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Survey says Florida Dems and NPA voters support open primary elections • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 1d

Whatever, the survey found that 96% of NPA voters in Florida and 93% of Florida Democratic voters support open primaries. floridaphoenix.com/briefs/surve...

As the Florida Democratic Party continues to consider opening its primary elections to independent voters, a survey backed by proponents finds strong support for the idea. Florida Open Primaries, an a...

Judge rules in favor of North Dakota’s ban on transgender care for minors • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 1d

“It’s just really disappointing that these families won’t be able to get the health care they need.” floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/10/r...

A judge has upheld a North Dakota law that bans gender-affirming care for minors.

‘Substantial’ layoffs of federal workers launched by Trump administration amid shutdown • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 1d

“The RIFs have begun,” Vought wrote. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/10/r...

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Friday it had begun mass layoffs of federal employees, a step not taken during previous government shutdowns and one that could significantly reshape th...

'In it to win it'? Collins poised for 2026 — but says it’s not a Trump vs. DeSantis war • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 1d

“When we’re in, I promise everybody, there will be no doubt, no equivocation. We will be in it to win it if we jump in.” floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/10/i...

The looming 2026 governor’s race isn’t about Ron DeSantis versus Donald Trump, and those hoping for “carnage” between their proxy warriors will be disappointed, according to Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. Coll...

Could Clearwater become the first Florida city in 20 years to run its own power utility? • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 1d

“With Duke, everyone knows them. Most people have had a bad experience with them, so it’s really to relate that back and tell them something new — that it doesn’t have to be that way.” floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/10/c...

ST. PETERSBURG — Last Saturday morning in South St. Petersburg’s Wildwood Park, 16 members of a group calling itself “Dump Duke” gathered to share strategy before pairing up to canvass in nearby neigh...

Former governors, state AGs weigh in on Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

The Republican attorneys general supporting the president's deployments of National Guard troops over state governors' protests include Jemes Uthmeier of Florida. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/r...

President Donald Trump’s novel use of National Guard troops for law enforcement purposes has reopened a debate over states’ authority to control police powers, as dueling briefs from current and forme...

House Speaker Designate Sam Garrison talks Medicaid expansion, looming cuts • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

“I think we’re seeing the wisdom of the decision that was made,” Garrison said, referring to the House’s steadfast refusal to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law often referred to as Obamacare. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/h...

Rep. Sam Garrison, selected Thursday to become the next speaker of the Florida House, is playing down estimates that the state could lose billions of dollars over the next few years for Medicaid. Inst...

Multi-state lawsuit challenges Trump's deployment of National Guard in cities • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

“Deploying the National Guard to patrol American cities over the wishes of their governors is incredibly dangerous and an unprecedented infringement on states’ rights." floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/r...

Gov. Shapiro described Trump’s decision to deploy the guard as a “dangerous overreach of power.”

Florida has agreements with other states to share voter data, but how many? • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

How many states Florida has such MOUs with isn't clear, but the Phoenix has learned that Florida has such agreements with at least four states: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and West Virginia. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/f...

More than 2 1/2 years after Florida dropped its association with a bipartisan national voter database, Secretary of State Cord Byrd said Wednesday that the state has formed agreement with “multiple st...

Trump threatens 'permanent' cuts to Democratic programs on day nine of shutdown gridlock • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

“We’ll be cutting some very popular Democratic programs that aren’t popular with Republicans,” he said. “They wanted to do this, so we’ll give them a little taste of their own medicine.” floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/r...

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s prepared to cancel funding approved by Congress that he believes is going toward programs supported by Democrats, though he didn’t share any addi...

Bill would protect public employees who use medical marijuana • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

Polsky has also filed a bill (SB 130) to prohibit courts from denying or restricting certain parental rights based solely on a parent’s status as a qualified medical marijuana patient. floridaphoenix.com/briefs/measu...

Legislation has again been filed to protect public employees who are qualified medical marijuana patients in Florida. Broward County Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky’s proposal (SB 136) would prohibi...

Sam Garrison designated Florida House Speaker for 2026-28 • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

“I believe with my whole heart that complacency is the single biggest threat to the conservative movement in Florida." floridaphoenix.com/briefs/sam-g...

The Florida House on Thursday unanimously elected Republican Rep. Sam Garrison to be the next Speaker of the House. Representing Fleming Island, a suburb of Jacksonville, Garrison will take over as sp...

Survey says Ashley Moody is vulnerable on Obamacare tax credits • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

Extending the credits “would be a surefire way for Moody to score a win with Florida voters,” Tyson writes, adding that it could help introduce her to the general electorate, as only 53% in the survey reported having an informed opinion about her. floridaphoenix.com/briefs/surve...

Florida GOP Sen. Ashley Moody’s stance on extending the enhanced premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act could hurt her election bid next year. That’s according to a public opinion survey cond...

Big Florida lake ranked as the most polluted in the U.S. • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

“Without teeth in our cleanup laws,” Samples said, “this ‘dirtiest lake”’ designation is something we’ll have to put up with until we finally get Lake Okeechobee cleaned up.” floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/b...

I am such a big booster of Florida and its features! I am constantly telling people about the many ways in which we beat the rest of the nation. We have the best state park system, one that’s won nati...

US Senate rejects restriction of military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

Florida U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody both voted against the resolution. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/r...

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed to advance Wednesday night a resolution designed to curb the president’s power regarding military actions abroad after the Trump administration ordered four strikes...

US House GOP delays seating Rep.-elect Grijalva, potential deciding vote on Epstein petition • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 2d

Democrats have accused Johnson of delaying Grijalva’s swearing-in to stall a vote on the Department of Justice’s release of files regarding the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Louisiana Republican has denied that accusation. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/09/r...

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats failed again Wednesday to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. Johnson has said he’s holding off on swearing in Grijalva — an Arizona ...

Air traffic control staffing steady, but stress during shutdown worries DOT • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

The first impact most federal employees will see on their pay will be Friday, when electronic funding transfers are made for the pay period from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/r...

The Federal Aviation Administration reported no travel delays due to staffing levels at U.S. air traffic control facilities Wednesday, following a day of some delays related to above-average absences ...

Former FBI Director Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges demanded by Trump • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

A trial is set for early January. Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, said he plans to file two batches of motions this month, including one alleging vindictive and selective prosecution. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/r...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, in response to an indictment that followed an extraordinary pressure ...

Former Democrat files bill banning Shari'a law in Florida government • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

When asked later why she filed the measure, Cassell asked, “Did you read the bill?” and walked off when asked whether she based it on Fine’s bill. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/f...

A Florida lawmaker who suddenly switched parties last year filed the state version of a federal bill Wednesday that would ban courts and agencies from using Shari'a Law.

Ag commissioner says Legislature should chop ultra-processed school lunches • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

“I don’t want to regulate personal choices and I don’t want to tell companies that they have to do something or that individuals have to do something, but it felt like something was broken because the choices were gone." floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/a...

Florida’s agriculture commissioner said he is dedicated to addressing students’ “diet of ultra-processed foods,” particularly in Florida school lunches. Following a report from President Donald Trump’...

State report: More than 43K children dropped from program for nonpayment • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

Tens of thousands of children were removed from the health insurance program for children while the DeSantis administration tussled with feds over a requirement that children enrolled in federally funded programs must retain eligibility for one year. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/s...

More than 43,000 children were disenrolled from the Florida KidCare program for nonpayment of premiums — more than double the number the state previously provided to the Florida Phoenix, a state repor...

Trump is backing James Uthmeier for Florida attorney general in 2026 • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

“James Uthmeier is a Strong Conservative Fighter and Prosecutor, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump posted on his Truth Social page.
floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/t...

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier received a big boost in his bid for a full four-year term next year when President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he was endorsing him in 2026. “James Ut...

Federal appeals court nixes lawsuit over Pa. House Democratic leader's robocalls • Florida Phoenix

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

“Such communications related to the health, safety and general welfare of the people clearly serve the ‘public good’ — as opposed to any personal affairs or a re-election campaign,” the opinion said. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/r...

“Such communications related to the health, safety and general welfare of the people clearly serve the ‘public good,'" the judges said.

A second lawsuit has been filed to overturn Florida planning-restriction law • Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 3d

“This fight is about ensuring our local voice is heard and that our children can inherit the safe, natural environment we’ve worked so hard to preserve.” floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/08/a...

Alleging that it violates multiple provisions of the Florida Constitution, an environmental group and an Orange County resident have filed a lawsuit to block enforcement of a new state law that restri...