Last Call for 6.3.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

— First Shot —

Ten years after the Pulse nightclub shooting shook Orlando and the nation, three leading advocacy organizations are convening a panel discussion to reflect on the tragedy’s legacy and the work that remains ahead.

Equality Florida, the Human Rights Campaign and GIFFORDS announced they will host a June 13 event marking the 10th anniversary of the attack at Pulse, where a gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in what was then the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Scheduled to participate in the discussion are Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown, Equality Florida Executive Director Stratton Pollitzer and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith.

According to organizers, the conversation will focus on the progress advocates have made in the decade since the shooting, as well as ongoing challenges facing LGBTQ communities and efforts to reduce gun violence.

The panel will be moderated by Brandon Wolf, a Pulse survivor who has become a nationally recognized advocate on LGBTQ rights and gun violence prevention. Wolf recently returned to Equality Florida as Senior Director of Communications Strategy after serving as national Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign.

Organizers said the event will serve both as a remembrance of the victims and as a discussion about how advocacy groups and elected officials can build on progress made over the next decade.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 13 in Orlando.

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As hurricane season gets underway, the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida is launching a new website to help residents better understand flood risks and prepare for potential disasters.

PIFF said FloodReadyFlorida.com will serve as a centralized hub for information on flood insurance, preparedness, mitigation efforts and post-storm recovery resources.

“One of the most important things Floridians can do is prepare for the possibility of flooding before a storm is on the radar,” PIFF President Michael Carlson said.

“While hurricane categories are based on wind speed, water is often the deadliest hazard. Experts note that flooding from storm surge and heavy rainfall causes far more deaths than wind alone, and flooding can occur hundreds of miles from the coast. Simply put: anywhere it rains, it can flood.”

The launch comes as forecasters predict a relatively quiet 2026 Atlantic hurricane season — NOAA estimates that between 8 and 14 named storms will form between now and the end of November.

Still, PIFF noted that “history has repeatedly demonstrated that significant hurricanes can occur even during quieter seasons.” Notably, the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season was relatively inactive overall but produced Hurricane Andrew, one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history.

While the new site is stocked with insurance info, Carlson noted that “Preparedness is the best insurance.”

— Evening Reads —

—“This is how Donald Trump finally signed the AI executive order” via Hugo Lowell and Maxwell Zeff of WIRED

—“Trump library says no Twitter DMs can be found, despite evidence he sent them” via Nate Jones of The Washington Post

—“Trump touts eponymous airport as example of how Ron DeSantis is ‘very good’” via Liv Caputo of the Florida Phoenix

—“A simple way to lower everyone’s property taxes” via Marina Bolotnikova of Vox

—“Noted MAGA homophobe blames staffer for homophobic post” via Nikki McCann Ramirez of Rolling Stone

—“Judge says Anthony Sabatini must resign his current office to run in CD 11” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Two-thirds of Floridians back James Uthmeier lawsuit against ChatGPT, poll finds” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics

—“Orlando reveals Pulse nightclub artifacts preserved in secret warehouse” via Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel

—“Wheelchair tennis prodigy sues USTA, accuses her ex-coach of grooming her” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics

—“They’re messing with Texas: Knicks fans bring hope and hype to San Antonio” via Edgar Sandoval and Sarah Maslin Nir of The New York Times

— Quote of the Day —

“Ron’s good. He’s a friend of mine. He just named an airport after me.”

— President Donald Trump, when asked if Ron DeSantis could become the next U.S. Attorney General.

— 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.

Six members of the College of Central Florida Board were served a Happy Return by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who recently dropped a pile of reappointments.

Liesa Priddy is enjoying a Fancy Farmer now that Wilton Simpson has joined major ag industry groups in backing her campaign for House District 82.

Florida voters want to send a Hater’s Blend to Silicon Valley, according to new polling from Sachs Media that shows broad support for Attorney General James Uthmeier’s OpenAI lawsuit.

— Breakthrough Insights —

— Tune In —

FC Naples looks to improve form

FC Naples hosts Charlotte Independence in USL League One soccer tonight in a matchup of playoff contenders (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

Despite losing four of the last five league fixtures, FC Naples is level on points with Charlotte entering tonight’s game. Naples opened the season with four wins in the first seven games before the recent slide.

FC Naples ranks fifth in the 17-team USL League One table. The top eight make the postseason. There are 34 games in the regular season. Naples has played 12 matches this season, while Charlotte has played just nine games.

The Independence come in on a hot streak, having won the last four matches and are unbeaten in five. They also hold the second-best goal differential in the league, behind only first-place Union Omaha.

USL League One is a third-tier professional league, sitting under MLS and USL Championship in the US Soccer pyramid. In addition to FC Naples, Sarasota Paradise also plays in the league. The league recently announced that two more teams in Florida will join next season. A team in Port St. Lucie and Fort Lauderdale United, who already fields a professional women’s team in the USL’s Gainbridge Super League, will begin play in USL League One.

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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.