Last Call for 12.15.25 – 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 Shot

A new national survey finds Americans across demographic and partisan lines continue to support policies that expand parental control and education choice in K-12 schools, including open enrollment, education savings accounts, and education tax credits.

The polling, conducted by YouGov on behalf of yes. every kid. foundation., surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide between Nov. 19 and Nov. 24 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6%.

According to the survey, 64% of respondents support allowing students to attend any public school in their state regardless of where they live, while 63% support education savings accounts that will enable families to direct public education funds toward tuition, tutoring, or other education-related expenses. Support for education tax credits reached 58%.

The findings show consistent backing for education choice policies across key demographic groups, including majorities of K-12 parents, Black voters, Hispanic voters, and voters in both major political parties.

Support for greater parental accountability was also a central theme in the survey. More than three-quarters of respondents said K-12 schools need to be more accountable to parents, and 61% agreed schools would be more accountable if families could leave a school and take their education funding with them.

“Americans across the country are united behind education freedom. They want to give families more authority, more flexibility, and more options than the current system offers, and the data shows they are far ahead of the political debate,” said Matt Frendewey, vice president of Strategy at yes. every kid. foundation.

The polling also found education remains a high-priority issue for voters heading into the 2026 election cycle. A majority of respondents rated education as highly important in their vote for Congress next year, and education had a net positive impact on ballot decisions across party lines.

While respondents expressed confidence in parents and state governments to make education decisions, the federal government ranked lowest in trust. Nearly two-thirds of voters said K-12 education decisions should be made by those closest to students — families, teachers, and local communities — rather than by national experts.

“For the third year in a row, our survey demonstrates that Americans are demanding a new direction in education, one that respects the needs of every child, shifts accountability to families, and expands opportunities to empower all children to succeed,” Frendewey said.

Evening Reads

—“Donald Trump bashes late director Rob Reiner, drawing immediate backlash” via Amy B. Wang of The Washington Post

—”Nvidia becomes a major model maker with Nemotron 3” via Will Knight of WIRED

—”How a tech-savvy officer finally cracked the Jan. 6 pipe-bombs case” via Sadie Gurman and C. Ryan Barber of The Wall Street Journal

—”The SEC was tough on crypto. It pulled back after Trump returned to office.” via Ben Protess, Andrea Fuller, Sharon LaFraniere and Seamus Hughes of The New York Times

—”The unexpected link between your diet and your anxiety” via Hannah Seo of Vox

—”‘The sun rises and sets with her, man’” via Jesse Raub of The Atlantic

—”How did ‘Heat’ become the most beloved crime movie of the past 30 years?” via David Fear of Rolling Stone

—”Ron DeSantis warns of dangers of AI, calls for Florida to regulate the technology” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

—”Orlando ICE office becomes place of fear as asylum seekers line up to learn their fate” via Natalia Jaramillo of the Orlando Sentinel

—“Former Florida Supreme Court justice speaks out for an independent judiciary” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix

Quote of the Day

“I’m not concerned about the recent executive order, because it doesn’t apply against the states directly.”

— Gov. Ron DeSantis, on Trump’s executive order pre-empting state-level AI regulations.

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.

Wilton Simpson gets a Candy Cane for handing out personalized “Certificates of Clearance” recognizing Santa’s imminent arrival.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis gets a Crystal Clear for getting on board with a movement to reduce the impacts of the Clean Water Act.

The Florida State Parks Foundation gets a Park Lane in celebration of yet another record in annual financial impact.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Lightning host Panthers

Florida’s NHL rivals meet tonight with the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, SCRIPPS).

Tampa Bay leads the Atlantic Division standings, tied with the Detroit Red Wings on points. No team in the division has as impressive a goal differential as the Lightning, who have outscored the opposition by 21 goals this season.

Remarkably, Tampa Bay is only one game over .500 at home, having won eight of 15 games on home ice. 

Injuries have been an issue for the Lightning, but they continue to get results, winning four of the last five games. 

Florida, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion, sits five points behind the Lightning in the standings. Tonight’s game marks the end of a four-game road trip for the Panthers, who have won two of the previous three games on the road. It is the second meeting between the two Sunshine State rivals this season. Tampa Bay won the first game 3-1 on Nov. 15 in South Florida. The two organizations will meet twice more in the regular season, Dec. 27 in South Florida and Feb. 5 in Tampa.

Florida’s Sam Reinhart has enjoyed success against the Lightning, scoring 18 goals in 35 games against Tampa Bay.

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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.