Florida officials this week took steps to address the safety of Haitians, both in the state and on the island, as gang violence continues to destabilize Haiti. Former Congressman Mike Waltz, now U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, traveled to Port‑au‑Prince and said a multinational police force authorized by the United Nations would target gangs such as the one led by Jimmy Chérizier. The force, headed by a Mongolian commander and staffed by personnel from ten countries, recently cleared neighborhoods and detained individuals linked to criminal activity. Waltz said the operation was part of a new gang‑suppression effort under the United Nations. South Florida Democrats, including Representative Lois Frankel, oppose the Trump administration’s plan to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian residents, arguing that conditions remain unsafe. Frankel noted that Haitian immigrants are embedded in Florida workplaces, health care facilities and communities. The House has passed legislation to override the TPS suspension, but the Senate must approve the measure with Republican support. Senator Ashley Moody and Representative Greg Steube announced that Florida will receive nearly $2 billion in FEMA disaster assistance, including $64 million for Charlotte County, after a long delay. Moody said the funds reimburse hurricane recovery costs and reflect a commitment to transparent disaster assistance. FEMA Region 4 Administrator Rob Ashe said the agency has delivered more than $1.2 billion to Florida communities in the past 90 days. Senator Rick Scott urged Congress to pass a set of bills aimed at curbing financial scams, including measures to sanction foreign entities, require disclosure for Chinese companies, allow external audits and create a centralized reporting website. He said the proposals address AI‑driven fraud that targets seniors. Representative Kat Cammack will host a veterans’ town hall in Ocala with Representative Morgan Luttrell, focusing on service issues; the event is limited to 350 attendees with priority for veterans. Representative Gus Bilirakis spoke at a conference in Athens, Greece, emphasizing stronger U.S.–Greece ties and energy security. Representative Vern Buchanan raised concerns about athlete health and proposed a system that provides compensation for the risks taken by student‑athletes. Representative Greg Steube introduced the HUSTLE Act to help college athletes manage name‑image‑likeness earnings through tax‑advantaged investment accounts, a plan supported by Florida State University officials. The South Florida Sun‑Sentinel editorial board endorsed Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz in her primary, noting her experience and alignment with values such as affordability and humane immigration policy. Representative Mario Díaz‑Balart advocated tougher sanctions on countries that assist Cuba’s medical‑trafficking practices, citing a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. Representative Carlos Giménez resigned as co‑chair of the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus in protest of Spain’s sanctions on Israel. The series of actions reflects a mix of foreign policy, domestic immigration, disaster relief and consumer protection measures, with several proposals pending congressional action.
Congress, the White House, elections, and the policies shaping the country.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump, on Friday granted the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the seditious conspiracy convictions of three former Proud Boys leaders convicted for their involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The convictions had been entered after a jury found Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola guilty of seditious conspiracy and related offenses stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which resulted in numerous injuries and deaths and prompted a wide-ranging federal prosecution. In a seven‑page memorandum, Judge Kelly concluded that the prosecution had not met the legal threshold to sustain the seditious conspiracy charges. He noted that Nordean, Biggs and Rehl were found guilty of multiple crimes, while Pezzola was convicted of assaulting a police officer and breaking a Capitol window, conduct that aided the entry of the crowd. The dismissal removes the sedition convictions from the three defendants but leaves Pezzola’s assault conviction intact, and it raises questions about the Department of Justice’s approach to pursuing sedition charges in the remaining Jan. 6 cases.
Byron Donalds, a U.S. representative from Florida and a gubernatorial candidate, said political violence has no place in public discourse after a court hearing concerning the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, 31, was killed on September 10 at Utah Valley University; Tyler Robinson, 22, faces aggravated murder charges and prosecutors seek the death penalty. The preliminary hearing is scheduled to conclude Friday, with a ruling on whether Robinson will stand trial expected after September 1. Donalds appeared on Fox News and emphasized that while Americans may hold strong political opinions, violence is unacceptable. He noted that his staff have worked to protect him and his family. He said the deaths result from dehumanizing political opponents. The article also reported recent death threats against Donalds, including a Port Charlotte man arrested for threatening to kill him and a Cape Coral man who threatened to blow up his district office after Trump endorsed Donalds for governor. Donalds, the Republican primary front‑runner for the August 18 governor race, said such threats illustrate the danger of treating political rivals as enemies rather than citizens. The outcome of the Robinson hearing remains pending, and Donalds continues to campaign amid ongoing concerns about political violence.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals named attorney Anthony Sabatini in a published opinion and referred him to the court's Committee on Lawyer Qualifications and Conduct for possible discipline after determining his brief contained eight nonexistent case citations. Sabatini, a former Florida state representative and Lake County commissioner, previously filed multiple lawsuits challenging local mask mandates, all of which were dismissed. The court found that the brief he filed in a pandemic-era lawsuit on behalf of aviation workers against Atlas Air and Flight Services International relied on at least eight fabricated decisions, including a citation that appeared to be from the 11th Circuit itself. After opposing counsel highlighted the errors, Sabatini acknowledged the citations were erroneous or unverifiable and moved to withdraw eight cases. The court noted that the eight withdrawn cases did not correspond to any of the fabricated citations and were themselves invented. Judges said that relying on artificial intelligence without verification violates professional competence standards. The opinion quoted Chief Justice John Roberts' 2023 year-end report warning that citing nonexistent cases is always a bad idea. The panel concluded that completely outsourcing legal work to AI software is not competent and constitutes a violation of the client's interests. The referral to the disciplinary committee was issued by separate order through the chief judge, and appellate costs were imposed on Sabatini's clients. The case highlights the risk of AI-generated misinformation in legal practice and underscores the need for attorney oversight.
A 46-year-old man identified as Nelson Batista has been charged with illegally entering the United States by hiding aboard a cargo ship that traveled from the Dominican Republic to Tampa, according to a federal complaint filed June 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
The complaint alleges that Batista boarded the Canada Pearl, a bulk carrier, without permission and remained aboard during the vessel’s international voyage.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers were notified on June 23 that Batista would arrive in Tampa as a stowaway, and the ship’s captain informed shipping agent Hunter Villard, who then alerted CBP.
Federal law prohibits individuals from boarding or concealing themselves on vessels or aircraft without authorization while traveling across state or national borders.
If convicted, Batista faces up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
Prosecutors say the evidence establishes each element of the offense, including that he boarded without permission and remained aboard during international travel.
A review of federal law enforcement databases indicated that Batista had two prior encounters with CBP between 2005 and 2006, when he was discovered as a stowaway on vessels arriving in Corpus Christi, Texas, from foreign locations.
The complaint does not specify the origins of those earlier voyages.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Tuite approved the complaint on June 25.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Daab, Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, is prosecuting the case, and Tampa attorney David Dee is representing Batista.
Sea stowaway incidents reaching Florida ports are uncommon but have occurred, including three individuals intercepted by the Coast Guard and CBP a few miles offshore from PortMiami in January 2019, three stowaways found aboard the cargo ship Melbourne Strait at Port Everglades in June 2013, and four individuals apprehended after jumping ship at the mouth of Port Everglades in 2012, whose previous port of call was Puerto Cortes, Honduras.
The case is pending, and the court has not yet scheduled a trial date.
The 21st Century Road to Housing Act became law on July 10 after President Donald Trump declined to sign it, following a 10‑day period that began when House Speaker Mike Johnson...
The 21st Century Road to Housing Act became law on July 10 after President Donald Trump declined to sign it, following a 10‑day period that began when House Speaker Mike Johnson transmitted the bill on June 29. Congress approved the measure with large majorities after months of bipartisan negotiation, marking the largest change to federal housing policy for buyers, renters and homebuilders in decades. The legislation includes provisions intended to increase housing supply and to limit private equity purchases of homes. Trump said he would not sign the bill because of the Save America Act, which would impose new voting restrictions; that bill passed the House in February but has not cleared the Senate. In a post on Truth Social on Friday morning, Trump stated he would not sign the housing bill in protest over the Senate’s failure to pass the Save America Act. The White House declined to comment. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the president’s priorities appeared to be higher costs for families and greater personal power. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X that Republicans prefer making voting more difficult rather than easing housing costs. Earlier, Trump cancelled a scheduled signing ceremony and called the measure “a big yawn” and “so unimportant” compared with the Save America Act. On Thursday, Trump removed the three remaining commissioners from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, an independent federal body that assists election administration nationwide. The law now takes effect without the president’s signature, and its impact on housing affordability and private equity activity remains to be observed.
Crews drained the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool on Friday as part of a renovation project overseen by the National Park Service. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told podcaster Katie Miller that the draining was planned and that water might still contain debris from a recent Independence Day fireworks display. He added that the pool would be repaired, cleaned and refilled.
Trump has made the pool a symbol of American patriotism, proposing a liner that reflects the colors of the United States flag. The project, estimated to cost more than $16 million as of June, has been delayed by algae growth and a deteriorating blue liner. The administration attributes the damage to vandalism, a claim that has led to several arrests, including former cyclist David Hearn, who pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of property destruction.
Hearn’s lawyers argue that the indictment serves to deflect blame from the administration’s own failures. Critics say the selection of contractors, such as Green Water Solutions and Atlantic Industrial Coatings, raises concerns about nepotism because of their reported connections to Trump officials.
Democratic members of Congress have opened investigations into the project’s funding and the procurement process. The administration announced it will not solicit new bids for the next phase and will use the same contractor, Green Water Solutions, which received a $1.7 million contract for a water‑purification system, and Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which was awarded $14.7 million to repaint and waterproof the pool’s concrete floor.
In addition to the pool renovation, the administration has announced plans to demolish the White House East Wing to construct a $400 million ballroom and to build a tall arch linking the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery, aiming to complete the pool work before the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations.
Problems surfaced after the initial liner was cut by a sharp object on June 9, leading to a temporary closure before the fireworks event.
Florida officials say the state’s reliance on Microsoft software for schools, courts, utilities and the sheriff’s office raises national security concerns and has prompted a Federal Trade Commission investigation. The reliance means one company controls critical government functions across every county. In 2023 NASA’s Artemis II crew experienced a Microsoft Outlook outage during a mission, illustrating the vulnerability of such dependence. Critics note that Microsoft engineers based in China have maintained Pentagon systems and have reportedly disclosed software flaws to Chinese firms before notifying U.S. authorities, a practice that could enable Chinese state‑backed hackers to target U.S. systems. The FTC’s expanded probe into Microsoft is described as the most serious scrutiny the company has faced in years. Florida legislators have introduced bills to bar Chinese engineers from defense work, to divest state contracts from entities linked to the Chinese military, and to encourage competition in government software procurement. The debate centers on whether the antitrust laws designed to prevent market dominance are being violated by the state’s monopoly on a single technology provider. The FTC’s final decision will determine if the state can diversify its software suppliers and reduce security risk.
St. Petersburg City Council gave initial approval on July 20 to four referendum measures that will appear on the November ballot, covering the removal of two protected park lots, extensions of submerged land leases at Harborage Marina, increased lease limits at the Port of St. Petersburg, and updates to the city charter following the 2022 shift to even‑year elections.
The council set public hearings for July 23, after which the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections will finalize ballot language. The measures are ordered with a $600 million stormwater bond at the top of the ballot.
The first measure asks voters to delete the Methodist Town and Jamestown lots from the city’s protected park and waterfront map, a step that could permit the properties to be sold for affordable or workforce housing. The nine lots have been protected since a 1984 charter amendment, though they have never served as parks; the city acquired them as buffers for the Jamestown Apartments and Townhomes. Four lots are comparable to standard single‑family parcels, while the remaining five could accommodate about 37 housing units. Neighborhood leader Isabella Rios requested that seven of the nine lots be removed, preserving two as community space, arguing that the city can both build needed housing and retain green space. Council members have agreed to meet with neighborhood representatives before the second reading on July 23.
The second measure would extend the city’s lease of submerged lands at Harborage Marina, supporting planned upgrades to the marina. The third measure would raise lease limits at the Port of St. Petersburg, giving officials greater flexibility for long‑term projects and partnerships. The fourth measure would revise charter language to fully implement the 2022 change that moved municipal elections from odd‑numbered to even‑numbered years, a adjustment that previously required temporary fixes after each election cycle.
The council approved the package unanimously and directed staff to continue discussions with stakeholders ahead of the final vote. A formal resolution will later confirm the ballot order.
The referendum package now moves to the July 23 hearings and ultimately to the November ballot, where voters will decide on the land‑use changes, lease extensions, and charter updates.
The federal government has charged 15 Minneapolis residents with conspiracy for allegedly coordinating efforts to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations earlier this year. The indictment, unsealed in July 2026, alleges that the defendants communicated with rapid response groups, warned others about ICE agents and organized blockades at the agency’s headquarters in the Twin Cities. The group, identified as the “Minnesota 15,” is linked to Direct Action Minnesota, a coalition of local residents that provided community defense during the January 2026 operation, which involved nearly 4,000 ICE agents. Prosecutors say the defendants are affiliated with antifa, a decentralized movement that the Trump administration labeled a domestic terror organization in September 2025; the indictment does not include terrorism charges. Organizers have said they will not be deterred; Kelly Petersen, a Minneapolis organizer, noted that many defendants are teachers, nurses and other workers. Isaac Sant, the lead defendant, described the prosecution as political repression, while legal experts said the use of conspiracy law resembles the Prairieland, Texas, case, where eight protesters were convicted of providing material support to terrorists and received sentences ranging from 30 to 100 years. The Minnesota 15 face a maximum of six years for the conspiracy charge, with two additional counts that could bring up to 10 years for destruction of government property. The prosecution has obtained 15 to 16 terabytes of encrypted chat logs from the messaging app Signal that have not been shared with the defense, and in a separate case the FBI accessed lock‑screen messages after the app was deleted before a security patch was released. Defense attorney Sufia Khalid said the government’s theory could be applied to the thousands of Jan. 6 protesters, but that has not occurred. The case is expected to be heard by a jury in a region shaped by the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder and ongoing protests against police violence, and organizers say they will continue to protest as long as ICE presence remains in Minneapolis.
Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, withdrew his candidacy on July 10, 2026, after filing paperwork with the secretary of state to remove his name from the November ballot. The withdrawal followed his public announcement two days earlier and came amid allegations of sexual assault and previous controversies involving social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi emblem. In a letter posted on social media, Platner thanked supporters and called for continued populist activism, noting he received more than 156,000 votes in the June 9 primary. He denied the allegations, saying they were false and part of a Democratic establishment effort to undermine his campaign. Maine Secretary of State confirmed the filing; state party executive director Devon Murphy‑Anderson said the allegations were credible. Several potential Democratic nominees, including former state senator Troy Jackson, secretary of state Shenna Bellows, and former CDC director Nirav Shah, are vying for the nomination before a July 27 deadline. The party must select a new candidate to challenge incumbent Republican Susan Collins, a key target for Democrats seeking Senate control.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch’s political committee, St. Petersburg Progress, raised $14,000 from June 27 through July 3 and spent more than $62,000, leaving nearly $187,000 in available funds. The committee has raised just over $326,500 since January and spent nearly $140,000, leaving $187,000 available.
The committee spent the largest portion of its budget on polling and communications, allocating more than $19,000 to SEA Polling and more than $19,000 to MDW Communications, two payments each. Additional expenditures included $8,000 to ARC Initiatives, $5,000 to CN2 Strategies, $4,000 to AB Strategy, $3,000 to Bison Strategies and $3,400 to Meyer, Blohm and Powell, according to the filing.
Landry/French Construction, a commercial construction company based in Maine that opened its first Southeast office in downtown St. Petersburg in February, donated $9,000, the highest contribution from a single donor during the period. Green Mills Construction and Haminn Quaintance each contributed $2,500. Green Mills Construction is linked to the affordable housing developer selected for the $20 million Heritage Grove project, while Quaintance, a former college basketball player, owns Versatile Basketball Inc. in Palmetto.
St. Pete Shines, the political committee supporting former Governor Charlie Crist, has raised more than $1.52 million since its inception, spent about $346,700 and retains roughly $1.18 million. Between June 27 and July 3, the committee raised over $16,000 from seven donors, including $10,000 from Michael Connor, $2,500 from Rick Baker and $2,000 from Mark LaPrade, and spent nearly $35,000 on media, digital work and consulting.
Compared with St. Petersburg Progress, St. Pete Shines has raised about 4.7 times the amount and has roughly 6.3 times more money available.
Candidate account filings indicate that Crist has raised $79,000 with $48,000 available, Welch has raised $67,000 with $25,500 remaining, and former Fire Chief Jim Large has raised nearly $91,000 with $62,000 available, which includes a $30,000 personal contribution. Large’s A Better Burg committee has raised $56,000 overall, spent $13,000 and holds $42,000 available; it reported no new contributions during the three most recent periods and spent $3,000 from June 27 through July 3.
Gabbard’s campaign account shows $43,000 raised and $18,000 remaining, while the Forward Together PC supporting her has raised $10,500, spent nearly $8,000 and has $3,000 available. Community advocate Maria Scruggs has raised over $20,000 with $1,300 left, and former neighborhood association president Kevin Batdorf has raised $4,000 and expended the full amount.
Primary elections are scheduled for August 18; if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a November 3 runoff.
Michelle Todd Schorsch, chair of St. Pete Shines, is married to Peter Schorsch, publisher of Florida Politics.
Ben Butler, a Republican candidate from Okeechobee, has raised about $330,000 from nearly 300 individual donors to challenge U.S. Representative Darren Soto in Florida’s 9th Congressional District, with the primary set for August 18. The district was redrawn after Governor Ron DeSantis altered the map, shifting the seat from a Central Florida area where 51% of voters supported Democrat Kamala Harris to a district extending from Kissimmee to Okeechobee where 58% supported Republican Donald Trump. Butler, who co-owns Butler Oaks Farm and grew up in Central Florida, launched his campaign in May and has received public endorsements from U.S. Representatives Kat Cammack and Greg Steube. His campaign reported that the money came from individual donors and did not include personal loans. Unlike Thomas Chalifoux, who loaned his campaign $2.25 million before April and pledged up to $3 million, Butler said he is not using personal loans. Marcus Carter, the main Republican opponent, raised just under $21,000 through June, according to his campaign. Seven Republicans have qualified for the primary, but most have not yet filed their second‑quarter reports. The new map may increase the competitiveness of the race, as it now includes a larger share of Republican‑leaning voters. The primary on August 18 will decide which candidate advances to face Soto in the general election.
Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, ended his campaign on Wednesday and posted a video announcing his withdrawal. In the video, he quoted former President Richard Nixon, saying, "Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty. Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself." Platner said his decision was based on the need to focus on other priorities and that he would not continue to pursue the race. The suspension leaves the Democratic primary in Maine with several other candidates still in the contest. The party will now select a new nominee to challenge the incumbent in the November election.