You may have seen those annoying Youtbe ads for SHEIN, a Chinese fashion retailer. At the end of November, the company filed for a US Initial Public Offering (IPO), which means it wants to be on our stock market. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) expressed concerns over the development in a recent letter to NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange, telling them to ensure SHEIN will behave transparently over its potential use of forced labor and its conduct.

The concern over forced labor comes from the fact that 90% of China's cotton production is based in Xinjiang, using Uyghur forced labor. SHEIN stands credibly accused of using this cotton in its products, a story Bloomberg has covered since 2022.

More suspiciously, SHEIN products bought in the US are shipped directly from China, and most are under the $800 de minimis threshold, meaning they do not have to pay import duty. The problem with this, Sen. Scott wrote, is this means they are less subject to scrutiny and can dodge the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act more easily.

As a result, Sen. Scott put forth multiple questions for the NYE and NASDAQ to answer about SHEIN, such as ensuring they are not using forced labor, beheld to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or will comply with auditing and investing standards.

"These questions must be answered before moving forward with any listing on American financial exchanges," said Scott, adding, "Americans have already lost tens of billions of dollars on failed Chinese company IPOs in recent years, including Didi Global and Luckin Coffee. These frauds allow Communist China and their non-market economy to distort our free and open market, rob U.S. citizens of their savings, and give companies the benefits of access to U.S. markets without the responsibility of following the same laws as their competitors. It is in your interest to prevent this from occurring once again."

Scott first called out SHEIN's attempted entry into the US stock market in late November, saying, "Allowing continued IPOs for companies operating at the will of the CCP only hurts the integrity of our free & open system & our capital markets."

The post Scott Demands Transparency as SHEIN Seeks US Stock Entry appeared first on The Floridian.

For several months, Houthi rebels from Yemen have been attacking international shipping in the Red Sea. A coalition of the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries recently warned the group to cease their attacks or be punished. Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) did not express confidence in the warning in a recent appearance on Fox and Friends First, especially as the Houthis are part of a larger plan by America's adversaries to disrupt the West.

Rep. Mills pointed out that the Biden Administration had removed the Houthis from the foreign terrorist organization (FTO) list, added by President Trump.

Additionally, he compared the situation to the aftermath of the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009 (the subject of the 2012 film Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks).

"You saw where they were actually starting to patrol the internationally recommended transit corridor to ensure that we had commercial lanes open," said Rep. Mills, adding that three Houthi boats were sunk on New Year's Eve by American Naval forces, warning the crisis could escalate.

Moreover, Mills continued, "I want to paint a broader picture for the American people, which the incident that is occurring with this attempt to block commerce or disrupt commerce is part of the bigger geopolitical plan by the China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea alignment."

On top of disrupting trade in the Middle East, Mills pointed out China's investments in Panama as a means of influencing trade in the Western Hemisphere, "using economic coercion to try and cut off and increase trade tariffs on the Panama Canal."

In June, Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) similarly warned of investments along the Panama Canal by the Chinese, as the Republic becomes dangerously friendly to China, up to no longer recognizing Taiwan as a country.

Mills has not minced words in blasting the Biden Administration's foreign policy, recently saying that "Obama/Biden’s own Secretary of Defense stated that Joe Biden has been wrong on EVERY foreign policy issue," and that the President "has emboldened our adversaries through weakness, and America’s position on the work stage is taking a hit. We’ve got to bring back Trump's foreign policies and a peace through strength mindset."

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) recently led a group of GOP lawmakers to Eagle Pass, Texas, to demand border security. The Biden Administration has claimed they require more funds to secure the border, to which Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) viciously replied, "If my eyes had rolled any harder, they would have rolled out of *censored*," calling the White House's counter-demand "total crap" in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Evening Edit.

Rep. Cammack continued to not mince words when she added, "[President Biden] has been given more resources for the border and securing the border than any other time in history. This is absurd. And when he says he wants more money, let us not forget that he said he wants more money to process illegals faster."

As a result, Rep. Cammack stated continuing resolutions (CRs) for the Congressional budget are "no longer an option" as a government shutdown grows closer, saying, "We have to do the appropriations process, single-issue bills and secure the damn border."

Other Florida Republicans have similarly demanded the border crisis be treated as a standalone issue before any other bills would be considered, including Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Cory Mills (R-FL).

Moreover, she predicted the current crisis would drive voters away from Democrats in the 2024 Election, especially as California intends to provide free healthcare to illegal migrants and Howard County, Maryland, will create an extra seat on state school boards only migrants can vote for.

"That kind of nonsense is going to drive people from the middle of the political spectrum to vote for conservatives because they do not like what is happening to their communities. The open border policies of Joe Biden have turned every town in America into a border town," Cammack continued.

California's new law went into effect with the new year starting, which critics have said will only strain the state's Medi-Cal program further, especially as California faces spending deficit problems.

In December, officials in Maryland's Howard County argued a position on the county school board, for which only illegal immigrants could vote, could feasibly exist based on the wording of a current provision in the system, which says a position on the school board is voted upon exclusively by public school students.

The post Cammack Does Not Hold Back: 'Secure the Damn Border' appeared first on The Floridian.

With Congress getting ready to go back into session, House Republicans will continue their impeachment inquiry of President Biden. Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) appeared on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria to discuss potential developments in the process, namely regarding First Son Hunter and his refusal to give closed-door testimony.

In mid-December, Hunter Biden was subpoenaed to appear before the House to give closed-door testimony. Rather than comply, the First Son instead gave a brief statement on the Senate side of the Capitol decrying the investigation and left. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) later called Hunter's statement "a joke" and added it would "demonstrate how arrogant he is about the seriousness of what is going on."

Rep. Steube indicated Hunter would not comply with further subpoenas and predicted the House would vote to charge him for contempt of Congress in the coming week.

"And remember when the [former President Donald] Trump officials like Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon defied Congress and a Congressional subpoena? The [Department of Justice] charged them with contempt of Congress. Steve Bannon himself spent four months in prison. So it would be very interesting to see after the House passes the contempt resolution if the DOJ actually charges Hunter Biden like they did the Trump officials who defy Congressional subpoenas as well," Rep. Steube added, inferring a double standard will be evident otherwise.

Panelist Amber Duke asked if House Republicans had any intention of taking action against Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who helped Hunter Biden arrange the press conference outside the Capitol he gave instead of testifying.

The Hill reported Rep. Swalwell used his authority to reserve the area outside the Senate wing of the Capitol for Hunter's press conference. The positioning was also intentional, as Democrats control the upper chamber.

Steube replied that House Oversight Chair Representative James Comer (R-KY) "is looking into" and "I hope that is something that the Ethics Committee is looking at" as well.

"That is aiding and abetting [in] violating a Congressional subpoena as a member of Congress," Steube explained.

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Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) began the New Year with an ad for his 2024 reelection campaign, invoking former President Ronald Reagan and saying America must "cowboy up and fight like hell" to reclaim its values.

"We’re losing our country because of Democrats’ radical agenda. Prices and crime are soaring. The border is wide open. Millions of Americans can no longer afford a home. It’s time to cowboy up and turn our country around," Sen. Scott tweeted.

We’re losing our country because of Democrats’ radical agenda.

Prices and crime are soaring. The border is wide open. Millions of Americans can no longer afford a home.

It’s time to cowboy up and turn our country around.pic.twitter.com/pIhjUsYpbO

— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) January 3, 2024

"If Ronald Reagan were here right now, he would say, 'What the hell have you guys done to my great country?" the ad opened, with Sen. Scott then listing off various problems such as the border crisis, inflation, the Ukraine war, the Afghanistan withdrawal, the transgender debate, and student loan forgiveness.

"The game is now rigged against hardworking Americans who still believe in this country, believe in God, and the American values of hard work, patriotism, and self-reliance," Scott continued, adding, "This is not a fight for the faint of heart, it is not a fight for the weak. We are losing our country. It is time to cowboy up and fight like hell to turn this country around. We can do it. Make no mistake, we will do it."

Scott first announced his reelection bid the previous January, after clarifying he was not seeking a Presidential run amidst speculation.

In August, Florida Democrats unified around a challenger, former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. In an interview with The Floridian, Scott pointed out that the former Congresswoman "voted 100% with Nancy Pelosi" despite her portrayal as a centrist and moderate.

"Centrist? That was only for the campaign. Not when [she] voted. She voted 100% with Nancy Pelosi. So, that story, that’s just for the campaign," Scott told The Floridian.

Early in December, former President Donald Trump, who remains the most popular Republican candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election, endorsed Scott's reelection to the Senate in a praising statement.

"I have known Rick for a long time, as both a businessman and great Governor of FLORIDA, and there are very few like him!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that Senator Scott is "strong on the Border, Crime, our Great Military/Vets, our Second Amendment, and the only person who has been willing to take on the very destructive Super RINO, Mitch McConnell."

Two weeks later, Mucarsel-Powell landed an endorsement of her own from Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL).

The post Scott Invokes Reagan in Reelection Campaign Ad, Says 'It's Time to Cowboy Up and Fight Like Hell' appeared first on The Floridian.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck an important blow against Hamas, killing senior leader Saleh al-Arouri in a drone strike outside Beirut, Lebanon. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) appeared on Fox News's America Reports, calling the attack "a very big deal," because it demonstrated the resolve necessary to keep terrorists in check by ruthlessly hunting them down.

While certainly advantageous, Reuters reported that Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel did not claim responsibility for the attack after Lebanon accused the Jewish State of trying to provoke a war. Additionally, the drone strike was "a surgical strike against the Hamas leadership," not an attack on Lebanon itself.

Al-Arouri was a key member of Hamas and considered a co-founder of the group's military wing. Additionally, he was linked to several terror attacks carried out by Hamas, including the 2014 kidnapping and murder of three Israeli civilians, and the Department of the Treasury named him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2015.

Hence, Rep. Waltz called al-Arouri's death "a very big deal."

"This was the deputy commander. He was a specially designated terrorist by the United States with a $5 million bounty on his head, and if I were any Hamas leader right now, whether you are in Turkey, Beirut, or elsewhere, I would not sleep well at night. The Israelis will hunt them down," said Rep. Waltz, making a comparison to Operation Wrath of God, the decades-long campaign by Mossad to track and kill the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.

Waltz further added that Israel has "every right to do this, just as we had every right to hunt down the leadership of al-Qaeda after the 9/11 strikes."

Moreover, by relentless pursuit, he argued, "this is how you take down their capabilities."

"As long as they are worried about where they are going to sleep at night, they do not have time to plot and plan like this leader did in the run-up to October 7th. This is how you keep a lid on terrorism. You keep a boot on their neck," Waltz concluded.

In the case of Hamas, Waltz has also repeatedly argued that the United States must keep Iran, the group's sponsor, under "maximum pressure" so they cannot provide Hamas with money and weapons, lest Israel will be fighting the group forever.

The post Waltz Calls Death of Hamas Leader 'Very Big Deal,' Calls For Relentless Hunting of Terrorists appeared first on The Floridian.

House Republicans continue to demand action on the southern border, and the Representatives from Florida count among the most vocal. Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) discussed the border crisis in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria, saying Democrats have been ignoring the issue "at their own political peril" and Americans will recognize current policies as "not humane."

"[Democrats] ignore it at their own political peril," said Rep. Cammack, "but also at the risk of our own national security." Having visited the border herself several times, she described seeing "little children that are being trafficked. You see women who have been abused. You see grown military-age men with tattoos on their faces claiming asylum. It is clear the entire immigration system is broken."

As such, Rep. Cammack stated, "We need to bifurcate the issue," meaning the border must be secure first and foremost before any other policies are considered, similar to demands by Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Cory Mills (R-FL).

Substitute host Sheryl Casone pointed out that the Biden Administration has authorized the construction of additional border walls despite initial claims they would not "because quietly they know they have got a huge problem on their hands."

Cammack agreed, saying, "We are one terrorist attack away from a major, major loss of life but [also] a breach in our national security," as Rep. Luna, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has previously warned.

Moreover, Cammack highlighted the inability of Health and Human Services (HHS) to keep track of over 85,000 migrant children, for which Secretary Xavier Becerra was unable to answer in April.

"There is going to be a bombshell report that Americans are going to look up and say, 'what the heck is the Biden Administration doing? This is not a humane policy, this is not asylum," Cammack continued before speculating the border crisis is intentional, designed to "sway elections, to do things illegally," similar to speculation by Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL).

Nevertheless, she concluded this is precisely why Congress must demand action within the next 17 days before another government shutdown.A

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A large caravan of migrants are working their way up to the southern border, suggested to be thousands strong. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) posted a brief video on X (formerly Twitter) pointing out the timing of the caravan in the news cycle, how these events receive organized assistance, and that they are easily avoidable.

In addition, Rep. Luna said, "There needs to be a stand-alone border bill. Don't tie it to anything else."

There needs to be a stand alone border bill. Dont tie it to anything else. Also if you have info on the orgs that are orchestrating these, post them below. pic.twitter.com/3pQ0EBFSTk

— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) December 28, 2023

The Hill described how the caravan began in Mexico, made up of migrants from across Central and South America and heading north from Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala. The Mexican government's slow-walking to process migrants has contributed to the caravan's creation as a means of protection.

Rep. Luna pointed out in her video that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) frequently organize these caravans, as authorities have "literally found documentation literature and for goodness' sakes, sometimes these people have cellphones that they are actually given in order to organize these massive marches to the US-Mexico border."

A follow-up post by Rep. Luna posted information about one such NGO, known as "Pueblo Sin Fronteras" ("People Without Borders"), who organized a previous caravan in 2018.

Oh gee wiz look what we have here. https://t.co/Gjir9AXDfs pic.twitter.com/JOz96EcprR

— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) December 28, 2023

Furthermore, Luna pointed out that migrants have come from all over the world through the border, including a worryingly high number of people on the known terrorist watchlist, something she, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) have warned about before.

Others, Luna continued, have come from China, which Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) said are likely serving as spies for the Chinese Communist Party.

"So to hear that this is somehow a humanitarian thing, and we need to just blanket wave these people in. One, it is stupid, but also it is a political talking point. And let me be clear about something. We absolutely have the ability to stop this, and we should," Luna concluded.

Luna's video came after President Biden sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to Mexico in order to negotiate a solution to the crisis.

Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan derided the meeting as a useless gesture because House Republicans already passed the Secure the Border Act in May and have been demanding the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House pass it without trying to attach funding to Ukraine and other foreign aid.

The post Luna Warns of New Migrant Caravan, Says Stand-Alone Border Bill Needed appeared first on The Floridian.

Maine has become the second state to remove former President Donald Trump from its primary ballot, sparking outrage among the right. Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) appeared on Fox News's Ingraham Angle to discuss, saying the decision "opens up Pandora's Box" and suggested such moves are a means to distract voters from Biden's polling numbers and policies.

"The idea that one bureaucrat in an executive position can simply unilaterally disqualify someone from office. That turns on its head every notion of constitutional due process that this country has always abided by for over 200 years. It opens up Pandora's Box," said Gov. DeSantis, adding that a Republican Secretary of State can remove President Biden from their state's ballot by the same logic for his handling of the border crisis, which could be interpreted as knowingly aiding and abetting our enemies.

While Maine's decision is not likely to stand by the U.S. Supreme Court, Gov. DeSantis suggested similar events about Trump's legal cases will occur throughout the coming election year because Democrats "do not want to face accountability for their failed policies," similar to comments made by Representative Cory Mills (R-FL), who has said actions have intentionally been taken against Trump shortly after damning information about Joe and Hunter Biden has been revealed.

Substitute host Jason Chaffetz asked what the Republican Party and other primary candidates should do next.

DeSantis answered that if he wins the Republican nomination, he "will be able to keep the focus on the Democratic failures, but then more importantly, after you win the election, start holding these people accountable who have weaponized the legal system to go after their political enemies. And that starts on day one, firing somebody like Jack Smith that goes to dealing with people who are violating constitutional rights at the state and local government area. Republicans have turned a blind eye to abuses of power for too long," DeSantis concluded.

Trump continues to dominate in the polls, and this latest removal will likely make the point spread even wider.

The post DeSantis Suggests Removal of Trump from Maine Ballot is to Distract from Biden's Failures appeared first on The Floridian.

With just weeks away before the Iowa Caucus, the candidates in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary not named President Donald Trump do not seem to be gaining any real traction. Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is in a (distant) second to Trump, has been under the most scrutiny, and rumors of his campaign's suspension are swirling again.

The Washington Examiner reported that Ryan Tyson, a long-time adviser of Gov. DeSantis, has supposedly said the campaign is in the "make the patient comfortable" stage, a phrase used for a person in hospice care.

However, Gov. DeSantis's communications director, Andrew Romeo, denied the quote, dismissing Tyson's remark as the "same media hit job based on unnamed sources with agendas" and said DeSantis has come out against the odds before, and the campaign will do so again in January.

Matt Gorman and Tim Hogan, political strategists for Targeted Victory and Arc Initiatives, respectively, discussed the supposed Tyson quote on Fox News's Faulkner Focus. Gorman said the issue is ultimately up to the voters.

"I think with two weeks to go, Tim [Hogan] and I both spent time on presidential campaigns. I think, at this point, it is with the voters. It is for them to make that call. The morning after voting, whether it is the day after Iowa for someone like DeSantis or Vivek [Ramaswamy] or New Hampshire with someone like [Chris] Christie, if they do not meet expectations, they will have to make some hard decisions, and they should do it quickly," said Gorman.

Hogan, meanwhile, agreed with Donald Trump in saying DeSantis's campaign has been "falling like an ailing bird from the sky" and called him "Ted Cruz without the personality instead of Trump without the drama which we were promised."

"I think he is going to stay until Iowa. He needs a first or a very good second-place finish in order to continue, in order for this campaign to go on," Hogan concluded.

The Floridian has chronicled the troubled history of DeSantis's campaign and Never Back Down super PAC, which saw multiple members quit or fired in a short span of months, and the latest Real Clear Politics poll update puts Donald Trump at an average of 51 points ahead of DeSantis.

Will Tyson's supposed remark become a self-fulfilling prophecy as Romeo's becomes self-defeating?

The post Is This the End? Rumors of Suspension Plague DeSantis Campaign appeared first on The Floridian.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas recently traveled to Mexico, seeking help in stemming the massive tide of migrants crossing the southern border. In a recent appearance on Fox News's Hannity, Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan did not mince words when they said a plan was already in place: The Secure the Border Act (HR2) bill passed by the House in May, yet the Biden Administration and Senate do not want to pass it unless foreign aid is included.

"You have an administration, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and everybody else, they do not want to do the simple job of securing the border. And so now when you have a massive catastrophe which they created. Now they are going down to Mexico to see what can be done. The answer is simple: to follow the House Republicans' HR2. It is the plan," said Rep. Donalds, adding that any discussion of Ukraine can come later.

Substitute host Kayleigh McEnany pointed out that Senate Democrats seek to tie border security and foreign aid together, asking what House Republicans will accept.

Rep. Donalds answered that nothing short of HR2 as-is would be acceptable, as House Republicans would not "negotiate against ourselves for some ham-handed deal that gets negotiated in the Senate."

Additionally, Donalds scathingly called Senate negotiations "weak sauce not worth the paper that they are printed on" and do not affect any real change.

"HR2 is the starting point. The Senators can negotiate all they want, but nothing is moving through the House without HR2," Donalds concluded.

The Florida Congressman has been a ferocious critic of the Biden Administration's handling of the border crisis, suggesting in November that the Department of Homeland Security should be defunded if it will not secure the border.

More recently, his colleague Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) suggested the allowance of migrants into the country in such massive numbers is intentional, although Rep. Gimenez could not provide an answer as to why.

The post Donalds Warns 'Nothing Moving Through House Without HR2' appeared first on The Floridian.

Is the perception of Democrats being the anti-Israel party accurate? Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) reiterated that the Democrats in the House who are critical of the Jewish State are a small minority during the "Common Ground" segment on Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier, saying that out of 214, only twelve can be considered consistently anti-Israel, and also spoke on the Biden Administration's response to a recent attack on US troops in Iraq.

Rep. Moskowitz did concede there was "a split" among Democrats over Israel but reminded viewers "You have seen dramatic bipartisan support" for it as well.

"There are a dozen or so, and some join them from time to time, but the overwhelming majority of Democrats, along with my colleagues across the aisle, support Israel. If you look at the bill [on] Israel's right to exist, there was only one 'no' vote on that in Congress," said Rep. Moskowitz, evidently referencing a resolution voted on near the end of November, with the single "no" vote" coming from Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY).

Additionally, Moskowitz offered commentary on a recent drone strike ordered by the Biden Administration after Iran-backed militants injured three American soldiers in an attack. This marked the 103rd attack on US installations in Iraq and Syria, which House Republicans such as Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) have said deserve a stronger response.

Moskowitz, on the other hand, said while these Iranian proxies are pushing the envelope, he did "think [the administration] should respond forcefully, but make sure, obviously, they do not give opportunity for someone to take advantage and widen the war."

As a result, he concluded, "This is going to take a while, and then obviously there is going to be time thereafter to figure out what happens with the remainder of Gaza and the West Bank and the Arab world, what will happen when Hamas's military capabilities are completely destroyed."

Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) similarly speculated on what happens after the war, pointing at the problem of Iran being able to fund Hamas and the difficulty of deradicalizing the remaining Palestinian population.

The post Moskowitz Reaffirms Majority of Democrats Support Israel appeared first on The Floridian.

The State of Israel intends to destroy Hamas once and for all after their horrific October 7th attack. But what comes after? Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) discussed Israel's post-war goals in a recent appearance on Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum, saying the Jewish State will have difficulty in conquering Hamas as long as Iran can fund them and the challenge of demilitarizing and deradicalizing Palestine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated there are three conditions for peace necessary for the war to end: Destruction of Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, and deradicalizing the Palestinians—however, Rep. Waltz suggested "a lot of questions on whether Israel is going to occupy [Gaza] or some international force is going to occupy, like how that is going to happen."

Additionally, he said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will likely contribute towards the deradicalization process.

Nevertheless, Rep. Waltz warned, "Israel is just going to be mowing the grass in Gaza, it is going to grow back [and] terrorism is going to come back as Iran is flush with cash," reiterating the point that Iran sponsors Hamas and will continue to do so until the Biden Administration will "do a one-eighty and reverse course on its Iran policy, go back to maximum pressure and dry up their coffers that are fueling terrorism across the region," something the Florida Congressman has been calling for before the October 7th attack.

Substitute host Bret Baier pointed out that deradicalizing a population is difficult, especially one you were fighting.

Waltz agreed, saying, "It is going to take the international Arab and Islamic community to step in," saying Jordan, the Gulf States, and Egypt "are willing to take a greater role, and that is going to be absolutely critical."

Moreover, as the United States enters an election year, Waltz speculated, "What kind of staying power does President Biden and his administration have with Israel?"

The post Waltz Postulates on Israel, Gaza's Future After Hamas War appeared first on The Floridian.

The US launched several retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militants in Iraq over Christmas after they attacked American troops earlier that day, injuring three. Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) appeared on Fox and Friends First to discuss, saying these retaliatory strikes mean little in the broader geopolitical perspective, and condemned the US's military interventionism without any real goals and ignoring domestic problems such as the southern border.

"What you are seeing is the interlinking of what is also happening in Israel," said Rep. Mills, explaining that Hamas and the Houthis, both backed by Iran, have escalated their attacks since October, as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) seek to destroy Hamas and the Houthis have attacked shipping in the Red Sea, calling these "continuations of terroristic behavior by the Iranians."

More importantly, Rep. Mills argued, "We have to understand that the geopolitical alignment of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea needs to be a broader topic for us to be discussing, not looking at attacks as singular areas."

Contributor Joey Jones compared the situation to the Iraq War following the September 11th attacks, saying Americans will be left trying to figure out how we are at war in these countries after the October 7th attacks in Israel by Hamas.

Mills replied that he and other members of Congress are seeking to revoke the Authorized Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed in 2001 and reassert Congress's sole authority to declare war, citing the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan as a perfect example of why it needs to be rescinded.

"This George W. Bush, neoconservative world police kind of mentality or ideology does not work. It drains down our treasures, it costs us American lives with no real understanding of US national security interests," said Mills, further adding that "we should not be in Iraq or Syria to begin with."

"Let us bring our troops home to start thinking about how we actually build up a robust defense here at home when we have open borders that are actually allowing an invasion," Mills continued, repeating the warnings of other Florida Republicans such as Representative Anna Paulina Luna, Governor Ron DeSantis, and Senator Rick Scott.

"So let us prioritize the real priorities here, which is our southern border and American lives, not trying to protect the borders of nations or get a sense of interventionist warfare that we do not have a real solution for how we actually see success," Mills concluded.

The post Mills Condemns 'Neoconservative' Interventionism After US Retaliates Against 103rd Attack in Iraq appeared first on The Floridian.

With thousands of illegal migrants attempting to cross the border regularly, how are they relocated throughout the United States? Delta Airlines has been helping, and Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is seeking answers in a letter to Delta's CEO Ed Bastion on how long they have been doing it.

Delta's involvement became known when conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair recently posted a video claiming detained migrants were put on a plane from Phoenix to New York City. Not only was she on the same flight with them, but further suggested they still had bags from the detention center.

As a result, Rep. Gaetz's letter to Bastion demanded he answer how many migrants Delta has flown across the United States since January 2021 and how the tickets are paid for. Additionally, he asked if Delta has received any sort of government reimbursement for transporting migrants and if the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has told them what is an acceptable form of ID for migrants to receive tickets.

St. Clair posted Rep. Gaetz's letter on X (formerly Twitter), mocking Delta by saying these questions "should be easy to answer."

BREAKING: Congressman @mattgaetz has called for Delta CEO Ed Bastion to answer to Congress on the transportation of non-resident migrants

He’s calling for Delta to answer a few very simple questions:

•How many non-resident aliens has Delta airlines transported on behalf of… pic.twitter.com/ItYAKSg0ZN

— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) December 22, 2023

Gaetz's letter comes hot on the heels of recent reports that 12,000 migrants crossed the Mexican border in a single day, shattering previous records. This prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to demand President Biden take executive action and secure the border as negotiations between the House, Senate, and White House continue to stall.

Additionally, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas are scheduled to visit Mexico and speak with President Andres Obrador on a solution to the migrant crisis.

However, Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) ominously suggested this is pointless in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria. Not only are Blinken and Mayorkas incompetent, he argued, but Biden is intentionally allowing the border crisis to spiral out of control for some unknown reason.

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The State of Florida has demonstrated defiance in the face of Federal overreach from the Biden Administration, often rallying other states behind it. Florida Attorney General (AG) Ashley Moody has filed a lawsuit with 21 other states against new carbon emissions standards imposed through the National Highway System, calling them "arbitrary."

Introduced earlier in December and designed to take effect in January, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will track greenhouse gas emissions on major roadways throughout the United States through state-level departments and metropolitan planning organizations, which will set their own declining carbon dioxide (CO2) targets.

Not only can states impose arbitrary standards, AG Moody argued, "This rule forces states to spend an inordinate amount of time, resources and money with no clear guidance for what success looks like."

Moreover, the suit noted Federal agencies cannot compel state-level agencies to implement such systems, nor did Congress authorize the DOT and FHWA to do so. Hence, the argument is the White House overstepped its authority and intends to force policy through whatever agencies it can.

"As if Biden’s unfounded and reckless energy policies haven’t devastated our economy enough, this new, foolhardy edict from the U.S. Department of Transportation will create even more financial hardships for our state and Floridians. We’re taking action today to ensure that this misguided new-emissions rule does not stand," said AG Moody in her press release.

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is fully behind the suit, saying "Florida will not sit idly by while the Biden Administration tries to force the Green New Deal into existence through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Florida will always fight for freedom and against the federal government’s unlawful efforts to control the American people."

In July, Moody led a similar coalition of state attorney generals against efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which sought to implement emission regulations for gas-powered vehicles in order to have 67% of new vehicles sold powered by electricity by 2032.

Moody called the proposed regulations "misguided and counterproductive," based on "a dangerous, expedited timeline to shift to electric vehicles will harm consumers and wreak havoc on our energy infrastructure."

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The ongoing crisis at the southern border is not resolving itself. Instead, it may very well be escalating. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) recently demanded President Biden take executive action to curb the flow of illegal migrants, but nothing has occurred yet. Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) spoke about Johnson's demand for action in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria, where he suggested the Biden Administration is intentionally flooding the country with migrants for unknown reasons.

Host Maria Bartiromo pointed out that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas will be sent to Mexico soon to negotiate a solution to the crisis.

Rep. Gimenez replied such a meeting was unnecessary because "All they need to do is change their policies," as President Biden reversed all of former President Donald Trump's border policies almost immediately after assuming office, leading to the current predicament.

Bartiromo then asked if any substantive change would occur soon.

"What do I expect from Mayorkas and Blinken going down to Mexico?" Rep. Gimenez asked rhetorically, "Nothing because they have proven to be totally incompetent in both of their jobs."

Moreover, he further pointed out that Customs and Border Patrol have already said what needs doing, yet the Biden Administration has "chosen to ignore them."

"And I have said that for a long time: this is on purpose. This is not because they are incompetent. They want this to happen. You cannot be this dumb. We know what we need to do; they just refuse to do it," Gimenez continued, although he could not posit why.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez joins Maria to weigh in on House Speaker Mike Johnson's call on President Biden to suspend immigration to contain the surge of migrants crossing the border pic.twitter.com/FWvgfBgZyh

— Mornings with Maria (@MorningsMaria) December 22, 2023

Furthermore, Gimenez mentioned that Democratic officials such as Senators, Governors, and mayors are privately in agreement that the border must be secured, echoing a sentiment shared by Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) in a recent statement, where he said: "commonsense Democrats know this is a problem that has to be addressed."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) was notably vocal earlier this year as the Big Apple was flooded with illegal migrants, saying that it would "destroy New York City" in September. 

The post Gimenez Accuses Biden: 'Border Crisis is on Purpose' appeared first on The Floridian.

The Biden Administration recently performed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela's Maduro regime, with one of the most high-profile prisoners the U.S. released being Alex Saab, a Maduro ally accused of bribery and money laundering. Several Florida lawmakers, including Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) condemned the freeing of Saab, calling it the latest case of appeasement by America under Biden.

For additional context, Saab was extradited to the U.S. in 2021 for his supposed involvement in a money laundering scheme for Venezuela's benefit and helping the regime evade U.S. sanctions. In return, the Biden Administration bargained for the release of ten Americans and twenty Venezuelan political dissidents, including aides of opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado.

The most notable prisoner freed by Venezuela as part of the exchange was "Fat Leonard" Francis, accused of leading an extensive bribery scheme within the U.S. Navy throughout the Pacific, for which he pled guilty. However, Francis escaped house arrest and fled the country last September, only to be detained by Venezuela on his way to Russia.

Sen. Rubio called the exchange "shameless" in a recent statement, saying this further incentivizes America's adversaries to kidnap and detain Americans, echoing a statement by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in August after the Biden Administration paid $6 billion to Iran in exchange for five American hostages.

"President Biden’s actions to reward the taking of American hostages by first lifting sanctions, releasing Maduro’s nephews, and now Alex Saab is shameless. Saab is the architect of Maduro’s corruption and money laundering operation that deprived resources from the people of Venezuela. Unfortunately, this exchange will only embolden dictators to kidnap more Americans," said Sen. Rubio.

On X (formerly Twitter), Rep. Gimenez similarly called the exchange "pathetic" and warned of the same incentivization for kidnapping Americans.

"Denouncing the Biden Administration’s pathetic release of Maduro regime agent & crime lord Alex Saab back to #Venezuela! The Biden Administration’s dangerous actions are putting American citizens at risk of being kidnapped around the world," Rep. Gimenez tweeted.

#SOSVenezuela

Denouncing the Biden Administration’s pathetic release of Maduro regime agent & crime lord Alex Saab back to #Venezuela!

The Biden Administration’s dangerous actions are putting American citizens at risk of being kidnapped around the world. pic.twitter.com/M5H0bI7ipp

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) December 20, 2023

Rep. Diaz-Balart called the exchange "the latest demonstration of the Biden Administration’s appeasement of the anti-American, narcotrafficking Maduro regime," adding it was "Infuriating and dangerous, but not a surprise."

Today, we see the latest demonstration of the Biden Administration’s appeasement of the anti-American, narcotrafficking Maduro regime. Infuriating and dangerous, but not a surprise.https://t.co/fMrkGD8aaq

— Mario Díaz-Balart (@MarioDB) December 20, 2023

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