JUICE — Florida Politics' Juicy Read — 7.14.2021 — Vintage DeSantis—Voter ID Not Racist Say Minorities—The China/Russia Threat— More...

"DeSantis, Florida Legislators Point to China and Russia as ‘Hostile Influences in Western Hemisphere’," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—After mass protests broke out in Communist Cuba last weekend, the Cuban regime’s two most supportive allies and “hostile influences in the Western Hemisphere,” China and Russia, openly came out in support of the government and its efforts to silence protestors.

"New Poll: Most Minorities Don’t Think Voter ID is Racist," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—After President Biden (D) concluded his controversial speech against voter ID in Philadelphia today, the presses have been running hot after the president asserted that multiple state’s proposed voter ID laws are the most “significant test” to our nation “since the Civil War.” However, a new poll on the issue may reflect a more unified issue than we think, with most minorities not finding Voter ID racist.

"Norwegian Cruise Company Sues Florida Over Vaccine Passport Law," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—With Florida holding the line against all-things COVID, the state is not only being pressured by its Blue State counterparts but also the world community as Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has sued Florida over the state’s vaccine passport ban.

"Political Time Machine: The Same Old Conservative Ron DeSantis [Video]," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Did Biden Just Concede 6 Million Votes to Trump?" ," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Conservative Climate Caucus Brings Common Sense Solutions," OPINION

"NRSC, RNC To Air Ads During MLB All-Star Game Attacking Democrats’ Georgia boycott," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) will play ball during Tuesday MLB’s All-Star Game, airing political attacks ads reminding voters of Democrats lies’ about Georgia’s new election integrity law that caused the league to move the Midsummer Classic from Atlanta to Denver.

"Cruz Introduce Bill To Extend Title 42 Border Expulsions," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is leading a charge in the Senate by introducing a bill Tuesday to preserve Title 42, a Trump-era public health order that authorizes prompt expulsion of illegal immigrants across the southern border to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid reports of President Biden “abruptly and dangerously abolishing” the policy.

"Trump: ‘Election Fraud Will Soon Be Revealed," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—After several states having now filed for election audits amid suspicions of fraud during the 2020 presidential election, Pennsylvania is the latest state to join the list, gaining the attention of former President Trump (R). The former President released a statement today bashing Biden for visiting the state and telling current President Biden (D) to show them “how honest” the election was and continues to promise that election fraud will “soon be revealed.”

"Salazar Calls Communist Cuban Regime a ‘Satanic Nightmare’ by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—As Cubans on the Communist island of Cuba took to the streets to protest decades of oppression, so too did the Cuban-American exile community in Miami, and around Florida, to show solidarity with the Cuban people, and to denounce the “satanic nightmare” that is Cthe regime in Cuba.

"DeSantis Infrastructure Plan Will Help Rural Communities," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—Through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), and Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI), grants have been awarded totaling more than $30 million to improve not only infrastructure but also community development and job creation specifically in small and rural Florida communities.

"Americans For Prosperity Endorse Florida’s HB 403," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—While the jam-packed 2021 legislative session in Florida has long since passed, the Americans for Prosperity has recently released their scorecard of the best legislation seen in Tallahassee this year. Giving an endorsement of the pro-business HB 403.

"Florida House Republicans Launch “Firewall to Freedom” Campaign [Video]," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—Ahead of the 2022 midterm election, Republicans are working on expanding their outreach, and this includes a new digital campaign. In a press release, it’s explained that the ad campaign titled “Firewall for Freedom” aims “to connect Floridians with common-sense policies championed by Republicans in the Florida Legislature that have propelled the Sunshine State’s comeback from COVID.” The advertisement will be released on social media platforms, and it’s billed as “the first of its kind in touting GOP ideas and principles that are moving Florida forward, while other states lag behind.”

"Gaetz Calls out House Republicans Immigration ‘Shills’ and ‘Sellouts,”- by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Never one to mince his words, Conservative Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) called out his fellow Republican members of Congress over the illegal immigration issue or “border crisis,” saying that while House Republican lawmakers “talk tough on immigration,” they vote in support of “amnesty policies” because they are beholden to “Big Business.”

"Rubio Says Armed Cuban ‘Shock troops’ Look to Break Up Protests,": by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—Over the weekend, the people of Cuba marched in the street in protest against the Communist Cuban dictatorship. In South Florida, supporters did the same, taking to 8th street (Calle Ocho) to wave Cuban flags and chant for liberty for the Cuban people. There was a widespread response among South Florida lawmakers, and Senator Marco Rubio (R) took to Twitter to comment on the growing protests in Cuba and on issues that must be addressed for the people to be one day be able to see liberty on the island of Cuba.

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.

"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.