Paul Renner Slams Florida Legislature for Failing to Agree on State Budget

Paul Renner Slams Florida Legislature for Failing to Agree on State Budget

Michael Costeines
|
March 10, 2026
Florida gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner (R) slammed Florida lawmakers for, so far, failing to pass a state budget to address property taxes, insurance, and utility rates in a press statement this week. "With just days left in the legislative session, the Florida House and Senate are once again locked in a budget standoff, putting politics […]
Read More
Florida Senate Clears 'Medical Freedom Act,' Over-the-Counter Sale of Ivermectin

Florida Senate Clears 'Medical Freedom Act,' Over-the-Counter Sale of Ivermectin

Michael Costeines
|
March 10, 2026
The Florida Senate passed a bill creating a "conscience exemption" for vaccine requirements for children in K-12 schools and allowing ivermectin without a prescription for sale to adults 18 and older in the upper chamber this week. Known as the Medical Freedom Act, SB 1756 aims to give parents more relevant and timely information regarding […]
Read More
'MAGA Meg' Weinberger 'Socks' it to Florida Legislators in Tallahassee

'MAGA Meg' Weinberger 'Socks' it to Florida Legislators in Tallahassee

Javier Manjarres
|
March 10, 2026
TALLAHASSEE— With the Florida Legislative session winding down (not really), members of the Republican-led House of Representatives are being showered with new (clean) knit socks courtesy of Rep. Meg ‘MAGA Meg’ Weinberger (R).Rep. Weinberger’s gift to members are ”MAGA MEG” socks designed by Sammy Loudon, son of conservative media personality, Dr. Gina Loudon. Sammy hand […]
Read More
TV Anchor Elliott Rodriguez Enters Race to Replace Maria Elvira Salazar

TV Anchor Elliott Rodriguez Enters Race to Replace Maria Elvira Salazar

Joseph Quesada
|
March 10, 2026
Newly retired South Florida news anchor Elliot Rodriguez announced the launch of his campaign for Congress in Florida’s 27th district today. The district includes portions of Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and Pinecrest. “I didn’t plan to run for Congress,” Rodriguez shared during his announcement. “But I cannot stay silent.” Rodriguez’s campaign launch emphasized affordability and democracy, […]
Read More
Byron Donalds Condemns Racist, Antisemitic Miami GOP Group Chat

Byron Donalds Condemns Racist, Antisemitic Miami GOP Group Chat

Ericka Piñon
|
March 5, 2026
WASHINGTON—Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL), who is running for governor of Florida, has sharply condemned racist and antisemitic comments in a private GOP group chat The Floridian reported on,  saying they have no place in the Republican Party. In response to The Floridian's request for comment, Rep. Donalds told Publisher Javier Manjarres that "the comments reported […]
Read More
Florida Senate Passes AI Bill of Rights, House Approval Unlikely

Florida Senate Passes AI Bill of Rights, House Approval Unlikely

Michael Costeines
|
March 5, 2026
The Florida Senate passed a bill to provide consumer protections and safeguards for vulnerable adults and minors against the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the upper chamber this week. The bill, known as the "Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights," passed 35-2 in the upper chamber, with only Sens. Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce) and Don Gaetz […]
Read More
Kat Cammack Secures $600 Million for Florida Farmers Affected by Hurricanes

Kat Cammack Secures $600 Million for Florida Farmers Affected by Hurricanes

Adrian Morgade
|
February 27, 2026
Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R) announced that farmers all across Florida, especially those in Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, can now apply for more than $600 million in disaster assistance through the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program. The program aims to provide critical relief to agricultural producers impacted by the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. […]
Read More
ICYMI: Florida House Passes Bills Honoring Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk

ICYMI: Florida House Passes Bills Honoring Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk

Michael Costeines
|
February 27, 2026
The Florida House of Representatives passed a pair of bills honoring conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in the lower chamber this week. Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a campus event sponsored by Turning Point at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance (HB 125) The […]
Read More
Florida House Democratic Caucus Designates Gallop Franklin II as House Leader

Florida House Democratic Caucus Designates Gallop Franklin II as House Leader

Michael Costeines
|
February 26, 2026
The Florida House Democratic Caucus voted this week to designate Rep. Gallop Franklin II (D-Tallahasee) as its next House Democratic Leader for the 2028-2030 legislative term. "During his service in the Florida House, Representative Franklin has championed economic opportunity and affordability for Florida families, including expanding access to health care, strengthening higher education, and confronting […]
Read More
House Greenlights Plan to Phase Out Non-School Property Taxes, Path in Senate Unclear

House Greenlights Plan to Phase Out Non-School Property Taxes, Path in Senate Unclear

Michael Costeines
|
February 19, 2026
The Florida House of Representatives passed a joint resolution placing a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot to erase all non-school property taxes on homesteaded homes in the lower chamber this week. The joint resolution (HJR 203) passed 80-30 along party lines, with all Republicans supporting the motion and Democrats opposing it. Rep. Monique […]
Read More
Florida Senate Democratic Caucus Designates Shevrin Jones as Senate Leader

Florida Senate Democratic Caucus Designates Shevrin Jones as Senate Leader

Michael Costeines
|
February 18, 2026
The Florida Senate Democratic Caucus voted this week to designate Sen. Shevrin "Shev" Jones (D-Miami Gardens) as its next Senate Democratic Leader for the 2028-2030 legislative term. “I could not be more thrilled for my friend and a fierce fighter for all Floridians, Sen. Shevrin Jones, as he assumes this mantle of leadership in the […]
Read More
Florida House Passes Bill Designating American Flamingo the Official State Bird

Florida House Passes Bill Designating American Flamingo the Official State Bird

Michael Costeines
|
February 13, 2026
The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill 112-1 this week to designate the American flamingo as Florida's state bird and the Florida scrub jay as the state's songbird. The lone 'No' vote was from Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola). Under the bill, HB 11, the American flamingo would replace the northern mockingbird as Florida's official […]
Read More
Florida Chamber of Commerce Endorses James Buchanan in SD 22 Race

Florida Chamber of Commerce Endorses James Buchanan in SD 22 Race

Michael Costeines
|
February 12, 2026
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Rep. James Buchanan (R-Sarasota) in his State Senate District 22 bid, announcing the support through a release this week. “James Buchanan has free enterprise in his blood and entrepreneurialism in his DNA, making him a natural choice for the Florida Chamber to endorse as Senate District 22’s next […]
Read More
House Republicans Form 38-Member Sharia-Free America Caucus

House Republicans Form 38-Member Sharia-Free America Caucus

Ericka Piñon
|
February 11, 2026
38 House members have joined forces to create the Sharia-Free America Caucus, warning that Sharia contradicts the U.S. Constitution and threatens American freedoms. The group is pushing for laws that would prevent judges from considering Islamic law in their decisions and restrict entry to the country for individuals who adhere to Sharia principles. The caucus […]
Read More
Florida Lawmakers Call for USDA Disaster Declaration Amid Florida Freeze

Florida Lawmakers Call for USDA Disaster Declaration Amid Florida Freeze

Adrian Morgade
|
February 11, 2026
Florida Representatives Kat Cammack (R) and Vern Buchanan (R) led a delegation of Florida lawmakers in sending a letter to the USDA, urging the federal organization to issue a "Disaster Declaration" for Florida farmers amidst recent freezing temperatures. “THIS IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE! Florida farmers are facing a devastating crop crisis caused by freezing […]
Read More
The Cost of Staying Alive: Why Biosimilar Drugs Are the Relief Patients Have Been Praying For

The Cost of Staying Alive: Why Biosimilar Drugs Are the Relief Patients Have Been Praying For

Opinion
|
February 9, 2026
By Angie Wong For millions of people, a serious diagnosis comes with two types of fear. First, there is the fear of the disease — the cancer, the Crohn’s, the rheumatoid arthritis. But quickly, a second, sharper fear takes over: Will I be able to afford the help I need? I’ve witnessed friends and family discover the […]
Read More
Trump's DOJ Dismisses Complaint Against Casey DeSantis' Hope Florida and James Uthmeier

Trump's DOJ Dismisses Complaint Against Casey DeSantis' Hope Florida and James Uthmeier

Javier Manjarres
|
February 4, 2026
The potential federal criminal case against the Hope Florida Foundation and those involved in $10 million Medicaid settlement scandal that came to light in early 2025 appears to have ended before it began, this according to a source within the Department of Justice (DOJ)  with direct knowledge of the government agency's decision to not move […]
Read More
THE LOUNGE — 1.31.2026 — Property Taxes, Property Taxes, Property Taxes — EOG Pushawgate Fallout— and More...

THE LOUNGE — 1.31.2026 — Property Taxes, Property Taxes, Property Taxes — EOG Pushawgate Fallout— and More...

Staff Report
|
January 31, 2026
DeSantis's Political Aide Put on ICE Tallahassee is still buzzing about Pushawgate. After Governor Ron DeSantis' aide decided to out herself for working to derail Rep. Byron Donalds' gubernatorial campaign by working with James Fishback, a parasitic "candidate" for governor who could be on the verge of finding himself behind bars, the Executive Office went […]
Read More
Texas Politics
Cactus Politics
Big Energy News
Dome Politics
Northeast Independent