State & Local
Along with up-to-date political coverage, The Floridian takes the opportunity to post about issues, legislation, and lawmakers in local municipalities and at the state level
The US Supreme Court unanimously rejected a first-amendment challenge brought by TikTok against a recently passed law mandating ByteDance, its parent company, divest from the app or cease operating it. ByteDance now has until Sunday to divest from TikTok lest it be granted a one-time 90 day extension by the President. President-elect Donald Trump, who’s […]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has caught conservative lawmakers’ attention as it shutters its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives prior to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The FBI recently decided to shut down its DEI central office prior to President Trump’s inauguration on January 20th. FBI DEI initiatives have been subject to harsh criticism […]
Filmmaker RaMell Ross premiered his Tallahassee-set film Nickel Boys Thursday night, the first screening in the city after its debut in other locations, months after Florida approved millions in restitution for boys tortured at the reform school that inspired the story. Ross, 42, spoke to The Floridian by phone after Florida A&M University hosted a […]
Soon-to-be U.S. Senator Ashley Moody Goes MAGA Newly-appointed Ashley Moody has vowed to push President-elect Donald Trump's "America First Agenda" after Governor Ron DeSantis appointed her to replace Senator Marco Rubio. Senator Moody was always going to Gov. DeSantis's choice even though America's first governor interviewed a short list of potential replacements for Rubio. Senator […]
U.S. Senator and former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has assured Floridians she intends to fully support President-elect Donald Trump’s policies in her new role as US Senator. “In the U.S. Senate, I will support President Donald Trump and fight for legislation that strengthens the border, builds the wall, and removes those who entered unlawfully,” […]
President Joe Biden is facing renewed criticism for his economic policies following the recently released Consumer Price Index’s (CPI) December 2024 report. The CPI report outlines inflation rose 2.9% for the month of December, increasing the accumulated inflation Americans experienced under President Biden to 20.7%. Conservatives have consistently criticized Biden’s economic policies as inciting inflation […]
Representatives Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) have introduced a bipartisan bill creating tax-free savings accounts for disaster-related purposes. More specifically, the Residential Emergency Asset Accumulation Deferred Taxation Yield (READY) Account Act would allow taxpayers to create a tax-free account similar to a Health Savings Account (HSA) to set aside funds for at least […]
Former Florida State Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. Attorney General. Bondi was asked about the 2020 election, the potential pardoning of January 6th protestors, and whether she would be more loyal to the Constitution or President-elect Donald Trump […]
Rubio, Bondi Shine During Senate Confirmation Hearings Senate Democrats tried their best to derail Senator Marco Rubio and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi during their Senate confirmation hearings, but those efforts never took off. Sen. Rubio is well respected and liked by many of his Democratic colleagues, so expect him to cruise into the […]
As a handful of Floridians are about to begin service inside The West Wing for the incoming Trump administration, a familiar last name is heading back to Washington. Caroline Wiles, daughter of President-elect Donald Trump's (R) campaign manager and current White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, has accepted a position with the prominent lobbying […]
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday not to ask or answer questions, but to introduce former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) to those on the dais. Former AG Bondi served in the position during Sen. Scott's tenure as the Governor of Florida (2011-2019) and now awaits […]
Florida State Senator Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) has filed his first legislation in the upper chamber in honor of the late Daytona Beach Police Department officer Jason Raynor. He was killed in 2021 in the line of duty. The bill will be named the “Officer Jason Raynor Act,” and intends to mandate that those who […]
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has launched a $20 million nationwide campaign calling on the legislative branch to renew President-elect Donald Trump's (R) Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). AFP describes this bill as "a cornerstone of AFP and the Trump Administration’s shared economic agenda this year." The group also describes this campaign as the "largest effort […]
Florida Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo, seen as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2026, is unfazed by who Republicans may select as their nominee after Gov. Ron DeSantis' term ends. When asked whether former Rep. Matt Gaetz or current Rep. Byron Donalds—both of whom have toyed with the idea of running for governor—would be the […]
State Senator Randy Fine (R-FL) has announced his intention to reintroduce legislation that would end college tuition subsidies for illegal immigrants attending Florida state colleges and universities. The bill, SB 90, would reverse a 2014 state law that applies to 40 of the Sunshine State's institutions of higher education which currently gives undocumented migrants tuition […]
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has introduced legislation alongside Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) known as the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act. This bill increases the criminal penalties for swatting by expanding the federal criminal hoax statute to specifically prohibit “swatting” hoaxes. "Swatting," as it is known, is the act of […]
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) discussed who would replace the outgoing Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) in a recent press conference, and for the first time signaled who his choice could be— Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL). When asked about possibly choosing Rep. Cory Mills, Gov. DeSantis made a strong case for Rep. Cammack, calling her "a fighter" […]
Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) discussed his ambitions to fill the departing Senator Marco Rubio's (R-FL) Senate seat in a recent appearance on Fox and Friends First, saying, "What we need is real strength in the Senate." Rep. Mills revealed that he had spoken over the phone with Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) about taking the position, telling […]
