Last Call for 12.4.25 – 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

Attorney General James Uthmeier used his appearance at the Florida Chamber’s 2025 Annual Insurance Summit to warn insurers that the state’s recent reforms are working — and to warn insurers not to squander the progress.

Uthmeier said a former House Speaker once told him, “You can do all this stuff to help the evil insurance companies. You can do all these reforms, but you will never see rates go down. Mark my words. You will never see it.”

He argued that the results now undercut that prediction, pointing to 17 new companies entering the homeowners insurance market since the 2022 Special Session reforms passed, plus more competition in the form of 33 companies filing for rate decreases and dozens more keeping rates flat since the beginning of last year.

He also highlighted a sharp turnaround in the domestic property market, saying carriers went from a $741 million loss in 2022 to a $954 million net income in 2024. On the consumer side, he told the crowd that his personal auto insurance rates have gone down 6% for 2 years in a row, and he’s now seeing his property insurance rates go down.

He added a caveat: “God helped us out with a calm storm season.”

Still, Uthmeier stressed that those gains come with strings attached for the industry.

“So things are going well, but let’s not take it for granted. Let’s not abuse it. My ask of you all in this room is to go out and be good actors, good citizens,” he said. “I know many of you already are, but find ways to plug into your community and correct this misperception that insurance companies are bad and evil. Lawyers, we have the same problem: everybody hates us until they need us.”

Uthmeier said he would do his part from the state’s side but that insurers needed to make it clear to Floridians that they will be there for them “in the most dire of times” if they want to keep the hard-fought reforms in place.

Evening Reads

—”The renamed ‘Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace’ hosts first event” via Dan Diamond, Alec Dent and Katharine Houreld of The Washington Post

—”Republican anger erupts at Mike Johnson as party frets about future” via Annie Karni of The New York Times

—”The ‘chemtrails’ conspiracy theory dogging the battle against drought” via Kris Maher of The Wall Street Journal

—”The ever-present panic about America’s schools” via Idrees Kahloon of The Atlantic

—”Bait-and-switch? Ron DeSantis skips Jay Collins’ telephone town hall, raising more questions about lack of support” via Florida Politics

—”Florida starts redistricting talks in a growing battle for House control in 2026 Elections” via Kate Payne of The Associated Press

—”DeSantis, House differ on when to redistrict Florida maps amid Trump push” via Romy Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times

—”‘Age of darkness and deceit’: DeSantis proposes ‘AI bill of rights’ in crack down” via Liv Caputo of the Florida Phoenix

—”Human rights report, art exhibit allege inhumane conditions at Alligator Alcatraz” via Churchill Ndonwie of the Miami Herald

—”Central Florida immigrants seeking legal residency thrust into limbo with Trump directive” via Natalia Jaramillo and Cristóbal Reyes of The Orlando Sentinel

Quote of the Day

“Given the fact that we are less than a year away from the election, not to mention the fact the candidate qualifying period for federal offices in late April, it would be irresponsible to delay the creation and passage of a new map, especially until after Session.”

— Rep. Mike Redondo, on congressional redistricting.

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.

Gov. Ron DeSantis was on the guest list for Lt. Gov. Jay Collins’ telephone town hall, but he apparently decided to drink a Ghosted instead.

Hulk, Green Eyed Monster, Shrock or Hip and Hen — call it what you like, but Uthmeier gets his pick of the Nike-mixology crossovers after busting a trio of sneaker thieves.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is prescribing Cory Mills some in-District time as he evaluates his political future. That pairs well with a Downhome Punch.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

FSU looking to rebound

Florida State tries to bounce back after a lopsided loss as it travels to face eighth-ranked Houston on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, Peacock).

The Seminoles (5-3) were bludgeoned by Georgia, 107-73, as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge on Tuesday. It was the second consecutive loss for Florida State. After scoring at least 87 points in five of the first six games, FSU has failed to top 73 points in each of the last two games. 

Utilizing an up-tempo approach, Florida State has made more than 12 3-pointers per game, fourth-most in the nation, although no Seminoles player is in the top 50 in 3-pointers made per game this season.

Houston (7-1) has only lost to 17th-ranked Tennessee in a three-point game. The Cougars are coming off a 66-56 victory over Notre Dame. Houston has won 28 straight games against unranked opponents since last November. 

Following the game in Houston, the Seminoles will host UMass on Dec. 13, Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 19, and Jacksonville on Dec. 22 before opening ACC play at North Carolina on Dec. 30.

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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.