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Donald Trump predicts Democrats will try to stall confirmation. Will that impact his Florida picks?

President-elect Donald Trump is voicing concerns that Senate Democrats will try to stall confirmations for his administration. Does that signal trouble ahead for any of the Florida figures nominated to key posts?

Trump took to Truth Social to raise his concerns.

“We just won a Historic Landslide and Mandate from the American People, but Senate Democrats are organizing to improperly stall and delay the confirmation process of many of our Great Nominees,” Trump posted. “They will try all sorts of tricks starting very soon. Republicans must not allow them to do that. We have a Country to run, and many big problems to solve, mostly created by Democrats. REPUBLICANS, BE SMART AND TOUGH!!!”

Senate Democrats hold a majority right now, but that will disappear within days. A new Congress convenes on Friday, when Senate Republicans are expected to retake a majority with 53 seats.

That means Republicans will lead confirmation hearings. But Democrats still have the power to slow the process down, and some of Trump’s most controversial picks have drawn criticism from some Republican Senators.

Florida residents gain right to sue local governments for not enforcing ban on public camping

As rates of homelessness surge nationwide, Florida residents Wednesday gained the ability to sue their local governments for not enforcing a statewide ban on public camping.

House Bill 1365, the camping ban, partially came into effect in October, after Gov. DeSantis signed it into law in March. The law does not affect lawful recreational camping or people who sleep in legally parked and registered cars.

Aiming to crack down on homelessness, the law holds municipalities responsible for ensuring that people don’t sleep overnight on their streets, in their parks or in any other public place. That provision went into effect this fall. Starting in January, though, failure to do so can result in costly lawsuits for local governments, which could lead to jail time for those experiencing homelessness.

Across the U.S. and Florida, homelessness is on the rise. Since 2023, the number of Americans experiencing homelessness has risen by more than 18%, per a recent report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Florida, that yearly increase was only 2%.

DeSantis likes open carry. But Florida likely won’t get it this session.

For years, Gov. Ron DeSantis has had the Legislature largely at his beck and call.

But if there’s one area where DeSantis likely won’t get everything he wants before leaving office, it’s gun rights.

DeSantis has been more supportive than Florida’s legislative leaders of allowing open access to firearms. Florida law has little to show for it.

DeSantis has repeatedly offered support for open carry. He has ripped Florida’s bump stock ban and previously said that if he was governor at the time, he would not have signed the sweeping bill lawmakers passed after the 2018 Parkland shooting that included multiple gun-safety provisions.

That bipartisan bill, signed by then-Gov. Rick Scott, prohibited people under age 21 from purchasing long guns and enacted “red flag” laws in Florida, which allow courts to temporarily take away firearms from someone they think may pose a threat.

DeSantis in November hinted on a radio show that the Legislature may soon allow open carry, telling the host that “you may get” it in the upcoming session and to “stay tuned.”

Moody asks judge to pause lawsuit, let Florida block minors from adult sites on Jan. 1

With the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments in January about a similar Texas law, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody this week asked a federal judge to temporarily halt a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new state law requiring age verification for access to websites with adult content.

The Free Speech Coalition, an adult-entertainment industry group, and other plaintiffs filed suit Dec. 16 challenging the law on First Amendment and other constitutional grounds. The law, which supporters say is designed to keep minors from viewing pornography online, is scheduled to take effect Wednesday.

In a motion filed Tuesday, Moody’s office requested that Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issue a stay of the lawsuit. If granted, the motion would allow the Florida law to take effect and continue at least until the Supreme Court rules in the Texas case.

The motion said the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments Jan. 15, likely will resolve First Amendment issues that would apply to the Florida law.