>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, FLORIDA REACTS TO THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

WE'LL GET OUR STATE'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAR.

THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE ADVANCES CONTROVERSIAL BILLS ON SOCIAL ISSUES, BUT DO THEY HAVE PUBLIC SUPPORT?

AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS UNVEILS NEW COVID GUIDANCE AS A CPAC POLL SHOWS HIS CONTINUING POPULARITY WITH CONSERVATIVES.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT, WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

AND WE DO THIS BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

JOINING US THIS WEEK IN THE STUDIO, CURTIS MCLEOD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND CHRISTOPHER HEATH FROM WFTV CHANNEL 9.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR COMING IN THOUGH.

I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE REALLY BUSY, SO REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST TONIGHT, THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

>>RUSSIA'S VLADIMIR PUTIN SOUGHT TO SHAKE THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF THE FREE WORLD THINKING HE COULD MAKE IT BEND TO HIS MENACING WAYS, BUT HE BADLY MISCALCULATED.

HE THOUGHT HE COULD ROLL INTO UKRAINE AND THE WORLD WOULD ROLL OVER.

INSTEAD, HE MET WITH A WALL OF STRENGTH HE NEVER ANTICIPATED OR IMAGINED.

HE MET THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

>>PRESIDENT BIDEN DURING HIS STATE OF THE UNION THIS WEEK.

WELL, LET'S GET THE REPUBLICAN TAKE ON THIS FROM FLORIDA.

I SPOKE WITH VOLUSIA COUNTY CONGRESSMAN MIKE WALTZ, WHO RECENTLY VISITED UKRAINE.

>>PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS HAD A RESPONSE STRATEGY OF PROMISING A NUMBER OF TOUGH RESPONSES RATHER THAN A DETERRENT STRATEGY.

I ALSO THINK THAT AN ECONOMIC AND SANCTIONS-FOCUSED STRATEGY ALONE, IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK AND ISN'T GOING TO WORK, BECAUSE PUTIN KNOWS THIS ADMINISTRATION ISN'T GOING TO REPLACE THEIR OIL AND GAS WITH AMERICAN OIL AND GAS BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS AMERICAN POLITICS AND THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS BEHOLDEN TO A PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.

>>IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU RAISE THE QUESTION OF PUTIN UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN POLITICS.

THE RESPONSE MIGHT BE THAT PUTIN SEES A DIVIDED AMERICAN PUBLIC.

WHEN HE SEES THE FORMER PRESIDENT COMPLEMENTING HIS STRATEGY, HE MIGHT INTERPRET THAT AS WEAKNESS ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES AND ITS FRONT AGAINST THAT RUSSIAN ACTION WHEN YOU HAVE THIS SEGMENT OF THE US PUBLIC EQUIVOCATING IN ITS RESPONSE TO WHAT RUSSIA'S DOING.

WOULD YOU AGREE?

>>WELL, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID AND FORMER SECRETARY POMPEO, WHO SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR, WHAT THEY WERE ASKED WAS, "DO YOU RESPECT PUTIN AS AN OPPONENT, AS AN ADVERSARY, " AND THE RESPONSE WAS, "WHAT HE'S DOING IS VERY CLEVER."

IT'S VERY STRATEGIC AND PUTIN CLEARLY HAS A PLAN TO RECREATE THE OLD SOVIET UNION AND TO DIVIDE NATO.

BUT I DON'T THINK ASSERTING THAT IS SOMEHOW THEN ENCOURAGING THESE ACTIONS ON PUTIN'S PART.

>>BUT THAT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, RIGHT?

GENERALLY SPEAKING, A FORMER PRESIDENT MIGHT THINK THEY SHOULD LEAVE IT TO THEIR SUCCESSOR TO FORMULATE A UNITED FRONT.

THE US AND EUROPE ARE CERTAINLY, IN THEIR SANCTIONS RESPONSE, TRYING TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT.

SHOULDN'T US LEADERS BE TRYING TO DO THAT THEMSELVES?

>>WELL, CERTAINLY.

BUT I ALSO THINK, WHEN WE'RE SEEING A FAILURE OF POLICY AS WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE'RE SEEING A FAILURE OF DETERRENCE, I THINK ACTUALLY FROM AN OVERSIGHT PERSPECTIVE, AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO QUESTION WHETHER THESE POLICIES ARE BEING EFFECTIVE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>>WHEN UKRAINIANS AND SUPPORTERS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA GATHERED THIS WEEK TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE IN THE COUNTRY FACING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION, TO BREAK DOWN WHAT THIS CONFLICT MIGHT MEAN GOING FORWARD, I TURNED TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXPERT AT UCF, KONSTANTIN ASH.

HE STUDIED PUBLIC OPINIONS IN RUSSIA, UKRAINE, AND THROUGHOUT EASTERN EUROPE.

>>I'VE DONE A SURVEY IN 2019 AND WE ASKED WHAT EMOTIONS COME ABOUT WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT?

40% ANGER, 35% HATRED, OTHER EMOTIONS, DISAPPOINTMENT, FEAR, SHAME.

SYMPATHY, 5%.

PRIDE, 2.5%.

I THINK RUSSIA, IN GENERAL, HAS NOT THE BEST INFORMATION ABOUT HOW UKRAINIANS FEEL.

IN 2014, ONCE THE REVOLUTION HAPPENED IN THE MAIDAN, THEY TRIED TO START PROTESTS, NOT IN JUST THE DONBAS REGIONS, BUT IN ALL OF SOUTH AND EAST UKRAINE IN ALL OF THESE CITIES.

AND THEN THEY QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THEY WEREN'T VERY POPULAR AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO ACTUALLY JOIN RUSSIA, BUT THEY STILL TRIED TO START THE PROTEST AND THEY STILL TRIED TO START THESE NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS, AND THEY RAN INTO THESE BRICK WALLS.

>>SO MAYBE HERE, AGAIN, THEY THINK, "WELL, THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY IS NOT VERY STRONG AND THEY'RE NOT VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER, AND WE CAN JUST WALK IN THERE AND DO WHATEVER WE WANT."

AND REALISTICALLY, WE'LL SEE, BECAUSE UKRAINE HAS A MUCH BETTER MILITARY THAN THEY HAD EIGHT YEARS AGO AND THERE ARE A LOT OF VETERANS FROM THIS CONFLICT, ALMOST A MILLION VETERANS, WHO DO NOT HAVE A FAVORABLE VIEW OF RUSSIA AT ALL.

AND THEY WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO GO BACK TO FIGHTING THEM.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT URBAN INSURGENCIES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUFF THAT REALLY FEEDS UNPOPULARITY OF A CONFLICT AT HOME.

>>WELL, CERTAINLY, WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THAT UNPOPULARITY IN RUSSIA.

CHRIS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REACTION HERE FROM POLITICAL LEADERS IN FLORIDA.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SPOKE ABOUT UKRAINE A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS WEEK.

WHAT DID WE HEAR FROM HIM AND WAS IT BROADLY ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM CONGRESSMAN WALTZ THERE?

>>THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THE BANK SHOT THERE.

IT TOOK DESANTIS ABOUT THREE DAYS TO FORMULATE ANY REAL THOUGHTS ON THIS AND THEN ARTICULATE THEM, AND OF COURSE, ENERGY POLICY IS THE SOFT UNDERBELLY OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

COMING IN AND REALLY LEANING HEAVILY INTO RENEWABLES AND PULLING AWAY FROM OIL EXPLORATION, GAS, DRILLING UP ANWR, THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE, THOSE KIND OF THINGS, THAT'S THE SOFT UNDERBELLY HERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE SAYING, "WELL, HOW DO YOU THEN ARTICULATE THAT YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT PUTIN'S DOING WITHOUT UPSETTING THE FORMER PRESIDENT," WHO EVERY TIME, WHETHER IT'S AT A PRIVATE EVENT IN MAR-A-LAGO OR ON THE LAURA INGRAHAM SHOW IS PRAISING PUTIN FOR HIS MANEUVERING.

AND AS WE WERE DISCUSSING, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN SADDAM HUSSEIN TOOK KUWAIT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE POLITICAL LEADERS EQUIVOCATING ABOUT WHAT A GENIUS SADDAM WAS FOR TAKING A SMALL COUNTRY NEXT TO HIS.

>>YEAH, IT'S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC AT THE MOMENT.

SENATOR RUBIO, HE'S THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

OF COURSE, HE'S OFFERED A SLIGHTLY MORE NUANCED REACTION TO THE US POSITION, OFFERING SOME PRAISE ON THE SANCTIONS RESPONSE, CHRIS.

SENATOR RUBIO HAS REALLY TAKEN ON THIS ISSUE, HASN'T HE, SINCE THE BEGINNING?

>>RUBIO IS A MEMBER OF THE GANG OF EIGHT, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, THE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND THEN THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE, AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS, THE RANKING MEMBERS, OF BOTH INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES.

HE HAS ACCESS TO THE BEST INFORMATION THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS.

AND NORMALLY, DURING THESE TIMES, IF YOU'RE PART OF THE GANG OF EIGHT, YOU QUIET DOWN BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE BEING TOLD IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION.

HE IS PUTTING OUT THERE WHAT HE CAN.

SO HE IS SOMEBODY THAT HAS REALLY THE BEST VIEW OF ANYONE, AND WHEN I SAY ANYONE, I MEAN ANYONE WITHIN CONGRESS.

A LOT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE GOING TO WAX ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

RUBIO ACTUALLY KNOWS AND THAT'S WHY I THINK YOU'VE SEEN A MORE NUANCED APPROACH FROM HIM, BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

>>AND CERTAINLY, THAT'S A RESPONSE THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GETTING OUT THERE, UPFRONT WITH THE INTELLIGENCE.

CURTIS, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING IN TERMS OF REACTION HERE?

HOW HAS NEWS 13 BEEN COVERING THE RESPONSE HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA?

>>ESSENTIALLY, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW A VERY, VERY, VERY BIG UKRAINIAN POPULATION HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

BEEN TALKING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ON THE HOME FRONT LOOKING BACK, TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE THEY HAVE THERE.

A YOUNG MAN, LOOKING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, HE EVEN GOT TO UKRAINE, TO THE BORDERS THERE NEAR POLAND, JOINED THE UKRAINIAN ARMY TO FIGHT IN THIS SITUATION GOING ON OVER THERE.

YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS GOING ON OVER HERE AND YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE INDUSTRIES YOU TALK ABOUT, AND YOU LOOK AT PUBLIX, A LOT OF THESE PLACES COMING ALONG SAYING, "WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO BUSINESS WITH RUSSIA," TRYING TO SHUT THEM OUT, CUT THEM OFF HERE.

WE'VE SEEN THESE SANCTIONS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, CRIPPLING THEM, CRIPPLING THEIR ECONOMY.

>>WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MONEY PART OF IT.

SOME HERE IN FLORIDA, INCLUDING THE AGRICULTURE COMMISSION AND NIKKI FRIED, PUSHING FOR THE STATE TO DIVEST RUSSIAN INVESTMENTS.

WHAT STEPS CAN THE STATE TAKE AND WHAT IS IT DOING?

>>WELL, THE THREE MEMBERS THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF THOSE INVESTMENTS IS THE GOVERNOR, THE CFO, JIMMY PATRONIS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHICH WOULD BE ASHLEY MOODY.

NIKKI FRIED, WHO'S A MEMBER OF THE CABINET IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE BOARD THAT OVERSEES THAT.

NOW, THEY COULD DIVEST FROM IT.

YOU'VE SEEN POLITICIANS, REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR NEIGHBORING STATE, GEORGIA, HAVE COME OUT AND SAID, "WE NEED TO DIVEST FROM THIS.

WE DON'T NEED TO BE SUPPORTING THIS."

SHE'S CALLED ON IT.

WE'VE YET TO SEE ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN.

THERE IS A FIDUCIARY DUTY THAT THE THREE MEMBERS DO HAVE.

YES, POLITICS ENTERS INTO IT, BUT THEY DO HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE PENSION HOLDERS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

SO IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST YANKING THAT MONEY OUT OF THERE.

>>THERE'S A FEW MORE MOVING PARTS.

YOU MENTIONED, CURTIS, THAT FLORIDA HAS A DECENT SIZE UKRAINIAN POPULATION.

IT'S ALSO GOT A DECENT SIZE RUSSIAN POPULATION.

I'M THINKING OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FOR EXAMPLE.

COULD THIS IMPACT THEM IF THERE ARE FINANCIAL PENALTIES?

>>YEAH, AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME OF IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING THERE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE A LOT OF ROBUST MONEY AND INVESTMENTS IN A LOT OF THESE ACCOUNTS HERE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE SANCTIONS A LOT OF THOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BEING CUT OFF HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF THAT MONEY.

AND ALSO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INDUSTRIES PULLING OUT IN RUSSIA AND THOSE FUNDS ARE TIED UP OVER THERE, THEY'RE LOSING MONEY.

THEY'RE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE RETURN ON A LOT OF THOSE INVESTMENTS, A LOT OF THAT BUSINESS THAT THEY'VE SEEN OVER THERE.

SO IT, IN TURN, IMPACTS THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE, IN FACT, LIVING HERE IN FLORIDA BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR MONEY TIED UP IN SOME OF THOSE OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS.

>>YEAH.

A REALLY BIG PART OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AS WELL, FOR SURE.

>>DEFINITELY A REALLY BIG PART.

A REALLY BIG PART OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.

>>A KEY ISSUE AND WE'LL KEEP WATCHING IT.

YOU CAN SEE MY FULL INTERVIEWS WITH CONGRESSMAN MIKE WALTZ AS WELL AS KONSTANTIN ASH FROM UCF ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT TONIGHT, BRINGING THINGS CLOSER TO HOME AS FLORIDA LAWMAKERS PREPARE FOR THE LAST WEEK OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE SHOULD NOTE, WE ARE RECORDING THE SHOW ON THURSDAY MORNING, SO THINGS CAN AND PROBABLY WILL CHANGE BY AIRTIME.

THE FLORIDA SENATE'S EXPECTED TO JOIN THE HOUSE IN VOTING IN FAVOR OF A 15-WEEK ABORTION BAN WITHOUT RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTIONS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, ANOTHER BILL FACING ONE MORE VOTE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

>>LGBTQ CAMPAIGNERS RAMPED UP PRESSURE ON LAWMAKERS IN RECENT WEEKS TO REJECT WHAT OPPONENTS CALL THE DON'T SAY GAY LEGISLATION.

>>TELL US ABOUT YOUR HERO.

>>I HAVE TWO HEROES, MY TWO MOMS.

>>PROHIBITING SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM ENCOURAGING CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE, ORLANDO STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH LEADING THE DEMOCRAT'S OPPOSITION TO THE LEGISLATION KNOWN AS HB 1557.

>>THE SPEAKER ASKED ME NOT TO MAKE IT PERSONAL.

AND I'VE BEEN SITTING ON THAT FOR A COUPLE DAYS, AND I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T.

I CAN'T NOT MAKE IT PERSONAL.

>>BUT SUPPORTERS SAY IT DOES NOT TARGET LGBTQ PEOPLE AND SIMPLY GIVES PARENTS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN HEAR BY PREVENTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM INITIATING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY.

>>IT PROHIBITS INSTRUCTION, NOT CONVERSATION ABOUT FAMILIES.

WE WANT KIDS TO DISCUSS THEIR FAMILIES, THE FAMILIES WHO LOVE THEM.

>>IF WE DIDN'T LIKE GAY PEOPLE, IF THAT WAS OUR GOAL, WE WOULD JUST SAY, "YOU CAN'T DO THIS AT ALL."

THIS IS THROUGH GRADE THREE.

>>DONALD ZOLL IS AN EDUCATION STUDENT.

HE SAYS HE HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT DISCUSSING GENDER IDENTITY WITH YOUNGER STUDENTS, BUT HE SAYS THE LEGISLATION WILL STIFLE CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LGBTQ PEOPLE.

>>I FEEL THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS A BIT YOUNG TO START TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY, BUT IT'S REALLY GOING TO DISCOURAGE TEACHERS FROM TALKING ABOUT THE QUEER COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT'S SAD.

IT'S BECOMING SUCH A BIG PART OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE.

I FEEL LIKE LGBT VISIBILITY SHOULD BE OUT THERE.

>>ACCORDING TO A POLL BY THE PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH LAB AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA, 49% OF VOTERS OPPOSE HB 1557, COMPARED TO 40% WHO SUPPORT IT.

>>OF ALL OF THESE KIND OF CULTURE WAR SOCIAL BILLS THAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS BEEN OPEN TO AND PUSHED THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR, THIS IS THE ONE WITH THE MOST PUSHBACK.

AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUPPORT THAT THIS BILL GOT IN THE HOUSE, THIS IS THE BILL OF THESE CONTROVERSIAL SUITE OF BILLS THAT HAD THE MOST REPUBLICANS BREAKING RANKS AND THE FEWEST DEMOCRATS JOINING WITH REPUBLICANS.

PUBLIC OPINION, AND EVEN THAT OPINION OF REPUBLICANS, PARTICULARLY YOUNGER REPUBLICANS, SUBURBAN REPUBLICANS, REPUBLICANS WITH HIGHER FORMAL EDUCATION, THIS ISSUE HAS GONE AWAY AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR REPUBLICANS TO GET THE KIND OF CONSENSUS THAT THEY WANT.

AND YOU SEE PEOPLE LIKE AMBER MARIANO, RAY PLACENCIA, MORE MODERATE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN FLORIDA VOTING AGAINST THE BILL, DESPITE ITS PASSAGE.

>>GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAD SIGNALED HIS SUPPORT FOR HB 1557 AND HE'S BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE SO-CALLED STOP WOKE ACT, WHICH TACKLES DISCUSSIONS AROUND RACE OR SEX IN CLASSROOMS OR CORPORATE SETTINGS.

HIS SUPPORT FOR A TRANCHE OF CONSERVATIVE MEASURES, AS WELL AS HIS RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, HAS EARNED THE GOVERNOR SUPPORT AMONG REPUBLICANS.

THE CPAC STRAW POLL OF 2024 PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS SHOWS DESANTIS WITH 28% SUPPORT COMPARED TO TRUMP'S 59%.

BUT WITHOUT TRUMP IN THE MIX, DESANTIS BECOMES THE LEADING CONTENDER WITH 61% SUPPORT AT CPAC.

>>HE'S IN A VERY DOMINANT POSITION AMONG PEOPLE WHEN YOU TAKE PRESIDENT TRUMP OUT OF THE PICTURE FOR NOW.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, CLEARLY, THE SUPPORT AMONG GRASSROOTS CONSERVATIVES IS STILL FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>>ALL RIGHT, CHRIS.

LET'S START WITH ABORTION, FIRST OF ALL.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE EXPECT LAWMAKERS TO VOTE ON OUT OF THIS TRANCHE OF BILLS.

DEMOCRATS FOUGHT THIS ONE HARD.

LAWMAKERS DISCUSSED MANY AMENDMENTS, CHILD SUPPORT AT 15 WEEKS, FOR EXAMPLE.

WHERE DOES THIS FLORIDA LEGISLATION STAND COMPARED TO OTHER STATES THAT HAVE IMPOSED ABORTION RESTRICTIONS?

>>IT'S REALLY IN KEEPING WITH WHAT WE SAW A LOT OF STATES START TO DO ONCE YOU SAW THE SUPREME COURT GET REMADE UNDER THE FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND YOU HAVE, NOW, A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF AMY CONEY BARRETT REPLACING RUTH BADER GINSBURG.

YOU SEE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS WITH REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, WHERE THEY HAVE THE TRIFECTA, THAT ARE LOOKING OUT AT THAT COURT AND SAYING, "NOW WE CAN GO BEFORE THAT COURT.

WE CAN BRING UP THIS VIABILITY QUESTION AT 15 WEEKS, AND WE HAVE A COURT THAT MAY BE WILLING TO ADDRESS THAT AND ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT A 15-WEEK VIABILITY STANDARD."

SO WE'RE REALLY IN KEEPING WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER STATES THAT ARE WITHIN THAT SAME SPECTRUM.

>>AND THIS IS VERY SIMILAR, AS WE WERE DISCUSSING OFF-CAMERA, WITH MISSISSIPPI'S LAW, RIGHT?

MISSISSIPPI'S BILL?

>>YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.

WHEN YOU'VE HEARD THESE SPONSORS OF THIS BILL ASK WHY 15 WEEKS?

IS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON?

BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK TO OBGYNS, THEY'RE LIKE, "15 WEEKS IS REALLY ARBITRARY."

BUT THE REASON IS, AGAIN, THE SPONSORS HAVE SAID THIS IN PRESENTING THE BILL UP IN TALLAHASSEE, WE'RE AT 15 WEEKS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MISSISSIPPI IS.

MISSISSIPPI IS THE CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

WE WANT TO BE IN LOCKSTEP WITH THEM SO WHEN THE COURT RULES, WE'VE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT OR THE RED LIGHT, DEPENDING ON HOW THE COURT RULES.

>>CHRIS TALKED ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT THERE, WHICH HAS HEARD ARGUMENTS IN THIS.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

SO THIS COULD BE HALTED, RIGHT?

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SUPREME COURT'S GOING TO GO, BUT WE'VE GOT AN IDEA.

>>YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.

BUT WE DO, LIKE CHRIS WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE DO HAVE AN IDEA BASED ON THE MAKEUP OF THE SUPREME COURT MEMBERS RIGHT NOW.

BUT I THINK THAT THE SITUATION HERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT THE THING HERE IS THAT THIS IS NOT A BAN.

THIS IS NOT AN OUTRIGHT BAN, BUT UP UNTIL A POINT HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THE PROPONENTS SAY.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, AND IT'S NOT EXPECTED TO BE DECIDED UNTIL JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW.

BUT BASED OFF OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING AND BASED OFF OF OTHER DELIBERATIONS, ESPECIALLY DOWN IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW AND THE WAY THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED ON THOSE, I THINK IT'S SIX WEEKS, I BELIEVE, IN ONE INSTANCE IN A SECTION IN TEXAS THAT THEY ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN, YOU MAY NOT RUN INTO A ROADBLOCK HERE WITH THE SITUATION IN MISSISSIPPI.

>>I GUESS ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS PARTS OF THIS, CERTAINLY IN THE SENATE DISCUSSION, WAS ABOUT THE EXCEPTIONS PART OF THIS.

NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE, INCEST, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND THAT REALLY TRIGGERED SOME EMOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

>>WELL, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WITH THIS.

ARE WOMEN GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE SERVICES AFTER 15 WEEKS IF THEY'VE BEEN RAPED AND IMPREGNATED?

AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

NOW, THERE IS THE ONE EXCEPTION, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.

BUT AGAIN, AT 15 WEEKS, SHE MAY NOT KNOW.

IS IT AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY?

AND THEN AFTER 15 WEEKS, SHE NEEDS TO THEN GO AND GET TWO DOCTORS TO SIGN OFF ON THAT, WHICH COULD BE ANOTHER BARRIER TO GETTING THE TREATMENT THAT SHE NEEDS.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS ON THIS.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE POLLING FROM NORTH FLORIDA.

YES, PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO THIS, BUT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

AND ONCE AGAIN, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HOLDS SWAY UP IN TALLAHASSEE.

>>JUST A REMINDER, WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF THE SESSION, SO THINGS ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE BETWEEN WHEN WE TAPE THE SHOW ON THURSDAY MORNING AND AIRTIME.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SO-CALLED DON'T SAY GAY BILL.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DESCRIBED HB 1557 AS "HATEFUL" AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THIS DURING HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

>>FOR OUR LGBTQ+ AMERICANS, LET'S FINALLY GET THE BIPARTISAN QUALITY ACT TO MY DESK.

THE ONSLAUGHT OF STATE LAWS TARGETING TRANSGENDER AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, IT'S SIMPLY WRONG.

I'VE SAID LAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY TO OUR YOUNGER TRANSGENDER AMERICANS, I'LL ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK AS YOUR PRESIDENT SO YOU CAN BE YOURSELF AND REACH YOUR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL.

>>WELL, AN AMENDMENT BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR JEFF BRANDES TO REPLACE SEXUAL IDENTITY WITH HUMAN SEXUALITY, WITH THE AIM OF TAKING THE LGBTQ PART OF THIS OUT OF THE BILL, FAILED.

CHRIS, WHY HAS THIS BILL AND OTHERS IN OTHER STATES LIKE IT REALLY BECOME SUCH A BIG NATIONAL ISSUE WITH THE PRESIDENT WEIGHING IN?

>>WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT FLORIDA AND YOU LOOK AT OTHER STATES, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE HEARD A LOT DOWN AT CPAC THIS LAST WEEKEND, IS REPUBLICANS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A WINNING ISSUE IN PARENTAL RIGHTS.

AND PARENTAL RIGHTS IS AN OMNIBUS NEBULOUS THING.

EVERYTHING CAN BE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND THAT'S WHERE THEY SEE THIS FITTING IN AS SAYING, "WE'RE GOING TO TAKE POWER AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE TEACHERS.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF PARENTS."

THIS IS WHERE THEY SEE THAT.

THEY SEE IT AS A POLITICAL WINNING ISSUE AND THEY SEE IT AS SOMETHING THEY CAN PUSH FORWARD.

AND LISTEN, YOU'VE SEEN OPPOSITION FROM THE DEMOCRATS IN THIS, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOTES IN TALLAHASSEE TO STOP THIS.

AND SO THIS IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO END UP ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

>>LET'S TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS IN GENERAL, CURTIS.

THEY'VE BEEN SUCH A BIG FOCUS OF THIS SESSION.

BOOKS, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, TEACHING OF RACE ISSUES, ALL ON THE AGENDA.

WHY HAVE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BOARDS BECOME SUCH A FOCUS OF REPUBLICANS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS?

IS THIS DOWN TO COVID?

>>EXACTLY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I WAS GOING TO GO WITH THAT.

AND IT DOES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC, AND ESPECIALLY A LOT OF THE REFORMS AND UNREST WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN 2020 WITH GEORGE FLOYD.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND THINGS OF THAT SUCH IN THE CLASSROOM AND THAT BECOMING A POLITICAL ISSUE, AND ALSO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT TEACHERS HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR, FIGHTING FOR, AND THEN YOU THROW COVID INTO THE MIX WITH KIDS BEING OUT OF SCHOOL, YOU HAVE VIRTUAL LEARNING, IT BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE WRONG IN A LOT OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE SEEING THAT ATTENTION BEING SHIFTED THERE.

COVID WAS THE FLASHLIGHT THAT JUST SHONE ON A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT WERE HIDDEN IN THE DARK.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE SHIFT THEIR MINDSET AND PUT THEIR MINDS ON THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING, A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS AND WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

>>YOU MENTIONED CRITICAL RACE THEORY THERE.

AND CERTAINLY, THE STOP WOKE ACT IS SOMETHING WE'LL TALK ABOUT ON NEXT WEEK'S SHOW.

WE WILL HAVE A FULL WRAP-UP OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON THE PROGRAM NEXT WEEK, SO MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN FOR THAT.

MEANWHILE, YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE @WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT POLITICS BEYOND THE SESSION, STARTING WITH THAT CPAC POLL.

CHRIS, YOU WERE AT CPAC.

BASED ON WHAT YOU SAW AT THAT EVENT HERE IN ORLANDO LAST WEEKEND, HOW DO YOU ASSESS GOVERNOR DESANTIS' SUPPORT BROADLY AMONG THE CONSERVATIVE BASE?

>>HE IS DEFINITELY SEEN AS IF TRUMP DOESN'T RUN, WE WANT DESANTIS.

NOW, THAT HUGE CAVEAT AT THE BEGINNING, YOU CANNOT JUST TIPTOE AROUND.

THIS IS STILL TRUMP'S PARTY.

YOU GO TO CPAC, THERE ARE STILL ALL THE RED MAGA HATS AND ALL THE SIGNS EVERYWHERE THAT SAY, "TRUMP WAS RIGHT.

TRUMP WON."

TRUMP IS STILL THE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR THE GRASSROOTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT HIS NUMBERS, HE'S GONE FROM 70% IN THE LAST CPAC POLL TO THIS ONE AT 59%.

THAT'S NOT A HUGE DROP, BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT AT LEAST THE BASE OF THE GOP IS WILLING TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS.

BUT AT LEAST FOR NOW, IF TRUMP DECIDES TO RUN, DESANTIS IS NOT THE FAVORITE.

BUT AGAIN, IF TRUMP'S NOT IN THE MIX, BIG IF, DESANTIS IS CLEARLY MOVING ON UP.

>>DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, CURTIS?

DO WE GET THE IMPRESSION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP STILL HAS A LOT OF JUICE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>>OH, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

YES, JUST LIKE CHRIS WAS SAYING, THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS DOES HAVE A LOT OF PROBABILITY HERE, BUT THAT'S IF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES NOT RUN.

YOU SEE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT CPAC AND YOU LOOK AT JUST THE LANDSCAPE OF EVERYTHING THAT TOOK PLACE THERE.

EVEN SO, THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, BEING VERY CAREFUL, VERY, VERY TIPTOE, BECAUSE NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAVE SAID, "OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN."

I KNOW TRUMP HAS TIPTOED AROUND AND SAID, "WHEN I DO," OR, "IF I DO THAT TYPE OF THING, " BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR, WHO CLEARLY HAS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE TO GO THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST, BUT HE HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE TRUMP HAS THIS BASE.

AND ONE LITTLE THING THAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS OR DOES COULD TURN THOSE PEOPLE.

THEY COULD PUT THEM IN THEIR CROSSHAIR.

HE CAN LITERALLY HAVE A PROBLEM ON HIS HANDS AND LOSE THE SUPPORT THAT HE HAS.

>>I COULD DOVETAIL ONTO SOMETHING YOU SAID THERE.

IF TRUMP GETS IN, IT WILL CLEAR THE FIELD.

IF TRUMP DOESN'T GET IN, YOU CAN'T EXPECT DESANTIS TO CLEAR THE FIELD THE SAME WAY.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ONCE THEY SEE TRUMP'S NOT RUNNING, JUMP IN AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE DESANTIS THE SAME ACQUIESCENCE THAT THEY WOULD GIVE DONALD TRUMP.

>>THAT IS A REALLY GOOD POINT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SENATOR RICK SCOTT A MOMENT IF WE CAN.

HE LEADS, OF COURSE, THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE.

HE PUT OUT HIS RESCUE AMERICA AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDES TAXES ON EVERYONE, LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AS WELL.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW REPUBLICANS FEEL ABOUT THIS?

THIS SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP.

>>THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ONES WHEN YOU ASK REPUBLICANS ABOUT IT, YOU GET ONE OF TWO ANSWERS, WHICH IS, "I HAVEN'T READ IT, OR, "I THINK IT'S NICE THAT HE PUT IT OUT, BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH ALL OF IT."

SO THEY'RE FALLING INTO ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES.

MITCH MCCONNELL HAS ALREADY COME OUT AND BASICALLY SAID HE'S NOT ON BOARD WITH THIS.

BUT SCOTT PUTS THIS OUT, HE'S STANDING BY IT.

WHEN I INTERVIEWED HIM DOWN AT CPAC AND ASKED ABOUT THE TAX HIKE, HE SAID, "OH NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT WILL INCREASE TAXES, BUT THERE'S NOT REALLY A FOLLOW-UP TO IT."

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE BULLET POINTS.

THESE ARE NOT THOUGHT-OUT POLICY IDEAS WITH GREAT CHAPTER AND VERSE.

THIS IS JUST AN IDEA HERE.

BUT AS TO YOUR POINT, WHEN YOU SAY EVERYONE NEEDS TO START PAYING INCOME TAX, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T PAY INCOME TAX, RETIREES, VETERANS, LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES DON'T PAY INCOME TAX.

THEY DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY.

AND IF SCOTT'S PLAN IS THAT EVERYONE'S GOING TO PAY INCOME TAX, THEN EVERYONE'S PAYING INCOME TAX, THAT'S A TAX HIKE.

>>YEAH.

AND HE SAYS HE WANTS PEOPLE TO BUY IN, I GUESS, INTO THE PROCESS.

CURTIS, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE BUCK THE CDC.

>>YES.

>>THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT THAT PLAN.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

AND INTERESTINGLY, THIS CAME SHORTLY BEFORE WE SAW THE GOVERNOR ADMONISHING A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AT USF TO TAKE THEIR MASKS OFF.

THEY WERE STANDING BEHIND HIM AT AN EVENT THERE.

MASKS ARE STILL A BIG THING FOR THE GOVERNOR IT SEEMS.

>>YEAH, DEFINITELY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, IN THAT VIDEO THAT'S NOW GONE VIRAL, IT'S EVERYWHERE NOW.

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THAT VIDEO AND WHAT THIS BUCK THE CDC IS, ESSENTIALLY, IT ENDS CORPORATE MASK POLICIES AND ALSO ISOLATION RULES FOR KIDS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN SCHOOL.

IT SHORTENS THE TIME THAT KIDS ARE IN ISOLATION WHEN THEY'RE OUT FOR COVID.

SO ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING HERE IS JUST THAT WE ARE BUCKING THE CDC.

WE WANT TO LAY OUT OUR OWN GUIDELINES HERE, THINGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE FOREFRONT AND THAT WE SAY THAT ARE GOOD, THAT WE SHOULD GO BY.

SO HE DOES STILL HAVE HIS STRONG OPINIONS WHEN IT COMES TO WEARING A MASK IN PUBLIC.

>>WE'RE CERTAINLY LIKELY TO SEE THAT CONTINUE, FOR SURE.

WELL, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO CURTIS MCLEOD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

HE'S ABOUT TO HEAD UP TO TALLAHASSEE TO COVER THE END OF THE SESSION AND CHRISTOPHER HEATH FROM WFTV CHANNEL 9.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR COMING INTO THE STUDIO.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 PM HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE.