>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY REACTS TO CALLS FOR A CRACKDOWN ON FLORIDA PARENTS WHO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO DRAG SHOWS.

COVID SHOTS, ROLL OUT FOR KIDS AS YOUNG AS SIX MONTHS OLD, BUT THE STATE OPPOSES VACCINATING INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

AND, A YEAR AFTER THE CONDO COLLAPSE IN SURFSIDE, WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO ENSURE SUCH A TRAGEDY DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO.

I'M STEVE MORT, WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK TWO MVPS IN THE STUDIO, PETER KING, CBS NEWS RADIO, DANIELLE PRIEUR FROM 90.7 WMFE.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

>>THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>>GREAT TO BE HERE.

AN ALL RADIO SHOW TODAY.

AN ALL RADIO SHOW.

WE LIKE THAT.

WE LOVE IT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

FIRST TONIGHT, DISNEY'S DECISION TO DELAY UNTIL 2026, THE RELOCATION OF ABOUT 2000 JOBS TO ORLANDO.

THE COMPANY SAYS THE MOVE IS TO ALLOW COMPLETION OF ITS NEW CAMPUS AT LAKE NONA, WHICH HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR AS SOON AS THE END OF THIS YEAR.

IT FOLLOWS DISNEY'S HIGH PROFILE CLASH WITH FLORIDA REPUBLICANS OVER THE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION LAW, WHAT OPPONENTS CALL DON'T SAY GAY.

WELL, I SPOKE THIS WEEK WITH KATIE RICE WHO COVERS TOURISM FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

>>THE REASONS DISNEY GAVE FOR MAKING THIS PUSH WERE TO GIVE EMPLOYEES MORE TIME AND TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXTENDED CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE.

BUT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ALSO OCCURRING DURING A TIME WHEN DISNEY'S INVOLVED IN A POLITICAL SCUFFLE SHALL WE SAY, WITH FLORIDA AND ITS POLITICIANS OVER THEIR RESPONSE TO THE BILL OR THE LAW THAT'S BEEN DUBBED DON'T SAY GAY.

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL DISNEY IS STILL POSITIONED TO GET A SIGNIFICANT TAX BREAK STAGGERED OVER THE YEARS.

BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY'RE SLATED TO GET OVER 570 MILLION IN TAX BREAKS BY MOVING THE JOBS TO FLORIDA.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT COULD ALSO SPEND OVER 860 MILLION IN BUILDING THESE REGIONAL OFFICES.

>>THERE'S QUITE A LONG DELAY, ISN'T IT?

>>SO DISNEY MAINTAINS THAT IT REALLY IS JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE TIME TO MOVE AND TO FULFILL THE NEEDS OF THAT CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE.

BUT, EXPERTS WERE SAYING TOO, WHAT ONCE SAID THAT THE SAME THING THAT YOU JUST NOTED, ESSENTIALLY, THAT CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE, IT'S UNUSUAL TO PUSH IT BY THAT EXTENT, EVEN DURING A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO, HE SAID HE THINKS IT WAS REALLY DUE TO THAT POLITICAL FEUD.

AND, THEN ANOTHER PERSON SAID THAT IT REALLY WAS JUST LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES.

THERE ARE ONGOING PROJECTS THAT THESE CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS ARE WORKING ON DURING THE MOVE.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AT PLAY HERE, AND THAT TIMELINE REALLY JUST GIVES DISNEY MORE TIME TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THAT.

>>ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS KATIE RICE FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL THERE.

PETER, LET'S START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, DISNEY DENIES THAT THIS DECISION'S GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE HB-1557 ROW BUT ARE THE GOVERNOR'S CRITICS BUYING THAT?

>>I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE TO THAT THEY'RE BUYING THAT AT ALL AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN SUPER VOCAL ABOUT IT.

BUT, THERE'S BEEN SOME RUMBLING ON THAT SIDE OF IT.

AND, SOME OF THE DISNEY PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MESSAGE BOARDS AND SUCH LIKE THAT HAVE SAID, "HEY, WE'RE STICKING IT TO DESANTIS BY HOLDING OUT ON ALL THESE JOBS COMING TO FLORIDA."

AND, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VOCALIZATION ABOUT THIS, BUT MORE RUMBLINGS AND UNDERCURRENTS AT THIS POINT.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, CERTAINLY HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS HAVE KIND OF SEIZED ON THAT DECISION, DANIELLE.

I MEAN, WHAT WILL THIS LAKE NONA CAMPUS BEFORE?

WHAT KIND OF WORKERS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>>IT'S FOR HIGH SKILLED WORKERS, IMAGINEERS, PEOPLE WITH DISNEY PARKS EXPERIENCES AND PRODUCTS.

SO, ENGINEERS, GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, ARTISTS, EVEN SCIENTISTS AND MATHEMATICIANS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT MAKE 120K A YEAR AND UP.

SO VERY, VERY NICE JOBS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO COME HERE AND HOPEFULLY WILL STILL IN 2026.

>>SO, THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY YOUR TYPICAL THEME PARK JOBS?

>>NO, NO.

>>I MEAN, PETER, EVEN IF THIS DELAY ISN'T THE RESULT OF THE CLASH WITH THE GOVERNORS, I MEAN, SOME OF THESE IMAGINEERS, SOME OF THESE HIGH SKILLED WORKERS THAT DANIELLE REFERRED TO THERE HAVE SORT OF PUSHED BACK ON THIS MOVE TO FLORIDA.

>>WELL, YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO MOVE CROSS COUNTRY.

AND, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES AND LIVES IN CALIFORNIA.

THEY'RE PRETTY WELL ROOTED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

AND MANY OF THEM DON'T WANT TO COME HERE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S ALSO THE GROUP THAT TAKES A LOOK AT FLORIDA'S CULTURE AND HOW IT'S REALLY, REALLY SWUNG HARD TO THE RIGHT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, NOT JUST WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS, BUT BEFORE THAT UNDER RICK SCOTT AND THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE THAT HAS DOMINATED FOR SO MANY YEARS SO THEY DON'T LIKE THAT CULTURE.

>>ON THE OTHER HAND, THOSE WHO WANT TO COME HERE, YOU MENTIONED THAT $120,000 A YEAR JOB SALARIES, THE BIGGEST SELLING POINT OF COMING HERE FOR THOSE PEOPLE IS NO STATE INCOME TAX.

HOW ABOUT HAVING ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY IN YOUR POCKET?

I WOULDN'T SAY COST OF LIVING THOUGH, BECAUSE LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED AT THE COST OF LIVING AROUND HERE, HOME PRICES, RENTS, EVERYTHING ELSE IS >>I GUESS BOTH STATES HAVE PRETTY CHALLENGING PROPERTY MARKET.

>>VERY MUCH SO.

VERY MUCH SO.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, DANIELLE HAS DISNEY, DO YOU THINK, BROADLY SPEAKING, KIND OF PAID A PRICE FOR THIS KIND OF POLITICAL TUSSLE?

>>YEAH, I THINK SO.

I MEAN, I THINK THEY HAVE ANGERED EVERYBODY ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

KIND OF LIKE WHAT PETER WAS SAYING.

WE'VE HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE VERY UNHAPPY BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THEIR IDEA OF FAMILY VALUES.

BUT, THEN DEMOCRATS AND LGBTQ ADVOCATES FEEL LIKE DISNEY, DIDN'T SAY ENOUGH SOON WHEN IT CAME TO THE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION OR DON'T SAY GAY LAW.

SO, I THINK EVERYBODY'S KIND OF QUESTIONING THE COMPANY.

DEFINITELY AT LEAST IT'S PUBLIC AFFAIR STRATEGY RIGHT NOW.

>>YEAH.

>>AND, THERE'S A BIG QUESTION ABOUT LEADERSHIP THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

AND, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMER DISNEY PEOPLE AND A COUPLE OF CURRENT DISNEY PEOPLE WHO SAID THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IF BOB IGER WERE STILL IN CHARGE.

I HEAR THAT A LOT.

>>WELL, CERTAINLY ALL EYES ARE ON DISNEY AND WHAT THE COMPANY MIGHT DO GOING FORWARDS.

AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

WELL, FOLLOWING THAT DEBATE OVER HB-1557, FLORIDA'S LGBTQ COMMUNITY IS THE FOCUS OF ANOTHER POLITICAL DEBATE IN OUR STATE.

IT COMES AFTER GOVERNOR DESANTIS EARLIER THIS MONTH FLOATED THE IDEA OF ASKING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO INVESTIGATE PARENTS WHO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO DRAG SHOWS.

SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE CONSERVATIVE FIGURES HAVE DRAWN ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE, FOLLOWING THE EMERGENCE OF A VIDEO, SHOWING KIDS ATTENDING A DRAG PERFORMANCE IN TEXAS.

AS NEWSNIGHT'S KRYSTEL KNOWLES REPORTS, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IS PUSHING BACK.

>>THE PERFORMER I SPOKE WITH WHO WORKS AT THIS HAMBURGER MARY'S IN ORLANDO, SAYS THIS YEAR IS A STEP BACKWARDS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

FIRST IT STARTED WITH WHAT OPPONENTS ARE CALLING THE DON'T SAY GAY BILL, THEN THE DEBATE OVER GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS, AND NOW THIS.

TRYING TO BAN CHILDREN FROM DRAG SHOWS.

LONG TIME BUSINESS OWNER, MARTIN FUGATE SAYS HE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF HIS LIFE FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY.

HE SAYS, GROWING UP IN KENTUCKY, HE WAS SHUNNED BY HIS FAMILY WHO THOUGHT BEING GAY WAS A SIN.

>>THEY FOUND OUT WHEN I WAS 16 AND I HAD TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND DIDN'T TALK TO THEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

>>DESPITE STRUGGLING TO FIT IN, FUGATE SAYS HE FOUND HIS CALLING.

BEING A FEMALE IMPERSONATOR WAS AN OUTLET TO ACT, DO COMEDY AND GET CAST IN MOVIES.

>>AND THAT WAS ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO.

>>FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS, LEE SHANNON, A BETTE MIDLER LOOKALIKE TAKES THE STAGE AT HAMBURGER MARY'S, ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING CHILDREN.

>>WE'RE DOWN HERE IN HAMBURGER MARY'S.

>>BUT, IT SHOWS LIKE THOSE THAT HAVE SOME LAWMAKERS, INCLUDING REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE, ANTHONY SABATINI, UPSET.

>>IN DALLAS TEXAS, PARENTS FORCED SMALL CHILDREN INTO A DRAG SEX SHOW WHERE PROVOCATIVE SEXUAL SLOGANS WERE ON THE WALL.

THE CHILDREN WERE DANCING IN A SEXUAL MANNER ON THE STAGE, PUTTING THEIR HANDS INTO THE PANTS OF THE DANCERS TO PUT MONEY IN THERE.

SO, THE WHOLE THING WAS SICK AND DISGUSTING AND IT SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY ILLEGAL.

SO, I PROPOSED A SPECIAL SESSION TO MAKE IT A FELONY FOR ANY ADULT THAT FORCES A CHILD INTO A DRAG SEX SHOW.

>>FUGATE SAYS POLITICIANS, INTERPRETATIONS OF OLD DRAG PERFORMANCES IS NOT ACCURATE.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES SOME SHOWS MAY NOT BE SUITED FOR MINORS, BUT NOT ALL SHOWS ARE CREATED EQUAL.

HE SAYS, POLITICIANS ARE TRYING TO SMEAR DRAG QUEENS TO HELP GET VOTES AT THE ELECTION.

>>I THINK THEY SHOULD GO AND THEY SHOULD GO TO A FEW DIFFERENT ONES, BUT STILL, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE'RE BANNING BOOKS.

WE'RE TRYING TO SAY WE WANT THE PARENTS TO HAVE MORE CONTROL IN SCHOOL, BUT YET YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE PARENTS' RIGHTS TO TAKE THEIR CHILD TO A SHOW >>REPRESENTATIVE SABATINI ADMITS HE'S NEVER BEEN TO A DRAG SHOW AND IS FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF POLITICIANS IN OTHER STATES AND TRYING TO BAN MINORS FROM GOING TO DRAG SHOWS.

>>THERE'S A HUNDRED PERCENT CHANCE THAT FLORIDA LAW IS GOING TO BE CHANGED IN REGARDS TO WHAT THE WOKE LEFT IS DOING.

>>BUT, FUGATE IS WORRIED, SUCH CHANGE WILL PROMOTE HATE.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION FINDS 44 PEOPLE DIED IN 2020 IN VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONCONFORMING PEOPLE.

IN 2021, THE NUMBER HAD RISEN TO 57.

>>DO YOU WANT TO INITIATE THAT KIND OF HATE WITH EVERYTHING WE'D GONE THROUGH WITH COVID AND ECONOMY.

THIS IS YOUR MAIN FOCUS?

>>KRYSTEL KNOWLES THERE.

PETER, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR HAS SUGGESTED THAT HE MAY BE ABLE TO MOVE ON THIS ISSUE WITHOUT LEGISLATION.

WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT?

>>EXECUTIVE ACTION, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND, GETTING DCF INVOLVED, HE SAYS HE DOESN'T CONSIDER THESE SHOWS AGE APPROPRIATE.

AND, THE CRITICS ARE SAYING, "WELL, YEAH, HE WANTS PARENTS TO HAVE RIGHTS AS LONG AS THEY AGREE WITH HIS AGENDA."

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT'S DANIELLE, SOMETHING THAT HIS CRITICS HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF SORT OF NOT BEING CONSISTENT ON THESE ISSUES.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S WHAT PETER SAID.

I THINK HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB PROTECTING CONSERVATIVE PARENTS' RIGHTS, BUT THE MORE LIBERAL PARENTS' RIGHTS, THOSE FAMILIES, I THINK, FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING ATTACKED RIGHT NOW WHILE OTHERS FEEL VERY SAFE AND PROTECTED IN THE STATE.

SO.

I THINK IT ALL DEPENDS ON KIND OF WHERE YOU FALL.

YOU EITHER FEEL YOUR RIGHTS ARE BEING PROTECTED OR NOT.

>>WELL, THE GOVERNOR, THE SUPPORTERS OF COURSE SAY THAT THE PUBLIC OPINION IS BEHIND THEM ON THIS.

PETER, DO WE KNOW WHERE THE PUBLIC COMES DOWN ON LAWS AROUND LGBTQ ISSUES BECAUSE FLORIDA'S BY NO MEANS ALONE IN THIS.

>>THERE'S A RECENT SURVEY BY MORNING CONSULT AND POLITICO THAT I FOUND RATHER INTERESTING.

IT'S A REALLY EVEN DIVIDE.

41% OF THE PARENTS, THEY SPOKE TO SUPPORT TEACHING OR DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN SCHOOLS.

44% OPPOSED.

THAT'S BASICALLY A DEAD HEAT.

THE REST ARE UNDECIDED.

ABOUT A THIRD OF REPUBLICANS SAID THAT THEY'RE OKAY WITH LGBTQ LESSONS BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

AND, WHILE A THIRD DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, THAT'S TRIPLE THE NUMBER OR TRIPLE THE PERCENTAGE IN THE SURVEY THAT THEY DID IN 2019.

SO, THAT'S TRIPLED IN THREE YEARS.

MAJORITIES OF DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS OF COURSE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH LGBTQ PEOPLE INTERACTING WITH THEIR OWN KIDS.

THAT'S A HUGE MAJORITY, BUT THREE IN FIVE REPUBLICANS SAID THAT THEY WERE FINE WITH IT TOO.

SO, I THINK THAT WOULD SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>>SOME INTERESTING NUMBERS IN THAT SURVEY.

AND, CERTAINLY PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES CAN POINT TO POLLS AS THEY OFTEN DO TO SORT OF SAY THAT THEY SUPPORT THEIR SIDE.

I MEAN, DANIELLE HB-1557 COMES INTO FORCE NEXT MONTH, JULY ONE.

WHAT ARE SCHOOLS DOING TO TRY TO SORT OF PREPARE FOR THAT?

>>THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO GIVE THEM SOME SORT OF GUIDANCE, GUIDELINES, STANDARDS OF SOME KIND.

RIGHT NOW THE LAW IS VERY VAGUE.

THE LANGUAGE IS VERY NEBULOUS AND IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE GROUNDS FOR A LAWSUIT.

WE JUST KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, THE YOUNGER ONES AREN'T GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO LEARN ABOUT AND TALK ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.

AND, THAT SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO LET PARENTS AND FAMILIES KNOW IF A CHILD ASKS FOR DIFFERENT PRONOUNS TO BE USED OR A DIFFERENT NAME TO BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING.

BUT, I THINK PROBABLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS WILL PLAY IT SAFE, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

THAT MEANS A LOT OF CONTENT WILL BE CUT FROM THE CURRICULUM.

>>YEAH, CRITICS HAD SAID THAT IT WAS VAGUE AND CERTAIN PARTS OF IT ARE LIKELY TO BE CHALLENGED GOING FORWARD.

YOU CAN FIND MORE NEWSNIGHT AT OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

OKAY.

NEXT TONIGHT, VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN FIVE AND UNDER.

IT EMERGED IN RECENT DAYS THAT THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION DID NOT PRE-ORDER THE SHOTS FOR THE YOUNGEST AGE GROUP, LEAVING SOME HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, UNABLE TO GET HOLD OF THEM RAPIDLY AFTER THE FDA ISSUED ITS EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION LAST WEEK.

>>SO, WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

>>THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS FLORIDA REVERSED COURSE LAST WEEK AND STARTED TO ALLOW HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO ORDER THE VACCINE FOR CHILDREN FIVE AND UNDER.

IT SAYS IT REPEATEDLY PRESSED FLORIDA TO PRE-ORDER VACCINE DOSES AHEAD OF A DEADLINE LAST WEEK.

AND, OPPONENTS OF THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR SEIZED ON THE FEDERAL CRITICISM, >>GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS, AS HE IS TRYING TO PERCH HIMSELF UP FOR A PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION ON THE RIGHT REALIZES THAT PEDDLING ANTI-VAX RHETORIC AND DISINFORMATION IS TO HIS BENEFIT.

>>BUT, THE STATE SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ASSERTION THAT FLORIDA CHANGED COURSE IS PATENTLY FALSE.

IT SAYS THE STATE PORTAL, FLORIDA SHOTS, HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND DOCTORS TO ORDER VACCINES.

BUT, THE STATE DOES NOT DISPUTE THAT IT DIDN'T PLACE ANY PRE-ORDERS.

A SYSTEM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET UP SO STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO PRE-ORDER DOSES BEFORE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FDA.

THE AIM TO GET SHOTS OUT FASTER ONCE THE GREEN LIGHT IS GIVEN.

>>THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION CALLS THE PRE-ORDER SYSTEM CUMBERSOME AND CONVOLUTED, AND SAYS IT DOESN'T WANT TO STORE THE VACCINES FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS THERE WILL BE NO STATE PROGRAM TO DISTRIBUTE OR ADMINISTER COVID VACCINES FOR CHILDREN FIVE AND UNDER, A GROUP STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS DO NOT RECOMMEND GET THE SHOT.

BUT, THE STATE SAYS NOW FDA EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN GIVEN, DOCTORS CAN ORDER VACCINES THEMSELVES AND PARENTS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

>>PEOPLE CAN ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIANS, THEY CAN ASK THEIR DOCTORS WHAT'S THE EVIDENCE OF PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE DISEASE THAT WAS NOT IN THE CLINICAL TRIAL?

BUT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD DO.

BUT FOR US, JOE LADAPO, OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS LOOKED AT IT, THERE IS NO PROVEN BENEFIT TO PUT A BABY WITH AN MNRA.

>>LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS DANIELLE, AND HOW PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET A HOLD OF THESE VACCINES.

NOT ALL PEDIATRICIANS HAVE THEM?

>>NO.

>>BUT, SOME PHARMACIES DO.

>>YEAH, IF YOU GO TO WALMART, WALGREENS, SOUTHEASTERN GROCERS, CVS, THEY ALL HAVE THEM AND THEY'RE ALREADY KIND OF DISTRIBUTING THOSE.

PUBLIX HAS SAID THAT THEY HAVE THEM, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THEM RIGHT NOW FOR WHATEVER REASON.

BUT, I THINK IT'S WALMART, WALGREENS, SOUTHEASTERN GROCER, AS YOUNG AS THREE YEARS OLD.

AND, THEN CVS IS AS YOUNG AS 18 MONTHS SO IT'S GREAT NEWS FOR PARENTS.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR KIDS GET THE SHOT, THE SAME PLACE WHERE A LOT OF US AS ADULTS GOT OURS, WHICH IS DO YOUR GROCERY SHOPPING AND THEN GET YOUR VACCINE.

>>THAT'S CERTAINLY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK THEN, PETER.

>>BUT, PROBLEM WITH CVS IS THAT THEY'RE ONLY DOING IT IN THE MINUTE CLINICS.

AND, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL CAME UP WITH NUMBERS AND SAID THAT THERE ARE ONLY 16 MINUTE CLINICS IN CVS STORES IN THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA HERE.

SO, THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE FOR PARENTS WHO WANT TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED THERE.

>>AND, NOT ALL THESE PHARMACIES PETER, ARE VACCINATING THE ENTIRE AGE GROUP, RIGHT?

IT SEEMS TO RUN THE GAMUT.

>>NO, NO.

AS YOU SAID, DANIELLE, 18 MONTHS FOR CVS.

WALGREENS, WALMART, WINN DIXIE THREE YEARS AND UP.

PUBLIX WHEN THEY START VACCINATING FIVE YEARS AND UP.

>>AND IT'S NOT ONLY PEOPLE, THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT ARE HAVING ISSUES, CBS AND OTHER OUTLETS HAVE REPORTED THAT PEDIATRICIANS IN THE STATE HAVE SORT OF CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO GET THE SHOTS.

>>WELL, HERE'S THE THING.

IF THE STATE HAD PREORDERED ALL THIS STUFF, THE VACCINE WOULD ALREADY BE IN OFFICES AND KIDS WOULD BE GETTING THEIR INOCULATIONS.

STATE DIDN'T DO THAT.

THE DOCTORS, THE HEALTH PROVIDERS, THE MEDICAL CLINICS, THEY ALL BASICALLY ARE ON THEIR OWN TO FIND THEIR OWN SOURCES FOR THE VACCINE THAT PUTS EVERYTHING BEHIND BY AT LEAST TWO WEEKS, MAYBE LONGER, DEPENDING ON SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

SO, DOCTORS ARE NOT HAPPY.

THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE NOT HAPPY.

GOVERNOR IS HAPPY, THAT'S HIS THING.

>>YEAH.

AND, THE STATE HAS SAID IT DOESN'T RECOMMEND, THE SURGEON GENERAL SAID DOESN'T RECOMMEND THESE SHOTS.

SO, THEREFORE IT'S NOT REALLY A SURPRISE THAT IT WOULDN'T, THAT IT WOULDN'T ORDER THEM.

DANIELLE I MEAN, PARENTS SHOULD ALWAYS TALK TO THEIR PEDIATRICIANS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A VACCINE IS GOOD.

BUT, FROM THE SORT OF THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS VACCINE IN THAT YOUNGEST AGE GROUP?

>>WE KNOW THAT THE CDC AND THE FDA HAVE APPROVED THE SHOTS JUST AS THEY DID FOR ADULTS.

WE KNOW THAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ABOUT 400 KIDS IN THE VERY YOUNG AGE GROUP HAVE DIED FROM COVID.

AND, THAT ACTUALLY COVID IS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH RIGHT NOW IN KIDS, ONE TO FOUR YEARS OLD.

>>IN THE YOUNGER ONES, YES, SIMILAR TO OLD PEOPLE.

>>RIGHT.

AND, SO I THINK THE REAL CONCERN HERE IS THAT YOU WANT TO GET THEM VACCINATED TO AVOID THE SEVERE ILLNESS AND OF COURSE, DEATH IN THIS YOUNGER POPULATION.

SO, THAT'S REALLY THE KEY HERE, JUST LIKE IT WAS FOR US TO GET OUR SHOTS.

>>AND, THE SCIENCE BASICALLY GOES AGAINST WHAT THE STATE IS SAYING.

AND, THE STATE IS SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T VACCINATE HEALTHY CHILDREN.

>>FINALLY, TONIGHT IT'S EXACTLY A YEAR SINCE THE CONDO COLLAPSED IN SURFSIDE, IN WHICH 98 PEOPLE DIED.

THE COMMEMORATIONS FOLLOW A YEAR IN WHICH LEGISLATORS PASSED A BILL ADDRESSING CONDOMINIUM SAFETY IN RESPONSE TO THE TRAGEDY.

WELL, I SPOKE THIS WEEK TO VERONICA ZARAGOVIA FROM OUR PUBLIC MEDIA PARTNERS, WLRN IN MIAMI, AND SHE JOINED ME FROM SURFSIDE.

>>THE TOWN DID RECENTLY PUT UP A BANNER WITH ALL OF THE NAMES OF THE 98 VICTIMS.

AND, THAT'S ALONG A FENCE WHERE THIS PROPERTY BEHIND ME IS.

SO, THAT'S A CONSTANT REMINDER.

THEY HAVE AGREED WITH THE DEVELOPER BASED IN DUBAI THAT WHO PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY IF THEY WOULD ALLOW A MEMORIAL PHYSICALLY ON THAT PROPERTY, OR IT'S BEEN, AT LEAST THE FAMILIES HAVE AGREED THAT THEY WOULD BE OKAY WITH HAVING IT RIGHT BEHIND WHERE THE BUILDING WAS.

FLORIDA HAS BUDGETED MONEY IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR SURFSIDE'S MEMORIAL.

SO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THOSE PLANS AS THEY DEVELOP.

>>YEAH, VERONICA, THE STATE PASSED CONDO SAFETY REFORMS IN A SPECIAL SESSION THIS YEAR, BUT MIAMI DADE HAD ALREADY STARTED A RIGOROUS PROCESS AFTER THE CHAMPLAIN TOWERS COLLAPSED.

>>RIGHT, BECAUSE IN THE EIGHTIES, WHICH IS WHEN THE CHAMPLAIN TOWER SOUTH WAS CONSTRUCTED, THERE WAS A REAL ESTATE BOOM IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF CONDO UNITS ABOUT THAT AGE IN THE 40 YEAR RANGE, OF COURSE, OLDER TOO.

BUT, THERE WERE AT LEAST TWO BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN EVACUATED IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY AFTER THIS INSPECTION PROCESS GOT MORE SERIOUS, AS YOU MENTIONED.

BUT, NOW THE STATE HAS GONE EVEN FURTHER AND REQUIRED A BUILDING TO BE INSPECTED 25 YEARS AFTER IT WAS BUILT IF IT'S CLOSE TO THE COASTLINE OR 30 YEARS, IF IT'S NOT.

AND, THEN 10 YEARS AFTER THAT.

AND, THE IDEA IS TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING, WHERE IT HADN'T BEEN INSPECTED FOR 40 YEARS TO THE LEVEL THAT WOULD'VE BEEN REQUIRED.

>>VERONICA ZARAGOVIA FROM WLRN THERE.

PETER, YOU COVERED THE SURFSIDE TRAGEDY A YEAR AGO.

TELL US ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE AND HOW PEOPLE MUST BE FEELING A YEAR ON?

>>WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN A YEAR.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALWAYS SAY THAT IN THESE CASES, BUT GOING DOWN THERE, THE THINGS THAT I CAN REMEMBER, FIRST OF ALL, THEY DIDN'T LET US ANYWHERE NEAR THE ACTUAL SITE THAT WAS CORDED OFF.

BY THE TIME I HAD GOTTEN DOWN THERE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF HOTELS WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS HAD GATHERED TO TRY AND GET ANY NEWS ON THE SEARCH ON IF THERE WERE ANY SURVIVORS AND OF COURSE THERE REALLY, REALLY WEREN'T.

AND, IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THESE THINGS INFORMATION SOMETIMES IS REALLY, REALLY HARD TO COME BY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DOING THE RESCUES JUST HAVE TO MOVE SLOWLY AND METICULOUSLY AS THEY TRY TO FIND SURVIVORS AND USING ALL KINDS OF SENSITIVE LISTENING DEVICES TO HEAR IF THEY CAN HEAR THE SOUNDS OF BREATHING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND AS WE WELL KNOW, THERE REALLY WERE NO SURVIVORS AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO WERE TRAPPED.

>>SO, IT WAS A MASSIVE URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT.

JUST TELL US IF YOU CAN, ABOUT THE KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT SURFSIDE IS, IT'S VERY SMALL AND DIVERSE, RIGHT?

>>WELL, IT'S VERY SMALL, VERY DIVERSE, BUT IT'S A LARGELY JEWISH COMMUNITY AND IT'S A LARGELY CONSERVATIVE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

WHICH MEANS THERE ARE CERTAIN RELIGIOUS SENSIBILITIES THAT HAD TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN IT CAME TO TAKING CARE OF REMAINS, BURIAL, THAT KIND OF THING.

>>AND, THERE WAS A SYNAGOGUE THAT PLAYED A LARGE ROLE NEARBY.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>IN SORT OF THE RECOVERY EFFORTS THERE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>DANIELLE, I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT, IF I CAN?

IT WAS A BILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT THAT WAS REACHED FOR THE VICTIMS FAMILIES AND THE CONDO OWNERS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT SETTLEMENT?

IT WAS REACHED REALLY QUICKLY, RIGHT?

>>IT WAS, I MEAN, IT WAS KIND OF HISTORIC THE WAY THAT IT WAS REACHED SO QUICKLY.

NOW, IT'S THE TRICKY WORK IS ACTUALLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH NOW, WHICH IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO DIVIDE UP THAT MONEY BETWEEN THE FAMILIES OF THESE 98 VICTIMS.

AND, OF COURSE THEY HAVE TO FILE THEIR CLAIMS AND GO THROUGH THAT HORRIBLE HEARING PROCESS WHERE THEY HAVE TO KIND OF RELIVE THEIR TRAUMA OVER THE NEXT- >>THAT'S IN AUGUST, I THINK.

>>IT IS, IT STARTS AUGUST 1ST.

BUT, I THINK THAT WILL BE CHALLENGING AS WELL, DON'T YOU THINK?

FOR THEM TO RELIVE WHAT THEY SAW.

>>OH, ABSOLUTELY.

>>AND HEARD.

>>SO, WE SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES, THEY'RE PART OF THE SETTLEMENT TOO.

THE THING THAT WAS REMARKABLE ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS ONE JUDGE WHO BASICALLY HEARD ALL THE CASES AND THEY KIND OF CONSOLIDATED IT ALL.

AND, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY IT GOT DONE AS QUICKLY AS IT DID.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE NUMBER OF LAWSUITS AND PIECES OF LITIGATION THAT WERE FILED, BUT SOMEHOW IT ALL WOUND UP IN ONE BIG POT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING LEGAL FEATS THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.

>>AND, CERTAINLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THAT TRAGEDY, I'D HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW IT COULD BE A DECADE BEFORE MONEY'S SORT OF DISTRIBUTED IN THE WAY THAT- >>ESPECIALLY THE INVESTIGATION THAT'S TAKING LONGER.

>>YEAH.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT INVESTIGATION.

I MEAN, THIS IS SORT OF AN ONGOING THING.

>>IT IS, AND THERE'S- >>THE INVESTIGATORS JUST RECENTLY UPDATED ON THAT.

>>YEAH.

THERE'S NO REAL, REAL DEADLINE FOR IT.

THERE'S NO END IN SIGHT FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND THEY STILL DON'T REALLY HAVE A LEADING CAUSE.

I MEAN, THEY'VE LOOKED AT 12 DIFFERENT HYPOTHETICAL CAUSES AND FACTORS FROM EROSION TO CLIMATE CHANGE TO EVEN CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS BEING DONE, A RECONSTRUCTION ON A NEARBY BUILDING, BUT THEY JUST DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE KIND OF TESTING OUT SOME CONCRETE SLABS THAT THEY COLLECTED FROM THE SITE TO SEE IF THEY CAN KIND OF BUILD A MODEL AND RECREATE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.

>>YEAH.

THEY'RE NOT REBUILDING, LET'S MAKE THAT CLEAR.

>>JUST A MODEL.

>>BUT, THEY'RE TAKING BITS AND PIECES AND DOING WHAT THEY CALL INVASIVE TESTING THAT IS DRILLING INTO THE CONCRETE.

DRILLING INTO THE STEEL AND LOOKING FOR ANY SIGNS OF WEAKNESS, CORROSION, WHATEVER, BUT IT TAKES TIME TO MOVE THIS DEBRIS FROM A WAREHOUSE TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION WHERE THAT TESTING WILL HAPPEN.

AND, AS YOU MENTIONED, NO DEADLINE RIGHT NOW.

AND, THE THING WITH THESE INVESTIGATIONS IS THEY TAKE AS LONG AS THEY TAKE.

EVERYBODY WANTS ANSWERS RIGHT NOW, BUT SOMETIMES THE ANSWERS AREN'T ALWAYS OBVIOUS AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO GET THIS DONE.

>>AND PETER, I DID WANT TO ASK YOU FINALLY ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED, JUST SORT OF AS BRIEFLY AS YOU CAN, WHAT DOES THAT LEGISLATION DO?

>>SURE.

IN MORE FREQUENT INSPECTIONS FOR BUILDINGS THAT ARE TALLER THAN THREE STORIES, IF THEY ARE CLOSER TO THE WATER, I THINK IT'S WITHIN THREE MILES OF THE WATER, IT'S AFTER THE FIRST 25 YEARS AND THEN EVERY 10 YEARS AFTER THAT.

OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE EVERY 30 YEARS, AND THEN EVERY 10 YEARS AFTER THAT.

>>CERTAINLY A TRAGEDY FOR OUR STATE AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THE INVESTIGATION HERE ON NEWSNIGHT.

AND, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGIES, ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO THE SURFSIDE COLLAPSE ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND A LINK TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STATEMENT ON PEDIATRIC COVID VACCINES THERE AS WELL.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

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

MY THANKS TO DANIELLE PRIEUR AND PETER KING.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING IN.

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

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.