Last Call for 3.23.26 – 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 nonprofit backing the upcoming “No Kings” protests is launching a $1 million national ad campaign ahead of planned demonstrations later this week.

Home of the Brave announced Monday it is placing ads in more than 300 newspapers across the country, including 28 in the Sunshine State, as part of an effort to build momentum for the Saturday protests.

The campaign also includes a new video featuring spokesperson Michael Fanone, a former Capitol Police officer, calling on Americans to “peacefully mobilize in support of democracy.”

The print ads carry the message, “We the People March Again. The abuses have not stopped. Neither will we,” alongside language inspired by the Bill of Rights and a call to action tied to the “No Kings” theme.

The group is no stranger to the format. Home of the Brave made a similar seven-figure buy in October, bringing its total spending tied to the protests to $2 million — a sizable investment in a medium more commonly associated with Sunday coupons than mass political mobilization.

Still, the organization is aiming for a broad geographic reach, placing ads in national outlets and local papers across 31 states. 

Home of the Brave says its mission is “to show Americans the real-world consequences of this administration’s policies, and to highlight what bravery looks like in defense of American democracy.”

Whether full-page print ads translate into bodies in the street is an open question, but the group is betting the message will land — wherever readers are still turning the page.

To watch the video, please click the image below:

Evening Reads

—”Born abroad and fearful of ICE, adoptees try to prove they belong” via Elizabeth Williamson of The New York Times

—“Supreme Court appears ready to limit mail-in balloting ahead of Midterms” via Justin Jouvenal of The Washington Post

—”American aviation is near collapse” via David A. Graham of The Atlantic

—“‘The Last Word’ spotlights Mar-a-Lago flip opportunity” via MS NOW

—“One company’s million-dollar gambit to turn the health care crisis into a gold mine” via Judd Legum of Popular Information

—”Polymarket’s coming-out party in Washington was a disaster” via Makena Kelly of WIRED

—”Ron DeSantis doesn’t rule out another run for President” via Alexandra Glorioso of the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times

—”On eve of SD 14 election, Dems still lag in early vote, but data suggests possible victory in defeat” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics

—”2025 extended Session cost Florida taxpayers more than $259K” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix

—”The obscure maestro who shocked the tournament’s defending champions” via Robert O’Connell and Laine Higgins of The Wall Street Journal

Quote of the Day

“If they’re not able to get anything done, we’re going to pick the ball up Day 1 …”

— U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, vowing to take up the mantle on property tax relief if elected Governor.

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.

Send a Leaf Blower to Sen. Keith Truenow and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who are celebrating DeSantis’ signature on the Florida Farm Bill.

Attorney General James Uthmeier will take a Drone Club, but be careful where you deliver it —if it lands on DOC property, you won’t like the consequences.

Dems saw some encouraging signs in the final days of early voting in SD 14, but they’re more than likely due for a Defeat By Greater Things.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Big men in spotlight as Heat face Spurs

The Miami Heat host the San Antonio Spurs tonight with major playoff implications (7 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN).

The Heat enter tonight in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. With 11 games left of the regular season schedule, Miami has lost four straight. If the season ended today, the Heat would have to earn a spot in the regular-season playoff field via the play-in tournament. In order to avoid such a fate, Miami must climb over the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, and the sixth-place Atlanta Hawks. The top six teams in each conference gain automatic playoff berths.

San Antonio has already clinched a postseason spot and is three games behind Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference. Led by 22-year-old phenom Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have won five straight and nine of the last 10 but have lost ground to the Thunder, who have won 11 straight.

The battle between Wembanyama and Miami’s Bam Adebayo figures to take center stage. Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, while Adebayo averaged 20.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He scored 83 points in a game earlier this month, the second-highest single-game point total in NBA history.

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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.