>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, DEMOCRATS AIM TO UNSEAT RON DESANTIS NEXT YEAR, AS THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO WIN PRAISE FROM REPUBLICANS FOR HIS COVID RESPONSE.

RETAILERS EASE MASK MANDATES FOR VACCINATED CUSTOMERS.

HOW WILL THE NEW POLICIES WORK, GIVEN FLORIDA'S BAN ON VACCINE PASSPORTS?

AND, WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT FOR FLORIDA'S DEVASTATED CRUISE LINE INDUSTRY?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M NANCY ALVAREZ AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT, WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

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

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK, BRENDAN BYRNE RETURNING TO US FROM 90.7 WMFE, MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE DARALENE JONES FROM WFTV CHANNEL 9.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, BOTH OF YOU.

AND AGAIN, MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT, IN THE STUDIO HERE WITH ME THIS WEEK.

ALL RIGHT, STEVE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>>THANK YOU, NANCY.

FIRST TONIGHT, A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE U.S. SENATE NEXT YEAR.

ORLANDO CONGRESSWOMAN, VAL DEMINGS, THIS WEEK, CONFIRMED REPORTING IN POLITICO THAT SHE'S CONSIDERING A CHALLENGE TO SENATOR MARCO RUBIO IN THE 2022 ELECTIONS.

ON TUESDAY, DEMINGS WROTE ON TWITTER, "I'M HUMBLED AT THE ENCOURAGING MESSAGES I'M SEEING TODAY.

I KNOW THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH FOR REPUBLICANS TO STAND IN THE WAY OF GETTING THINGS DONE FOR FLORIDIANS, WHICH IS WHY I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING A RUN FOR THE SENATE, STAY TUNED."

DEMINGS HAD BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS A POTENTIAL CHALLENGER TO GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

WELL, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT HER REPORTED DECISION TO FOCUS ON A SENATE RUN LIKELY NARROWS THE FIELD OF DEMOCRATS HOPING TO TAKE ON DESANTIS.

THEY INCLUDE FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST AND AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER NIKKI FRIED, WHO IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HER CANDIDACY SOON.

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE TWO ADS: ONE FOR FRIED, ONE FOR CRIST.

>>I REMEMBER.

>>I REMEMBER A GOVERNOR WHO PUT THE PEOPLE FIRST.

>>A GOVERNOR WHO GAVE A DAMN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

>>WHO EXPANDED VOTING RIGHTS.

>>AND, DEFENDED CIVIL RIGHTS.

>>STOOD UP FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

>>AND, PUT MORE MONEY IN THE CLASSROOM.

>>[SPANISH] >>[SPANISH] >>I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A GOVERNOR WHO KNEW HIS JOB- >>WAS TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR JOBS.

>>I REMEMBER THAT GOVERNOR TOO, BECAUSE THAT GOVERNOR WAS ME, AND WE GOT A LOT DONE FOR FLORIDA.

>>THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA WILL NOT BE SUPPRESSED.

THEIR VOICES WILL NOT BE SHUT DOWN.

THEY WILL RISE UP.

THEY WILL SEE RON DESANTIS FOR WHO HE IS, AN AUTHORITARIAN DICTATOR.

YOU ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE POWER.

IT IS BECOMING CLEARER AND CLEARER THAT RON DESANTIS NEEDS TO BE A ONE-TERM GOVERNOR.

WE ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO MAKING A DECISION BECAUSE THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THEY ARE GETTING FROM RON DESANTIS.

>>WELL, RECENTLY I SPOKE WITH FRANK ORLANDO, POLITICAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR AT ST. LEO'S UNIVERSITY AND STARTED BY ASKING HIM, WHY CRIST GOT INTO THE RACE SO EARLY?

>>HE'S GETTING INTO THIS VERY EARLY STEVE AND I THINK THERE'S GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF COMPETITION, OBVIOUSLY IN THIS PRIMARY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIKELIHOOD OF NIKKI FRIED RUNNING.

WE'RE IN A PERIOD RIGHT NOW, PRETTY EARLY ON, WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL AN INVISIBLE PRIMARY.

IN A LOT OF WAYS, THIS IS SOMETIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN VOTING.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A COMPETITION FOR STAFF, A COMPETITION FOR FUNDRAISERS, A COMPETITION FOR ENDORSEMENTS.

I THINK CHARLIE CRIST REALIZED HE WOULD PROBABLY BE THE OUTSIDER IN THIS RACE.

HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET FRIED SNATCH UP DONORS, STAFF ENDORSEMENTS.

AND SO, I THINK HE FELT LIKE HE NEEDED TO JUMP IN NOW AS A WAY TO GIVE HIMSELF A SHOT IN THIS RACE.

>>DO YOU AGREE THAT WHICHEVER DEMOCRAT ENDS UP TAKING ON RON DESANTIS IS GOING TO HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE?

THE GOVERNOR IS VERY POPULAR AMONG REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN FLORIDA.

>>IN SOME WAYS, THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS THAT ARE INVESTED IN TAKING DOWN RON DESANTIS SO HE CAN'T RUN IN 2024, ARE ACTUALLY HELPING RAISE HIS PROFILE AND EVEN HELPING HIM IN FLORIDA MAINTAIN THE GOVERNORSHIP.

BUT, RIGHT NOW, HE'S HOT.

WILL HE STILL BE HOT NEXT YEAR?

WILL HE STILL BE HOT MAYBE IN 2024 IF HE DECIDES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

WE DON'T KNOW.

>>DO RON DESANTIS' PROSPECTS OF REELECTION DEPEND ON HOW THE FIGHT FOR POWER WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SHAKES OUT, GIVEN THAT HE'S POSITIONED HIMSELF ON THE TRUMP WING OF THE PARTY?

>>I THINK FOR SURE.

BUT DESPITE THAT, HE'S BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THE NON-TRUMP REPUBLICANS WITH HIM REMARKABLY WELL.

HE'S ONE OF THE FEW POLITICIANS, NATIONWIDE, REPUBLICANS, THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THE MORE LIZ CHENEY WING AND THE MORE TRUMP WING HAPPY.

THAT'S A TOUGH TIGHT ROPE TO WALK.

THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT IN PLACES LIKE THE TAMPA SUBURBS, JACKSONVILLE SUBURBS, ORLANDO SUBURBS, GOING INTO 2022 FOR HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

>>I WONDER WHETHER WHO THE DEMOCRATS PICK WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE FUTURE OF THAT PARTY TOO.

>>WELL, I THINK IT IS BECAUSE I THINK AFTER 2020 IN PARTICULAR, A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN FLORIDA WERE VERY DOWN ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRENDING DEMOGRAPHIC AREAS THAT FLORIDA DEMOCRATS HAD LONG THOUGHT, THIS IS OUR TICKET, RIGHT?

MIAMI DADE BECOMING MORE BLUE, PUERTO RICANS IN THE ORLANDO AREA AND THE I4 CORRIDOR...

THIS IS GOING TO POWER US, WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, THIS IS GOING TO BECOME A DEMOCRATIC STATE.

BUT, THE TWO MAIN DRIVERS THAT DEMOCRATS HAD BEEN COUNTING ON FLIPPED THE OTHER WAY.

>>YEAH, SO LET'S START THERE.

DARALENE, OBVIOUSLY A LOT CAN CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT NOVEMBER, BUT DO YOU AGREE DEMOCRATS FACE A CHALLENGE IN THESE STATEWIDE RACES, GIVEN RECENT ELECTION OUTCOMES IN FLORIDA.

WE'RE A COMPLICATED BUNCH HERE.

>>WE ARE.

YOU HIT IT RIGHT THERE ON THE HEAD, NANCY.

AND ABSOLUTELY, I AGREE.

I THINK WHAT YOU'VE SEEN HERE IN FLORIDA IS DEMOCRATS HERE HAVE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN PLACES LIKE ARIZONA AND GEORGIA AND TEXAS.

I THINK THEY'VE SORT OF HAD THIS GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT IT CAN HAPPEN TOO HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

BUT YOU DO STILL HAVE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHOSE BRAND IS STILL VERY POPULAR HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

HE SORT OF HELPED THE GOP SURGE HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

HE DEFEATED NOW PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN BY I THINK MORE THAN 3 OR 4% OF THE PERCENTAGE POINTS LAST FALL.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS TOOK AWAY TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS HERE IN THE STATE AND THEY WIDEN THEIR MAJORITIES IN THE STATE HOUSE.

THESE ARE ALL VERY SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH AS THEY LOOK NOT ONLY TO 2022, BUT AS WE HEARD, 2024.

>>YEAH, AND LOOKING AT THE ISSUES HERE, CHARLIE CRIST AND NIKKI FRIED HAVE BOTH MENTIONED, FLORIDA'S NEW VOTING AND PROTESTS LAWS.

SO BRENDAN, HAVE WE GOTTEN A CLEAR IDEA YET AS TO WHICH ISSUES THESE CANDIDATES PLAN TO FIGHT ON?

>>I THINK WE DO HAVE A CLEAR PATH FORWARD THAT THEY ARE BOTH CAMPAIGNING ON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT RON DESANTIS.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY THE MAIN TALKING POINTS, AT THIS POSITION, IN THIS TIME, IN THE RACE.

YOU SAW THOSE CAMPAIGN ADS THAT WERE GOING AGAINST SOME OF THE POLICIES OF RON DESANTIS, BUT BROADLY, THEY'RE TAKING ON AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR, WHICH IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT IN A STATE THAT IS HEADING TOWARDS BEING RED AND BECOMING MORE AND MORE RED EVERY ELECTION CYCLE.

ALSO, THERE IS A VERY PROMINENT FLORIDA MAN HERE NOW, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHO SUPPORTS RON DESANTIS.

SO, I THINK THAT THIS IS SHAPING UP TO BE A "I AM NOT THE GOVERNOR.

THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR ME" KIND OF CAMPAIGN.

>>YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE FLORIDA'S POLITICAL TRAJECTORY, GIVEN WHAT WE'RE SEEING NEXT DOOR IN GEORGIA.

DARALENE, LET'S TALK ABOUT VAL DEMINGS A MOMENT.

WFTV WAS AMONG THE OUTLETS THAT CONFIRMED POLITICO'S REPORTING THIS WEEK THAT SHE'LL CHALLENGE MARCO RUBIO IN WHAT'S LIKELY TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE RACES IN THE NATION.

HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THIS FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2022?

>>OH, IT'S HUGE.

SHE'S HAD TREMENDOUS POPULARITY ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, SERVING IN SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN CONGRESS, SO YOU HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT THERE.

ONE THING I THINK THAT'S SORT OF BEING IGNORED HERE IS THAT THE NAME POPULARITY.

HER HUSBAND IS ALSO PROBABLY LIKELY GOING TO BE ON THE TICKET AS WELL, SO YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TWO DEMINGS ON THE SLATE IN 2022.

THAT NAME RECOGNITION IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT HERE IN THE ORLANDO METRO AREA.

I THINK HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE SELLING THE REST OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, PARTICULARLY THOSE AREAS IN SOUTH FLORIDA ON WHO SHE IS AND CAN BE VERSUS WHO NOW SENATOR MARCO RUBIO HAS NOT BEEN OVER HIS TERM IN OFFICE.

>>YEAH, YOU MENTIONED DEMINGS' PROFILE THERE.

SHE HAS A NATIONAL PROFILE NOW HAVING BEEN MENTIONED AS THE POTENTIAL RUNNING MATE TO JOE BIDEN AT THE LAST ELECTION.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HALLMARKS OF HER TIME IN CONGRESS, SO FAR, BRENDAN?

>>WELL, OBVIOUSLY, AS DARALENE MENTIONED, THERE WAS THE IMPEACHMENT MANAGER.

SHE SERVED AS ONE OF THE NON-ATTORNEYS ON THAT.

THAT WAS A VERY HIGH-PROFILE POSITION FOR HER AS WELL.

SHE'S ALSO TAKEN A STANCE ON A LOT OF THE POLICE INJUSTICES HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF HER FORMER ROLE AS ORLANDO'S POLICE CHIEF AND SHE'S TAKEN THAT TO A NATIONAL LEVEL.

SHE'S ALSO HAD SOME PRETTY HIGH-PROFILE SPATS WITH REPUBLICANS, LIKE JIM JORDAN.

SO, I THINK SHE REALLY HAS THIS NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND NATIONAL PROFILE FROM SOMEBODY THAT SEES THESE THINGS THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING IN D.C. AND ACTUALLY, SHE'S TOLD SOME OF THESE OUTLETS, OR SOME OF THESE OUTLETS HAVE BEEN REPORTING AS TO HER DECISION, SHE THINKS HER FIGHT IS IN D.C.

IT'S IN CONGRESS AND IT'S IN THE SENATE RATHER THAN COMING TO FLORIDA AND RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR THERE.

SO, VAL WANTS TO KEEP THE FIGHT IN WASHINGTON AND THAT'S KIND OF DRIVING HER TOWARDS THIS DECISION TO RUN FOR THE SENATE SEAT.

>>LET'S TALK ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.

DARALENE, WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS LEAVES CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE MURPHY AND FORMER STATE ATTORNEY ARAMIS AYALA, BIG NAME HERE LOCALLY, GIVEN THAT THEY'RE BOTH REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING A CHALLENGE TO RUBIO.

>>I THINK WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS SIGNIFICANT.

BIG NAMES HERE LOCALLY.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE UPHILL BATTLE FOR BOTH OF THOSE CANDIDATES IS TRYING TO GET THAT NAME RECOGNITION AND THAT NOTORIETY STATEWIDE.

CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMINGS HAS THAT NATIONAL RECOGNITION WORKING FOR HER, SO SHE'S ALREADY AHEAD OF THE GAME.

WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING A RACE LIKE THIS, PARTICULARLY GOING AGAINST AN INCUMBENT, YOU NEED TO BE AHEAD OF THE GAME IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES AND VAL DEMINGS IS AHEAD OF THE GAME IN THE ONE THAT REALLY MATTERS, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WHICH IS THAT NAME RECOGNITION.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN FOR EITHER OF THOSE CANDIDATES TO TRY TO JUMP INTO.

THE DEMOCRATS REALLY HAVE TO DECIDE, DO WE WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE SPLITTING THE PARTY OR DO WE WANT TO RALLY TOGETHER AND REALLY TRY TO BEAT A REPUBLICAN?

BECAUSE, WELL THERE ARE LARGER IMPLICATIONS, IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON, IF YOU HAVE A DEMOCRAT TAKE THAT SEAT FROM A NOW REPUBLICAN SENATOR MARCO RUBIO.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT.

I THINK IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT TURNS OUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT ON THAT VERY SOON.

>>NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN FLORIDA POLITICS AND WE'LL BE COVERING IT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

WE WANT TO REMIND YOU, YOU CAN FIND STEVE'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH FRANK ORLANDO, FROM ST. LEO'S UNIVERSITY, ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE BILL PASSED THIS WEEK BY LAWMAKERS, RATIFYING THE GOVERNOR'S GAMBLING DEAL WITH THE SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA.

IT'S A BIG STORY, IT PAVES THE WAY FOR LEGAL SPORTS BETTING IN OUR STATE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK, RIGHT HERE, ON NEWS NIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, CHARTING A COURSE FORWARD FOR FLORIDA'S CRUISE INDUSTRY.

THE CRUISE LINES ARE CONTINUING TO VACCINATE THEIR WORKERS AT PORT CANAVERAL, HOPING FOR A RETURN TO SAILINGS FROM THE U.S.

THIS SUMMER.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS DEMANDING THE CDC-CONTROLLED, ALLOW VOYAGES, CDC SHOULD ALLOW VOYAGES TO RESUME, HAVING BEEN HALTED SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS WEEK REFERRED A LAWSUIT, BROUGHT BY THE STATE AGAINST THE CDC TO A MEDIATOR, ORDERING THE PARTIES TO FIGURE OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES OUT OF COURT.

>>THIS WEEK, CARNIVAL SAID IT HOPED TO BEGIN SAILING AGAIN FROM FLORIDA IN JULY.

THE COMPANY, ALONG WITH OTHER CRUISE OPERATORS, IS CALLING FOR THE CDC TO ALLOW VOYAGES TO AND FROM THE U.S. TO RESUME AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS DEMANDING THE CDC EASE UP ITS COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, WHICH INCLUDE REQUIRING COSTLY PRACTICE SAILINGS BEFORE REGULAR TRIPS CAN RESUME.

WHILE THE STATE AND THE CRUISE LINES ARE ALIGNED WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESUMPTION OF SAILINGS, THEY ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO PROVING VACCINE STATUS.

THE CDC SAYS COMPANIES CAN SKIP PRACTICE VOYAGES, SO LONG AS 95% OF PASSENGERS AND 98% OF CREW HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

BUT GOVERNOR DESANTIS RECENTLY SIGNED LEGISLATION, BANNING BUSINESSES FROM ASKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION.

>>THE VACCINE PASSPORT IS KIND OF A NEW CONCEPT THAT, IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SOCIETY, THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO ALL THE TIME, YOU GOT TO SHOW IT.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A BAD IDEA AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>>THE GOVERNOR HAS DISMISSED A THREAT BY NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE TO PULL OUT OF FLORIDA, INCLUDING ABANDONING PORT CANAVERAL OVER THE BAN ON SO-CALLED VACCINE PASSPORTS.

AND THE ISSUE EXTENDS TO OTHER BUSINESSES TOO.

SOME RETAILERS, INCLUDING PUBLIX, ARE RELAXING THEIR MASK MANDATES FOR VACCINATED SHOPPERS, FOLLOWING GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC LAST WEEK, BUT THEY WILL NOT ASK FOR PROOF OF VACCINE STATUS.

SIMILARLY, THEME PARKS, INCLUDING DISNEY WORLD AND UNIVERSAL, ARE NO LONGER REQUIRING MASKS OUTDOORS FOR THOSE WHO'VE BEEN INOCULATED, AGAIN, USING AN HONOR SYSTEM.

>>ALL RIGHT, IT'S ALL EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK?

SO LET'S START THERE.

HAVE BUSINESSES, LIKE SUPERMARKETS AND THEME PARKS, REALLY GIVEN ANY SPECIFIC INDICATIONS ON HOW THEY'RE PLANNING TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, DARALENE?

>>WELL, NANCY, AT THIS POINT, IT'S THE HONOR SYSTEM, LIKE YOU JUST SAID, WHICH I THINK IS CAUSING CONCERN AND ANXIETY FOR SOME PEOPLE.

IF YOU GO ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA TODAY, YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE ARE OUT.

WE ARE PRETTY MUCH AT PRE-PANDEMIC SOCIALIZATION IN A LOT OF CASES.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING BACK TO ROUTINE THINGS LIKE JUST GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE OR A TRIP TO WALMART OR TARGET, I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING AN AMIDST OF SORT OF THESE LARGER PLACES.

RETAILERS, NOT KNOWING IF YOU'RE STANDING IN LINE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS VACCINATED OR NOT, AND WHO MAY NOT BE WEARING A MASK, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REQUIRING THEM ANYMORE FOR PEOPLE, WHO ARE VACCINATED, AT THIS TIME.

I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE A CHANGE IN THAT IS IF WE START TO SEE A SURGE IN THE NUMBERS AGAIN.

I THINK AS LONG AS THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND THE CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO STAY DOWN, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO JUST BE, THIS IS BUSINESS AS NORMAL NOW.

>>YEAH, IT'S TOUGH TO EXPLAIN TO KIDS.

MY KIDS ARE ASKING, "DO WE WEAR THE MASK?

DO WE NOT?

HOW DO WE KNOW?"

I WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.

>>RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WEAR THEM AT SCHOOL, RIGHT?

>>RIGHT.

>>AND THEN WE'RE AT THE STORE AND YOU DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.

>>ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT HAVE WE SEEN AT THE THEME PARKS, WHERE MASK RULES HAVE BEEN EASED OR SUBSTANTIALLY FEWER PEOPLE WEARING MASKS NOW, AND WHAT ARE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYING ABOUT THAT, BRENDAN?

>>YEAH, FOLKS ARE EXCITED THAT THE THEME PARKS ARE KIND OF FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES AND RELAXING THE MASK RULES AND ALLOWING FOLKS TO BE OUTSIDE WITHOUT THE MASKS.

I KNOW WITH A VERY HOT SUMMER COMING UP, THAT WAS DEFINITELY TOP OF MIND TO A LOT OF THEME PARK GOERS.

MY COLLEAGUE DANIELLE PRIEUR AT WMFE, SHE'S TALKED TO DR. RAUL PINO, THE ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER, ABOUT THIS.

HE SAYS FOR THE MOST PART, THESE THEME PARKS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE, AND HOW THESE ARE SOME OF THE SAFEST PLACES TO BE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE GUIDELINES.

SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THAT THERE IS A CONCERN THERE.

I KNOW I'LL BE GETTING MY ANNUAL PASS BACK AND HEADING BACK TO THE THEME PARKS AS WELL, THIS SUMMER.SO, IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THAT DO GO THERE.

>>CERTAINLY, I KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUE, DANIELLE, HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE.

DARALENE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CRUISE LINES A MOMENT, WHICH ARE NOW SET TO JOIN THE STATE AND THE CDC IN MEDIATION.

WHAT ARE THE COMPANIES SAYING ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO RESUME SAILINGS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO NAVIGATE THESE COMPETING FEDERAL AND STATE RULES?

>>THE CRUISE INDUSTRY HAS LONG INDICATED THAT THEY CAN DO THIS, THAT THEY ARE READY TO HANDLE THIS.

THEY CAN FOLLOW ALL CDC GUIDELINES.

IN FACT, SOME CRUISE SHIPS, CRUISE INDUSTRY COMPANIES, HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE MADE PLANS TO INCREASE THINGS LIKE TESTING AND OTHER SAFETY GUIDELINES ON BOARD THEIR CRUISES.

SO I THINK WHAT THEY SAID ALL ALONG IS THAT WE ARE BEING UNFAIRLY TARGETED.

PEOPLE ARE STILL FLYING, PEOPLE ARE STILL TRAVELING IN OTHER WAYS, SO JUST LET US DO OUR BUSINESS.

AND SO, THEY JOINED IN ON THIS LAWSUIT NOW, I THINK MAYBE HOPING THAT IT WILL HELP PUT THE PRESSURE ON TO GET THEM BACK TO BUSINESS THE WAY THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY CAN.

>>YEAH.

AND SOME BUSINESSES, INCLUDING NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE AND ROYAL CARIBBEAN SAY THEY WANT TO USE VACCINE PASSPORTS.

AIRLINES ARE ALSO TESTING APPS TO PROVE VACCINATION, OF COURSE.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA, BRENDAN, WHAT FLORIDA'S VACCINE PASSPORT BAN, THAT WE HEARD GOVERNOR DESANTIS TALK ABOUT IN OUR PIECE, MIGHT MEAN FOR HOW THEY DO BUSINESS HERE?

>>YEAH, GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS KIND OF DOUBLED DOWN AND SAID, THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE.

YOU CAN'T USE THIS IF YOU'RE GOING TO OPERATE HERE IN FLORIDA.

NOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE VACCINE PASSPORT WE'VE SEEN IN NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS AND SUCH, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, GOVERNOR DESANTIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BACKING DOWN.

AND, FROM THREATS FROM NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, WHO SAID, WELL, IF WE CAN'T OPERATE THE WAY WE WANT TO HERE, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE FLORIDA, DESANTIS SAID, OKAY, GO FOR IT.

THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER CRUISE LINES THAT WANT TO OPERATE HERE IN FLORIDA AS WELL.

SO, IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S GOING TO BE VERY FIRM ON THE VACCINE PASSPORT AND NOT LETTING THESE COMPANIES REQUIRE PASSENGERS TO SHOW THIS PROOF OF VACCINATION.

>>AND DARALENE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE STAKES FOR THE SPACE COAST HERE.

WHAT ARE LOCAL LEADERS SAYING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THIS INDUSTRY BACK ON ITS FEET?

IT'S HUGE FOR BREVARD COUNTY.

>>IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT GETTING TOURISM BACK, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TOURISM, YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT.

YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ALONG THE SPACE COAST RELY ON THOSE JOBS AND THAT'S A BOOST TO THE ECONOMY.

SO, IT'S NOT ONLY AN INDICATION OF POURING MONEY INTO THAT AREA AND THAT WAY, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING PEOPLE ON THE SPACE COAST BACK TO WORK.

>>YEAH, NO DOUBT THE STAKES ARE HIGH AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN THIS DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

WELL, AS WE HAVE BRENDAN WITH US THIS WEEK, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH UP ON THE LATEST FROM THE SPACE BEAT.

OF COURSE, HE HOSTS THE ARE WE THERE YET?

PODCAST AT WMFE AND ONE MAJOR STORY THIS MONTH FOR THE SPACE COAST IS BOEING'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT'LL LAUNCH A SECOND UNCREWED TEST MISSION FOR ITS MUCH-DELAYED STARLINER CAPSULE.

ITS BEEN A BUMPY RIDE FOR BOEING'S COMMERCIAL CREW SPACESHIP, WHILE SPACE X HAS ALREADY HIT ITS STRIDE IN TAKING ASTRONAUTS AND CARGO TO LOWER EARTH ORBIT, BOEING TRIED AND FAILED TO SEND ITS STARSHIP TO THE ISS IN 2019.

NOW, IT'LL TRY AGAIN.

BOEING'S SECOND UNCREWED LAUNCH IS SLATED FOR JULY 30TH.

IF ALL GOES WELL, NASA ASTRONAUTS, BARRY WILMORE AND MIKE FINCKE, ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME THE FIRST CREW MEMBERS TO FLY ABOARD TO STARLINER, REPORTEDLY NEXT YEAR.

>>SO BRENDAN, WHY HAS BOEING FACED SO MANY PROBLEMS UP TO THIS POINT WITH THE STARLINER?

>>SO, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE SEEMED TO BE FROM SOFTWARE.

A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT WAS RUNNING, STARTED RUNNING THE CLOCK TOO SOON AND BASICALLY JUST MESSED UP THE WHOLE SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO GET IT TO THE SPACE STATION AND IT ENDED UP HAVING TO COME BACK EARLIER.

NOW, NASA WENT AHEAD AND DID AN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST SOFTWARE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, WHILE THERE WAS SOME MANAGEMENT ISSUES AT BOEING AS WELL IN HOW THE PROGRAM WAS RUN.

SO, IN ANNOUNCING THIS NEW DATE LATER THIS SUMMER, NASA HAS SAID THAT MOST OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN CLOSED OUT AND BOEING IS PROCEEDING AHEAD.

THEY'VE RUN A SOFTWARE SIMULATION OF THE MISSION AND THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY OPTIMISTIC FOR THIS ATTEMPT TO GO WELL.

>>YEAH, AND LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO GET THIS THING READY FOR A LAUNCH THIS SUMMER.

>>SO, THE SPACECRAFT IS READY TO GO.

BASICALLY, IT'S JUST WAITING FOR A PARKING SPOT TO OPEN UP ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

THERE'S TOO MANY VEHICLES UP THERE.

>>JUST NEED A PARKING SPACE.

>>THERE'S JUST THE PARKING SPOTS.

YEAH, THEY'RE THERE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO MOVE.

>>SO RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THE CREWED LAUNCH.

AS STEVE MENTIONED IN HIS REPORTING THERE, TWO NASA ASTRONAUTS WILL FLY PROBABLY LATE THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR, SO WORK ON THEIR VEHICLE IS HAPPENING AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER RIGHT NOW.

>>YEAH, JULY IS ALSO, BRENDAN, WHEN BLUE ORIGIN IS PLANNING TO FLY TOURISTS ABOARD ITS NEW SHEPARD ROCKET, WHICH IS JUST A FASCINATING DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT DOES THE ROAD AHEAD LOOK LIKE FOR SPACE TOURISM AND COULD CENTRAL FLORIDA SEE ANY OF THAT ACTION?

I THINK THOSE BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHTS ARE GOING OUT OF TEXAS, CORRECT?

>>BLUE ORIGIN IS OUT OF TEXAS.

AND IF ANY, ONE OF US HAVE $2.8 MILLION OR MORE, WE CAN GO AND TAKE THE FIRST RIDE.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF US DO, BUT YES.

SO, THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE.

THIS IS THE YEAR OF SPACE TOURISM.

THERE'S BLUE ORIGIN, THERE'S VIRGIN GALACTIC OUT WEST AND THERE'S ALSO A FEW LOCAL COMPANIES HERE.

THERE'S A COMPANY THAT WANTS TO SEND TOURISTS TO THE EDGE OF SPACE USING A BALLOON, AND THEY WILL TAKE OFF FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF ON THE HORIZON AT THIS POINT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY EXCITING YEAR FOR SPACE TOURISM.

>>ALL RIGHT AND BEFORE WE WRAP THIS UP, WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS SO COOL.

UCF, INVOLVED CLOSELY IN A MISSION TO COLLECT A SAMPLE OF AN ASTEROID.

THAT SAMPLE IS NOW HEADED BACK TO EARTH.

SO, LET'S TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT PROJECT AND WHY IT'S SO SIGNIFICANT.

HOW BIG IS THIS ASTEROID, BRENDAN?

>>IT'S A PRETTY, IT'S A DECENT SIZE ASTEROID.

IT'S NOT ONE THAT WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STRIKING US, BUT THERE ARE SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS ON IT.

BASICALLY, SCIENTISTS WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME STUFF ON THIS, IN THIS ASTEROID SAMPLE THAT CAN TELL US HOW LIFE STARTED HERE ON EARTH.

THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST RETURN OF A SAMPLE FROM SPACE SINCE THE APOLLO MISSIONS.

SO, SCIENTISTS ARE VERY EXCITED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THE SAMPLE OF DIRT FROM THE ASTEROID, BENNU.

>>BEFORE WE LET YOU GO BRENDAN, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, SO I SHOULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT A FORMER SENATOR BILL NELSON, NOW THE NASA ADMINISTRATOR.

SINCE WE LAST TALKED, HE WAS CONFIRMED AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THAT AGENCY.

WHAT ARE WE SEEING AS BILL NELSON GETS HIS FEET UNDER THE DESK THERE AT NASA AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE GOING FORWARD FROM HIM?

>>HE IS REALLY FOCUSING ON BUILDING NASA AND LEVERAGING THESE COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS AND DOING THE BEST HE CAN TO USE HIS FORMER POSITION AS A SENATOR TO GET THE MONEY THAT HE NEEDS.

HE WAS ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK, MAKING THE CASE AT THESE HEARINGS.

HE ASKED FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE UPCOMING JOBS BILL TO HELP PAY FOR THE HUMAN LANDING SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE LANDING SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO TAKE HUMANS TO THE MOON.

SPACE X WAS GIVEN THE SINGLE CONTRACT TO IT BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, BUT HE ASKED THESE LAWMAKERS, HEY, WE NEED SOME MORE MONEY IF YOU WANT MORE OF THESE COMPANIES BUILDING THE LANDER.

SO, SO WE'RE KIND OF SEEING HIM FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS PREDECESSOR, JIM BRIDENSTINE, AND REALLY LEVERAGING THAT RELATIONSHIP HE HAS WITH CONGRESS TO GET THE MONEY FOR NASA AND IMPORTANTLY FOR US, GET THE MONEY FOR THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER HERE IN FLORIDA.

>>YEAH, CERTAINLY A FINANCIAL JUGGLING ACT FOR SURE, FOR SENATOR BILL NELSON, FORMER SENATOR BILL NELSON, NOW NASA ADMINISTRATOR.

NANCY.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE ALWAYS WANT TO REMIND OUR VIEWERS THAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A STORY OR A TOPIC YOU'D LIKE TO SEE COVERED ON NEWSNIGHT, VISIT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT, OR EMAIL US AT WUCFNEWSNIGHT@WUCF.ORG.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

WE COVERED A LOT AND MY THANKS TO BRENDAN BYRNE OF 90.7 WMFE AND AS ALWAYS, DARALENE JONES OF WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

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

HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND EVERYONE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.