Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 9.14.26

Good Monday morning.

Breaking late Sunday — “Hurricane center begins tracking Atlantic system” via Richard Tribou of the Orlando Sentinel — After a lull in activity, the National Hurricane Center began tracking a new system with a chance to develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm. As of the NHC’s 8 a.m. tropical outlook, a trough of low pressure in the central subtropical Atlantic had disorganized showers and thunderstorms. “While the environmental conditions are not currently favorable for development due to strong upper-level winds, the system is expected to move into a more favorable environment for some gradual development by the middle to later portion of this week,” forecasters said. “The disturbance is forecast to move west northwestward across the central part of the subtropical Atlantic.”

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There’s no shortage of polling in Florida politics. There is, however, a shortage of polling we actually trust enough to put our name on.

And right now, we’d like another look at where Florida voters stand.

We’ve done this before. Over the years, Florida Politics and St. Pete Polls have surveyed everything from the top of the statewide ballot to some of the most closely watched races in the state. We publish the numbers, show our work and let the political class argue about what they mean.

The problem is the same as the last time we passed the hat: Good polling isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s considerably more expensive than it used to be.

So, how badly do you want to know what Florida voters are thinking?

We want to commission a new statewide survey from St. Pete Polls, and we’re wondering if Sunburn readers would be willing to help us put it in the field.

The cost: $7,500.

Would you consider kicking in something to help pay for it?

No contribution is too small. Ten bucks helps. Twenty-five helps more. Fifty or $100 gets us there faster. And if a few of you want to really put your shoulder behind the effort, we certainly won’t stop you.

If we raise enough to cover the cost, we’ll commission the poll. If we don’t, we won’t.

And there’s something in it for those who chip in.

Contributors will get an early look at the results before we publish them in Florida Politics and Sunburn, provided, of course, everyone keeps the numbers confidential until publication. If you’d like, we’ll also recognize you when we publish the results.

We’ve asked Sunburn readers to do this before, and they came through. In 2018, readers helped us get another poll into the field. We came back to the well in 2022 and again in 2024, when readers helped make another statewide survey possible.

So, let’s see if we can do it again.

If you want another independent snapshot of Florida — not a campaign poll, not a partisan poll and not a poll designed to generate a fundraising email — chip in here:

https://square.link/u/nEjdgRiq

If enough of us put something in the kitty, we’ll put the questions in the field.

And then we’ll find out what Florida really thinks.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

—@AnatoliKopadze: A day after saying AI could kill us all, Dario Amodei sat down for his first interview: “I would rather they make fun of me than to wake up one day and discover that someone used our model Claude to kill a bunch of people.” He doubled down on everything, AI is on an exponential and we’re at the bend where it gets steep, so we need to slow down, not stop. He wants third-party inspectors inside every AI lab; he confirmed Elon (Musk) and Sam (Altman) are on board, and he says the U.S. and China need arms-control-style talks like the nuclear era. Personally, I don’t think this is all being done just to set up a favorable IPO; too many independent voices and direct competitors have backed him on it. Unfortunately, we don’t have access to the information Dario (Amodei), Sam or Elon do, so for now we just have to take their word for it.

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

—@JimmyTraina: I said it last year, and it’s worth repeating. The U.S. Open men’s final should be played at 3 or 4 p.m. Monday leading into Monday Night Football. Playing it at 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of the NFL season is MLB-level of dumb, nonsensical scheduling.

— DAYS UNTIL —

MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 1; Tampa Tiger Bay hosts the ‘Candidate Forum: Florida Governor Series’ with Bryan Avila — 4; General Election UOCAVA ballot deadline — 5; Tampa Bay Buccaneers home opener against the Cleveland Browns — 6; General Election domestic ballot send window begins — 10; Tampa Tiger Bay hosts its ‘Candidate Forum: Florida Governor Series’ with David Jolly — 11; General Election domestic ballot send deadline — 17; ‘Digger,’ with Tom Cruise, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, premieres — 18; General Election voter registration deadline — 21; ‘The Social Reckoning,’ with Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison, premieres — 25; Associated Industries of Florida one-on-one conversations with five top-of-ticket Republicans — 28; ‘VisionQuest’ premieres — 30; Optional General early voting begins — 35; ‘Six Kings Slam’ on Netflix — 37; Florida TaxWatch Fiscal Accountability Leadership Summit begins — 37; General Election ballot request deadline — 38; Mandatory General early voting begins — 40; General Election — 50; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 53; ‘Wild Horse Nine’ premieres — 53; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit — 58; ‘Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol’ starring Johnny Depp premieres — 60; ‘Paper Tiger’ starring Adam Driver premieres — 60; Joe Biden’s memoir, ‘Promise Me, America’ is released — 64; New legislator training sessions — 64; Senate convenes for general organization and selection of officers — 64; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 67; ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth,’ with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres — 72; ‘Madden’ premieres — 73; Committee Week #1 — 77; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 95; ‘Dune: Part 3,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres — 95; Committee Week #2 — 112; Committee Week #3 — 119; ‘Ahsoka’ season 2 premieres — 128; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas — 133; Committee Week #4 — 140; Grammys — 146; Committee Week #5 — 147; ‘Remain,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan, premieres — 153; Super Bowl LXI — 153; Committee Week #6 — 154; Opening day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session — 169; Tampa Mayoral Election — 169; ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan premieres — 172; Oscars — 181; Jacksonville First Election — 190; Miami Marlins Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. New York Mets — 192; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. Baltimore Orioles — 192; Democratic Mayors Association 2027 annual summit in Miami begins — 212; Jacksonville General Election — 246; ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ premieres — 256; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 264; Citrus Series — Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins — 305; ‘The Bluey Movie’ premieres — 326; ‘Miami Vice’ reboot premieres — 326; Citrus Series — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — 361; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 459; 2028 South Carolina Presidential Primary — 495; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans — 497; 2028 Nevada Presidential Primary — 505; 2028 New Hampshire Presidential Primary — 512; 2028 New Mexico Presidential Primary — 519; ‘The Batman Part II’ premieres — 522; 2028 Michigan Presidential Primary — 526; 2028 Virginia Presidential Primary — 533; Oscars — 538; ‘X-Men’ premieres — 599; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 620; ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel with Cruise and Anne Hathaway premieres — 627; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 641; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 669; ‘Ghost Rider’ premieres — 683; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 785; ‘Black Panther 3’ directed by Ryan Coogler premieres — 823; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa — 861; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,185; College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami — 1,225; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 1,916.

— TOP STORY —

“‘Failing catastrophically’: Grand jury blasts DCF for deaths of kids, elderly” via Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel — A Marion County grand jury has concluded the Department of Children and Families is “failing catastrophically” in its duty to protect the vulnerable, saying the agency’s “systemic inaction” led to severe trauma and the preventable deaths of children and the elderly across a five-county region in north Central Florida.

The scathing report, an effort to “sound an alarm” about an “agency in crisis,” detailed seven “heartbreaking” cases where DCF was called to investigate but took little to no action. Six ended in death.

In one, a Central Florida foster family was allowed to adopt eight children in 2020 despite having been investigated 18 times by DCF. The agency investigated the family 37 more times over the next six years, documenting alleged physical and sexual abuse, but did not permanently remove the children until early this year, when the father was arrested for alleged sexual offenses against the eldest.

In another, a toddler died from skull and spinal injuries; his mother, who had a 17-year history with DCF, was charged with his murder. The grand jury also noted a dozen cases where law enforcement accused DCF or case management workers of falsifying records, and the six DCF employees invited to participate either declined or did not respond.

“Children were exploited, abused, neglected. Children died,” Sen. Don Gaetz said. “The department delayed, denied, lied and then did nothing.” Gaetz said the grand jury’s 34 recommendations would be incorporated into legislation for the 2027 Session. DCF said it took the findings seriously and that some of the recommended reforms have already been implemented, though it declined to specify which. The report looked only at Lake, Marion, Hernando, Citrus, and Sumter counties, but experts said its findings apply statewide.

— 2026 —

“Hakeem Jeffries endorses David Jolly, Gwen Graham; Byron Donalds camp says ‘thank you’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — U.S. House Minority Leader Jeffries is throwing his weight behind two former House colleagues in the race for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, endorsing the Jolly–Graham ticket. “I proudly and strongly support David and Gwen, am fully behind their candidacy, and I’m looking forward to the partnership up and down the ticket,” Jeffries said. “This is a critically important election. Everything we care about is on the line.” Jeffries has waded into Florida elections this cycle, promising to help Democratic congressional candidates take advantage of a redistricting map drawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis that gives Republicans more seats. The Donalds campaign is taking the endorsement in stride. “All we can say is thank you,” said campaign Communications Director Gates McGavick. “We are thrilled that Hakeem has found himself a comrade here in the Sunshine State and look forward to soundly beating David Jolly in November.”

“Jolly vows data center freeze, new Hope Florida probe” via Jim DeFede of CBS News Miami — Jolly is drawing sharp lines on two major Florida controversies, promising to reopen the Hope Florida investigation and immediately halt new data centers if elected. Jolly said additional evidence-gathering is warranted after a grand jury found that $10 million in taxpayer money was misappropriated for political purposes but that no criminal charges were brought. He also backed Democratic Attorney General nominee José Javier Rodríguez to pursue the matter. On data centers, Jolly called for a Day One moratorium, citing environmental effects, community disruption, property values, public health concerns and limited long-term economic benefits. The former Republican Congressman is positioning both proposals as part of a broader break with long-standing Republican control in Tallahassee.

“Donalds pumps the brakes on Donald Trump’s $5K dividend checks” via Fox News — Republican gubernatorial nominee Donalds is raising fiscal concerns about President Trump’s proposal to send Americans $5,000 dividend checks if Republicans retain control of Congress. Donalds said Washington first needs to confront federal spending and the national debt, warning that excessive government spending contributes to inflation. His comments put the Florida Congressman at odds with a high-profile proposal from Trump while Donalds campaigns to become Florida’s next Governor. Rather than focusing on another federal payment, Donalds emphasized reducing spending and addressing everyday expenses squeezing households, including housing and insurance costs. Trump promoted the proposed dividend a day earlier, tying the payments to continued Republican control of the House and Senate after the November elections.

Happening today — Donalds makes a Miami stop on his Affordable Florida Tour, where he will take questions from attendees. The event begins at 11 a.m. at 8700 SW 112th St., Miami.

“Ashley Moody already has 50% support in new poll of Senate race” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — U.S. Sen. Moody is on track to be elected in 2026, according to a survey taken this week by Quantus Insights. The Plant City Republican leads her Democratic challenger, Rep. Angie Nixon of Jacksonville, 50% to 43%, and more than 90% of respondents who picked a candidate say they have definitely decided. Moody, who was elected twice as Attorney General before being appointed to replace Secretary of State Marco Rubio last year, is well-liked by respondents: 54% view her favorably, while 30% do not. Nixon is liked well enough, with 43% favorable and 33% unfavorable, but the incumbent’s numbers show the challenge for the underfunded Democrat in trying to define her negatively with limited time before November and no debates scheduled between the candidates. Even in the Jacksonville market, Nixon’s home turf, Moody leads 58% to 38%. The poll of 733 likely voters was conducted Sept. 8-10 and has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.

“Angie Nixon brings a bullhorn to an uphill Senate fight” via Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times — Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Nixon is betting that the confrontational style that defined her legislative career can energize voters in Republican-leaning Florida. The Jacksonville lawmaker scored a decisive Primary Election victory despite skepticism from Democratic leaders and is now challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Moody. Nixon has built her profile protesting DeSantis, including demonstrations against congressional redistricting that culminated in her arrest this Spring. Her progressive politics and membership in the Democratic Socialists of America give Republicans ready-made attack lines, while Moody has declined to debate her. Nixon is responding with an intensive grassroots campaign emphasizing canvassing and organizing. The challenge is formidable: Republicans substantially outnumber Democrats statewide, and national Democrats have largely written off Florida’s Senate contest.

— MORE ELECTIONS —

“Florida’s property-tax revolt could come with a steep price” via Annie Lowrey of The Atlantic — Florida’s Amendment 3 sits at the center of a national revolt against rising property taxes, promising homeowners substantial relief while potentially reshaping local government finances. The measure would increase the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000, resulting in an estimated $12 billion in annual tax savings. Supporters, including Donalds, frame the proposal as an affordability fix. But the potential consequences could be sweeping: Property taxes supply 43% of Florida municipal general-fund revenue, and collections could fall by as much as 30%. Cities and counties could respond by raising fees and other taxes while cutting public safety, libraries, transit, parks and other services. Florida voters will decide Amendment 3 in November.

— EVEN MORE ELECTIONS —

“‘Get it done, Alex!’ Ron DeSantis backs Alex Rizo in to-be-called SD 39 Special Election” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Rep. Rizo just landed the endorsement of the man who controls when his election will happen. Term-limited Gov. DeSantis endorsed Rizo, a Hialeah Republican, for SD 39, which will be filled through a Special Election that DeSantis hasn’t yet called. “As a member of the FL House, Alex has worked hard to advance policies that have made our state the Free State of Florida,” DeSantis wrote on X. “I have no doubt he will continue the fight in the Florida Senate and will make Hialeah proud. Get it done, Alex!” The support is mutual. Rizo was among the lawmakers who backed DeSantis over Trump in the 2024 Presidential Primary. Rizo’s sole GOP Primary opponent, Hialeah Republican Rep. David Borrero, has touted being one of the first five legislators to back Trump’s comeback bid. DeSantis’ support adds to endorsements this week from Senate President-designate Jim Boyd, Sen. Jay Trumbull, Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo, Hialeah Gardens Mayor Yioset De La Cruz, and the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police.

—“DeSantis endorsed a state Senate candidate on 9/11. It could have waited.” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics

“Democrats risk overlooking a strong candidate in a purple District” via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel — Eric Gray looks like the kind of candidate Democrats should be eager to support in House District 35. The longtime Christian Service Center CEO has spent years tackling affordability, low wages, housing and transportation while building relationships across partisan lines. Yet the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee omitted his race against Republican Rep. Erika Booth from its 17 Florida targets. Gray isn’t complaining, even as Booth enters with significantly more political money. His record offers something campaign consultants can’t manufacture: years of community service before seeking office. Florida Democrats have underestimated candidates before, including the late Geraldine Thompson, who won after the party effectively wrote off her 2018 Senate bid. Gray’s candidacy deserves more than another shrug.

Walk this way:

— STATEWIDE —

“DeSantis: ‘Florida will provide asylum’ to holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy case” via Finya Swai of The Hill — DeSantis accused the media of launching a smear campaign against the lone holdout juror in the Clancy murder trial, after a report revealed that the juror had a history of alleged domestic violence and an active restraining order. “A man objected to allowing a woman to kill her three young kids and get away with it, so NBC is trying to smear that juror, whose identity should be protected,” DeSantis wrote on social media. “If the juror is being harassed, Florida will provide asylum — I’m sure he’d be welcomed and appreciated,” DeSantis wrote.

“‘Not fully investigated’: Where the Hope Florida grand jury didn’t look” via Claire Heddles of the Miami Herald — There’s a slew of investigative tools a state attorney’s office can use to pry loose evidence when no one is admitting to wrongdoing, but most of those options don’t appear to have been used by the grand jury investigating the flow of taxpayer funds to political ads and the Republican Party of Florida in 2024, according to a leaked copy of the grand jury’s report. “There’s no indication that witnesses were cross-examined. There’s no indication that records were obtained, other documents,” said former Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren. “A full and thorough investigation would involve subpoenaing emails and memos and text messages.”

“Florida confirms driver database breach, but key questions remain” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Florida officials have confirmed a breach of the state’s Driver and Vehicle Information Database, but the scope of the compromised information remains unclear. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said an international cybercriminal organization exploited credentials belonging to a Plant City Police Department user that were improperly stored on a personal device. The agency says the breach was quickly contained and is no longer occurring. FLHSMV notified the Attorney General’s Office and is working with the Florida Digital Service and Florida Department of Law Enforcement as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. What remains unanswered is potentially more consequential: exactly what information hackers obtained, how many Floridians were affected and what protections will be offered to people whose personal data may have been exposed.

“Library advocates warn property-tax amendment could force closures” via Stephany Matat of the USA Today Network – Florida — Florida library advocates are warning that Amendment 3 could sharply reduce local funding for public libraries if voters approve the property-tax measure in November. The proposal would increase the homestead exemption and limit local governments’ use of property-tax revenue while protecting School District levies. The Keep Libraries Funded Florida Coalition says resulting revenue losses could mean fewer books and programs, reduced hours, layoffs and branch closures. Miami-Dade’s library system projects a $20 million first-year reduction, with advocates warning roughly 10 of its approximately 50 branches could close. Supporters of library funding also point to potential consequences for students, seniors and residents who rely on libraries for technology, tutoring and other free community services.

“Budget panel approves $187 million for immigration enforcement” via Dara Kam of State Affairs Florida — The state has received $84.5 million of the $608 million promised by the Trump administration for immigration enforcement and owes tens of millions of dollars to vendors hired by the DeSantis administration, according to a new report. The report, originally due in July, was released shortly before the Joint Legislative Budget Commission approved a DeSantis request to allocate $250 million to an emergency management trust fund for immigration enforcement and natural disasters. Most of the money, $187 million, will go toward “illegal immigration enforcement and detention operations,” Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Perdue told the panel, with $111 million going to pay some of the hundreds of outstanding invoices, including more than $93 million owed to Doodie Calls, which provides portable toilets and showers at the Everglades detention center. “So a report due on July 15 came in on Sept. 11. I’m very disappointed,” Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman said. Commission co-Chair Ed Hooper said the state has a duty to pay its vendors.

“Analysis shows big windfall for taxpayers who take part in new scholarship tax break” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — The American Federation for Children (AFC) is promoting the reality that hundreds of millions of Americans are eligible for tax credits for donations to scholarship funds. The AFC published a report this month estimating that 121.5 million taxpayers can claim federal tax credits through the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) beginning in 2027. Tommy Schultz, CEO of the AFC, said the report details the growing opportunities for students to receive scholarship support. “The Education Freedom Tax Credit has created an unprecedented opportunity to open the doors of education freedom for families nationwide,” Schultz said.

— D.C. MATTERS —

“Trump White House turns Cabinet travel into Midterm competition” via Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer of The Atlantic — Trump’s White House created an unofficial competition encouraging Cabinet members to visit competitive congressional districts and Senate battlegrounds ahead of the Midterms. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles regularly reviews the travel, with officials earning recognition for appearances alongside lawmakers and in local media. The contest ran from Memorial Day through Labor Day, though travel is expected to continue through November. The White House reported 265 Cabinet visits across 13 states, led by Texas with 46. The Atlantic’s independent tally put SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler atop Cabinet officials with at least 18 trips to competitive states. The travel strategy also raises Hatch Act questions regarding the separation of official government business from partisan political activity.

“Trump’s $5K checks require Congress to approve, Mike Johnson says” via Ben Berkowitz of Axios — Trump’s proposal to send adult U.S. citizens $5,000 dividend checks would require congressional approval, House Speaker Johnson said. Trump and his top officials claim they can send the checks without Congress — even with the prospect of them costing upward of $1.3 trillion. “He’d need Congress to act,” Johnson said in a CNN interview. Asked by NBC’s “Meet the Press” if he’d commit to sending the checks, Johnson said, “I commit that Congress will work through it and find consensus on that like they have to do everything else.”

“Iranian cargo ship is struck, and talks between Tehran and its neighbors are postponed” via Samy Magdy, Sally Abou Aljoud and Cara Anna of The Associated Press — An Iranian cargo vessel was struck early Sunday off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said, and Tehran postponed a plan to brief neighboring countries on its contested efforts to manage shipping in the strait. The attack drew attention back to the strait after threats to shipping in the Red Sea intensified last week. Iran-backed Houthi rebels battling government forces in Yemen captured an island on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted the Qeshm Governor as blaming a “terrorist enemy” for Sunday’s attack, which it said killed one and wounded four. There was no immediate comment by the U.S. military, which has struck Iranian-flagged vessels during its blockade of Iranian ports and faces a new threat from Iranian ballistic missiles launched at its warships.

“Trump rejects calls to slow AI development, citing Chinese competition” via Cat Zakrzewski and Violet Jira of The Washington Post — Trump appeared to dismiss calls from top artificial intelligence leaders to slow the development of AI models, as Democrats seize on his administration’s resistance to regulation as a line of attack in the Midterms. “We’re leading China in AI, we’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly I want to keep it that way,” he said on the sidelines of the Irish Open golf tournament. “Whoever wins AI wins.” “I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up that shouldn’t be bringing it up,” he told reporters. “And they’re bringing up things that won’t happen.”

“Canadians boycott the U.S. and its products amid Trump’s threats” via Joanna Slater of The Washington Post — On a recent morning, Francine Piché sat at her desk in a city on the western end of Lake Ontario and began writing a farewell note. She had already registered her opposition to Trump’s threats to annex Canada in other ways. Trips to the U.S. were out. So was her Amazon subscription. She found a substitute for her American-made shampoo and checked each item at the grocery store to avoid imports from south of the border. Trump has “kind of pushed every single button,” said Piché, 66. “I’ll buy Canadian first and anything but the U.S. second. Now the U.S. is a distant third.” Trips by Canadians to the U.S. are down 25% from the same month in 2024. Consumers’ efforts to buy fewer American products at the grocery store are also reflected in the data.

U.K. debate over Ireland unification catches fire after Trump comments via Steve Hendrix of The Washington Post — The explosive debate over whether British-led Northern Ireland should reunify with the independent Ireland to the south has usually been treated with kid gloves by American Presidents. But Trump seems to prefer boxing gloves. After Trump on Saturday cast aside decades of White House neutrality and endorsed the idea of reunification as “fantastic,” officials on both sides of the dispute scrambled to tamp down the fallout, leverage it or just make sense of Trump’s latest diplomatic curveball. But after a courtesy meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump responded to a reporter’s question on the issue with gusto. “I will tell you, I’d love to see it unified,” he said. “It’s going to happen eventually.”

“The billionaire Trump ally blowing up college football” via Timothy Bella of The Washington Post — A Miller Lite and a jockstrap were all Cody Campbell needed to prove he was the better man. It was a Friday night in late May, and Campbell, one of the richest oilmen in Texas and the largest booster for Texas Tech University, was at home in Fort Worth when he saw an X post from a rival fan calling Campbell a “billionaire loser [acting] tough on the internet.” Now, after leveraging his political connections in Washington, including his relationship with Trump, Campbell is also a key player in the effort to push Congress to reshape college sports. “I was just picturing this guy behind a keyboard,” Campbell recalls, guffawing. “He doesn’t want any part of me.”

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“Miami-Dade power struggle spills into public after deadly crash” via the Miami Herald editorial board — Five people were dead after a cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport, yet Miami-Dade’s top officials wound up publicly squabbling over who should speak first. Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava turned an embarrassing hot-mic moment into an unnecessary exchange of letters defending their respective authority. There is a legitimate question about who should lead communications during emergencies involving multiple agencies, especially now that Miami-Dade has an elected Sheriff again. But that question demands a clear protocol, not a fight for camera time. Cordero-Stutz and Levine Cava should settle their responsibilities before the next disaster. When lives are lost, informing Miamians matters far more than deciding who gets the microphone first.

“PBSO retirees returned to work with even higher salaries” via Mike Diamond of the Palm Beach Post — Imagine retiring from a job that pays more than $220,000 a year, collecting a $1.7 million pension payout as a lump sum or a monthly payout and then returning to the same position six months later, earning $283,000 a year. That’s what happened with Ron Mattino, 69, who retired as a major from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) after a 39-year career and was then rehired by PBSO at the same rank, earning close to 30% more in annual salary than when he retired. He is just one of 38 former employees who have rejoined PBSO.

“Broward subpoenas raise questions about politics behind the probe” via Steve Bousquet of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Subpoenas targeting all nine Broward County Commissioners and nine senior staff members are fueling questions about what state prosecutors are investigating — and why. The records demand centers on Broward’s hiring of Jensen Hughes to study whether an independent agency should replace the Sheriff’s Office at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and possibly Port Everglades. Such a change could substantially reduce Sheriff Gregory Tony’s operation. Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is seeking the records, while Tony’s deputies served the subpoenas. Commissioner Steve Geller questioned why prosecutors resorted to subpoenas rather than a routine public-records request. With little public evidence of wrongdoing, the unusual approach and political relationships surrounding the dispute invite scrutiny.

“Key West advances rollback tax rate, flags future budget pressures” via Ted Lund of Above the Fold — City Commissioners unanimously approved a proposed property-tax rate at rollback on first reading, while warning that future bond costs and potential homestead exemption changes could put pressure on subsequent budgets. The 7-0 vote advanced a Fiscal Year 2026-27 general municipal tax rate of 1.8848 mills, equivalent to approximately $1.88 per $1,000 of taxable property value. Mayor Sam Kaufman thanked staff for meeting the previous Commission’s request to bring the budget forward at rollback. “The finance department reported to us the previous Commission that in year one it would be about $700,000,” Kaufman said, citing the potential revenue loss if a proposed homestead exemption expansion passes.

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Orange County School Board candidate Diana Moore faced parent and colleague complaints as teacher” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Longtime Orange County teacher and School Board candidate Moore has a confrontational personality that has made both children and her fellow teachers cry at school, according to records obtained by Florida Politics. “As a mother, it is hard to stomach the thought of someone like her working with children,” a testing coordinator wrote in a March 2025 statement. Moore’s personnel file contains a litany of complaints from her fellow educators, parents, and her bosses dating back years, although she has not been seriously disciplined for the allegations. “The amount of time and energy expended on this one combative and aggressive individual, Ms. Moore, is interfering with the operation of the school,” her Sand Lake Elementary principal, Kathleen Phillips, wrote. Moore, 66, insists she is a good teacher and points to her educator’s certificate, which has not been suspended or revoked despite numerous District investigations. “OCPS does not want me sitting on the Board because I ask questions they don’t want asked and answered,” she wrote. Moore faces Susanne Peña in a November runoff for the open District 3 seat.

“Volusia Sheriff defends funding amid Amendment 3 anxiety” via Mark Lane for the Daytona Beach News-Journal — It’s a tradition for Volusia County sheriffs to object to County Council budget decisions. Part of a built-in tension. The checks and balances of local government. In a good year, these disputes get negotiated during the yearlong budget-writing process. In a bad year, there is a confrontation just a few weeks before the new fiscal year starts. This was a bad year. Sheriff Mike Chitwood, flanked by uniformed deputies, was at a Sept. 3 County Council meeting accusing County Chair Jeff Brower of wanting to defund the police. “You’re a de-funder, and you’ve been a de-funder since I’ve known you,” the combustible Sheriff charged.

“SpaceX completes another constellation with Cape Canaveral liftoff” via Rick Neale of Florida Today — SpaceX added another successful mission to Florida’s busy launch calendar, sending three SES O3b mPOWER satellites into medium-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 lifted off Sunday afternoon from Launch Complex 40 after threatening weather initially cast doubt on the mission. The satellites complete SES’ O3b mPOWER constellation, bringing the total to 10 already operating for the Luxembourg-based satellite company. The mission marked Florida’s 56th orbital launch of 2026 from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX also successfully recovered the Falcon 9 first-stage booster aboard the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic, completing the booster’s 29th mission and adding another milestone to its heavily reused fleet.

— LOCAL: TB —

“Pinellas pushes tax rate lower, but stops short of deeper cuts to roads, social services” via Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics — Pinellas County Commissioners advanced a $5.14 billion budget with a lower property-tax rate than initially proposed, but stopped short of deeper cuts after concerns they could come at the expense of roads, drainage and other basic county services. Commissioners unanimously approved a tentative countywide General Fund tax rate of 4.4989 mills, down from the 4.5423 mills included in the original proposal. Public Works Director Kelly Hemley told Commissioners the county has roughly 60 box culverts, some dating to the 1970s, that had gone without a dedicated inspection and maintenance program before additional funding was put in place. Commissioner Kathleen Peters described roads, drainage, water, sewer and public safety as “core functions of government.”

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“Tallahassee candidates revolt against City Manager firing protections” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat — Five of six candidates for Tallahassee City Commission oppose a new contract provision making it harder to fire incoming City Manager Karen Jumonville. Commissioners approved her five-year contract 3-2, including language requiring four of five Commissioners to terminate her, just weeks before voters could reshape the Commission. Seat 3 candidates Tom Derzypolski and PJ Perez, Seat 5 challenger Dot Inman-Johnson, and mayoral candidates Jeremy Matlow and Loranne Ausley all oppose the provision, questioning its timing or whether such a change belongs in a contract. Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, seeking re-election, supports the requirement, arguing it provides stability. The dispute adds another election-season fault line over the outgoing Commission majority’s decision to install Jumonville before November.

“Escambia will pay former aide’s $125K legal bill over ethics complaint” via Mollye Barrows of Pensacola News Journal — Escambia County agreed to reimburse nearly $125,000 to former Commissioner’s aide Jonathan Owens for legal fees he spent defending himself from an ethics complaint filed by former Commissioner Jeff Bergosh over his leaked text messages. The Board voted four to one to pay Owens’ request for $124,704. Commissioner Lumon May was the lone vote to deny payment, arguing the matter should have been handled in a private legal setting. “I empathize with someone that’s been falsely accused because I was taken to the grand jury,” May said. “And you know what, I paid my own legal fees. I didn’t come to this Board.”

“Nassau County investigates ‘deeply troubling’ volleyball allegations” via Clayton Freeman of the Florida Times-Union — Nassau County school officials announced an investigation of what it termed a “deeply troubling” incident during a Sept. 10 girls volleyball match between host Fernandina Beach High School and visitor Jackson High School, which involved reported racist fan behavior. First Coast News reported that the alleged incident involved racial slurs and gestures, as well as the use of a Black baby doll being lifted in the crowd. “Racism has no place in our schools or at our athletic events, and every student-athlete and guest deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” the District’s statement said. The Jacksonville NAACP said it “unequivocally condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the reported racist and abhorrent conduct” directed at the Andrew Jackson players. Under FHSAA bylaws, directing racial slurs at anyone attending a contest is unsportsmanlike conduct, punishable by exclusion from competition for up to one or more calendar years.

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

Pumping the brakes: New spending struggles with fiscal uncertainty awaiting in November via Betsy Calvert of The Daily Sun — Charlotte County Commissioners are struggling to commit to salary increases, hiring and big-ticket items such as repairing hurricane-destroyed piers, citing the possibility of a budget catastrophe if Amendment 3 passes in November. At the Board’s Tuesday meeting, Commissioner Christopher Constance questioned whether the top three county executives should receive a 4% raise while the county may be considering staffing cuts. In the end, Commissioners voted 4-0 to grant the salary increases, which are the same for other county staff whose salaries the Commission does not negotiate. “I said I was going to start talking about austerity,” Constance said Tuesday.

Sarasota tax collector Mike Moran boosts spending 50%, pays $500K to consultants via Christian Casale of Suncoast Searchlight — As Moran campaigned to become Sarasota County’s tax collector in 2024, he ran as a fiscal conservative who would cut through bureaucratic waste and overspending. Moran has increased monthly spending by more than 50% compared to the same period under his predecessor, while requesting double-digit budget increases for two consecutive years and seeking to expand his workforce by more than one-third. “He doesn’t quite understand he works for a publicly funded agency,” Anne Gannon, who has been Palm Beach County’s Tax Collector for nearly 20 years, said in response to Moran’s spending patterns.

—“Sarasota church changes homeless outreach after county citation” via Mike Lang and Earle Kimel of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“Collier County to remove 72 license plate readers to comply with FDOT mandate“ via Laura Layden of the Marco Eagle — Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk has ordered the removal of 72 license plate readers. The action is in response to a mandate by the Florida Department of Transportation. On Aug. 31, the department directed the removal of all automated license plate readers, including Flock cameras, from state roads and rights-of-way within 30 days. “We’re probably going to have to do it on our own because so many in Florida want them down,” he said of the removal plans. “But we will be in compliance with the 30-day rule.”

“Blue Mass honors Suncoast first responders“ via Natalia Kaminski of WWSB — A Blue Mass was held Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes in Venice to honor and pray for first responders from Sarasota and Charlotte counties, including those who died in the line of duty. The Blue Mass took place on the weekend marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks. Sheila Sullivan, a first responder, reflected on her service. “It’s a blessing to be able to work with dogs and work with people who have the same community-minded spirit that I do in order to give back. It’s really … It’s a family … It’s my family,” Sullivan said.

— TOP OPINION —

“The U.S. Open’s chaos is a feature, not a bug” via Nekesa Mumbi Moody for The New York Times — The U.S. Open has spent two weeks absorbing complaints about influencers who seem more interested in likes than tennis. But stars aren’t ruining a temple of decorum. Flushing Meadows has always been loud, unruly, glamorous and ridiculous — and that chaos is part of its appeal.

This year brought choreographed filming during Naomi Osaka’s opening-night match, a ring light used during play and enough influencer antics for Wimbledon to reaffirm that it won’t court them next year. Those disruptions deserve criticism, but not because tennis must remain solemn or genteel.

The Open’s history says otherwise. Fans have fought in the stands, booed officials and turned beer-chugging spectators into celebrities. Serena Williams’ 2009 outburst, Novak Djokovic’s 2020 disqualification and even Roger Federer losing his cool belong to the tournament’s lore.

Late-night tennis adds to the atmosphere. Ben Shelton’s quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz ended at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in tournament history, with thousands still watching. The Open also has mixed tennis with celebrity spectacle, drawing everyone from Aretha Franklin and Beyoncé to Timothée Chalamet.

That makes the influencers’ real offense simpler: They’re missing the show already happening around them. The Open doesn’t need manufactured online moments when the players, crowds and celebrities routinely create ones themselves.

Tennis at Flushing Meadows works because everyone is engaged with what’s happening in real time. Obnoxious behavior can be part of the tradition. But if you’re going to fly the U.S. Open’s freak flag, at least make the spectacle about tennis.

— MORE OPINIONS —

“The fix was almost in” via David French of The New York Times — This bill was part of the wave of mid-decade Census redistricting initiated after Trump essentially ordered the state of Texas in July to redistrict to create more Republican-majority congressional districts and diminish Democratic voting power in the state. On Sept. 3, the Missouri Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion holding that voters do have the right to overturn redistricting legislation by referendum, that the petition was sufficient to put the referendum on the November ballot, and — as a result — “H.B. 1 is not the law and has never been the law.” Missouri appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, but in a one-sentence order issued on Sept. 8, Justice Brett Kavanaugh refused to stay the Missouri ruling. The Missouri Supreme Court has the final say on matters of Missouri law, not the U.S. Supreme Court. The Missouri Republican Party lost. The old maps were in force, and the referendum was on the November ballot instead.

“Money can buy attention, but elections still come down to candidates” via R. Bruce Anderson of The Ledger of Lakeland — With 52 days until Election Day, campaign spending is approaching the saturation point, leaving the candidates themselves to close the deal with voters. Candidate committees in U.S. House races have raised an estimated $1.81 billion, not counting billions more from outside groups. But money has limits. Michael Huffington’s 1994 U.S. Senate campaign in California offers a classic example: He substantially outspent Dianne Feinstein but still lost. Modern campaigns can purchase advertising, name recognition, consultants, endorsements and organization, but they cannot simply purchase votes. After months of increasingly expensive political messaging, voters ultimately must look beyond the advertising, memes, attacks and carefully constructed images and ask a more fundamental question: What can each candidate actually do to improve people’s lives?

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— AI —

“Anthropic CEO calls for immediate slowdown in AI development” via Ben Berkowitz of Axios — Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is calling for an immediate slowdown in the pace of AI development, warning of potentially devastating consequences in a matter of months otherwise. Amodei pulled no punches in a new essay, cautioning that swarms of rogue AI agents could take over the internet in as little as six months from now. “We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models. Progress will still seem fast, and we must make wise use of the time we gain,” Amodei wrote. He pointed to the OpenAI-Hugging Face rogue agent incident, which he said could have been far worse, and warned such a swarm could cause “hundreds of billions of dollars in damage.” Amodei said Anthropic would unilaterally give external evaluators employee-level access to ensure safety procedures and report incidents and called on the rest of the industry to do the same.

“OpenAI delaying IPO amid AI safety concerns, Sam Altman says” via Ben Berkowitz and Donica Phifer of Axios — OpenAI will not go public this year given all the safety work it needs to do, CEO Altman said in a Fortune interview. “Right now would be an ill-advised moment to go public,” Altman said. “I would say not 2026, yeah. We got a lot of stuff to do,” Altman told Fortune editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell. “Meeting this moment of what is going to be required for safety and alignment, and how the industry and governments can work together, I’m happy to be able to do that as a private company.” “I think a key principle that we should all agree on is that we cannot take actions that would risk losing control of the future to AI,” Altman said.

“A day in the life as AI prepares to eradicate humanity” via Stephanie Hayes of the Tampa Bay Times — Yawn. Time for another sun-dappled morning of human existence, drinking in the beauty of the natural world. Let me just turn off the phone alarm. Oop. News alert. Former Anthropic researcher warns AI could kill us all. Oh. Coffee. OK, it says here that multiple AI researchers are sounding alarms that the rapid expansion of technology could lead to human extinction by … by when, now? By the end of the decade? That’s, like, three years. Cool!!! I thought large language models were just stealing my life’s work without consent or compensation to pump out hollow facsimiles, but apparently they want to murder me, too. That makes sense, as I am always whining.

“Americans for Responsible Innovation launches state-level AI advocacy push with a dozen new hires” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — Americans for Responsible Innovation is adding a dozen staffers to work on AI policy in all 50 state capitals, including Tallahassee. The Washington nonprofit says the new hires will focus on frontier AI risks and threats to workers, children, and families, and will counter what it calls a wave of industry-backed state proposals. Two roles will be posted this week. More state policy, communications, and operations jobs will follow, and the stated goal is a permanent presence in every state capital. “To succeed in passing the guardrails necessary to sustain AI innovation while protecting the public interest, the state arena can no longer be treated as a secondary front,” said ARI President Brad Carson. “Industry actors understand this, which is why they are investing heavily and moving fast.”

— ALOE —

“Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando land in top 10 list of best boomtowns in America” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando are among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for boomtowns, according to a new study released by the financial loan firm LendingTree. Tampa finished fifth in America, while Jacksonville came in seventh, immediately followed by Orlando in eighth. “A lot of people and businesses have been heading South over the past several years, and that’s created a lot of momentum,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree Chief Consumer Finance Analyst. “In many places, you can still find a lower cost of living, a growing population and a business climate that’s attractive to employers. Those are all things that make it easier to start and grow a business.”

“Tampa General turns hospital food into medicine” via Anjelica Rubin of the Tampa Bay Business Journal — Tampa General Hospital is transforming patient meals through a multimillion-dollar overhaul built around the idea that food should contribute to recovery. CEO John Couris launched the effort after confronting the hospital’s institutional food culture and eventually brought celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian aboard. TGH invested roughly $10 million in modernizing its Davis Islands kitchens, reduced its menu to about 30 choices and shifted toward fresh, cook-to-order Mediterranean-style dishes. Seed oils, high-fructose corn syrup and processed foods were removed, while local sourcing increased. The changes raised overall food purchasing expenses 5% to 7%, but food-quality scores increased 82%. TGH is now developing a playbook to help other hospitals replicate the model nationwide.

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Happy birthday to Gov. DeSantis, Danny Martinez, Bryan Nelson, and the one and only Brian Pitts. It’s also inmate #0570466 Mike Caruso‘s birthday.

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Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.

The post Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 9.14.26 appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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