Last Call for 4.16.26 – 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 —

The Florida Supreme Court has unanimously selected John Couriel as its next Chief Justice, effective July 1.

Couriel, who joined the high court in 2020 after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will succeed Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz, whose second term in the court’s top administrative post ends June 30. Muñiz will remain on the bench as an Associate Justice.

“I am grateful to my colleagues for their trust and am indebted to the previous chief justices with whom I’ve served,” Couriel said in a news release. “I will do my best to serve the people of Florida as they so ably have.”

Couriel, 48, is the 90th justice of the Florida Supreme Court and will become the state’s 58th Chief Justice when he’s sworn into the position later this year. His selection was unanimous among the court’s seven members.

For many years, procedural rules dictated a preference for selecting the court’s longest-serving justice who had not been chief justice, a description Justice Couriel fits. The rules now call for selection “based on managerial, administrative, and leadership abilities, without regard to seniority only.”

The Chief Justice serves as the top administrative officer for the judicial branch, overseeing court operations, budget priorities and the branch’s legislative agenda, while also acting as its primary public spokesperson on matters of statewide importance. 

Couriel, a Harvard law graduate and son of Cuban immigrants, was a partner at the law firm Kobre & Kim before his appointment to the high court in mid-2020.

— Evening Reads —

—“Donald Trump tests loyalty of Christian supporters as erratic behavior escalates” via Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post

—“$500,000 buys a ‘one-on-one meeting’ with Trump” via Judd Legum of Popular Information

—“Ahead of 2028, JD Vance collects cash, chits and contacts” via Theodore Schleifer and Shane Goldmacher of The New York Times

—“Pete Hegseth quotes fake ‘Pulp Fiction’ bible verse, compares Trump to Jesus” via Nikki McCann Ramirez of Rolling Stone

—“Ryan Tyson says it’s still unlikely Democrats win statewide in Florida, but not impossible” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Largely secret donors pour millions into election that could tip Congress” via Clara Ence Morse and Gregory S. Schneider of The Washington Post

—“What the new loan caps will mean for grad students this Fall” via Amy Fan of The New York Times

—“Former Senate Appropriations Chairs see long path ahead on budget negotiations” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Rural health transformation grants are here” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix

—“Florida 2026 childhood vaccination rates fall, even as measles cases hit record levels” via Cindy Krischer Goodman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

—“The alcohol crisis quietly hitting high-stress, ‘high-status’ workers” via Dylan Scott of Vox

—“They sold their careers to LIV Golf. These players have no idea what’s next.” via Andrew Beaton of The Wall Street Journal

—“Gatorade was invented in Florida 60 years ago. It’s now after a different kind of customer” via Dee-Ann Durbin of The Associated Press

— Quote of the Day —

“It is statistically improbable that a Democrat can be successful statewide — statistically improbable. But it’s no longer impossible.”

— Pollster and The Tyson Group founder Ryan Tyson, on the Midterm Elections.

— 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.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will be in line for a 1983 Espresso Martini if she becomes the first Democratic Mayor of the city to win re-election in more than 40 years.

Florida utility providers say solar has been a solid investment, but they all say energy diversity is the key to keeping the Voltage flowing.

Former Senate Appropriations Chairs expect the go-to drink for budget writers will be a Derniere Minute … and they wouldn’t be surprised to see the trend carry forward, either.

— Breakthrough Insights —

— Tune In —

Lightning open playoffs on Sunday

The Tampa Bay Lightning begins play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday as they host the Montreal Canadiens in game one of the Eastern Conference first-round series.

Tampa Bay (50-26-6, 106 pts.) finished the regular season in second place in the Atlantic Division and third place in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning will look to reverse their fortunes after losing four of the last six games of the season.

Tampa Bay right wing Nikita Kucherov finished the regular season tied for the most assists and second most points, missing out on his third straight Art Ross Trophy to Connor McDavid of Edmonton.

Montreal (48-24-10, 106 pts.) tied the Lightning in the standings, but Tampa Bay held the tiebreaker with more regulation wins to earn home ice advantage. Montreal right wing Cole Caufield led the Canadiens with 51 goals, second-most in the NHL this season.

The two teams played four times during the regular season, with Tampa Bay winning 6-1 at Montreal on Dec. 9, 5-4 in a shootout in Tampa on Dec. 28, and the Canadiens taking the final two matchups, 4-1 in Tampa on March 31 and 2-1 in Montreal on April 9.  

The winner of the best-of-seven series will advance to face the winner of the Buffalo Sabres-Boston Bruins series, which also opens on Sunday.

Times for Sunday’s games have not yet been announced. 

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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.