JUICE — Florida Politics' Juicy Read — 7.12.2021 — Ron DeSantis, 'The Gold Standard'— Viva Cuba!—DeSantis, Trump Carry CPAC— More...

"House Republicans to Target Venezuela, Other Existing Threats to U.S." by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—With the “Axis of Evil” and its influence in the Western Hemisphere continuing to swell throughout the region, Republican lawmakers, particularly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, are attempting to curb the undue intervention of China, Russia, and Iran, and the threats to the U.S. they pose. Leader McCarthy put together the Republican Party’s American Security Task Force which comprises four Florida members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Cubans Denounce ‘Misery’ in Biggest Protests in Decades," by New York Times' Frances Robles—The rallies, widely viewed as astonishing for a country that limits dissent, were set off by economic crises worsened by the pandemic.

"Huge anti-government protests are happening in Cuba," by the AP—HAVANA Thousands of Cubans marched on Havana’s Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island Sunday to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis, in one of biggest anti-government demonstrations in memory.

Many young people took part in the afternoon protest in the capital, which disrupted traffic until police moved in after several hours and broke up the march when a few protesters threw rocks.

"Nikki Fried Urges Florida Supreme Court to Take Up Local Gun Law Case," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—
"Golden Gate man arrested after month-long investigation into dogfighting ring," by Naples News' Adam Regan—A monthlong investigation into a dogfighting ring at a Golden Gate home resulted in the arrest of the homeowner on multiple felony animal cruelty charges, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office. Rafael Jesus Del-Valle-Jomarron, 40, turned himself into the Naples Jail Center on Friday. He is charged with four counts of animal cruelty-causing cruel death, pain or suffering; one count of animal fighting act-baiting, breeding, owning animal; and one count of animal fighting act-selling, possessing, using equipment for fighting or baiting.

"Waltz Critical of Biden’s Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Announcement," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina

"Sen. Ileana Garcia Appointed to top Spot in Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—This week, Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson (R) appointed Florida Senator Ileana Garcia (R) to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking’s Board of Directors. The appointment comes in recognition of Garcia’s “unwavering commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence.”

"Wasserman Schultz Praises Bipartisanship Leadership in Surfside," by The Floridian's Jim McCool

"VP Harris Says Democrats Will Invest $25 Million to ‘Protect Voters’ by The Floridian's Jim McCool—Vice President Harris (D) addressed her alma mater, Howard University, to announce that the Democratic Party was going to invest $25 million to counter the “voter suppression” and to “protect voters” from the election integrity push being made by Republican-led legislatures across the United States.

"Biden defends Afghanistan withdrawal,", by The Floridian's Jim McCool

"Matt Gaetz Reasserts His ‘Trump for Speaker’ Initiative," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Tlaib Calls To Defund Immigration Agencies Amid Border Crisis," by The Floridian's Mona Salama

"Wasserman Schultz Calls Rep. Greene’s “Medical Brown Shirts” Remark ‘Grotesque & Disgraceful,' by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R), the outspoken and controversial freshman legislator from Georgia, inexplicably made another Holocaust comparison, which prompted Jewish-American Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) to reiterate her belief that Rep. Green is “unfit for Congress” after referring to door-to-door vaccinators as “medical brown shirts.”

"Critical Race Theory Is Being Taught in K-12 Schools, First Lady Biden Supports it," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina

"Trump Files Lawsuit Against Big Tech Over ‘Censorship Of The American People’ by The Floridian's Mona Salama—Former President Donald Trump said he is filing a lawsuit against Big Tech companies — Twitter, Facebook, and Google and their CEOs, over allegations of violating Americans’ First Amendment rights by selectively censoring information and its recent action of banning and suspending his accounts.

"Carlos Gimenez Introduces ‘Curbing China’s Vaccine Diplomacy Act’ by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—With the origins of COVID-19 still unclear, Republicans have been more than clear in regard to holding China accountable. Now, Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL) has introduced the “Curbing China’s Vaccine Diplomacy Act.”

"Democrats Stick To False Allegation That Trump Gov’t Called For Capitol Violence," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—It’s been 6 months since the Capitol riot, and the House of Representatives has now officially voted to establish a January 6th committee to formally investigate the incident. Despite there being no immediate call for violence against the US government or Capitol from the White House Republican lawmakers or Trump administration officials, Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is sticking to the insurrection narrative and baseless claim that “certain members of the US gov’t” specifically called for “violence against the Capitol.” The Capitol violence was orchestrated and carried out by Rightwing extremists.

"Florida had a shot at herd immunity. Now it’s slipping away," by Tampa Bay Times' Ian Hodgson—Herd immunity may be slipping further and further out of reach. President Joe Biden set an aspirational goal to immunize 70 percent of the adult population against the coronavirus by July 4. But Independence Day came and went, and 33 percent of U.S. adults still haven’t received a single vaccination shot. In Florida, 65 percent of adults have been at least partially vaccinated, and 56 percent have been fully vaccinated.

"Biden Pushes Taxpayer-Funded Abortions," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—President Joe Biden (D) has been advocating on behalf of his budget request, but many aspects of the budget have been at odds with Republicans. One such aspect that Florida Rep. Greg Steube (R) is now arguing against is taxpayer funded abortions. In a letter directed to the President, Steube joined a number of his Republican colleagues to voice their disapproval of the measure.

"DeSantis boosts fundraising operation ahead of 2022," by POLITICOS' MATT DIXON —TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis is expanding his fundraising operation ahead of the 2022 election cycle, bringing in an additional consulting firm as he builds a huge cash advantage over his Democratic challengers.

DeSantis has not yet announced that he’s running for reelection or set up an official campaign account. But his separate political committee and de facto full-time campaign arm has been bringing in millions of dollars as his focus turns to the campaign trail, an effort helped by his rising stock with conservatives across the country.

"Florida’s Gubernatorial Race Brings in Major Funds in June," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina

"After 3 years, Boca councilwoman settles defamation case over political flyer," by The Palm Beach Post's Victoria Villanueva-Marquez—BOCA RATON — Boca Raton City Councilwoman Monica Mayotte won a final judgment in a defamation case from a former political opponent who took issue with a flyer that accused him of running a real estate scam. After Mayotte beat Armand Grossman out of a seat on the City Council in March 2018, Grossman sued Mayotte over the same flyer that called him a "scam artist” and said he was charged with defrauding more than 4,000 people.

"Biden’s Door-to Door-Vaccination Plan Shot Down By Sabatini," The Floridian's Jim McCool—After President Biden (D) missed his July 4th goal of a 70% nationwide vaccination rate, the president has now publicly advocated for a door-to-door vaccination program to get more Americans vaccinated, but State Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-32) who is running for the U.S. Congress in Florida’s 7th congressional district, has already vowed to l0ok into filing legislation to ban the practice in Florida.

"Charlie Crist Picks Up Senator Gibson Endorsement," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina

"Biden Sentences U.S. Navy Veteran and 18,000 Afghan Translators to Death," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—President Joe Biden has effectively killed captured former U.S. Navy Veteran Mark Frerichs and thousands of Afghan translators that embedded with the U.S. Military during the 20-year war on terror in Afghanistan.

"Democrats Fear Kamala Harris Can’t Beat Trump Or Any Republicans In 2024," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—Democrats are becoming increasingly fearful that Vice President Kamala Harris could not defeat whomever the Republican Party puts up in 2024, amid a torrent of recent leaks of infighting tensions between West Wing officials and her office as well as a series of blunders in her role as second in command, a new report revealed.

"Stephanie Murphy Says She’s ‘Ready to get to Work’ to Investigate Capitol Riot," by the Floridian's Javier Manjarres—After the Republican-led U.S. Senate blocked the 1/6 commission measure filed to create a bipartisan and independent investigative body to find out the root cause of the January 6 Capitol riot, House Democrats have decided to take the matter into their hands and have created a 1/6 select commission.

"The Stark Contrast Between Trump and Biden Deepens on July 4th," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina

"[VIDEO] Damaged Surfside Building Demolished With Explosives' by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Republican Melissa Martz Files Highly-Questionable FEC Report," The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—In the first federal fundraising quarter for her 2022 Republican congressional primary against Rep. Brian Mast (R), self-styled Constitutionalist and Attorney Melissa Martz (R) has reported raising just over $200,000 but has burned just about all of it.

"Wasserman Schultz Believes Americans Aren’t Living up to ‘Ideals of Liberty and Justice’ by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Florida Democrats Pass ‘Green New Deal’ INVEST in America Act," by The Floridian's Jim McCool"—Dubbed the “Green New Deal” by Texas Rep. Troy Nehls (R), INVEST in America Act or the Transportation Inflation Act,” H.R. 3684 passed the House this week with 221 votes. All Democrats in the House voted for the bill while 2 Republicans voted in favor and 201 voted against it. However, that was not enough to stop the bill in its tracks.

"Cava Accused of Dragging Feet In Deciding to Demolish Damaged Surfside Building,"

by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

Kristi Noem announces deployment of privately funded national guard to border," by Texas Politics' Isabel Webb Carey— South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced Monday that she will be sending National Guard troops from her state to the nation’s southern border to “secure the border between the United States and Mexico.”

"Allen West announces gubernatorial race against Gov. Greg Abbott in Republican primary," by Texas Politics' Isabel Webb Carey—A month after he announced his resignation as chair of Texas Republican Party, former Florida congressman Allen West launched his campaign for governor against fellow Republican Greg Abbott.

On Sunday, West was welcomed to announce his gubernatorial run from the pulpit of the Sojourn Church in Carrollton, Texas. Before airing his official campaign video, West issued an extensive speech in which he read aloud the Declaration of Independence and invited the congregation to “join us in this fight.”

"Report: Majority of Surfside condo board quit in 2019 as squabbling residents dragged out plans for repairs,"By Sun-Sentinel STAFF REPORT—The Washington Post is reporting that the president and majority of the board of the Surfside condominium that collapsed last week resigned in 2019, partly in frustration over what was perceived as a slow response to an engineer’s report that identified major structural damage the previous year.