The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 5.5.26 — Burnin’ today: Happy Cinco de Mayo! DeSantis, Trump, Wasserman Schultz, Castor & Moffitt

Sunburn: Your front-row seat to Florida politics ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Good Tuesday morning. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is honoring seven Republicans with the 2026 Distinguished Advocate Award. “The Florida Chamber Distinguished Advocate Award recognizes lawmakers who ensured consideration of the business community’s legislative priorities and fought tirelessly for the passage of a Chamber-backed policy or a priority piece of pro-jobs legislation,” the Chamber said in a press release announcing the award winners at the same time it released its annual 2026 Legislative Report Card ranking lawmakers. A 2026 Florida Chamber report card gives 35 lawmakers perfect marks for supporting pro-business priorities. The Distinguished Advocate Award winners were: Sen. Danny Burgess, Jonathan Martin, Stan McClain and Reps. Wyman Duggan, Richard Gentry, J.J. Grow and Jenna Persons-Mulicka. They received kudos for their legislation to lower impact fees, their anti-union bills and other issues during the 2026 Legislative Session. In addition, 35 lawmakers in the House and Senate received a perfect rating on the Chamber’s annual scorecard, which measures how well they voted on the Chamber’s priorities. “The decisions policymakers make will either continue our economic momentum and job creation or risk slowing it down,” said Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson in a statement. The Chamber said it may update the 2026 grades or release a separate 2026 Special Session Report Card. ___ Tampa Mayor Jane Castor will deliver her annual State of the City Address today, at the $34.7 million Fair Oaks Recreation Complex in East Tampa, where she’s expected to discuss the possibility of landing a Major League Baseball franchise, infrastructure upgrade progress, housing, resiliency and anything else shaping Tampa’s long-term growth as she winds down her final term as Mayor. Jane Castor will deliver the State of the City at Fair Oaks complex, outlining growth, housing, transit and potential Tampa MLB expansion plans. The talk of the town in recent months has been a proposed ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays, a project that would relocate the team from St. Petersburg to Tampa, which could carry a public price tag exceeding $1 billion. Beyond stadium politics, Castor is expected to highlight investment in community neighborhoods and address how Tampa is managing rapid growth, affordability needs and maintaining a high quality of life. In her weekly newsletter, Castor described the new recreation complex as the largest recreation center in Tampa, noting she chose the venue for the State of the City address as a show of the city’s investment directly into local neighborhoods. Beyond ballpark talks, the city is also expanding other community amenities. The West Riverwalk extension includes 2 miles of new Riverwalk along the west side of the Hillsborough River, as well as 3 miles of road upgrades in surrounding neighborhoods. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is also moving forward with a plan to relaunch cross-bay ferry service, adding another way for visitors to access businesses and other amenities in the area. Castor will likely highlight other transportation and mobility efforts aimed at addressing congestion tied to population growth. The city has steadily expanded road resurfacing, sidewalks and multimodal infrastructure while advancing longer-term transit conversations that include multimodal options like the ferry. ___ Sachs Media is promoting Amy Climenhage and Kelly Corder to vice president, recognizing their leadership and roles in the firm’s continued growth. The promotions reflect Sachs Media’s ongoing investment in senior leadership across two of the firm’s core strengths: public affairs and public relations. Both women have steadily advanced through the firm’s leadership ranks and earned national and statewide recognition for their work in guiding high-stakes campaigns, mentoring colleagues and deepening client relationships. Kelly Corder, Amy Climenhage were promoted to vice president at Sachs Media, marking leadership growth and expanded roles in public affairs and media relations. “Amy and Kelly are the kind of leaders who represent the future of Sachs Media,” Sachs Media President and Partner Drew Piers said. “They have helped fuel our growth by delivering the kind of smart strategy, steady judgment, and trusted counsel our clients count on when the stakes are high. Their promotions reflect not only their contributions to our team and clients, but also a clear commitment to making an impact.” Climenhage has been with Sachs for seven years, rising from a public affairs intern in 2019 to an account coordinator, then executive, before being promoted to senior account executive in 2022, to public affairs account manager later that same year and to Deputy Director of Public Affairs two years ago. Corder has been with the firm for nearly seven years, beginning in 2019 as an account manager. She was promoted to senior account manager the following. In 2022, Corder became director of Media Relations. ___ Here are a few other items for your radar: 🛑 — How, and why, I’m stopping Sabatini: It was only hours after U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster announced his retirement that the disgraced Anthony Sabatini responded by announcing he’d run for the seat. And then, only a day later, I launched a SuperPAC to stop him. It’s left a lot of folks scratching their heads, wondering why now, and how? So, I laid it all out in this Q&A with VoxPopuli, from my regret years ago for not stopping him sooner, to the dread now at the prospect of someone like this vile human anywhere near our nation’s capital. Read it here. 📚 — Sarasota Schools’ misguided battle: What’s more important, bureaucracy or math scores? To any sane person, the answer is clearly the latter, unless you’re a member of the Sarasota School Board, where leaders are spending more time — and money — fighting a perfectly legal fee than running a functioning School District. They’re suing over $800K, and they’re going to lose. But the biggest losers will undoubtedly be the students. Get the deets here. 💭 — Five things I think about the St. Pete Mayor’s race: It’s been a busy week, especially now that former Gov. Charlie Crist has officially entered the St. Petersburg Mayoral race. With his entrance, shots have been fired, and a sleepy race has turned into a competitive campaign rife with stumbles along the way for incumbent Ken Welch. Dig into the nitty-gritty here.

Situational awareness   Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet: —@MarcACaputo: The interesting side story here (and it is a side story) is (James) Fishback climbing almost to double digits. To be clear: unless the guy gets a good $20m on TV, he won’t be much of a threat to Donalds. And even then, it probably won’t be much of a threat —@ZacharyDonnini: The Senate race showing by far the smallest shift toward Democrats relative to Kamala Harris is in Florida, where Republicans have appointed incumbent Ashley Moody (a consistent overperformer) running in her first U.S. Senate election. —@BillHelmich: Dear Florida candidates. Let’s try to keep our yard signs out of the right-of-ways. It’s an even greater waste of money than most yard signs and accomplish nothing. Thank you for your consideration. —@Fineout: In WARN notices filed today with the state, Spirit Airlines said that 4,853 employees working at several locations in Florida have been laid off.

Days until   ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’ premieres on Disney+ — 7; ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff ‘Dutton Ranch’ premieres — 10; French Open begins — 16; ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ premieres — 17; new mission for ‘Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run’ premieres at Disney World — 17; Marvel’s ‘Spider-Noir’ arrives on Amazon Prime — 22; Rafa Nadal documentary ‘Rafa’ premieres on Netflix — 24; MLB Lou Gehrig Day — 28; Florida Tech & Innovation Summit — 29; ‘Masters of the Universe’ premieres — 31; ‘Cape Fear’ series premieres on Apple TV — 31; 2026 Florida Chamber Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solution Summit — 34; Second Qualifying Period begins (State) — 34; South Africa in the FIFA World Cup opener in Mexico City — 37; Steven Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ premieres — 38; Qualifying Period ends for Federal, Governor, Cabinet, State and local offices — 38; the Octagon on the White House South Lawn: UFC Freedom 250 — 40; Flag Day — 40; President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday — 40; ‘Toy Story 5’ premieres — 45; ‘Supergirl’ premieres — 52; Florida GOP Sunshine State Showdown debates — 52; live-action ‘Moana’ premieres — 57; Primary Election UOCAVA ballot deadline — 60; Primary Election domestic ballot deadline — 65; MLB All-Star Game — 70; Domestic Primary Election VBM deadline — 72; Primary Election voter registration deadline — 76; ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ premieres — 87; ‘Ted Lasso’ season 4 premieres — 92; Primary Election ballot request deadline — 93; Early voting period begins — 95; Primary Election Day — 105; NFL regular season kicks off — 127; San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in first-ever NFL regular season game in Melbourne, Australia — 128; Yankees host the Mets for 9/11 anniversary — 129; MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 133; General Election UOCAVA ballot deadline — 137; General Election domestic ballot deadline — 142; Domestic General Election VBM deadline — 149; General Election voter registration deadline — 153; Early Voting General Election begins — 172; General Election — 182; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 185; Florida Policy Project’s 2026 Florida Autonomy Vehicles (FAV) Summit — 190; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 199; ‘Dune: Part 3’ premieres — 227; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 227; untitled Star Wars movie premieres — 227; College Football Playoff national title game in Las Vegas — 265; Super Bowl LXI — 285; Tampa Mayoral Election — 301; 2027 Oscars — 313; Jacksonville First Election — 322; Jacksonville General Election — 378; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 396; ‘MIAMI VICE’ reboot premieres — 458; ‘Bluey the Movie’ premieres — 458; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres — 514; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 591; College Football Playoff national title game in New Orleans — 629; 2028 Oscars — 670; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 752; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 773; Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 801; U.S. Presidential Election — 917; College Football Playoff national title game in Tampa — 993; Avatar 4 premieres — 1,317; College Football Playoff national title games in Miami — 1,357; Avatar 5 premieres — 2,048.

Top story   “Ron DeSantis signs Florida redistricting map that gives GOP boost" via Romy Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times — Gov. DeSantis signed a new congressional map into law Monday, finalizing a rapid redistricting effort that will shape Florida’s political landscape for the 2026 Midterm Elections. The plan, drafted by the Governor’s Office, moved through a two-day Special Session and passed largely along party lines, though five Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. The new map could give Republicans up to four additional seats in Congress, aligning with Trump's broader push to encourage states to redraw districts ahead of the next election cycle. Florida is now among several states revisiting maps outside the traditional once-a-decade process. Ron DeSantis signs new Florida map, boosting GOP seats — lawsuits incoming. Democrats argue the plan violates the voter-approved Fair Districts Amendment, which bans partisan gerrymandering and protects minority voting power. Legal challenges are expected, with national figures already signaling lawsuits that could take years to resolve, potentially leaving the map in place through multiple election cycles. The Governor's Office contends recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings limit how race can factor into redistricting and argues that this weakens other parts of the amendment. A staff member involved in drawing the map acknowledged using partisan data but denied that the intent was to favor Republicans. The new districts significantly reshape regions like Tampa Bay, splitting Tampa and St. Petersburg into multiple districts and linking urban and rural areas across several counties. The changes could alter political dynamics and representation across a key battleground region. —”‘They will pay’: Hakeen Jeffries slams DeSantis’ map as illegal, foolish in current environment” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics —”Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifts ratings in 9 congressional districts — and not all the same direction” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics —“With voting rights changes, what’s at stake for young Black voters?” via Raisa Habersham of the Miami Herald

2026   “Black community speaks out against potential Debbie Wasserman Schultz candidacy in CD 20” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Under a new map passed by Florida’s Legislature, U.S. Rep. Wasserman Schultz needs to find a new political home. Black leaders in Florida’s 20th Congressional District would prefer her to look elsewhere. It’s already been a tough year for the North Lauderdale area Congressional District. First, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the Miramar Democrat representing CD 20 since 2021, resigned amid federal criminal charges. She was one of two Black women in Florida’s congressional delegation but now faces allegations she stole more than $5 million in federal disaster relief to fund her congressional ambitions. Then, the District was targeted by DeSantis when his office created the new Florida map. DeSantis made dismantling the majority-Black seat a top priority when his staff drew new lines. Debbie Wasserman Schultz eyes new seat in CD 20 — local Black leaders say not so fast. “Scott Singer unpopular in Boca Raton, even as Jared Moskowitz overperforms in new CD 25” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — A new poll shows former Boca Raton Mayor Singer losing badly on his home turf in Florida’s newly drawn 25th Congressional District. Approved by the Legislature last week and designed to favor Republicans in November, the coastal District stretches from Miami Beach to Delray Beach in Palm Beach County. If Boca Raton voters truly prefer an unknown Republican over their former Mayor, as the poll suggests, it suggests Singer may struggle to hold this seat for Republicans. The survey, conducted this week by Beacon Insights among 461 registered voters, shows Democratic U.S. Rep. Moskowitz, who is likely to run in the new CD 25, leading Singer by a commanding 10 percentage points (43% to 33%) in a hypothetical matchup. By contrast, Moskowitz holds only a narrow 1.6-point edge over another Republican, George Moraitis, underscoring a stark disparity in how Boca voters view the two GOP options.

More elections   “Kurt Hoffman backs Sydney Gruters in the race for a redrawn CD 16” via Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics — Sarasota County Sheriff Hoffman is backing Republican congressional candidate Gruters, delivering a key local endorsement as the race for the newly redrawn Florida’s 16th Congressional District takes shape. “Sydney Gruters’ roots in Sarasota County run deep, and so does her commitment to public service,” Hoffman said. “With the recent redistricting, Sarasota County would be fortunate to have someone in Congress who understands this community, knows its needs and has a proven record of serving the people who call it home. Sydney is a workhorse, not a showhorse. She is a serious public servant who puts in the work, solves problems and delivers results. She shares our values and will be an effective voice for us in Washington. I am proud to endorse Sydney Gruters for Congress.” Kurt Hoffman backs Sydney Gruters in CD 16 — a hometown endorsement, just in case voters needed a hint. “Erin Huntley lands endorsement from Wilton Simpson in HD 45 race” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Republican Huntley has won the endorsement of Agriculture Commissioner Simpson in her race to flip House District 45 and challenge Democrat state Rep. Leonard Spencer. “I’m proud to support Erin Huntley for State Representative. Erin understands the values that built this state — hard work, personal responsibility, and looking out for your neighbors — and I know she’ll carry those principles with her to Tallahassee,” Simpson said. “Erin is the kind of leader you can trust to stand firm, defend our communities, and fight for Florida’s future. She will serve with the same steady, commonsense approach that has always kept Florida strong.” Huntley, the Orange County GOP Chair, said she was honored to get Simpson’s backing to represent the District that covers part of Orange and Osceola counties. Erin Huntley lands Wilton Simpson endorsement in HD 45 — boost for GOP flip bid. “‘Integrity, discipline’: VoteVets endorses Michael Ferguson for HD 100” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Broward County lawyer and military veteran Ferguson just added his first organizational endorsements in his bid to flip House District 100 blue in November. VoteVets, a progressive PAC that prioritizes American defense, national security and veterans’ advocacy, is backing Ferguson. “Michael Ferguson has already answered the call to serve his country. As a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force, he not only represented the United States in courtrooms around the world and sought justice for survivors and families, but also advised on military operations with the seriousness, judgment, and commitment that role demands,” said Rick Hegdahl, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, retired U.S. Navy Reserve member and the National Veteran Organizer for VoteVets.

Statewide   "DeSantis keeps the door open for a 2028 Presidential run" via Finya Swai of POLITICO — DeSantis suggests he is keeping the door open to a 2028 Presidential run, saying “you never know” when asked about another bid while highlighting his record in Florida. Speaking in Los Angeles, the term-limited Governor pointed to Republican voter gains and economic growth as evidence of his leadership, arguing he still has “a lot of runway” in his political future. DeSantis framed his tenure as a model for national Republicans, even as his 2024 Presidential campaign faltered after an early loss to Trump. With his term ending in 2027, his remarks offer an early preview of how he may position himself in a competitive post-Trump GOP landscape. "James Uthmeier opens civil investigation into Southern Poverty Law Center" via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Florida has launched a civil investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center just days after federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against the group. Attorney General Uthmeier said the probe will examine whether the organization used deceptive practices to raise charitable donations and issued a subpoena seeking financial records dating back to 2014. The move follows a federal indictment announced by Todd Blanche, accusing the SPLC of fraud tied to payments to extremist group members for information. State officials allege the organization misrepresented its activities, while the SPLC denies wrongdoing, saying its informant program helps prevent violence and that it will vigorously defend itself against the allegations. James Uthmeier opens probe into Southern Poverty Law Center; just days after feds beat him to it. “Why Florida won't have temporary tax-free days for disaster supplies in 2026” via Andrew Wulfeck of WFSU — With less than a month before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, Florida residents might be wondering when the annual tax-free preparation holiday will get underway, but the approach to storm readiness has changed over the past year. During previous seasons, the State of Florida offered a limited-time sales tax holiday that typically lasted around two weeks, but legislation signed by DeSantis in 2025 made many sales tax exemptions permanent, meaning shoppers can take advantage of savings year-round. Florida’s first sales tax holiday for storm supplies was signed into law in 2005 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. Ever since, the state has made it a practice for the Legislature to renew the holiday. “Senate budget chief: No health insurance cost hike for state employees next year” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix — Sen. Ed Hooper said tens of thousands of state workers and college employees will not see an increase in health insurance premiums for the coming year, as budget talks continue ahead of a May 12 Special Session. Lawmakers have agreed on overall spending allocations for the 2026-27 fiscal year, but questions remain about pay raises. The Senate previously proposed a 3% increase with a $1,000 minimum boost, though Hooper said raises are still under discussion. Holding premiums flat comes despite rising healthcare costs and a projected $363 million deficit in the state group health plan next year, growing to $1.6 billion by 2030, highlighting long-term funding challenges. Happening today — Parents, educators and advocacy groups will launch the “Fund our Future: Invest in our Students” campaign during a news conference at the Old Capitol. The event coincides with Teacher Appreciation Day and comes as Florida ranks last nationally in average teacher pay for a third straight year. Speakers include Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar, Families for Strong Public Schools Executive Director Damaris Allen, educators, parents and a Miami-Dade student. Organizers say the effort will push state leaders to invest in neighborhood public schools and uphold constitutional education standards: 11 a.m., Old Capitol Steps. Media planning to attend are asked to RSVP at feapress@floridaea.org. "Disciplinary action leveled against 14 lawyers throughout Florida" via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — The Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar disciplined 14 attorneys in late March, revoking the licenses of three, suspending 10 and reprimanding one for various misconduct violations. Disbarred lawyers included John William Dill, accused of practicing after revocation, and Jeffrey Allen Fadley, cited for misappropriating trust funds and misleading clients. Other cases involved failure to return escrow funds, neglect of legal matters and inappropriate conduct. Suspensions ranged from 30 days to three years, with violations including conflicts of interest, contempt of court and criminal charges. The actions reflect ongoing enforcement of professional standards and accountability measures within Florida’s legal system.

D.C. matters   "White House considers vetting AI models before they are released" via Tripp Mickle, Julian Barnes, Sheera Frenkel and Dustin Volz of The New York Times — The Trump administration is weighing a major shift on artificial intelligence policy, with officials discussing an executive order that would create a working group of tech executives and federal officials to explore oversight of new AI models. The review could mirror Britain’s safety-focused process, marking a reversal from Trump’s earlier push to roll back Joe Biden-era rules and give Silicon Valley wide latitude. The debate intensified after Anthropic withheld its powerful Mythos model from public release, warning it could expose serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities. White House officials are considering whether the government should receive early access to advanced models without blocking public release to assess cyber risks and potential national security uses. Tech companies remain divided over how much regulation is appropriate. White House eyes pre-release AI vetting — from hands-off to hands-on, maybe. “Marco Rubio to visit Rome after Donald Trump’s feud with Pope Leo and Giorgia Meloni” via Elisabetta Povoledo of The New York Times — Rubio will meet on Thursday with the Pope and a day later with Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, according to the Vatican and the Italian government, in a two-day visit amid tensions between Washington, Rome and the Vatican. The State Department later said in a statement that Rubio would meet with the “Holy See leadership” and “Italian counterparts,” without naming them. Rubio’s meetings will come after Trump repeatedly denounced the Pope for criticizing American attacks on Iran and then turned on Meloni, once one of Trump’s staunchest allies in Europe, for standing by the pontiff. “ICE has not paid for detainee medical care for 7 months” via Judd Legum of Popular Information — On Oct. 3, the Trump administration abruptly stopped paying third parties for medical care provided to detainees in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Third-party providers are used to provide “medically necessary” care, including “dialysis, prenatal care, oncology, (and) chemotherapy,” according to ICE. A document posted to an official government contracting website by ICE on Nov. 12, described the situation as an “absolute emergency” that needed to be resolved “immediately” to “prevent any further medical complications or loss of life.” According to the ICE Health Service Corps, payments to third parties were supposed to resume on April 30. But when April 30 arrived, payments to third-party medical providers did not resume. “Supreme Court restores access to abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth, mail and pharmacies” via the Associated Press — The Supreme Court restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortions are provided across the nation. The order signed by Justice Samuel Alito temporarily allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Those rules had been in effect for several years until a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions last week. The majority of abortions in the U.S. are obtained through medications, usually a combination of mifepristone and a second drug, misoprostol. The availability of those drugs has blunted the impact of abortion bans that most Republican-led states have sought to enforce since a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Louisiana sued to restrict access to Mifepristone, asserting that its availability undermined the ban there. “Wasserman Schultz joins advocates to slam ‘heartless’ push to end migrants’ protections” via Megan Vaz of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — U.S. Rep. Wasserman Schultz and South Florida immigration advocates called for the Supreme Court to block the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke the TPS status of hundreds of thousands of people. “It will have an earth-shaking impact on tens of thousands of families in my District and all over Florida,” Wasserman Schultz said. “Put simply, the legal argument boils down to whether this heartless administration can ignore all the evidence of violence, danger, and desperation in Haiti and force innocent people right back into it.” More than 1.3 million people from various countries have been in the U.S., receiving protection under the program after fleeing a crisis abroad. The program’s participants include Haitians and Venezuelans, two of South Florida’s largest immigrant communities. The Department of Homeland Security has ended TPS recipiency for those from several countries since Trump took office.

Local: S. FL   “Spirit workers scramble for new jobs as grounded airline asks court to approve wind-down plan” via David Lyons of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Stunned workers of grounded Spirit Airlines headed for state job fair assistance Monday after the embattled discount pioneer shut down over the weekend and told a bankruptcy judge it had “no alternative” but to end more than three decades of flying. “Having fought valiantly for ⁠months to reorganize, and having all but succeeded, [Spirit is] left with ‌no alternative to an orderly wind-down of operation,” the company’s chief financial officer ‌Fred Comer said in a ‌bankruptcy court filing posted Monday. “There are no longer any viable paths to a restructuring or ‌continued operations.” The predawn shutdown Saturday of the Dania Beach-based carrier left thousands of passengers stranded and most of the 17,000 direct and indirect workers out of work after management concluded there were no available funding sources following a last-ditch, unsuccessful effort to secure a U.S. Government bailout. Spirit Airlines shuts down, seeks wind-down approval; 17,000 workers are suddenly job hunting. “Miami Archdiocese urges lawmakers to fund security for Catholic schools” via Lauren Costantino of the Miami Herald — Miami Catholic leaders are calling on lawmakers to help pay for security at private Catholic schools, citing concerns about a rise in targeted Catholic violence and arguing that private schools should not be excluded from the state’s school safety budget. DeSantis is proposing to spend $300 million for student safety measures in next year’s budget, a $10 million increase from last year, but the funding can only be used for public schools. Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Miami, argues it is unfair for some schools to receive state funds for security and not others. "Inside Palm Beach County’s newly signed Trump trademark deal for airport renaming" via Claire Heddles of the Miami Herald — Palm Beach County Commissioners are set to take their first public vote Tuesday on a proposal to rename Palm Beach International Airport after Trump, following a tentative trademark agreement with his companies. The deal, reached after weeks of negotiations, is unusual because it involves a privately held trademark tied to a public airport. While county officials say the agreement protects against legal risk, it includes provisions that allow Trump-affiliated entities to control approved merchandise vendors and potentially profit from off-site sales. The agreement also grants Trump authority over how his biography is presented at the airport. Signed into law by DeSantis, the renaming requires a finalized trademark deal to take effect, with funding and implementation details still unresolved. “DeSantis reappoints Stacy Plean to Palm Beach State College Board” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Just under four months after he first named her to the panel, DeSantis has decided to keep Realtor Plean on the Palm Beach State College District Board of Trustees. DeSantis’ office announced Plean’s reappointment to the Board. Plean’s reappointment is subject to Senate confirmation. An associate broker with LoKation Real Estate and the founder of The HomeSeeker Group, Plean’s work in the real property sales industry dates back decades. That includes some related political activity. She is the current 2026 regional vice president and co-Chair of the state-level Realtors Political Advocacy Committee (RPAC) for Broward, Palm Beach & St. Lucie Realtors. Since 2020, Plean has made 58 state-level political donations totaling $28,942. Fifty-seven went to RPAC, state records show. “ACLU sues Palmetto Bay for ‘retaliating’ against Steve Cody, who mocked Charlie Kirk’s death” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Palmetto Bay Council member Cody drew ample ire in September for making light of Kirk’s murder, with many, including his City Hall peers, calling for his resignation. Now Cody, with the help of lawyers from the ACLU of Florida, is suing the Village for what it calls “retaliatory punishment,” including removing him from a Committee and barring him from related roles. “In America, you don’t get to lose your voice in government because someone disagrees with your speech,” Cody said. “The Village was free to criticize me. You can disagree with speech. You can condemn it. But you cannot punish it. That’s the line the Constitution draws, and that’s the line the Village crossed.” Palmetto Bay sued over Steve Cody fallout — First Amendment fight now heads to court. “Brightline cuts losses yet ‘substantial doubt’ remains it can avoid bankruptcy” via Tom Hudson of WLRN Public Media — Brightline lost less money last year than it did in 2024, but worries are mounting about its ability to stay solvent. The private passenger train service “has stated that it does not currently have the liquid funds necessary to service its debt and meet such other obligations as they become due,” wrote its outside auditor Ernst and Young, which prepared Brightline’s 2025 financial statements. Brightline has delayed its interest payments that were due earlier this year. Its grace period expires June 15. The company has been stating for months that it is working to secure funding by selling a portion of the business. "St. Lucie nuclear plant cleared to operate into 2060s" via Jim Saunders of State Affairs Florida — Florida Power & Light has received federal approval to extend operations at its St. Lucie nuclear power plant into the 2060s after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed reactor licenses through 2056 and 2063. The reactors, originally launched in 1976 and 1983, were previously set to expire in 2036 and 2043. “This approval ensures that St. Lucie will continue to provide safe, reliable, low-cost energy,” said FPL President Scott Bores. The plant produces about 11% of the utility’s electricity. FPL is also evaluating a potential expansion at its Turkey Point nuclear generating station, noting it will “maintain an awareness” of emerging reactor technologies while monitoring industry developments and potential partnerships.

Local: C. FL   “Osceola finalizes $470M deal with South Korean tech firm for NeoCity HQ” via Laura Kinsler of the Orlando Sentinel — Osceola Commissioners unanimously approved a development agreement with South Korean firm, ELSPES, to build its global headquarters and U.S. manufacturing facility in NeoCity. “This is the largest economic development project in the history of our community,” Chair Brandon Arrington said. “This is just a showing of the vision we’ve laid out and continue to have the backbone to hold tight to.” According to the contract, ELSPES will invest at least $470 million in new development and will employ 600 employees with an average salary of $85,000. The county will donate up to 32.56 pad-ready acres in the NeoCity tech district to the company for its manufacturing facility and corporate offices. The first phase will be approximately 289,000 square feet and will commence construction in January. The first 300 employees will be in place by 2030. "Citrus County mourns loss of former Commissioner Gary Bartell” via Mike Wright of Florida Politics — Longtime Citrus County Commissioner Bartell is being remembered as a dedicated public servant known for his connection to the community and commitment to local issues. Bartell, who died April 24 at age 80 after battling dementia, served five terms and earned the nickname “people’s Commissioner” for his accessibility and outreach, including a holiday fundraiser he created to support local families. Colleagues and residents praised his focus on environmental protection, especially safeguarding Homosassa Springs, and his ability to relate to constituents. Bartell’s decades-long career reflected steady electoral success and deep community ties, with a celebration of life planned for May 17 in Homosassa. Citrus County mourns Gary Bartell, a longtime Commissioner remembered for service, community ties and a legacy of environmental stewardship.

Local: TB   “Potentially lost in USF St. Pete fire, irreplaceable marine research” via Bethany Barnes and Lucy Marques, Michaela Mulligan, and Alexa Coultoff of the Tampa Bay Times — The day after the University of South Florida’s world-renowned Marine Science Lab went up in flames, students and faculty struggled to calculate what felt like an unfathomable loss. There will now be a scramble to find office and lab space for professors and students. Then there is the question of how Summer research and doctoral degrees will stay on track. But the biggest uncertainty is whether the university’s freezers are safe, not just from the fire but from the heavy smoke and water damage that authorities say likely rendered the building a total loss. The College of Marine Science’s dean, Thomas Frazer, said faculty haven’t been cleared to enter. USF St. Pete lab fire threatens decades of marine research and disrupts ongoing academic work.

Local: N. FL   "Donna Deegan says investigations of JEA are ‘attacks on our consolidated government’" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Mayor Deegan is criticizing multiple investigations into JEA, arguing they threaten the utility’s independence and the city’s governing structure. Reviews by the City Council, State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Attorney General Uthmeier are examining workplace culture under CEO Vickie Cavey, uncollected fees, and a canceled lobbying contract. Deegan defended Cavey and her own oversight role, saying she is fulfilling a promise to protect the public utility and attributing the scrutiny to “hyperpartisanship.” She also opposes electing JEA Board members, arguing that appointments by elected officials better preserve independence and limit the influence of campaign money and partisan politics. Donna Deegan pushes back on JEA probes — calls scrutiny an ‘attack’ on city governance.

Top opinion   "DeSantis mocked bizarre district, then drew a weirder one to pad Miami GOP seats" via the Miami Herald editorial board — DeSantis has defended Florida’s newly redrawn congressional map by arguing it dismantles what he called a “racially gerrymandered” district, particularly in South Florida. He has long criticized the prior configuration of Florida’s 20th Congressional District as irregular, even though it was designed to ensure Black voters could elect candidates of their choice. Critics argue the new map replaces racial considerations with overt partisan advantages. Instead of prioritizing minority representation, the revised districts appear crafted to consolidate Republican voters, shifting the political balance across multiple regions of the state. The reshaping of CD 25 illustrates the impact. Previously centered in Broward County, the District now stretches more than 50 miles from Miami Beach to Boca Raton, cutting across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The elongated design links communities with little shared identity, complicating representation. Political consequences could be significant. Once a reliably Democratic seat held by Wasserman Schultz, CD 25 now leans Republican, reflecting broader shifts that could help the GOP expand its congressional majority. Analysts suggest several districts could flip under the new lines. Other districts show similar patterns. District 9 connects urban Orlando with rural areas near Lake Okeechobee and the Atlantic coast, while CD 22 stretches from South Florida to the Gulf Coast, raising concerns about geographic coherence and compactness. Legal challenges are likely, with opponents arguing that the map violates the voter-approved Fair Districts Amendment, which is intended to curb partisan gerrymandering. If upheld, the redistricting could set a precedent for increasingly aggressive boundary drawing, prioritizing political advantage over voter representation.

More opinions   "How Tucker Carlson becomes President" via Rick Wilson of Against All Enemies — Carlson is moving into position for a potential 2028 Presidential run, signaling a break from Trump while still appealing to the MAGA base. The early maneuvering reflects a calculated effort to step out of Trump’s shadow and define a lane in what is expected to be a crowded Republican field. Drawing on years of media experience and a large, loyal audience, Carlson is building visibility and narrative control in ways few potential rivals can match. The approach echoes Trump’s 2016 rise, relying on attention, messaging and timing to gain traction. Criticism over controversial rhetoric is unlikely to weaken support and may instead reinforce his standing with core voters, especially as broader political conditions shift. "Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the Graham Platner" via Frank Bruni of The New York Times — A reluctant case emerges for supporting Democratic candidates, including Maine Senate hopeful Platner, despite significant concerns about experience and past controversies. The overriding factor is opposition to Trump and the broader Republican Party, with the stakes framed as control of Congress and a check on presidential power. The situation tests whether voters who criticize Trump will act on those concerns, even when Democratic nominees are imperfect. Internal party divisions, contentious Primaries and candidate weaknesses could dampen turnout in key races, potentially benefiting Republicans. Ultimately, the moment is cast as a high-stakes choice, prioritizing political consequences over personal preferences. “The final six months could define DeSantis’ governorship” via Vaughn Wilson of the Tallahassee Democrat — The 2026 hurricane season, which runs from June through November, presents a looming test. How DeSantis navigates this period could ultimately outweigh much of his prior record. Meteorologists predict an active and intense Summer, with heightened activity expected in the Caribbean and along the West African coast—regions known for spawning powerful storms. Warmer Gulf waters are expected to function as an incubator for rapid intensification, increasing the likelihood that storms could escalate dramatically in a short period. Florida’s susceptibility to storms jumping from a Category 3 to a Category 5 overnight poses a serious threat to impacted communities. Throughout his tenure, DeSantis has been steady on hurricane preparedness and response. What sets 2026 apart is the downsizing and potential dismantling of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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Aloe   Digital pathology in cancer care for rural communities — Moffitt Cancer Center is using digital pathology to bring more patients the benefit of an accurate, expert cancer diagnosis from the start, no matter where they live. By converting traditional glass slides into high-resolution digital images, Moffitt pathologists can review, share and analyze tissue samples faster, helping improve diagnostic accuracy and support more informed and personalized treatment plans. With approximately 10% of initial diagnoses corrected upon review at Moffitt, this technology can be especially meaningful for rural and underserved communities where access to specialized cancer expertise may be limited. Learn more here. Moffitt Cancer Center expands digital pathology, improving diagnostic accuracy and access to expert cancer care for rural and underserved communities. "The ‘Scarface’ mansion is listed for $237 million" via Vivian Marino of The New York Times — A waterfront estate in Key Biscayne made famous by the 1983 film “Scarface” has been listed for $237 million, potentially setting a record for Miami-Dade County. The 2.38-acre property features a 13,000-square-foot mansion with five bedrooms, expansive terraces and a glass elevator seen in the movie. Owner John Devaney has held the estate since 2003. The grounds include a “piano-shaped saltwater pool” and yacht dockage on Biscayne Bay. The site also has historical ties, once serving as part of President Richard Nixon’s “Winter White House.” Listing agents say the home offers sweeping skyline views and rare waterfront access. If sold near the asking price, it would surpass recent high-end sales in the region. "Undercover professor warns of rising identity fraud risks" via Stacy Washington of the Stacy on the Right podcast — Cybercrime activity is accelerating, with criminals increasingly using stolen identities to open bank accounts and create shell companies designed to move money undetected, according to researcher David Maimon. The trend is not entirely new but reflects a sharp rise in scale and coordination, targeting both individuals and financial institutions. Maimon said nation-state actors pose a growing challenge, often cultivating synthetic identities over time with legitimate-looking documentation, making detection difficult. He warned that commonly used safeguards like document verification, selfie checks and liveness tests can be bypassed by sophisticated actors. The findings point to the need for more advanced, long-term identity tracking and stronger coordination between government and private-sector systems to detect fraud earlier.

Happy birthday   Happy birthday to the newly married father-to-be and still our favorite Goodman, Max. Also, happy birthday to Laura Jolly, our friend Jim Magill, and Paul Flemming. ___ Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.

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