Politics
Last Call for 8.10.26 – 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 —
Attorney General James Uthmeier is invoking Florida’s status as a New York Times shareholder to demand a look under the hood at the newspaper’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.
Uthmeier sent the Times a 28-page letter seeking access to company records, including Board of Directors minutes and other internal documents related to its journalism and oversight.
The hook: Florida owns a piece of the company.
Uthmeier, acting as a Trustee and legal counsel for the State Board of Administration, said Florida’s pension fund holds about 160,000 shares of New York Times Co. stock. He argues that gives the state a legitimate shareholder interest in determining whether disputed coverage is damaging its reputation.
“The Times tells investors that its brand and reputation are its most important assets,” Uthmeier said. “If people see its journalism as unreliable or biased, the company can be hurt.”
Uthmeier specifically pointed to a May opinion column by columnist Nicholas Kristof alleging widespread sexual violence against Palestinian detainees by Israeli prison guards.
Israeli officials disputed the piece and threatened to sue the Times for defamation. The newspaper has defended the column.
The Attorney General also cited the Times’ broader reporting after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, writing that between October 2023 and June 2024 “the Times admitted 72 errors of its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war that had to be corrected. And many, if not most, of those errors favored Hamas.”
Uthmeier acknowledged the obvious First Amendment issue raised by a state Attorney General demanding internal records from one of the country’s largest newspapers, but framed the request as corporate governance rather than an attempt to dictate coverage.
“But it does not let a public company’s Board ignore its shareholders,” Uthmeier said.
He said the demand is being made under New York law and is intended to determine what the company’s Board knew about the disputed coverage and how it responded.
The New York Times Co. has 14 days to respond.
— Evening Reads —
“As voters grow anxious over AI, Donald Trump shrugs off the concern” via Tony Romm of The New York Times
“How the economy is hurting Republicans’ Midterm chances” via Amber Phillips of The Washington Post
“Why normal people aren’t using AI agents” via Maxwell Zeff of WIRED
“The man in charge of immigration data just resigned” via Nick Miroff of The Atlantic
“Beware the Bros of War” via Mac William Bishop of Rolling Stone
“Popular DROP program could be dropped for new public employees” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix
“FDA orders food-ingredient disclosure, delays RFK Jr.’s ultraprocessed crackdown” via Liz Essley Whyte of The Wall Street Journal
“Michael Carbonara is gambling campaign cash on crypto, and his old company gets a cut” via Florida Politics
“Ashley Moody, Alex Vindman both reach into seven figures in fundraising while squabbling over totals” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Charlie Crist’s fundraising advantage on full display with major ad buys, twice the mail as Ken Welch” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics
— Quote of the Day —
“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
— Gov. Ron DeSantis, on flying vehicles coming to Florida.
— 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.
Michael Carbonara is risking campaign dollars and raking in Crypto Nuggets for his company.
The only Backdraft four South Florida fire departments should see today comes in a novelty glass and goes on the CFO’s tab.
Send a Captain No-show to Seminole County Judge candidate Erik Swenk, who faces accusations of falsifying his attendance sheets and misusing his office email.
— Breakthrough Insights —
— Tune In —
Fresh turf
Florida State is putting down fresh sod at Doak Campbell Stadium ahead of the Seminoles’ Aug. 29 season opener against New Mexico State.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, FSU is spending approximately $375,000 to re-sod the playing surface, marking the second consecutive season the school has replaced the grass before its first home game.
This year, grounds crews have considerably more breathing room. FSU installed new grass just 11 days before its 2025 win over Alabama. The current project provides roughly three weeks to prepare the field before the Aggies arrive in Tallahassee.
FSU is using a “sod on plastic” installation process that places approximately 2 inches of sod over a plastic base. The method is considered an industry standard for “lay and play” surfaces and typically allows the field to be used immediately after installation.
An FSU spokesperson told the Democrat the grounds department is confident the field will be in excellent condition for kickoff.
The Seminoles held two scrimmages inside Doak before the work began. They aren’t expected to return to the stadium until the Aug. 29 opener.
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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.
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