Paparazzi — charged up — farm hand — egg roll — Cuba visit

Congressional paparazzi

The celebrity gossip website TMZ garnered unusual political attention for turning its paparazzi lens on lawmakers away from Washington.

After TMZ editors issued a call for Senators and Representatives who are living it up on Spring Break, while Homeland Security remains in a record shutdown, putting some Florida lawmakers in the spotlight, and more often included the Sunshine State in the backdrop.

The greatest attention from the project so far has fallen on lawmakers spending their vacations in Florida despite representing different states. Most notably, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, was spotted at Walt Disney World. Initial pics showed him dining at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, then later riding Space Mountain and holding a child’s bubble wand outside the Rapunzel-themed restrooms at the Magic Kingdom.

But Sen. Ted Cruz also made headlines when someone snapped a photo of the Texas Republican at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport.

Granted, none of the lawmakers have control over when Senate and House leadership will convene Congress to approve a funding deal for Homeland Security. The Senate and House have at times approved appropriations packages, but the chambers have yet to align. Until that happens, vacationing in Florida brings some risk of exposure. That also goes, apparently, for members of the Florida congressional delegation, even though it’s not so unusual for representatives of Florida to be in their own states and districts.

TMZ already featured pics of Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Parkland Democrat, volunteering at his son’s basketball game and serving as the official timekeeper. The judgmental headline? “I Got Nothing But Time … Amid Government Shutdown.”

“He messed up the clock by neglecting at one point to hit the start button,” an article details. “We’re told members of both teams yelled at him to DO HIS JOB!”

Of course, the same day, the outlet gave Moskowitz a chance to respond in a live video interview, where he acknowledged many voters’ anger that lawmakers weren’t remaining in D.C., even as lines grow at airport security because Transportation Security Administration officials aren’t paid.

“While I was at the park, I had Democrats and Republicans come up to me, and independents, by the way, all say it’s unacceptable. Why are you guys on break?” Moskowitz said. “It’s great that you hear, ‘Jared, you’re spending time with your family.’ But the fact that people are waiting three or four hours in line, and you guys are on break, is unacceptable.”

Sen. Rick Scott, a Naples Republican whose jurisdiction covers all of Florida, decided before his own family theme park adventure to taunt TMZ straight on. He posted a picture from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, alongside his wife Ann and one of their grandchildren, and posted directly about the hunt for congressional candid shots.

“Hey, TMZ. Yes, I’m at Disney with my grandkids,” Scott posted. “Should we be in D.C.? Yes! But I don’t get to make that decision.”

But TMZ founder Harvey Levin, in his own response to Scott, called that a “cop out.”

“Yes, they were sent home by leadership, but two months before,” Levin said in a video, “they had an entire two months where they could have compromised and resolved this thing, and they didn’t.”

Charging stations

Could the cost of leading the artificial intelligence race mean higher utility bills for Americans? President Donald Trump said it won’t when he announced pledges by tech companies focused on AI to bear the energy demands from data centers.

Now, Sen. Rick Scott wants Congress to codify that expectation. The Naples Republican introduced a resolution with Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, in support of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge.

“Big Data centers are already putting a substantial financial burden on American families, who are still struggling with the negative impact of four years of Democrats’ tax-and-spend, inflation-causing policies,” Scott said.

“That burden is only projected to grow as more and more of these data centers pop up in communities across the country. Florida families – and families across the nation – shouldn’t be supporting Big Tech companies’ expansions with their electricity bills. President Trump was right to get these companies to commit to footing their own bill, and this resolution supports him as he continues his fight for affordability for American families.”

The resolution cites Energy Department projections that data centers will consume 12% of U.S. energy by 2028. The pledge, as released by the White House, said tech companies must negotiate separate rate structures in communities and create incentives for tech to provide energy to the public in the event of an emergency.

Florida’s farmers

A recess away from Washington means Sen. Ashley Moody spent more time on the farm — or at least with farmers.

The Plant City Republican attended the Agriculture Policy and Commodity Forum last week, where she told 150 farmers about a surge in demand for agricultural resources in Florida and proposed policies to remove regulatory burdens on the industry.

“Farmers keep Florida fed. So, when disasters hit the agriculture industry, we need to explore ways to help keep our growers growing,” Moody said.

“It was exciting to be part of that discussion this week with the Florida Farm Bureau for the 2026 Ag Policy and Commodity Forum — and to talk about legislation I am pushing to support this vital industry.”

Moody’s office noted efforts in the last year to help Florida growers, including a federal disaster declaration after the February freezes. She has also introduced legislation to update Brix standards for Florida orange juice, fund research at Florida universities on agricultural technology and food supply and re-evaluate crop insurance options for cold coverage.

American egg roll

The White House Easter Egg Roll painted a quaint scene of children in Washington and featured some Florida voices and faces.

Those included Rep. Jimmy Patronis, among those involved in story time with gathered youth. His own family attended, with son Johnny helping to read to kids as well.

“Another great White House Easter Egg Roll in the books,” the Fort Walton Beach Republican later posted on X. “Thank you, President Trump, for having me back to read again this year. Curious George was a hit!”

Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican, also showed up at the event with his family, including his wife and delegation hopeful Sydney Gruters.

Sit-down in Syria

Rep. Cory Mills made a solo trip to meet with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Damascus. That marks at least the second unofficial trip in the last year to meet with the new Syrian President, who previously fought for an al-Qaeda-tied faction in the region.

Al-Sharaa’s Office promoted the meeting on its own social media.

“President Ahmad Al-Sharaa received, today at the People’s Palace in Damascus, U.S. Congressman Cory Lee Mills,” reads a post on X, accompanied by photos of the Syrian leader with Mills. “During the meeting, discussions took place on the current regional and international situations, as well as a number of issues of common interest.”

The meeting came as Al-Sharaa opened dialogue channels with the international community more than a year after overthrowing former Syrian President Bashar Assad. The transition has been controversial based on Al-Sharaa’s past ties.

Mills’ Office made clear he did not travel to Syria in his official capacity.

While Mills has not commented on the trip, he made remarks on Syria at the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year.

“Is Al-Sharaa the best that we could get?” Mills said then. “No, probably not, but it’s the cards we’re dealt. It’s what the people have chosen in many areas. And I would caution that we have to at least allow the agreements and things that are being put in place to actually take hold.”

Speedy scheduling

Rep. Scott Franklin said the nation’s veterans deserve timely and simple access to medical care. The Lakeland Republican just filed bipartisan legislation in the House that could require the Department of Veterans Affairs to tighten referral timelines and report to Congress on its progress.

The Scheduling for Community Health and Easy Data to Understand for Legislators to Evaluate Services (SCHEDULES) Act, with Rep. Jimmy Panetta, a California Democrat.

“As a veteran, I’ve seen firsthand the sacrifices our service members make, and our responsibility to them doesn’t end when they leave the uniform,” said Franklin, a House Military Construction/VA Appropriations Subcommittee member and former Navy aviator.

“Too often, referrals to community care still come with delays. This bill sets a clear standard and ensures veterans get timely care, whether at the VA or close to home.”

Panetta said there needs to be a national timing standard between appointments at VA facilities and referrals. Since 2020, federal law has required that community care appointments be scheduled within seven days of a referral. Still, the Government Accountability Office found that VA medical centers were less likely to meet that demand.

“I will keep working across the aisle to remove needless barriers and provide veterans with timely access to VA services,” Panetta said.

Scott introduced a Senate version of the bill last week.

Defending the dream

Rep. Byron Donalds launched a statewide policy tour this week as part of his campaign for Governor.

The Naples Republican kicked the “Defending the Florida Dream” tour off with a Monday stop in The Villages focused on rising health care costs, then continued to Melbourne on Tuesday for a roundtable on public safety.

“As Governor, I’ll take on rising health care costs head-on by increasing transparency, expanding choice, and putting patients first,” he said. “It’s time to make health care more affordable for Florida’s seniors and families.”

At the event, he announced his “Your Doctor, Your Price” initiative, which would require health care providers to post real cash prices for their top 20 services offered. Donalds’ plan would also align Florida’s prescription drug program with federal costs and promote the freedom to choose health care providers without pre-authorizations or surprise billing.

“When it comes to health care, one thing I’ve learned: The doctors are frustrated, the patients are frustrated,” Donalds said.

He tackled public safety the next day during an event, standing alongside independent Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivery and Florida House Majority Tyler Sirois.

Teamsters talks

With the cost of living in South Florida still on the rise, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Monday held a news conference alongside local Teamsters about the impacts on workers.

“Life is too expensive. Food prices are up. Rent and home insurance costs keep climbing. Health care costs – if you can even afford coverage at all – are doubling and tripling for some of us,” the Weston Democrat said.

“And now I fear this war against Iran is only going to make matters worse on our families as gas prices take a bigger bite out of family and small business budgets. Worse, rising diesel costs will drive up food prices our community just cannot afford right now. I’ll fight for solutions, like raising wages, and crackdowns on price gouging by oil companies.”

Andy Matdes, Broward County AFL-CIO president and a member of Teamsters Local 769, shared the mic with Wasserman Schultz, as did fellow Teamsters Local 769 member Josh Zivalich, small-business owner Julie Pray and private music teacher Cari Barter.

“I’m out there every day with working folks, and they are conveying to me they’re being crushed by this, and now this is like death by 1,000 cuts,” Matdes said.

“On top of the gas. You had tariffs. Then you had the One Big Beautiful Bill that basically made people’s health care less affordable. And we’re not going in the right direction. People who I know who own businesses telling me their businesses have been down over the last month due to the fact that gas prices are up, and it’s just crushing working families throughout. We’re working really hard right now to work with our members to figure out ways to move them forward.”

Funding goals

International gatherings, both athletic and diplomatic, will increase public safety costs in Miami-Dade County this year. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart just showed up with a $5.25 million federal grant to help with that burden.

The Hialeah Republican on Monday presented the grant funding to Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and other elected officials as the region prepared to host the Group of 20 (G20) gathering of world leaders and the FIFA World Cup, one of the world’s biggest sports events.

“I’m proud to deliver $5.25 million to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office to expand their public safety capabilities and invest in a cutting-edge Mobile Command Center that will be critical during emergencies and major operations,” Díaz-Balart said in a statement Tuesday. “When disaster strikes or a critical incident unfolds, our deputies need to be able to respond with speed, coordination, and the right equipment – this critical funding makes that possible.”

“This critical investment allows us to better protect our residents, visitors, and community, ensuring each of our deputies remains fully prepared, responsive, and ready to handle any eventuality,” Cordero-Stutz posted.

Condemning a Cuba trip

A visit to Cuba by members of the House generated significant anger and pushback within Florida’s delegation.

Democratic Reps. Jonathan Jackson of Illinois and Pramila Jayapal of Washington spent five days in the communist nation, a trip that included a warm reception from Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. They later issued a public call to end the Cuban embargo, a sentiment in direct contrast to the Trump administration applying high pressure and publicly seeking regime change.

“The Cuban government has sent many signals that this is a new moment for the country. While we were there, President Díaz-Canel released over 2,000 prisoners,” a statement from Jackson and Jayapal said. “The Cuban government has begun to liberalize its economy with significant reforms, including allowing Cuban American entrepreneurs to invest in private businesses in Cuba.”

But Rep. Carlos Giménez, a Miami-Dade Republican born in Cuba, expressed disgust at the visit.

“The Democratic Party is the party of communist dictatorships. Then they wonder why our community rejects them,” Giménez posted in Spanish. “We will never support those who back the most murderous, cruel and long-lasting dictatorship in the history of our hemisphere.”

Scott also slammed the trip.

“What the radical left doesn’t get is that the only reason they can go virtue signal with dictators and thugs is that they have freedom, something the oppressive Cuban regime will never allow!” he posted.

“Instead of propping up the (Raúl) Castro/Díaz-Canel regime’s evil human rights abuse and cozying up to their favorite spokesperson, Hasan Piker, who told his followers to kill me, they should actually stand for freedom in Cuba and call out the wrongful imprisonment of innocent political prisoners today.”

No Florida Democrats went on the trip.

Profits over patients?

A new state-by-state analysis from the HEAL Collaborative is fueling renewed scrutiny of the federal 340B drug discount program. The study finds that hospitals participating in the 340B program are increasingly using the program to increase profits rather than to expand care for vulnerable patients, with hospital assets rising sharply in every state while spending on uncompensated care grew only in 14 states.

Florida stands out as a stark example: from 2014 to 2022, assets per hospital bed at 340B hospitals in the state increased by 57.2%, while uncompensated care per bed grew by just 13.4% over the same period, raising questions about whether the program is meeting its original mission to support safety‑net providers. As Congress debates oversight and reform of 340B, the findings add pressure for greater transparency and accountability to ensure that federal drug discounts benefit low-income and uninsured patients, not pad hospital assets.

On this day

April 7, 1954 — “Origins of ‘The Domino Effect’” via This Day in Quotes — President Dwight Eisenhower did not coin the famous Cold War term “the Domino Effect.” He did use the phrase “falling domino principle” in a famous news conference. Journalists at the time dubbed this “The Domino Theory,” which later came to be referred to as “the Domino Effect.” The political concept encapsulated by those terms — the idea that if one country fell under Communist control, then nearby countries could follow — was a major foundation of America’s foreign policy during the Cold War, which lasted from 1947 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

April 7, 1961 — “John Kennedy lobbies Congress to help save historic sites in Egypt” via History.com — President Kennedy sent a letter to Congress in which he recommended the U.S. participate in an international campaign to preserve ancient temples and historic monuments in the Nile Valley of Egypt. The campaign was designed to save sites threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Kennedy believed that America’s participation in the project would reflect “the interests of the United States,” as well as the country’s interest in ancient Egyptian culture, “From which many of our own cultural traditions have sprung,” and the U.S.’s “deep friendship for the people who live in the valley of the Nile.”

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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.