy by the end of 2025 for removing deepfake images and videos of this type after someone is victimized in this way. The bill, which envisions the Florida Unfair Trade and Deceptive Practices Act as its enforcement mechanism, would expand on legislation championed by former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book that imposed criminal and civil penalties by creating law to force sites to take the objectionable image down. Members from both parties voiced support for the bill.
“Bill to safeguard Spanish speakers from ‘notario fraud’ advances to Senate floor” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — A bill to protect primarily Spanish-speaking people in Florida from scamsters is now one vote away from clearing the Legislature’s upper chamber. Members of the Senate Rules Committee voted to advance SB 846, which would set clear guidelines for how notaries public can describe themselves and advertise their services in the Sunshine State. “Notario fraud occurs when unscrupulous individuals, often presenting themselves as notarios of immigration consultants, offer legal services they are not qualified to provide,” said Sen. Tina Polsky, the bill’s sponsor. “The bill will address this problem by setting clear disclosure requirements for non-attorneys offering immigration-related services and setting a process for civil action and injunctive relief.” In Hispanic countries, a “notario público” is a highly trained legal professional similar to a lawyer who provides legal advice and can draft legal documents.
— EVEN MORE LEGISLATIVE —
“House OKs boost for pediatric rare disease research” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — The House has cleared and sent to the Senate for consideration a bill that would increase research into pediatric rare diseases. The measure (HB 907), sponsored by Republican Rep. Adam Anderson, is dubbed the Sunshine Genetics Act. It would establish the Florida Institute for Rare Diseases within the Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine to identify ways to improve outcomes and increase quality of life for kids and families suffering from rare diseases. “The Sunshine Genetics Act represents hope — for families, for the future, and for what’s possible when science and compassion come together,” Anderson said. The measure would also create the Sunshine Genetics Pilot program, offering genetic screening for newborns over five years.
—“Senate passes bill allowing safe surrender of infants” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics
Critical infrastructure protection bill moves to Senate floor — A bill by Sen. Truenow that would make it a felony to operate a drone over a critical infrastructure facility is heading to the chamber floor. SB 1422 includes a string of changes in state law related to the possession and operation of drones. The bill would also make it a felony to possess or operate a weaponized drone; alter, manipulate, tamper with, or otherwise change an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system’s hardware or software for certain purposes; or possess or operate such an altered unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system for certain purposes. “This common-sense bill enhances penalties for bad actors who violate the property rights of Floridians and put the security of our infrastructure at risk,” Truenow said.
‘Gage’s Law’ clears Legislature — Florida emergency medical professionals would be better informed in treating overdose patients under a bill that passed the Legislature with unanimous support. Sponsored by Sen. Tina Polsky and Rep. Rita Harris, HB 1195/SB 1346 also known as “Gage’s Law,” will require hospitals to test for fentanyl in cases of suspected overdose or poisoning, ensuring consistent, lifesaving care across the state. The bill is named in memory of Gage Austin Taylor, whom the sponsors describe as “a bright young man whose life was cut tragically short in 2022 after unknowingly consuming a substance laced with fentanyl.” The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.
“House passes bill to allow big counties to set overnight anchoring limitations” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Four Florida counties could gain a new tool to better address mooring issues in their waters through legislation that just passed in the Legislature’s lower chamber. House members just voted 115-0 for HB 481, which would enable counties with 1.5 million or more residents — Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough and Palm Beach, currently — to regulate vessels that anchor overnight within their jurisdiction. The regulation would only apply to vessels anchored for an hour or more for more than 30 days in a given six-month period. The bill’s sponsor, Miami Republican Rep. Vicki Lopez, said in a statement that increased congestion in Florida’s waters, environmental damage and safety risks “demand decisive action.” “Current regulation leaves gaps that threaten the well-being of boaters and the health of our marine ecosystem,” she said.
—”Senate approves bill to strengthen motel owner rights” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics
— LEG SKED —
The House starts at 8 a.m. with meetings of the Education & Employment Committee and State Affairs Committee, which will consider a long list of bills.
The E&E agenda includes HB 969, which would create a comprehensive system for assessing and improving the effectiveness of mental health services provided to students to ensure they receive appropriate care and support, and a major school safety package (HB 1403).
The State Affairs list includes a measure that would create an autism spectrum alert to notify law enforcement when a child on the autism spectrum goes missing (HB 711); a Doral-inspired bill blocking new waste-to-energy plants a half-mile from populated areas (HB 1609); and a bill that would restrict so-called “geoengineering and weather modification activities” (HB 477).
The House Judiciary Committee follows at 8:30 a.m. with a reel of bills, ranging from a bill that would ban AI-powered cameras from detecting firearms in public areas (HB 491) to a measure that seeks to modernize Florida’s juvenile justice system by strengthening early intervention and prevention services for at-risk youth (HB 1405).
The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold an all-day meeting with 18 bills on the schedule, including a measure by Sen. Alexis Calatayud promoting fertility preservation for state workers (SB 924) and a joint resolution by Sen. Nick DiCeglie that would prohibit property appraisers from considering flood improvements when calculating a property’s assessed value. Much of the airtime, however, will be dedicated to a string of 5000-series bills from the House.
The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee has an equally packed schedule. Among the 20-plus bills on the docket is a bill by Sen. Corey Simon (SB 1344) that largely mirrors the House juvenile justice bill up before the Judiciary Committee earlier in the day.
View the complete list of bills here.
Also, the 45th Day Rule will trigger at the close of business today. After Day 45, the Chair or Vice-Chair of the House Rules Committee, by majority vote, may motion to move to communications, messages from the Senate, bills and joint resolutions on Third Reading, or Special Orders.
— LOBBY REGS —
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
Slater Bayliss, The Advocacy Partners: LeadsOnline
Neil Fleckenstein: Tall Timbers Research
Andrew Liebert, Vogel Group: Evans Properties, Whitis Consulting
Paul Lowell, Christian Minor, Converge Public Strategies: Finder Software Solutions
James Magill, Magill Strategies: Action Investments Group
Drew Meiner, Capital City Consulting: Litecon
Paul Mitchell, David Altmaier, Shannan Boxold, Rachel Cone, Brian McManus, Clark Smith, The Southern Group: Brava Roof Tile, GATE Petroleum Company
Ron Pierce, Natalie King, RSA Consulting Group: B2 Spin Limited
Noah Valenstein, Brightwater Strategies Group: American Flood Coalition Action, Weyerhaeuser Company
— CAP REAX —
Sierra Club Florida says land management bill a ‘key victory’ for park protection — Sierra Club Florida issued a statement praising lawmakers for passing a land management bill that would further protect state parks from development. “We commend Rep. (John) Snyder and the Florida House for passing the strongest legislation possible to protect our state parks. On behalf of Sierra Club Florida’s 38,000 members and 150,000 supporters, thank you for listening to the outcry of thousands of Floridians who rallied last Summer and again in recent weeks to defend these treasured places. This is a tremendous victory for our environment, and all who call our state home,” said Sierra Club Florida Chapter Director Susannah Randolph.
ABC praises House passage of apprenticeship legislation — The Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida’s East Coast Chapter praised the House for green-lighting a bill (HB 681) to increase access to apprenticeship programs while shining a light on funding transparency and accountability. “We are deeply appreciative of the Florida House for its unanimous support of this important legislation, which promotes financial transparency and strengthens the foundation of Florida’s workforce. This vote demonstrates a clear, bipartisan commitment to ensuring that funding for apprenticeships is used responsibly and effectively, expanding opportunities for hands-on training and preparing more Floridians for high-demand careers,” said Peter Dyga, president and CEO of the East Coast Chapter.
Family Law Section cheers bill boosting court worker protections — The Family Law Section of The Florida Bar praised the House for passing HB 1049, amplifying penalties for people convicted of harassing court officials, such as administrative assistants or child support enforcement hearing officers. “This public policy addresses a critical need to protect individuals who serve the justice system, ensuring they can perform their duties without fear of intimidation or violence,” said Chris Rumbold, Chair of The Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. “By providing graduated penalties based on the severity of the offense and the level of the proceeding involved, the legislation sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated. … We are sincerely appreciative of the bill sponsor, Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, along with the members of the Florida House for lending their unanimous support to it on the House floor today. We also look forward to its continued momentum in the Florida Senate.”
— 100 DAYS —
“James Boasberg finds probable cause to hold Donald Trump officials in criminal contempt over deportation flights” via Hassan Ali Kanu, Erica Orden, and Josh Gerstein of POLITICO — A federal judge on Wednesday found probable cause to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for what he said was a “willful disregard” of his order to stop transferring deportees to El Salvador for imprisonment in a notorious maximum security prison. U.S. District Judge Boasberg found that the government last month rushed to fly two planes carrying hundreds of passengers to the Salvadoran prison in the hours after the judge barred the government from doing so. “The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it,” Boasberg wrote in a 46-page decision.
“Trump’s tariffs are ‘likely’ to push prices up, Fed chief warns, prompting market slide” via Rachel Siegel of The Washington Post — Trump’s tariffs are “highly likely” to spur a temporary rise in inflation, Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome H. Powell said Wednesday, cautioning that those effects could end up being longer-lasting — prompting markets to slide and extend daylong losses. Speaking before the Economic Club of Chicago, Powell said more persistent risks to inflation depend on how much tariffs affect the economy and how long it takes trade policy to pass through to prices. Investors grew nervous throughout Powell’s remarks, mainly because there is so much uncertainty around how long the inflation could last, triggering a market sell-off. By market close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down roughly 700 points, or 1.7 percent, and the S&P 500 had fallen 2.2 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index, which has borne the weight of the trade war in particular, was down 3 percent.
“Trump’s D.C. U.S. attorney pick appeared on Russian state media over 150 times” via Spencer S. Hsu and Aaron Schaffer of The Washington Post — Hours before Trump announced U.S. missile strikes on Syria in response to a chemical attack that killed 90 civilians in April 2017, Ed Martin said on the Russian state television network RT America that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad might not be to blame. Instead, Martin told viewers, the situation was “engineered” in Washington by the people (who) want war in Syria.” In early 2022, Martin told an interviewer on the same arm of RT’s global network that “there’s no evidence” of a Russian military buildup on Ukraine’s borders, criticizing U.S. officials as warmongering and ignoring Russia’s security concerns. Russia invaded nine days later, igniting a war that continues today.
— MORE D.C. MATTERS —
Lil’ Marco — “Once a champion for Venezuelans, Marco Rubio endorses Trump decision to end Venezuela TPS” via Verónica Egui Brito and Syra Ortiz Blanes of the Miami Herald — Rubio, once a stalwart champion of Venezuelans immigrants, supports Trump’s decision to end the deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people already in the United States who fled dictatorship and humanitarian crises in their home country. Newly released court documents show that Rubio, the Miami-born child of Cuban exiles, endorsed the Trump administration’s move to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan nationals shortly after the President took office. “Designating Venezuela under TPS does not champion core American interests or put America and American citizens first. Therefore, it is contrary to the foreign policy and the national interest of the United States,” Rubio wrote in a Jan. 31 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Over half a million Venezuelan nationals in the United States have TPS.
“Patients cut off from cheaper obesity drugs as the FDA halts sales of copycats” via Rebecca Robbins and Dani Blum of The New York Times — Hundreds of thousands of Americans stand to soon lose their access to cheaper weight-loss drugs, with a federal crackdown on copycat versions threatening to disrupt treatment and raise costs. The FDA has ordered producers and sellers of the less expensive products to wind down operations in the coming weeks, now that it has declared there are no longer shortages of the blockbuster drugs Wegovy and Zepbound. Produced through a process of mixing drug ingredients known as compounding, the copycat medications had spawned a booming multi-billion-dollar industry. Patients turned to compounding because their health insurance would not pay for the brand-name drugs and they could buy the compounded versions for less than $200 a month in some cases.
— STATEWIDE —
“James Uthmeier to subpoena Roblox over child safety concerns” via Phil Ammann of Florida Politics — Attorney General Uthmeier is issuing a subpoena to Roblox, the massive online platform where users play and create games and socialize. The order demands information about the San Mateo, California-based company’s marketing practices toward children, age-verification methods and chat room moderation policies. Uthmeier’s action comes amid growing concerns about the potential exposure of young users to harmful content and interactions with predators on the widely popular platform. “As a father and Attorney General, children’s safety and protection are a top priority,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
“Florida’s insurance czar threatens penalties for mishandling hurricane claims” via Christina Georgacopoulos of the Tampa Bay Business Journal — Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky sent a firm warning to insurance companies that his office is closely watching how they handle hurricane claims and won’t hesitate to punish wrongdoers. Industry reports published during the devastating 2024 hurricane season raised controversy over the abnormally high rate of claims denials in the Florida market, with some claiming insurers avoid paying homeowners through fraud and manipulation. Yaworsky referenced “recent questionable allegations” that some insurers refuse to pay valid claims from hurricanes Helene and Milton when he said his office is bringing new enhanced reporting requirements for claims. He has reshaped the regulatory agency with an aggressive enforcement agenda since taking office in early 2023, with dozens of fines issued and millions of dollars returned to consumers.
“New property insurance company gets OIR nod, adds to Florida’s insurance marketplace” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — A new property insurance company is coming to the Florida marketplace, signaling continued competition and possible wins for property owners struggling with affordability challenges. Patriot Select Property and Casualty Insurance Company has received formal approval from the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) to begin operations. The company is backed by seasoned industry leadership, institutional capital, and a forward-looking business model. According to its leadership, it is entering the market to deliver dependable, long-term insurance solutions for Florida homeowners. Fourth-generation Floridian John Rollins, an executive with over 30 years of experience in Florida’s insurance marketplace, is leading the company. A licensed actuary, Rollins previously served as Chief Risk Officer and Board member at Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, as well as Chief Financial, Underwriting, and Risk Officer at several Florida-based insurers.
— ELECTIONS —
Save the date:
“Cory Mills pulls in $284K in first quarter, dwarfing Democratic opponent” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Mills raised more than a quarter million dollars for his re-election campaign in the first quarter of 2025. The New Smyrna Beach Republican may need it, as national Democrats turn their sights on his battleground seat. But for now, he has a massive cash advantage over Democrat Jennifer Adams, the only other candidate who has filed in Florida’s 7th Congressional District. A quarterly report filed with the Federal Election Commission shows Mills raised more than $284,000 from Jan. 1 to March 31. He already spent most of it and closed the quarter with under $92,000 in cash on hand. A significant amount of Mills’ fundraising, nearly $170,000, came from unitemized individual contributions, small-dollar donations of less than $200. Another $42,000 also came from individuals.
“Anna Paulina Luna piles up another $550K for re-election run in 2026” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Luna reported nearly $549,000 in new donations in the first quarter. That’s more than any Florida congressional incumbent targeted by an opposing party in 2026. The St. Petersburg Republican closed the quarter with nearly $376,000 in cash. That leaves her well-positioned as she seeks a third term, even before any political opponent has filed to run against her in 2026. But Luna likely will need the funds, as Democrats announced plans to rigorously challenge the Congresswoman for her job representing Florida’s 13th Congressional District early in the cycle. House Majority PAC, the super PAC dedicated to expanding the Democratic caucus in the House, announced in December that Luna’s district would be on a list of targeted seats held by the GOP. And this month, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee listed CD 13 as a “District in Play” and started a fund to support whatever Democrat Luna faces in the 2026 General Election.
“Darren Soto sits on six figures in cash but still faces no GOP opponent” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Soto has almost $105,000 in the bank to defend from Republican attacks this year. While the Kissimmee Democrat faces no GOP opponent, that money could be necessary as the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) still lists Soto as a target. Soto won re-election with more than 55% of the vote last year, fending off a self-funded Republican challenger, Thomas Chalifoux, who outspent the incumbent. It’s unclear who he may face in 2026. Only Stuart Farber, a candidate with no party affiliation and no reported fundraising, has filed to challenge Soto.
“2 Republicans stack more than $250K — with big help from self-funding — to challenge Jared Moskowitz” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Moskowitz ended the first quarter with $293,000 in cash. But two other Republicans signed up to challenge him — Raven Harrison and George Moraitis — added more than the Parkland Democrat in the first three months of this year. That could forecast challenges for Moskowitz, an incumbent already being targeted by the NRCC. According to his April quarterly report with the Federal Election Commission, Moskowitz raised more than $169,000 in the first three months of 2025. But he also spent nearly $126,000 of that. Because he had leftover cash at the end of 2024, he still holds more resources in the bank than anyone now running in Florida’s 23rd Congressional District. Meanwhile, Harrison, a conservative activist and author, reported the most in collections in the first quarter, though that came nearly completely through self-funding.
“María Elvira Salazar reports $1.4M in her war chest to defend CD 27” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Democrats may target U.S. Rep. Salazar, but she is holding more than $1.4 million to defend herself. The Coral Gables Republican’s first fundraising report of the year shows the incumbent boasts solid resources. An April quarterly report shows she raised a modest $97,000 in the first three months of 2025, but sits on a war chest in the seven figures. That’s despite the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) listing Florida’s 27th Congressional District as a “District in Play” in 2026. But Salazar has been in the sights of national Democrats before. After losing a closely watched contest to Donna Shalala in 2018, Salazar returned and unseated the Democrat in 2020. National Democrats targeted her in 2022 and 2024, but she won each cycle, most recently fending off Democrat Lucia Báez-Geller in November with more than 60% of the vote.
“Jay Collins, Danny Burgess first in upper chamber to back Ryan Gill for HD 68” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Tampa Bay area state Sens. Collins and Burgess are adding their names to the growing list of endorsers for Gill in his race for Florida House District 68. The two Republican Senators join Reps. Lawrence McClure, who currently represents the district, Danny Alvarez and Mike Owen, and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in supporting Gill. “Ryan Gill is a principled conservative and fighter for our farmers and ranchers. He is a businessman who knows what it takes to grow our economy and support Florida businesses,” Collins said. “I am confident that with Ryan Gill in the State House, East Hillsborough County will have a leader who fights for our shared, conservative values in the state Capitol.” Burgess said he’s worked with Gill on agricultural issues before and has “witnessed a passionate and relentless advocate for the hardworking men and women that help feed our state and country.”
— LOCAL: S. FL —
“Meet the Miami lobbyist who helped Nyaib Bukele seduce MAGA” via Dan Friedman and Stephanie Mencimer of Mother Jones — Miami-based lobbyist Damian Merlo has spearheaded a targeted, multimillion dollar influence campaign for Salvadoran President Bukele, focusing exclusively on cultivating ties with Trump allies and MAGA figures. Earning over $1.5 million since 2022, Merlo arranged meetings with Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, among others, bypassing traditional bipartisan outreach. This strategy fostered Bukele’s image as an authoritarian admired by the U.S. right and coincided with El Salvador accepting U.S. deportees with little due process. Recent successes include the formation of a pro-Bukele El Salvador Caucus in Congress and a controversial upgrade to the U.S. travel advisory for the country, suggesting the lobbying efforts are yielding tangible results.
“Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo cleared in public corruption investigation” via Tess Riski of the Miami Herald — Prosecutors in the Broward State Attorney’s Office have cleared Miami City Commissioner Carollo of criminal wrongdoing following a yearslong investigation into accusations that he stalked a Little Havana businessman and threatened a former police chief. In a closeout memo Monday, Julio Gonzalez, who heads Broward’s Public Corruption Unit, said the state “cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Carollo’s actions rose to a criminal offense as it pertains to his dealings with” Ball & Chain owner Bill Fuller and Art Acevedo, the former Miami police chief. Gonzalez wrote that the matter can be referred back to the city of Miami for a possible administrative investigation. Broward County sometimes investigates public corruption in Miami-Dade County because of conflicts of interest.
“Grand jury indicts three Key West top-ranking officials, including City Attorney” via David Goodhue of the Miami Herald — A Monroe County grand jury indicted three high-level Key West officials on charges related to obstructing an ongoing criminal investigation into how the Southernmost City’s manager was fired last Summer. City Attorney Ronald Ramsingh, Code Compliance Director James Young and Building Department Director Rajindhar Ransingh are all charged. The ongoing investigation began after the Key West City Commission controversially fired then-City Manager Al Childress without cause in June, Chief Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Joseph Mansfield told the Miami Herald. The investigation into Childress’ firing caught the attention of the FBI, which assisted the State Attorney’s Office in its probe, Mansfield said.
“Major Miami donor blasts Cuban American pols for not confronting Trump on immigration” via Nora Gámez Torres of the Miami Herald — In a scorching letter, Cuban American health care billionaire Mike Fernández is urging Cuban American Republican leaders from Miami to stand up to Trump’s immigration crackdown and speak up or “make room for others who can.” “If you can’t find your voice at this moment, or tell the difference between one dictator and another, then perhaps it is time to make room for others who can and have a vision that you may lack,” Fernández told Secretary of State Rubio and Miami U.S. Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giménez in an open letter. He sent a version of the letter to each of them individually.
— LOCAL: C. FL —
“‘Very productive’: Monique Worrell accepts lawyers sent by Uthmeier to clear case backlog” via Cristóbal Reyes of the Orlando Sentinel — The Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office will count on the help of six prosecutors dispatched by Attorney General Uthmeier to tackle a backlog of thousands of cases, top prosecutor Worrell announced. Worrell commended Statewide Prosecutor Nick Cox, whom Uthmeier sent for what she called a “very productive meeting” where they discussed the mission of the new prosecutors going forward. Still, she said the help clearing the backlog is but a “temporary fix,” reiterating comments that she would need more funding for permanent prosecutors before rescinding a recently adopted policy on nonarrest cases. “Temporary and piecemeal approaches have unfortunately not solved the problem,” Worrell said.
“Former state Rep. Carolina Amesty in ‘active discussions’ to resolve criminal case” via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel — Former state Rep. Amesty is in talks with the U.S. Department of Justice to avoid going to trial in a criminal case accusing her of defrauding a government pandemic relief program. Amesty is represented by Brad Bondi, a high-powered litigator and the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Amesty is in “active discussions regarding the appropriate disposition of this matter,” according to a joint motion filed this week in federal court. The motion asks for more time “to resolve this matter prior to grand jury presentment, indictment, and/or trial.”
“‘A big deal for Central Florida’: Hotel-tax shake-up gains momentum” via Skyler Swisher and Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — A tax package advancing in the Florida Senate could shake up how Orange County spends tens of millions of dollars in hotel-tax revenue, potentially directing money from tourism advertising to mass transit and other transportation needs. The changes, green-lighted by the Senate’s Finance and Tax Committee on Tuesday, could allow more than $50 million to be shifted from Visit Orlando, the region’s tourism development organization, to public projects like expanding SunRail. The proposal eases the requirement that at least 40% of Orange County’s roughly $360 million in hotel taxes go to tourism marketing and advertising. Visitors pay the tourist development tax when they stay in hotels and short-term rentals. Getting the item into the Senate’s tax package is a “big deal for Central Florida,” said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, who introduced the hotel-tax changes. But it still faces significant hurdles, including potential opposition from tourism industry lobbyists and whether the state House and the Governor will go along.
“Orange school district reaches deal for school resource officers” via Steven Walker of the Orlando Sentinel — Orange County Public Schools has settled its dispute with five local police departments over the cost of police protection, reaching a tentative agreement that will keep officers on campuses through the 2026-27 school year. Though the disagreement revolved around the cost of stationing officers on campuses, the district did not provide financial details in its announcement. Stephanie Vanos, an Orange County School Board member, said the cities agreed to the district’s latest offer but could not share the details. The cities of Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Winter Park and the town of Windermere initially asked for a combined $2 million more to cover the cost of providing school resource officers at about 30 OCPS campuses. The district said it could not afford that hike, prompting months of back and forth, with school officials saying they might have to consider using armed guardians, who cost less but also receive less training than police officers, on the public schools in those municipalities.
“Volusia County Council OKs $4.62M land purchase for conservation, motocross” via Sheldon Gardner of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — The Volusia County Council voted 7-0 to spend over $4.62 million from Volusia Forever and Volusia ECHO, both taxpayer-funded programs, to buy land for a wetland conservation area and possibly for a public motocross facility. The County Council hasn’t voted yet on whether to build a facility and how to manage such an operation. Those will be topics for another meeting, a discussion that could be coming soon. Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower said he’s unsure what his vote will be on the motocross facility. But he said he wanted to keep the land from turning into housing development. “I want this land conserved,” he said.
— LOCAL: TB —
“FEMA slashes $33 million in St. Pete resiliency projects” via Mark Parker of St. Pete Catalyst — Two critical infrastructure projects in St. Petersburg are now in limbo due to the presidential administration’s death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach to federal agencies. Documents obtained by the Catalyst show the city requested $33.82 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. Director Cameron Hamilton killed the “wasteful, politicized” initiative on April 4. St. Petersburg planned to use the money, frozen since the President took office in January, to storm-harden sewage lift stations citywide and mitigate tidal flooding in its lowest-lying neighborhood. Officials have warned residents that additional programs – and the entire agency – are also on the chopping block. “I see nothing about hardening and protecting our city, for generations to come, as political,” said Council member Brandi Gabbard. “I don’t see that as wasteful in any way, shape or form.”
— LOCAL: N. FL —
“‘Candid and direct’: Top brass from TMH, FSU and the city have tense talks on hospital” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat — The discussion, which lasted a couple of hours or so behind closed doors in the TMH boardroom, marked the latest turn in the ongoing hospital drama. It did not, however, produce a deal between the city, which has expressed interest in divesting its ownership of TMH, Florida State, which has been circling a possible purchase, and the community hospital, which continues to say it’s not for sale. Sally Bradshaw, Chair of the TMH Board of Directors, said she asked that teams from the city, university and hospital get together for a conversation and to see whether there was “the potential to reach some sort of agreement.” She described the meeting as “candid and direct.”
“Community speaks out against ACPS ICE protocols; union, district reach salary agreement” via Alan Festo of the Gainesville Sun — Nooriel Nolan, a parent of two students in Alachua County, said during public comment Tuesday that, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, ICE agents are required to have a warrant signed by a judge or parental consent to remove a child from school. “I hope school administrators are being instructed to protect the children in their care to the full extent of the law,” Nolan said. “Classroom raids would be highly traumatic on all the children, creating lasting mental anguish.” Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson Jackie Johnson said Wednesday morning that no students have been interviewed or removed from school due to questions about their immigration status. She also noted that only school administrators, not teachers, are to interact with ICE agents if they enter a school.
“Florida stationery business owner sues Trump administration over tariffs: ‘We can’t survive the short-term pain’” via Jo Ling Kent of CBS News — Emily Ley has spent the last 17 years building Simplified, her small stationery business based in Pensacola. The company produces its planners in China, but for American shoppers. “I would love to make them here, but the U.S. simply doesn’t have the infrastructure or the supply chain to do it,” Ley said. That stationery is now subject to the recent slew of sky-high tariffs. Ley, with the help of the nonpartisan, conservative-funded New Civil Liberties Alliance, filed a federal lawsuit against the President, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and acting U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Pete Flores, alleging illegal use of emergency powers illegally to enact the fees. Ley said that because Congressional approval was bypassed to impose the tariffs, she and other voters didn’t have their positions represented.
— LOCAL: SW. FL —
“Developers pulling rank: How power plays shape Sarasota County decisions” via Michael Barfield of Florida Trident — Mega-developer Rex Jensen of Lakewood Ranch and others like Pat Neal are reportedly using aggressive tactics and direct access to Sarasota County’s top administrator, Jonathan Lewis, to bypass standard procedures and county staff. Known for threats and ultimatums, Jensen allegedly secured reversals on development requirements after meetings with Lewis, prompting emails like “Bullshit” and threats of lawsuits. By escalating complaints, Neal also reportedly gained favorable outcomes on payment disputes and wetland issues. Critics, citing tens of thousands in campaign contributions from these developers, argue this access undermines process integrity and public trust. Concerns are raised about county leadership’s apparent reluctance to push back against developers accused of bullying staff and bending rules.
“Naples Mayor not in court as drunken driving pretrial moved” via Tayeba Hussein of the Naples Daily News — The Mayor of Naples, charged with drunken driving, has had a pretrial hearing delayed now for the fourth time. Teresa Heitmann, 61, was charged with a DUI with a blood alcohol content of greater than 0.15 in August 2024. According to an arrest report, the defendant had chased a motorist in her Porsche to their home after an incident at a roundabout. At the time of her arrest, her blood alcohol content was measured at 0.169, which is more than double the legal limit of 0.08, according to an arrest report. Heitmann’s attorney, Derek Verderamo, requested that Judge Deborah Cunningham delay the pretrial hearing again. A pretrial hearing was previously scheduled in March, for which she was also absent.
— TOP OPINION —
“Why Joe Rogan’s recent tilt is so dangerous” via Steven Zeitchik of The Hollywood Reporter — In recent weeks, podcaster Rogan has faced criticism for platforming guests accused of promoting antisemitic ideas and anti-vaccine misinformation, including Darryl Cooper, Ian Carroll, and Suzanne Humphries. British commentator Douglas Murray confronted Rogan on his show, arguing he provides dangerous figures a massive platform under the guise of “just talking to people.” Rogan defended his approach, claiming he simply finds guests interesting. Critics note these controversial episodes, filled with insinuations about Jewish conspiracies and debunked vaccine claims, garner millions of views, potentially normalizing harmful narratives. Despite pushback, Rogan’s immense reach continues, raising concerns about the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and the erosion of factual discourse.
— OPINIONS —
“It’s time to protect America from America’s President” via Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times — America has periodically faced great national tests. This week’s chummy scene in the White House with Trump and President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador was telling. “Trump and Bukele Bond Over Human Rights Abuses in Oval Office Meeting,” read Rolling Stone’s headline, which seemed about right. With chilling indifference, they discussed the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a father of three who is married to an American citizen and who in 2019 was ordered protected from deportation by an immigration judge. The Trump administration nonetheless deported Abrego Garcia as a result of what it eventually acknowledged was an “administrative error,” and he now languishes in a brutal Salvadoran prison — even though, in contrast to Trump, he has no criminal record. This is a challenge to our constitutional system, for the principal lawbreaking here appears to have been committed not by Abrego Garcia but by the Trump administration.
“Democratic passions catch fire over deported illegal immigrant” via Byron York of the Washington Examiner — While illegal border crossings have significantly decreased under Trump’s administration, attention has shifted to the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member, to El Salvador. Democrats and media allies are displaying intense emotion over the case, framing Garcia as an innocent father despite administration claims and past incidents where he was questioned about associations with potential gang members. Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally, was granted “withholding of removal,” preventing deportation only to El Salvador. The administration acknowledges that sending him there was an error, but maintains he remains subject to removal. Critics question why Democrats are championing this specific case involving an illegal immigrant credibly accused of serious gang ties.
“A political smear campaign or true oversight? DeSantises have to answer on Hope Florida” via the Miami Herald editorial board — Republican lawmakers’ newfound interest this year in scrutinizing DeSantis is raising serious questions about whether his administration misused its power to advance the DeSantis family’s political ambitions and perhaps even crossed the line into illegality. The Legislature has been looking into a charity linked to Hope Florida, a program that Florida’s First Lady created to get residents off welfare. To be clear, we still don’t know whether the DeSantises or Hope Florida has done anything wrong. But what we know so far paints a worrisome picture. The Legislature is questioning the $10 million in state settlement money that the Hope Florida Foundation — established to raise money to assist Hope Florida — received last year.
“Playing politics with disaster recovery” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — One November morning in 2023, residents of Oakland Park woke up to street flooding spreading throughout the city. Unable to drain the combination of a King Tide and the no-name storm that dumped a foot of rainwater on Broward, the C-13 canal was overflowing its banks. The rain is not a political issue. Canals that are needed to move floodwater are not political. But apparently, the money to keep Floridians safe from those and other rising waters is too political for the Trump administration. Calling it politicized and wasteful, the new director of FEMA has abruptly clawed back almost $300 million already awarded to Florida to battle floods, hurricanes and rising tides.
“Tort reform whiplash — what is Florida doing?” via Brewster Bevis for Florida Politics — Florida’s recent tort reforms, which curbed excessive litigation and began lowering insurance premiums, are now under threat in Tallahassee. Common-sense reforms enacted in 2022 and 2023 brought balance after years of a system favoring trial lawyers and fueling high consumer costs. Yet, proposed legislation like HB 947, potentially amended with language reviving one-way attorney fees even for minor wins, and HB 1181, seeking to replace no-fault auto insurance with costly mandatory bodily injury coverage, risk undoing this progress. These efforts appear aimed at benefiting trial lawyers at the expense of Florida families, potentially driving insurance rates back up and returning the state to its “Judicial Hellhole” reputation just as relief was emerging.
“Rolling back legal reforms is a step backward for insurance” via Doug Wheeler for Florida Politics — Florida’s property insurance market, showing signs of recovery thanks to recent legal reforms curbing litigation abuse, now faces a significant setback. Legislation amended to House Bill 947 threatens to undo this progress by effectively reintroducing one-way attorney fees. This change, redefining the “prevailing party” based simply on securing a judgment higher than an insurer’s offer, risks incentivizing frivolous lawsuits regardless of merit. While recent reforms stabilized premiums and attracted new insurers, this potential reversal could reignite litigation costs, ultimately driving up premiums for homeowners once more. Concerns are rising that this move undermines the fragile market stability achieved and benefits trial lawyers at the expense of consumers and a healthier insurance environment for Floridians.
“EduDwell Living proposal offers visionary solution for educator retention, attainable housing” via Jennifer Vigne for Florida Politics — Amid Florida’s teacher recruitment and retention challenges, exacerbated by unaffordable housing, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County proposes an innovative solution: a mixed-use development offering attainable housing specifically for school district employees. Dubbed the Center for Innovation & EduDwell Living, the $46.8 million project aims to provide 82 units, from studios to three-bedrooms, with rents significantly below market rates, located conveniently downtown near schools. Supporters, including Sen. Joe Gruters, champion the project as vital for attracting and retaining educators and support staff crucial to student success. The Foundation seeks $1.9 million in state funding to kick-start design and construction, envisioning a model that combines affordable workforce housing with educational resource hubs.
— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —
— ALOE —
“Northern Lights visible across section of U.S. Will Florida be able to see them… again?” via Cheryl McCloud and Eric Lagatta of USA Today Network — Less than a year ago, the northern lights amazed Florida residents, sending colors swirling through the southern sky. Floridians were treated to the awe-inspiring sight on May 10, 2024. This week, the northern lights were visible farther south than normal on Tuesday, April 15, and they’ll be visible again for some residents tonight, April 16. Unfortunately, they won’t be visible as far south as they were in 2024, so Florida residents will have to rely on online sources, friends or family to see them. Still want to head outside for a little skygazing? Go ahead. While they won’t be at their peak — that won’t happen until April 21-22 — you might be able to see the Lyrid meteor shower.
— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —
Celebrating today is the State University System Chancellor (and former Rep.) Ray Rodrigues, Jacqui Carmona, former congressional candidate Jessica Ehrlich, Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shepp, Bill Dolan, and our friend, Pinellas’ Tyler Payne.
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Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.
