Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.8.26 — Burnin’ today: Isaias, Hope Florida, DeSantis, Donalds & Jolly, Uthmeier, FEMA, AI & Pitbull

Your first read of Florida Politics, without the spin — Sunburn ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Good Thursday morning. “Jim Cantore arrives in Pensacola as Isaias approaches Florida” via Kevin Robinson of the Pensacola News Journal — One of hurricane season’s most familiar faces has landed in Northwest Florida: Cantore is in Pensacola. The National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday that the longtime Weather Channel meteorologist is in town as forecasters track Tropical Storm Isaias and its potential effects on Florida. Cantore has become synonymous with major tropical weather, making his deployments newsworthy even before conditions deteriorate. His arrival puts Pensacola in the national weather spotlight as forecasters continue watching Isaias’ path and intensity. But Cantore’s presence isn’t a forecast — or a guarantee Pensacola will take the brunt of the storm. For weather watchers, it’s simply another signal that Isaias is worth watching closely. Jim Cantore brings familiar storm coverage to Pensacola while residents keep their eyes on Isaias. ___ Former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book is releasing a new ad in her Senate District 30 campaign. In the spot, titled "Survivor," Book discusses being sexually abused as a child. It will air in 30-second and 60-second versions. "I was sexually abused from the time that I was about 11 until I was 16," Book says in the ad. "I made it my mission to protect children and help adults understand how to prevent abuse before it happens … Going to Tallahassee and fighting for people gives something to that little girl and so many others that I've met along the way." Book founded Lauren's Kids, a nonprofit whose prevention education has reached millions of children and families. She leads its annual 1,500-mile Walk in My Shoes across the state. In the Senate, where she served from 2016 to 2024, Book passed laws protecting children and survivors and cracking down on sexual predators, human trafficking, and sexual cyberharassment. She also eliminated the sales tax on baby diapers and adult incontinence products, twice expanded Medicaid coverage for new mothers and babies, and worked with Parkland families to pass bipartisan gun safety legislation. "We have to remember why we're going to Tallahassee," Book says. "We have to go and fight for families. That's my mission." SD 30 includes many of the communities Book previously represented in Broward and Palm Beach counties. To watch the ad, please click the image below: Lauren Book shares her survivor story and her commitment to protecting children in a new campaign ad.  ___ LSN Law has hired Lluvia Resendiz, who led Miami-Dade County's Zoning Information Section, as Planner and Land Use Adviser and added Olivia Polimeni as Associate Attorney, the Miami firm announced Wednesday. Both join the firm's Land Use and Zoning practice, led by Partner Tracy Slavens. Lluvia Resendiz and Olivia Polimeni join LSN Law, adding fresh expertise to the land use lineup. Resendiz most recently served as Planning Development Manager for Miami-Dade County, where she oversaw zoning applications and development-related matters. She has more than 20 years in land use, zoning, development, and local government, including planning and development roles with the University of Miami and the cities of Homestead, Doral, and South Miami. She is AICP certified and holds a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University. Polimeni works on land use, zoning, planning, and real estate development matters, including development approvals, entitlements, permitting, and regulatory work. She practiced litigation and real estate at GrayRobinson's Boca Raton office before joining LSN Law. She earned her J.D. and an LL.M. in Real Property Development from the University of Miami School of Law and a B.S., cum laude, from the University of Central Florida. "Lluvia and Olivia bring valuable planning and legal expertise to our Land Use and Zoning team," Slavens said. "Their experience will further strengthen our ability to help clients navigate complex development and governmental processes."

Situational awareness   —@RealDonaldTrump: Chris LaCivita and James Blair are outside consultants. They do not work for me, other than as outside consultants. They most likely have numerous clients, but for that, you would have to ask them. They are allowed to do work for others, just like all consultants in Washington, D.C. I do not have any idea who else they work for but will, on reflection, ask them and, if there’s a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately! Thank you for your attention to this matter. —@SenRickScott: Isaias has the potential to be a very serious storm. I’ll be in Pensacola tomorrow working with local leaders and emergency management officials to make sure families are prepared. Everyone should take this seriously — make a plan NOW! Tweet, tweet: —@ChrisDorworth: I am rooting for Charlie (Crist), but my spidey senses say (Ken) Welch wins. Tweet, tweet:

Days until   ‘The Social Reckoning,' with Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison, premieres — 1; Associated Industries of Florida one-on-one conversations with five top-of-ticket Republicans — 4; 'VisionQuest' premieres — 6; 'The Diplomat' season 4 premieres — 7; Optional General early voting begins — 11; 'Six Kings Slam' on Netflix — 13; Florida TaxWatch Fiscal Accountability Leadership Summit begins — 13; General Election ballot request deadline — 14; Mandatory General early voting begins — 16; General Election — 26; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 29; ‘Wild Horse Nine’ premieres — 29; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit — 34; 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' starring Johnny Depp premieres — 36; 'Paper Tiger' starring Adam Driver premieres — 36; Joe Biden’s memoir, ‘Promise Me, America’ is released — 40; New legislator training sessions — 40; Senate convenes for general organization and selection of officers — 40; ‘Madden’ premieres — 41; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 43; ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,’ with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres in IMAX — 48; Committee Week #1 — 53; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 71; ‘Dune: Part 3,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres — 71; Committee Week #2 — 88; Committee Week #3 — 95; 'Ahsoka' season 2 premieres — 104; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas — 109; Committee Week #4 — 116; 'Remain,' directed by M. Night Shyamalan, premieres — 120; Grammys — 122; Committee Week #5 — 123; Super Bowl LXI — 129; Committee Week #6 — 130; Opening day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session — 145; Tampa Mayoral Election — 145; ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan premieres — 148; Jacksonville First Election — 152; Oscars — 157; Miami Marlins Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. New York Mets — 168; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. Baltimore Orioles — 168; Democratic Mayors Association 2027 annual summit in Miami begins — 188; Jacksonville General Election — 222; 'Star Wars: Starfighter' premieres — 232; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 253; Citrus Series — Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins — 281; 'The Bluey Movie' premieres — 302; Citrus Series — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — 337; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 435; 2028 South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary — 471; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans — 473; 2028 Nevada Presidential Primary — 481; 2028 New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary — 488; 2028 New Mexico Democratic Presidential Primary — 495; ‘The Batman Part II’ premieres — 498; 2028 Michigan Democratic Presidential Primary — 502; 2028 Virginia Democratic Presidential Primary — 509; Oscars — 514; 'X-Men' premieres — 575; ‘Miami Vice '85’ reboot premieres — 589; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 596; 'Days of Thunder' sequel with Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway premieres — 603; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 617; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 645; 'Ghost Rider' premieres — 659; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 761; ‘Black Panther 3’ directed by Ryan Coogler premieres — 799; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa — 837; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,170; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 1,898.

Top story   “Appeals court wipes out Hope Florida grand jury presentment” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — A state appeals court has wiped out the confidential Hope Florida grand jury presentment that accused Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration of participating in a “sophisticated scheme” involving $10 million in taxpayer money from a Medicaid settlement. The First District Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that the Leon County grand jury convened by State Attorney Jack Campbell exceeded its authority. The court also found state law was violated when the confidential presentment was disclosed before those criticized could challenge its release. Ron DeSantis gets a court victory in the Hope Florida presentment dispute; the broader controversy continues. The grand jury criticized members of the DeSantis administration by name while declining to indict anyone. Jurors alleged settlement money was diverted to help finance a political campaign opposing a statewide constitutional amendment that would have legalized recreational marijuana. Appellate Judge Lance E. Neff wrote that a grand jury may investigate and report wrongdoing but cannot declare conduct unlawful, condemn individuals by name and then decline to charge them. The opinion noted jurors effectively acknowledged insufficient evidence existed to support criminal charges. The appellate court also concluded the presentment was improperly distributed beyond those legally entitled to receive it. The document surfaced publicly after being leaked to CBS News Miami, though the identity of the person responsible for releasing it remains unknown. Wednesday’s decision reverses a July ruling by Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh, who had denied full expungement. The decision eliminates a damaging grand jury document targeting the DeSantis administration even as scrutiny surrounding Hope Florida and the disputed Medicaid settlement remains a major political controversy.

TO SEE MORE SUNBURN CLICK HERE