A fight is brewing in Florida between banks and the Florida Bar over how to fund legal aid for individuals who can’t afford it. 

At issue is an interest rate-setting rule that funds the Funding Florida Legal Aid program (FFLA), formerly known as The Florida Bar Foundation, through the Interest on Trust Account (IOTA) program.

The change has led to interest collections for IOTA accounts that are, in some cases, 10 times higher than similar accounts, such as business checking or savings accounts. 

IOTA accounts are separate checking accounts. The Florida Bar requires nearly every attorney in the state to keep clients’ funds separate from their firm’s operating funds. These accounts hold settlement funds until distribution, and the interest rate on the accounts, set by The Florida Bar, is passed along to FFLA’s IOTA program, which in turn funds legal aid for indigent individuals and other justice system improvement programs, such as legal education.

Most of FFLA’s funding comes from IOTA collections, totaling about $46M in the 2022-23 fiscal year. But that number shot up exponentially to nearly $300 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year after a rule change that amended how to calculate interest on accounts. To put that in context, that’s equal to nearly half the general revenue that the Senate has set aside for the entire court system in the state of Florida. 

It’s a wonky process that might be hard to understand for those who aren’t lawyers or bankers.

For decades, the IOTA interest rate had been tied to interest rates on comparable accounts, typically less than a half percentage point. The rule change, approved by the Florida Supreme Court without input from bankers, instead tied the interest rate to a much higher lending rate, set by the Wall Street Journal Prime Interest Rate. 

After the rule change, that rate shot up to 3%. 

Banks have been attempting to negotiate with the Florida Bar on a rate that provides stability for the legal aid program while ensuring fairness for banks, to no avail. Now, the Legislature is stepping in. Two similar bills have been filed in the House and Senate (HB 173 and SB 498) that would set a much lower interest rate for IOTA accounts. 

According to an explainer on its website, FFLA argues the rule change was needed to ensure “consistency, predictability, and a meaningful increase in funds available for civil legal aid programs.” The website also explains the history of interest rates, depicting volatile changes, including a “rate near zero” during the Great Recession and again after COVID-19. 

However, by tying interest to the Prime Rate, participating banks are forced to pay interest on accounts — which total about $9 billion statewide at any given point — far higher than other customers enjoy. Further, the added cost burden places a disproportionate burden on smaller banks, such as community banks and credit unions, that may be unable to afford the higher overhead. 

The Senate bill, carried by Sen. Erin Grall, would mandate that the Chief Financial Officer set two interest rate alternatives for IOTA each quarter. Financial institutions could choose from the two each year. The state CFO would set one option at the highest interest rate available that is comparable to non-IOTA accounts. The other would be set at 25% of the federal funds target rate or 0.25%, whichever is higher.

The House bill, carried by Rep. Robert Brackett, is similar. It would mandate that rates for similar accounts not be lower than the bank’s highest rate nor less than 0.25%. 

And this Legislature, in particular, has a vested interest in setting its own rules for the IOTA program. 

While it hasn’t been publicly debated, funds from the program are being used for issues the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis have publicly advocated against. 

According to FFLA’s own accounting, recipients include groups like Americans for Immigrant Justice, which in some cases works to fight Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions; CAIR Florida, another group Republicans in the majority often oppose; the Gender Justice Clinic, which helps with transgender issues, such as name changes; and the Southern Legal Counsel, a civil rights advocacy group. 

And FFLA does not need the new windfall from the recent rule change. Of its nearly $300 million in interest accruals in the 2023-24 fiscal year, $142 million went unspent, prompting FFLA to request the Florida Supreme Court to allow them to hold the excess funds in reserves for future legal aid program needs. 

Furthermore, not all the collected funds were used for legal aid. Earlier this year, the FFLA board approved $1.7 million for student loan repayments for lawyers who provide legal aid through the Loan Repayment Assistance Program. The program helps lawyers at a nonprofit legal aid organization pay down school loans, with full forgiveness when lawyers meet specific requirements. 

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Orange County GOP Chair Erin Huntley has already raised six figures to challenge state Rep. Leonard Spencer.

The West Orange Republican reported more than $81,000 in contributions to her official campaign account in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, she collected $67,000 in the political committee Conservative Solutions for Florida, on top of a $1,000 donation reported in December.

“I am extremely thankful for the support I’ve received from so many for our campaign,” Huntley said. “While the overall total is truly humbling, I am especially grateful for the number of donors who contributed from our Central Florida community: Over 200 individual local donations from Orange and Osceola counties.”

Subtracting expenses, her committee closed the quarter with more than $66,000 cash on hand, while her official account had almost $79,000, or more than $145,000 collectively. Maximum $1,000 campaign donations came from Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys, Fun Spot America, Axis Holidays, Phoenicia Development, Ramba Consulting and ChiroPAC.

She also had dozens of individuals give the maximum to her campaign, including Dan Newlin, who was recently picked as the next Ambassador to Colombia, and from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, state Rep. Susan Plasencia and former State Attorney Andrew Bain. The campaign committee for U.S. Rep. Dan Webster also donated $1,000.

That puts Huntley on good footing, but she still will be challenging a sitting incumbent. That said, Spencer, who in 2024 unseated Republican state Rep. Carolina Amesty, holds the distinction of being the only Democratic member of the Florida House representing a district where a majority of voters supported Republican Donald Trump for President over Democrat Kamala Harris in November.

That sets the House District 45 contest up already as one of the most closely watched legislative races of the 2026 cycle.

Spencer, who cannot fundraise during the Legislative Session, reported more modest figures in the first quarter. He raised under $8,300 in the first three months of the year for his official account, after raising less than $300 after the election in 2024. The campaign wrapped the quarter with just over $8,500 cash.

Big Spencer donors who gave $1,000 maximum donation include the Committee of Florida Agents, Dosal Tobacco, the Florida RV PAC, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, HCA West Florida and the Florida Justice PAC. Spencer also put $2,500 of his own money into the campaign account.

The Friends of Leonard Spencer committee reported almost $1,200 in new donations in the first quarter, which was less than the committee expenses. The bottom line, the incumbent’s committee reported a little more than $13,000 still in the bank. That means he has almost $22,000 cash on hand total between both accounts.

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Good Monday morning.

Now that the 2025 Legislative Session has passed the midpoint, please start thinking about which issues, lawmakers, and organizations belong in Florida Politics’ comprehensive list of the Winners and Losers emerging from the Session.

Don’t worry about nominating the major players, such as the Governor or legislative leaders; we’ll handle those. Instead, send your suggestions about the food fights and micro-issues we (and others) may have missed.

Email your ideas to [email protected]. Thanks in advance.

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Spotted — Newly elected U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis is mentioned on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” in a joke about replacing Matt Gaetz. To watch the clip, please click the image below.

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Florida has gone from being picked to finish sixth in the rugged Southeastern Conference to pushing to the final Monday night of the season.

Now, the Gators face a Houston team that just pushes teams around with its suffocating defense.

Big 12 champion Houston and Florida will meet in the national championship game in the Alamodome to wrap up only the second NCAA Tournament when all the No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four.

If you are a UF fan and want to join your fellow Gators at a watch party in the capital city, Caroline Schwab, the president of the UFAA’s Capital Area Gator Club, shared this invitation:

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Happening Monday and Tuesday:

On behalf of President Alexander Cartwright of the University of Central Florida, you are invited to join fellow Knights and UCF Representatives for an evening of camaraderie that celebrates our state and university’s impact and future as we kick off UCF Day at the Capitol.

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Updates from the Road: Lauren Book is on the move! — Over the weekend, Lauren and the Walk in My Shoes team powered through South Florida — 300 walkers joined Lauren to trek from the Florida Panthers + Baptist Health IcePlex to the Nancy J. Cotterman Sexual Assault Treatment Center in Oakland Park, then Lauren kept trucking north on US-1 to log a total of 17 miles walked for the day. On Sunday, walkers continued strong in Boca Raton, joined by Palm Beach County Victim Services and Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox! Lauren and her crew will walk 10 more miles from Coral Springs to Parkland today.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

—@RealDonaldTrump: China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless “whipping post,” but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

—@DKThomp: The tariffs are face-smackingly stupid and self-destructive as a matter of economic policy, but just as important is how they figure into (Donald) Trump’s MO. 1. Make outlandish threat 2. Use as leverage to get [stuff] 3. Declare [stuff] as a major victory. 4. Do it over and over and over again He’s running the threat > leverage > concession > repeat playbook across trade, and law, and academia. As long as Trump is in power, it’s never going to stop…. To be clear, I don’t think the tariffs are a Potemkin policy. This is real. It’s happening. But this also isn’t the final draft of Trump trade policy. Creating pain brings counterparties to the table. We’re locked in a spin cycle of uncertainty that’s not going to resolve itself into stable policy any time soon, is my point. (…. And that’s bad.)

—@Olivia_Beavers: On Tariffs — Speaker (Mike) Johnson told Rs to stand resolute and hold the line on the Tariff policy and that they must trust Trump and his instincts because he delivered the greatest economy in the history of the world in his first term, and he can do this again — they we just need to give it time, per source

—@NateSilver538: If business is a confidence game, these guys played the game about as poorly as possible. People will remember the losing bet they made for generations to come. Unfortunately, it’s a bet with consequences for the entire economy. But it’s (honestly) good they’re backing down.

—@JakeSherman: @SpeakerJohnson and @realannapaulina have a deal on the proxy voting situation. LUNA will not trigger her discharge petition to institute proxy voting. And JOHNSON won’t try to kill the resolution — again. In exchange, the House GOP leadership will try to formalize “vote pairing” https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/98-970.pdf It’s an old school way to offset an absence between the two parties. We’ll see how this works. ALSO: Johnson is planning to put a nursing room near the House floor and make day care more accessible for members of the House. This should help unlock the floor. We’ll see.

—@LMower3: .@aglorios and I just went by @MyFLFamilies to get more information on DeSantis’ Hope Florida Foundation. It’s a nonprofit. The IRS says nonprofits must produce 990s and Form 1023s immediately upon in-person requests. When we asked for those records, a spokesperson came out. We explained to him what we were seeking and gave him a printoff of an IRS Q&A explaining the process and that we were not here to make a records request under F.S. 119. An hour later, a man came out, handed the printoff to us, and said “There is a process to this, and your request will be returned in the order it was received.” He would not identify himself.

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

— DAYS UNTIL —

Final season of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ premieres — 1; ‘Your Friends and Neighbors’ with Jon Hamm premieres on Apple+ — 4; Children’s Week begins at the Florida Capitol — 6; ‘The Last of Us’ season two premieres — 6; Children’s Day — 8; ‘Andor’ season two premieres — 15; ‘Carlos Alcaraz: My Way’ premieres on Netflix — 16; ‘The Accountant 2’ premieres — 18; ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ premieres on Netflix — 21; Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour begins in Los Angeles — 21; ‘Thunderbolts’ premieres — 25; Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting — 36; Florida Chamber Leadership Conference on Safety, Health + Sustainability — 38; Epic Universe grand opening — 45; Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ premieres — 46; ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’ premieres — 46; Florida Chamber Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solution Summit — 52; ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ premieres — 53; Tony Awards — 62; Special Election for SD 19 — 64; Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet will meet — 65; Florida Chamber Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit — 78; ‘Squid Game’ season three premieres — 81; James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ premieres — 95; ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ premieres on Netflix — 109; ‘Fantastic Four – First Steps’ premieres — 109; ‘Eyes of Wakanda’ premieres on Disney+ — 121; Florida Chamber Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit — 127; Emmys — 160; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 163; Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio premieres — 172; Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber annual meeting — 203; ‘Wicked: Part 2’ premieres — 228; Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 240; Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 240; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 254; ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres — 256; Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 305; ‘Avengers 5’ premieres — 393; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 410; FIFA World Cup 26™ final — 431; Another untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 621; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 761; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres — 907; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 1,194; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 1,310; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,710; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 2,441.

— TOP STORY —

“New Florida immigration law halted by judge amid lawsuits from immigrant advocates” via The Palm Beach Post — A U.S. district judge has temporarily blocked Florida’s new immigration law, citing federal authority over immigration.

Judge Kathleen Williams granted a temporary restraining order against the law, enacted by the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. DeSantis, which created state crimes for undocumented immigrants entering or re-entering Florida.

Williams wrote that the law “unlawfully encroaches” on federal power, potentially violating the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. She cited the law’s mandatory prison sentences, which conflict with federal laws allowing fines or probation for similar offenses.

While primarily citing the Supremacy Clause, Williams noted the plaintiffs’ “Commerce Clause analysis also supports their request” for a temporary restraining order. Lawmakers passed the measure during a February Special Session to bolster Trump’s immigration policies.

The ACLU of Florida’s Executive Director, Bacardi Jackson, stated: “Florida’s leaders may want to score political points by targeting immigrants, but the Constitution doesn’t allow it. We’ll continue fighting until SB 4-C is struck down permanently.”

The temporary restraining order is limited to 14 days, and a hearing for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for April 18.

— LEGISLATIVE —

“State can enforce DEI general education course ban while litigation plays out” via Florida Phoenix — The state of Florida may enforce a law eliminating general education courses that teach “identity politics” at Florida’s institutions of higher education pending resolution of a lawsuit filed by professors, a federal judge has ruled. In January, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed suit on the professors’ behalf alleging that SB 266, a 2023 law limiting general education course classifications and funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, harmed the professors’ academic ambitions. General education courses are required for students to graduate. Days after a preliminary injunction hearing in Tallahassee in front of U.S. District Chief Judge Mark Walker, he ruled Wednesday that the professors had not established they would suffer harm.

“GOP wants to make it easier to challenge books on school shelves” via Steven Walker of the Orlando Sentinel — A law that has pushed public schools to remove thousands of books, including literary classics, from their shelves could get even more restrictive soon, as Republican lawmakers move to close a “loophole” they say still allows volumes depicting nudity or sexual conduct to remain on campuses. New bills backed by GOP legislators would mean school districts could no longer consider a book’s artistic, literary, political or scientific value when deciding whether to keep it. Instead, any book that “describes sexual conduct” could face removal. Critics argue the 2023 law is unconstitutional — a pending federal lawsuit says it violates the First Amendment — and overly broad and vague. Some worried educators have removed children’s picture books, such as “No David!” by David Shannon, showing cartoonish bare bottoms out of fear they depict the prohibited “sexual conduct.” Classics such as Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” and Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” also have been pulled.

“House budget proposal sparks concerns over private college aid cuts” via Christina Schuler of Florida’s Voice — Education leaders across Florida are raising alarms over a proposed $76 million cut to a decades-old student grant program that supports access to private, nonprofit universities — a move they warn could force thousands of students to drop out of high-demand degree programs. The Florida House of Representatives’ proposed budget includes deep reductions to the Effective Access to Student Education grant, a tuition assistance award for Florida residents attending eligible private, nonprofit universities. The program has supported student choice since 1979. Belinda Keiser, vice chancellor of Keiser University, voiced her opposition on Florida’s Voice Radio with host Drew Steele, saying the proposed cuts would restrict opportunity and damage workforce development in the state.

“Ben Albritton backs weather modification ban after ‘scary’ revelations: ‘Are we seriously trying to control God’s domain?’” via Christina Schuler of Florida’s Voice — Albritton said he was initially skeptical of concerns surrounding geoengineering and weather modification—until months of persistent outreach from a fellow lawmaker convinced him the issue was real, serious, and in need of legislative action. Speaking on the Senate’s passage of SB 56, which bans the release of chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather or climate, Albritton credited Sen. Ileana Garcia with bringing the matter to his attention and championing the bill through the legislative process. “This conversation with Senator Garcia started with me months ago,” Albritton said on Florida’s Voice Radio with Drew Steele. “She started texting me about this, and she’d give me a call and say, ‘Hey, I’m really worried about this.’ And in my mind, I thought, are we seriously trying to control God’s domain? Is this really happening?”

— MORE LEGISLATIVE —

“Awarding state arts grants in Florida: Republican lawmakers make changes to Ron DeSantis proposal” via Anthony Man of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida arts and culture institutions would not be subjected to the range of restrictions sought by DeSantis’ administration after state legislators moved to scale back proposed changes to state arts and culture grants. Watered down is a DeSantis administration proposal to require programs funded with arts and culture grants to be “appropriate for all age groups.” Axed was a move to allow the Florida secretary of state, a DeSantis appointee, to change the list of grant recipients recommended by the state Arts and Culture Council. Legislative leaders would continue appointing most Council members instead of giving DeSantis most of the seats. House and Senate Committees approved those changes to what DeSantis wanted this week. Arts advocates said the rewrite heartened them. “It’s hopefully a positive step,” said Phillip Dunlap, director of the Broward County Cultural Division. “Some of the initial language was troubling.”

“Bill to establish standards for memory care services advances” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — The Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee has advanced a measure to establish specific standards and operational requirements for facilities providing memory care services in Florida. Miami Republican Rep. Mike Redondo presented the bill (HB 493). He said it intends to offer minimal standards for the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to ensure that patients receive memory care services. “I was surprised to learn that AHCA does not have the regulatory authority to regulate facilities that advertise themselves as providing memory care services in the state of Florida,” Redondo said. “What this bill’s intended to do is to provide some fairly minimal standards frankly, but minimum standards I think are necessary to ensure that patients who are receiving memory care services and family members contracting for memory care services are actually receiving appropriate care and will protect the citizens of Florida in these facilities.”

— FOR YOUR RADAR —

A fight is brewing in Florida between banks and the Florida Bar over how to fund legal aid for individuals who can’t afford it.

At issue is an interest rate-setting rule that funds the Funding Florida Legal Aid program (FFLA) through the Interest on Trust Account (IOTA) program.

The change has led to interest collections for IOTA accounts that are, in some cases, 10 times higher than similar accounts, such as business checking or savings accounts.

IOTA accounts are separate checking accounts. The Florida Bar requires nearly every attorney in the state to keep clients’ funds separate from a law firm’s operating funds. These accounts hold settlement funds until they are dispersed, and the interest rate on the accounts, set by the Florida Bar, is passed along to FFLA’s IOTA program, which in turn funds legal aid for indigent individuals and other justice system improvement programs, such as legal education.

FFLA’s funding comes mostly from IOTA collections, totaling about $46M in the 2022-23 fiscal year. However, that number shot up exponentially to nearly $300 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year after a rule change that amended how interest on accounts was calculated.

For decades, the IOTA interest rate was tied to interest rates on comparable accounts, typically less than a half percentage point. The rule change, approved by the Florida Supreme Court without input from bankers, instead tied the interest rate to a much higher lending rate set by the Wall Street Journal Prime Interest Rate.

After the rule change, that rate shot up to 3%.

Now, the Legislature is stepping in. Two similar bills have been filed in the House and Senate (HB 173 and SB 498) that would set a much lower interest rate for IOTA accounts.

Read more here.

— LEG SKED —

Happening today — University presidents from the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) will hold a virtual news conference to discuss proposed changes to the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grant, which helps Florida students pay their tuition at qualified, independent, nonprofit colleges and universities: 11 a.m.; access here.

Meanwhile, save the date:

— LOBBY REGS —

New and renewed lobbying registrations:

Albert Balido, Arrow Group Consulting: RTG Furniture

Sara Bianca, Rhett O’Doski, McGuireWoods Consulting: Instructure

Taylor Biehl, Capitol Alliance Group: U.S. Hemp Roundtable

Erica Chanti, Bo Rivard, Rubin Turnbull & Associates: City of Miami Beach, Better Tomorrow Treatment Center. Florida Panthers, University of Miami

Robert Hawken, Leath Consulting: Florida Healthy Alternatives

Michael Kesti, Government Relations Group: Culture Organics, Nobilia North America

Carlos San Jose, Corcoran Partners: Rogers Behavioral Health, University of South Florida Foundation, Young Men’s Christian Association of Greater St. Petersburg

Meredith Snowden: Florida Healthy Alternatives Association

Brooke Steele, Jared Willis, The Mayernick Group: Golden Wolf

Robert Vogan, Central Florida Public Affairs: Children’s Network of Hillsborough

Jayer Williamson, Oak Strategies: Advocating for Seniors, Goldring Gulf Distributing Company, PrizePicks

— 100 DAYS —

“Donald Trump goes all-in with bet that the heavy price of tariffs will pay off for Americans” via Zeke Miller and Steve Peoples of The Associated Press — Not even 24 hours after his party lost a key Wisconsin race and underperformed in Florida, Trump followed the playbook that has defined his political career: He doubled down. Trump’s move Wednesday to place stiff new tariffs on imports from nearly all U.S. trading partners marks an all-in bet by the Republican that his once-fringe economic vision will pay off for Americans. It was the realization of his four decades of advocacy for a protectionist foreign policy and the belief that free trade was forcing the United States into decline as its economy shifted from manufacturing to services.

“Your life will never be the same after these tariffs” via Justin Wolfers for The New York Times — Brace yourself: Trump’s potential tariffs are not the “bump in the road” of his first term; they’re a mountain. These aren’t just price hikes; they force uncomfortable substitutions. Remember the washing machine? This is that, but magnified. Avoiding a second car? Swapping fresh for frozen? It all adds up. Businesses will shift to less productive activities. We’re talking tariffs 10 times higher than most nations, surpassing even Great Depression-era levels. The pain? More than 50 times worse than before. It’s a recipe for economic hardship and rethinking even the most basic choices.

“How The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg got added to the White House Signal group chat” via Hugo Lowell of The Guardian — A series of unfortunate events led to Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, including a journalist in a Signal chat discussing U.S. strikes in Yemen. It began when Goldberg emailed the Trump campaign, and his contact info was saved under a different name due to an iPhone algorithm. Waltz inadvertently added Goldberg to the “Houthi PC small group” chat, sparking an internal investigation. Despite Trump’s initial anger, he ultimately chose not to fire Waltz, unwilling to give the media the satisfaction. The White House authorized Signal use due to a lack of alternatives for interagency communication.

“Firing of National Security Agency Chief rattles lawmakers” via Julian E. Barnes of The New York Times — As soon as word spread that Trump had fired Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, the head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, current and former administration officials began floating theories about why he had been let go. Had General Haugh opposed one of Trump’s initiatives, perhaps moved too slowly on purging officers who had worked on diversity issues? Or was he a casualty of the administration’s shifting priorities to counter narcotics? Whether any of that was true, it had little, if anything, to do with why he was fired. General Haugh was ousted because Laura Loomer, a far-right wing conspiracy theorist and Trump adviser, had accused him and his deputy of disloyalty, according to U.S. officials and Loomer’s social media post early Friday. He was one of several national security officials fired this past week on her advice.

“RFK Jr. plans Texas trip after possible second measles-related death there” via Marc Caputo of Axios — Kennedy late Saturday was planning a hastily arranged visit to Texas after the state informed his department that a second child’s death there could be linked to measles. The death that triggered Kennedy’s trip is under investigation. The child involved was a member of the same Mennonite religious community that, in February, reported the death of an unvaccinated 6-year-old girl who had had measles. Kennedy has been sharply criticized for downplaying the risk of the virus and the efficacy of vaccines for them. He’s not expected to echo mainstream medical experts worried about his leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services.

— MORE D.C. MATTERS —

“States caught unprepared for Trump’s threats to FEMA” via Anna Phillips, Jake Spring, Kevin Crowe and Dan Diamond of The Washington Post — Torrential rain fell on Eastern Kentucky in July 2022, turning creeks into rivers that roared through the valleys and hollows, wrecking hundreds of homes and killing 45 people. Since then, the state has been trapped in a cycle of seemingly never-ending disasters, exhausting storm-weary residents in impoverished small towns. During Trump’s first presidency, FEMA launched a program to break this cycle, awarding billions of dollars to states to repair levees, elevate flood-prone homes and shore up drinking water systems. The program was built on research showing it is often less expensive to protect against future damage from natural disasters than to pay for repairs and rebuilding afterward. Kentucky received over $7 million for hazard mitigation projects and upgrading power transmission lines.

“Compromise nears on Anna Paulina Luna push for new mom proxy voting after Trump backs it” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Paulina Luna’s push to let new mothers vote in Congress by proxy may move forward after all. All it took was support from the most prominent Republican leader in America. Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he has no problems with members of Congress remotely voting for six weeks after giving birth to a child. “If you’re having a baby, I think you should be able to call in and vote. I’m in favor of that,” Trump said, as reported by NBC News. “I don’t know why it’s controversial.” Yet, until now, it has been controversial enough that Speaker Johnson effectively stopped all business in the House over his opposition to it. But Luna, a St. Petersburg Republican leading the fight for proxy voting for new parents, said Trump’s support made Johnson more open to compromise.

“Polk County and cities will miss out on 2025 funds under Congress’ short-term spending bill” via Gary White of The Lakeland Ledger — The expansion of Polk County’s Emergency Operations Center. Improvements to the Auburndale’s wastewater treatment plant. Design work on Winter Haven’s plans to create a wetlands park. Those are some of the projects for which U.S. House members representing Polk County requested funding in the federal budget for the current fiscal year. However, the allotment of Community Project Funding vanished when the House voted along party lines in March to adopt a continuing budget resolution, an action needed to avert a looming partial government shutdown. The House voted 317 to 313 to pass the six-month spending measure, as only one Republican voted no; only one Democrat voted yes. Among Polk County members, Rep. Scott Franklin, Rep. Laurel Lee, and Rep. Daniel Webster voted for the measure. Rep. Darren Soto voted against it.

— STATEWIDE —

“Byron Donalds says his campaign for Governor is going ‘wonderfully’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Donalds doesn’t seem to be worried about potential primary competition from First Lady Casey DeSantis in the 2026 race for Governor. The Naples Republican didn’t mention her as he extolled his fundraising and endorsements. “The race is going wonderfully. We raised $12 million last month. We are picking up support all across the state from the people of Florida. And then to be able to add the support of Speaker Mike Johnson to Trump is really something that’s monumental for our campaign and for our efforts,” Donalds said. Donalds said there “is more support on the way” and that “the campaign is growing.”

“Democrats lose three times as many voters as Republicans in voter roll cleanup” via Eric Daugherty of Florida’s Voice — During voter roll maintenance in March, Florida Democrats hemorrhaged over 23,000 voters, three times as many as Republicans. While Democrats lost 23,902 voters, Republicans lost 7,839. Meanwhile, voters with no party affiliation or affiliated with a minor party lost 15,888 voters, according to data from DecisionDeskHQ’s Michael Pruser. The development resulted in the GOP expanding its lead over Democrats to 1.210 million as of the end of March under party Chair Evan Power. As tracked daily by the Florida’s Voice registration dashboard, Republicans hold a lead of 1.211 million voters as of April 4. Statewide, there are 5.641 million Republicans, 4.430 million Democrats, and 3.697 million without party affiliation. In total, Florida has just under 14.2 million voters.

“‘Joseph Ladapo’s a charlatan’: Surgeon General’s tenure at UF is lackluster, colleagues say” via Garrett Shanley of The Florida Independent Alligator — When DeSantis hand-picked Ladapo as Florida’s Surgeon General in September 2021, the role came with a second high-profile appointment: a tenured faculty position at UF. But Ladapo’s colleagues still aren’t sure what he does to earn his salary at the university. Some say not much. UF fast-tracked Ladapo into a $337,000-a-year contract as part of his role as the state’s top medical official, charging him with launching an internal medicine research program, taking on a part-time teaching role and leading an administrative team. A rising star among conservatives opposing pandemic-era safety measures, Ladapo dazzled UF’s top brass with his Ivy League credentials and multi-million-dollar research portfolio. After reviewing his résumé, the medical school’s dean said he looked “fabulous.” Now, more than three years into his tenure, internal records and interviews with more than a dozen professors and administrators raise questions about whether Ladapo is meeting UF’s expectations.

—”Supreme Court disciplines 10 lawyers for various acts of chicanery” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics

“Florida homeowners turn to this insurance strategy to save money. Agents say, ‘be careful.’” via Ron Hurtibise of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Some insurers and agents are offering a way for clients to save substantial amounts of money off their insurance premiums, and data shows more homeowners are taking them up on it. But experts warn that the strategy can be risky. Sales of a type of insurance known as “dwelling/fire” are increasing in Florida. The data shows that the increase is outpacing the growth of the more traditional “all-perils” policies that most homeowners choose. Also known as “landlord insurance,” dwelling/fire policies are typically sold to owners of rental properties or second homes who only seek protection of the home’s basic structure from fire, hurricanes or other natural disasters. The most basic dwelling/fire policies do not include coverage for contents, water damage, loss of use, or liability in situations like dog bites or when visitors injure themselves on the insured’s property. In most cases, homeowners can add those coverages by purchasing them separately.

— ELECTIONS—

“‘An exceptional leader’: Laurel Lee wants Ashley Moody to remain in the Senate” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Lee served on the bench with U.S. Sen. Moody when both were Judges in Hillsborough County. According to a social media post, the Congresswoman wants her to continue. “As someone who has proudly known Ashley Moody for many years, I am thrilled to endorse her to continue to serve as Florida’s U.S. Senator,” Lee said. “Ashley is not only an exceptional leader; she is a steadfast champion of conservative values, with unwavering integrity and dedication.” The history runs deep between Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican, and Moody, a Plant City Republican.

“Erin Huntley reported six-figure haul for HD 45 race between campaign, committee donations” via Jacob Ogles — Orange County GOP Chair Huntley has already raised six figures to challenge state Rep. Leonard Spencer. The West Orange Republican reported more than $81,000 in contributions to her official campaign account in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, she collected $67,000 in the Conservative Solutions for Florida political committee, on top of a $1,000 donation reported in December. “I am extremely thankful for the support I’ve received from so many for our campaign,” Huntley said. “While the overall total is truly humbling, I am especially grateful for the number of donors who contributed from our Central Florida community: Over 200 individual local donations from Orange and Osceola counties.”

“Lawrence McClure backs Ryan Gill as a ‘constitutional conservative’ successor in HD 68” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Republican Rep. McClure is throwing his weight behind a potential successor, endorsing Gill as he runs to replace McClure in House District 68. Gill, a fellow Republican and a local cattle rancher, is the only candidate who has filed for the race. McClure cannot seek re-election due to term limits. “Our community needs leaders who will be relentless in pursuit of conservative, results-oriented solutions to Florida’s challenges. As a local businessman and longtime community leader, Ryan Gill will bring a Constitutional conservative’s perspective to the state Capitol. I’m proud to endorse him for the Florida House of Representatives,” McClure said. Reps. Danny Alvarez and Mike Owen have also offered their support.

“Meet the 23-year-old student who raised $25 million in Democratic losses” via Shane Goldmacher of The New York Times — A 23-year-old law student and Dungeons & Dragons “dungeon master” is at the center of controversy after his fundraising firm, Key Lime Strategies, secured lucrative contracts with two Democratic candidates in Florida’s Special Elections. Despite the candidates’ double-digit losses, the firm, led by Jackson McMillan, raked in millions, drawing scrutiny over its fee structure. Stefan Smith, a digital strategist and head of digital engagement at the American Civil Liberties Union, called the 25-percent-of-profits fee structure “absurd” and said the races had diverted donor money from more urgent priorities under false pretenses of competitiveness. McMillan defends the fees, arguing his firm injected money into neglected areas, attributing success to storytelling skills honed through D&D. Records show campaigns spent heavily on online ads, even outside Florida, to raise more money. Some question whether the approach diverted funds from voter outreach, while McMillan eyes new ventures using AI.

—“Democrats look to make a play for GOP turf with surge of new candidates” via Ally Mutnick, Nicholas Wu, and Holly Otterbein of POLITICO

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“Trump protests draw thousands in South Florida. ‘Can’t sit home any longer’” via David J. Neal and David Smiley of the Miami Herald — Fear and anger over Trump’s first turbulent months in office drove thousands in South Florida to the streets on Saturday during a national day of protest against what organizers called “the most brazen power grab in modern history.” Large crowds gathered in downtown Miami and Hollywood, where protesters hoped to channel the angst they felt into a different kind of energy. “I can’t sit home any longer,” said Todd Katzman, 57, of Fort Lauderdale, as he looked across Young Circle at a crowd estimated by organizers at about 2,000. Many waved American flags and signs that said things like “deport fascists, not families” and “resist.”

“A bad deal, narrowly averted in Palm Beach” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — Palm Beach County Commissioners have made the right call to launch a national search for a new County Administrator — before that, things were not looking good. A bare majority of four Commissioners initially preferred a truncated job application window to run one of the largest local governments in Florida. Joe Abruzzo, the elected county clerk of courts and a former Democratic legislator, was having one-on-one talks with Commissioners even before deciding on the job’s minimum qualifications. Two Democrats on the County Commission, Bobby Powell and Maria Sachs, served with Abruzzo in the Legislature. It didn’t seem right.

“Personalities collide in Coral Gables election as Mayor faces challenge from former ally” via Tess Riski of the Miami Herald — The upcoming election in the City Beautiful has turned ugly as Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago faces a challenge from a City Commissioner whom he once counted as an ally, Kirk Menendez. Issues of civility and transparency are at the heart of the April 8 election, which is Lago’s first competitive race since he became Mayor in 2021. Lago, who was reelected without opposition in 2023, is now vying for a third two-year term after a tumultuous couple of years in which he survived a recall effort but lost control of the City Commission. Unlike two years ago, Lago and Menendez now find themselves on opposing voting blocs of the five-member Commission, with Menendez and Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez often voting together and having the majority. For much of the past two years, Lago has been on the losing side of multiple 3-2 votes, along with Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, who is also up for re-election.

“Rhonda Anderson faces Felix Pardo, Laureano Cancio in Coral Gables re-election bid” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Vice Mayor Anderson is running to keep the Group 2 seat on the Coral Gables Commission that she won in 2021 with 73% of the vote. Two candidates, Pardo and Cancio, hope to supplant her. All three candidates agree that tempers on the five-member panel need cooling. They’re also opposed to overdevelopment in the city, albeit to different degrees. The Group 2 race and a pair of others for Mayor and the Commission’s Group 4 seat will realign power at City Hall after two years of turmoil there. Anderson and ally Lago, the incumbent, two-term Mayor, have frequently been on the losing side of controversial votes, including ones to hire and fire multiple City Managers and give hefty pay raises to Commission members. Tuesday will mark the first time they’ve been on the ballot since 2021, since the Mayor’s term is two years and Commissioners serve four-year terms, and voters can either reaffirm their belief in the pair’s work or replace them.

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Hundreds protest Trump’s policies during ‘Hands Off!’ rally at Munn Park in Lakeland” via Gary White of The Lakeland Ledger — For the third time in less than two months, critics of Trump and Elon Musk gathered in Polk County to voice alarm at the President’s policies. Saturday afternoon’s rally in Munn Park was the largest yet. Protesters braved near-record heat to occupy the north end of the park, carrying signs that were a mixture of printed banners with the “Hands Off!” logo and homemade posters bearing such messages as “Only you can prevent fascism” and “DOGE hurts veterans.”

“Fluoride debate spreads across Central Florida — next up Seminole County” via Martin E. Comas of the Orlando Sentinel — As fluoridation bans sweep smaller cities across Central Florida, Seminole County is poised Tuesday to consider removing the cavity-fighting chemical from its drinking water — the largest public water provider in the region to confront the issue. In the last three months, a half-dozen local City Commissions have voted to stop fluoridation — including Longwood and Lake Mary — reflecting a political shift fueled by state and federal GOP health leaders. Meanwhile, some of the area’s largest water agencies, including the Orlando Utilities Commission and Orange County, are waiting on the sidelines as the Florida Legislature considers a statewide ban. Amid the tumult, Seminole, which has fluoridated its water supply since 1988, has scheduled an informational discussion on the issue for Tuesday afternoon. In Osceola County, Toho Water Authority will hold community meetings about fluoridation across the county beginning Monday and continuing through April 17, seeking customer feedback.

“David Siegel, Westgate Resorts founder who helped fight drug abuse epidemic, dies at 89” via Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel — Siegel, the founder of Orlando-based Westgate Resorts who fought the opioid epidemic after his daughter overdosed, died Saturday at age 89. Siegel established Westgate Resorts in his garage in 1982, and it was the first property on an orange grove he owned in Kissimmee. Over the next several decades as CEO, he grew it into what the company called the largest privately held timeshare business in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States — boasting more than 13,500 rooms at 22 resorts across the country. He retired as CEO in March and was succeeded by Jim Gissy, a close friend and self-described right hand. Gissy said in a news release announcing Siegel’s death that he was committed to continuing his legacy at the company.

— LOCAL: TB —

“Should Pinellas have a countywide Mayor?” via Mark Parker of St. Pete Catalyst — Pinellas County, the first in Florida to adopt a Commission-Administrator form of government, could have its first elected Mayor in three years. At a strategic planning session on Thursday, County Commissioners agreed to reassess the current governing system. Should the bold idea move forward, voters would likely decide the fate of a countywide Mayor’s office in 2026. Commissioner Chris Latvala proposed the sweeping change, and County Administrator Barry Burton is already preparing a white paper for exploratory discussions. The detailed and research-based report will highlight governing systems allowable under state statutes and those employed by peers. “I believe, philosophically, that in a county such as ours, the person who makes the day-to-day decisions should be elected,” Latvala said. “It should be somebody that is accountable to the voters.” Latvala said Thursday’s work session marked the first time Pinellas officials have discussed restructuring the local government in a televised setting. He stressed that it “has nothing to do with” Burton’s performance.

“Leo Govoni pleads the Fifth as court expands search for missing trust fund money” via Christopher O’Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times — For the first time since being accused of taking $100 million from medical trust funds, Clearwater businessperson Govoni faced questions in a courtroom Friday morning as bankruptcy officers sought to expand their search for the missing money. Govoni took the witness stand as bankruptcy attorneys quizzed him about his ownership of more than two dozen companies for which they found paperwork at his offices on 49th Street North. The court previously banned Govoni from the building and granted bankruptcy officers control of the premises and several of his companies. On five occasions, Govoni, 67, either declined to answer on the advice of his counsel or pleaded the Fifth Amendment, a protection against giving self-incriminating evidence. That included questions about how he funded his ownership of some companies and whether he had their tax records.

— LOCAL: N. FL —

Happening today — Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor will hold a news conference to explain why he released a public Declaration of Independence from U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn: 1 p.m., Leon County Courthouse Rotunda, 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee.

“FHP monitoring ‘out of control’ brush fire on Jacksonville’s Westside” via Isabella Casapao of First Coast News — The Florida Highway Patrol is monitoring an “out of control” brush fire Sunday in the area of State Road 23, near Normandy Boulevard and 103rd Street. FHP said in a release Sunday evening that the fire is approximately 15 acres. Officials said the burning area is “difficult to access” due to the fire bordering a pond and swamp. Traffic cameras showed smoky conditions and emergency vehicles in the area. Drivers are encouraged to use caution while driving in the area, as visibility could become an issue due to smoky or foggy conditions.

“Florida Gaming Control Commission partners with LCSO to shut down three illegal casinos” via The Tallahassee Reports — The Florida Gaming Control Commission and Leon County Sheriff’s Office recently conducted Operation Westside to shut down three illegal casinos in the Tallahassee area. Assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations was also critical. Illegal slot machines and other illegal gambling machines, related equipment, and cash were seized from each location. Five arrests were also made. Florida law strictly regulates gambling, with slot machines permitted only in licensed gaming facilities.

“Man suing Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for sexual assault claims case linked to Dan Markel hitman” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat — A South Florida man who accused fallen hip-hop star Combs and others of sexually assaulting him during a “freak-off” claims one of the hitmen in the notorious Markel murder participated in subsequent efforts to keep him silent. Joseph Manzaro alleged that in April 2015, he was abducted, drugged and taken to Combs’ mansion in Miami, where he was sexually assaulted and subjected to “degrading and non-consensual acts.” He alleged that afterward, he was driven back to his apartment, “savagely beaten” and “left for dead.” The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, names Combs and four others as defendants, along with an unknown number of John Does. It garnered international headlines and mentioned several other celebrities whose spokespeople have denied the accusations. It also namedrops convicted Miami hitman Sigfredo Garcia.

“Tallahassee named 2025 All-America City finalist” via Tallahassee Reports — On April 2, Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey announced the community has been named a finalist for the 2025 All-America City Award. For over 75 years, the National Civic League’s All-America City Award has highlighted and celebrated outstanding civic innovation, recognizing communities that harness the power of local collaboration to drive meaningful change. Each year, only 10 communities earn this prestigious honor. Tallahassee was first recognized as an All-America City in 1999 and earned it again in 2015. “I am thrilled that Tallahassee has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 All-America City Award,” Dailey said. “We are a dynamic, forward-thinking community where passionate residents come together to create a sustainable future for all. Earning our third All-America City designation would be an incredible honor, and I’m excited to showcase Tallahassee’s strengths — our unique culture of collaboration and our shared dedication to continually enhancing the quality of life that makes us truly stand out.”

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

“Thousands gather in Sarasota to protest ‘destructive’ policies enacted by President Trump” via Melissa Pérez-Carrillo of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — A chorus of cars honked nonstop in support of the nearly 5,000 “Hands Off” protesters in Sarasota who mobilized against Trump and his close political ally Musk. The rally along Bayfront Drive is one of several that took place in Sarasota and Manatee counties and one of hundreds across the country. Nationwide, more than 500,000 people RSVP’d to attend one of 1,000 rallies, marches, or protests organized by grassroots groups who are outraged by Trump’s sweeping actions during his first 100 days in office. Barring a few shouts of profanities from cars flying Trump flags, vulgar hand signals and trucks intentionally pumping exhaust in protesters’ faces, there was a general overwhelming amount of support from cars driving past the protesters. For the few hours, while the protest was held, there were very few moments of silence.

—“Protesters gather along Tamiami Trail in Naples to rally against Trump administration” via Ricardo Rolón of the Naples Daily News

“Commissioners approve plans for hundreds of new homes in Manatee County” via Jesse Mendoza of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Commissioners approved a proposal to build 180 multifamily housing units meant to accommodate workforce housing and a business park called Innovation Business Park at Seaport Manatee on Thursday despite dissent by some Commissioners. The Board cast a 4 to 3 vote to approve zoning changes for the 43.81-acre property, which is located immediately east of the former Piney Point fertilizer processing plant. The property would be divided, with about 21 acres for residential housing to the west and 23 acres for the business park to the east. Proposed by Jones Potato Farm owner Alan Jones and pitched as housing solutions for industrial workers at the port, at least 25% of the 180 units proposed for the project would be designated as affordable housing. It also includes 745,202 square feet for non-residential uses to accommodate a small industrial business park.

“Sarasota schools to end on-campus therapy program that helped hundreds of kids” via Kara Newhouse of Suncoast Searchlight of WUSF — Sarasota County Schools is ending a longstanding contract that placed full-time mental health therapists in elementary schools at a time when demand for such services remains high and political attacks have targeted mental health funding in schools. The annual contract with The Florida Center for Early Childhood, which has been in place for seven years and served more than 475 children last year alone, will expire at the end of June and will not be renewed, according to the center’s CEO Kristie Skoglund. Instead, the district is weighing a new approach that shifts away from the in-school therapy model that once made Sarasota a national leader in student mental health care and raises questions about whether it will be enough to meet the needs.

— TOP OPINION —

“For Republicans, tariffs pose a risk like no other” via Nate Cohn of The New York Times — Post-election clarity? Not so fast. Despite initial GOP triumph, recent elections and Trump’s sweeping tariffs paint a different picture.

Democrats, not defeated, are fueled by highly engaged voters, hinting at Midterm gains. But Trump’s economic gamble is the real game-changer.

Unlike his first term, these tariffs risk a recession, threatening his image of economic strength. Trump’s approval is already slipping.

If the economic fallout is bad enough, dissatisfaction with the Trump administration could combine with the longstanding Democratic turnout advantage to make seemingly safe Republican states in 2026 — think Kansas, Iowa, and Texas — look plausibly competitive, perhaps even along with control of the Senate.

Congressional Republicans’ continued support of (or acquiescence to) Trump — whether on tariffs or his other excesses — could be in jeopardy.

For now, all of these potentially extraordinary developments are in the distant future. They are not necessarily likely, either. But as Trump’s second term takes shape, it increasingly seems clear that the “golden age” augured by the post-election “vibes” is even less likely still.

— OPINIONS —

“Trump needs to explain his national security firings” via The Washington Post — If not for Trump’s self-inflicted wounds from the tariffs he unveiled on Wednesday, the biggest White House story this past week might have been his purge of six National Security Council staffers and the top two officials at the National Security Agency. The ax fell on Thursday, a day after Trump met with far-right conspiracy theorist Loomer. In the Oval Office, she urged the President to fire the staffers on the dubious grounds that they were insufficiently loyal. Trump acknowledged that Loomer gives him personnel advice — and “sometimes I listen to those recommendations” — but denied doing so in this case. Loomer, however, claimed credit. Trump says he wants to be known as the most transparent President in U.S. history. In that case, he should explain to Americans why so many political appointees whom he placed in critical security jobs only three months ago needed to be fired so soon. Loomer suggested there had been a “vetting failure.”

“Doing away with FEMA would be a disaster” via the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial boards — Doing away with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be a disaster. A few months back, Trump said something that got attention from too few people. “I say you don’t need FEMA. You need a good state government,” Trump said after he saw Hurricane Helene’s devastating flooding in North Carolina and the damage from the wildfires in Los Angeles. But the words certainly resonated among some voters, who expressed concerns during recent elections. It’s a terrible idea. Natural disasters can devastate multiple states, with costs far beyond any state’s ability to pay. Planning for them, as FEMA does when it pre-positions supplies, is a legitimate multistate function.

“Randy Fine’s vulgar toxicity personifies Florida politics” via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel — Fine practices an angry brand of identity politics that both DeSantis and Trump espouse — which Floridians can’t seem to get enough of. The problem seems to be that some of the very politicians who routinely spew such takes don’t like it when any of it’s spewed in their direction. State Rep.-turned-Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini is another good example. Sabatini revels in nastiness, yet also loathes Fine, calling him a “fat slob,” “dirtbag,” “moron” and “freakshow.” Guys who dish it out hardest are often the softest about taking return fire. Meanwhile, Floridians keep electing and re-electing all the spewers, whether to Congress or a County Commission. Because, again, that’s what Florida is now. Perhaps it’s more fair to say that’s who Florida Republicans are, since they are the ones who completely dominate this state politically. The red-meat base now seems to drive the train.

“Don’t take away college choice from Florida students” via Arthur Keiser of Fort Myers News-Press — Florida has long been a national leader in expanding educational choice, especially at the K-12 level, where policymakers have championed the right of families to select schools that best meet their children’s needs. However, that same commitment to choice is under threat when it comes to higher education. Florida House leadership has proposed steep cuts to the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant — a modest but vital source of support that helps more than 40,000 Florida students attending one of 30 private, nonprofit colleges or universities in Florida that best fit their needs. The Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant is not a luxury — it is a vital access grant that levels the playing field for university students — recent high school graduates to adult learners and first-generation college students — who have selected a private university because of their small class sizes, flexible learning environments, and mission-driven faculty.

“An opportunity to reduce wasteful spending, improve lives” via Randy Ray for The Ponte Vedra Recorder — Obesity is a chronic disease affecting 42% of U.S. adults, with nearly half expected to be impacted by 2030. Despite being a major driver of health care costs, Medicare does not currently cover FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs), which are now delivering never-before-seen improvements. Expanding this coverage presents a smart opportunity to save taxpayer money while improving lives. Medicare already covers treatments for other chronic diseases. Anti-obesity medications have demonstrated unprecedented success in helping patients achieve sustained weight loss, reducing future health care costs. This is a fiscally responsible, bipartisan solution with strong support from medical experts. By modernizing Medicare to reflect the latest advancements in obesity treatment, Trump has an opportunity to both cut costs and improve the well-being of millions of Americans.

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

“Brooks & Dunn lead singer walks off stage during encore, leaving fans concerned for his health” via Christina Dugan Ramirez of Fox News — Country music icon Ronnie Dunn has fans concerned after the country star abruptly walked offstage. During a concert in Indianapolis on Thursday, the 71-year-old Brooks & Dunn member was singing the band’s iconic hit, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” during the show’s encore when, at one point, he gestured that he was done. In a video posted to TikTok, Dunn finished his verse in the song before shaking his head at a band member, insinuating that he would no longer perform. He faced the audience and pounded his heart before waving and walking offstage.

“Mel Gibson’s right to own a gun restored by Justice Department, NYT reports” via Reuters — The U.S. Justice Department will allow Gibson to own guns again, despite his 2011 conviction on a domestic violence charge, The New York Times reported on Thursday. Gibson, a strong supporter of Trump, was among nine other people whose right to own a gun would be restored. Their names will soon be published in the Federal Register.

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Best wishes to Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, former Sen. Annette Taddeo, Erica DiCeglie, Veronica Rudie, and Chris Turner.

___

Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.

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