Trump, Vance get into Heated Exchange with Zelenskyy in the White House

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy entered the White House and sat down with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as negotiations between the United States...READ MORE

Secretary Marco Rubio: "Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!"

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: "JD was the right pick."

Rep. Jared Moskowitz: "The Ukrainian people and President Zelenskyy have been valiantly defending their country for 3 years from Russia’s murderous, unprovoked invasion. America cannot walk away from our ally or pretend that Putin is not to blame for this war."

Rep. Maxwell Frost: "Florida State Senator Geraldine Thompson was unapologetic, courageous, and a force for good like no other. Her spirit will live on in the work she championed and in all of us that she inspired. May she rest in power."

'When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take it': Casey DeSantis Fuels Governor Rumors—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Cryptically quoting a famous baseball player, Florida's First Lady suggested on Friday that she might run to replace her husband, Gov...

Rep. Wyman Duggan Files Bill to Fight Against Fake Sexual Images—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) filed a bill on Wednesday to protect Florida individuals against victimization over fake sexual...

Dunn Urges RFK Jr. to Revoke Biden-Era Medicare, Medicaid Policies Targeting Florida—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Neal Dunn spearheaded a recent letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging him...

Trump, Vance get into Heated Exchange with Zelenskyy in the White House—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy entered the White House and sat down with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance...

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

The post Last Squeeze🍊—2.28.2025—'Disrespected' Trump Cancels Zelenskyy Peace Talks—Casey DeSantis Suggests Run for Governor—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

Orlando attorney and Democratic megadonor John Morgan recently announced he was forming a new political party amidst rumors that he's running for governor of Florida.

"I am forming a new political party for those of us stuck in the middle. Our two-party system is broken due to Gerrymandering and divisive issues… both sides," Morgan said. "No labels is not an option. Everyone wants a team or tribe."

John Morgan previously stated his new party would be called the "Capitalist Party." However, a current name has not been chosen.

The 63-year-old Morgan might be best known for his Morgan and Morgan law firm "For the People" commercials on television. Florida drivers might also notice his face on billboards across the state.

In the past, Morgan helped bankroll successful ballot measures supporting medical marijuana and lifting the state's minimum wage. He also endorsed legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida last year.

Morgan said most Americans agreed on issues when not tied to a party.

"Special interests own the politicians in DC and throughout America.  We need to focus not on me… but US!! Most laws passed today benefit insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and other monopolies. How about some laws for the people?" Morgan added.

Morgan pondered running for governor of Florida as a Democrat in 2018 but in the lead-up said he couldn't "muster the enthusiasm to run for the nomination."

Florida's next gubernatorial election will occur in 2026.

"Both parties have things I like. But what I don’t like is that everything is a blood sport. It’s all or nothing. Compromise is a dirty word and civility has been abandoned," Morgan said.

While not ruling it out, Morgan implored the next governor to clear or expunge criminal records for pot possession and legalize recreational weed "immediately." He also hoped the state would allow Floridians to grow homegrown pot and let the hemp industry "grow and prosper."

"I take a gummy every night and enjoy a few puffs every now and then," Morgan quipped.

A self-proclaimed Independent, Morgan supported President Joe Biden and was a top donor to his campaign. He also criticized Joe Biden for endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris and said he wouldn't fundraise for her during Harris' presidential run.

The post For the People? TV Attorney John Morgan Launching New Political Party appeared first on The Floridian.

Trump Reverses Biden's Venezuelan Oil Policy, Revokes Oil Licenses From Maduro

Pressure is mounting on Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro as US President Donald Trump has cancelled former President Joe Biden’s Venezuelan oil export licenses. President Trump’s license cancellation...READ MORE

Rep. Jared Moskowitz: "Massie wears a debt clock, he is the @FlavorFlav of Congress."

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: "I nor the task force were given or reviewed the Epstein documents being released today… A NY Post story just revealed that the documents will simply be Epstein's phonebook. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment."

Sen. Rick Scott: "On my way to the White House for a Senate @DOGE Caucus meeting with President @realDonaldTrump and @ElonMusk."

FL Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith: "Public-private partnerships are critical to ensuring taxpayer-funded tourism promotion truly aligns w/industry needs + efficiently uses public dollars."

DeSantis to Accused Rapist Andrew Tate: 'Florida is Not a Place Where You're Welcome'—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't know that right-wing podcaster Andrew Tate, facing rape and trafficking charges in Romania, was flying to Florida...

Cammack Introduces Bill to Defund NPR—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Kat Cammack has introduced legislation to defund National Public Radio, saying, "Federal funds shouldn't be available to NPR." Specifically, Rep. Cammack's bill...

Rubio Forecasts Trump Will Not Be 'Blackmailed' by Maduro—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—During a recent Fox News interview, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently expressed his belief that, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the US’ foreign...

Haridopolos Holds Hearing on Artemis Space Program and Future Missions—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Mike Haridopolos hosted a Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing on the Artemis space program and future missions with George...

Rep. Michelle Salzman Named Combined Workgroup Manager on Hemp by Speaker Danny Perez—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Florida House Speaker Danny "Daniel" Perez on Wednesday named Rep. Michelle Salzman to lead a new Combined Workgroup...

Coral Gables' Kirk Menendez's Financial Management Skills Questioned—By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—In a recent exposé, the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Association, a nonprofit organization led by Kirk Menendez, has come under...

Cruz Calls Out Democrats for Refusing to Support DOGE Initiative—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—Senator Ted Cruz appeared on Sean Hannity's show to discuss national political strategy and Democrats' appearing to not alter their ways, such as supporting...

Trump Reverses Biden's Venezuelan Oil Policy, Revokes Oil Licenses From Maduro—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—Pressure is mounting on Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro as US President Donald Trump has cancelled former President Joe Biden’s...

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

The post Last Squeeze🍊—2.27.2025—Trump Revokes Maduro Oil Licenses—DeSantis Says Andrew Tate 'Not Welcome' in Florida—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared Monday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) encountered just 200 aliens at the southern border on Saturday, the lowest single apprehension day in over 15 years.

Speaking with Greta Van Susteren on NewsMax, Kristi Noem credited an advertisement run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) telling illegal immigrants to leave the country or face deportation for its success. Noem herself also thanked President Donald Trump for securing the border and putting America first.

In the video, Noem warned illegal immigrants who did not self-deport and were subsequently caught by DHS would not be allowed to return to the United States. She also called former politicians who left the border wide open "weak", which Noem says "flooded our communities with drugs, human trafficking, and violent criminals."

"We just broke a record in the lowest number of encounters at the southern border, 200, in one day," Noem said to Van Susteren."Where Joe Biden there were 15,000 a day, so it's been amazing what they ads and what President Trump has already done."

Noem also mentioned that the advertisements were being aired in the Middle East and Central America to deter migrants from trying to enter the U.S. illegally.

"Stay where you are. Don't come here. America is not open at our borders anymore. That we put Americans first and this president is going to make America stronger," Noem added.

Since President Donald Trump took office, illegal border crossing apprehensions have drastically dropped.

Just last week, apprehensions at the Texas border were as follows:

• El Paso Sector - 75
• Rio Grande Valley Sector - 33
• Laredo Sector - 12
• Del Rio Sector - 50
• Big Bend Sector - 2

Earlier this month, Fox News's Bill Melugin noted that DHS officials recorded an average of 132 known gotaways per day at the southern border, a 93% decrease from the highs under former President Joe Biden during fiscal year (FY) 2023.

For context, the Biden administration recorded a whopping 670,674 known gotaways in FY 2023 alone or about 1800 per day. The number was also over 600,000 in FY 2022 and nearly 400,000 in FY 2021.

Going back to FY 2010, the number of illegal apprehensions was greater than 100,000 in all but FY 2011.

Noem was confirmed as the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by the United States Senate in a 59-34 vote back in January.

“As the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, I will work every day to keep all Americans safe and secure. One of my top priorities is achieving President Trump’s mandate from the American people to secure our southern border and fix our broken immigration system," Noem said on her confirmation.

The post Kristi Noem Celebrates Low Illegal Apprehensions at U.S. Border appeared first on The Floridian.

MIAMI - Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Friday applauded President Donald Trump for saying he would issue an Executive Order to undo a Biden administration plan to phase out plastic straws for more environmentally friendly paper straws.

"I will be signing an Executive Order ending the ridiculous Biden push for paper straws, which don't work. BACK TO PLASTIC," Trump said.

Former President Joe Biden had planned to phase out plastic from food service operations by 2027 and from all federal agencies by 2035.

“The President is committed to taking ambitious actions… to end plastic pollution and is calling upon the global community to do the same, with the goal to reduce the global production and consumption of virgin plastics,” the White House said back in August 2024.

Donald Trump first took issue with paper straws during his second run-up for president in 2020. The State of Florida has not banned plastic straws, but some cities and towns have put in ordinances against them.

“They want to ban straws. Has anyone tried those paper straws? They’re not working too good,” Trump said at one event. “It disintegrates as you drink it.”

Trump has pledged similar environmental rollbacks in the past, including his recent pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement - a global initiative to fulfill objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention to combat climate change.

He also routinely advocated for the United States to "drill baby drill" to boost fossil fuel production throughout his presidential campaigns. Moreover, Republicans have scorned the idea of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for their inefficiency and cost to consumers, including from Trump.

Over the years, the Biden administration pushed for a nationwide adoption of electric vehicles while cutting out gas-powered cars. The initiative was part of the administration's goal to reduce gas emissions and combat global warming to protect the planet.

Trump signed an Executive Order that ended Biden's EV targets on his first day in office. The order specifically revoked a 2021 Biden plan to have 50 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States be electric by 2030.

The post Jimmy Patronis Applauds Trump's Plan to Keep Plastic Straws, Scrap Paper appeared first on The Floridian.

'Just Like Joe Biden': Debbie Mayfield Claims DeSantis Disqualified Her From Senate Race

Rep. Debbie Mayfield, a longtime Florida lawmaker, claimed that Gov. Ron DeSantis disqualified her from running for her old Senate seat as retaliation for her support of President Donald Trump...READ MORE

FL Sen. Blaise Ingoglia: "I already have this proposal in drafting. I plan to file a proposed constitutional amendment with one new $75,000 homestead exemption within the next week or so."

FL Rep. Meg Weinberger: "Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day! Today we honor the incredible achievements of female athletes like my daughter Zoie, whose dedication inspires so many across Florida. Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump, for signing an executive order to keep men out of women's sports!"

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: "600,000 Venezuelans are here under TPS, a LEGAL status. Are they ALL murderers, rapists, sex offenders, and gang members? All “dirtbags”? Guilty of “poisoning the blood of our country” as Trump said?"

FL Rep. Rita Harris: "Holding space for our Ismaili community as they grieve the loss of their hereditary Imam. May his memory forever be a blessing."

Trump's Gaza Plans Send Shockwaves Throughout Middle East—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—President Donald Trump yesterday doubled down on earlier statements he made regarding his plans for the US to take control of Gaza and rebuild it. President...

Bondi Vows to 'Make America Safe Again' as Attorney General, Moody Offers Endorsement—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—With Attorney General Pam Bondi officially sworn in as the 87th Attorney General of the United States, one of her first statements as...

'Abused by Biden': DeSantis Sides With Trump on Ending Protections for Venezuelan Migrants—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Gov. Ron DeSantis supports President Donald Trump's decision to eliminate protections guarding Venezuelans from deportation, the...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Celebrates After Army Has Best Recruiting Month in 15 Years—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Army had its best recruiting numbers in 15...

Rubio’s Trip to DR Puts a Spotlight on Problematic Dominican-U.S. Relationship—By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to the Dominican Republic this week highlights not only the close relationship between the two...

Jimmy Buffett Specialty 'Margaritaville' License Plate Short of State Sale Prerequisite—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett was affectionally known for his laidback, tropical-infused music, including his hit 1977 song Margaritaville...

'Just Like Joe Biden': Debbie Mayfield Claims DeSantis Disqualified Her From Senate Race—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Rep. Debbie Mayfield, a longtime Florida lawmaker, claimed that Gov. Ron DeSantis disqualified her from running for her old Senate seat...

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

The post Last Squeeze🍊—2.5.2025—Lawmaker Claims DeSantis Disqualified Her From Race—Trump's Gaza-Takeover Plan Makes Waves—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

Gov. Ron DeSantis supports President Donald Trump's decision to eliminate protections guarding Venezuelans from deportation, the Florida Governor announced Wednesday.

While Trump has faced pushback from within for planning to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, DeSantis told onlookers at a Miami press conference that the president "is getting the law right" by restricting how many non-citizens are in the country.

"TPS was abused by Biden...He did not have the authority to [grant TPS] under those circumstances," DeSantis said Wednesday. "I think President Trump is getting the law right. He's gonna get control over who is in this country.

"If you're a U.S. citizen and you come from another country and you're naturalized, you're every bit as American as anybody else. But just coming without process or without legality, that has got to end," DeSantis added.

TPS, however, is a legal status—at least temporarily. The federal government designates certain wartorn or disaster-struck countries for TPS and then allows some migrants from those countries to legally live and work within the United States for a period.

But on Wednesday, Trump announced that TPS would be revoked for more than 300,000 Venezuelans on April 2. Temporarily allowing these migrants to stay "is contrary to the national interest of the United States," reads the Department of Homeland Security memo.

And though Reps. Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart, and the Miami-Dade Commission have opposed the mass deportation of Venezuelans with TPS, asking instead for a case-by-case review, DeSantis remains in strong support of the president and is confident in his relationship with the Venezuelan community.

"I think they see a lot of things similar to how I do and President Trump does because they've seen leftist oppression up close," he said, referring to '90s dictator Hugo Chavez.

Under authoritarian Nicolas Maduro, scores of Venezuelans are fleeing the collapsing nation. This led Joe Biden to first classify Venezuela for TPS in 2023, and then extend TPS to over a million more immigrants—600,000 of which were Venezuelan—days before he left office.

DeSantis called it an incentive, alleging Biden was "giving TPS, saying, 'Come here!'"

The eighteen-month extension would have allowed beneficiaries to retain TPS through October 2026. Now, they face deportation in two months.

The post 'Abused by Biden': DeSantis Sides With Trump on Ending Protections for Venezuelan Migrants appeared first on The Floridian.

Rep. Debbie Mayfield, a longtime Florida lawmaker, claimed that Gov. Ron DeSantis disqualified her from running for her old Senate seat as retaliation for her support of President Donald Trump.

Mayfield, who served Senate District 19 in Brevard for eight years before being termed out, accused DeSantis of using his position to "punish her" for ultimately backing Trump over the governor in last year's presidential primary. As the final nail in the coffin, Mayfield likened the Florida Governor to Joe Biden, a frequent target of DeSantis's ire.

"Today Governor DeSantis used the executive branch to punish me for endorsing Donald J. Trump for president," she said in a statement, vowing to sue and noting that she switched her endorsement from DeSantis to Trump at the end of 2023. "He weaponized the Department of State executive just like Joe Biden weaponized the Department of Justice."

Mayfield responded to a Wednesday morning letter from the Department of State claiming her candidacy for SD 19 was a constitutional violation due to term limits. She had previously served in the seat from 2016 to 2024 but then ran for—and won in—House District 32.

The state constitution bans a lawmaker from running for the same office where "by the end of the current term of office" the candidate has served "in that office for eight consecutive years." Per the constitutional language, Mayfield's current term in office is in HD 32, not SD 19.

Mayfield's legal team will argue that the state overextended its authority by disqualifying her. According to Florida statute, qualifying officers handling candidate paperwork perform a "ministerial" function, and "may not determine whether the contents of the qualifying papers are accurate."

The Department of State did not respond to a request for comment.

How it unfolded:

Weeks after Mayfield won her seat in HD 32, the newly elected Senator to SD 19, Randy Fine, announced that he would resign in March to pursue a vacant congressional seat. So on Jan. 24, Mayfield filed paperwork to run for her old seat. Three days later, she said she would resign from HD 32 on June 9.

The qualifying date for the SD 19 special election was Tuesday, Feb. 4 at noon. Strangely, the Department of State did not say who qualified and who did not until Wednesday morning, leading Republican consultants to speculate that DeSantis may have ordered the office to slow down proceedings, Florida Politics reported.

This caused the SD 19 qualifying period to bleed into the HD 32 qualifying period, which ends Wednesday, Feb. 5, at noon. This would give Mayfield a little over three hours to try to file to run for the HD 32 special election if that's what she chooses.

Qualified candidates for SD 19 include Republicans Marcie Adkins, Mark Lightner III, and Tim Thomas against Democrat Vance Ahrens.

The special primary election for both seats will be held on April 1 and the generals on June 10.

The post 'Just Like Joe Biden': Debbie Mayfield Claims DeSantis Disqualified Her From Senate Race appeared first on The Floridian.

MIAMI - Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism (SST) on Friday after President Donald Trump put the communist country back on the list on his first day back in office.

"The Trump Administration is restoring a tough Cuba policy that protects America and helps the Cuban people," Rubio said. "We've maintained Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list – where it belongs – and taken other steps. The Cuban regime's oppression of its people and malign actions must end."

Donald Trump restored Cuba as an SST after former President Joe Biden removed the country from the list during his final days in office. Trump previously designated Cuba as an SST in the last days of his first administration in 2021.

The Biden administration, in a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church, originally agreed to remove the designation in exchange for political prisoners who protested against the communist country in July 2021.

Cuban officials had been pushing for a policy change throughout Biden's term. Soon after the announcement, the country began releasing prisoners, including some sentenced to prison time for the 2021 protests.

However, like with many of Biden's policies, Trump scraped the idea upon his return to Washington. The decision also was condemned at the time by Florida officials from across the political aisle.

“I opposed the decision to remove them. I’m glad that it’s been reinstated because they are engaged in terrorist activity,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) stated. “They are part of the “Axis of Evil” with Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. They need to be labeled as a state’s sponsor of terrorism.”

Republican Miami Mayor Francis Saurez, who like Rubio is Cuban, also blasted the decision. Another negative reaction came from House Republican Rep. Fabian Basabe, who called the decision an "insult" and "threat to national security."

About 1.5 million Cubans live in Florida, far exceeding any other state. A majority also live in Miami-Dade County, where Trump has become very popular.

Trump won Miami-Dade by 11 points over Vice President Kamala Harris, the first win for a Republican presidential candidate since George H.W. Bush in 1988.

The post Secretary of State Marco Rubio Reinforces Trump's Policy on Cuba appeared first on The Floridian.

'The King Has Fallen': GOP Lawmakers Revolt Against DeSantis, Call Their Own Special Session

Florida Republican lawmakers revolted against Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, adjourning his special session just 15 minutes after it began and, in a stunning move, starting their own surprise...READ MORE

Gov. Ron DeSantis: "Our anti-illegal alien proposal calls for making it a crime for illegal aliens to register to vote. The bill put forward by legislative leadership gives illegals a pass on this — no criminal offense if illegals register to vote."

FL Sen. Randy Fine: "Tomorrow is Election Day! Make a plan and let your friends and family know to vote for Trump-Endorsed Randy Fine for Congress!"

FL Rep. Lindsay Cross: "Climate change in Florida is driving up costs, causing ingredient shortages, and hurting growing seasons, impacting all of us. Fighting climate change is vital to protect our food supply and keep costs down."

FL Sen. Shevrin Jones: "So happy to see the Florida House and Senate making it clear that they will not be bullied."

DeSantis Blasts Rebellious Florida GOP Legislature's 'Weak' Immigration Bill—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted a "weak" new immigration bill by the Republican-led Florida Legislature, dubbed the TRUMP Act, after lawmakers rebelliously...

House Democrats Says Trump Only Cares About his Gold 'Staircase' and 'Toilets'—By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—As President Donald Trump continues to address all of his campaign promises of overhauling the entire federal government, House Democrats...

Donalds Says House Republicans Have 'Responsibility' to Investigate 'Biden Crime Family'—By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—House Republicans appear to be planning to investigate President Joe Biden and those he recently gave a full pardon to, including...

Cava Congratulates Nikki Fried on Her Re-election as Democratic State Party Chair—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava congratulated Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried on Saturday on...

Socialist Petro Caves to Trump's Demands After White House Imposed Sanctions—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—Colombian President Gustavo Petro has conceded to President Donald Trump after the latter imposed a series of tariffs on Colombia...

Mast Praises Trump's Reinstatement of Military Servicemembers Removed for COVID Vaccine Refusal—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Brian Mast praised President Donald Trump's recent reinstatement of military servicemembers discharged...

Former Senator George LeMieux Named Florida Council of 100 Chair—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Former Florida Republican Sen. George LeMieux has been named Chair of the Florida Council of 100 for the next two years, the council announced...

'The King Has Fallen': GOP Lawmakers Revolt Against DeSantis, Call Their Own Special Session—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Florida Republican lawmakers revolted against Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, adjourning his special session just 15 minutes after...

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

The post Last Squeeze🍊—1.27.2025—GOP Lawmakers Revolt, Adjourn DeSantis' Special Session—DeSantis Blasts Lawmakers 'Weak' Trump Act—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- Senate Democrat Shevrin "Shev" Jones (D-Miami Gardens) celebrated the release of three Israeli hostages on Sunday following a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

"Three women who have suffered 471 days unimaginable torture at the hands of Hamas are now home in Israel.[Ribbon] 94 for hostages remain in Gaza," Jones said. "As this ceasefire continues, I look forward to celebrating each and every hostage’s return. I pray they find peace in the arms of their loved ones.

The three hostages, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, were released by Hamas to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). All three women reportedly received medical treatment and were in good health after entering Israeli territory.

In exchange, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees early Monday.

Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in October 2023. Damari and Steinbrecher were also kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza that month.

Overall, Hamas held all three women in captivity each for 471 days.

The move comes after former President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas last week. President Trump also recently said there would be "ALL HELL TO PAY" if hostages were not released by his inauguration date.

Under its terms, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in phase one of the ceasefire, which began Sunday and is anticipated to last 42 days. Four more hostages would be released on day seven with the remaining 26 over the next five weeks.

Israel is expected to release 2,000 Palestinian prisoners overall in phase one of the deal.

Two other phases are also being negotiated, but the ceasefire or release of more hostages is not guaranteed beyond phase one. Subsequent phases could also lead to an end to the war.

The announcement comes more than a year after Hamas launched a terrorist attack on the Jewish State on Oct. 7, 2023. The assault, the deadliest on Jews since the Holocaust, resulted in the murder of more than 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 250 hostages.

Jones represents Senate District 34 which includes Miami Gardens. Jones won the SD 34 general election after it was canceled in 2022. He also already declared his reelection bid for the seat for 2026.

The post Sen. Shevrin Jones Celebrates Release of Three Israeli Hostages Under Ceasefire Deal appeared first on The Floridian.

Full Timeline: Trump's Historic Inauguration; Biden Pardons Family

Inauguration Day: President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sworn in today as the United States’ 47th president. President Trump was re-elected to the presidency after losing the 2020 election...READ MORE Also, Biden pardons entire family. READ MORE

Gov. Ron DeSantis: "There's no time to waste. Perhaps the strongest part of @realDonaldTrump's inaugural address was about the necessity of immediately tackling immigration and border security. As the President pointed out, states and localities must work with federal immigration and law enforcement personnel to carry out immigration enforcement."

Rep. Jared Moskowitz: "Who’s in more trouble, Mark Zuckerberg or Mark Andrews?"

Rep. Maxwell Frost: "Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! It’s great to be home with the people of Florida’s 10th!"

FL Attorney General Ashley Moody: "Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump, for taking action on DAY ONE to start reversing the damage caused by four years of reckless, unlawful immigration policies. We’re off to a great start—canceling the CBP One cell phone app."

Biden Pardons Entire Family 15 Minutes Before President Trump Takes Oath of Office—By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Biden "crime family" gets off the hook? President Joe Biden has pardoned his entire family. The "Full and Unconditional" pardon of...

Luna Calls for 'Top-Down Overhaul' of FBI Under Kash Patel—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representative Anna Paulina Luna discussed the FBI's recent closure of its diversity, equity, and inclusion office ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration...

Biden Admin’s Eleventh-Hour Plan to Lower Nicotine Levels Sparks Concerns in Florida—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—The Biden administration's eleventh-hour proposal to lower nicotine concentrations in cigarettes has led some Floridians to fear a billion...

Salazar Counters Biden Decision on Cuba With FORCE Act—By The Floridian's Daniel Molina—Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar has responded to President Joe Biden by reintroducing a bill that keeps the Cuban regime on the state sponsor of terrorism list. This...

Full Timeline: Trump's Historic Inauguration—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—Inauguration Day: President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sworn in today as the United States’ 47th president. President Trump was re-elected to the presidency after losing...

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

The post Last Squeeze🍊—1.20.2025—Trump Inaugurated as 47th President—Biden Pardons Family in Final 15 Minutes of Presidency—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

MIAMI - Florida House Speaker Daniel "Danny" Perez congratulated President Donald Trump on Monday after he was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.

"Congratulations to President Donald Trump on your historic inauguration! Your bold vision and leadership will pave the way for a stronger, more prosperous country," Perez said. "We pray for your success as you work to deliver on your promises that will make America great again."

Trump took the oath of office for a second time inside the Capital Rotunda following cold temperatures in Washington. It was the first time an inauguration had to be moved indoors since President Ronald Reagan's second term in 1985.

At 78, Trump is the oldest president to take the oath of office, passing former President Joe Biden by about five months. He also joined Grover Cleveland as the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017-2021. Cleveland was the nation's 22nd president from 1885-1889 and the 24th president from 1893-1897.

In part of his political comeback to Washington, Trump expanded his popularity in Florida, a state he has called home since September 2019. The president defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by a whopping 13 points.

Trump also won reliably blue Miami-Dade County by over 11 points, a first for a Republican presidential candidate since George H.W. Bush in 1988. Overall, Trump won 61 of Florida's 67 counties.

Previously, Trump won Florida by three points over Biden in 2020. He also won the state by 1 point over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Trump ally on many "MAGA" issues, also won his reelection bid over Democratic candidate Charlie Crist by 20 points in 2022.

At the state level, Perez and Republicans have expanded their supermajorities in the House. They also added former House Democrats Susan Vales and Hillary Cassel to the GOP in December.

Currently, the GOP has 87 members in the 120-seat House. They also have 28 out of 40 seats in the Senate.

Trump has also used his Florida acclaim to help fill his presidential cabinet. Among them, the president nominated Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as the next secretary of state and former state Attorney General Pam Bondi for U.S. attorney general.

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Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) has responded to President Joe Biden (D) by reintroducing a bill that keeps the Cuban regime on the state sponsor of terrorism list.

This week, President Biden stunned many when his administration announced it would be removing Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List. The decision stems from a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners in Cuba.

U.S. administration officials argue that there are “many dozens” of political prisoners that would be released by the end of the Biden Administration because of Cuba’s removal from the list.

As expected, Republicans have expressed their outrage at the decision. In contrast, Democrats have responded in a divisive way with some praising the move and others sharing their disagreement with it.

The Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends, or FORCE ACT, therefore, prevents any U.S. administration from normalizing relations with the Cuban dictatorship until liberty and democracy are restored to the Cuban people.

In a statement, Rep. Salazar, who serves as the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman, shared that “it is clear that with President Biden’s betrayal of the Cuban community on the island and in exile, the need to keep the regime on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List until freedom is restored is more necessary than ever.”

“I am proud to reintroduce the FORCE Act to ensure no other President can unilaterally violate our nation’s established policies in such a grotesque manner,” she added.

Florida Reps. Carlos Giménez (R), John Rutherford (R), Cory Mills (R), Mario Díaz-Balart (R), and Scott Franklin (R) have cosponsored the bill.

Shortly after the announcement, Reps. Díaz-Balart, Giménez, and Salazar released a video on social media, condemning the incumbent president’s “PATHETIC move to remove the Castro dictatorship from the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism!”

As the Cuban-American Members of Congress, we fully REJECT the Biden Admin’s PATHETIC move to remove the Castro dictatorship from the List of State Sponsors of Terorrism!

The Castro regime must be held accountable for its terrorist actions!

Biden BROKE it, Trump will FIX it! pic.twitter.com/dAteaYwXSL

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) January 14, 2025

They condemned the decision, arguing that President-elect Donald Trump (R) will “fix” the issue.

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The Biden administration's eleventh-hour proposal to lower nicotine concentrations in cigarettes has led some Floridians to fear a billion-dollar impact in state revenue and an eruption in black market cigarettes.

The Food and Drug Administration proposed the plan Wednesday, just days before President Joe Biden will step down in favor of Donald Trump. The plan would reduce the standard nicotine content in cigarettes from 10 to 15 milligrams to no more than 0.7 milligrams, meaning a standard pack of 20 cigarettes would have roughly the same amount of nicotine as one cigarette does now.

Ned Bowman, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Marketing Association, told The Floridian that the proposal is a superficial "shot across the bow" typical of outgoing administrations.

"This is just a shot across the bow for the FDA on the way out with this administration," said Bowman, whose organization represents 97% of Florida convenience stores. "We've seen it before when administrations are changed. They send out a lot of these proposals at the last minute, and then I don't think they really think them through."

Bowman, who has led the FPMA for 14 years, warned that reducing nicotine levels could lead to a host of issues, including a billion-dollar slash to Sunshine State tax revenue, harm to tobacco farmers, and an increase in cigarette consumption as smokers seek the same levels of nicotine they're used to. He also predicted a new black market for high-nicotine cigarettes.

"Trying to implement this and then enforce this is very difficult. We're seeing that now with the vapes that are coming in now from China—it's very difficult to stop," said Bowman. "You reduce the nicotine in cigarettes, and people are gonna smoke more cigarettes to get the nicotine. I think it's a self-serving rule."

The FDA has been working on a rule addressing cigarette addiction since at least 2022, hoping to wean people off of the addictive carcinogens by capping nicotine levels in cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, most cigars, and pipe tobacco. But according to the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, which commissioned a report in late 2024, the proposal could spark a serious financial fallout.

The report found that while nicotine reduction would likely decrease legal cigarette sales, that downward trend would also be reflected in total tax contributions. The proposal could cause a crippling $24 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue, with up to 57.5% of future cigarette market sales—an estimated $43 billion—shifting to illegal providers, Florida Politics reported.

Bowman echoed these concerns, claiming that cigarettes could easily be smuggled the same way Chinese vapes are now.

"If this passes, that's what you're going to get: a way around it, and you're going to bring illicit trade into it," Bowman said.

The FDA plan would give the White House another chance to regulate tobacco after shunting aside an earlier plan to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes. The incoming Trump administration will decide whether the proposal can advance or be scrapped altogether.

Trump has a mixed history with tobacco and nicotine. During his first term, he supported raising the federal age for tobacco purchases from 18 to 21 and more tightly regulating flavored vapes. Still, he stopped short of banning menthol and tobacco-flavored vapes.

More recently, however, he reversed course and signaled that he would "save vaping again."

Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president at noon on Jan. 20.

The post Biden Admin’s Eleventh-Hour Plan to Lower Nicotine Levels Sparks Concerns in Florida appeared first on The Floridian.

DeSantis to Appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to U.S. Senate

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he will appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate, filling the seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Marco Rubio. Moody, 49, will take over...READ MORE

Future FL Attorney General James Uthmeier: "I’m honored and humbled to be appointed by @GovRonDeSantis as the next Attorney General of the Free State of Florida."

FL Lieutenant Gov. Jeanette Nuñez: "Congratulations, @JamesUthmeierFL! You will be a fantastic Attorney General. Floridians can count on you to protect our state, defend the rule of law, and uphold the Florida Constitution."

Rep. Darren Soto: "Thank you @POTUS Biden for your leadership in helping craft this historic ceasefire and hostage release plan between Israel and Hamas. We remain cautiously optimistic about the future, and vigilant about seeing the terms of this deal through."

FL Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith: "Ron DeSantis wants the legislature to effectively END citizen petition gathering in our state and permanently revoke our rights to change the constitution through ballot initiative."

DeSantis' Chief of Staff James Uthmeier to be the Next Florida Attorney General—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday confirmed a double-header of government appointments, revealing that his Chief of Staff James Uthmeier will...

Bondi Endures U.S. Attorney General Confirmation Hearing—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—Former Florida State Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. Attorney...

Miami Mayor Francis Saurez Blasts Biden for Removing Cuba as State Sponsor of Terrorism—By The Floridian's Michael Costeines—Miami Mayor Francis Saurez blasted President Joe Biden and his administration on Wednesday for removing Cuba from...

Biden Set to Depart the White House With a Gloomy December Consumer Price Index Report—By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—President Joe Biden is facing renewed criticism for his economic policies following the recently released Consumer Price...

Lee, Moskowitz Introduce Bipartisan Bill Creating Tax-Free Disaster Savings Accounts—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representatives Laurel Lee and Jared Moskowitz have introduced a bipartisan bill creating tax-free savings accounts for disaster-related...

Buchanan, Donalds Introduce New No Tax on Tips Bill—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—Representatives Vern Buchanan and Byron Donalds have introduced new legislation removing taxes from income received through tips. Aptly named the "No Tax on Tips..."

DeSantis to Appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to U.S. Senate—By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he will appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate, filling the seat soon to be vacated by Senator...

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

The post Last Squeeze🍊—1.16.2025—DeSantis to Appoint Moody to Senate, Uthmeier to Attorney General—Bondi Endures Confirmation Hearing—Biden Slammed—Much More... appeared first on The Floridian.

MIAMI - Miami Mayor Francis Saurez blasted President Joe Biden and his administration on Wednesday for removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism (SST).

"Joe Biden just gave a massive gift to the Cuban dictatorship—relief from sanctions and a free pass for their crimes," Saurez said. "His cowardice in the face of tyranny will embolden Havana’s worst actors. It’s weak, it’s unforgivable, and Miami will remember."

In exchange, the Biden administration agreed to release political prisoners jailed for protesting against the communist nation in July 2021.

The announcement also comes five days before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated for his second term. During his first term in office, Trump placed the SST designation on Cuba.

Throughout Biden's presidency, Cuban officials pushed to remove the SST designation. However, acceptance from the United States had been fairly mute until yesterday.

According to the United States Department of State, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Iran, and Syria remain designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism. Cuba had been on the list since Jan. 12, 2021.

Moving forward, the Biden administration must notify Congress of the decision. Although, very little can be done by lawmakers upon review.

The decision also received praise from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Despite its limited scope, this is a decision that points to the right direction and is in line with the sustained and firm demand by the government and the people of Cuba, as well as the broad, emphatic and reiterated call by numerous governments, particularly those of Latin America and the Caribbean; Cubans residing abroad; political, religious and social organizations and numerous political figures of the United States and other countries.  The government of Cuba expresses its gratitude to all of them for their contribution and sensitivity," the Ministry said.

Despite the agreement, the Ministry noted the United States' economic blockade on Cuba would remain in place. The United States has maintained an embargo on Cuba since February 1962 under President John F. Kennedy.

Other Miami officials, including State House Republican Juan Porras, echoed Suarez's sentiment on social media.

"It is insane that the Biden administration would cozy up to communist dictators in their last hours in the White House," Porras said.

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MIAMI - Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava commended the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday.

"Over a year after the horrific acts of terror inflicted on Israel, and following months of terrible violence, we welcome the news that a ceasefire was reached and the remaining hostages will be released. We have prayed for an end to bloodshed, and today our prayers are answered," Levine Cava said.

Announced by President Joe Biden, the deal will reportedly "halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity.”

Under its terms, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in phase one of the ceasefire, which is expected to last 42 days. In exchange, Israel would release 100 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences.

Two other phases are also being negotiated, but the ceasefire is not guaranteed to continue beyond the first phase. However, subsequent phases could bring an end to the war.

The deal comes after a week of intense negotiations brokered by Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt. Envoys from President Biden's administration and President-elect Donald Trump's team were also part of the negotiations.

Trump recently said on Truth Social there would be "ALL HELL TO PAY" if hostages were not released by his inauguration date.

White House officials said the agreement could start as early as Sunday.

The announcement comes more than a year after Hamas launched a terrorist attack on the Jewish State on Oct. 7, 2023. The assault, the deadliest on Jews since the Holocaust, resulted in the murder of more than 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 250 hostages.

"My heart breaks for all the lives lost to devastating violence, and for all the families of those taken hostage and all those who were killed. We must never forget, and we honor the memory of all those who were lost, as we pray for their loved ones," Cava said. "Let this moment bring an end to Hamas's terror against the people of Israel as we uplift all those in Palestine striving for lasting peace."

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