Tessera

Schwartz ultimately scored the backing of the panel’s chair, Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had appeared dissatisfied with her responses at her confirmation hearing. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/05/r...

US Senate confirms Trump’s pick for CDC director • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — Dr. Erica Schwartz will be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination Wednesday. The Senate confirmed, 51-44, Pres...

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Of the nearly 30 lawyers on the law firm’s website, only two list experience in immigration and asylum law. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/05/r...

Small Texas law firm run by Trump ally wins contract for legal aid to immigrant kids • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to a small Texas firm — with no specialty in immigration law and run by a former Trump official — to pro...

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“The erosion of enforcement and support does not show up the week it happens. It shows up months later, as a state that quietly stops getting monitored, a complaint that just sits, or a phone call that never gets answered.” floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/05/r...

Dems continue to hammer Trump Education Department transfers • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday rebuked the Department of Education’s efforts to transfer its special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies. Sen. Mazie Hiro...

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 11h ago

The second-term lawmaker is facing intense public scrutiny over allegations that he abused his ex-wife, who is the daughter of fellow Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, and the couple’s 2-year-old daughter. Miller strongly denies the allegations. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/05/r...

US House Ethics starts probe of abuse allegations against Ohio Rep. Max Miller at his request • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Ethics Committee announced Tuesday that it will review allegations that Republican Rep. Max Miller of Ohio may have “engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug ...

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“What’s on the ballot in November is more than just Republican vs. Democrat,” she declared. “It is: Are you a patriot or are you not?” floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/05/h...

How progressive are Florida Democrats? Alex Vindman, Angie Nixon Senate race offers a test • Florida Phoenix

As progressives rack up victories in other parts of the country against moderate Democrats, Florida’s Aug. 18 primary could prove a big test for that movement. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col Alex Vindman h...

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U.S. Rep Maxwell Frost and the other members of the Florida Democratic congressional delegation sent a letter to Florida DCF Deputy Secretary Kathryn Williams and Gov. Ron DeSantis Tuesday pressing for details about the use of AI. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/04/f...

Florida Democrats press DeSantis administration for details about AI contract for SNAP • Florida Phoenix

Florida Democrats want to know how the state plans to use artificial intelligence to lower its error rate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To help the state lower its error rat...

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Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had been withholding support for Blanche, voted with other members of the committee along party lines, 12-10, to send Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/04/r...

Blanche nomination for attorney general advanced by US Senate panel on party-line vote • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — U.S. acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was one step closer to permanently leading the Justice Department Tuesday, after two skeptical Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans voted to ad...

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“Even some of the same poachers have been busted on the same property three, four, five times. That somebody committed a crime three, four, five times and not be prosecuted is insane and has to be fixed.” floridaphoenix.com/briefs/uthme...

Uthmeier says he'll push to increase criminal penalties for poaching next legislative session • Florida Phoenix

The penalties for illegal hunting or taking of wildlife in Florida could be about to get more punitive. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that his office will advocate for the Florida ...

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“The LGBTQ community of Alabama just wants to live their life and not be subject to hate speech or marginalization by universities and the government. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/04/r...

University of Alabama schools remove LGBTQ+ language from non-discrimination policies • Florida Phoenix

The schools' revision to the policy include removing language including sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

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“Whether the amendment would “benefit” taxpayers is the central policy question voters are being asked to decide,” Frank wrote. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/04/a...

Amendment 3 ballot title, summary language, don't pass muster, judge rules • Florida Phoenix

A Florida circuit court judge has ordered Attorney General James Uthmeier to rewrite significant portions of the ballot and summary title of Amendment 3, ruling the words “Save our Homes from Excessiv...

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A study by the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice showed private school tuition increased in states with universal voucher programs. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/04/r...

Arkansas private schools charge more than what vouchers cover • Florida Phoenix

Nearly 57,000 students applied for Arkansas’ universal school voucher program, where any student in the state is eligible and can use that state funding towards private school. However, there’s a gap...

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The mid-decade redistricting remade a range of districts but the historically Black-dominated CD 24 remains largely unchanged — still deep blue, covering a swath of northern Miami-Dade and parts of southern Broward counties. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/04/a...

A look at the Democratic candidates running in Florida's 24th Congressional District • Florida Phoenix

Three days after U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson insisted that her retirement was a “crazy rumor,” the eight-term Florida Democrat announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election — triggering an immediate cas...

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Without legal representation, fewer than 10% of immigrant children win the right to remain in the United States while their case goes through immigration court. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

Legal services contract expires, and unaccompanied immigrant children face deportation • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — More than 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children Monday lost their legal representation because the Trump administration has not entered into a new agreement to take over their legal ser...

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“I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter,” Moreno wrote. “If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them.” floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

Ohio US Sen. Moreno says former son-in-law Rep. Max Miller unfit to serve in Congress • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, on Sunday said Rep. Max Miller, also of Ohio and his former son-in-law, is not fit to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives as he faces allegations of dom...

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The Senate bill differs considerably from the more partisan stopgap spending measure the House passed last month, with Republicans providing nearly all the votes in support. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — Leaders of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee announced a bipartisan deal over the weekend that would keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11 and pause the Trump administ...

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“I want there to be some consultation with the Legislature, or at least with legislative leaders, before the [new] governor makes a decision to proceed with filing or continuing to pursue the litigation that’s in the Pensacola federal court right now,” he said. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/g...

Gaetz: Next governor should review KidCare challenge before continuing DeSantis' fight • Florida Phoenix

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has spent two years in court arguing with the federal government over a requirement that Florida ensure children enrolled in a Medicaid-funded safety-net healthcare program r...

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The “Good Health is Good Governance” toolkit, released in July, challenges leaders to commit to bipartisan principles to both strengthen public health responses and increase the trust people have in their leaders. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

The Fauci-Paul battle shows real cracks in public health. One group has answers. • Florida Phoenix

a nonpartisan commission — which includes a former Kentucky governor — is pushing for better relationships between elected and public health officials.

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“With this settlement, the federal government has now affirmed the Biden DOJ’s and FBI’s actions were an abuse of government power,” a statement by the attorneys said. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

Attorneys for pardoned abortion clinic protester announce 7-figure settlement with DOJ • Florida Phoenix

Anti-abortion activist Paul Vaughn got a settlement from the federal government after a 2024 conviction for harassment at Carafem Mt. Juliet.

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“When rumors started spreading that kids didn’t even take my class because these things were being said … that’s always every teacher’s fear,” Rigby said. “It’s always every gay teacher’s fear.” floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

Anti-Slapp law plays role in backing Va. teacher and parent targeted by false online accusations • Florida Phoenix

A Northern Virginia court in June rejected social media efforts to damage the reputation of a teacher and parent, awarding them more than $1 million in combined damages.

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The court acknowledged that the case presents “difficult issues” about the scope of what Congress delegated to HHS. It also raises questions about CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz’s “faithfulness to Congressional intent,” the judge wrote. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

Judge rejects states’ bid to block Medicaid work rules • Florida Phoenix

States will have to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement new Medicaid work requirements, after a federal judge denied 25 Democratic-led states’ request to pause implementation of the rule. The broad ta...

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The group is one of the most powerful when it comes to policymaking in Tallahassee. But it had remained silent on the amendment, designed to substantially reduce property taxes for Florida homeowners. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/f...

Florida Sheriffs Association is 'significantly concerned’ about Amendment 3 • Florida Phoenix

Two months after it was placed on the November ballot, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) is weighing in on Amendment 3, the proposed property tax cut that, if enacted, could reduce local governme...

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Florida Phoenix @floridaphoenix.com · 4d ago

“We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon,” Cornyn and Tillis said. floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/r...

Blanche asserts 'anti-weaponization' fund is dead, wins key GOP support in US Senate • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general appeared on track Monday after he submitted a written assurance to Senate Judiciary Committee lawmakers that the a...

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I wasn’t particularly surprised at the Trump administration’s spendy, baroque effort, employing omission, to pull such historical wool over the eyes of children (and adults). floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/01/r...

What the Freedom Trucks don’t say about American history speaks volumes • Florida Phoenix

Some red flags had already popped up in my mind when I visited the Freedom Truck on July 11 in Huron during its three-day stop.

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The spike in the number of people living in the United States without documentation included between 5.4 million and 6.3 million people with some protection against deportation, such as humanitarian parole or temporary protected status. floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/31/r...

Undocumented immigration population reached as high as 15.8M, report finds • Florida Phoenix

New estimates put the U.S. undocumented immigrant population in mid-2024 at 14.6 million to 15.8 million, a sharp increase from around 11 million in the 2010s.

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Collins said the “straightforward” bill “keeps the administration of important landmark education programs at the Department of Education — where Congress specifically put them and where they belong.” floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/31/r...

US Senate panel advances bill to reject Education Department transfers • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan effort to rein in President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education has cleared its first major legislative hurdle in a bipartisan U.S. Senate co...

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They include a new $1,000 hiring bonus at 13 correctional institutions and, at “select institutions,” an already existing $5,000 retention bonus for eligible officers, providing up to $6,000 in total incentives. floridaphoenix.com/briefs/dept-...

Dept. of Corrections offering up to $6,000 in hiring and retention bonuses to recruit new officers • Florida Phoenix

A month after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed legislation that would have provided tens of millions of dollars to the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) for pay increases for correctional officers, the ...

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“The radical left wants more jobs for illegal aliens and more migrants (in) 18-wheelers, and (the) Trump administration wants safer roads and more jobs for the American veteran,” Trump said. floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/31/r...

Trump looks to veterans to fill trucking jobs after booting immigrants from industry • Florida Phoenix

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced an initiative Thursday for veterans to quickly obtain commercial driver’s licenses, as the administration attempts to fill vacancies in the industry after...

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