The Buzz | Ripples of the Ukrainian invasion in Florida

Plus: DeSantis' viral scolding of high school students

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View this on the Web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Thursday, March 3, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters Good morning.   The world has been watching in horror as Russian troops invade Ukraine, forcing civilians to take up arms to try to keep hold of their nation.   But its effects can be felt in Florida, too. Publix has removed Russian vodka from its shelves. Tampa Bay residents originally from Ukraine have watched in shock and fear, while some locals with roots in Russia felt the sting of an unfair backlash.   St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said the city will maintain its sister-city relationship with the Russian city of the same name, but it will light up poles in the Pier district in blue and yellow in support of Ukraine.    If you’re looking for ways to help, here are some relief efforts being organized in Tampa Bay.  — Emily L. Mahoney, emahoney@tampabay.com [J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP] The state of the union is ... divided The Rundown: During Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, President Joe Biden emphasized issues that he felt could bring Americans together in these highly partisan times.    One of those issues, which received applause from across the aisle, was Biden’s statements of support for Ukraine against Russia’s violent aggression.   He also unveiled a “unity agenda” with items like mitigating the opioid crisis, increasing care for veterans and boosting funding for cancer research.    At other points in the speech, he also emphasized the importance of American manufacturing, called for an end to partisanship surrounding the pandemic and even pushed back on the idea of defunding police. Excluding hot-button topics like abortion, gun rights and inflation, much of the speech seemed designed to put forth a moderate agenda where he might find common ground with Republicans and conservative Democrats, who have stalled his priority bills in Congress.   Will it work?   Prominent Republican leaders like former president Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott spent Thursday through Sunday ahead of the State of the Union labeling Biden and other Democrats as radical leftists who want to take away foundational American freedoms. During the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, they railed against “woke” culture as an existential threat to the country, comparable in Rubio’s eyes to Cuba around the time of its revolution. (Rubio also boycotted the State of the Union, and DeSantis declined to send Florida National Guard troops to D.C.).    DeSantis warned that Democrats want to make conservatives “second-class citizens.” Conference speakers encouraged the attendees to read different news, buy from different companies, even visit different doctors than their liberal neighbors — showing an even further splintering of American life.   Republicans are also fighting among themselves on several topics, including Scott’s controversial policy plan for the party and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attendance at a Florida event organized by a white nationalist.   As we’ve done in years past for the State of the Union, all of Florida’s representatives in Washington were asked how they would describe the status of the country in one word.    Read what they said.   If you read nothing else this week... Unlikely benefactors. Republicans and trial lawyers have historically been foes. But to enforce some culture war issues, GOP lawmakers are turning to lawsuits, creating a boon for lawyers and concerns for business groups. A heart-wrenching choice. Florida lawmakers want to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and the debate in the Capitol often involves hypotheticals. Hear from one Florida couple whose decision was very real. ‘Deception at the Door.’ Miami Herald reporters knocked on hundreds of doors to uncover that more than 100 voters in South Florida had their party registration changed to Republican without their consent, mostly by canvassers working for the state GOP.  Cheat sheet for the next week Only nine more days until the legislative session is scheduled to end. Here’s what we’re watching as the clock ticks down.    31st House Democrat to retire. U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, is not seeking reelection. Keep your eyes out for candidates running for that seat.  Speaking of new candidates. Until recently, some of Florida’s most powerful statewide Republican leaders looked like they could get reelected without serious challengers. But now, one Tampa-area former lawmaker is running for chief financial officer, and this Democratic former state attorney is running for attorney general. What we're buzzing about  [WTSP] DeSantis’ scolding goes viral. The governor chided high school students standing behind him at a Tampa news conference for wearing masks. Reporter Divya Kumar was there and talked to some of the students about the interaction.    DeSantis part II. The governor also recently weighed in on Ukraine, after several days of silence. He blamed Biden for the invasion.    Budget cuts. State hospitals that serve the poorest and sickest patients are likely to see millions in cuts to the state budget. Here’s why.    Hmm. State Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, wants to be the state’s next commissioner of agriculture, and now the Senate budget includes $331 million in new spending for the agency that cannot be spent until after the election.    Big changes coming. Four of the five at-large seats on the Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners are up for grabs in a March 15 election. Here’s a lay of the land.    ‘Don’t say gay.’ The controversial bill is an example of the war of words between the parties over messaging. How opponents successfully created the name that stuck. PLUS: Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, tried to tone down the controversial bill, but his amendment failed.    Immigration questions. A Florida congresswoman proposed a major immigration reform bill. Is it the best hope for ‘dignity,’ or just another long, costly path for undocumented immigrants?    Biden’s Supreme Court pick. Ketanji Brown Jackson, who grew up in Florida, has been selected as the next Supreme Court justice. Republican support of her nomination is uncertain.    Unlikely supporter. A bill awaiting DeSantis’ signature that would temporarily keep secret the names of Florida lottery winners has attracted the support of … a woman in prison for the murder of a lottery winner.    Nursing home visits. Florida could soon allow people to visit their loved ones in nursing homes, even during a pandemic. Read more on what the proposals would do.  PolitiFact checks it out. Does Rick Scott’s 11-point plan for the GOP include a tax increase on some of the lowest-earning Americans? Get the latest coverage from the Times Subscribe to the Tampa Bay Times in print or online to get the full story on local, state and national politics from Emily L. Mahoney and the rest of the Buzz team. Subscribe now! Out of context quote of the week “The populace has agreed that Wordle is a place to retreat amid the incomprehensible, be it global affairs or the fact that a work deadline is looming and we have not even opened the file. Wordle is not for diplomacy.”   Read on.  Your Thursday distraction Was Dua Lipa’s smash hit “Levitating” ripped off from a song by a Florida reggae band?   You listen and decide.  Contact Emily L. Mahoney at emahoney@tampabay.com. Follow @mahoneysthename. Did someone forward this to you? Get The Buzz in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. Contact us Privacy policy Terms, Conditions & Copyright Standard of accuracy © 2022 • All Rights Reserved Tampa Bay Times • 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 To ensure this email is delivered to your inbox, add custserv@elist.tampabay.com to your address book. 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