Last Call for 9.16.25 – 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

Florida has opened a new outpost in Europe, planting a SelectFlorida trade development office in Milan.

The move makes Italy the 16th country where SelectFlorida now has a permanent presence, part of the state’s push to expand its international economic footprint. The Milan office comes less than a year after Gov. Ron DeSantis met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and pledged to deepen ties between the two economies.

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly called Milan “Italy’s economic powerhouse” and said a permanent office there will help attract investment and open doors for Florida’s exporters. Interim SelectFlorida President Matt Swanson added that Italy has long been a priority market for industries ranging from aerospace to logistics.

The office will serve as a hub for connecting Florida companies with Italian partners, while also assisting Italian businesses interested in establishing or expanding their operations in Florida. Officials say the focus will be on small and emerging firms that may not have the bandwidth to build international contacts on their own.

Florida’s trade relationship with Italy already spans a wide range of sectors, including transportation, defense, aviation and life sciences. In the last fiscal year, SelectFlorida reported $1.9 billion in export sales — a half-billion dollar increase over the year before. Top exports included yachts, aircraft parts, cars and pharmaceuticals.

With the Milan office now open, state leaders say they expect those numbers to keep growing, creating new opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Evening Reads

—“Social media has us in its grip and won’t let go. The Charlie Kirk killing is a case study” via David Bauder of The Associated Press

—”Pam Bondi draws fire from conservatives for ‘hate speech’ comments” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times

—“ICE’s tough tactics were forged on the streets of Boston” via Brenna T. Smith, Jack Gillum, Michelle Hackman, Annie Ng of The Wall Street Journal

—”The last time the U.S. waged a propaganda war on the arts” via Constance Grady of Vox

—”The *real* reason Donald Trump is suing The New York Times” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”New College to commission statue of Kirk on campus” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—”Florida pharmacy board jumps into vaccine debate” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix

—”Byron Donalds worries for his own safety after Kirk assassination” via Florida Politics

—”Florida’s insurance mess — big salaries, missing flood insurance, underfunded companies” via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel

—”Fifty years after history’s most brutal boxing match” via Vann R. Newkirk II of The Atlantic

Quote of the Day

“My wife is very concerned, my kids are concerned. Everybody is shaking in this moment. And we can’t be the more perfect union, we can’t be the United States of America, if elected officials and other prominent people in our society now feel threatened.”

— U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

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.

After welcoming aboard a fleet of maritime law experts, the GrayRobinson crew is due for a top-tier nautical cocktail: The Black Stallion Sets Sail.

Serve Rep. Jessica Baker a Take Two for refiling the “Officer Jason Raynor Act” after it fell short inches from the finish line last Session.

Rep. James Buchanan gets The Nod for tacking on endorsements from Senate GOP leaders as he vies for SD 22.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Marlins holding on to long shot at postseason

The Marlins open a three-game series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies tonight, clinging to slim playoff hopes (8:40 p.m. ET, Fan Duel Sports Net Florida).

The Marlins have been eliminated from divisional contention and do not control their own destiny in the wild chase. If Miami won all 12 games remaining on the schedule, it would still need help from other teams to earn a postseason spot. Still, they have not been mathematically eliminated.

The same cannot be said for the Rockies, who have lost 109 games this season and were the first team to be eliminated from the playoff race. Last season, the Chicago White Sox lost a modern record 121 games, the most since 1899. If the Rockies lose the rest of their games, they will match the White Sox. 

Colorado began the season losing 33 of 40 before manager Bud Black was fired. Warren Schaeffer was elevated to the role of interim manager. Since he took over, the team has been marginally better, going 34-76 in his time at the helm. This season marks the third straight that the Rockies have lost more than 100 games. It is the first time in Major League Baseball history that a team has lost at least 100 games in three consecutive seasons. 

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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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