JUICE — Florida Politics' Juicy Read — 1.11.2022 — Florida's 2022 Legislative Session Open—More...

Florida's 2022 Legislative Session

The 2022 legislative session is finally upon us and Gov. Ron DeSantis will kick off the two-month legislative roller coaster with his State of the State address.

Florida Democrats can’t wait to hear Gov. DeSantis's assessment on how well the state is doing as Republicans are poised to make huge political and legislative gains this upcoming midterm election.

Of course, we are kidding. Democrats are ready to pan Gov. DeSantis’s yearly speech.

DeSantis will surely talk about his COVID response and how he championed the very effective Monoclonal treatments.

In addition, DeSantis will most likely mention how well the state’s economy is doing coming out of the COVID pandemic, and how tens of thousands of Americans from all over the nation are migrating to the “Free State of Florida” to escape restrictive state governments.

Republican legislators will cheer the governor, while Democratic legislators will side quietly in disgust.

DeSantis’s address is slated to take place at 11 am inside the House Chamber on Tuesday. (today)

Florida’s Past, Present, and Future Elections Will Always Have a Ghostly Presence

Democratic state legislators hit a wall when they asked the Florida Public Service Commission to audit FPL for their alleged financial support of “ghost candidates” in past elections.

The 2022 election cycle is still fresh in Democrats' minds as they continue to argue that three state senate seats flipped to Republicans because “fake” candidates, who filed in those respective races, helped defeat Democratic incumbents.

Here is a little secret: Ghost candidates are used by both political parties. Shhhh. READ MORE

Special Election

The special election to replace Rep. Alcee Hastings is also today, and it appears as if Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormack will become the next member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican Jason Mariner has made a valiant effort to upset Cherfilus-McCormack, but the numbers just don’t look like they will add up for Republicans.

This is a very, very Democratic-leaning and minority-driven congressional district.

Even with the expected low turnout, there are just way too many more Democrats than Republicans and Independents.

Stranger things have happened, so don’t write Mariner out.

In the meantime, Cherfilus-McCormack appears to have been playing dirting during early voting with the help of Broward County Supervisor of Election Joe Scott.

Scott recently asked Mariner if he was a racist after Cherfilus-McCormack accused the father of two of “throwing up” a Qanon hand signal.

Mariner also alleges that Cherfilus-McCormack threatened to kill him. READ MORE

The only tweet that matters today is this one. Congrats to Rep. Michael Waltz and Julie Nesheiwat

"Both Republicans and Democrats use 'Ghost Candidates" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Two of Florida’s most progressive state legislators, Reps. Anna Eskamani and Carlos Guillermo Smith, have joined fellow Democratic legislators, Angie Nixon and Tavaris McCurdy, to pen a letter to the Florida Public Service Commission asking them to conduct an audit into Florida Power & Light (FPL) “to determine whether ratepayer money was used, directly or indirectly, to finance the fake candidate schemes,” or "ghost candidates."

"GOP Immigration Proposal Emerges" by the News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders—TALLAHASSEE — In one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ priorities for this year’s legislative session, two Republican lawmakers have filed a proposal that seeks to ratchet up immigration enforcement. In the state.

"Implementation is Key to Make Progress Monitoring Work for Students" OPINION—When COVID-19 caused the cancellation of state assessments in 2020, it created a rare opportunity to re-evaluate what parts of our public education system were working and which needed changes.

"Progressive Supervisor of Elections in Florida Asks GOP Candidate if He's With 'Proud Boys' (VIDEO)" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—Progressive Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott has recently been caught on camera appearing to take sides in the contentious special congressional election in Florida’s 20th District by asking Republican congressional nominee Jason Mariner if he was a member of the Proud Boys and if he had “thrown up” hand signs that could be portrayed as racist.

 

"Senate 2022 Field Officially Set: Thune and Johnson To Run for Reelection" by The Floridian's Mona Salama

"DeSantis Blames Federal Gov. Failures on Lack of Therapeutic COVID-19 Treatment" by The Floridian's Jim McCool—Amid controversial accusations of stockpiling COVID-19 tests, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has publicly come blaming the federal government's failures on a lack of monoclonal and therapeutic treatments for COVID-19.

(Exclusive to the Floridian) "Rubio: Biden ‘Doesn’t Enforce the law’" by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—As President Joe Biden’s (D) Administration nears its first year in office, the President is touting accomplishments while GOP lawmakers are raising concerns. Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), who’s currently running a reelection campaign against Florida Rep. Val Demings (R) , spoke to The Floridian about the Biden Administration’s response to illegal immigration and the border.

"Fried accuses DeSantis of Trying to ‘Circumvent Oversight’" by The Floridian's Daniel Molina

"Building Inspections Proposed After Surfside Collapse" by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders

"Fried Responds to DeSantis's Confirmation That COVID Test Kits Expired" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—During Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's recent press conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, The Floridian publisher, Javier Manjarres, asked the governor about the accusation made against him by Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried (D-FL), who accused him of letting COVID-19 test kits expire.

"Byron Donalds Says he Will Hold Pelosi Accountable for Capitol Riot" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—On the 1-year anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot, Democratic legislators are using the ominous day to push their media narrative that former President Donald Trump and many of his supporters, actually tried to overthrow the federal government.

"Charlie Crist Accuses DeSantis of 'Aiding and Abetting' Jan. 6th Rioters" by The Floridian's Jim McCool—One year ago today the infamous January 6th riot on Capitol Hill took place in an effort to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Now, Democrats are expected to start talking up the events again with gubernatorial candidate and US Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL) accusing Governor DeSantis (R-FL) of "aiding and abetting," January 6th rioters.

"Biden Blames Trump For Jan.6 Capitol Riot" by The Floridian's Mona Salama—President Biden marked the one-year anniversary of the Jan 6 Capitol riot by repeatedly bashing former President Donald Trump while rallying Senate Democrats to force the passage of sweeping federal election reforms.

"DeSantis Compares Capitol Riot to 'Assassination Attempt of Republican members of Congress' by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—During a press conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked his thoughts about the 1-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, where the first term governor compared the riot to the “attempted assassination of Republican members of Congress” at congressional baseball game practice on June 14, 2017.

"Surgeon General Ladapo: People Want to Live" by The Floridian's Jim McCool

"DeSantis Slams ‘Blue State hypocrites’ by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) campaign is taking aim at “blue state hypocrites” after his team welcomed Florida Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D) to Miami Beach over New Year’s weekend. Gov. DeSantis, who’s received heavy criticism for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, once again directed verbal jabs at the Democratic firebrand, referencing her criticism and the policies that have been enacted in New York.

"Mayor Levine-Cava Backs Taddeo for Governor" by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—State Senator Annette Taddeo (D) said this week that she would be traveling across Florida’s 67 to engage voters and to affirm that she’s working for the entire state. When Taddeo stops by Miami-Dade County, she’ll have one new lawmaker in her corner. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced her endorsement of Taddeo for Governor, calling her a “good friend & home-grown leader.”

"(VIDEO) Empty Grocery Store Shelves Debunk Biden's "Shelves are not Empty" Statement" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—In late December 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the ongoing supply chain interruptions that resulted from the current rate of inflation the U.S. was enduring, stating, “Packages are moving, gifts are being delivered, shelves are not empty.”

"Lt. Gov Nuñez Says Biden is 'Waiving the white flag' on COVID". by The Floridian's Jim McCool—President Biden (D) announcing a change in the federal Pandemic plan, or lack there of, has left Americans shocked after the president promised to end the public health crisis. Today, Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez (R-FL) sounded off on Biden for, "waving the white flag," on COVID-19

"Florida's Legislative Session to Open Without COVID-19 Restrictions" by Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida—TALLAHASSEE --- Legislative leaders are monitoring the spike in coronavirus cases across Florida but haven’t made plans to reimpose restrictions on public access that were used during the 2021 session. With the 2022 legislative session starting Jan. 11, people will be allowed to roam most of the Capitol complex and address lawmakers in person.

"GOP Lawmaker Calls Out Biden's Silence on Crime Wave" by The Floridian's Jim McCool

Potty Mouth Fried Calls DeSantis a Male Sex Organ" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Cruz: Republicans Have 'Multiple Grounds to Consider' Impeaching Biden After Winning Back House in 2022" by The Floridian's Mona Salama—Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) predicted "there's a chance" Republicans, once they retake back the House following the 2022 midterm elections, would likely move to impeach President Biden, arguing there are "multiple grounds to consider" for impeachment.

"Fried Defends 'Respectable' Convicted Felon Ben Frazier and his Criminal Past" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres—As the news broke that Long-time Jacksonville-area actives Ben Frazier was arrested for trespassing shortly before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held another Monoclonal treatment press conference in Jacksonville, prominent Democratic leaders like Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and State Rep. Angie Nixon, referred to Frazier as “respected” as they protested his arrest.

"Allen West Grills Abbott's Operation Lone Star" by The Floridian's Jim McCool—In the state of Texas, LTC. Allen West (R-TX) is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, and today he spoke on the crisis facing the Texas National Guard and Military Department. West grilled the ongoing Operation Lone Star in Texas.

'Rick Scott Predicts Red Wave in 2022 Midterms" by The Floridian's Daniel Molina—With the 2022 midterm elections now only 10 months away, political camps are gearing up for plenty of high-stakes electioneering.   US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) , who heads up the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), is predicting a red wave in the 2022 midterms.

"Trump Slams 'Low-Life Twitter' Following Marjorie Taylor Greene Ban" by The Floridian's Mona Salama—Former President Trump slammed "low-life Twitter" over its decision to permanently suspend the personal account of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) for violating the platform policy on COVID misinformation.

"Taddeo Campaign Will Visit all 67 Florida Counties" by The Floridian's Jim McCool

"Ladapo Blames ‘Testing Psychology’ for Testing Influx" by The Floridian's Jim McCool

"DeSantis Calls On Biden Administration To Release ’Federal Stranglehold’ On COVID Antibody Treatments" by The Floridian's Mona Salama

"Cammack Defends DeSantis, Reminds AOC to Reach out to her Breast Cancer Constituents" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

"Cory Mills: Make American Farming Great Again" OPINION by Cory MIlls—The current American economy, which is arguably the worst in recent memory, has been perpetrated by President Joe Biden and his Progressive Democratic cohorts in the U.S. Congress.

"Fried Accuses DeSantis of Acting ‘Negligent’ by The Floridian's Jim McCool—As Florida faces surging cases of COVID-19, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) is calling for Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to make use of unused COVID-19 tests that she claims will soon expire. While she did not provide information on what tests she’s speaking of or where the information derives from, Commissioner Fried said that if Governor DeSantis does not act soon, it would be “negligent at best.

The JUICE is juiced by Javier Manjarres, Daniel Molina, and Jim McCool