JUICE — Florida Politics' Juicy Read — 5.27.2021 — Nikki Fried Warns of Democratic Party Disunity—Rubio's UFOs —Steube, Demings—More...

THE FLORIDIAN: U.S. Rep. Greg Steube by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

New RPOF Website Paints Demings as a Socialist and ‘Pelosi’s Puppet’ by The Floridian's Jim McCool—The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), launched a new website named FloridaDems.com  in an effort to keep their 2020 winning momentum going around the state into the 2022 midterm elections. Contrary to the title, the RPOF founded the website in order to attack Rep. Val Demings (R-FL) and other potential Senate Democrats as Socialists and “Pelosi’s Puppets.”

Biden Orders Intel To ‘Redouble’ Efforts Probing Origin Of COVID by The Floridian's Mona Salama—President Biden on Wednesday ordered the U.S. intelligence community to “redouble their efforts” to determine the origins of the coronavirus, giving them 90 days to “collect and analyze” information from the revamped investigation to provide a “definitive conclusion.”

Nikki Fried’s Subtle jab at ‘Career Politician’ Charlie Crist by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—The stage is almost set for a Charlie Crist vs. Nikki Fried Democratic gubernatorial primary race next year, and even though she hasn’t officially announced her run for governor, Commissioner Fried appears to have thrown a subtle jab at “career politician” Charlie Crist.

Rubio Pushing to Fully Investigate UFOs by The Floridian's Jim McCool—With UFO sightings making a comeback in the media, the US Department of Defense has been forced to confirm that they have legitimate footage of unidentified flying objects, but this does not necessarily mean aliens exist. Authorities have been very skeptical of releasing such information to the public, but Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is pushing to fully investigate UFOs.

Biden Administration Shut Down Trump-Era Probe Into COVID Origins Wuhan Lab Leak by The Floridian's Mona Salama

Rubio: January 6th Commission is a ‘Partisan Joke’ by The Floridian's Jim McCool

“The China-Russia Iron Curtain Rises in Venezuela, Latin America” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – The new China-Russia Iron Curtain that has risen in the east continues to cast a dark shadow over American and Latin American interests, as both nations continue to strategize together over garnering more control over natural, economic, and infrastructure resources of several nations in South America. The Chinese and Russian presence in Latin America is unmistakable, particularly in Venezuela, where Strongman Nicolas Maduro has continued to strengthen the military, economic, and intelligence ties with anti-democratic Chinese and Russians. U.S. national security interests in the region are at risk, and it’s a threat that the Biden Administration is very aware of.

“‘Pro-Life’ Charlie Crist vs ‘Pro-Choice’ Charlie Crist” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – With Rep. Stephanie Murphy has announced that she will not challenge Sen. Marco Rubio for the U.S. Senate, and Rep. Val Demings inching closer to running against Rubio and not entertaining a possible run for governor against Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Democratic gubernatorial primary race could be set in stone as AG Commissioner Nikki Fried and “Pro-choice” Rep. Charlie Crist appear to be the only two viable Democrats suited to challenge Gov. DeSantis. There should be more candidates, but of the caliber of Fried and Crist, it could be slim pickings for Democrats. Both Crist and Fried will have to press for the Progressive base of the Democratic Party and win the voting bloc in order to be able to prevail in their soon-to-be- contentious primary Lucha libre.

“Biden, Putin To Meet In Person Next Month In Geneva” by The Floridian’s Mona Salama – President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in person next month in Geneva, Switzerland; the White House confirmed the Biden-Putin summit in an announcement Tuesday. The White House announced the meeting in a statement, saying the two leaders “will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the U.S.-Russia relationship.” The meeting is expected to take place on June 16, where both Biden and Putin are slated to a range of issues, including Iran and North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, Syria, the Arctic, strategic stability, arms control, climate change, COVID-19, and more.

“DeSantis Accused of Playing ‘Political Games’ Over Unemployment” by The Floridian’s Jim McCool – As the new unemployment benefits proposed by the federal government are cut, Florida joins now over 20 states in deciding not participate in President Biden’s weekly $300 payments in order to get Floridians back to work, leading Florida Democrats to accuse Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) of playing “political games.” This week, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, following the April jobs report that showed 18,800 new private-sector jobs and more than 460,000 online job postings available throughout the state for job seekers, will cease its participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, effective June 26, 2021. The Florida DEO is labeling this as Florida’s “Return to Work,” initiative.

“Rick Scott Slams VP Harris ‘Avoidance’ Of Visiting Southern Border” by The Floridian’s mona Salama – Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) blasted Vice President Kamala Harris for refusing to pay a visit to the southern border in order to see firsthand the ever-growing man-made crisis, characterizing her “avoidance” to announce her first upcoming international trip scheduled for next month to the Northern Triangle countries doesn’t count if she is “flying over the border at 35,000 feet.” “Flying over the border at 35,000 feet doesn’t count as a visit. Now, 123 days since taking office, it’s shocking to see the lengths to which President Biden and Vice President Harris will go to avoid seeing the border crisis for themselves. Apprehensions at the border rose above 178,000 in April alone, nearly 6,000 a day. This is about the safety of American families. We must secure the border now,” Scott said in a statement Monday evening.

“South Florida synagogue harassment: Suspect accused of yelling anti-Semitic remarks, dumping feces is arrested” by Associated Press – Police have arrested a man who they say yelled anti-Semitic remarks at a rabbi and dumped a bag of human feces in front of a South Florida synagogue. Hallandale Beach police arrested Jeffrey Carl Fleming on Monday on charges of felony stalking with a hate crime enhancement and littering human waste. He was being held Tuesday morning without bond at the Broward County Jail. Details on his arrest were not released. Capt. Pedro Abut said in a statement that Fleming, 39, is the man who was captured on cellphone video who went on a rant outside the Chabad of South Broward on Friday. The man, barefoot and dressed in a white robe, left and returned a short time later, carrying a bag or pillowcase that contained human feces. He dumped the bag in front of the synagogue and yelled, "Jews should die," according to a police report.

“When are weekly unemployment benefits in Florida ending? Deadline and reason” by AS’s Greg Heilman – Florida announced Monday that the state will join 22 other states ceasing participation in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), the $300 weekly extra payment to those receiving unemployment benefits. Unlike the majority of those states, it will keep other federal unemployment benefits. Three weeks ago, Montana began a trend among Republican-led states of announcing that they would no longer participate in some or all of the federal unemployment programs set up under the CARES Act last year to help the millions of Americans thrown out of work due to the covid-19 pandemic. Those programs have been twice extended, most recently under the American Rescue Plan which finances that economic assistance to the jobless until 6 September.

“Florida state Sen. Bracy to run for congressional seat now held by Demings” by Politico’s Gary Fineout – State Sen. Randolph Bracy, an Orlando Democrat who pushed to revamp Florida’s criminal justice laws while in the Legislature, will run for the central Florida congressional seat now held by Rep. Val Demings. Bracy’s move represents yet another ripple effect caused by Demings decision to challenge U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022. The 44-year-old Bracy becomes the first to publicly announce his intention to run for Demings seat, although former local prosecutor Aramis Ayala strongly hinted last week that she too would run for the 10th Congressional District seat. Brady has an advantage since his Orange County state Senate seat makes up 80 percent of the congressional district. “I’ve been serving this community for almost 10 years now as an elected representative and senator,” said Bracy. “I have a passion for this community.”

“FBI examines video showing Central Florida Oath Keepers” by Clock Orlando’s Erik Sandoval –

FBI investigators said they are examining video that they say shows three Central Florida residents preparing for the riots on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6. Investigators said the video was shot at a gun range in Leesburg in September, and they claim it shows Kelly Meggs, Connie Meggs and Kenneth Harrelson learning how to shoot automatic weapons. But the Meggs’ attorney claimed their clients did nothing wrong. According to court documents, he claimed the couple was training to “prepare to be security at rallies and events.” FBI investigators claim the Meggs are the Florida leaders of an organization called the Oath Keepers, and they also claim Harrelson is a follower. Court records show investigators believe phone calls intended to plan for Jan. 6 were made from Harrelson’s home in Titusville, where neighbors told News 6 the family kept to themselves.

“Black Hawk helicopter crashes in Florida, 4 believed dead: reports” by Fox News’ Dom Calicchio – A Black Hawk helicopter used for firefighting, with four people aboard, crashed into a Florida marsh on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least one occupant, according to reports. The crash occurred around 4 p.m. ET near an airport in Leesburg, about 48 miles northwest of Orlando, FOX 35 of Orlando reported. One occupant was confirmed dead but emergency responders were not hopeful of finding any survivors, reports said. "The crash appears to be a total loss," Leesburg Fire Rescue officials wrote on Facebook. An unspecified mechanical failure was believed to have caused the crash.

“More than 8 million now fully vaccinated in Florida” by Fox 35 Orlando – The United States reached a notable milestone on Tuesday with 50% of adults becoming fully vaccinated against COVID-19 nationwide, according to data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, more than 128 million American adults are fully vaccinated and nearly 158 million — or 61.5% — have received at least one dose of a vaccine, according to the CDC. The number of people in Florida fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has topped 8 million. The state Department of Health issued a report Tuesday showing that 8,038,941 people have finished receiving the required two doses of vaccines produced by drug companies Pfizer or Moderna or the one-dose vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson. In all, 10,075,311 people in Florida have received at least one dose.

“New Florida law protects against pandemic-related fraud” by Associates Press – Florida residents and visitors are expected to have increased protections against fraud and scams during the coronavirus pandemic under a bill signed Tuesday. The bill went to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis after the Florida House and Senate both passed the legislation unanimously during the normal session this past spring. The new law prohibits someone from trying to profit by lying about the authenticity, effectiveness, or availability of personal protective equipment. It also prohibits someone from making money by offering access to a vaccine for COVID-19 or any other pandemic disease. The new law allows Florida’s attorney general to shut down websites or other media platforms disseminating false information about the vaccine or fraudulently selling PPE.

“Central Florida advocates call for Rick Scott, Marco Rubio to back immigration bills” by Orlando Sentinel – Civic and business leaders in Central Florida advocated Tuesday for the passage of immigration bills they say would help boost the economy of a tourism region dependent on workers temporarily shielded from deportation by various policies. Through a virtual bipartisan panel hosted by the American Business Immigration Coalition and IMPAC Fund, Democratic Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was among supporters urging Florida’s Republican U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio to back legislation that would provide a citizenship path for immigrants relying on reprieves from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status. Dyer noted that almost 20% of Orlando residents were born in another country. He credited their work and entrepreneurship that “fuels our economy” and said “it’s time for our country to come together and pass humane immigration reform.”

National:

“Pentagon official leading military extremism crackdown said Trump supporters are extremists” by Fox News’ Thomas Barrabi – The Pentagon official tasked with leading efforts to crack down on extremist views among military servicemembers once asserted that backers of former President Donald Trump were also supporters of racism, misogyny and extremism. The official, Bishop Garrison, is a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and head of the Pentagon’s Countering Extremism Working Group. Garrison expressed his view in a series of tweets on July 27, 2019. "Silence from our Congressional leaders is complicity," Garrison tweeted. "He is only going to get worse from here, & his party and its leadership are watching it happen while doing nothing to stop it. Support for him, a racist, is support for ALL his beliefs."

“Senate advances measure barring taxpayer funds for China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology” by Fox News’ Cailtlin McFall – The Senate on Tuesday advanced bipartisan legislation that would ban federal funding for state-run labs in China, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In a bipartisan voice vote, the Senate approved an amendment introduced by Iowa Republican Joni Ernst to be included in the Endless Frontier Act, which seeks to counter Chinese economic and geopolitical ambitions. "After COVID appeared in the vicinity of the Wuhan Institute, instead of cooperating…to discover the source of the outbreak, Chinese officials instead ordered the destruction of some of the coronavirus samples and blocked access to the lab," Ernst said on the Senate floor, adding that China continues to block international access to study the origins of the virus.

“Biden WH seeks to extradite Marine vet in danger of being executed by North Korea, supporters warn” by Fox News’ Eric Shawn – A Los Angeles federal courtroom was riveted Tuesday as Cindy Warmbier, mother of Otto Warmbier, gave a heartfelt plea of support to protect the life of a former U.S. Marine who was arrested for being an activist against North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s regime. Christopher Ahn faces extradition to Spain as a member of the group advocating freedom for North Korea. His supporters fear he could be killed by Kim Jong Un if the Biden administration continues to press a request by Spanish authorities to send him back to Madrid to face charges. No decision on his extradition was made, but another hearing is set for next month. "I just want to say one thing, how appreciative I am of all the supporters and of all the people who have been very supportive of me and have reached out to me and have believed in me," Ahn said after the hearing was over. "We all believe that truth, logic, common sense will make the day."

“Trump responds to insurrection lawsuit by claiming immunity while he was President” by CNN’s Katelyn Polantz – Donald Trump's attorney defended the ex-President's incendiary speech on January 6, saying he is protected under the First Amendment and had "absolute immunity" while he was President to contest the election, according to a court filing this week. The argument is the first time Trump has formally defended his actions in court since the insurrection, and reflects his continued push to his supporters that he did nothing wrong and was robbed of a second term in office. Trump argues in DC District Court that his bully pulpit message to his supporters at the political rally on January 6 -- encouraging them to oppose Congress certifying the vote -- was a constitutionally protected act of the presidency.

“Texas lawmakers send permit-free gun carrying legislation to governor's desk” by CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi and Sara Murray – Texas is a step closer to allowing residents to carry handguns in public without obtaining a license or training. The Texas legislature on Monday approved the final version of a permitless carry gun bill, sending the legislation to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's desk for his signature. House Bill 1927 would allow individuals 21 and older who can legally possess a firearm in the state to carry a handgun in public places without a permit.

Texas joins a handful of other conservative-led states that have passed measures this year allowing some form of permitless carry and expanded gun rights at the state level, as President Joe Biden took action to institute some limited gun restrictions and is calling on Congress to do more in the wake of high-profile mass shootings.

“House Republican leaders condemn Marjorie Taylor Greene's Holocaust comparison after 5 days and a wave of outrage” by CNN’s Ryan Nobles – House Republican leaders have condemned incendiary remarks from GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene five days after she first publicly compared Capitol Hill mask rules to the Holocaust, amid a wave of criticism from Republican and conservative critics as well as Jewish groups aimed at the Georgia congresswoman and the party leaders' silence. "Marjorie is wrong, and her intentional decision to compare the horrors of the Holocaust with wearing masks is appalling," House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a statement five days after Greene's original comments and after she made similar comparisons Tuesday. "Let me be clear: the House Republican Conference condemns this language."

“Senate Republicans Prepare $1 Trillion Infrastructure Offer” by WSJ’s Andrew Deuhren – Senate Republicans are crafting a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure offer to present to the White House later this week, preparing a substantial increase to their original $568 billion plan in hopes of sustaining bipartisan talks that hit hurdles last week. The six Senate Republicans who have been leading talks met Tuesday morning to discuss how to respond to the $1.7 trillion plan the White House released last week, a drop from the Biden administration’s original $2.3 trillion proposal. Members of the group said they would send their new plan to the White House on Thursday, days before an unofficial Memorial Day deadline for progress in the talks. Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), the top Republican on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said President Biden told the GOP lawmakers during a private meeting earlier this month that he would support a $1 trillion plan over eight years. Mr. Wicker said the Republican offer would roughly match Mr. Biden’s comments in the meeting.

“Bernie Sanders Drops Effort to Stop Weapons Sales to Israel” by WSJ’s Eliza Collins – Sen. Bernie Sanders will no longer try to force a Senate vote aimed at stopping a $735 million weapons sale to Israel, according to an aide to Mr. Sanders. The aide said the senator found out Friday that the State Department had already finalized the sale, and it wasn’t clear if he could have forced a vote to block it. Mr. Sanders (I., Vt.) questioned whether U.S. military aid to Israel was helping to keep the peace in the region or fueling conflict. Last week, he introduced a resolution for a Senate vote to block the sale. The Arms Export Control Act allows Congress to block a planned arms sale through a joint resolution of disapproval, with such measures automatically entitled to a vote on the Senate floor. It takes only a simple majority to pass a disapproval resolution, though it would take a two-thirds majority in each chamber to override a presidential veto.

“Two moderate Democrats urge Senate Republicans to back U.S. Capitol riot probe” by Reuters’ Susan Cornwell – Two U.S. Senate Democrats known for independent streaks urged Republicans on Tuesday to support a bipartisan commission into the deadly January attack on the Capitol, after one in six House Republicans broke with party leadership and backed the probe. Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema called on Republicans to work with them to reach agreement on a bill to investigate the events leading up to and on Jan. 6, when President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building while Congress was certifying Democrat Joe Biden's November election victory, leaving five dead. Some 35 House Republicans joined Democrats last week in voting to pass the legislation that would create a bipartisan commission modeled on the one Congress passed following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The bill requires that the commission issue its final report by Dec. 31.

“George Floyd's family lobbies Biden for U.S. police reform on anniversary of death” by Reuters’ Jeff Mason – A year after his killing unleashed a national reckoning over racial injustice, George Floyd's relatives met on Tuesday with President Joe Biden at the White House and with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to urge passage of police reform legislation in their loved one's name. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died in handcuffs with a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neckfor over nine minutes, became the face of a national movement challenging police brutality and bias in the U.S. criminal justice system. His dying words, "I can't breathe," have echoed as a slogan in street demonstrations that convulsed the United States and the world last summer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. But Monday's private Oval Office visit marked the first time any of Floyd's family had been hosted at the White House, occupied since January by a Democratic administration. Biden's Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, was widely criticized for political rhetoric seen as inflaming racial tensions heightened in the aftermath of Floyd's killing.

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