Legislative Homestretch

The Florida Legislature is in its final two weeks and one of the most controversial measures that could come down for a vote is the defamation bill being put forth by Rep. Alex Andrade.

Gov. DeSantis wants this bill, even though media outlets of all sizes, particularly conservative-minded publishers, see the measure as nothing more than a threat to their very existence.

The bill is terrible and opens the door for just about anyone who comments on social media platforms or on news outlets or blogs, to be sued for defamation.

Before it was difficult to prove malice intent, but now even the Easter Bunny will be able to sue.

This bill only helps litigation-friendly attorneys like Rep. Andrade himself. Gov. DeSantis wants to take a pound of flesh from "legacy media" outlets he feels publish unsavory stories about people, but in reality, reporters, editors, and publishers in the state of Florida, are not posting malicious and defamatory content.

Now, the Miami Herald has been targeting Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, singling him out like a pet project, but they haven't defamed him...READ MORE

The Herald has written somewhat slanted stories about Mayor Suarez and other Republicans, but those stories have not reached the level of defamation.

If Andrade's bill lands on DeSantis' desk, and the Governor signs it into law, small radio stations and publications could be on the chopping block.

This is a crap bill.

Shevrin “Shev” Jones-It was incredible to share space in the City of Eatonville at the @peoplefor Black History Month Teach In, with people who are wholeheartedly fighting for what Florida and America CAN be!

Thank you @AnnaForFlorida, @MaxwellFrostFL, and so many others for your unwavering voice and collective power to do GOOD for people and our history!

Danny Burgess-.@GovRonDeSantis, @LtGovNunez & the Legislature are committed to honoring & serving veterans. With the passage of HB 725 (SB 174), we're continuing to improve the lives of FL's vets. Thanks to Reps @Johnfsnyder & @MarieWoodsonFL for all your work on this issue this session!

Matt Gaetz-“In 2021, Guest alerted the Ethics Committee, which he served on at the time, of a family stock he failed to disclose…”

BAN CONGRESSIONAL STOCK TRADING!

The Lounge—2.24.2024—Florida Lawmakers Square off With DeSantis Over Social Media Ban—More...

FIU Publishes Article on Biggest Threat to Local Wildlife —By The Floridian's Jim McCool

DeSantis Pushes 'Years-Long Effort' to Help Texas at the Border —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) held a press conference in Pensacola, Florida regarding his recent to deploy additional Highway Patrolmen and National Guardsmen to the southern border to aid the state of Texas during the current migrant crisis at the southern border.

Francis Suarez Under Media's Microscope for Hosting Saudi Event —By The Floridian's Jim McCool—Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) has oddly become the newest target of mainstream media in Florida. The Miami Herald recently released an investigative report on the Miami Mayor for his upcoming conference with Saudi Arabian officials. The Herald even sent out a "News Alert" of the event.

Rubio Demands Biden Delete TikTok Account —By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich—President Biden has continued to take heat from Republicans for opening an account on the popular social media app TikTok despite banning it from federal devices. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently spearheaded a letter demanding the President delete the account.

Donalds Blasts Chris Cuomo on Hunter Biden Investigation —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich— Special Counsel David Weiss recently indicted FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, purported author of the 1023 document cited in House Republicans'...

Frost Torches Florida Social Media Bill, Calls It 'Lazy Legislating' and 'Brazenly Unconstitutional' —By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich— Despite facing continued criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike, Florida House Bill 1, which would ban minors under the age of 16 from accessing social media...

Loomer Captures Footage of South American Migrants Declaring U.S. as Final Destination —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

Scott, Rubio Slam 'Reckless & Naive' U.S.-Venezuelan Relations —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina—The Milei administration in Argentina is calling on the Biden administration to change its approach with the Maduro regime in Venezuela

Russian Assets to be Seized in Miami as Part of New Biden Sanctions Plan —By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a series of measures enforcing a new sanctions plan announced by President Joe Biden on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s Ukraine invasion.

DeSantis: 'If You Don't Have a Border You Don't Have a Country' —By The Floridian's Liv Caputo

Replacing Biden on the ballot won’t make America safer, only Trump can do that —OPINION by Rep. Brian Mast

Mast Questions Biden Official Unable to Answer Questions Regarding Palestinian State —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

Donalds Accuses Biden of Enabling 'Manmade Political Disaster' at Southern Border—By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich

DeSantis Marks One Year After Eliminating Disney's Reedy Creek —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

Legislative Pushback: Florida Lawmakers Appear to Challenge DeSantis Over Social Media Bill —By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

'I Cast Out Devils': Bill Allowing Clergymen in Public Schools Faces Democratic Backlash —By The Floridian's Liv Caputo

First Responders Have Our Back, Now Let’s Have Theirs —By The Floridian's Mateo Guillamont

Long-Awaited Port Cybersecurity Initiative Lauded by Gimenez —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina

DeSantis Says 'Parents Need to Have a Role' on Controversial Social Media Bill —By The Floridian's Grayson Bakich

DeSantis Marks One Year After Eliminating Disney's Reedy Creek —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

AT&T Cellular Outage Affects Tens of Thousands —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina

Biden Announces 'Major Sanctions' for Russia Following Navalny's Death —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

Rubio Praises Late Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny —By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

Salazar Leads Effort to Expand Benefits & Services for Veterans —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina

Waltz Blasts Two-State Solution for Israel-Palestine War, Says Hamas Must be Destroyed —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina

Trump Shares Vice President Shortlist —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina

DeSantis Pursues Epstein Grand Jury Documents —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina

The Republican-led Florida Legislature Channels Communist China With New Social Media Bill —By The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

Florida House Cracks Down on Hemp, Divides Republicans —By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—TALLAHASSEE, FL—A bill banning delta-8 and capping THC milligrams in hemp products divided House Republicans Tuesday afternoon...

Landmark Affordable Housing Bill Faces Adversity in State Senate Due to Loophole—By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—With her stint as the leader of the upper chamber in Florida’s state government dwindling in the sunset, State Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s (R-FL)...

Scott Demands Harris Preside over Mayorkas' Trial —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich—US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is demanding Vice President Kamala Harris oversee Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas’ Senate impeachment trial.

'Tell Them to Vote Hell No!': Trump Republicans Furious at Florida's New Election Bill —By The Floridian's Liv Caputo—TALLAHASSEE, FL—Seven weeks into the nine-week Legislative Session, the Florida House has unveiled a major new election bill, reinstating runoff primaries for the next Governor election and drastically reducing the number of mail-in ballot drop-off boxes—and Republicans are not happy.

Salazar Endorses President Trump —By The Floridian's Daniel Molina

Mast Agrees With Putin's Characterization of President Biden as 'Predictable' —By The Floridian's Jackson Bakich

The Juice is squeezed by Javier Manjarres, Jim McCool, Liv Caputo,  and Daniel Molina