Staff Reports
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The Florida Behavioral Health Association opened its annual conference this week with NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly delivering the keynote address to more than 1,700 attendees in Orlando.
BHCon2025, billed as the largest behavioral health conference in the Southeast, runs through Friday and will feature 192 speakers, 119 training sessions and nearly 150 exhibitors. The event offers up to 14.5 continuing education credits for behavioral health professionals.
“The annual Florida Behavioral Health Conference brings together professionals from the entire behavioral health space and provides an opportunity to exchange innovative ideas and celebrate successes,” said FBHA President and CEO Melanie Brown Woofter.
“While our perspectives and approaches to care may differ, we are united in one mission, and our work results in positive change for individuals and families across our state. Having such an iconic keynote speaker launch our conference is a testament to the incredible value of BHCon.”
Kelly, who spent nearly a year aboard the International Space Station, told attendees that the mental challenges of space travel were as significant as the physical demands. He said he was proud to join a conversation that puts “science, compassion, and hope” at the center of recovery and well-being.
“It’s an honor to speak at BHCon for the first time,” said Kelly, who is also the identical twin of Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly. “As someone who spent nearly a year in space, I know the mental challenges we face can be just as tough, if not tougher, than the physical ones.
Other keynote speakers on the BHCon2025 agenda include author KC Davis and motivational speaker Emma Benoit.
Evening Reads
—”It’s the economy, Donald” via Jake Lahut of WIRED
—“The 27 utterly odd lines from Donald Trump’s ‘Fox & Friends’ interview” via Chris Cillizza of So What
—“How conservatives help their young thinkers — and why liberals don’t” via Zack Beauchamp of Vox
—“Education Department quietly removes rules for teaching English learners” via Lauren Meckler and Justine McDaniel of The Washington Post
—”From $24,000 to $147,000: how much daycare costs across America” via Alana Pipe of The Wall Street Journal
—“Jay Collins will head to California to extradite Harjinder Singh, charged with triple vehicular homicide” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—“‘Utter bullshit’: Miami Beach officials say they’ll fight state order to remove rainbow crosswalk” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics
—”How Miami officials use a private Marlins suite meant for charities” via Tess Riski of the Miami Herald
—“Carolina Amesty celebrates dropped charges. Prosecutor stays mum.” via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel
—”Why magic, dragons and explicit sex are in bookstores everywhere” via Alexandra Alter of The New York Times
Quote of the Day
“This is complete and utter bullshit that the state has no business getting involved in.”
— Miami Beach Commissioner Joseph Magazine, on FDOT’s order to remove the rainbow-colored crosswalk on Ocean Drive and 12th Street.
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.
Pour Jay Collins a few California Auroras so he can catch a nap during his quick round trip to the Golden State.
Miami Beach Commissioner Magazine gets a Man O’ War for refusing to cave to a Transportation Department order to remove the city’s rainbow roadway markings.
Florida is likely to be spared from Hurricane Erin damage, but let this serve as a reminder: Go to TotalWine now or risk suffering through the next storm with only a couple of dozen airplane bottles of 99 Bananas in the cabinet.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Inter Miami, Orlando City begin knockout play in League Cup
Both Florida-based MLS teams have advanced to the knockout stage of the League Cup and will play for a spot in the semifinals tonight.
Inter Miami hosts Mexican side Tigres as the knockout stage begins in the Leagues Cup tonight (8 p.m. ET, FS1).
Miami finished in second place in the MLS portion of the Leagues Cup table after wins over Atlas, Pumas, and Necaxa, the latter in PKs. The top four clubs from each Leagues Cup league-specific table advanced to the knockout round. Now, it’s single elimination to determine the champion.
Tigres finished in third place in the Liga MX group stage.
Also tonight, Orlando City faces Toluca (8:50 p.m. ET, Apple TV+). The winner of Inter Miami-Tigres will face the winner of Orlando City-Toluca in the semi-finals. On the other side of the bracket, Seattle Sounders will face Puebla, and LA Galaxy host Pachuca.
The top three teams in the competition will earn automatic bids to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, giving them a chance to represent the confederation at the next FIFA Club World Cup.
Inter Miami competed in the FIFA Club World Cup this season, earning $21.05 million for advancing to the Round of 16.
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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.
