Last Call for 11.24.25 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

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

First, a happy birthday to Rubin, Turnbull & Associates VP Chris Finkbeiner.

First Shot

Azoria CEO James Fishback made his long-teased bid for Governor official Monday, rolling out a hard-line, “Florida First” campaign that casts him as the ideological heir to Gov. Ron DeSantis and a foil to U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

In a nearly three-minute launch video posted shortly before a Tallahassee press conference, Fishback vowed to “preserve Governor DeSantis’ wins” and ripped Donalds over H-1B visas, AI data centers and stock trading, arguing the Naples Republican “can’t be our next Governor” and promising to visit all 67 counties while focusing on affordability for families.

Donalds’ camp promptly swatted him away. “Byron Donalds will be Florida’s next Governor because he is the proven conservative fighter endorsed by President Trump. Anyone running against him is an anti-Trump RINO and will get crushed in the Republican Primary,” said Ryan Smith, Chief Strategist for Donalds 2026.

Then things got worse for Fishback. Speaking with reporters at the Historic Capitol, he repeatedly called Donalds a “slave” to corporate interests. Donalds is Black.

“Byron Donalds is a slave. I’m sorry, he’s a slave,” he said.

There’s no avenue for the benefit of the doubt here: Fishback has spent weeks attempting to brand Donalds as a “DEI Republican” while pushing an explicitly anti-immigration platform that includes ending H-1B visas and halting legal immigration.

And that’s before voters even get to the baggage.

The short version: he is not a light traveler.

The longer version: Fishback has been accused in court of stalking by former Incubate Debate employee Keinah Fort (he ultimately prevailed in that case), sued by former employer Greenlight Capital for allegedly inflating his résumé and trying to game a charitable match program, ordered to repay more than $300,000 in loans, and tied to social media commentary ranging from Holocaust denial and praise for Nick Fuentes to attacks on fellow Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Randy Fine.

Fishback joins a Republican field where Donalds is already the clear front-runner, with others such as former House Speaker Paul Renner and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins circling — and he showed up with his own oppo file gift-wrapped, bow and all.

Evening Reads

—“White House holiday happenings to feature official Christmas tree and turkey pardoning this week” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics 

—”Before challenging Donald Trump’s Florida Governor pick, James Fishback sought Fed role, investments from Trump world” via Will Steakin and Max Zahn of ABC News

—”Why is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. so convinced he’s right?” via Michael Scherer of The Atlantic

—”Marjorie Taylor Greene (finally) realized Trump is a grifter” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”The hard-left shooters leading a gun culture revolution” via Manisha Krishnan of WIRED

—“How Democrats are building their own digital media army” via Dylan Wells and Sarah Ellison of The Washington Post

—“Wealthy people have always shaped universities. This time is different.” via Alan Blinder and Stephanie Saul of The New York Times

—”Cities made a bet on millennials — but forgot one key thing” via Rachel Cohen Booth of Vox

—”Fishback is a liar and, possibly, a stalker” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics

—”County leaders get candid in discussing getting ‘DOGEd’ by CFO’s office” via Mitch Perry of Florida Phoenix

Quote of the Day

“This should be a no-brainer, but keep children far away while frying your turkey.”

— CFO Blaise Ingoglia, emphasizing something that is unfortunately not a no-brainer for many of those who walk among us.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

Adding booze to the equation wouldn’t make James Fishback’s candidacy more palatable. Still, there are plenty of people clamoring to give him a Shoo-Fly and, come August 2026, the more explicit “AMF.”

If you want to start a fire, drop a frozen turkey into a thin aluminum bucket of boiling oil. If you’re going to actually enjoy your Thanksgiving, however, send CFO Blaise Ingoglia a Firestarter for reminding Floridians that defrosting isn’t optional. 

The Florida Educator Health Trust has helped School Board shave millions off annual health coverage costs for educators. Just don’t put the celebratory Expense Account on the P-card unless you want the district CPA to have an aneurysm.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Surging Lightning host Flyers

The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight (7 p.m. ET, WXPX and ESPN+) in a meeting of two teams in playoff position a quarter of the way through the season.

Tampa Bay (12-7-2, 26 points) is fifth in the Eastern Conference standings on the strength of a three-game winning streak. The Lightning have won 11 of the last 14 games, including a 5-3 victory at the Washington Capitals on Saturday night. In the game, Brandon Hagel scored a pair of goals and assisted on two more.

Tampa Bay trails first-place Detroit in the Atlantic Division by a single point. If the season ended today, both the Lightning and the Flyers would be in the playoffs, with Philadelphia securing the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Only five points separate the Flyers from the top seed in the East.

Philadelphia (11-6-3, 25 points) is coming off consecutive home wins over the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils. Against the Devils on Saturday night, the Flyers netted six goals, including a franchise record three goals in 26 seconds. Philadelphia has won eight of the last 13 games. 

The two teams will meet twice more this season when the Flyers host the Lightning on Jan. 10 and Jan 12.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.