Politics
Last Call for 8.6.25 – 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 sitting Congressman. A state GOP official. A pageant crown. Threats, texts, and accusations of revenge porn.
The latest scandal surrounding U.S. Rep. Cory Mills is pushing the New Smyrna Beach Republican into uncharted political peril — not just with Democrats, but possibly within his party.
Columbia County Republican State Committeewoman Lindsey Langston, the reigning Miss United States, alleges that Mills threatened to release sexually explicit videos and messages after their relationship ended earlier this year. The claim comes months after another woman, who lived with Mills in his Washington, D.C., apartment, called police to report an assault (she later withdrew the accusation). Langston has filed a report with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the case.
Mills is also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations that defense contractors in which he holds a stake benefited from his legislative work. A D.C. landlord has also sued over unpaid rent. And now, for the first time since Mills flipped the seat red in 2022, Democrats are mounting a serious play for Florida’s 7th Congressional District.
Winter Park Democrat Noah Widmann outraised the incumbent in Q2, pulling in over $254,000 since launching in May. Mills, who raised $253,000 during the same period, has more overall this cycle, but is also carrying more than $2 million in debt and continues to spend steadily. Widmann’s momentum has prompted the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to list the district among its top targets.
The question now isn’t whether Mills is vulnerable in a general — it’s whether Republicans are willing to take that chance. With their House majority hanging by a thread and a mid-decade redistricting fight on the horizon, GOP strategists may soon ask whether defending Cory Mills is worth the cost — political, financial, or otherwise.
Evening Reads
—“Deplete the Police: How the federal immigration crackdown could cripple local law enforcement” via Judd Legum, Rebecca Crosby and Noel Sims of Popular Information
—”Donald Trump weighs getting involved in New York City Mayor’s race” via Nicholas Fandos, Jeremy W. Peters, Maggie Haberman and Katherine Rosman of The New York Times
—”Trump’s tariffs have pissed off the right’s favorite ‘pervert’” via Zack Beauchamp of Vox
—”How many times can science funding be canceled?” via Katherine J. Wu of The Atlantic
—”Charter planes and bidding wars: How Bitcoin miners raced to beat Trump’s tariffs” via Joel Khalili of WIRED
—”Reigning Miss United States says Cory Mills threatened to release revenge porn after she dumped him” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
—”Florida’s top marijuana regulator leaves post” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix
—“Amnesty for Carolina Amesty: Feds won’t pursue criminal case over COVID loans, defense lawyer says” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics
—”After illness outbreak, Wilton Simpson urges Floridians to stick with pasteurized milk” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics
—”The mystery of the L.A. mansion filled with surrogate children” via Katherine Long, Ben Foldy and Sara Randazzo of The Wall Street Journal
Quote of the Day
“If we’ve made the technological advances to make milk safe. Why would we want to go backward to making milk unsafe?”
— USF public health professor Jill Roberts, on the raw milk illness outbreak.
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.
Slide a Sinking Ship Swizzle to Cory Mills, whose political future was already in rocky waters before the latest scandal dropped.
Send a White Russian to the raw milk fan in your life — if they won’t do as the Agriculture Commissioner says and switch to pasteurized, might as well nuke the germs with vodka.
The investigation into her business dealings might’ve made political opponents salivate, but for now, Carolina Amesty is walking away with a Scot-Free.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Arik Armstead has yet to play a down in Jacksonville’s training camp, a lingering absence that has the Jaguars concerned about his availability for the season opener.
The 31-year-old defensive tackle opened camp last month watching from the sideline in what coach Liam Coen equated to giving him “a little bit of a veteran start.” Now, two weeks later and with Armstead still without a practice rep, Coen said he is dealing with a back injury that has him on the shelf indefinitely.
Although Coen expressed optimism that Armstead could be ready for the team’s opener against Carolina on Sept. 7, he added, “It’s hard for me to say right now.”
“Ultimately, he’ll probably know how to get himself ready to go, I would hope,” Coen said Tuesday. “The key is just making sure that he’s healthy and ready to go for the first game. Ultimately, it’s a long season, as we know.
“Not to say that early (games) aren’t obviously as important as late ones, but it is a long season, and we’re really just trying to get him to be as healthy as possible.”
Armstead signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with Jacksonville in 2024 that included $28 million guaranteed. It was an eye-popping deal for a 6-foot-7, 290-pound player on the wrong side of 30 who missed 13 games over his final two seasons in San Francisco.
Read more via The Associated Press.
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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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The horrific shooting in Australia that claimed at least 16 lives during a Hanukkah celebration has prompted an expression of sympathy from Florida lawmakers.
The Florida Jewish Legislative Caucus issued a statement of condemnation of the violence during the Jewish observance on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The Caucus published its statement Sunday afternoon.
“The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus unequivocally condemns the horrific and senseless killing that occurred during Hanukkah in Australia. An act of violence against Jews celebrating their faith is an attack not only on a single community, but on the fundamental values of freedom, religious liberty, and human dignity,” the Florida Legislative Caucus said in a news release.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, with the victims’ families, and with Jewish communities around the world who are once again forced to confront hatred simply for being who they are. The State of Florida’s Jewish legislators join in mourning, remembrance, and resolve.”
The Florida LegislativeJewish Caucus has a dozen members from the House of Representatives and two State Senators.
Hundreds of people had gathered Sunday at the beach for an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, when gunmen opened fire. At least 38 others were injured in the attack.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll had risen from 12 to 16 overnight, including a 12-year-old child. Three other children are being treated in hospital, he said.
“This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community. … What we saw last night was the worst of humanity, but at the same time, the very best of humanity,” Park said.
The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those and Sunday’s shooting were connected. It is the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.
One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was arrested and in critical condition, authorities said. Police said one gunman was known to security services, but there was no specific threat.
At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, said Mal Lanyon, police commissioner for New South Wales state, where Sydney is located.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
The violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands had flocked to Bondi Beach, including hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.
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Material from The Associated Press was used in this report with permission.
Behavioral health officials have a list of precautions for Floridians to deal with anxieities heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day.
While the holidays can bring a lot of comfort and joy, the can also be a stressful time and Florida’s health management entities are providing some helpful tips to deal with yuletide anxiety.
There are seven behavioral health managing entities in the state and all of them are aware that stress heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day can seem overwhelming at times. They’re advising balance may be one of the key elements in dealing with the holidays.
“The holidays are a time of joy, but they can also be a time of stress, sadness and triggering situations,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. “Florida’s behavioral health Managing Entities remind Floridians that behavioral health services are available, even to those who are uninsured or underinsured.”
The state’s behavioral health professionals are also providing a list of tips to help come to grips with any holiday tension including:
— Get plenty of exercise. Exercising boosts your mood and combats depression.
— Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol is a depressant that can cause feelings of anxiety, sadness and depression.
— Set healthy boundaries and don’t overextend yourself. Setting realistic expectations can help reduce stress.
— Seek the help of a counselor for mental health needs. If you feel overwhelmed or the need to get help to address your feelings, contact a counselor.
— Call 2-1-1 if needed to connect with resources in your community.
— Call 9-8-8 if you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts.
A mental-health treatment network has been established in the state for providers who deliver services to residents needing help. Those services extend to parents and children, veterans and the homeless.
Providers serve patients for not only mental health needs, but substance use, housing, transportation and employment help. Those managing entities are often overseen by community organizations and administrators and are accountable to state and federal funds.
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