Last Call for 4.15.26 – 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.

Ed. Note — While Peter attends the 2026 Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting/Florida Policy Forum, Sunburn will take the evening off. The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics will return to inboxes on Friday morning. Have a great evening, and please stay safe.

— First Shot —

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that Florida is launching a new Public Assistance Fraud Task Force. This multi-agency group aims to strengthen the state’s legal response to fraud in taxpayer-funded benefit programs.

The task force will centralize legal guidance and prosecution strategies for cases involving programs like Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, housing assistance, and reemployment benefits. This should help state agencies and law enforcement build stronger criminal cases across different areas.

“We are launching this task force to bring accountability and prosecute those who are stealing from Floridians,” Uthmeier said. “Florida is not Minnesota or California, and we will safeguard the taxpayers’ investment in the services meant for the vulnerable.”

Uthmeier also named Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Scott Strauss as Special Prosecutor. Strauss will oversee ongoing multi-circuit investigations and help move cases from agency investigations to courtroom verdicts.

The task force includes agencies like the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the FDLE, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Officials say this will help investigators and prosecutors work together more quickly on complex cases that cross county lines.

“Floridians deserve a government that safeguards their taxpayer dollars from thieves and fraudsters,” said Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay. “Taxpayer-funded benefit programs exist to support some of our most vulnerable citizens. Holding accountable those who exploit these programs is essential to protecting both public trust and the people these resources are meant to serve.”

Public assistance fraud can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the case. Penalties may include fines, restitution, and prison time.

— Evening Reads —

—“Donald Trump’s Fed Chair pick is caught in an unprecedented standoff” via Nick Timiraos of The Wall Street Journal

—”White House touts refunds, as most Americans say taxes are too high” via Cat Zakrzewski of The Washington Post

—“Trump messed with the wrong Pope” via Christian Paz of Vox

—“Senate Republicans again block bid to limit Trump’s Iran war powers” via Robert Jimison and Megan Mineiro of The New York Times

—“JD Vance is *already* having a very bad week” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—“Kathy Castor, Anna Paulina Luna both want embattled Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Cory Mills to resign” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Paul Renner says congressional redistricting ‘justified’ as questions loom about the path forward” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

—“Alleged FSU shooter consulted ChatGPT on when to attack, sexual scenarios with a minor” via Liv Caputo of the Florida Phoenix

—“The deepfake nudes crisis in schools is much worse than you thought” via Matt Burgess of WIRED

—“We shouldn’t need accountants” via Annie Lowrey of The Atlantic

— Quote of the Day —

“My position has been clear. If someone is engaging in criminal conduct and illegal activity, they need to resign from Congress, and I refuse to cover for your ass.”

— U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, on calls for Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Cory Mills to resign.

— 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 Sunset Park to St. Johns County, which is flipping a sizable property acquisition into a regional park.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody’s fundraising team is enjoying Million Dollar Cocktails after collecting another $2.6M in the first quarter.

Former House Speaker Paul Renner gets a Tax Relief for rolling out his affordability plan on everyone’s favorite mid-April day.

— Breakthrough Insights —

— Tune In —

Magic seek playoff spot

The Orlando Magic try to earn a spot in the NBA playoffs as they travel to Philadelphia to face the 76ers in a play-in game (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video).

Orlando finished the regular season with a 45-37 record, the same as the Sixers, but lost out on hosting the play-in game due to a tiebreaker.

If Orlando wins, they will become the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and advance to face the Boston Celtics in a best-of-seven first-round series. If the Magic loses, they will face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday with the No. 8 seed on the line and a first-round meeting with the top seed in the East, the Detroit Pistons.

The Hornets advanced to the next round thanks to an overtime victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Orlando won five of the last six games of the regular season to secure a spot in the play-in phase. The team’s chances looked bleak after a six-game losing streak in mid-March, but over the last 10 games of the season, the Magic won seven times, despite leading scorer Paolo Banchero’s inconsistency. In the final 10 games of the regular season, Banchero averaged 19 points per contest, including being held to 14 points or fewer four times in that stretch.

In the final 10 games, four other players led the Magic in scoring at least once: Desmond Bain, Jamal Cain, Wendell Carter Jr., and Franz Wagner. Perhaps the quartet can supplement Banchero in the postseason to extend the Magic’s season.

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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.