Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urging them to oppose any Democratic resistance to President Donald Trump (R) and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. The goal of the initiative is to cut waste and abuse in the federal government.

The letter, which comes as the government funding deadline quickly approaches, was sent alongside a multitude of Sen. Scott's colleagues in the Republican Conference of both chambers. It begins by providing a rationale to defend DOGE and its goals.

"President Trump campaigned on a promise to the American people to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, and his resounding victory last November confirms he has been given a mandate by our constituents to make good on that promise," began Sen. Scott and his colleagues. "His clear message that taxpayers deserve to know not only how their money is being spent, but also that it is being spent responsibly, resonated with voters."

Later in the letter, Scott and his cohorts shared that they are "deeply concerned" with the prospect of Democrats maintaining the "unsustainable status quo" related to DOGE's government spending efforts with the deadline less than two weeks away.

"Rather than negotiating in good faith to find a solution that keeps the government open, we understand that Democrats are insisting that any government funding deal include policy provisions that would tie the hands of the President and prohibit DOGE from continuing their efforts to promote transparency and accountability in government spending," the Republicans wrote. "It has become clear that many Congressional Democrats would prefer a government shutdown rather than even attempt to rein in bloated federal bureaucracies."

The Republicans then told their party leadership that they would not support a funding package that would "be weaponized against President Trump" and that they should reject any effort aimed at diminishing DOGE.

They concluded their correspondence by saying the United States of America cannot allow the left side of the aisle to interfere with Trump and Musk's initiative.

"A bloated federal bureaucracy and unsupervised, unaccountable federal spending have contributed to the existential fiscal threat our country faces, with a $36 trillion national debt growing because of perennial budget deficits. Our country cannot afford to allow Democrats to frustrate President Trump’s work to rein in government spending and bring needed and long-overdue accountability to Washington. We look forward to working with you to resist these attempts, and ensure that the President can continue to deliver on his mandate," the letter concludes.

Senator Scott and Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) were joined by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Mike Lee (R-UT), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), along with Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Mark Harris (R-NC), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Barry Moore (R-AL) and Ralph Norman (R-SC).

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Representative Al Green (D-TX) has been kicked out of the House chamber during President Donald Trump's (R) address to the joint session of Congress.

Almost immediately, Rep. Green stood up and began heckling President Trump, and after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) reminded Rep. Green to keep decorum, Green heckled again and again, leading the Sergeant of Arms to remove Green.

President Trump then scorned the Democrats, saying he could cure tumultuous diseases, provide the greatest economy ever, or perform superhuman events, and they still wouldn't cheer for him or his administration.

During the broadcast, Democrats on the left side of the aisle were shown holding small placards saying things such as "Musk Steals," "That's a Lie," "Save Medicaid," and other phrases in defiance.

One of the biggest jeers from Democrats came when President Trump described former President Joe Biden (D) as one of the worst Commanders-in-Chiefs in history. He also called out the Democrats for attempting to keep him from returning to the Oval Office through lawfare.

Vice President JD Vance (R) was seen smiling throughout the fanfare and was physically motioning for hecklers to get out of the chamber.

This speech from President Trump comes just days after his spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy entered the White House and sat down with President Donald Trump (R) and Vice President JD Vance (R) as negotiations between the United States and Russia to possibly end the war carry on.

During the exchange, President Trump and Vice President Vance both described President Zelenskyy as "disrespectful" to the American people and the Oval Office, with Vance accusing Zelenskyy of attempting to "litigate" his case in front of the American media.

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance put AMERICA FIRST. pic.twitter.com/AkAvzKpcpb

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2025

Vance then asked Zelenskyy if the Ukrainian military is facing problems with recruitment numbers and then asked if it was respectful to come to the Oval Office and "attack the administration trying to prevent the destruction of your country."

Zelenskyy responded by saying that everyone has problems during wars, even the United States. However, Zelenskyy noted that while the U.S. has a "nice ocean" that serves as a protective barrier against attacks, it will "feel" the pains of war in the "future."

This prompted Trump to immediately step in, saying:

"You don't know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel...You don't have the cards right now. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III."

Vance then called out Zelenskyy with a rhetorical question, asking whether he had "said thank you" during the entirety of the meeting. He then called out Zelenskyy again for campaigning with Democrats in Pennsylvania during the 2024 election cycle.

Trump added that it would be hard to do business with their disagreements.

On social media, Trump released the following statement after the meeting:

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if… pic.twitter.com/CtnqXBNcW3

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 28, 2025

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” said Trump.

The press conference between Trump and Zelenskyy was subsequently canceled.

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Lay off my Coke! In the latest polling from Public Opinion Strategies, a majority of Americans, including Trump voters, support the usage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly referred to as food stamps) for soft drinks, including those sweetened with sugar. Changing this policy has been a focal point not just for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but also for another Trump appointee, Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Granted, Secretary Rubio doesn't appear to be super focused on the issue as of now in his role in the State Department, it is one of RFK Jr.'s priorities. In September, RFK Jr wrote this in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.

"Stop allowing beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to use their food stamps to buy soda or processed foods. Nine percent of all SNAP funding goes to sweetened drinks, according to 2011 data," Kennedy wrote. "It's nonsensical for U.S. taxpayers to spend tens of billions of dollars subsidizing junk that harms the health of low-income Americans."

Moreover, in May of 2023, while he was still a senator, Rubio introduced a bill, the Healthy SNAP Act, to eliminate junk food from food stamps and “make diet quality a primary objective of the SNAP program,” as 20% of the program’s purchases are junk food and unhealthy beverages, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Not only did Rubio believe that cutting sweets from food stamps would be more conscious of taxpayers in the short term, but it would also “in the long run, reduce medical expenses.”

However, despite a majority of Americans voting for President Donald Trump, it appears the citizens of the United States do not want "Big Brother" deciding how to spend their tax dollars.

An argument can be made for the idea that the taxpayers are funding unhealthy habits and stress on the healthcare system, as RFK Jr. and Rubio have pointed out.

But, not a single majority of any demographic from the polling suggests that Americans have a problem with their tax dollars going toward the less fortunate to buy sweets. The overall polling showed nearly 2 to 1 support for this notion.

At the same time, the United States is a representative republic, and the American people voted to put RFK Jr and Rubio in charge. If every issue was left up to the American people, then it would not, in fact, be a republic, but a pure democracy. However, if RFK Jr. wants to win on this issue in the court of public opinion, then polling suggests that the HHS will have some work to do in the communication sphere.

It doesn't appear that this issue will be set in stone any time soon.

The post Poll: Majority of Americans Disagree with RFK Jr., Rubio Over Using Food Stamps to Buy Soft Drinks appeared first on The Floridian.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) appeared on Sean Hannity's show to discuss national political strategy and Democrats' appearing to not alter their ways, such as supporting the DOGE initiative following the 2024 election. The Democrats failed to hold the Senate or take back the House of Representatives and lost the White House, losing all seven battleground states along the way.

However, there does not seem to be any sense of reflection from the left side of the aisle.

Democrats and the media are doubling down on failed policies and woke ideologies.

They want to see men competing in women's sports and billions wasted in reckless spending! pic.twitter.com/Tc98G6TB5u

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 26, 2025

"It's amazing," Sen. Cruz began. "It seems like Democrats and the media, they didn't learn anything from this election. Normally, when you get your rear end whipped in an election, you stop and say, 'Hey, what went wrong, what did we do wrong? Let's recalibrate.' The Democrats are not. They're doubling down."

The Texas senator continued by admonishing the Democrats for not supporting Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to cut wasteful spending, and are instead opposing it.

"They are the party of waste, fraud, and abuse. You don't see a single elected Democrat saying, 'This is great, that Elon Musk is tracking this down.' Instead, they are defending sex change surgeries in Guatemala, $20 million," said Cruz. "They are defending $58 million in FEMA funds meant for disaster recovery, used to house illegal aliens. And they're defending open borders. They're attacking Israel, and they're defending boys in girls sports."

Finally, Cruz asked if the Left is even acknowledging their decisive defeat.

"And you look at the Democrats, you're like, did you hear a word, the voters said? And they're not. This is their agenda. I gotta say, Sean, the waste, fraud and abuse that most needs to be cut, is the Democrats! That's who they are," concluded Cruz.

Moreover, Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) spoke at a press conference just outside the Capitol on Tuesday and defended President Donald Trump (R) and Elon Musk's aggressive Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.

Musk and his DOGE team made headlines this week when they sent an email to government employees demanding they respond with five examples of what they accomplished at their job last week. Failure to respond to the email would be considered a resignation by the employee.

Some have criticized Musk's tactic, while Republicans such as Rep. Van Duyne hold the view that government employees, such as herself, should be held accountable. She also vowed for Musk in his role as an advisor to President Trump.

The post Cruz Calls Out Democrats for Refusing to Support DOGE Initiative appeared first on The Floridian.

With Attorney General Pam Bondi officially sworn in as the 87th Attorney General of the United States, one of her first statements as the AG declared her intention to "make America safe again" and restore faith in the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Pam Bondi served as the State Attorney General of Florida during former Governor Rick Scott's (R-FL) tenure (2011-2019).

After taking the oath administered by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, AG Bondi swore that she would "fight violent crime" in the United States and worldwide.

JUST IN: Attorney General Pam Bondi vows to fight violent crime throughout the country and "Make America Safe Again" after being sworn in.

"I will fight violent crime through this country and throughout this world and make America safe again."pic.twitter.com/KbreTSsfJb

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 5, 2025

"I will restore integrity to the Justice Department, and I will fight violent crime throughout this country and throughout the world and make America safe again," said AG Bondi.

Moreover, Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL), gave a resounding endorsement of her Florida Attorney General predecessor and called her a "longtime friend during an appearance on Newsmax.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be one of the strongest, most disciplined, most focused Attorneys General we have had at the helm of the DOJ. pic.twitter.com/0OYQDFR9kC

— Senator Ashley Moody (@SenAshleyMoody) February 5, 2025

"I'm so excited for my longtime friend and certainly my predecessor as Florida Attorney General, Pam Bondi. You will see, she will be one of the strongest, most disciplined, most focused Attorneys General we've had," said Sen. Moody.

How did we get here?

Well, after President Donald Trump (R) appointed former Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) for the Secretary of State position, it left Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) with a vacancy to fill. He chose Florida AG at the time Ashley Moody to Rubio's seat, and picked his Chief of Staff, James Uthmeier to be Florida's AG.

Moreover, President Trump initially chose former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to run the DOJ, but he withdrew from the process, leading Trump to pick Bondi. Throughout this process, two former Florida Attorneys General have catapulted into the national spotlight.

Bondi's Attorney General Confirmation Hearing

During her confirmation hearing on Jan. 16, Bondi was asked about the 2020 election, the potential pardoning of January 6th protestors, and whether she would be more loyal to the Constitution or President Donald Trump (R).

During the hearing, multiple Democrats reiterated the question of whether President-elect Trump lost the 2020 election. Bondi repeatedly answered by saying that President Joe Biden (D) is currently the Commander-in-Chief, he was "duly sworn in" and that there was a "peaceful transfer of power" in the Oval Office.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) followed up with Bondi by asking if she had "any doubts" that Biden had the majority of electoral votes to win in 2020.

She answered by saying that she accepted President Biden as the Commander-in-Chief but witnessed a lot of irregularities during her time on the ground in Pennsylvania during the 2020 election.

Additionally, Durbin asked if Bondi is prepared to pardon those who've been prosecuted for "violent assaults on police officers" during the events of January 6th, 2021.

Her response:

"Senator, if confirmed as Attorney General of the United States, the pardons, of course, fall under the President. But if asked to look at those cases, I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis, just as I did my entire career as a prosecutor."

President Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 Jan. 6 protestors on his first day in office.

Furthermore, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) asked Bondi if she would follow an order from President Trump even if it was deemed "unethical or illegal," and questioned her motives when giving responses in order to be confirmed by the committee.

Bondi responded:

"Senator, first, I need to clarify something that you said, that I have to sit up here and say these things. No, I don't. I sit up here and speak the truth. I'm not going to sit up here and say anything that I need to say to get confirmed by this body, I don't have to say anything. I will answer the questions to the best of my ability, and honestly."

Which Trump Cabinet Picks Have Been Confirmed?

Secretary of State - Marco Rubio

CIA Director - John Ratcliffe

Defense Secretary - Pete Hegseth

Homeland Security Secretary - Kristi Noem

Treasury Secretary - Scott Bessent

Transportation Secretary - Sean Duffy

Interior Secretary - Doug Burgum

EPA Director - Lee Zeldin

Energy Secretary - Chris Wright

Veterans Affairs Secretary - Doug Collins

House and Urban Development - Scott Turner

The post Bondi Vows to 'Make America Safe Again' as Attorney General, Moody Offers Endorsement appeared first on The Floridian.

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been confirmed as the 87th United States Attorney General. She is the third female Attorney General in the country's history. She was confirmed by a 54-46 vote. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) was the lone Democrat to join all 53 Republicans in the upper chamber to vote for Bondi.

Moreover, Pam Bondi served as the State Attorney General of Florida during former Governor Rick Scott's (R-FL) tenure (2011-2019).

Bondi's Confirmation Hearing

During her confirmation hearing on Jan. 16, Bondi was asked about the 2020 election, the potential pardoning of January 6th protestors, and whether she would be more loyal to the Constitution or President Donald Trump (R).

During the hearing, multiple Democrats reiterated the question of whether President-elect Trump lost the 2020 election. Bondi repeatedly answered by saying that President Joe Biden (D) is currently the Commander-in-Chief, he was "duly sworn in" and that there was a "peaceful transfer of power" in the Oval Office.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) followed up with Bondi by asking if she had "any doubts" that Biden had the majority of electoral votes to win in 2020.

She answered by saying that she accepted President Biden as the Commander-in-Chief but witnessed a lot of irregularities during her time on the ground in Pennsylvania during the 2020 election.

Additionally, Durbin asked if Bondi is prepared to pardon those who've been prosecuted for "violent assaults on police officers" during the events of January 6th, 2021.

Her response:

"Senator, if confirmed as Attorney General of the United States, the pardons, of course, fall under the President. But if asked to look at those cases, I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis, just as I did my entire career as a prosecutor."

President Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 Jan. 6 protestors on his first day in office.

Furthermore, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) asked Bondi if she would follow an order from President Trump even if it was deemed "unethical or illegal," and questioned her motives when giving responses in order to be confirmed by the committee.

Bondi responded:

"Senator, first, I need to clarify something that you said, that I have to sit up here and say these things. No, I don't. I sit up here and speak the truth. I'm not going to sit up here and say anything that I need to say to get confirmed by this body, I don't have to say anything. I will answer the questions to the best of my ability, and honestly."

Which Trump Cabinet Picks Have Been Confirmed?

Secretary of State - Marco Rubio

CIA Director - John Ratcliffe

Defense Secretary - Pete Hegseth

Homeland Security Secretary - Kristi Noem

Treasury Secretary - Scott Bessent

Transportation Secretary - Sean Duffy

Interior Secretary - Doug Burgum

EPA Director - Lee Zeldin

Energy Secretary - Chris Wright

Veterans Affairs Secretary - Doug Collins

The post Pam Bondi Confirmed as 87th United States Attorney General appeared first on The Floridian.

While the Florida State Legislature is enduring a power struggle over immigration, the Peach State appears to have a more concrete plan in alignment with President Donald Trump's (R) administration. Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R), the President of the Georgia State Senate, announced a war on fentanyl in lockstep with President Trump's administration. The Georgia Lt. Gov has introduced the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act for the 2025 legislative session, with State Senator Russ Goodman (R-GA) sponsoring the legislation establishing "stiffer criminal penalties for fentanyl offenses."

The optics of this in comparison to Florida's current situation might have seemed confusing to residents of both states just a few years ago. While the hatchet seems to have been mostly buried, President Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) have had a history that includes name-calling and accusations of RINO (Republican In Name Only) status.

However, it appears those fences have been mended.

Critics of Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) would argue, "Well, at least Gov. Kemp didn't try to run against President Trump in 2024." But as of now, it doesn't seem DeSantis is necessarily not in good graces with Trump either. Trump did in fact thank DeSantis for calling the Jan. 27 special session to address illegal immigration; a session that the state legislature gaveled in, gaveled out, and gaveled back into their own session.

Therefore, the disunity in the Florida GOP isn't really about Trump at all. But it is creating a roadblock to the efficiency and efficacy of the Trump agenda. Who's to blame for it is a matter of opinion.

Nevertheless, it appears the Republicans in Georgia are mostly unified around a concrete effort to help the Trump administration combat fentanyl trafficking in Georgia, and that is what Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is attempting to address.

Georgia's Lt. Gov. shared that this initiative will build upon the previous year's efforts in the state upper chamber and address fentanyl pushers "to the fullest extent of the law" in the Peach State.

“This Act continues efforts the Senate led on in 2024 to address fentanyl deaths in Georgia, with the passage of Austin’s Law. The proposed legislation complements our ongoing priority to combat opioid abuse across the state and to hold those who poison our communities with illicit substances like fentanyl accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Many of these criminals are bringing this poison across the border illegally," said the Georgia Lt. Gov.

Jones continued, stating that President Donald Trump's (R) administration will help Georgia "fight back" against this crisis.

"Georgia will continue to fight back. With the support of President Trump and the new Administration working tirelessly to secure the border, this is a fight we can and must win. This legislation and the enforcement of ‘Austin’s Law’ will help to prevent the senseless deaths of Georgians," concluded Jones.

According to Lt. Gov. Jones' press release, the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act was filed with the Secretary of Senate’s Office on Monday. The bill removes fentanyl from Georgia’s current statutes relating to possessing, selling, distributing, manufacturing, and trafficking opiates and creates a separate schedule of offenses specific to fentanyl and its related substances. The bill would go into effect on July 1, 2025, and would apply to criminal offenses committed on or after that date.

This move from the Lt. Gov. comes as the Trump administration is attempting to crack down on fentanyl from both the southern border with Mexico and the northern border with Canada.

After threatening tariffs with the two nations, President Trump received concessions from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They both agreed to put approximately 10,000 troops on their respective borders and the Canadians will put forth over $1 billion toward border enforcement.

The post Georgia Lt. Gov: Trump Will Help Georgia 'Fight Back' Against Fentanyl Trafficking appeared first on The Floridian.

Representative Mike Collins' (R-GA) pivotal legislation, the Laken Riley Act, has passed in both the House and the Senate and will head to President Donald Trump's (R) desk. The bill immediately deports illegal immigrants who have been arrested for shoplifting, assault against police officers, and crimes that result in death or serious bodily injury.

It also grants states the ability to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for injunctive relief if "immigration actions such as parole, violation of detention requirements, or other policy failures harm that state or its citizens."

The bill is named in honor of Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant in February of 2024. Her killer was sentenced to life in prison without parole in November.

Rep. Collins shared that this was a bipartisan moment in which politics were put "aside" to fix the "broken" immigration system.

“Today, Republicans and Democrats put partisan politics aside to save lives and reform a broken system that has failed American citizens across the country,” said Rep. Collins.

He also mentioned that Laken Riley's name will "live on" through this bill.

“The Laken Riley Act is bipartisan legislation that fixes a bipartisan problem, and I am proud that the country has come together to ensure that no family must live through the pain that an illegal immigrant has caused Riley’s. Laken Riley was in school to save lives, and although her opportunities were taken away, her name will live on as this bill prevents deaths like hers,” concluded Rep. Collins.

President Trump repeatedly mentioned Laken Riley's name throughout the campaign cycle. He met with her parents in March before a rally he held in Georgia. Trump scorched then-President Joe Biden (D) for describing Laken's killer as an "illegal immigrant."

The Laken Riley Act passed in the House with a vote tally of 263-156, with 46 Democrats joining all Republicans. Companion legislation in the upper chamber was introduced by Senator Katie Britt (R-AL). Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) voted for the bill.

Moreover, Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) also voted for the bill. The final tally in the upper chamber was 64-35.

The post Pivotal Laken Riley Act Heads to Trump's Desk appeared first on The Floridian.

President Donald Trump (R) has released a message on social media calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine and stop the bloodshed. Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. President Trump promised that he would end the war quickly upon entering office.

In President Trump's post on Truth Social, he shared his intention to not "hurt Russia" and acknowledged the Russian people's sacrifice during World War II, which helped ensure an Allied victory.

I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin - and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000…

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 22, 2025

"I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin - and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX," said President Trump. "We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process."

Furthermore, the newly inaugurated Commander-in-Chief warned President Putin that inaction or difficulty in negotiating will only end badly for Russia. He also added that he could levy a multitude of economic penalties on the Russian nation.

"All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don’t make a 'deal' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," said Trump.

Finally, the President said that this war would've never started if he had been reelected to the Oval Office in 202, but told Putin that the negotiations could go "the easy way, or the hard way" if he didn't comply with a deal.

"Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way - and the easy way is always better. It’s time to “MAKE A DEAL.” NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!" concluded Trump.

While Trump did not accomplish his almost-impossible promise of ending the war in 24 hours as President, his public attempt to end the fighting could advance talks of a ceasefire or treaty.

The post Trump to Putin: We Can End the War 'The Easy Way, or the Hard Way' appeared first on The Floridian.

*Note: The Floridian has learned that mailers requesting Florida residents to call on their legislators to support the special session on immigration have been sent out to all regions of the state. Edits of this article reflect this revelation.

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is asking Florida residents to call on their state legislators to support and participate in the upcoming special session to address illegal immigration and is using President Donald Trump's (R) endorsement of the session to do so.

A legislator included in this call to action is State Senator Randy Fine (R-FL-19), who was endorsed by President Trump in his special election race for U.S. Congressional District 6.

Sen. Fine has expressed his disapproval of the session, which begins on January 27th. The mailers, which The Floridian has obtained, are paid for by the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF). While mailers from DeSantis and the RPOF have been sent to all regions of the state, asking all state legislators to support the special session, State Sen. Fine has been one of the leaders in opposition to the timing of it.

Here's an abridged timeline:

2024 President Campaign Cycle

During the Republican Presidential Primary, State Sen. Fine initially backed Gov. DeSantis but flipped following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel committed by Hamas.

"Today, I am endorsing @realDonaldTrump. The past 2 weeks have made me realize our choice as Jews is simple. We can vote for the Gov who says the right things, or we can vote for the President who actually does them. When it comes to action, Trump has never let us down," Rep. Fine tweeted.

January 2025: DeSantis Calls Special Session

After Gov. DeSantis called for a special session, State Sen. Fine accused Gov. DeSantis of calling this special session without a concrete plan to tackle illegal immigration. He told reporters, "It is a huge problem, it is urgent. So what’s the bill? Saying ‘Oh we have a problem, let’s have a special session, let’s have a special session but I’m not sure what to do about it.’ What good does that do?”

However, on the same day, President Trump thanked DeSantis publicly for scheduling the session just one week following his inauguration.

Recently, Gov. DeSantis has sent out these mailers asking Floridians to call on their state legislators to support the special session.

"Trump and DeSantis need you," the mailer begins. "Legislators in Tallahassee believe that fixing our border can wait until Summer. But President Trump and Governor DeSantis believe the time to combat illegal immigration is now! Gov. DeSantis called a special legislative session for next week. Please call your legislators."

Moreover, in an email from DeSantis and the RPOF, the governor says "There isn't a second to waste" and that "Making America Great Again requires action at the state level, and with your help, we will get the job done."

The Floridian can confirm that voters in U.S. Congressional District 6 have been receiving campaign mailers from State Sen. Fine with President Trump's endorsement present. All of these mailers can be seen below.

DeSantis/RPOF Special Session Mailers

Randy Fine Mailer

These issues are not mutually exclusive, and is not in the realm of possibility that Trump would rescind his endorsement. Disagreements such as these happen in politics regularly, but it will interesting to see how Fine navigates this conundrum.

The post Special Session Showdown: DeSantis Challenges Lawmakers Over Immigration appeared first on The Floridian.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), like most Republicans, was ecstatic with the Inauguration of President Donald Trump (R) on Monday. At the event, Sen. Scott brought Edmundo González, whom the United States recognizes as the democratically elected President of Venezuela.

The Florida senator shared that he was "proud" to have President González with him at the Inauguration to witness a peaceful transfer of power.

“I’m incredibly proud to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration today, and to be joined by Venezuela’s President-elect Edmundo González," said Sen. Scott. "President-elect González was elected by the people of Venezuela, under the leadership of María Corina Machado, and is a beacon of hope for a new day of freedom for those oppressed by murderous dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Senator Rick Scott

Furthermore, Sen. Scott mentioned that he looks forward to President Trump and his administration standing with the Venezuelan people to "fight for freedom and democracy" and hold Dictator Maduro accountable.

"As Maduro deprives the Venezuelan people of their rightful leader, openly threatens the United States and holds Americans hostage, we must make clear the United States will hold Maduro accountable and will not take these threats lightly," said Scott. "As governor and senator, I’ve stood with the people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom and democracy, and I’m looking forward to having a strong partner in President Trump back in the White House who will do the same.”

Furthermore, Senators Scott, Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently reintroduced legislation upping the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuelan dictator, Nicolas Maduro. The current maximum reward is $15 million, but it would increase to $100 million with the bill's passage.

The bill is known as the Securing Timely Opportunities for Payment and Maximizing Awards for Detaining Unlawful Regime Officials (STOP MADURO) Act. The reward money would not be sourced from taxpayer dollars, but rather from already-held seized assets from the Maduro regime. The U.S. Attorney's Office in South Florida has already confiscated $450 million.

Sen. Cruz mentioned that this legislation increases the pressure on Maduro in a "badly needed effort" for accountability.

“Nicolás Maduro is a corrupt dictator and thug. The STOP MADURO Act helps badly needed efforts to hold him and his regime accountable," said Sen. Cruz. "I’m proud to cosponsor this effort, and will continue to work with the incoming Trump administration and my colleagues in Congress on these issues.”

Addressing Latin America's problems could very well be the Trump administration's bread and butter, considering the politicians Trump has put around him. With newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Sen. Scott, and members of the House of Representatives such as Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and others tackling this issue for years, change in Venezuela could come.

The post Scott Brings U.S. Recognized Venezuelan President González to Inauguration appeared first on The Floridian.

If you had said two years ago that Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) would be signing a controversial executive order on January 20th, 2025, involving the newly named "Gulf of America," you probably wouldn't think Donald Trump has returned to the White House.

Life works out funnily.

However, Gov. DeSantis is still in his residence in Tallahassee, still in his post as the Governor of Florida, and has signed Executive Order 25-13, known as "Emergency Management – Gulf Winter Weather System," has declared a state of emergency regarding the winter storm that could bring snow to Florida's panhandle early this week.

Gov. DeSantis refers to the Gulf by its new name, the Gulf of America, after President Trump renamed it in an executive order of his own, fulfilling a post-election desire that has now become a reality.

DeSantis' executive order reads:

WHEREAS, an area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of America, interacting with Arctic air, will bring widespread impactful winter weather to North Florida beginning Tuesday, January 21, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the western Florida Panhandle, with additional extensions eastward along the I-10 corridor this afternoon and evening; and

WHEREAS, all modes of hazardous winter weather will be likely, including snow, sleet, and freezing rain; and

WHEREAS, snowfall totals of one to three inches are forecast for the Florida Panhandle, with locally higher amounts upwards of three to four inches possible for locations that experience periods of heavy snowfall rates ...

WHEREAS, the threat posed by this winter weather system requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of Florida; and

WHEREAS, as Governor, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to Florida and its people by this emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ron DeSantis, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:

Section 1. Because of the foregoing conditions, which are projected to constitute a major disaster, I declare that a state of emergency exists in the State of Florida ...

To read the whole executive order, click the link here:

The post DeSantis Quickly Refers to Trump's 'Gulf of America' in Latest Executive Order appeared first on The Floridian.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in introducing the No Tax on Tips Act, a bill that attempts to institute the legislation’s title nationwide. The bill exempts “cash tips” – cash, credit and debit card charges, and checks – from federal income tax by allowing taxpayers to claim a 100% above-the-line deduction at filing for tipped wages.

The senators introduced this legislation during the 118th Congress, but in their updated version for the 119th, the bill has "guardrails" so the No Tax On Tips Act only applies to "traditionally tipped employees."

The No Tax on Tips Act was directly inspired by President-elect Donald Trump (R) as this issue was one of his most prominent campaign promises. President-elect Trump chastised Vice President Kamala Harris (D) for seemingly campaigning on this issue as well.

Sen. Scott stated that this bill follows his economic initiatives during his time as Florida Governor.

“During my time as Governor of Florida, I worked to cut taxes over 100 times to help businesses thrive, families keep more of their hard-earned dollars and turn our entire economy around," said Sen. Scott. "After four years of President Biden’s skyrocketing inflation making life harder for families, it’s about time we follow Florida’s turnaround playbook and take significant action to cut taxes with the No Tax on Tips Act. President Trump is laser-focused on getting our economy back on track, and passing this bill ASAP will be a great start.”

Furthermore, Sen. Cruz shared that this legislation fits what he believes to be his ideal coalition for the Republican Party: consisting of bartenders, waiters, waitresses, and other working-class people.

“American workers in many industries rely on tipped wages to make ends meet. Today, I’m introducing my bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act—legislation I authored to fulfill President Trump’s promise to end the wrongful practice of taxing voluntary tips," said Sen. Cruz. "I’ve long believed the GOP should be the party of bartenders, of waiters and waitresses, and this bill is an important step to ensure we are addressing the economic needs of working Americans. This pro-worker bill will deliver relief to families facing rising costs caused by the Biden administration’s inflationary policies.”

Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) was joined by Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) in introducing the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The post Scott & Cruz Reintroduce No Tax on Tips Act appeared first on The Floridian.

Former Florida State Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. Attorney General. Bondi was asked about the 2020 election, the potential pardoning of January 6th protestors, and whether she would be more loyal to the Constitution or President-elect Donald Trump (R).

During the hearing, multiple Democrats reiterated the question of whether President-elect Trump lost the 2020 election. Bondi repeatedly answered by saying that President Joe Biden (D) is currently the Commander-in-Chief, he was "duly sworn in" and that there was a "peaceful transfer of power" in the Oval Office.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) followed up with Bondi by asking if she had "any doubts" that Biden had the majority of electoral votes to win in 2020.

Her response:

"You know, Senator, all I can tell you, as a prosecutor, is from my firsthand experience, and I accept the results. I accept, of course, that Joe Biden is the President of the United States. But what I can tell you is what I saw firsthand when I went to Pennsylvania as an advocate for the campaign. I was an advocate for the campaign, and I was on the ground in Pennsylvania, and I saw many things there. But do I accept the results? Of course, I do. Do I agree with what happened, and I saw so much. No one from either side of the aisle should want there to be any issues with election integrity in our country. We should all want our elections to be free and fair and the rules and the laws to be followed."

Durbin rebutted by saying she should've only answered yes or no, and that the length of her response is a sign that she "wasn't prepared to answer yes."

Additionally, Durbin asked if Bondi is prepared to pardon those who've been prosecuted for "violent assaults on police officers" during the events of January 6th, 2021.

Her response:

"Senator, if confirmed as Attorney General of the United States, the pardons, of course, fall under the President. But if asked to look at those cases, I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis, just as I did my entire career as a prosecutor."

Moreover, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) asked Bondi if she would follow an order from President Trump even if it was deemed "unethical or illegal," and questioned her motives when giving responses in order to be confirmed by the committee.

Bondi responded:

"Senator, first, I need to clarify something that you said, that I have to sit up here and say these things. No, I don't. I sit up here and speak the truth. I'm not going to sit up here and say anything that I need to say to get confirmed by this body, I don't have to say anything. I will answer the questions to the best of my ability, and honestly."

Bondi served as the State Attorney General of Florida during former Governor Rick Scott's (R-FL) tenure (2011-2019).

The post Bondi Endures U.S. Attorney General Confirmation Hearing appeared first on The Floridian.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday not to ask or answer questions, but to introduce former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) to those on the dais. Former AG Bondi served in the position during Sen. Scott's tenure as the Governor of Florida (2011-2019) and now awaits a vote from the Senate to be confirmed for U.S. Attorney General.

Bondi was appointed for nomination by President-elect Donald Trump in November.

He begins by addressing the committee members and recognizes members of Bondi's family. He then begins his introduction:

"I can tell you wholeheartedly that President Trump couldn't have a better leader than Pam Bondi for Attorney General. She is undoubtedly qualified, brilliant, and committed to defending and protecting the laws of this nation, and has a track record to prove it. It is no secret that the DOJ is facing a public trust crisis after Democrats spent years weaponizing the justice system and the entire federal government to become an agency that attacks the American people instead of defending and protecting them. That will change under Pam Bondi."

Furthermore, Sen. Scott provided kind words regarding Bondi's tenure as Florida's Attorney General and the success they had during their partnership as part of the state's executive branch.

"Under her leadership, the DOJ will actually fairly enforce the laws, protect the rights of the American people, and keep our nation safe, and crack down on violent crimes and dangerous drugs, and the American people will trust her to do so," said Sen. Scott. "I know that well because I worked alongside Pam Bondi for eight years when I was governor of Florida and she was Florida's elected Attorney General, working to improve the lives of Floridians, to make Florida the best state in the nation to live, work and raise a family."

The Florida senator would also add that Bondi helped facilitate a 26% drop in overall crime, a 19.6% drop in violent crime, and a 27.4% drop in property crime during her time as AG. Scott said "These aren't just numbers. These are 10s of 1000s of lives saved and communities improved and made safer, and families and businesses protected."

Finally, the Sunshine State senator said that Bondi would "restore law and order" and put Americans first.

"As U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi will restore law and order to the nation. She'll put Americans' interests first and make the nation a better and safer place. I urge every single member of this committee to support my friend, Pam Bondi. I look forward to voting for her confirmation soon on the Senate floor and help her get to work for the American people," concluded Scott.

The post Scott Introduces Bondi at Confirmation Hearing appeared first on The Floridian.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has launched a $20 million nationwide campaign calling on the legislative branch to renew President-elect Donald Trump's (R) Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

AFP describes this bill as "a cornerstone of AFP and the Trump Administration’s shared economic agenda this year." The group also describes this campaign as the "largest effort by a conservative organization to support President Trump’s second-term legislative agenda." The campaign launches this week in all 50 states with advertisements urging Americans to unite by telling their elected officials to renew the tax cuts.

AFP-FL State Director Skylar Zander said that Congress and Floridians, by proxy, will face a "crisis" if the tax cuts are not renewed.

“This year, Congress is facing a countdown to a crisis that threatens family budgets nationwide," said Zander. "If Congress fails to renew the TCJA, Floridians will be left paying $3,505 more in taxes. Along with increasing the burden of inflation on working families, the expiration of these tax cuts would cripple local businesses with a $1,610 tax increase and ultimately cost over 61,500 jobs."

Zander continued, “If we are going to reignite the American Dream, we need to start with protecting the progress we made with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as expand on pro-growth tax policy that will jump start the economy and get more Floridians back to work.

He concluded, “We are proud to partner with the incoming Trump Administration to protect prosperity and ensure that Congress acts before millions of Floridians face crippling increases in their tax bills.”

Moreover, AFP-Florida also released the following information regarding their new campaign:

The Protect Prosperity campaign will mobilize all 50 states to reach millions of voters on the phone and at their doorsteps. The campaign will elevate the voices of Members of Congress supportive of pro-growth tax cuts and hold accountable Members who do not support this agenda, with the goal of extending and building on tax relief for American families and businesses.

The campaign will also feature a robust 50-state media engagement strategy and lobbying effort. AFP will conduct over 1,000 meetings with Congressional offices on Capitol Hill, hold in-district events with our activists and Members of Congress, roundtables with job creators, and shared testimonials from real American families and businesses who would suffer if Congress fails to renew the Trump tax cuts.

Through 2023 and 2024, AFP and AFP Action reached out to a record of nearly 30 million voters. This year, AFP will again activate its grassroots army of millions to ensure pro-growth tax reform is Congress’ top priority – with calls to lawmakers, community phone banks, and 20,000 contacts at constituent doors planned in February alone.

The post Americans for Prosperity-FL Launches $20M Campaign to Support Trump Tax Cuts appeared first on The Floridian.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has introduced legislation alongside Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) known as the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act. This bill increases the criminal penalties for swatting by expanding the federal criminal hoax statute to specifically prohibit “swatting” hoaxes.

"Swatting," as it is known, is the act of making a fraudulent police call to a victim's address in order to terrorize the occupants. Sens. Scott and Tuberville were victims of swatting in December 2023. He subsequently filed a bill of the same name but it did not make it out of committee.

Sen. Scott called those who engage purposely order swat teams to innocent households "cowards" that put people in danger.

“The cowards behind ‘swatting’ calls intentionally waste the time and resources of law enforcement and put people in danger in an attempt to inflict fear in communities and terrorize their targets," said Sen. Scott. "It’s absolutely despicable and those responsible must face real consequences for their actions. Swatters have attempted attacks on my family’s home, the homes of public officials, Trump administration nominees, and so many others—it has to stop."

Scott concluded by saying his bill should limit swatting attempts nationwide.

"That’s why I introduced the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act to crack down on these attempts. I’m proud to lead this important bill in the Senate again and look forward to its passage," Scott said.

Furthermore, Sen. Tuberville added that this issue is worthy of the Senate's attention.

“Swatting is a serious problem that must be addressed. My home was swatted twice around Christmas last year in a dangerous attempt to intimidate my family and me. Our brave men and women in blue shouldn’t have to use valuable time and resources answering hoax calls when they could be protecting communities and getting criminals off the street. I’m proud to join Senator Scott in standing up to these criminal hoaxers, making our communities safer, and keeping our law enforcement officers out of harmful situations," said Tuberville.

With a GOP-controlled House and Senate, perhaps the Republican-led bill will make it to President-elect Donald Trump's desk in the Oval Office.

The post Scott Introduces Bill to Tackle 'Swatting' Once Again appeared first on The Floridian.