Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down in the Sunshine State?
Well, we thought Fox News was coming out a loser this week after revelations that it “aired lies (about two voting tech companies) while the people involved knew the claims weren’t true or acted with reckless disregard for the truth,” as Vanity Fair put it. Nope, says The Bulwark’s Jonathan V. Last: “There will be no consequences for anyone involved … Rupert Murdoch won’t be touched … No advertisers will pull their buys.” So that means Gov. Ron DeSantis is a winner? Murdoch’s “media empire has already thrown its considerable influence behind the prospect of a DeSantis presidential bid,” the New York Times reported. So confusing. Don’t blame us.
Alexis Calatayud -
The first-term Republican state senator from Miami-Dade was picked by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo to carry her signature legislation of the 2023 session that aims to create more workforce housing. The “Live Local” Act passed her chamber this week and heads to the House, where it’s expected to face little opposition. Alexis Calatayud got praise from both sides of the aisle on her handling of the bill. Early success for a new lawmaker never hurts.
Chloe Cole -
Chloe Cole “is a self-described ‘former trans kid’ from California who de-transitioned after undergoing years of puberty blockers and an irreversible double mastectomy at the age of 15,” the National Catholic Register reported. She has been the go-to person for the DeSantis administration’s efforts to block Florida teens from gender-affirming care, earning her a seat next to First Lady Casey DeSantis at this week’s State of the State address. Her star’s on the rise.
Anna Paulina Luna -
At times a controversial conservative politician, Anna Paulina Luna is putting aside partisan differences to work with Democrats on Capitol Hill on legislation that would combat sexual assault in the military. A veteran herself, her bill would require service members to undergo one day of self-defense training focused on sexual assault every month. Fellow Florida U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz is one of several Democratic cosponsors on the bill.
Jason Brodeur -
After getting beat up in the press for his blogger registration bill, it turns out the leadership of Sen. Jason Brodeur’s own party doesn’t support it. In fact, both Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner went out of their way to denounce the bill. Renner said he would “categorically oppose” it. It’s safe to say the bill is dead in the water. Brodeur is sticking to his guns, saying, “If lobbyists have to register and report, why shouldn’t paid bloggers?
Lawrence Revell -
Tallahassee’s police chief made the call to override his department’s policy and decide not to fire an officer who tested positive for a controlled substance while on duty. The officer claimed that he mixed up medication with a family member. That excuse, which seemed straight out of the sitcom handbook, was enough to convince Revell. Other city employees suspended for drug use must be kicking themselves they didn’t think of that.
Jeff Shell -
The governor is holding firm in his boycott of NBC, saying he won’t answer questions or grant interviews to the network’s news operations after Andrea Mitchell asked Vice President Kamala Harris, “What does Governor Ron DeSantis not know about Black history and the Black experience when he says that slavery and the aftermath of slavery should not be taught to Florida schoolchildren?” Mitchell got it wrong, later saying she was “imprecise.” Still, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell has still gotta be smarting.
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