Good Sunday morning, and welcome back to “Brunch,” a pop-up newsletter about the 2025 Legislative Session.

The Florida Gators are headed to the NCAA Tournament national championship game after defeating SEC rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four. It’s the team’s first Final Four win since 2007.

Walter Clayton Jr. led the Gators with a clutch 34-point performance, becoming the first player since Larry Bird to score 30 in both the Elite Eight and Final Four.

Florida will face Houston for the championship, which tips off Monday, April 7, at 8:50 p.m. ET. The game will be played in San Antonio at the Alamodome.

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Speaking of winners, please check out our choices for the Winner and Loser of the Week in Florida Politics by clicking here.

Happy birthday to Carolyn Johnson and Chelsea Murphy, Tampa City Council member Alan Clendenin, Rosemary Curtiss, and ace photographer Colin Hackley.

Now, please enjoy Brunch.

— Liftoff? —

Jared Moskowitz wants NASA HQ to move to Florida permanently, and he is joining House colleagues to make it happen.

— CAPE Canaveral Act: Moskowitz and others are backing the Consolidating Aerospace Programs Efficiently at Canaveral Act, or CAPE Canaveral Act. The measure would move NASA to the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

— ‘Incredible legacy’: “People come to Florida’s Space Coast from all over the world to see the place where we launched mankind to the moon,” Moskowitz said. “But this bill to move NASA headquarters to Florida isn’t just about symbolism; it’s about efficiency. Not only is Cape Canaveral the main launch site for NASA, but it’s also where our top minds are doing cutting-edge research that makes America’s space program the envy of the world. Having NASA’s top leadership closer to these top-notch projects and the astronauts, engineers, and researchers behind them will continue to build the incredible legacy of this agency and our space program.”

— Launch team: Joining Moskowitz in leading the House bill are U.S. Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, Byron Donalds and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Other Florida delegation members support the bill, including U.S. Reps. Aaron Bean, Vern Buchanan, Scott Franklin, Carlos Giménez, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, John Rutherford, María Elvira Salazar, Darren Soto and Daniel Webster. And, of course, U.S. Sens. Ashley Moody and Rick Scott are fronting the Senate companion.

— Senate President speaks —

As a rhetorical battle rages between Gov. Ron DeSantis and House lawmakers, Senate President Ben Albritton is trying to stay neutral.

— Background: DeSantis has repeatedly directed fire at the House over moves to override last year’s budget vetoes, push legislation DeSantis deems insufficiently conservative, and push back earlier this year against DeSantis’ proposed illegal immigration plan. The Legislature backed a separate plan before the branches reached a compromise.

— Albritton’s take: Asked at a news conference about saying there’s “no daylight” between him and House Speaker Daniel Perez, Albritton repeated his comments but also put out an olive branch to DeSantis: “There’s no daylight between the Speaker and I. And I’ll also say that I feel very good about my relationship with the Governor.”

— Moving forward: “My goal is to work well with the House Speaker, work well with the Governor. Look, we’re going to figure this thing out. We’re going to figure it out,” Albritton added. “I believe, regardless of any other factors, I believe at the core you have a Governor and a Speaker and a Senate President who want to do a good job with this stuff. We’ll figure it out.”

— Perez pushes back —

The House Speaker flipped the script on the Governor amid DeSantis’ claims that RINOs have infiltrated the House Republican caucus.

— Making the case: “Every single Committee is chaired by a Republican, is chaired by someone that’s a conservative,” Perez told reporters. “The Governor, in his administration, has had Jared Moskowitz run one of the most important agencies under his leadership. By the way, Congressman Moskowitz, great guy. He’s a friend of mine. But my point is, the Governor himself appointed a Democrat to work with him. Not a Democrat that eventually became a Republican, no. A Democrat who voted with Joe Biden. Dave Kerner was/is a Democrat. He’s working with the Governor. So, it’s hard for me to take his complaints and actually believe that he means them.”

— Big tent: Perez said the fact that Democrats and others are joining the Republican Party is a good thing. “To say we are favoring the Democrats, there is nothing wrong with the tent of the conservative movement growing. I believe in the conservative movement,” Perez said. “Because there are Democrats starting to want to join the tent of the GOP and conservative movement, that doesn’t make us liberal, that doesn’t make us RINOs.”

— Olive branch: In the end, Perez tried to keep things cordial with DeSantis. “I still consider the Governor a friend. I do consider him a partner. Just because we disagree, it doesn’t mean that we’re at odds. That is healthy for a democracy.”

— Asking for Moore —

Democrats’ desires to ease the registration and voting process in Florida haven’t gone far in the Legislature, where Republican lawmakers focus more on preventing fraud. But Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis managed to get the Harry T. and Harriet B. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act heard.

— Strike-all: Bracy Davis presented the bill as an amendment to HB 1381, which amps up citizenship verification and independent validation of ballot counts — in other words, GOP priorities. Bracy Davis suggested tossing every line of that and moving the Moore Act instead.

— Same day voting? The bill contained several measures, including allowing Floridians to register and vote the same day, reinstating preclearance requirements on redistricting, protecting returning citizens from prosecution for trying to register, and making Election Day a state holiday.

— Progressive policy: “These are common sense protections that reflect our shared commitment to democracy in a state as diverse and dynamic as Florida, we cannot afford to go backward,” Bracy Davis said. “This amendment honors our past and secures our future.”

— Remembering Geraldine: The language was initially filed by the late Sen. Geraldine Thompson, who died before Session. Bracy Davis said she fought to have the language heard in Committee for the first time in the Windermere Democrat’s honor.

— In the end: While the amendment was heard and debated in the Government Operations Subcommittee, it was ultimately voted down. The bill advanced with its original focus on a 12-5 vote.

— Book in Boca —

Former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book is walking across the state to raise awareness for child abuse prevention, and on Sunday, she will continue to move through South Florida.

— Boca bound: Book will hit the streets of Boca to walk 12 miles as part of her 1,500-mile journey alongside her nonprofit, Lauren’s Kids.

— Special guest: Newly elected Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox will also be on hand, as will representatives from the Palm Beach Victim County Services.

This is Book’s 10th trek across the state. Book began at the Southernmost Point in Key West and appeared Saturday with the Florida Panthers and Baptist Health IcePlex to walk to the Nancy J. Cotterman Sexual Assault Treatment Center in Oakland Park.

— Lights for victims’ rights —

Marsy’s Law for Florida is turning the state purple to recognize the rights of crime victims throughout Florida.

— Be aware: The move honors National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which runs April 6-12. Marsy’s Law for Florida was instrumental in getting ballot access for the Marsy’s Law initiative, which aimed to give victims more rights in court. Voters approved it in 2018.

— In the spotlight: The group will light four major Florida landmarks purple to raise awareness. The Dade City Historic Courthouse in Dade City is lit up today, while Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will be lit up today and tomorrow. The Daytona International Speedway sign in Daytona Beach and the Capital Cascades Trail Crossing and Pedestrian Bridge in Tallahassee will be lit up all week long.

— Speaking in support: “In 2018, a supermajority of Florida voters voted in favor of enshrining a specific set of clear, enforceable rights for crime victims within our state constitution because they wanted to empower victims as their cases moved through the criminal justice process,” said Jennifer Fennell, Marsy’s Law for Florida spokesperson. “No one asks to be a victim. The rights afforded to crime victims under Marsy’s Law for Florida allows them to have more control over their experience with the court system and helps them on their journey toward healing from the trauma of crime.”

— Not a joke —

Democratic consultant Christian Ulvert is channeling one of former President Biden’s favorite sayings, arguing that election results from April Fools’ Day forecast good fortune for Democrats in the upcoming cycle.

— The signs: A memo from Ulvert pointed to success nationwide in Chicago and Wisconsin, as well as Democratic overperformance in two congressional Special Elections in Florida. He pointed in particular to Democrat Gay Valimont winning Escambia County in the Florida’s 1st Congressional District race. “President Trump carried Escambia County by nearly 20 points in 2024, and no candidate for federal office has won Escambia County in 20 years. In fact, Sen. Bill Nelson, a moderate, pragmatic Democrat won the county in 2006, which only reaffirms the significant shift and backlash voters are voicing.”

— The case: From Ulvert’s memo regarding Democrats making up margins: “This only happens in Republican strongholds when NPA voters overwhelmingly vote for the Democrat and reasonable Republicans join in that vote to send a message. In Miami-Dade, we experienced similar trends when Annette Taddeo won a state Senate seat in 2017 by a 4-point margin, less than a year after the Republican state Senator won in 2016 by 12 points, reflecting a 16-point swing in the seat’s performance.”

— Looking forward: Ulvert is arguing that the Democrats can put in play the Florida’s 27th Congressional District seat, currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar. “Given the numbers we’ve seen over the last two months, and most recently on April 1, Democrats are overperforming by an average of 18 points across jurisdictions, putting districts like CD 27 squarely on the map,” Ulvert said. “Now, it’s up to the national and state parties, along with the party committees to invest swiftly to create the environment Democrats need to win next November. Let’s not wait until the eleventh hour only to fumble the ball. We can win with the right candidate, and MOM by our side: Money, Organization and Message!”

— Vet visits —

The Capitol is getting two new kiosks from the newly established Veterans Museum to help Floridians appreciate their military service virtually.

— Partners: Stuart Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell will join the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association and the Veterans Museum this Tuesday to help unveil the touch-screen kiosks.

— Details: The presser will occur on the Plaza Level of the Capitol next to the Veterans Hall of Fame Wall on Tuesday, April 8, at 2 p.m.

— Backers: These kiosks are being set up thanks to a 2024-25 grant from the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Council of Arts and Culture, and private donors.

— House Victory —

A new election cycle means changes at the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee.

— Caucus director: Cassidy Whitaker took over as Caucus Director at the caucus, which is dedicated to electing Democrats to the Florida House.

— Street cred: Whitaker most recently spent two years as Political Director for Ruth’s List, which has played a huge role in Democratic politics in the state. She also worked as former Rep. Andrew Learned’s Campaign Manager and for Statecraft Digital.

— Capitol vet: Before hitting the trail, Whitaker worked as a legislative aide and district executive secretary for former Rep. Adam Hattersley.

— Forward vision: “I’m excited and honored to serve Leader Designate Christine Hunschofsky and Florida House Democrats by running a strong and strategic caucus program for our Members and candidates in the 2026 election cycle,” she told Florida Politics.

— Converge surge —

Converge Public Strategies is continuing to expand, bringing on Juda Engelmayer as partner and co-Chair of its Communications Practice.

— PR pro: Engelmayer comes to Converge after serving as president and CEO of HeraldPR, based out of New York. The firm specialized in corporate branding, crisis mitigation and strategic messaging.

— Other work: Engelmayer also co-founded the digital marketing agency Emerald Digital. He has also had previous roles as senior vice president and Group Director at 5W Public Relations, Chief Communications Officer at the American Jewish Congress and vice president at Rubenstein Associates, among other positions.

— Speaking out: “I am excited to join Converge Public Strategies and collaborate with a team that is at the forefront of public affairs and strategic communications,” Engelmayer said. “Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional results for our clients, helping them navigate the complexities of today’s media environment.”

“Juda’s extensive experience and proven track record in crisis communications and strategic public relations make him an invaluable addition to our team,” said Jonathan Kilman, Chair of Converge Public Strategies. “His ability to navigate complex media landscapes and provide strategic counsel will greatly benefit our clients facing high-stakes challenges.”

— Gators championship-bound —

The Florida Gators will play for the NCAA men’s basketball national championship Monday against Houston (8:50 p.m. ET, CBS).

— Another rally: Florida topped Auburn on Saturday in the national semifinals 79-73, rallying from behind to win once again. The Tigers led by eight points early in the second half, but the Gators pulled ahead for good on a Thomas Haugh layup with 6:31 to play. Florida never trailed after that.

— Legendary performance: The Gators were led by Clayton Jr. The only first-team All-American in program history has been on a historic roll. Clayton scored 34 points in the win over Auburn, making five three-pointers. He is the first player since Larry Bird to score 30 points in the Elite Eight and Final Four.

— One more to go: Florida will face the Houston Cougars for the championship. Houston knocked off the tournament’s top overall seed, Duke, 70-67 on Saturday night. Typically a stingy defensive team, Houston scored 42 second-half points to overtake the Blue Devils.

The Gators will play for the program’s third national championship, while Houston seeks the school’s first national championship in men’s basketball. The Cougars lost in the finals in 1983 and 1984.

— Ward a lock for No. 1? —

Miami quarterback Cam Ward appears destined to be the top pick in this month’s NFL Draft.

— QB trend continues: Eight of the last 10 drafts have seen a quarterback selected with the first pick. Only defensive ends Myles Garrett (Cleveland, 2017) and Travon Walker (Jacksonville, 2022) have bucked the trend.

— Titans on the clock: The Tennessee Titans hold the first draft pick for the first time since 1978, when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers. That season, the Oilers selected Texas running back Earl Campbell with the top pick. He went on to have a Hall-of-Fame career.

— Why Ward? Ward, who transferred from Washington State to play his final season at Miami, possesses a strong arm and quick release. He led Miami to a 10-3 record, throwing 39 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

The NFL draft begins April 24 with the first round. It is most likely that the Titans will use the top pick on Ward, but if they decide to trade the pick, it would almost certainly be for another team to move up to take him.

— Brunching out —

Bagels & Co is not your bubbe’s bagel shop. The new College Town venue features at least 20 bagels ($2.25 each) with selections like Doritos, French toast, and even more options for shmears.

Backstory: The chain was founded in 2020 by the Philadelphia-based firm Glu Hospitality. It has locations in South Florida, in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors. The restaurant opened its Gaines Street location in mid-February.

— Setting: The roomy, 2,200-square-foot neighborhood café, decorated with white subway tiles, offers plenty of tables and counter space inside, or you can graze outside with your pup. During our weekend visit, the clientele was cross-generational, with older customers, families, and students. When I came by on a weekday, I raised the demographic by decades.

— Bagels: My husband and I just got back from New York City, and while it’s hard to find the real deal outside the Big Apple, we agreed that Bagels & Co. does a good job. The bagels are baked on premises. They’re large and taste fresh. They’re a bit chewy inside with a slightly crisp crust, like a bagel should be. We’ve enjoyed classic choices such as everything and sesame seed bagels. On another visit, I had the French toast bagel sandwich, which tastes like French toast, with eggs, cheddar cheese, and ham. The “Jersey Shore” touts every single breakfast meat. I also had the rainbow bagel, which tastes like a plain bagel, though festive. The kids will love it.

— Shmears, etc.: Deciding on a bagel is tough enough. But there are also at least two dozen choices of cream cheese, including bacon scallion and apple cinnamon, which sound sedate compared to Cookie Monster, Jalapeño cheddar or Black Truffle. A hefty lox and cream cheese bagel and a side of whitefish salad are available. We got the whitefish to go, and it was packed in a bit too much oil for my taste. Other options include French toast sticks, strawberry parfaits, croissants, a good latte (plus other picks) and iced coffee and tea.

— Details: Bagels & Co. is at 799 W. Gaines St.; 850-825-1744. Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

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