Jolly announces run for governor

Today. Former Republican Congressman David Jolly announced his campaign for Florida governor, becoming the first prominent Democrat to enter the 2026 race. The 52-year-old former…

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Andrade offers little hope for Hope Florida navigators

Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), who heads House healthcare budget negotiations, is proposing to cut $2.5 million from the Hope Florida program—eliminating 20 Hope navigator positions…

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Andrade ultimatum: No Reports, No Salary [podcast]

Florida’s budget negotiations are heating up in Tallahassee, and State Rep. Alex Andrade isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to government waste. In a…

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Breaking: DeSantis names Stasi Education Commissioner

As I reported on May 19, Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas the new Florida Commissioner of Education. Official Announcement TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor…

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Breaking: Pensacola mayor endorses Byron Donalds for governor

At his weekly press conference, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves officially endorsed Congressman Byron Donalds for governor, adding another high-profile endorsement to Donalds’ campaign that already…

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Backroom Briefing: Stadium Money Benched

Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — It’s been nearly 20 years since…

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Daily Outtakes: Budget, Abandoned Dogs and Flip-flopping

Florida’s budget negotiations have reached an impasse. During our podcast conversation yesterday, State Rep. Andrade, who chairs the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, revealed a…

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Salzman thanks DeSantis for ‘exceptional appointment’ of Diaz

No The Pensacola News Journal has posted a guest viewpoint from State Rep. Michelle Salzman, titled “Manny Diaz will lead UWF into a new era…

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Florida Braces for Busy Hurricane Season

Florida is preparing for another active Atlantic hurricane season starting Sunday, with forecasters predicting 13-19 named storms and up to 10 hurricanes. Gov. Ron DeSantis…

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Don’t Color on the Dog: Jackass Edition

The controversial $10 million Medicaid settlement check that flowed through the Hope Florida Foundation to the political action committee Keep Florida Clean has emerged as…

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The state should have audited the $10 million Hope Florida deal. It didn’t happen.

By Michelle DeMarco, Florida Center for Government Accountability No one was watching the store when $10 million in state Medicaid settlement money was diverted to…

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Daily Outtakes: Is Casey DeSantis a Patsy?

Casey DeSantis launched Hope Florida in 2021 as a genuine welfare program to help connect needy Floridians to community-based nonprofits and faith institutions, weaning them…

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Hope Florida Scandal Timeline

The weekend is the perfect time to recap the history of news stories. Last week, I covered the dispute between the Escambia Children’s Trust and…

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Don Gaetz recaps unprecedented 2025 sesssion

In an unusual move this year, the Florida Legislature has divided its work into two separate sessions. While the policy portion concluded on May 2nd…

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Daily Outtakes: Matt Gaetz for governor? Maybe

NBC’s political reporter Matt Dixon thinks former Rep. Matt Gaetz is seriously considering Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race—and it’s all about political mathematics. Who is Matt…

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DeSantises doubles down on Hope Florida, as SAO opens invesitigation

Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis held their second press event in seven days to once again tout Hope Florida, without offering any…

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Daily Outtakes: Meet the Mastermind of UWF takeover

The buzz is that Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas recruited, screened and coached the new appointees to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. As of…

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Top Reads: Week Ended May 17, 2025

Breaking the news that University of West Florida President Dr. Martha Saunders had resigned set off the busiest week for this blog, with 88,343 readers…

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Bombshell: Board Chair Resigns Over Hope Florida Controversy

While Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis were defending Hope Florida, the chairman of Save Our Society from Drugs (SOS), the nonprofit focused…

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Backroom Briefing: Looking for Another Lane

Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida After asserting the Democratic Party in Florida is…

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