Politics
Last Call for 9.8.26 – 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 —
Florida’s representatives at the Republican Midterm Convention now know exactly when they will take the stage.
The Republican National Committee released the full speaking order and time blocks Tuesday for the two-day gathering, which begins Wednesday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Programming is scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m. Eastern each day.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters will help open both nights, appearing during the 4-5 p.m. block Wednesday and returning in the same window Thursday. U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna will join Gruters during Wednesday’s opening hour, along with other elected officials, candidates and party figures.
“The Midterm Election is about the future of our country. President Donald Trump and Republicans are fighting to launch the golden age of America while extreme liberal Democrats want to tear this country apart and create a liberal failed state with their out-of-touch and anti-American views,” Gruters said in a news release.
“The choice is clear in November, and the American people will reject these liberal policies and deliver historic wins for Republicans across the country.”
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds gets the latest slot among the three Floridians. The gubernatorial candidate is scheduled during Wednesday’s 8-9 p.m. block alongside Mehmet Oz, Scott Bessent and several other speakers.
That slot puts Donalds in the last full block before Trump, who endorsed him to become Florida’s next Governor, delivers his keynote address from 9 to 10 p.m.
Shortly after the speaking times were announced, Florida Democrats said party Chair Nikki Fried would hold an 11 a.m. news conference Wednesday “to break down how the MAGA-Trump economy has failed Floridians” and tie Donalds and Luna to “Trump’s wildly unpopular agenda.”
— Evening Reads —
—“Can Donald Trump’s Midterm convention prevent a Democratic blue tsunami?” via Chris Cillizza of So What
—“How the unity of 9/11 sowed the seeds of America’s deep political division” via Gerald F. Seib of The Wall Street Journal
—“Rare charges against ICE agent highlight DOJ’s broader retreat from shooting probes” via Jeremy Roebuck, Silvia Foster-Frau and Ted Hesson of The Washington Post
—“The hidden dangers of Elon Musk’s votesafe.org” via Judd Legum of Popular Information
—“OpenAI just claimed a huge math discovery. Some academics are crying foul” via Will Knight and Maxwell Zeff of WIRED
—“Medicine needs to get serious about AI” via Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Vinod Kholsa
—“Byron Donalds, David Jolly say their camps are just beginning to discuss debates” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix
—“Hack to the future: Florida driver’s licenses and Seminole’s elections page make an unwelcome post-Labor Day double play” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—“Arepa investment leads to Interpol notice and bitter Miami court fight” via Antonio María Delgado of the Miami Herald
—“Stoneman Douglas memorial advances in Parkland, with planned 2028 completion” via Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
— Quote of the Day —
“Law enforcement’s going to have the tools that they need, but the Fourth Amendment is not up for debate.”
— U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, on Flock cameras.
— 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.
It’s not clear who, but someone sent a round of Yuzu Chuhais to the Seminole Supervisor of Elections Office, which apparently has begun selling musical instruments.
Donalds is ordering a Loosey Goosey for Flock, saying the controversial company has taken a cavalier approach to information obtained by their automated license plate readers.
The FSU marching band might’ve had to drown out boos Monday night, but they earned Hail to the Chiefs for landing a spot in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
— Breakthrough Insights —
— Tune In —
The Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game series in Atlanta against the Braves in a meeting of two of the best teams in baseball (7:15 p.m. ET, Rays.TV).
The Rays (85-58) lead the American League East by four games over the New York Yankees with the league’s best record, while the Braves lead the National League East by four games over the Philadelphia Phillies with the third-best record in the N.L.
With 19 games remaining, the Rays’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is five, although they have more work to do to clinch the division title.
Tonight, the Rays are scheduled to send right-hander Freddy Peralta to the mound. Peralta (7-11, 4.96 ERA) won his last outing, pitching six innings of three-hit ball against the New York Mets. He has not allowed more than one run in his last three outings.
The Braves will turn to 23-year-old AJ Smith-Shawver, who is in search of his first victory of the year. Smith-Shawver has started four games for Atlanta, losing his only decision in the big leagues this year on Sept. 1, a 9-5 loss at the Washington Nationals.
This is the only series between the Rays and Braves this season. After Thursday’s series finale, Tampa Bay returns home to face the Houston Astros, Athletics and Boston Red Sox in a nine-game homestand before finishing the regular season on the road at the Yankees and Phillies.
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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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