Republicans in both chambers of the Florida Legislature introduced the Kamala Harris Truth in Slavery Teaching Act, bringing some controversy alongside it. State Senator Shevrin Jones (D-FL) provided a statement, calling the bill an “aimless, desperate trolling of Vice President Harris.”

The legislation, introduced by State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-FL) and State Representative Kiyan Michael (R-FL) looks to require instruction on the history of African Americans to “include a comprehensive account of the sociopolitical circumstances surrounding slavery, including which political parties supported slavery by adopting pro-slavery tenets as part of their platform, etc.”

The Democratic Party supported slavery at that time.

State Sen. Jones declared that this bill is a display of “political games” in Tallahassee.

“Yet again, MAGA Republicans in Tallahassee are shamelessly playing political games as a means to distract from their lack of action and plans to address the challenges facing everyday Floridians,” said Jones. “It is disheartening, though unsurprising, to see them resort to aimless, desperate trolling of Vice President Harris –tactics familiar to women and people of color in public life– rather than focusing on the issues that are top of mind for the people they serve.”

He continued, accusing Republicans in Florida of hypocrisy as they allegedly want to keep politics out of while injecting “blatant partisanship into education.”

“These same elected officials claim they want to keep political ideology out of the classroom, but then inject blatant partisanship into education every chance they get. Our schools don’t need more politicians involved in decision-making or attacking educators who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities,” said Jones.

Finally, Jones insinuated that both State Sen. Ingoglia and State Rep. Michael account for the “dramatic party realignment” – perhaps alluding to the supposed “party switch” of the 1960s.\

“It would do both Senator Ingoglia and Representative Michael a world of good to research the party of Lincoln they claim to be part of AND the dramatic party realignment that has happened in this country in the last 150 years. They cannot have it both ways, claiming to be on the side of freedom and civil rights when they are walking a different walk and actively dismantling Floridians’ rights and freedoms,” concluded Jones.

Ingoglia and Michael’s bill was filed on Wednesday.

The post Shevrin Jones Accuses FL GOP of 'Trolling' Kamala Harris with Slavery Bill appeared first on The Floridian.

It is no secret that Florida continues to grow at a breakneck pace..  However, many would be shocked to learn where in Florida is growing the fastest.  According to recent numbers, the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has taken over as the fastest-growing region to move to, with Ocala placing second.

U-Haul published a report based on their company analytics on which area in their market became the most popular to move to in 2023.  According to U-Haul's report that measures one-way movers in U-Haul equipment from last year, Palm Bay-Melbourne ranked fourth.

Over 54% of all one-way U-Haul traffic was arriving in Palm Bay-Melbourne, compared to just over 45% departing, the report found.  U-Haul calculated their numbers by calculating net gain (or loss) of one-way equipment from customer transactions in 2023. Last year, over 2.5 million one-way transactions with U-Haul equipment were recorded.

U-Haul did clarify that these numbers are not meant to reflect population or economic growth. Rather, it's an effective way of seeing how states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents, according to the report.  Suburbs and cities are also clumped together by region to get a general picture of where people are moving in Florida.

"Growth in the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has been increasing at an explosive rate," said Cal Conner, president of U-Haul of Eastern Florida. "The Space Coast has many companies investing in this region and creating jobs such as Embraer, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies. We have a low cost of living compared to many of the northern cities people have left. Add to that our fantastic year-round climate, and you can see why Palm Bay-Melbourne is such a desirable area to live."

In 2022 Ocala, Florida held the title of the number 1 growing city in U-Haul's market.  But with the emergence of Palm Bay-Melbourne, Ocala has slipped, but stayed in the top 2 growing cities across several states in 2023, outranking cities like Dallas, Texas.

The post Data Finds Palm Bay-Melbourne Fastest Growing Region in Florida appeared first on The Floridian.

As if the infamous "Florida man" headlines could not get any crazier, a Florida man has now been arrested for threatening to kill US Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and his children.

Representative Swalwell is a prominent House Democrat who currently represents California in the House of Representatives.  The congressman tried running for president in 2020, but was unsuccessful, dropping out before losing to President Biden (D) in the primary race.

Swalwell has since become famous, or infamous in conservative circles for reasons other than his political success.  Swalwell became embattled with controversy after it surfaced that he had personal ties with a CCP spy.  The Chinese operative, named "Fang Fang," used campaign fundraising and networking, which is reported to have included romantic/sexual relationships with two Midwestern Mayors, and was able to acquire proximity to political power. Moreover, it “was a big deal, because there were some sensitive people that were caught up” with the Chinese operative according to US intelligence agencies.

The controversy has made him an easy target for voters to pick on.  72-year-old Michael Shapiro allegedly threatened Swalwell because of this incident with the Chinese spy.  Of the five voicemails Shapiro is accused of making statements such as he will, "come and kill your children."

Shapiro is accused of leaving other voicemails that appeared to refer to allegations tying Swalwell to the suspected Chinese intelligence operative, according to the criminal complaint. They repeatedly refer to "a Chinese spy” and "Fang Fang," it says.

Swalwell stated in response to the criminal proceedings, "There is no place in America for threats of political violence.  We must always resolve our differences at the ballot box. While I will continue to protect my family and staff these continued threats will never stop me from representing my constituents."

Shapiro has been released on bail and has an arraignment scheduled for January 24, 2024.

The post Florida Man Arrested Over Threats to Eric Swalwell appeared first on The Floridian.

As 2024 Republican primary candidates scramble to take down former President Donald Trump (R), the road ahead just got a lot steeper as US Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) has just endorsed the former president's campaign.

Scalise is currently the House Majority Leader for Republicans and was a favorite to replace US Rep. Kevin McCarthy after being ousted as Speaker of the House.  Scalise was initially hesitant on who to support in 2024 but solidified his choice in Donald Trump today.

"When Donald Trump was President, American workers and families were thriving.  The economy was strong and interest rates were low — grocery costs were affordable, and families could afford to buy a house and provide for their children," Scalise continued. "The border was secure and crime was down. America had secure energy policies, keeping gas and utility prices low," stated Scalise.

Scalise also got his digs in on President Biden (D), "[Biden] has driven our country into chaos with skyrocketing costs, and hardworking taxpayers are the ones paying the price," and that under his administration, "gas prices more than doubled, housing affordability reached all-time lows, mortgage rates doubled, inflation hit the highest level in 40 years, and interest rates are at the highest level in 22 years."

The Louisiana Congressman certainly feels the moment is right for Trump, as he stated Americans need "a strong leader to fix the problems Joe Biden has created and — with rising aggression from adversaries abroad — deter foreign actors who wish to harm us," noting the "over 6.2 million encounters at the southern border" and the "1.7 million known gotaways" coming and being arrested from "hundreds of countries," not just Latin America.

The post Steve Scalise Endorses Trump in Crowded 2024 Primary appeared first on The Floridian.

As Florida saw a mass influx of migration from other states, many have wondered what this means for the future of the state.  Contrary to what is popularly believed, the "Great Sort" indicates that Florida will stay conservative for the near future and possibly beyond.

The "Great Sort" is the idea that Americans move places based on their political ideologies.  People moving to Florida may have done so because they were already conservative and were attracted to the state for its recent Republican resurgence on the national stage, not to mention the fact that Florida does not have a state income tax

Florida gained one vote in the electoral college for the upcoming 2024 election, but this metric does not capture the magnitude of migration to Florida.  Experts say Florida has experienced its largest population growth ever this year.

The Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research disclosed research this week that showed the state's estimated population in April was 22,634,867, an increase of roughly 359,000 people, or 1.61 percent, from the previous year.  In fact, the number of people moving to Florida from other states in the United States is at its highest point ever.

Republican voters have worried that this may mean that new Floridians may be bringing their ideologies from states like New York and California with them.  However, there has been no reason to believe this so far.

Many of those new residents may have been attracted to Florida because they see it as a right-leaning state, stated J. Miles Coleman, an associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, highlighted by Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R-FL) position on COVID-19 restrictions which catapulted him to national prominence.

"Given Florida’s reputation, or at least what DeSantis has tried to sell it as, with the ‘Free State of Florida’ [slogan] … if I’m a retiree, that’s what I associate Florida with," Coleman said.

With the Culture War seeing its epicenter in Florida, it is very hard to believe Liberal voters from populated states like Michigan or New York would see Florida as an appealing place to land.  DeSantis and the state of Florida are simply attracting voters who buy into their brand, which should cement Florida's conservative reputation for quite a while.

The post Florida to Remain 'Red' After Mass Migration From Blue States appeared first on The Floridian.

With 2023 coming to a close, the state of Florida has gone under great changes this year, the most notable being the use of capital punishment.  Florida was one of the leading states this year in executions along with states like Texas.

The state of Florida only executed less people than Texas, with six executions ordered by the state government and eight ordered by the state of Texas.  The death warrants signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) were given to offenders such as Darryl Bryan Barwick, who murdered a Panama City woman in 1986.

Death penalty changes in Florida are not only chalked up to being about increasing the use of the death penalty, but also changing the definition of what constitutes capital punishment.  Governor DeSantis signed a bill last summer that extended the use of capital punishment to child rapists.

During a press conference in Titusville, Florida with Attorney General Ashley Moody and local law enforcement officials, Gov. DeSantis challenged the U.S. Supreme Court ruling negating the death penalty from being used in the crime of rape, adding that the death penalty is an “appropriate punishment” for heinous crimes like rape.

DeSantis has also tore down another hallmark of the death penalty standard in the United States by throwing out the mandatory unanimous jury decision to penalize a convicted offender with capital punishment, and instead has signed legislation that only requires a supermajority of a jury to impose the death penalty.

In the wake of mass shootings, the issue became a bipartisan one as even  Senator Lauren Book (D-FL) and Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-FL) have come out in support of strengthening capital punishment.  "There is a stark difference between those who do not deserve to live, and those who deserve to die,” Sen. Pizzo said in regard to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooter. “And Nikolas Cruz did not deserve to live, and he did deserve to die."

Now with 2023 near the rearview mirror, Florida has become the death penalty state.  While this may be a very "law and order" way of prosecuting crimes, many wonder how ethical these new practices are with the Supreme Court of the United States siding against many of the moves Florida has made on the practice.

The post Florida Became the Death Penalty State in 2023 appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida has become a haven for conservatism in recent years.  Now, the state is reacting to the recent news of President Donald Trump (R) being removed from the ballot in Colorado.

This week the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump being removed from the ballot in the 2024 election would be constitutional under the Insurrection Clause.  Trump's legal team is already working on appealing the decision before the United States Supreme Court where the decision is thought to be over turned.

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) stated on X in response to the decision, "The Left invokes 'democracy' to justify its use of power, even if it means abusing judicial power to remove a candidate from the ballot based on spurious legal grounds. SCOTUS should reverse."

US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) likened the decision by the Colorado Supreme Court to Communist dictators, "Liberal activist judges in Colorado are following the same playbook as Maduro and Castro. Democrats’ gross attempts to silence or disenfranchise American voters will never stand."

US Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) echoed the same sentiments as his fellow Republicans, claiming the decision is antithetical to America's democratic values, "Free and fair elections are the hallmark of a well-functioning democracy. However, in a truly unprecedented decision, liberal judges in Colorado just decided to unilaterally remove Donald Trump from the Republican primary ballot.   This opinion from the Colorado Supreme Court is un-American and will disenfranchise millions of voters. Regardless of your political ideology, everyone should be concerned about the potential ramifications of this chilling decision and the ability of four partisan judges to silence the will of the American people."

Now that Colorado has been the first state to remove Trump from primary ballots, expect another state to follow suit.  With multiple criminal cases pending, Donald Trump will have to fight just as hard in the courtroom as he will on the campaign trail.

The post More Florida Lawmakers Denounce Colorado Supreme Court's Decision to Remove Trump From Ballot appeared first on The Floridian.

Whatever one thinks about the opinions of celebrities, people listen to them. Pop star Taylor Swift was recently spotted attending a comedy show whose proceeds would go to Gaza for humanitarian relief, which could very well build into controversy.

X (formerly Twitter) account Stop Antisemitism pointed out that one of Swift's security guards for her ongoing Eras Tour returned to Israel to serve in the IDF as they battle Hamas, and condemned the singer for not commenting at all on the October 7th massacre or the ongoing war.

"Since October 7th, Taylor Swift has made ZERO mentions of the massacre that occurred in Israel at the hands of Hamas terrorists. Her own bodyguard, who is charged with protecting her life, went to Israel to serve in the IDF. Swift did, however, make the time to attend a Gaza fundraiser Friday evening with Selena Gomez. When will you attend a fundraiser for Israel @taylorswift13?," the Stop Antisemitism account tweeted.

Since October 7th, Taylor Swift has made ZERO mentions of the massacre that occurred in Israel at the hands of Hamas terrorists.

Her own bodyguard, who is charged with protecting her life, went to Israel to serve in the IDF.

Swift did, however, make the time to attend a Gaza… pic.twitter.com/dEeDmuzc49

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 11, 2023

As Stop Antisemitism and Breitbart reported, Swift has not publicly spoken about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, though she is known for voicing left-wing political opinions, recently telling TIME Magazine that women remain oppressed by "patriarchy" and capitalism after winning the magazine's Person of the Year award.

Moreover, Swift's status as an international pop icon, leftist opinions, and this discovery of her attending a show raising money for humanitarian aid in Gaza means she will be pressured to not only publicly comment on the war but preferably in support of Gaza, as there is a considerable portion of her "Swiftie" fanbase united around the hashtag "Swifties for Palestine."

Nevertheless, any statement Swift could make will attract controversy.

In a similar vein, Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) has been receiving pushback for associating with members of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida branch, who condemned Israel's response to the Hamas massacre.

This puts him at odds with fellow Florida Democrats Representative Jared Moskowitz and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who are firmly on the side of Israel.

The post Taylor Swift Attended Show Raising Money for Gaza appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida gained one vote in the electoral college for the upcoming 2024 election, but this metric does not capture the magnitude of migration to Florida.  Experts say Florida has experienced its largest population growth ever this year.

The Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research disclosed research this week that showed the state's estimated population in April was 22,634,867, an increase of roughly 359,000 people, or 1.61 percent, from the previous year.

The data among people moving from other states is, "the highest number it's ever been," according to population program director with the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida, Stefan Rayer.  Numbers show this is the first time since 1957 that Florida has been the fastest growing state.

Rayer stated following the release of the data, "Population growth is still growing strong in the state. Slightly more than the year before, but still, if you compare long-term averages which have been just under 300,000, it's been really remarkably strong."

Population increases are expected to slow down in 2024, and come very close to a halt before the 2030s.  However, Republicans in Florida are taking full responsibility for the recent shift.

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) frequently attributes the vast influx of movement into Florida to his policy making outcomes.  The Governor further claims that these people are not just coming in, but are coming specifically from states like California and New York, where politics is drastically different.

While it is largely unfounded if Californians and New Yorkers are moving to Florida for ideological reasons, DeSantis' claims are not without backing.  Florida welcomed over 90,000 New Yorkers in 2022, which helped the state's population grow by 1.91% from 2021 according to data published by the USA Today.  However, the total number of New Yorkers who left the Empire State altogether was 545,500 people.

Whether it is due to DeSantis or not, Florida is doing something right. Other states should take notes as rural areas continue to gain favor with Americans over industrial regions.

The post Florida Sees Highest Population Growth Ever in 2023 appeared first on The Floridian.

Last week, news that U.S. Air Force servicemembers were prohibited from attending a Turning Point rally near their base prompted calls for an investigation. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) recently wrote to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall demanding to know who made the initial prohibition and how they will prevent a similar situation from occurring again.

To reiterate, Turning Point Action held a "Dakota Patriot Rally" in Minot, North Dakota. An Air Force base is nearby, and servicemembers received a text warning them not to attend the rally, saying Turning Point and the event speaker, Tyler Bowyer, were "alt-right." More egregiously, the text said attendance at the rally would "jeopardize their continued service in the US military."

In his press release, Rep. Gaetz highlighted the "brazen partisan nature of these messages and the attempt to suppress constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and assembly."

Additionally, the letter pointed out that the rally was held outside of federal property and when servicemembers were off-duty, meaning they would be permitted to go per their own rules.

"You are obligated to intervene, as this series of actions demonstrates a clear misapplication of the Hatch Act, which states members on active duty should not engage in political activities while in uniform to avoid creating the appearance that their political activities imply official Department of Defense (DoD) sponsorship, approval or endorsement of a candidate, campaign or cause," Rep. Gaetz warned Secretary Kendall, adding that this incident further showed the military becoming politicized.

As a result, Gaetz demanded to know who specifically sent out the text message warning servicemembers not to attend the Dakota Patriot Rally, and where Air Force policy states that members cannot attend political events out of uniform. Moreover, he asked why a Turning Point rally could "jeopardize [a member's] continued service in the US military" and how the Air Force will prevent future incidences.

The same week of the Turning Point rally, Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) demanded an investigation after a leaked glossary for the National Security Agency (NSA) contained heavily politicized definitions and usage of left-wing talking points.

The post Gaetz Demands Names in Air Force Turning Point Rally Case appeared first on The Floridian.

It seems there is no refuge from wokeness, even in a place like the US military. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) recently teamed up with Representative Jim Banks (R-IN) to demand answers on a leaked glossary for use in the National Security Agency (NSA), which contained a boatload of wokeisms such as "white fragility," "AFAB/AMAB," and "genderqueer."

The Daily Wire first reported the leak, part of a wider article detailing how the Biden Administration intends to invest nearly $270 million in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the Department of Defense (DOD). In addition to the woke glossary distributed by the NSA, approximately $68 million will go towards the Air Force for "unconscious bias diversity training" and "increasing aviation scholarships for underrepresented universities Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets."

"Our military is not focused on lethality. They’re focused on diversity and climate," Rep. Waltz told the Wire, "That’s going to result in our enemies not fearing us and respecting us as they should."

Additionally, the New York Post described some of the terms found in the NSA glossary, which defined "capitalism" as "an economic and political order that relies on a mostly private, unequal market system of production and consumption." Further perusal of the document available at the Post included terms such as "heteronormativity," "implicit bias," and of course the leftist favorite "intersectionality."

Another word, "neocolonialism," refers to "the domination of "former colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas" through "political, economic, social, military, or technical forces, generally disguised as humanitarian help or aid," which Rep. Waltz and Rep. Banks said could "merge over into concepts that can harm national security."

On X (formerly Twitter," Waltz called the glossary "insane" and warned that answers are necessary because "This agency is one of the most powerful in the world."

Who authorized the posting of this insane guidance to NSA servers and why?

This agency is one of the most powerful in the world. We need answers. https://t.co/k4btWA9jA6

— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) November 21, 2023

In a second post, Waltz added, "The U.S. military should always be a meritocracy, and DEI training undermines its mission by teaching our military to see soldiers through the lens of race rather than achievement," further calling the DEI initiatives "Unacceptable and dangerous."

The U.S. military should always be a meritocracy and DEI training undermines its mission by teaching our military to see soldiers through the lense of race rather than achievement.

Unacceptable and dangerous. https://t.co/mN21NtMH1u

— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) November 21, 2023

This is not the first time Waltz has attacked the Biden administration's attempts to implement wokeness in the military. In January, he cited a Heritage Foundation report suggesting cadets are fed up with the politicization of their training, saying, "It’s more clear than ever that Americans are losing faith in what should be America’s most trusted institution and the current recruitment crisis facing our military is evidence of that."

Later in March, Waltz wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal slamming the implementation of Critical Race Theory (CRT) into training programs, saying it "endangers our readiness to deter, fight and win wars."

Then, in May, he introduced the WARRIOR Act to defund DEI initiatives.

The post Waltz Calls for Probe Into Woke NSA Glossary appeared first on The Floridian.

Concerns of foreign adversaries stealing Americans' personal data through social media have long been a concern of policymakers. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has introduced a bill that would, among other things, prohibit social media companies from storing data in a physical space located in an adversarial country.

Named the US Data on US Soil Act, Rep. Luna's bill has additional provisions such as preventing officials of adversarial countries such as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela from accessing the data mentioned above, fining non-compliant companies, and not preempting any state-level privacy laws.

In her press release, Rep. Luna said "Americans daily face the threat of exposing their personal data to bad-actor countries who are looking for a chance to exploit us, simply by opening our phones."

Moreover, she called the bill's protections "long overdue" and added, "A military leader would never hand over his tactics and intelligence to the enemy on a silver platter, and neither should we. My bill would make sure our adversaries can’t have a free-for-all with our personal lives, national security, and strength as a country."

Further discussion of the bill occurred during an appearance by Luna on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria, where she said "a new form of currency right now is information on the American people, whether it is for corporate marketing, targeting for elections, or even whether it is nefarious, and so what we are finding is these platforms like TikTok are actually collecting data on users. They are owned and operated by countries that do not have an invested interest in seeing the United States or Western culture as a whole survive and succeed."

Other Florida Republicans have been calling for pressure or the ban of social media app TikTok, specifically because of its Chinese ownership. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has been among the most adamant, repeatedly calling for a ban on TikTok since November of 2022.

In March, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) interrogated TikTok CEO Shou Chew about the app's potential Chinese Communist Party (CCP) connections and allowance of a video that was threatening a member of Congress to remain on the site.

The post Luna Introduces Bill Protecting Americans' Personal Data on Social Media appeared first on The Floridian.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues developing, people are naturally worried we will be seeing the rise of Skynet, HAL 9000, Ultron, or any other infamous examples seen in science fiction. But where do we begin on regulation to ensure that does not happen? Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) said in a Washington Times op-ed that Congress should not attempt to regulate AI just yet.

Sen. Rubio began by quoting Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who recently said, "You need to do legislation and learn at the same time." This, Sen. Rubio writes, "bears the imprint of a classic error in left-liberal thinking: the idea that action is always better than inaction, even when we have no idea what we’re doing."

While he is not arguing against implementing regulations against AI altogether, "the technology is changing so rapidly that computer scientists can barely keep up with it, much less politicians."

Rubio acknowledged the benefits of artificial intelligence in his op-ed, saying it could "energize the economy" and "revolutionize national security," for which the United States, China, and Russia are competing.

As a result, attempting to regulate AI now when we have barely scratched the surface of its potential could be "too heavy-handed, stifle domestic innovation, and transfer the technological edge to our adversaries."

"Imagine a world in which the People’s Liberation Army is months or even years ahead of the Pentagon in the realm of AI. We would be at the mercy of next-generation influence campaigns, market manipulation, and election interference. And in the case of conflict, our men and women in uniform would be at a severe tactical disadvantage," warned Rubio.

Additionally, AI regulation now could be weaponized not only by our adversaries; but special interests at home, such as Silicon Valley, to reduce competition. This, in turn, would stifle innovation, as mentioned above.

A good starting place, he suggested, would be to enforce disclosures of AI-generated content and prohibit joint ventures and technology transfers with foreign adversaries.

"We should leave “lightspeed” to the computer scientists and work as the Founders intended — carefully and methodically. It may not be efficient, but it requires no pretense, and it keeps drastic unintended consequences at bay," Rubio concluded.

The post Rubio Says AI Cannot Be Regulated Immediately appeared first on The Floridian.

A major component of the legislative battle over gender reassignment surgery is the freedom of conscience and religion on behalf of healthcare providers. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a bill protecting those rights, the Protecting Conscience in Healthcare Act.

For additional context, the Washington Free Beacon reported in May that the Human Rights Campaign, bankrolled by Pfizer, created a "Healthcare Equality Index." This system rates hospitals and other healthcare providers for their "equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients." Criteria included asking for patients' pronouns, displaying LGBTQ symbols, and prescribing treatment for gender dysphoria.

Moreover, penalties include "discriminatory treatment," implicitly stating conscientious or religious exemptions will be penalized.

Sen. Rubio's bill would prohibit healthcare providers and government agencies at the state and federal levels from requiring employees to promote "radical gender ideology" and protect against retaliation for not participating.

In his press release, Sen. Rubio said it was "deeply disturbing" to see gender ideology seep into the healthcare system, which could have harmful results for medical patients.

"It is deeply disturbing to see the progressive left infiltrate the American healthcare system and compromise the quality of patient care in the process. I am introducing the Protecting Conscience in Healthcare Act to stop this harmful, radical gender ideology in American hospitals and healthcare facilities," said Rubio.

In March, Rubio bashed the Department of Defense (DOD) for endorsing "gender-affirming care" for minors, saying, "There is almost no safety data associated with the use of these so-called treatments in minors."

Later in May, Rubio called out the National Institute of Health's (NIH) emphasis on promoting gender-affirming care even at patients' expense, calling the treatments "safe and effective" despite the proven social, psychological, and physical harms of these treatments."

Similarly, in July, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) attempted to play a video of a gender reassignment surgeon admitting the process was experimental and lacking research, only for multiple House Democrats to walk out in protest.

Rep. Cammack said the incident only proved her point.

The post Rubio Introduces Protecting Conscience in Healthcare Act appeared first on The Floridian.

Republican Senators including Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Miguel Cardona urging him to address growing concerns surrounding the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) influence in American public schools.

After reports from Parents Defending Education showcased Chinese entities funneling millions of dollars into America’s K-12 classrooms, the right side of the upper chamber is calling for an investigation.

“We write to express deep concerns regarding an alarming new report describing how millions of dollars of funding from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have flowed into America’s K-12 classrooms. The report found that programs vetted and managed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have infiltrated 34 states nationwide, impacting more than 170,000 students across 143 school districts,” penned Sens. Rubio, Scott, and their colleagues. “We urge you to conduct a thorough, nationwide audit to determine how much funding from hostile foreign governments has flowed to America’s K-12 schools. We also urge you to analyze the extent to which other hostile foreign governments and the PRC may have already gained access to our K-12 schools.”

They would go on to condemn “Confucius Classrooms” and “Confucius Institutes,” calling them a “foreign mission.”

“For nearly two decades, the CCP has engaged in efforts to extert influence on American schools and our education system. Through grants, sister school partnerships, ‘Confucius Institutes,’ and other state-sponsored programming, the CCP has worked to gain access to America’s education system to advance its own agenda. In a 2016 article, Chinese state-run media reported that the CCP considers Confucius Institutes “important channels” to promote and advance the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2020, the U.S. Department of State designated Confucius Institutes as a ‘foreign mission’ of the Chinese government and Congress took steps to restrict U.S. Department of Defense funding from universities that host such institutes,” wrote the senators.

In March, Sen. Scott introduced legislation to prevent federal funds from going to colleges and universities with ties to the CCP.

In his press release, Sen. Scott said, "For years, I have been warning of the threat from Communist China, which continues to steal U.S. technology and intellectual property in its quest for world domination."

In February, Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) had similarly warned of CCP-owned or CCP-backed private schools in the United States attempting to establish Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs, calling it "troublesome."

The post Rubio, Scott Call for investigation into Chinese Influence in American Public Schools appeared first on The Floridian.

After Florida's recent education policy regarding slavery caught the attention of Vice President Kamala Harris (D), the topic has quickly become the centerpiece of discussion in the crowded 2024 primary as candidates gang up on Governor DeSantis (R-FL) as he distances himself from the policy.

The Florida Department of Education released a curriculum that did not sit well with some in the general public.  In particular, a segment that states slavery would be taught as a, "personal benefit," to slaves who acquired skills through their labor.  VP Harris traveled down to Florida to blast the governor, accusing him of rewriting black history.

DeSantis responded by calling the attacks woke and blaming the liberal agenda for, "indoctrinating," students.  However, recent attacks from fellow Republicans may show that the criticisms of the education policy may show that Harris' stance isn't so woke after all.

DeSantis responded to media questions with, "I didn't do it, and I'm not involved with it," referring to the deep levels of bureaucracy in which these decisions are made.  Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) directly responded to these comments stating, "I didn't do it, and I'm not involved with it, are not the words of leadership."

Christie further stated, "Governor DeSantis started this fire with a bill that he signed," referring to the Stop Woke Act which made this policy possible that the governor signed into law in 2022.  Presidential candidate US Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) responded to DeSantis' defenses of the curriculum that would teach students slavery came along with teaching valuable skills.

"Unfortunately, it has to be said - slavery wasn't a jobs program that taught beneficial skills," Hurd said. "It was literally dehumanizing and subjugated people as property because they lacked any rights or freedoms."

DeSantis now finds himself in an awkward spot as he attempts to disassociate himself from the decision by his Department of Education, while taking shots from Democrats and Republicans alike who are now attacking education in Florida, one of the governor's most valued projects during his governorship.

The post DeSantis Backs Down from Black History Curriculum as Republicans Attack Him appeared first on The Floridian.

WASHINGTON—Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R), who sits on the House Committee on Appropriations and as chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Subcommittee. will vote to block funding to the National Museum of the American Latino in the Smithsonian Institute as a result of its “erroneous and imbalanced portrayal of Latinos.”

Mario Diaz-Balart is a U.S. representative for Florida’s 26^th Congressional District and serves as a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations and as chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Subcommittee.

Funded by legislation enacted by the U.S. Congress in 2020 museum appears to be directed by a progressive-minded Board of Trustees, which includes actress Eva Longoria.

Rep. Diaz-Balart contends that the museum has depicted the Latino community as only “victims of oppression” and not as a community composed of people with a “diversity of political viewpoints.

One of the exhibits on display highlights the 1994 Cuban migration to the United States, but instead of mentioning the humanitarian and economic crisis created by then-Dictator Fidel Castro, the exhibit only states that migrants were escaping "Cuba's economic crisis."

There is no mention of the decades-long oppression by the Castro regime .

In a statement furnished to The Floridian, Diaz-Balart outlines that he has been calling on the museum’s leadership to make the corrections to the current exhibits, but it appears as if his concerns have fallen of deaf ears.

“I am a long-time supporter, going back over a decade, of the National Museum of the American Latino because I felt it was important to accurately chronicle the story of Latinos in America. The act that created the museum in 2020 required that the ‘board of trustees shall ensure that the exhibits and programs of the museum reflect the diversity of political viewpoints held by Latinos on the events and issues related to Latino History in the United States.’

The Museum’s first exhibit miserably fails to meet the letter and spirt of the law by providing a one-dimensional depiction of American Latinos as only victims of oppression. It is also historically inaccurate and an insult to all the accomplishments of Latinos in the United States. Many Hispanics, including myself, are astonished that such a revered institution as the Smithsonian would allow this to happen.

I have repeatedly called out the inaccuracies and flagrant violations of the act to the leadership of the Smithsonian. However, the Smithsonian leadership has done little to correct their errors and at times brushed off the concerns of many Hispanics in Congress.

Diaz-Balart also asserts his intention to continue to block any and all appropriations to the museum.

I look forward to the day I can visit the museum and its exhibits where the multifaceted experiences of our communities are accurately portrayed. However, until the Smithsonian provides a plan to comply with the law and correct the erroneous and imbalanced portrayal of Latinos, I will continue to block funds for the museum. Americans deserve and expect more from the Smithsonian.,” said Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart

The post Diaz-Balart to Defund Smithsonian Museum Over Inaccurate Portrayal of Latinos appeared first on The Floridian.

WASHINGTON—House Progressive Caucus Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D) believes that the Republican party is full of racists, including Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R), who happens to be Black.

Addressing reporters just off the floor of the House of Representatives Monday night  Rep. Bowman expressed his belief that the Republican Party was filled with hate and “white supremacy.”

When asked about whether he believed Rep.Donalds was racist, Rep. Bowman all but said that Rep. Donalds was not the right kind of black man.

The Floridian: So, you are saying that the Republican Party, as a whole, is racist, including Byron Donalds, one of your colleagues?

Rep. Bowman: Yeah. I mean, you know, every brotha ain't a brotha, you know, I'm saying and so, you know, that's just the way that goes.

Bowman continued mocking Republicans, adding that the group was looking for token black men.

“They're starving for black people to be a part of their party to give them cover to show that they're not racist. But look at their policies. Look at their rhetoric. Look at this far-right Supreme Court. Look at their history,” said Bowman.

Shortly after Bowman made his remark about Donalds, The Floridian spoke to Donalds, who is considered to be one of President Donald Trump's potential vice presidential picks, dismissed Bowman’s remark about him by calling it “stupid.”

“That stuff is stupid. That’s a lie, not even close,” said Donalds. “My black card is just fine.”

The post House Democrat Says Byron Donalds is 'Racist and 'Ain't a Brotha' appeared first on The Floridian.