Politics

GrayRobinson elevates Kylee Anzueto to Government Affairs Adviser

Published

6 hours ago

March 4, 2025

GrayRobinson has promoted Kylee Anzueto to Government Affairs Advisor within the firm’s Government Affairs and Lobbying practice.

Based in the Orlando office, Anzueto specializes in policy and appropriations at the state and local level. She joined GrayRobinson in 2022 as a legislative assistant and was later promoted to government affairs coordinator.

“Kylee’s hard work, diligence, sharp instincts, and talent for building relationships have earned her this well-deserved promotion to government affairs advisor,” said GrayRobinson Government Affairs and Lobbying Section Chair Jason Unger. “We look forward to seeing her continue to grow at GrayRobinson and enhance our ability to advocate for our clients at all levels of government effectively.”

Before joining GrayRobinson, Anzueto was part of the University of Central Florida’s Government and Community Relations Team, where she aided in the oversight of student interns placed in the Florida Senate, House, and statewide lobbying firms during legislative sessions.

“Kylee is highly attuned to keeping the pulse of the Central Florida business community,” said Rep. Erika Booth, an Orlando Republican. “Her hard work and determination make her one of the best in the field, and as a fellow UCF Knight, it’s great to have a home-grown leader who understands the vast needs of the area.”

Anzueto gained expertise in the legislative processes through multiple hands-on internships. During her time with the Government Relations Department at Publix, Anzueto focused on alcohol legislation and presented to the corporation’s top executives on pharmacy benefit manager regulations.

“I am excited to take on this new role at GrayRobinson, working alongside our exceptional Government Affairs and Lobbying team. I look forward to helping strengthen the firm’s relationships and contributing to our clients’ continued success,” she said.

Anzueto’s experience also includes advocating for infrastructure and transportation issues in Tallahassee as part of the City of Orlando’s Intergovernmental Relations Office. She also gained insight into public policies and campaign data while providing support and voter education at a nonprofit.

Anzueto’s early career includes serving in constituent services for then-U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, where she developed her understanding of federal issues, such as social security, immigration, and veterans’ affairs.

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Politics

Mexico will impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods

Published

15 minutes ago

March 4, 2025

May Greene

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that Mexico will respond to 25% tariffs imposed by the United States with its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

Sheinbaum said she will announce the products Mexico will target on Sunday in a public event in Mexico City’s central plaza, perhaps indicating Mexico still hopes to de-escalate the trade war set off by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Unlike China and Canada, Mexico decided to wait until Sunday, though the country has said since January that it had a plan ready for precisely this scenario.

Canada said it would slap tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days.

Sheinbaum said Tuesday that there is no reason for penalties on some of the largest trading partners for the U.S.

“There is no motive or reason, nor justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and our nations,” she said.

The tariffs that had been threatened by Trump against Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, ratcheting up the risk of retaliations from the United States’ North American allies.

Starting just past midnight, imports from Canada and Mexico are now to be taxed at 25%, with Canadian energy products subject to 10% import duties.

Sheinbaum rejected the “fact sheet” published by the White House Monday that repeated the accusation that Mexican drug traffickers persist because “an intolerable relationship with the government of Mexico.”

Mexico’s President called it “offensive, defamatory and without support” and then listed the achievements of her young administration against Mexico’s powerful drug cartels, including seizing more than a ton of fentanyl and dismantling 329 methamphetamine labs. She also noted that Mexico had sent 29 drug cartel figures requested by the United States to that country last week.

“We collaborate to avoid illegal drug trafficking to the United States, but as we have said on multiple occasions, that country’s government must take responsibility too for the crisis of opioid consumption that has caused so many deaths in the United States,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexico’s President added that the tariffs Mexico will respond with are “not in any way or with the purpose of starting an economic or commercial confrontation that unfortunately and regrettably is the opposite of what we must be doing.”

“It’s inconceivable that they don’t think about the damage this is going to cause to United States citizens and businesses with the increase in prices for things produced in our country,” Sheinbaum said. “Also, the damage it will cause by stopping job creation in both countries. No one wins with this decision.”

In reaction to tariffs on China, Beijing announced additional tariffs of up to 15% on imports of key U.S. farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key U.S. companies.

China’s new tariffs will take effect starting March 10. They follow Trump’s order to raise tariffs on imports of Chinese products to 20% across the board. Those took effect on Tuesday, along with 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.

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Politics

SpaceX adding new space travel operations to Kennedy Space Center

Published

45 minutes ago

March 4, 2025

May Greene

New launch pads will be added to Cape Canaveral to support SpaceX’s Starship operations.

While SpaceX has already been credited with reviving space operations in Florida, the company owned by entrepreneur Elon Musk is expanding its operations in the Sunshine State.

Gov. Ron DeSantis this week was quick to herald the addition of the Starship program to NASA’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Starship adds reusable launch vehicles that quickly return to earth and are made to launch again in a short time. The vehicles are planned to be used in transporting cargo and crews into Earth’s orbit and planned missions to the moon, or even Mars.

“Florida is the present and future of the space industry with leading space companies — like SpaceX — investing in the Free State of Florida,” DeSantis said. “We welcome SpaceX’s Starship to our state.”

The SpaceX website said Starship operations have been in development at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas, where the SpaceX headquarters is located. The expansion of the program includes a new Starship launch pad complex at Kennedy Space Center this year. The Starship launch operations are designed to increase flight rates of space missions.

U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, a Republican from Indian Harbour who represents Florida’s 8th Congressional District along the Space Coast, said the new SpaceX additions to Cape Canaveral will have a huge impact on Florida’s economy.

“This transformative $1.8 billion investment by SpaceX cements Florida’s Space Coast as the launchpad for the future of American spaceflight. With 600 new full-time jobs and the historic addition of Starship launches from Florida, this expansion strengthens our economy, grows our aerospace workforce, and solidifies our leadership in the next generation of space exploration,” Haridopolos said.

“Gov. DeSantis’ steadfast support for the space industry has reinforced Florida’s position as the nation’s space capital, attracting major investments like this and securing our leadership in the future of space exploration. This investment is a testament to SpaceX’s confidence in Florida’s central role in spaceflight, and we are proud to support the groundbreaking missions that will lift off from our shores.”

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Melania Trump to sit with Tallahassee’s January Littlejohn during Donald Trump speech to Congress

Published

1 hour ago

March 4, 2025

May Greene

Littlejohn’s experience helped to shape Florida’s Parental Rights in Education push.

A Tallahassee mother who became prominent during gender identity fights earlier this decade will watch President Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday night with First Lady Melania Trump.

Parental rights advocate January Littlejohn will be one of several guests invited by Melania Trump, according to the White House Communications Office (WHCO).

The WHCO describes Littlejohn as “a mother and parents’ rights advocate who sued the School Board of Leon County after school officials at her daughter’s middle school socially transitioned her daughter to a different sexual identity without January and her husband’s knowledge or permission.”

“The school drove a wedge between January’s daughter and her parents, and deceived January about their covert plan to transition her daughter,” the bio continues.

Her family’s experience and her testimony was key in helping Gov. Ron DeSantis make the case for “Parental Rights in Education” legislation. That law guarantees that parents are looped in about health discussions and potential decisions involving their child.

“When parents are excluded from critical decisions affecting their child’s health and well being at school, it sends the message to children that their parent’s input and authority are no longer important,” Littlejohn said when the law was passed.

She is the only Floridian among a group of Melania Trump’s guests, who all have their stories to tell.

Other invitees include Elliston Berry, a teenage victim of deepfakes at school; the surviving family of Corey Comperatore, who was shot at then-candidate Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania last year; steelworker Jeff Denard; Stephanie Diller, whose husband was a New York cop murdered at a traffic stop; former foster child Haley Ferguson; and former Russian prisoner Marc Fogle.

The list also includes former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb, who was critically injured by a trans athlete in a game; Allyson and Lauren Phillips, the mother and sister of Laken Riley; and Alexis Nungaray, the angel mom of Jocelyn Nungaray.

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