Florida

DeSantis’ hold on Florida Is slipping. Trump could deliver the final blow

Published

10 months ago

February 5, 2025

DeSantis’ hold on Florida Is slipping. Trump could deliver the final blow

Governor DeSantis began to accumulate power during the COVID-19 pandemic and became especially popular among conservative Republicans in Florida and across the country.

He allowed businesses to reopen, required in-person education earlier than most other states, and took a strong stance against vaccine and mask mandates. He then began his attacks on critical race theory, DEI, and other “woke” policies which were even more popular with conservatives.

Lots of conservatives began moving to the “Free State of Florida,” he was able to raise more than $200 million of dollars for his reelection—a record for any governors race in the U.S.—Florida voter registration and voting became much more Republican, DeSantis won a 2nd term in a landslide—the highest percent of the vote for a Republican candidate in Florida history. DeSantis’ national profile rose and he eventually ran against Trump.

During this 5-year period, the legislature stopped acting like an independent branch of government: partly because many Republican members and the leadership agreed with his conservative policies but also partly because they feared DeSantis because of his popularity, his money, his vetoes, and his reputation for political vindictiveness.

Some examples of this are attacking Disney for speaking out against the Don’t Say Gay Bill, removing elected local government officials over policy and political disagreements, vetoing the legislative priorities of the leadership and then making a joke about it while they were on stage with him, and threatening to go after Republicans who disagreed with him in primary elections.

But now, the legislature is seeking to reassert itself as an independent branch of government that acts as a check and balance to the executive. This is happening now because the new House Speaker and Senate President have decided that the legislature needs to reassert itself as it has traditionally done.

In the two decades before DeSantis—and even in his first year—the legislature and governor’s office have been controlled by Republicans. They often agreed on policy, but sometimes they had differences, and the governor treated the legislature with respect and as an equal branch.

It is also happening now because Governor DeSantis’ perceived power has gone down: he ran against Trump and lost by a wide margin which reduced DeSantis’ aura of invincibility—he is a lame duck governor with 2 years left who cannot run for reelection—and he does not have $200 million to threaten members.

DeSantis Called Florida Immigration Bill Weak

Photo Illustration by Newsweek/Getty Images

The governor precipitated this political reckoning when he insisted on calling a special session just 5 weeks before the legislature would meet in regular session and doing so with little advance notice or consultation with the Senate President and House Speaker who had made clear they did not think it was necessary to do so.

Objectively, the legislature’s bill is not “weak” on illegal immigration. It creates a bunch of new policies to crack down on illegal immigration in Florida making life much harder for people living here without documentation and much easier for them to be removed by the federal government with much more assistance from the state.

It is different than the governor’s bill in several major ways, including putting oversight and enforcement of the new law under the Commissioner of Agriculture instead of the governor, it requires law enforcement to use their best efforts to cooperate with federal immigration authorities but does not threaten law enforcement with job loss or financial penalties, and it would not track and/or make it unlawful for undocumented people to wire money to family back in their home country.

Politically, this is bringing Florida back to what we have normally seen—and what is found in most states over time. The legislature is a coequal branch of government with the executive branch. But we don’t know for sure what will happen yet and DeSantis could yet impose his will on the legislature.

The big unknown currently is Donald Trump. If he takes a side the fight will likely end pretty quickly, and if he sides with the governor, the legislature will almost certainly back down. If he backs the legislature than DeSantis’ political reputation will take a big hit. If Trump stays out of the fight, then it might be a long battle, but DeSantis will clearly be politically weaker than he has been and his political prospects for the future somewhat dimmer.

If there is a big crackdown on illegal immigration in Florida across the board then it will hurt the state’s economy. There are an estimated 800,000 undocumented or illegal immigrants in Florida and most of them are working in agriculture, construction, and the service industry like hotels and restaurants.

Aubrey Jewett, PhD, is Associate Director and Associate Professor in the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs at the University of Central Florida and the co-author of Politics in Florida, 5th edition.

All views expressed are the author’s own.

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Florida

Is weed legal in Florida? What to know before traveling for holidays

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Is weed legal in Florida? What to know before traveling for holidays

Medical marijuana is legal for Florida residents with a state-issued card and a qualifying condition.
Possession of marijuana without a medical card can lead to penalties ranging from fines to felony charges.

Can Floridians or those traveling to Florida for the holidays light one up while taking part in festive activities? Doing so will result in your name being added to the state’s naughty list.

While it’s legal in about half the country, recreational marijuana remains illegal in Florida.

An amendment last year to make recreational marijuana legal in the Sunshine State came close and got a majority of the vote, but it failed to hit Florida’s required 60% threshold. The group behind it is trying again in 2026.

Here’s what you need to know about marijuana laws in Florida before the holiday.

Is marijuana legal in Florida?

Yes, but only for some people.

Medical marijuana is legal in Florida for residents diagnosed with a specific set of conditions who have applied for and received a Medical Marijuana ID Card or caregivers who have received a Medical Marijuana Caregiver Card.

Is recreational marijuana legal in Florida?

No. During the 2024 General Election, an amendment that called for legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida failed to get the 60% of votes needed to pass.

Is medical marijuana legal in Florida?

Medical marijuana is legal here, but only for Florida residents with the following conditions who apply for and receive a Medical Marijuana Card:

Cancer
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
Crohn’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Comparable medical conditions or status to the above
A terminal condition
Chronic nonmalignant pain

Note that under a new Florida law as of July 1, medical marijuana registration will be revoked if a patient or caregiver is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to drug trafficking, sale or manufacture.

Can I bring weed if I have a medical marijuana card from another state?

No. The state of Florida does not offer reciprocity. A bill in this year’s legislative session that would have changed that died in committee.

Can I get busted for possessing weed in Florida?

Without a Medical Marijuana Card (or Medical Marijuana Caregiver Card, for people assisting medical marijuana patients who are minors or who need help), if you are caught with pot, you will be penalized. Marijuana advocacy group NORML lists the following penalties under Florida Statutes:

Possessing 20 grams or less: First-degree misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and maximum $1,000 fine.
Possession of paraphernalia: Misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and maximum $1,000 fine.
Possessing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, college, park or other specified areas: Felony, mandatory three-year sentence and maximum $10,000 fine.
Possessing from 20 grams: to 25 pounds: Felony, up to five years in jail and maximum $5,000 fine.
Possessing from 25 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from three to 15 years in jail and $25,000 fine.
Possessing from 2,000 to 10,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from seven to 30 years and $50,000 fine.
Possessing more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from 15 to 30 years and $200,000 fine.

However, many communities and municipalities have decriminalized possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana, meaning if you’re busted, you’ll get a fine (which will go up each time). You may be required to attend a drug education program or do community service.

Areas that have decriminalized pot include Alachua County, Broward County, Cocoa Beach, Hallandale Beach, Key West, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Orlando, Osceola County, Palm Beach County, Port Richey, Sarasota, Tampa and Volusia County.

Is it legal to sell weed in Florida?

Only licensed medical marijuana dispensaries may sell marijuana in the state of Florida. Even with a medical marijuana card, you may not buy your pot anywhere but at a licensed dispensary.

People charged with selling marijuana can face the following:

25 grams or less, without renumeration: Misdemeanor, maximum 1 year in jail, $1,000 fine.
20 grams to 25 pounds: Felony, maximum 5 years in jail, $5,000 fine.
25 to less than 2,000 pounds or 300-2,000 plants: Felony, three to 15 years, maximum $25,000 fine.
2,000 to less than 10,000 pounds or 2,000-10,000 plants: Felony, seven to 30 years, maximum $50,000 fine.
10,000 pounds or more: Felony, 15 to 30 years, maximum $200,000 fine.
If within 1,000 feet of a school, college, park, or other specified areas: An additional 3-15 years, $10,000 fine.

Are low-THC products like delta-8, delta-9, delta-10 or THC-O legal in Florida?

Assorted different types of so-called “diet weed” cannabinoids, such as delta-8, delta-9, delta-10 and THC-O, which are derived from hemp and not marijuana and contain lower levels of THC, are legal here under the 2018 federal Farm Bill that allows farmers to grow industrial hemp.

Last year, the Florida Legislature passed SB 1698, a bill that effectively banned delta-8 and delta-10 products and set a 5-milligram-per-serving limit for delta-9 THC, but Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it, reportedly to protect small businesses.

However, they remain federally illegal.

Can you get a DUI in Florida on marijuana?

Yes. Drivers under the influence of drugs, including marijuana, face the same penalties as drunk drivers in Florida.

That ranges from up to six months of jail time, a fine between $500 and $1,000, a license suspension, 50 hours of community service and a 10-day vehicle impoundment (for the first offense) to up to five years in prison, up to $5,000 in fines, lifetime license revocation and more for the fourth offense.

Penalties go up fast if there is a minor in the vehicle or you cause property damage, injury or death.

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Florida

Rabbi Eli Schlangar among 15 dead in Sydney attack; South Florida increases security at Jewish sites

Published

13 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Rabbi Eli Schlangar among 15 dead in Sydney attack; South Florida increases security at Jewish sites

AVENTURA, Fla. — A devastating terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, has left 15 dead, including Rabbi Eli Schlangar, a beloved figure in the Jewish community.

The attack unfolded during the annual Chanukah by the Sea event, a celebration where Rabbi Schlangar had served as one of the organizers and the emcee.

South Florida Rabbi Tzvi Dechter, who had known Schlangar for decades, spoke tearfully about the profound loss.

The two first met when they were teenagers, and their friendship grew over the years. Dechter recalled the personal qualities of his dear friend, not just his leadership in the Jewish community, but the kind and caring person he was.

“I loved him very much, obviously. A lot of people can describe his community leadership, but you forget about the person himself,” Dechter shared. “He was a husband, a father, and he was a friend to so many. He genuinely cared.”

Schlangar was deeply rooted in the Sydney Jewish community, particularly among the 5,000-member Russian-speaking Jewish population.

His impact reached far beyond his role as a religious leader, and he leaves behind several children, including a two-month-old baby.

Dechter revealed that the two had become “cousins” after marrying cousins, a bond that strengthened their connection.

The tragedy took an even more personal turn for Dechter, as he confirmed that Eli’s wife was among the dozens of people injured in the attack. The death toll is expected to rise, with as many as 40 people still hospitalized in critical condition.

The impact of the attack has rippled across the globe, with authorities increasing security measures in Jewish communities, particularly in South Florida.

Local officials have heightened patrols around synagogues and Jewish schools, with a Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) deputy assigned for security.

Authorities in Sydney continue to investigate the details of the attack, while local communities, both in Australia and abroad, mourn the loss of Schlangar and all the victims.

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Florida

Florida high school football team pulls off miraculous touchdown to help win state championship

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Florida high school football team pulls off miraculous touchdown to help win state championship

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A Florida high school state football championship finished with a phenomenal ending for one team and absolute heartbreak for the other on Saturday night.

Lake Mary High School was down six points with seven seconds left in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A title game against Vero Beach. Noah Grubbs dropped back to pass and rolled to his right. He gained momentum and fired the ball, which was tipped and caught short of the goal line.

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A Lake Mary quarterback looks to throw in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, Dec. 13, 2025, at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPALM/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

As Vero Beach defenders tried to keep receiver Barrett Schultz out of the end zone, Schultz’s teammate Tavarius Brundidge Jr. came around and took the ball out of Schultz’s hands. Brundidge ran the ball into the end zone to complete the wild and chaotic play.

The touchdown tied the game, and Lake Mary would kick the extra point to win, 28-27.

INDIANA’S FERNANDO MENDOZA WINS 2025 HEISMAN TROPHY

A Lake Mary player in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, Dec. 13, 2025, makes a catch at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPALM/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

“I was just hoping and praying like everyone else that he was going to come down with the football and Barrett did,” Lake Mary head coach Scott Perry said, via TC Palm. “… We were just going to keep fighting and fighting until the final whistle.”

Vero Beach tried to run out the clock the best they could. The team decided to take a safety with 12 seconds left, and gave the ball back to Lake Mary.

A Vero Beach player is stunned after the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, Dec. 13, 2025, at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPALM/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

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It was the first state championship for Lake Mary in its history.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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