‘They’re Playing Checkers. I’m Playing Chess’: David Jolly Talks 2026 Governor’s Race

‘They’re Playing Checkers. I’m Playing Chess’: David Jolly Talks 2026 Governor’s Race

Liv Caputo
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June 13, 2025
TALLAHASSEE—David Jolly, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, believes that the wealthy independents eyeing Florida’s top job won’t jump into the 2026 race—as long as he plays his cards right. And the Republicans comparing him to an off-brand Charlie Crist? “They’re playing checkers. I’m playing chess," said Jolly. In an exclusive sit-down interview with The […]
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DeSantis Shames Florida House for 'Terrible Behavior' Amid Hope Florida Probe

DeSantis Shames Florida House for 'Terrible Behavior' Amid Hope Florida Probe

Liv Caputo
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April 14, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly shamed the Florida House on Monday for its "terrible leadership" in probing First Lady Casey DeSantis's charity, which gave millions to groups that helped defeat a pro-marijuana ballot measure. DeSantis's comments came at a Kissimmee press conference, where he blasted House Republicans for joining "liberal media" in their "smears" of him […]
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Florida Senate Unanimously Approves Hemp Crackdown Months After DeSantis's Veto

Florida Senate Unanimously Approves Hemp Crackdown Months After DeSantis's Veto

Liv Caputo
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April 9, 2025
TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill cracking down on hemp, months after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed last year’s version and days after a Florida woman blamed delta-8 gummies for her son's death. The bill, which bans delta-8 in hemp products and imposes new restrictions on THC-infused drinks, passed the Senate Floor unanimously. […]
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Florida House Approves Citizen Petition Revamp After Abortion, Weed Controversies

Florida House Approves Citizen Petition Revamp After Abortion, Weed Controversies

Liv Caputo
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April 3, 2025
TALLAHASSEE—The Florida House passed a massive package on Thursday revamping the steps Floridians must take to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot, following hefty fines levied against groups supporting abortion and marijuana. The 45-page measure follows Gov. Ron DeSantis’s plea that the legislature crack down on the citizen initiative process, and after DeSantis led […]
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After DeSantis Veto, New Anti-Hemp Bill Cracking Down on ‘Wild West’ Industry Advances

After DeSantis Veto, New Anti-Hemp Bill Cracking Down on ‘Wild West’ Industry Advances

Liv Caputo
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March 17, 2025
 TALLAHASSEE—Months after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill cracking down on hemp and delta-8 products, a new, more severe version unanimously passed its first Senate committee hearing on Monday. And while Republican Sen. Colleen Burton, the sponsor of both last year’s killed measure and this year’s new one, acknowledged that her 13-page measure follows some […]
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GOP Lawmakers Buck DeSantis, Advance Ban on Taxpayer Dollars Influencing Ballot Amendments

GOP Lawmakers Buck DeSantis, Advance Ban on Taxpayer Dollars Influencing Ballot Amendments

Liv Caputo
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March 10, 2025
TALLAHASSEE—Months after Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration spent millions to block two citizen-led ballot initiatives, a GOP-led Senate committee advanced a measure on Monday that bans the use of taxpayer dollars to fund campaigns influencing ballot amendments. The measure, filed by Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley, was tacked onto a sweeping conservative bill targeting petition fraud during […]
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After Marijuana Amendment Failed, New Bill Would Let Floridians Grow Medical Weed at Home

After Marijuana Amendment Failed, New Bill Would Let Floridians Grow Medical Weed at Home

Liv Caputo
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February 7, 2025
Medical marijuana patients may soon be allowed to grow weed at home, according to a new Florida bill filed by the same Republican who bucked party leaders to lead the charge on recreational marijuana. Sen. Joe Gruters, a top Trump ally, filed SB 546 in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis' statewide tour blasting a recreational […]
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Democrat Seeks Ban on Florida Agencies Using Taxpayer Funds to Influence Ballot Amendments

Democrat Seeks Ban on Florida Agencies Using Taxpayer Funds to Influence Ballot Amendments

Liv Caputo
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January 15, 2025
A Florida Democrat filed a new bill Monday to ban state agencies from using taxpayer money to fund campaigns influencing proposed amendments, inspired by the DeSantis administration's controversial use of public funds to combat two ballot items. Tina Polsky, a state Senator from Boca Raton, told The Floridian that her bill is a direct response to reports […]
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Last Squeeze🍊—1.13.2025—DeSantis Calls Special Session to Tackle Immigration, Petitions—Mills Won't be Appointed to U.S. Senate—Much More...

Last Squeeze🍊—1.13.2025—DeSantis Calls Special Session to Tackle Immigration, Petitions—Mills Won't be Appointed to U.S. Senate—Much More...

Liv Caputo
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January 13, 2025
DeSantis Announces January Special Session to Aid Trump With Illegal Immigration Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced that he will call a special session for the last week of January to bolster President-elect Donald Trump's anti-illegal immigrant agenda. The Florida Governor...READ MORE     Sen. Rick Scott: "I applaud the people of Venezuela, under the leadership of @MariaCorinaYA and […]
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DeSantis' Special Session to Rework Citizen Petition Process After Abortion, Marijuana Battles

DeSantis' Special Session to Rework Citizen Petition Process After Abortion, Marijuana Battles

Liv Caputo
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January 13, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis' newly announced special session will consider altering Florida's citizen petition process, prompted by the state's slew of battles against now-failed amendments legalizing marijuana and most abortions. DeSantis claimed that many of the petitions to get those amendments on the 2024 ballot were not just fraudulent, as the Department of State alleged, but […]
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Last Squeeze🍊—1.6.2025—Harris Certifies Trump's Presidential Victory—FL Lawmaker Introduces Medical Marijuana Bill—Steube and Women's Sports—Much More...

Last Squeeze🍊—1.6.2025—Harris Certifies Trump's Presidential Victory—FL Lawmaker Introduces Medical Marijuana Bill—Steube and Women's Sports—Much More...

Liv Caputo
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January 6, 2025
VP Harris, Congress Certify Trump's Election President-elect Donald Trump's election victory has officially been certified during a Joint Session of Congress in the House of Representatives. The session was presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris...READ MORE     Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: "It’s official 🙂 ! Congratulations to our next president @realDonaldTrump and our next […]
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Florida Bill Protects Employees from Penalties for Medical Marijuana Use

Florida Bill Protects Employees from Penalties for Medical Marijuana Use

Liv Caputo
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January 6, 2025
Job seekers and public employees in Florida who use medical marijuana won't face repercussions for drug use from employers. At least, that's what Democrat state Rep. Mitch Rosenwald hopes for with his new bill, HB 83, filed on Friday. Under the bill—introduced in 2020 and again in 2024 by Democrat state Sen. Tina Polsky—job applicants […]
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'Right Man for the Job': Patronis Endorses Trump-Backed Gruters for Chief Financial Officer Post

'Right Man for the Job': Patronis Endorses Trump-Backed Gruters for Chief Financial Officer Post

Liv Caputo
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December 4, 2024
Florida's outgoing Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, delivered a resounding endorsement of Trump ally Sen. Joe Gruters for his post Wednesday morning. Patronis, who will resign his seat in March to run for Congress, posted his "full" endorsement of Gruters on social media to urge Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint the Florida Senator to the […]
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Trump World Endorses Gruters for Florida CFO As DeSantis Stays Quiet

Trump World Endorses Gruters for Florida CFO As DeSantis Stays Quiet

Liv Caputo
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November 27, 2024
Trump World wants Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint state Sen. Joe Gruters, one of the few Florida Republicans who has clashed with and even called out the Governor, to the soon-to-be vacant Chief Financial Officer position. But DeSantis has stayed quiet, even as speculation swirls that he may appoint one of his allies, like state […]
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Florida Dems Move to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Political Ads After Gov's Pricey Alleged 'PSAs'

Florida Dems Move to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Political Ads After Gov's Pricey Alleged 'PSAs'

Liv Caputo
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November 20, 2024
TALLAHASSEE—Florida Senate Democrats plan to file a bill this session banning the use of taxpayer money for political advertising, prompted by Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration using millions of Florida dollars to fund ads against abortion and marijuana initiatives. Though Sen. Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) doesn't know which member will file the legislation, she feels her […]
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Last Squeeze🍊—11.4.2024—Massive Florida GOP Turnout Deals Heavy Blow to Dems—Poll Shows Trump, Harris Surges—DeSantis vs. Marijuana—Much More...

Last Squeeze🍊—11.4.2024—Massive Florida GOP Turnout Deals Heavy Blow to Dems—Poll Shows Trump, Harris Surges—DeSantis vs. Marijuana—Much More...

Liv Caputo
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November 4, 2024
Even if 100% of FL Dems Vote Tomorrow, Just 45% of Remaining FL GOP Must Vote to Keep Turnout Lead Florida Republicans hold such a commanding voter registration and turnout lead over their Democrat counterparts that just 45% of their remaining electorate need vote tomorrow—even if 100% of Democrats...READ MORE   FL Rep. Anna Eskamani: […]
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'Slaughter This Amendment': DeSantis Admin Hosts Eleventh Event Against Ballot Measures

'Slaughter This Amendment': DeSantis Admin Hosts Eleventh Event Against Ballot Measures

Liv Caputo
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November 4, 2024
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday hosted his tenth and eleventh campaign events against Florida's ballot amendments, focusing today on a measure legalizing recreational marijuana that his administration argues should be "slaughtered." With just one day left until the election, DeSantis campaigned in Miami and Orlando alongside other state officials like Lieutenant Gov. Jeanette Nunez and […]
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Last Squeeze🍊—10.30.2024—Biden's 'Garbage' Comments Spark Uproar—DeSantis Calls 'BS' on Weed Amendment—Trump Leading in Poll Averages—Much More...

Last Squeeze🍊—10.30.2024—Biden's 'Garbage' Comments Spark Uproar—DeSantis Calls 'BS' on Weed Amendment—Trump Leading in Poll Averages—Much More...

Liv Caputo
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October 30, 2024
Biden 'Garbage' Comments Spark New Feud With Conservatives President Joe Biden’s comments during a video conference call in which he appears to call former President Donald Trump’s supporters “garbage” have incited controversy. “The only garbage I see floating...READ MORE     Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: "The American people want to live in a country where their constitutional rights are […]
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