JUICE — Florida Politics' Juicy Read — 7.28.2021 — Mask Mandates Are Coming— Biden Lacks 'Moral Compass' Over Cuba— More...

"Republicans Calls For Meeting With Biden To ‘Liberate The Cuban People’ by The Floridian's Mona Salama—A group of Congressional Republicans wrote a letter to President Biden requesting a sitdown to discuss how the US can better respond to the ongoing situation in Cuba following a historic protest that broke out earlier this month against the communist regime, and “work together” to help “liberate the Cuban people.”

"Cruz: Biden is ‘Weak’ and ‘Mealy Mouthed’ on Cuba," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—Washington D.C.– Today, as the American Conservative Union “Cuba Libre” event showcased some high profile federally elected officials, President Biden’s (D) leadership against the Communist regime has been challenged after many Cuban-Americans, such as Mercedes Schlapp, who feels the president is not doing enough. Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) added to the ‘Biden is weak’ narrative, calling the president “weak” and “mealy-mouthed” on Cuba.

"Biden Insults Unvaccinated Americans Says They Aren’t As ‘Smart’ As He Thought," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—President Biden insulted the intelligence of Americans who are not vaccinated, saying those who have yet to get inoculated are “not nearly as smart while sought to cast the blame solely on the unvaccinated for the rising levels of infection caused by the rampant Delta variant.

"Cammack Says Biden Lacks ‘Moral Compass’ to act on Cuba," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—The Cuba Libre rally put on by The American Conservative Union, saw several key members of Congress, including Sens. Ted Cruz and Rick Scott, and Reps. Pat Fallon (R), Carlos Gimenez (R), Mario Diaz-Balart (R), a very pregnant Elise Stefanik (R), Roger Williams (R), and Kat Cammack (R), who questioned Biden’s ability to lead and his “moral compass.”

"Republicans Slams Pelosi Over Assembling ‘Partisan’ Jan. 6 Panel Ahead Of First Hearing," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—House Republicans slammed Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for assembling a partisan committee after blocking two of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) five picks to serve on the committee in order to push her narrative of how the events transpired during the Capitol riots as means to cover up her role for the security lapses.

"Mercedes Schlapp Doesn’t Think Biden is Doing Enough for Cuba," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—While Matt Schlapp might be the chairman of CPAC, his wife, Mercedes Schlapp, also has a lot to say about politics, especially as a Cuban-American who is advocating for the Cuban protests and has insisted that Biden isn’t doing enough.

Biden Speaks to his Dead Mother During Press Event [Video]," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—When Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), a former White House physician, first called on President Joe Biden to take a cognitive test to see if he was mentally fit to be Commander-In-Chief, Democrats and Media outlets scoffed at him for doing some, but now after President Biden appears to call out to his dead mother as if she was alive in a recent speech, the case to question the president’s mental stability cannot be dismissed after Biden speaks to his dead mother during a press conference.

"Florida Republicans Move to Codify Oil Drilling Moratorium," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—The Republican Florida Congressional Delegation began the week by introducing the American Shores Protection Act. Led by Florida Rep. Michael Waltz (R), the legislation would “codify the moratorium on oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida that was put in place by a September 8, 2020 Executive Order by then-President Trump.” The moratorium would extend to the South Atlantic, the Eastern Gulf, and Straits of Florida planning areas, and Waltz argued that this environmental moratorium would allow the state to focus “on water quality and reducing red tide.”

"Biden Scolds NBC Reporter As ‘Pain In The Neck’ For Asking Off-Topic Question," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—President Biden snapped at an NBC reporter Monday, calling her “such a pain in the neck” for disobeying his request for not asking questions “about Iraq,” losing his temper once again with members of the White House press corps for pressing questions that he considers off-topic or unfair, despite receiving such friendly coverage compare to his predecessor, former President Trump from the media.

"Biden Administration Spent Over $2 Billion In Taxpayer Money To Suspend Border Wall Construction," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—President Biden is reportedly wasting at least $3 million per day of taxpayers funds in paying contractors to “guard steel, concrete, and other materials in the desert” in an effort to “not construct” former President Trump’s planned border wall along the southern US border, despite overseeing in the last six month since taking office one of the “worst border crisis in the last 20 years.”

"Trump Discourages Infrastructure Bill, Says ‘Radical Left’ is Playing GOP," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—While America may be more divided than ever, infrastructure has remained an issue that Republicans and Democrats alike have been wanting to get done for years. Now, there seems to be a real potential to get the deal done under President Biden (D), however former-President Trump (R) who failed to strike a bipartisan deal is now calling on the GOP to back out of it, claiming that “the Radical Left” is playing the GOP for “weak fools and losers!”

"Cuomo Off Biden’s DOJ Hook After Dropping Nursing Home COVID Probe," by The Floridians' Mona Salama

"COVID Testing Backlogged in Florida Counties," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Rubio Remains Optimistic for Cuba, Calls for End to Regime [Video]," by The Floridian's Jim McCool

"Anti-Trump Rep. Kinzinger ‘Humbly’ Accepts Pelosi Invitation To Join Jan. 6 Select Committee," by The Floridian's Mona Salama

"Murphy: ‘Congress Needs to be Made Aware’ of Foreign Influence," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—After the controversy surrounding the 2016 Presidential election, combatting the threat of foreign influence has been a top priority for lawmakers across the country. A new bipartisan effort aims to address the concern as both Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D) and Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) are joining forces to lead the charge. In response to the legislation, Murphy asserted that “Congress needs to be made aware” of any foreign influence.

Launches Veiled Political Swipe at Rubio Over ‘Free and Fair Elections’" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres —Rep. Valdez “Val” Demings (D) is arguably one of the most outspoken critics of former President Donald Trump, and of the effort by congressional Republicans to challenge the 306 electors President Joe Biden received on election night 2020, may have taken a swing at Senator Marco Rubio over “free and fair elections.”

"Rubio Calls Biden’s Sanctions on Cuban Regime ‘Meaningless’ and Mojito-Driven," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres —While both Republican and Democratic members of Congress acknowledged President Joe Biden’s recent sanctioning of elements within the Cuban regime for the abuses they committed during the recent Cuban protests on the island, some legislators with more in-depth knowledge of the regime’s decades-long human rights violations, and who have a bit more skin in the game than most, call Biden’s sanctions against Cuba as “meaningless.”

"Hardy Blames Republicans for COVID Inmate Deathsby The Floridian's Javier Manjarres —Progressive State Rep. Omari Hardy (D), aka ” Troublemaker Extraordinaire” as he likes to refer to himself, is in full campaign mode in his endeavor to replace former Rep. Alcee Hastings (D) and is blaming Republicans statewide for the COVID deaths of inmates since the pandemic began.

"Vaccine Conspiracy Theorists are Getting Infected With COVID," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres —Mask and vaccine conspiracy theorists, or “anti-Vaxxers,” who are out in full force pushing their narrative that “Big Brother” is somehow tracking Americans who take one of the COVID-19 and refuse to get vaccinated, are the individuals who are getting infected with the virus in the recent surge of the mutating virus.

"Puerto Ricans Counting on Senator Rubio to Lead on the Humanitarian Crisis Created by the PR’s Status Quo," OPINION by Luis Figueroa —While it seems like the 2020 elections just ended, the midterm election campaigning will ramp up over the course of the summer and into the fall, particularly given that control of both chambers of Congress are up for grabs. One of the most competitive races in the country will be here in Florida, where Senator Marco Rubio is running for re-election to the Senate.

"Florida Makes Huge Progress on Curbing Human Trafficking," by The Floridian's Jim McCool— As human trafficking continues to plague Americans and the world, there is widespread bipartisan support to eradicate the problem in Florida, and now the Florida Sheriffs Association Task Force (FSA) has announced huge progress on combatting human trafficking.

"Taddeo Invited Biden to Miami to Address Cuban People," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres —After a week of protests that have grown tenser in Cuba, President  Joe Biden (D) released a statement in support of the Cuban people. In response, while Republicans have expressed their disappointment in the President, citing a lack of diplomacy, Democrats in office are championing the President. One lawmaker that is hopeful is Florida state Senator Annette Taddeo (D), who recently shared that she has invited President Biden to visit Miami in order to address the turmoil in Cuba.

"Biden Sanctions Cuban Officials Over Crackdowns On Protest," by The Floridian's JimMcCool —As human trafficking continues to plague Americans and the world, there is widespread bipartisan support to eradicate the problem in Florida, and now the Florida Sheriffs Association Task Force (FSA) has announced huge progress on combatting human trafficking.

"Ron DeSantis Responds to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Discrimination Against Israel," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—Months after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict hit its climax, the popular Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company has officially made the controversial discrimination against Israel by pulling their products from its’ Judea and Samaria region.

"Lincoln Project Wants Fox News Off The Air," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—Even as voluntary COVID-19 vaccine distribution has been well underway across the country, Fox News has run into trouble with some of its central figures, including Tucker Carlson, who is accused of discouraging facts about the vaccine. The accusations have prompted The Lincoln Project to launch a new ad calling for Fox News to be taken off the air.

"Wasserman Schultz Wants DeSantis to own new COVID Infection Surge," by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—With the rise in COVID-19 variants spreading across the United States, a state experiencing a surge in COVID cases in Florida. Florida and Texas were some of the first states to declare that they were completely opening a few months ago, and there were no plans to implement any more restrictions. However, Democrats are now aiming verbal jabs at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) over the increase in COVID cases, and want to give him credit for the new COVID infection surge.

RUbio Calls Democratic Socialists ‘Crazy,’ Says U.S. Needs to Expedite Evil Cuban Regime’s Death," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Miami— “The leaders in Cuba aren’t just evil, they are incompetent people,” said Senator Marco Rubio during a Fox News Channel “Hannity” town hall meeting at the iconic Versaille restaurant, where he and Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared to discuss the protests occurring on the island of Cuba and throughout the exile community.

"Desantis Tells Biden To ‘Step Up’ and Help Protestors In Cuba," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Miami—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio appeared on a special town hall edition of the Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” show to discuss the ongoing protests in Cuba, and the protests of support throughout the exile communities across the U.S., particularly in Miami-Dade County.

"Senate GOP Blocks Debate On Bipartisan $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—Senate Republicans blocked a key procedural vote to open debate on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill Wednesday, fulfilling a promise made to kill the motion arguing they wouldn’t vote to start consideration until they saw a final version detailing what exactly the legislation entails.

"Pelosi Rejects Trump Allies Reps. Jordan and Banks From Jan. 6 Select Committee," by The Floridian's Mona Salama—Senate Republicans blocked a key procedural vote to open debate on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill Wednesday, fulfilling a promise made to kill the motion arguing they wouldn’t vote to start consideration until they saw a final version detailing what exactly the legislation entails.

"Val Demings Uses Campaign Dollars to pay for For Health, Dental Insurance," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Like most Americans with health insurance, members of Congress Rep. Valdez “Val” Demings (D) and Senator Marco Rubio (R) who are paid a yearly salary of $174,000, have to pay their healthcare premiums out of their own pockets.

"Rubio Backs Embargo, Says Cuban Regime has Imposed ‘blockade’ on the People of Cuba," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—As the tension between the Cuban people and the Castro regime continues to escalate, discussions continue in the United States as to what the proper response should be. Taking to the Senate floor to explore the subject, Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) said that the Biden administration is discussing “remittances.” However, Rubio brought up an issue that lawmakers and Americans have been questioning since the protests in Cuba began, which is “why don’t we get rid of the embargo?”

"Diaz-Balart on Biden: ‘Where is his leadership?’ by The Floridian's Daniel Molina— Lawmakers continue to discuss the growing tension that is taking place in Cuba. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has denounced the Castro regime and the conversation regarding how best the United States can help continues. This week, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) noted that he wants President Joe Biden (D) to show “solidarity” because “the people of Cuba are standing up for freedom and suffering horrific consequences for it.”

"Rubio Calls Biden ‘Lazy’ Over Cuba," by The Floridian's Jim McCool—As many Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) continue to blame the United States for the civil unrest in Cuba, the White House has reportedly gone along with this idea and even started to explore a “working group” to examine remittances to Cuba in the wake of protests on the island to determine how those residing in the United States can send money to the country. However, outspoken Cuban government detractor Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) called Biden “lazy” in his attempt to help Cubans.

"Tom Brady Crack Jokes On Biden’s 2020 Election Victory And ‘Sleepy’ Nickname," by the Floridian's Mona Salama—Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady cracked a pair of election jokes Tuesday, poking fun by comparing his team unimaginable Super Bowl victory to the 2020 election results and mocking President Biden’s “Sleepy Joe” nickname.

"Republican Joe Gruters Accused of Sexual Harassment by Male Senate Staffer," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Texas Senate advances Republican priority bills," by Texas Politic's Isabel Webb Carey—Despite the ongoing quorum block in the Texas House after 58 Democratic members fled down in protest of Republican efforts to pass voting laws, the Texas Senate has advanced the Republican priority bills that were listed in Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the special legislative session.

"Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith Assigns Blame for Cuba on US," by the Floridian's Jim McCool—As the Cuban protests have been mobilized from the streets of Havana to communities in South Florida, the protests in Cuba have been at the very center of Florida Politics, which has sadly become another partisan issue.