Staff Reports
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The opening of a migrant detention center in the Everglades attracted sometimes divided factions of Florida’s Republican leadership.
That starts with President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hung close with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a tour of the “Alligator Alcatraz” facility. The two Florida politicians previously competed for the Republican nomination for President. But on Tuesday, they stressed a personal and political connection with one another.
Additionally, Trump also praised Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier at the event. Uthmeier, appointed to his Cabinet post this year by DeSantis, approached the Department of Homeland Security with the idea of converting the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport into a migrant detention center.
“You do a very good job. I hear good things,” Trump told Uthmeier at a roundtable at the facility. “I hear good things about you from Ron, too. No, you really do. He’s even a good-looking guy. That guy’s got a future, huh? Good job, James, I hear you. You’re really, really fantastic.”
Uthmeier managed DeSantis’ presidential campaign. But he heaped praise on Trump as well, suggesting that the President’s desire to reopen the federal Alcatraz prison in California inspired the “Alligator Alcatraz” project.
The event was attended by many political leaders in Florida who supported Trump over DeSantis during the Presidential Primary last year. That included U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican who endorsed Trump over DeSantis and is now running to succeed DeSantis as Governor.
Read more on Florida Politics.
Evening Reads
—“Independence Day” via Jennifer Bash of Reasonable Arguments
—”They didn’t have to do this” via Jonathan Chait of The Atlantic
—”Senate Republicans pass Donald Trump’s bill to strip health care from millions” via Nikki McCann Ramirez and Ryan Bort of Rolling Stone
—”The Republican tax bill, explained in 500 words” via Andrew Prokop of Vox
—”With Alligator Alcatraz, Florida cements top spot in federal deportation mission” via Katelyn Ferral of the Tampa Bay Times
—”Trump tours ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as officials provide more details about new facility” via Rafael Olmeda of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Skyler Swisher of The Orlando Sentinel
—”Trump administration freezes $300M in Florida education funds” via Jeffrey S. Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times
—”July 13, 2024: How Trump’s near miss coincided with Joe Biden’s last stand” via Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf of The Washington Post
—“The worst housing market in America is now Florida’s Cape Coral” via Deborah Acosta of The Wall Street Journal
—“New laws seek to protect student athletes, restrict corporal punishment” via Jay Waagmeester of the Florida Phoenix
Quote of the Day
“Let me ask myself permission. Permission granted.”
— President Donald Trump, on putting Florida in charge of building the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir.
Put it on the Tab
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
Mix up a round of Old Frienemies for DeSantis, Trump, Byron Donalds and Wilton Simpson, who came together for a tour of the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility.
Send some 2X4s and Shovel Shooters down to the Everglades, because Florida is about to take charge of the construction site.
Florida consumers have been sipping on a Confidence Builder, according to the most recent survey from the UF Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Marlins try to stay hot vs. Twins
The Marlins try for an eighth straight victory as they continue a home series against the Minnesota Twins this evening (6:40 p.m. ET, FanDuel Sports Net Sun).
The Marlins began the winning streak with a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on June 22. Then, the Marlins swept three from the Giants in San Francisco, followed by three in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. The streak, the longest current winning streak in Major League Baseball, has pushed Miami to within half a game of third-place Atlanta in the National League East.
Despite their recent success, the Marlins remain eight games behind the final wild card spot in the National League.
The franchise record for the longest regular-season winning streak is nine games, achieved five times, most recently in 2008. The Marlins have also posted two eight-game winning streaks.
The Marlins are scheduled to send Edward Cabrera to the mound. Cabrera started a win against San Francisco but did not figure in the decision. His last win came on May 31 against the Giants when he pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and no runs in a 1-0 Marlins’ victory.
The Twins have lost seven of the last 10 games to fall to four games back in the American League wild card race. Minnesota is scheduled to send Joe Ryan to the mound tonight. Ryan is tied for fifth in the American League with eight wins this season and has a 2.86 earned run average.
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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
