Florida's Latest News

In Trump’s Washington, It Pays to Be From Florida

'Three days before President Trump’s inauguration, Florida mega-lobbyist Brian Ballard threw a party at Mastro’s Steakhouse near the White House with bites of filet mignon, heavy pours of red wine and a crowd that included the incoming secretary of state, national security adviser and several senators.

Ballard, who raised more than $50 million for Trump in the 2024 election, would soon have plenty to celebrate himself.

In the first 72 hours of Trump’s second term, the president made two moves that benefit Ballard’s clients. On the first day, Trump signed an executive order delaying a U.S. ban on Chinese-owned TikTok.

Then his administration withdrew a Biden-era proposed ban on menthol cigarettes, the top lobbying priority for Ballard client Reynolds tobacco, according to people familiar with the matter.

The same night Ballard held his party, another Florida lobbyist hosted his own at a luxury hotel nearby with numerous high-profile Floridians attending, including Trump’s incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles.

Jury is out on Rubio in Senate, as some lose faith

Some of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s former Democratic colleagues are already expressing regret over their votes in support of the former senator. 

But his boosters on both sides of the aisle aren’t ready to give up on his ability to influence President Trump.

“Long term, he will have a real influence. Short term, I think he’s probably still getting his feet on the ground,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a staunch Ukraine supporter, told The Hill. 

“As long as they provide him with the opportunity to make a difference, Marco can do some really good things for this administration.”

Confirmed on Day 1 of the administration, Rubio has been a spokesperson for a foreign policy that often diverges from his past positions, particularly those on the Ukraine war and standing up to Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. 

FEMA fires 3 supervisors in wake of Hurricane Milton political discrimination

The agency informed Vern Buchanan's Office of the firings.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has fired three supervisors connected to a political discrimination scandal following Hurricane Milton.

Cameron Hamilton, a senior official performing the duties of FEMA Administrator, informed U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, the Co-Chair of Florida’s congressional delegation, of the firings in a letter dated March 4.

The terminations followed an investigation showing that FEMA workers providing ground support to hurricane victims skipped past 20 homes because they had signs on display supporting President Donald Trump’s campaign. The three recent firings were in addition to FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington, who was let go immediately after revelations of the bias shown.

“This action has been taken both because of their failure to meet our standards of conduct and because it is essential that the entire workforce understand that this incident was reprehensible, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated at FEMA,” Hamilton wrote.

Lucy’s Law to increase boater safety, crack down on reckless boaters, clears first committee

The proposed law is named after a 17-year-old girl who died in an avoidable boating accident.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee has OK’d a measure aimed at improving boater safety and cracking down on reckless boaters, dubbed “Lucy’s Law.”

The bill (HB 289), sponsored by Republican Reps. Vicki Lopez and Vanessa Oliver, passed the committee after passionate testimony from Andy Fernandez, whose 17-year-old daughter, Lucy, died after a 2022 boat crash that also injured other passengers.

The boat’s driver, George Pino, refused a breathalyzer at the time, after he violently struck a channel marker while operating the vessel.

“This bill has two main components. The first is to align the penalties and offenses for leaving the scene of a boating accident, reckless operation of a vessel and vessel homicide with the corresponding driving offenses,” Oliver said of the bill she is co-sponsoring.