Last Call for 7.15.26 – 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.

— First Shot —

Registration is now open for the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Annual Insurance Summit, scheduled for Dec. 10-11 at the Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando.

Now entering its 19th year, the summit brings together lawmakers, regulators, insurers, business leaders and legal professionals to examine the state of Florida’s insurance market. Organizers say this year’s program will focus on affordability, market stability and what’s next for insurance reform as new state leaders take office.

The annual event has become one of Florida’s premier insurance policy forums, routinely drawing the state’s top elected officials, regulators, industry executives and legal experts for discussions on the market’s biggest challenges.

While this year’s agenda is still being finalized, last year’s summit featured Attorney General James Uthmeier, Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and other leaders discussing property insurance reforms, litigation trends, fraud, artificial intelligence, reinsurance and the state’s evolving homeowners and auto insurance markets.

The Chamber is also asking attendees to spread the word as the agenda develops by sharing event details with colleagues who are interested in participating in discussions on “insuring Florida’s future the right way.”

More information and registration details are available here.

— Evening Reads —

—”Trump and Iran signed a truce but still can’t agree on what its terms mean” via Susannah George of The Washington Post

—”I think this is the most important chart of 2026” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”Joe Biden to discuss stepping aside, COVID response in new memoir” via Jason Newman and Kory Grow of Rolling Stone

—”What is Todd Blanche still hiding about Epstein?” via Judd Legum of Popular Information

—”OpenAI staffers are funding a rival super PAC to take on their boss” via Maxwell Zeff of WIRED

—”The most surprising winner of the World Cup was American public transit” via Sara Herschander of Vox

—”Environmental group drops ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ pollution suit after site shuts down” via Liv Caputo of the Florida Phoenix

—”Orlando’s newest NIMBY fight is against … teacher housing?” via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel

—”Leon County Commissioners unanimously pull Flock camera funding after public pressure” via Fabrizio Gowdy of Florida Politics

— Quote of the Day —

“I hate those damn cameras.”

— Chair Christian Caban, as the Leon County Commission voted to pull Flock camera funding after public pressure.

— 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.

With a state probe, a lawsuit from the Attorney General, and new action from John Morgan, Florida is serving OpenAI a Scofflaw.

Whoever is passing out Forest For The Trees ahead of FBC meetings, please stop — they’re blocking Florida from adopting nationally accepted standards for mass timber construction.

With The Lincoln Project’s latest ad likening Attorney General Todd Blanche to a ‘mob lawyer,’ he may as well embrace it and order a Goodman.

— Breakthrough Insights —

— Tune In —

Miami FC, Sporting JAX in action tonight

Traditionally in American sports, the day after the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is very quiet. This year, with the World Cup, there are no MLS games scheduled, but two Florida-based USL Championship teams are playing home matches this evening.

In South Florida, Miami FC hosts Indy Eleven (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) while Sporting JAX hosts the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in Jacksonville (7:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network).

Miami features a pair of players from the Curacao side that competed in the FIFA World Cup, goalkeeper Eloy Room and forward Jurgen Locadia. Room enjoyed a record-tying game against Ecuador, matching former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard’s record of 15 saves. Miami sits just above the playoff cutline in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference with 18 points, but only two draws in the last four matches. Indy Eleven has won four of the last five matches to climb to fifth in the table.

Sporting JAX is still looking for the first win in USL Championship play. The first-year squad is coming off a draw at Loudon United on July 3 when they equalized in stoppage time to salvage a point, the club’s fourth draw of the season.

The USL Championship season is at the halfway point with most clubs completing 15 of 30 matches in the league.

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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.