You searched for Trump · The Floridian

JUICE🍊—3.6.2025—Florida Lawmakers to End Property Taxes—Protect and Serve Act—Much More..

Javier Manjarres — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:05:29 +0000

Republican Lawmakers Announce Plans to Eliminate Property Taxes in Florida

Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Belleview) announced he intends to work on eliminating property taxes in the "Free" State of Florida with a string of bills during a press conference Wednesday in Tallahassee.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz-Millions more veterans can now get health care thanks to the PACT Act. Yet Trump & Republicans cruelly choke access with firings, layoffs and killed contracts. This neglectful treatment of those who proudly served is despicable.

Jonathan Martin-Providing due process means a jury makes factual findings in order to permanently revoke someone’s constitutional rights. Jury trials with publicly provided lawyers as an option must be the bare minimum before permanently banning gun ownership.

Danny Burgess-I believe it is our duty to serve those who have served our country. SB 116 will expand support services for our veterans and their families, including mental health training so we can more easily identify those who are struggling and adult day-time care opportunities to provide a better quality of life. This bill will go a long way toward meeting the needs of our veterans and showing our appreciation for their service.

florida capitol

Rep. Ryan Chamberlin Announces Plans to Eliminate Property Taxes in Florida—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Belleview) announced he intends to work on eliminating property taxes in the "Free" State of Florida with a string of bills during a press conference Wednesday in Tallahassee.

Steube Reintroduces Bill Preventing U.S. Funds Going to Hezbollah—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) is reintroducing legislation to prevent United States security assistance from going to Lebanon until their government stops recognizing Hezbollah.

Trump’s FDA Pick Faces Big Test on Tobacco Policy—OPINION

Protect Those Who Protect Us: Congress Must Pass the Protect and Serve Act—OPINION

Texas Rep. Green to File Impeachment Articles Against Trump After Outburst During Address—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—Representative Al Green spoke to the media following his removal from the House Chamber during President Donald Trump...

Trump Imposes Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, Warns of Further Action—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports while increasing current tariffs on Chinese goods...

Patronis, Pizzo Scathe U.S. House Democrats for Antics During Trump's Address—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—Florida Chief Financial Officer and Congressional District 1 Republican congressional nominee Jimmy Patronis spoke to The Floridian regarding...

Suspected Terrorist Who Killed 13 US Troops Extradited to US—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—The US Department of Justice has announced the charging and extradition of terrorist Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” for helping orchestrate...

Overwhelming Majority of Joint Session Viewers Approve of Trump's Speech—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—Polls measuring viewers’ reactions to President Donald Trump’s recent joint address to Congress are signaling overwhelming support for...

Leek, Cassel Push Strengthening Anti-BDS Law in Support of Israel—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Sen. Tom Leek and Rep. Hillary Cassel recently filed bills to show Florida's support for the Jewish State by expanding the state's existing anti-Boycott...

Rep. Porras Announces Filing of Bill Strengthening HOA Regulations—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Rep. Juan Carlos Porras announced the filing of HB 983, a legislation designed to reform Florida's Homeowners Association by enhancing enforcement...

BlackRock Reaches Panama Canal Deal—By The Floridian's Daniel Molina—A group of U.S. investors led by BlackRock has agreed to acquire majority stakes in two key ports at either end of the Panama Canal, which was previously controlled by Hong Kong...

Buchanan's Chronic Disease Coverage Bill Passes House—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Vern Buchanan's Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act has passed the House of Representatives and will now go to the Senate. The bipartisan bill, which...

Florida Tops U.S. States in Education, Economy: Report—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Florida was listed as the best state in the country for education and the economy in 2024, according to U.S. News and World Report. The report found the Sunshine...

Slot Machines Over Stallions? Florida’s Horse Racing Future Is at Risk—Opinion—Over the past few months, there has been much anxiety in the Thoroughbred racing community about legislation working its way through Tallahassee that would strip Florida...

DeSantis Questions Efficacy, Payments of Flu Shot: Not a 'Stellar Record'—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—While lambasting the Covid vaccine on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis questioned how effective flu shots are and whether physicians push them in return...

Jason Pizzo

Jason Pizzo Gives Straightforward, Blunt Takes on DeSantis' State of the State Address—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo issued a rebuttal Monday to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State Address where he bluntly laid out his concerns on the direction of the state, including its hardline focus on social issues and misteps on illegal immigration.

BREAKING: Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green Kicked Out of Trump's Address to Congress—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

Age of Disruption': Perez, Albritton Call for 'Scrutiny' of State Government Spending—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—While Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP lawmakers agree that excess government spending needs to be cut, Senate President Ben Albritton and House...

Cherfilus McCormick Introduces Bipartisan Bill Extending TPS for Haitians—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Sheila Cherfilus McCormick has introduced bipartisan legislation extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals in the...

DeSantis Accused of Black Listing Republican Lawmakers From Governor's Mansion—By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—The Florida Legislature kicked off the 2025 Legislative Session, but the talk of the town was First Lady Casey DeSantis’s...

Trump's Frustration With Zelenskyy Grows Following Oval Office Dispute—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—President Donald Trump’s annoyance with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy has seemingly worsened after the two recently engaged in...

Gov. Ron DeSantis Celebrates SpaceX Operations Coming to Florida—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Gov. Ron DeSantis congratulated SpaceX Monday after the aerospace company announced it was bringing Starship production and launch capabilities...

Sen. Alexis Calatayud Files Bill to Increase Parkinson's Disease Reasearch—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Miami Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud recently filed a bill that would establish a Parkinson’s Disease Research Program to support innovative...

West Palm Beach Named Top Trending Destination in America—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—The City of West Palm Beach has been named the top trending destination for travelers in America, according to a report by Tripadvisor. West Palm Beach...

'Stop the Next Nikolas Cruz': GOP Leader Pushes Back on DeSantis' Open Carry, Red Flag Ideas—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Fresh off an immigration battle with GOP leaders, Gov. Ron DeSantis is now asking the Legislature to greenlight open carry and repeal...

The Juice is squeezed by Javier Manjarres, Daniel Molina, and Michael Costeines

Rene Garcia

The post JUICE🍊—3.6.2025—Florida Lawmakers to End Property Taxes—Protect and Serve Act—Much More.. appeared first on The Floridian.

Steube Reintroduces Bill Preventing U.S. Funds Going to Hezbollah

Grayson Bakich — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 01:30:22 +0000

Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) is reintroducing legislation to prevent United States security assistance from going to Lebanon until their government stops recognizing Hezbollah.

Creatively named the "Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism" (PAGER) Act, a likely reference to Israel's elimination of Hezbollah leadership via explosive pagers, Rep. Steube's bill terminates US security assistance to the Armed Forces of Lebanon until their government rescinds recognition of Hezbollah and its military wing.

Additionally, Hezbollah members must be banned from serving in the Lebanese government, which must also extend to affiliates and members of other Iran-backed militias. Moreover, such groups must be expelled from Lebanon, all weapons supplied by Iran and these affiliates must be destroyed, and any Americans exposing Hezbollah's influence and imprisoned by the Lebanese government must be released.

In his press release, Rep. Steube said, "While the world celebrates the demise of Hassan Nasrallah, the United States must remain vigilant to the threat of Hezbollah. Until the people of Lebanon can live free of Hezbollah's terror and persecution, long-term peace and stability in the Middle East will remain out of reach. As the Trump administration works to forge closer ties between Israel and the Arab world, Congress must do its part to contain Iran and eliminate its terrorist network. My PAGER Act will ensure US tax dollars never end up in the hands of Hezbollah."

Earlier in February, the Florida Congressman wrote a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, demanding the cessation of security assistance funding to Iraq for similar reasons.

As Steube explained, pro-Iran Shia militias that the United States funded to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) have attacked US forces ever since, staging 170 attacks in just two years.

"Replacing ISIS with Iran-backed terrorist militias does not make sense and only fuels the onslaught of terror that the Iranian regime seeks to export. Furthermore, many Iran-backed militias in Iraq have not even been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including the Badr Corps itself," Steube fumed in his letter.

The post Steube Reintroduces Bill Preventing U.S. Funds Going to Hezbollah appeared first on The Floridian.

Trump’s FDA Pick Faces Big Test on Tobacco Policy

Opinion — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 01:17:59 +0000

President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Martin Makary, is an incredibly credentialed Harvard graduate, John Hopkins University surgeon, and bestselling author. Perhaps of greater note, he has also been unafraid to challenge healthcare establishment views on a variety of topics ranging from pricing to federal agency policy. He may be uniquely suited to reform the FDA, and there’s no better target for reform than one of its subagencies, the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).

Dr. Makary has a rare opportunity to move CTP away from outdated, prohibitionist policies.

He could lead the CTP toward a more credible position - recognizing established scientific consensus around tobacco harm reduction, and refocusing the CTP to equip individuals with evidence-based solutions. That would allow consumers to make educated decisions on the products they see every day on store shelves.

To be clear, adult smokers should quit smoking. However, that’s their decision. If they want to continue using nicotine products, they should have a reliable information source that can draw distinction between the relative risk of different products. That, in fact, is the mandate of the CTP and one that it has failed to meet.

If properly reformed, CTP can empower individual consumers to make informed decisions related to nicotine products. Research has well established that vapor and heat-not-burn technologies are far less harmful than traditional cigarettes. And, new products like nicotine pouches are even less harmful, in some cases on par with traditional cessation products like nicotine gum.

Adult consumers need to appreciate these distinctions and the relative risks. Not all products are created equally. And, CTP's purpose is to draw these distinctions and approve products for the marketplace.

When the CTP fails in its mission, the marketplace is flooded with unregulated and unapproved products. Unfortunately, that is the reality today. Consumers cannot trust products on the shelves and responsible actors - that are going through the FDA approval process - are undercut by actors, often Chinese-based companies, that are not. This environment is not in the interest of public health, consumers, or responsible companies trying to play by the rules.

Dr. Makary is under consideration by the U.S. Senate HELP Committee this week. Policymakers should elevate this issue, along with others, as he continues through the confirmation process.

Julio Fuentes is president and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The post Trump’s FDA Pick Faces Big Test on Tobacco Policy appeared first on The Floridian.

Last Squeeze🍊—3.5.2025—DeSantis Questions Flu Shots—Green to File Impeachment Articles—Much More...

Liv Caputo — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:52:29 +0000

DeSantis Questions Efficacy, Payments of Flu Shot: Not a 'Stellar Record'

While lambasting the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis questioned how effective flu shots are and whether physicians push them in return for compensation. His comments...READ MORE

FL Sen. Ben Albritton: "We all want the very best for our seniors. Nursing home safety and quality of care is critical. I appreciate Senator @ColleenLBurton bringing forward SB 170, which will help us understand resident and family member satisfaction with the care provided by nursing homes."

FL First Lady Casey DeSantis: "Today, @GovRonDeSantis, @FLSurgeonGen, and I called on the Florida Legislature to make permanent the prohibitions against the COVID mRNA vaccine mandate."

FL Rep. Fentrice Driskell: "Checking in from Tallahassee on Day 2 of the 2025 Legislative Session! This week, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with organizations and advocates, including HEF, Palm Beach County Business and Non-Profit Leaders, and the Florida Association of Insurance Agents."

Rep. Maxwell Frost: "We just walked out of the state of the Union. My shirt showed Trump an important message: NO KINGS LIVE HERE."

Of Note: International risk management firm Forward Global recently held a launch party for its new Miami office at the Mr. C hotel in Coconut Grove.

Head of office Jose Mallea, a former Marco Rubio campaign manager, hosted Miami Mayor Francis Suarez; Christina Crespi, executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority; Florida state Rep. David Borrero; County Commission Vice Chair Keone McGhee; former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez; Alex Rodriguez Roig, CEO of Boys and Girls Club Miami; Adam Mehl; and “Disrupt” podcast host Tony Delgado, among others.

The Florida Capitol

The Last Squeeze is published by by Javier Manjarres, Liv Caputo, and Daniel Molina

Rene Garcia

The post Last Squeeze🍊—3.5.2025—DeSantis Questions Flu Shots—Green to File Impeachment Articles—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

Scott, Colleagues Urge GOP Leadership to Support DOGE

Jackson Bakich — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:00:41 +0000

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).

The post Scott, Colleagues Urge GOP Leadership to Support DOGE appeared first on The Floridian.

Suspected Terrorist Who Killed 13 US Troops Extradited to US

Mateo Guillamont — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:20:47 +0000

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the charging and extradition of terrorist Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” for helping orchestrate the Abbey Gate terror attacks which killed 13 US military service members.

The August 26, 2021 attacks occurred during President Joe Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal debacle.

As US servicemembers attempted to coordinate the evacuation of thousands of Afghani civilians, ISIS-K terrorist Abdul Rahman al-Logari detonated a body-worn suicide bomb, killing 13 U.S. military service members and approximately 160 civilians.

Attorney General Pam Bondi commended the DOJ and President Donald Trump’s leadership for Sharifullah’s extradition.

“This evil ISIS-K terrorist orchestrated the brutal murder of 13 heroic service members,” said Attorney General Bondi. “Under President Trump’s strong leadership on the world stage, this Department of Justice will ensure that terrorists like Mohammad Sharifullah have no safe haven, no second chances, and no worse enemy than the United States of America.”

According to the DOJ, Sharifullah confessed to helping plan and execute the attack while being interviewed by US intelligence officers.

Sharifullah was also complicit in other high-profile ISIS-K terror attacks leading to hundreds of deaths.

In the 2016 attack on Canada’s Kabul embassy, Sharifullah allegedly conducted surveillance to prepare a suicide bomber and later transported the bomber to the attack area.

The ISIS-K terrorists responsible for the horrific March 2024 Moscow theatre attack were also reportedly instructed on how to use automatic machine guns by Sharifullah.

Sharifullah faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Sharifullah’s extradition follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s expanded efforts to investigate and review the US’ tumultuous Afghanistan withdrawal.

Secretary Hegseth’s review, which he claimed would bring “full accountability” is expected to lead to the firing of military leadership who contributed to the withdrawal’s planning.

The post Suspected Terrorist Who Killed 13 US Troops Extradited to US appeared first on The Floridian.

Overwhelming Majority of Joint Session Viewers Approve of Trump's Speech

Mateo Guillamont — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:46:58 +0000

Polls measuring viewers’ reactions to President Donald Trump’s recent joint address to Congress are signaling overwhelming support for the president's speech.

A CBS poll conducted shortly after President Trump’s speech recorded 76% of viewers approved it.

While the poll claimed 51% of viewers were Republican, 27% were independent while 20% were Democrats.

The 76% approval rate means Trump’s speech gained nearly all of independent viewers’ favour.

A CNN poll with similar findings reported 69% of viewers had a positive response to Trump’s speech.

CNN’s poll was composed of 21% Democrats, 44% Republicans, and 35% independents, mirroring CBS’ poll’s finding of Trump’s overwhelming support amongst independents.

More women, 71%, than men, 68%, approved of Trump’s speech while more men, 17%, than women, 15%, disapproved.

For both polls, top issues voters supported Trump in were immigration, wasteful spending, and the war in Ukraine.

Per CNN’s poll, Trump received 76% of support for his immigration policies, opposed to President Joe Biden’s 41% support after his last joint address.

Similarly, 61% of viewers supported Trump’s policies for the economy, contrasting with President Biden’s 56% support.

64% of viewers claimed Trump’s approach to Ukraine is “about right,” while 33% stated it is “not supportive enough.”

Trump’s remarks gained commendations from Republicans and hostile criticism from Democrats, with some even being evicted due to raucous behavior during the address.

“Tonight, President Trump made his triumphant return to Congress to share his bold, optimistic vision for renewing the American Dream,” said Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) similarly stated “this is the fifth State of the Union address I’ve seen Trump give — it was by far his best.”

The post Overwhelming Majority of Joint Session Viewers Approve of Trump's Speech appeared first on The Floridian.

Texas Rep. Green to File Impeachment Articles Against Trump After Outburst During Address

Jackson Bakich — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:37:51 +0000

Representative Al Green (D-TX) spoke to the media following his removal from the House Chamber during President Donald Trump's (R) Address to the Joint Session of Congress last night.

Almost immediately, Rep. Green stood up and began heckling President Trump during his speech, 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 him.

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

Following the display, Rep. Green shared with reporters that his outbursts toward President Trump were about his belief that Trump does not have a "mandate to cut Medicaid," and that he wanted to make those thoughts known. Green acknowledged that he would face any punishment given to him.

NEW: Rep. Al Green says he is working on articles of impeachment after being kicked out of Trump's speech.

"I have other things I'm protesting. And I'm also working on my articles of impeachment. This president is unfit."

I've never seen someone so butthurt. pic.twitter.com/QQ6Ws93yq7

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 5, 2025

"The President said he had a mandate, and I was making it clear to the President that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid," began Green. "I have people who are very fearful. These are poor people, and they only have Medicaid in their lives when it comes to their health care. And I want him to know that his budget calls for deep cuts in Medicaid. He needs to save Medicaid, protect it. We need to raise the cap on Social Security. There's a possibility that it's going to be hurt, and we've got to protect Medicare."

The Texas congressman continued, sharing that his constituents rely on these programs and that President Trump does not care about them.

"These are the safety net programs that people in my congressional district depend on, and this President seems to care less about them and more about the number of people that he can remove from the various programs that have been so helpful."

Furthermore, Rep. Green mentioned that he was willing to "suffer whatever punishment" that is levied upon him, and said it was "worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this President's desire to cut Medicaid."

Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX) announced that he has moved to censure Rep. Green.

Finally, Green shared that he is "working on [his] Articles of Impeachment."

Al Green represents Texas' 9th Congressional District.

The post Texas Rep. Green to File Impeachment Articles Against Trump After Outburst During Address appeared first on The Floridian.

Patronis, Pizzo Scathe U.S. House Democrats for Antics During Trump's Address

Jackson Bakich — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:39:28 +0000

Florida Chief Financial Officer and Congressional District 1 Republican congressional nominee Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) spoke to The Floridian regarding the persistent antics of House Democrats during President Donald Trump's Address to the Joint Session of Congress last night. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-FL) also called out his fellow Democrats over their behavior.

For context, one of President Trump's special guests for his address to Congress included a young boy who has battled brain cancer but has dreamed of serving in law enforcement. During the speech, Trump declared him an honorary United States Secret Service agent, bringing forth thunderous applause.

You can view the moment below:

13-year-old D.J. Daniel was diagnosed with brain cancer and given five months to live — and that was six years ago.

Since then, D.J. and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true — and tonight, President Trump made him an honorary member of the Secret Service. pic.twitter.com/9FuDCUIfos

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2025

This sparked little to no reaction from House Democrats, as it seemed planned that they were not going to clap for anything in Trump's speech. He even called them out for it, too.

However, CFO Patronis shared his thoughts on the issue with The Floridian.

WATCH: Florida CFO @JimmyPatronis TORCHES Democrats' reaction to last night's Presidental Speech. The Floridian asked, and he didn’t hold back.

"The #Trump Derangement Syndrome is a real thing."
"Transparency's the best disinfectant."#flpol via- @JavManjarres -… pic.twitter.com/cz5DcKdImh

— The Floridian (@Floridianpress) March 5, 2025

"You know, it's unfortunate," Patronis began. "I think when you look at a young man who's fighting cancer who was given an honorary Secret Service status, or the young man who was given his notice that he was going to be accepted into the Naval Academy (Patronis meant West Point)."

The congressional hopeful continued, sharing that a lot of the stories President Trump highlighted should be celebrated in a bipartisan fashion, not along party lines.

"Those are achievements we should be excited about as a nation, not a partisan fight. You know, the Trump derangement syndrome is a real thing, and the Democrats are just eaten up with it," said Patronis. "Unfortunately, how they stand and accept the type of expenditure that this previous administration was doing is unacceptable, but I'm glad it seemed right like again like I said, transparency is the best disinfectant."

Moreover, State Sen. Pizzo shared his displeasure with the Democrats who refused to stand up for the child with brain cancer.

To @TheDemocrats in Congress, who couldn’t stand to applaud a 13-year-old boy who survived brain cancer, shame on you.

— Sen. Jason Pizzo (@senpizzo) March 5, 2025

To the Democrats in Congress, who couldn’t stand to applaud a 13-year-old boy who survived brain cancer, shame on you.

The post Patronis, Pizzo Scathe U.S. House Democrats for Antics During Trump's Address appeared first on The Floridian.

BlackRock Reaches Panama Canal Deal

Daniel Molina — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:55:31 +0000

A group of U.S. investors led by BlackRock has agreed to acquire majority stakes in two key ports at either end of the Panama Canal, which was previously controlled by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison. The $22.8 billion deal, which includes dozens of other ports worldwide, comes amid heightened concerns from the Trump administration over China's alleged influence in the region.

The acquisition addresses national security fears raised by President Donald Trump (R) and other U.S. officials who argue that China’s involvement in the Panama Canal is a threat.

The two terminals—Balboa on the Pacific side and Cristóbal on the Atlantic—handled 40% of all container traffic passing through the canal in 2024.

Since coming into office, President Trump has repeatedly expressed concerns that China could restrict American-bound shipping, and in recent months, he even suggested taking military control of the canal, arguing that the U.S. “foolishly gave it away.”

With the deal now in place, state Senator Nick DiCeglie (R) championed the decision, emphasizing its significance for U.S. foreign policy.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was asked about deal shortly after his 2025 State of the State address in Tallahassee.

"You are now seeing that ESG is all but dead. Black Rock and even Disney are getting rid of some of the DEI stuff," said Gov. DeSantis ."The tide it seems like it really shifted."

“I think strategically getting China out of there is good. It’s good for the United States,” he affirmed Citing that it would’ve otherwise helped China “gain a strategic advantage over the United States,” the state senator added that “anytime we can reverse those trends, especially in the Panama Canal, it is good for American foreign policy.”

CK Hutchison, a global port operator controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, had faced pressure from U.S. and Panamanian officials to divest from the Panama ports. Though the company initially considered legal action to resist external pressure, the offer from BlackRock was ultimately too lucrative to decline. It earned CK Hutchison an estimated $19 billion in cash after adjustments for minority interests.

The deal is part of a broader geopolitical effort by the U.S. to limit China's global reach in strategic shipping routes. Panama, which had previously joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has since withdrawn from the program and is working to ensure the neutrality of its critical infrastructure.

The post BlackRock Reaches Panama Canal Deal appeared first on The Floridian.

Buchanan's Chronic Disease Coverage Bill Passes House

Grayson Bakich — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 15:09:49 +0000

Representative Vern Buchanan's (R-FL) Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act has passed the House of Representatives and will now go to the Senate.

The bipartisan bill, which Rep. Buchanan introduced with Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) in early February, allows employers that offer high-deductible health plans (HDHP) to employees an option to include pre-deductible coverage of healthcare services treating common chronic diseases, a policy first implemented in President Donald Trump's first term in 2019.

Healthcare services listed in Rep. Buchanan's legislation include beta blockers for congestive heart failure, blood pressure monitors, glucometers for diabetes, asthma inhalers, and cholesterol drugs for heart disease patients.

In his press release, the Florida Congressman said, "With six in ten Americans living with at least one chronic disease, it is clear that we must expand options for people to manage their chronic health conditions. The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act offers employees more flexibility to manage their chronic diseases, improving patient health while reducing high out-of-pocket costs. I'm proud that this legislation passed the House with unanimous bipartisan support, and I look forward to getting this bill signed into law."

With Republicans controlling the Senate and White House, Buchanan's wish could soon be granted.

The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act is the Florida Congressman's second major healthcare bill introduced in the new Congress, with the first being the Maximizing Israel-U.S. Research Advancement and Collaborative Leadership in Emerging (MIRACLE) Medical Technology Act.

The MIRACLE Act strengthens medical research and development collaboration between the United States and Israel, including creating a U.S.-Israel Health Care Collaboration Center.

More recently, Buchanan introduced two more bipartisan healthcare bills. The Permanent Telehealth from Home Act permanently removes the originating site and geographic limitations for telehealth services, meaning they can be accessed anywhere.

The other, the Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act, expedites approval processes for new lung cancer screening tests through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The post Buchanan's Chronic Disease Coverage Bill Passes House appeared first on The Floridian.

Trump Imposes Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, Warns of Further Action

Mateo Guillamont — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:00:19 +0000

President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports while increasing current tariffs on Chinese goods by 10%.

The tariffs had been originally imposed last February but were paused by President Trump due to ongoing negotiations with the respective countries.

Trump has repeatedly promised, both during his presidential campaign and first days in office, that he will use tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and other countries he feels are “out of line” with the US.

As justification for the tariffs, the Trump administration pointed to allegedly lackluster cooperation from China, Mexico, and Canada on curbing illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

Last February, Trump paused incoming sanctions after Canada and Mexico agreed to increase immigration and drug trafficking enforcement.

Mexico had pledged to supply 10,000 troops to the border in an attempt to curb the influx of drug trafficking (specifically fentanyl).

Meanwhile, Canada promised to execute a $1.3 Billion Border plan including 10,000 personnel that will expand Canada’s border enforcement activities.

Mexico and Canada’s initiatives, however, did not stop Trump from ultimately imposing tariffs, which Chinese, Mexican, and Canadian leaders have rejected.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Trump of wanting to destroy Canada’s economy to “make it easier to annex us."

"That is never going to happen,” assured Prime Minster Trudeau. “We will never be the 51st state.”

Trump has previously quipped about Canada being exempt from tariffs if they were to become a US state.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick supported Trump’s tariffs, claiming they were being leveraged to incite Canadians and Mexicans to give American businesses better trading terms.

“President Trump is getting deals done for the American people,” said Secretary Lutnick. “Both the Mexicans and the Canadians were on the phone with me all day today, trying to show that they’ll do better and the President is listening.”

The post Trump Imposes Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, Warns of Further Action appeared first on The Floridian.

JUICE🍊—3.5.2025—DeSantis Blacklisting Republican Lawmakers—Pizzo Responds to DeSantis's State of the State Address—Much More..

Javier Manjarres — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:00:02 +0000

NOPE, YOU AREN'T WELCOME: DeSantis Accused of Black Listing Republican Lawmakers

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being accused of blacklisting Republican lawmakers that disagree with him

Congressman Byron Donalds-We are Making America Great Again whether the far-left likes it or not

Rep. Cory Mills -We don’t need diversity, equity, and inclusion. We need increased lethality and properly equipped warfighters.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz-He’s done nothing to lower prices, and now Trump’s tariff will raise our costs even more.

Shevrin “Shev” Jones-It’s the first day of the Legislative Session and my team and I are ready to get to work! LET’S GO!!!

State Rep. Angie Nixon-Sportsmanship is out the window when folks are cheating and not just trying to beat you in the game, but end your life.

Jason Pizzo

BREAKING: Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green Kicked Out of Trump's Address to Congress—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

Waltz Says 'Time is Not On Zelenskyy's Side' After Peace Talk Kerfuffle with Trump—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed the fallout from Friday's tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy...

Plan Would Abolish Lieutenant Governor, Start Efficiency Position—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Reps. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island) and John Snyder (R-Stuart) recently filed a joint resolution to alter the shape of state government by eliminating the office of lieutenant governor and establishing a Cabinet-level position centered on government efficiency.

Donalds Responds to Casey DeSantis Gubernatorial Run Rumors: 'Trump Makes Good Picks'—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich

Casey DeSantis Continues to Raise Campaign Cash, Run for Office Appears Imminent—By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

US Sanctions Chinese and Hong Kong Companies Helping Build Iranian Drones—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—The US Department of the Treasury has announced new sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong companies allegedly helping build Iranian military...

Gunshine State? FL Lawmakers to Debate Slew of Measures Loosening, Tightening Gun Laws—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Florida lawmakers are set to debate a whopping 26 gun-related bills as the state's 60-day legislative session kicks off Tuesday, making...

Steube Reintroduces Bill to Keep FEMA Aid in the Hands of American Citizens—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Greg Steube is reintroducing legislation to keep Federal Emergency Management Agency relief funds going solely to...

Trump Continues Pro-Small Business Approach, Guts BOI Rules—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—President Donald Trump’s Treasury Department recently announced that it will not enforce the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership information...

Lawmakers Denounce Maduro Threats Towards Machado—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—Conservative lawmakers in Washington have condemned Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro’s latest threats and repressive tactics against Venezuelan opposition...

Former Miami Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart Dies at 70—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Former Miami Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart died Monday, according to a statement released by his family. He was 70. Lincoln Diaz-Balart had been diagnosed...

The Juice is squeezed by Javier Manjarres, Daniel Molina, and Michael Costeines

Rene Garcia

The post JUICE🍊—3.5.2025—DeSantis Blacklisting Republican Lawmakers—Pizzo Responds to DeSantis's State of the State Address—Much More.. appeared first on The Floridian.

Jason Pizzo Gives Straightforward, Blunt Takes on DeSantis' State of the State Address

Michael Costeines — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:55:21 +0000

TALLAHASSEE—Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo issued a rebuttal Monday to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State Address where he bluntly laid out his concerns on the direction of the state, including its hardline focus on social issues and misteps on illegal immigration.

However, Sen.Pizzo, considered a moderate Democrat, didn't exactly come to his party's defense for its lack of offense over Gov. DeSantis' grip on the Florida GOP since he assumed office in 2019.

It also could be another signal that his run for governor is starting to gain more validity.

"No Republican, certainly no serious Democrat, sought to expand any of the policies or positions Republicans claimed were so rampant and so necessary to defeat," Pizzo said in his speech. "I have never pushed to install or even expand CRT [Critical Race Theory], ESG [Environmental, Social and Governance], DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] or wokeism. For none of these will lower your property insurance, your rent, nor will they result in your kids' GPAs getting higher, or their test scores going higher."

Sen. Pizzo expressed that the state Republican platform for years was to "be bold" by championing issues of economic opportunity, protecting Florida's environment, improving education, and defending the safety of its communities.

He instead argued that was nothing of the sort, and contended the governor's reign has had a "crippling effect" on the executive branch.

Pizzo also wondered, despite its abundance of problems, how Florida Republicans have held legislative and executive control for decades in the state while seizing on mundane issues instead of tackling its real problems.

For context, Republicans have held the governorship and legislative control in Florida since 1999. The last time Florida had a Democratic governor was Buddy MacKay, and that was for 24 days after Democratic Governor Lawton Chiles died unexpectedly in 1998.

Pizzo argued Florida's more pressing problems were "failing infrastructure, plummeting test scores, spikes in homeowners insurance and housing costs." He also mentioned the Florida National Guard being called in to fill critical staffing shortages at state prisons.

The 48-year-old is a former state prosecutor and pragmatic thinker on public safety.

"The only rankings we've held steady on during the last six years are nearing the bottom in law enforcement salaries and near the top in insurance premiums and human trafficking," Pizzo said.

Pizzo also addressed recent Republican infighting on illegal immigration, which eventually culminated in DeSantis signing a package of anti-illegal immigration measures into law earlier this month.

Pizzo argued his strong policy against illegal immigration was the rightful way to go.

"I, the Democratic minority leader, was the first to file the bill requiring E-Verify for all employers because you are not serious about curbing illegal immigration if you continue to coward to donors and not listen to our citizens," Pizzo said.

Despite his concerns, Pizzo played a bit of a political seesaw by praising DeSantis over his handling of disasters from hurricanes and other storms, including in his district in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

"The governor has been a good executive when performing executive functions. My own district has truly benefited and appreciated disaster responses after storms, direct assistance following the tragic loss of 98 lives in my district, and the shift from legislators having to beg for dollars to bring home each session, to objective criteria applied to infrastructure project applications direct to state agencies," Pizzo said.

He also expressed optimism over Senate President Ben Albritton's and House Speaker Daniel Perez's legislative agenda for the impending term. After all, Pizzo could soon find himself competing in a state Republicans have dominated for decades, perhaps against Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

"Senate President Ben Albritton presented an agenda, a legislative agenda, that is robust and real to feed families, to foster economic growth, to protect our children, our homes, demand efficiencies with your tax dollars, and the right to course the years of neglect and indifference, Speaker Perez expressed much of the same," Pizzo said.

The post Jason Pizzo Gives Straightforward, Blunt Takes on DeSantis' State of the State Address appeared first on The Floridian.

BREAKING: Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green Kicked Out of Trump's Address to Congress

Jackson Bakich — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 03:14:41 +0000

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.

The post BREAKING: Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green Kicked Out of Trump's Address to Congress appeared first on The Floridian.

Last Squeeze🍊—3.4.2025—Albritton Pushes Back on DeSantis' Open Carry, Red Flag Ideas—GOP Leaders Call for 'Scrutiny' into Government Spending—Much More...

Liv Caputo — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 22:07:39 +0000

'Stop the Next Nikolas Cruz': GOP Leader Pushes Back on DeSantis' Open Carry, Red Flag Ideas

Fresh off an immigration battle with GOP leaders, Gov. Ron DeSantis is now asking the Legislature to greenlight open carry and repeal provisions of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, a gun-tightening...READ MORE

Gov. Ron DeSantis: "Today I delivered the 2025 State of the State address to the Florida Legislature. I am proud to report that Florida is safe, strong, free, financially sound, and prosperous."

FL Sen. Jay Trumbull: "Welcome to the 2025 Legislative Session!"

FL Rep. Fentrice Driskell: "Today, the Governor pushed for the elimination of property taxes in his State of the State address, but here’s what he’s not telling Floridians: eliminating property taxes altogether could put our public schools, firefighters, police, and sanitation workers at risk."

Sen. Ashley Moody: "The American people gave @realDonaldTrump a mandate to make this country greater than it has ever been before."

The Florida Capitol

'Age of Disruption': Perez, Albritton Call for 'Scrutiny' of State Government Spending—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—While Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP lawmakers agree that excess government spending needs to be cut, Senate President Ben Albritton and House...

S en. Alexis Calatayud Files Bill to Increase Parkinson's Disease Reasearch—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Miami Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud recently filed a bill that would establish a Parkinson’s Disease Research Program to support innovative...

The Last Squeeze is published by by Javier Manjarres, Liv Caputo, and Daniel Molina

Rene Garcia

The post Last Squeeze🍊—3.4.2025—Albritton Pushes Back on DeSantis' Open Carry, Red Flag Ideas—GOP Leaders Call for 'Scrutiny' into Government Spending—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

'Stop the Next Nikolas Cruz': GOP Leader Pushes Back on DeSantis' Open Carry, Red Flag Ideas

Liv Caputo — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 21:15:23 +0000

But, bucking the governor, Republican Senate President Ben Albritton is pushing back against DeSantis's request for more Second Amendment protections. This would include open carry, lowering the rifle-buying age to 18, and nixing Florida's red flag laws, which allow courts to temporarily confiscate a gun owner's firearms if they're deemed a threat to themselves or others.

"I'm under the impression after spending time with law enforcement that they feel like [red flag laws are] working," Albritton said Tuesday, noting that he's still opposed to open carry legislation. "If we can stop the next Nikolas Cruz, I say we just hold tight and let the thing work. It appears to be working."

Still "working through" whether to support lowering the gun-buying age, Albritton's beliefs draw a stark contrast with DeSantis' urgings. At his State of the State address on Tuesday, kicking off the 60-day legislative session, and at a press conference directly after, DeSantis claimed that Florida needs to take action on gun laws to truly become a conservative bastion and the "Free State of Florida."

But parts of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, named for the high school where 17 Floridians were massacred on Valentine's Day 2018, are standing in the way.

"We need to be a strong Second Amendment state," DeSantis said. "I don't know what the Legislature is going to do in those respects, but I can tell you that we, in spite of us saying we're the free state...We've definitely lagged on that issue."

Albritton, along with House Speaker Danny Perez, led the rare conservative revolt charge against DeSantis in January, opposing his call for a special session to address illegal immigration. They adjourned the governor's session 15 minutes after it began before starting their own starring a different, Legislature-drafted immigration bill.

Though the measure passed, DeSantis promised to veto it—leading the legislative leaders to engage in week-long discussions to call a third—and final—special session featuring a compromise bill. It passed resoundingly, seemingly sealing up the month-long discord throughout the GOP supermajority.

But gun laws are showing signs of being the next Republican fight.

GOP lawmakers, who enjoy a solid supermajority in both chambers, are largely in agreement with one of his three gun requests: lowering the gun-buying age from 21 to 18. Of the 11 conservative bills filed to loosen gun laws, including expanding the areas Floridians can conceal carry and legalizing bump stocks, three tackle the gun-purchasing age.

"That is something I support, whether it passes the House or not," said House Speaker Danny Perez, who dodged questions on if he backed open carry or the repeal of red flag laws, considering none of the filed bills address red flag or open carry laws.

Since the sweeping Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Act was bipartisanly approved in 2018, the calls for its more restrictive elements to be struck have only grown. Last year, the House approved a bill lowering the gun-buying age to 18, though no companion bill was filed in the Senate. President Albritton in December said he wasn't ready to "pick sides" on whether or not to amend the gun-buying age.

On Feb. 14, 2018, 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with his AR-15 rifle. 14 students and 3 teachers were killed, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting in the state's history. In response, the Legislature under Gov. Rick Scott called a special session to pass massive gun reform legislation.

The post 'Stop the Next Nikolas Cruz': GOP Leader Pushes Back on DeSantis' Open Carry, Red Flag Ideas appeared first on The Floridian.

West Palm Beach Named Top Trending Destination in America

Michael Costeines — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 19:27:20 +0000

The City of West Palm Beach has been named the top trending destination for travelers in America, according to a report by Tripadvisor.

"With sunny skies, nearly perfect year-round weather and a range of outdoor and cultural attractions, West Palm Beach presents the ideal setting for a weekend escape," Tripadvisor said.

West Palm Beach is located approximately an hour north of Miami. The largest city in Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is home to approximately 120,000 residents.

"Enjoy a game of golf at a number of pristine local courses or hit the beach for a day of tanning and catching up on your reading. See African chimps and endangered species like the Southern White rhinoceros wander free in a natural habitat at the Lion Country Safari," Tripadvisor continued.

Technically speaking, West Palm Beach does not have a public beach, as it's located on the mainland. Palm Beach, an island town across the bridge from West Palm Beach, has a public beach that travelers are accustomed to in Florida.

"You could spend an entire day on Peanut Island, a popular tourist attraction that houses a bunker built for President John F. Kennedy during the Cold War," Tripadvisor added.

For its findings, Tripadvisor looked at its Travelers Choice Best of the Best, which celebrates the highest level of excellence in travel. Cities are awarded based on a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews from the Tripadvisor community over 12 months.

Tripadvisor also mentioned activities in West Palm Beach that do not require sunscreen or a towel.

"For those who prefer indoor endeavors, the Norton Museum boasts an exceptional collection of American, Chinese and European art. Famous performers appear at "The Harriet" and at the Kravis Center," Tripadvisor said. "Of course there's always shopping, the city's other favorite pastime. From designer boutiques to big name department stores, West Palm has it all."

West Palm Beach was followed by Santa Barbara, California; Cleveland, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri and Memphis, Tennesee in the rankings.

The post West Palm Beach Named Top Trending Destination in America appeared first on The Floridian.