>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, LAWMAKERS TARGET DISNEY'S REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AMID THE POLITICAL BATTLE OVER HB 1557, WHAT OPPONENTS CALL FLORIDA'S "DON'T SAY GAY" LEGISLATION.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY INSURANCE, AS LAWMAKERS MEET TO DISCUSS CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

AND PRO-CHOICE GROUPS SAY THEY PLAN TO FIGHT FLORIDA'S NEWLY SIGNED 15-WEEK ABORTION BAN WITH NO EXEMPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST.

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 ALL OF US.

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, LET'S CALL THEM THE POLITICS DREAM TEAM, SHALL WE?

CURTIS MCLEOD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND CHRISTOPHER HEATH FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING IN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>>THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>>THANK YOU.

>>WELL, IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK FOR DISNEY, HASN'T IT?

ON TUESDAY, THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT WAS LIFTING ITS MASK MANDATE FOR ALL GUESTS AT DISNEY WORLD, INCLUDING ITS OWN TRANSIT SYSTEMS.

THAT FOLLOWED A FEDERAL JUDGE'S DECISION TO OVERTURN THE CDC'S MASK REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING AIRPORTS AND AIRLINES.

WELL, ALSO ON TUESDAY, THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGAN TO DEBATE FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL MAP, BUT JUST HOURS BEFOREHAND, GOVERNOR DESANTIS ANNOUNCED LAWMAKERS WOULD VOTE ON ELIMINATING DISNEY'S REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

>>TERMINATION OF ALL SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

>>GOVERNOR DESANTIS ON TUESDAY ANNOUNCING ANOTHER FRONT IN HIS ADMINISTRATION'S BATTLE WITH DISNEY.

THE REEDY CREEK SPECIAL DISTRICT ALLOWS DISNEY TO ESSENTIALLY OPERATE ITS OWN GOVERNMENT, GIVING THE COMPANY THE RIGHT TO MAKE CRITICAL DECISIONS OVER ITS PROPERTY.

ITS RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BUILDING CODES, POWER GENERATION, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, ROAD MAINTENANCE, AND THE REEDY CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT, TO NAME BUT A FEW.

>>THE BENEFITS THAT DISNEY GET DO NOT COMPORT, DO NOT TRANSFER TO THEIR COMPETITORS.

DISNEY HAS FOUR THEME PARKS.

UNIVERSAL'S SOON GOING TO HAVE THREE.

THEY DON'T GET TO CREATE THE WOODY WOODPECKER SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO GET THOSE SAME SPECIAL ADVANTAGES.

SEAWORLD, WHICH HAS STRUGGLED, FRANKLY, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THEY DON'T GET TO CREATE THE SHAMU SPECIAL DISTRICT AND LEGOLAND DOESN'T GET TO DO THE SAME.

SO I THINK IT'S A WORTHY DISCUSSION FOR US TO HAVE OVER WHETHER WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS AT ALL, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS BILL WILL CREATE.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR, THIS LEGISLATURE WILL DECIDE DO WE WANT THIS, AND IF SO, IN WHAT FORM?

>>REPUBLICANS SAY REEDY CREEK AND FIVE OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE NOT MODERNIZED AND DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION RATIFIED IN 1968, THE YEAR AFTER REEDY CREEK WAS CREATED.

GOP HOSTILITY TOWARDS DISNEY EVIDENT IN DEBATE.

>>YOU KICK THE HORNETS NEST, THINGS COME UP.

AND I WILL SAY THIS, YOU GOT ME ON ONE THING.

THIS BILL DOES TARGET ONE COMPANY.

IT TARGETS THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY COMPANY IN THE STATE THAT HAS EVER BEEN GRANTED THE RIGHT TO GOVERN THEMSELVES.

>>DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH DEBT REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HAS?

>>SOME DEMOCRATS, WHILE NOT GIVING THEIR FULL THROATED SUPPORT TO THE REEDY CREEK STRUCTURE, ARE HIGHLIGHTING WHAT THEY SEE AS THE DANGERS OF POLITICAL RETRIBUTION OVER DISNEY'S OPPOSITION TO HB 1557.

>>IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PETTY AND PERFORMATIVE GOVERNMENT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, NOT TO CREATE MORE PROBLEMS.

I AM VERY CRITICAL OF CORPORATIONS WHO SEEK SPECIAL INCENTIVES AND SPECIAL PERKS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CANNOT USE GOVERNMENT AS A WEAPON TO PUNISH ONE INDUSTRY, WHO THE ONLY THING THEY DID WAS SPEAK OUT AGAINST POLICY THAT HARMS THEIR WORKFORCE, THAT HARMS FAMILIES IN THE STATE.

IF THE GOVERNOR CARES ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, THEN WE SHOULD RESPECT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>>DISNEY IS STANDING AGAINST A HARMFUL ANTI-GAY BILL THAT CAUSES AGONY AND UNCERTAINTY OF AN ALREADY VULNERABLE GROUP.

STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES IS NOT A REASON FOR PUNISHMENT.

THIS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT, MY COLLEAGUES, WHERE OUR GOVERNMENT CAN REPRIMAND INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATIONS OVER A MATTER OF OPINION.

>>THE DECISION TO UP THE ANTE IN A BATTLE WITH DISNEY HAS AN ADDED LAYER OF COMPLEXITY.

REEDY CREEK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT CONDUCTS INSPECTIONS.

THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD FALL TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IF IT WERE DISBANDED.

>>REEDY CREEK DOES TWO THINGS.

IT PROVIDES PUBLIC SERVICES, AND IT DOES REGULATION, INSPECTIONS, IF YOU WILL.

SO ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, THE TWO COUNTIES IN WHICH THE DISNEY PROPERTY IS LOCATED, WOULD HAVE TO DO THOSE TWO THINGS.

IT WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICES, FIRE, WATER, SEWER, FOR EXAMPLE, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO DO INSPECTIONS.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, I THINK THE MOST CHALLENGING ONE, WOULD BE BUILDING INSPECTIONS.

THINK OF THE ICON OF WALT DISNEY WORLD, CINDERELLA'S CASTLE, AND IT'S MADE OUT OF FIBERGLASS.

AND I'M SURE THERE'S NOT A SECTION IN THE BUILDING CODE OF ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY FOR FIBERGLASS BUILDINGS ON THAT SCALE.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST ARGUMENTS THAT DISNEY COULD MAKE FOR WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, THAT A GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY HAD THE EXPERTISE TO DO, PLUS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO RELY ON AND COMPLY WITH EXTERNAL CONTROL.

SO ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE MANPOWER, THE EXPERTISE, ON A HUGE SCALE TO BE ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE FOR WHAT DISNEY DOES FOR ITSELF.

>>ALL RIGHT.

A LOT TO BREAK DOWN HERE.

CURTIS, LET'S START WITH YOU.

HOW MUCH OF THIS IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS SAY, POLITICAL RETRIBUTION?

MANY GOP MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PRETTY ACCOMMODATING TO DISNEY IN THE PAST.

>>THEY HAVE BEEN.

AND HONESTLY, I WAS THERE DURING THE WRAP UP OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THE FIRST TIME AROUND, RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH THERE, AND SPOKE TO RANDY FINE AS HE CAME OUT.

THIS WAS WHEN THE PASSING OF, WHAT PROPONENTS CALL THE "DON'T SAY GAY" BILL HAD BEEN PASSED AND EVERYTHING, AND HE BASICALLY SAID IT THEN.

SO IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS IS WHEN HE SAID IT THERE, THAT THIS WAS THEIR MAIN GOAL HERE WAS TO, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT GET BACK AT DISNEY FOR SUPPORTING THIS AND SAYING THAT THIS BILL WAS NOT IN FACT WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN.

BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO AGAINST A MAJORITY OF THEIR WORKERS.

>>CHRIS, LET'S TALK ABOUT NUTS AND BOLTS HERE.

TO BE CLEAR, UNDER THIS BILL, REEDY CREEK WOULD BE DISSOLVED NEXT YEAR, BUT IT COULD BE REESTABLISHED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND THAT WAS PART OF WHAT IT DOES.

>>YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THIS OPENS IT UP FOR DISNEY, THAT IF DISNEY CAN BE NICE TO THE REPUBLICANS FOR A YEAR, MAYBE WE GIVE YOU REEDY CREEK BACK.

SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT FREEZES DISNEY OUT FROM MAYBE DECIDING IT WANTS TO HELP DEMOCRATS IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE OR SAYING ANYTHING ELSE NEGATIVE ABOUT REPUBLICANS DURING THE ELECTION CYCLE.

THEN WE GET INTO THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2023, THEY GET THEIR DISTRICT BACK.

MEANWHILE, WE GET ALL THESE HEADLINES ABOUT REEDY CREEK AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT REDISTRICTING, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ABORTION BILL, IT'S ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.

SO WHAT IT DOES, IT GIVES A LOT OF POLITICAL COVER FOR REPUBLICANS TO GO AFTER AN EASY TARGET, AND BY THE WAY, FUNDRAISE OFF OF IT BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY STARTED FUNDRAISING OFF OF HIS FIGHT WITH DISNEY.

SO THIS IS A POLITICAL CUDGEL THAT THE GOP IS WIELDING, AND FRANKLY, WHAT YOU HAVE IN TALLAHASSEE RIGHT NOW IS A GOVERNOR WHO GETS TO DICTATE WHEN THE LEGISLATURE WILL DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AND THEY'RE DOING IT FOR HIM RIGHT NOW.

>>AND THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS ACTUALLY LEGAL.

>>THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS LEGAL.

AND DISNEY, I THINK HAS, IF THIS DOES ACTUALLY GO THROUGH AFTER JUNE 1ST OF 2023, DOES DISNEY HAVE ANY KIND OF CIVIL REMEDY TO COME TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND SAY, "YOU'VE DIMINISHED THE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY THROUGH THIS ACTION FOR NO JUSTIFIABLE REASON.

YOU NEED TO MAKE US WHOLE, " BECAUSE THIS WILL HAVE RAMIFICATIONS ON THEM.

SO IS THERE GOING TO BE CIVIL LITIGATION OUT OF THIS?

PERHAPS.

>>PROBABLY.

CURTIS, LET'S PICK UP ON WHAT RICK FOGLESONG WAS SAYING IN OUR PIECE JUST NOW.

REEDY CREEKS DISSOLUTION WOULD MEAN A LOT FOR THE ECONOMY, AND PARTICULARLY ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY, IN TERMS OF RESPONSIBILITIES, DEBT, TAXES EVEN.

>>YEAH, DEFINITELY.

AND THIS IS A BURDEN THAT THE TAXPAYERS WOULD PROBABLY LIKELY HAVE TO TAKE UP.

WE'RE TALKING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND PROBABLY $10 MILLION A YEAR THAT THEY WOULD ASSUME, ESSENTIALLY, IF THIS DOES GO THROUGH.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESOURCES LIKE PATROLLING POLICE, AND FIRE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, NOT TO MENTION, YOU HEARD THERE, THE DEBTS THAT THEY DO HAVE IN REEDY CREEK, TOO.

SO THIS IS A BURDEN THAT WILL BE ON THE TAXPAYERS HERE IF THIS SHOULD BE DISSOLVED INTO THESE TWO COUNTIES.

>>YEAH, AND ORANGE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR SCOTT RANDOLPH ACTUALLY TWEETED ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR REEDY CREEK GOING TO DO?

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR THEM, CHRIS?

>>IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT EXACTLY, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME OF THOSE FUNCTIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE FOLDED INTO THE COUNTY, AND IT WOULD MAKE SENSE, IF YOU'RE THE PERSON WHO'S IN CHARGE OF WASTEWATER OUT OF REEDY CREEK, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE SYSTEMS, IT MAKES SENSE FOR YOU JUST TO TAKE ONE HAT OFF AND PUT IT ON THE OTHER ONE.

FIREFIGHTERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS DIFFERENT.

THEIR PENSION IS PART OF THE STATE, SO THAT SHOULD BE SEAMLESS, BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR SENIORITY?

AND SO I THINK FOR A LOT OF THESE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS, WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM.

>>THEY'RE SWORN FIREFIGHTERS, RIGHT?

>>YEAH.

AND WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, SHANNON BUTLER DID A GREAT PIECE FOR US ON THIS, THEY'RE TAKING A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH.

THEY WANT TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT DO THE CONTOURS LOOK LIKE?

WHAT HAPPENS?

ARE WE GOING TO BE FOLDED INTO ORANGE COUNTY?

HOW DOES THIS ALL HAPPEN?

AND YOU ALREADY BROUGHT IT UP EARLIER, DOES THIS ACTUALLY HAPPEN?

DO WE GET TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AFTER THE ELECTION IN 2023 AND SEE THE LEGISLATURE SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'VE DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO RECONSTITUTE DISNEY.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE VICTORY LAP THAT WE BROUGHT THEM TO HEEL AND THEY GET REEDY CREEK BACK."

>>AND WHAT ABOUT THESE INCENTIVES THAT DISNEY'S GETTING.

I'M PARTICULARLY THINKING ABOUT LAKE NONA, THE LEGISLATURE WAS PRETTY GENEROUS TO DISNEY TO TRY TO GET THOSE JOBS FROM CALIFORNIA.

I MEAN, IS THAT LIKELY TO STILL BE ON THE TABLE?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S PARTLY BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT'S PART OF A STATE PROGRAM THAT'S AVAILABLE PRETTY MUCH TO ANY COMPANY.

DISNEY'S JUST EXERCISING IT ON A VERY BROAD SCALE.

AND THE SECOND PART IS THIS.

DISNEY'S GOING TO WANT THIS DISTRICT BACK.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PULL THESE JOBS AND CONTINUE TO ANGER THE GOP.

>>YEAH.

>>THEY'LL KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD.

PLUS ULTIMATELY I THINK IN THE LONG TERM FOR THE COMPANY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED IS TO BRING SOME OF THESE JOBS FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA ANYWAY.

THIS STILL FITS WITHIN THEIR BUSINESS PLAN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, DISNEY'S A COMPANY, AND THE PURPOSE OF ANY COMPANY IS TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

AND YOU DON'T STAY IN BUSINESS BY LOSING MONEY.

DISNEY WANTS TO MAKE MONEY.

>>AND JUST FINALLY ON THIS, CURTIS, WHAT ABOUT THIS CARVE OUT FOR THEME PARK OWNERS THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED WHEN IT CAME TO THE BIG TECH BILL?

LAWMAKERS ADDRESSING THAT AS WELL?

>>RIGHT.

WELL SEE HERE, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS WILL NECESSARILY HAVE A LOT OF IMPACT BECAUSE IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME HERE, AND DESANTIS IS EXACTLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN WITH THIS PARTICULAR CARVE OUT.

BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK TO DISNEY AND THE ENTIRE FIGHT, IT WILL NOT HAVE A DRASTIC IMPACT ON THE CARVE OUT.

>>AND CERTAINLY LAWMAKERS TALKING ABOUT WHETHER THAT CARVE OUT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE IN PLACE IN THE BILL THAT THEY JUST PASSED.

>>RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN KEEP HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT.

WILL IT STILL BE IN THAT?

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAY BE.

>>WELL, IT'S BEEN A DISTRICT THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1967.

>>RIGHT.

>>SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO EXTRICATE FROM THAT APPARATUS FOR SURE.

AND WE SHOULD NOTE THAT WE'RE RECORDING THIS SHOW ON THURSDAY MORNING, SO THINGS CAN CHANGE BY AIR TIME AND YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO HB 3 ON INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICTS ON OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT, LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TALK ABOUT THE ORIGINAL REASON LAWMAKERS WERE CALLED BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION, AND THAT OF COURSE IS REDISTRICTING.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS' OFFICE PRESENTED A CONGRESSIONAL MAP, WHICH IT SAYS IS RACE NEUTRAL.

THE MAP FAVORS REPUBLICANS BY A WIDER MARGIN THAN THE ONE PASSED BY THE SENATE IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

>>IT ELIMINATES TWO OUT OF FLORIDA'S FOUR PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRICTS, INCLUDING ONE HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

IT BLOWS UP DISTRICT 10, CURRENTLY HELD BY CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMINGS, CHANGING IT TO INCLUDE MOST OF ORLANDO AND EXTENDING IT EASTWARDS.

DEMOCRATS SAY THE MAP VIOLATES TIER ONE STANDARDS OF THE FAIR DISTRICT'S AMENDMENT TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION, WHICH READS, "NO APPORTIONMENT PLAN OR DISTRICT SHALL BE DRAWN WITH THE INTENT TO FAVOR OR DISFAVOR A POLITICAL PARTY OR AN INCUMBENT.

AND DISTRICTS SHALL NOT BE DRAWN WITH THE INTENT OR RESULT OF DENYING OR ABRIDGING THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OF RACIAL OR LANGUAGE MINORITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, OR TO DIMINISH THEIR ABILITY TO ELECT REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR CHOICE, AND DISTRICTS SHALL CONSIST OF CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY."

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THE MAP IS LIKELY TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS ARGUES THE LAW IS ON HIS SIDE, CITING A 2017 SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT NORTH CAROLINA RELIED TOO HEAVILY ON RACE TO DRAW DISTRICTS AFTER THE 2010 CENSUS.

HE ALSO SAYS RECENT COURT DECISIONS HAVE DETERMINED THAT RACE SHOULD NOT TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

CURTIS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP KIND OF RAISED EYEBROWS WHEN THEY BASICALLY HANDED A LOT OF THIS PROCESS TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>>AND YEAH, IT DID.

AND PARTLY BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT'S USUALLY ON THE LEGISLATURE TO DRAW THESE MAPS, TO MAKE THESE MAPS HERE, AND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP TO SAY, "HEY, WE WANT TO GO WITH THE GOVERNOR, GIVE THE GOVERNOR KIND OF LIKE FULL COURT BLANCHE TO KIND OF DRAW HIS OWN MAPS AND SAY HERE'S WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE."

THEY KIND OF SAY, "HEY, WELL, WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND LET HIM LAY THE PLAYING FIELD JUST TO KIND OF PUT IT OUT THERE SO IT'S NO BACK AND FORTH."

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF UNPRECEDENTED HERE.

>>IT'S KIND OF INDICATIVE OF THE POWER, I GUESS, OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>CHRIS, LET'S TALK ABOUT DISTRICT 10.

THE REDRAWING OF THOSE BOUNDARIES, AT THE MOMENT IT'S MOSTLY WEST OF I-4, RIGHT?

WHAT WOULD SORT OF BE THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES TO THAT DISTRICT?

EXPANDING IT OUT TO THE EAST.

>>IT MAKES IT SLIGHTLY MORE REPUBLICAN, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY A VERY HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

SO MAKING IT MORE REPUBLICAN DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE IT OFF THE DEMOCRATS SIDE.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT DIMINISHES THE BLACK VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT CAUSE WE HAVE CLOSED PRIMARIES IN FLORIDA.

SO IF YOU DIMINISH THE BLACK VOTE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIMARY, WHICH IT WOULD DO, ALL OF A SUDDEN BLACK VOTERS DON'T HAVE AS MUCH POWER TO CHOOSE THAT CANDIDATE THAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY GO ON TO WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO IT CHANGES THAT DISTRICT BY NOT ONLY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF BLACK VOTERS IN IT TOTALLY, BUT REALLY REDUCING THE NUMBER THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PRIMARY.

THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD THERE.

>>AND THE OTHER PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRICT IS DISTRICT FIVE, CORRECT?

IN NORTH FLORIDA.

>>YES.

AND NORTH FLORIDA WAS, NORTH FLORIDA'S GOTTEN ALL THE ATTENTION BECAUSE WHAT YOU'VE GONE IN NORTH FLORIDA IS FROM HAVING REALLY TWO DISTRICTS UP THERE THAT WERE COMPETITIVE FOR BLACK CANDIDATES TO ZERO.

AND SO YOU LOOK DOWN AT CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND YOU SAY, "WELL, IT'S ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL."

NORTH FLORIDA, IT'S ABSOLUTELY WIPING THE SLATE UP THERE.

>>YEAH.

>>AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF OUTCRY UP THERE ABOUT HOW WE'RE JUST ERASING THE BLACK VOTE FROM NORTH FLORIDA BY DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS.

>>AM I RIGHT THAT THIS IS LIKELY TO BE CHALLENGED?

>>OH, DEFINITELY.

DEFINITELY.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROPONENTS WHO HAVE SAID THAT, ESPECIALLY ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, THAT THIS IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

THIS WILL GO TO COURT.

>>YEAH.

CERTAINLY LOTS OF LEGAL MACHINATIONS.

>>OH, DEFINITELY.

>>TO COME.

WELL, LAWMAKERS JOB FOR THE YEAR IS NOT YET OVER.

PROPERTY INSURANCE WILL BE ON THE AGENDA, AS THE LEGISLATURE IS EXPECTED TO MEET FOR A SECOND SPECIAL SESSION NEXT MONTH.

THE SESSION WILL ADDRESS A CRISIS IN THE MARKET, WHICH HAS SEEN COMPANIES GO BANKRUPT IN FLORIDA AND SKYROCKETING RATES FOR HOMEOWNERS.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THIS, CHRIS.

SENATOR BRANDES HAS SAID AT THE INSURANCE MARKET HAS BASICALLY COLLAPSED.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

IS THIS JUST LAWSUITS, DO WE THINK?

>>IT IS LAWSUITS.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE, BASICALLY THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR PROPERTY INSURANCE LAWSUITS FILED IN THE UNITED STATES ARE FILED IN FLORIDA.

>>YEAH.

>>JUST WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT NUMBER FOR HALF A SECOND.

THE LITIGATION IS RAMPANT.

NOW, PART OF THE OTHER PROBLEM IS, IS THAT IN FLORIDA YOU CAN GET A NEW ROOF WITH 25% DAMAGE.

MOST COASTAL STATES REQUIRE 50% DAMAGE.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ROOFS BEING PUT ON.

WE HAVE A LOT OF STORMS THAT ARE BLOWING THROUGH FLORIDA.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WEATHER ISSUES IN THE STATE.

SO THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

AND IT'S JUST GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE YOUR BIGGER INSURERS, THEY PULLED OUT OF FLORIDA LONG TIME AGO.

THE SMALLER INSURERS THAT ARE HERE ARE FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

AND IN FLORIDA, YOU CAN'T FAIL.

IF YOU'RE AN INSURANCE COMPANY, YOU CAN'T JUST GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

YOU GO INTO RECEIVERSHIP AND SOMEBODY ELSE CAN PICK UP YOUR CUSTOMERS OR THEY ALL GET SENT OFF TO CITIZENS, WHICH IS THE INSURER OF LAST RESORT.

AND CITIZENS HAS SEEN ITS NUMBERS JUST ABSOLUTELY GO THROUGH THE ROOF, NO PUN INTENDED.

AND WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS ALMOST A MILLION FLORIDIANS IN CITIZENS.

CITIZENS WASN'T DESIGNED FOR A MILLION POLICIES.

>>WELL, YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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

>>WELL, LET'S MOVE AWAY FROM THE SPECIAL SESSIONS AND TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER POLITICAL ISSUES OF THE LAST FEW DAYS, STARTING WITH ABORTION.

FLORIDA'S BAN ON MOST ABORTIONS AFTER 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY IS SET TO TAKE EFFECT IN A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNED THAT BILL INTO LAW LAST WEEK.

BUT AS NEWSNIGHT'S KRYSTEL KNOWLES REPORTS, PRO-CHOICE GROUPS SAY THEY PLAN TO FIGHT THE NEW LEGISLATION.

>>FLORIDA USED TO ALLOW ABORTIONS UP UNTIL 24 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, BUT THIS SIGNATURE CHANGED IT ALL.

>>THERE YOU GO.

>>FOR 50 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY, THE SUPREME COURT HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT A PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO MAKE THIS MEDICAL DECISION PRIOR TO VIABILITY.

AND TYPICALLY WE'VE ALL AGREED THAT VIABILITY IS RIGHT AROUND 24 WEEKS.

>>HB 5 BANS ABORTIONS AFTER 15 WEEKS.

STEPHANIE FRAIM FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS ALREADY DEVELOPING A GAME PLAN.

>>WE WILL, AS PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING VERY HARD ON A SYSTEM TO GET PATIENTS WHO NEED CARE TO WHERE THE CARE IS GOING TO BE ALLOWED, WHETHER IT'S TAKING FLORIDIANS POST-15 WEEKS UP TO NEW YORK.

>>I HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN ABOUT TWO YEARS.

>>BUT PREGNANCY OUTREACH MISSIONARIES FOUNDER, MARK HALL, WHO ATTENDED THE SIGNING, SAYS HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE LEADS HIM TO SUPPORT FLORIDA'S NEW LEGISLATION.

>>THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE EARLIER IN MY LIFE, I ALWAYS WANTED CHILDREN.

AND DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND MY CONTROL, I WASN'T ABLE TO HAVE THOSE.

I ACTUALLY LOST TWO CHILDREN IN THE WOMB.

>>THIS BILL DOES NOT HAVE EXEMPTIONS IN THE CASE OF RAPE, INCEST, OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

HOWEVER, IT DOES HAVE EXEMPTIONS IN THE CASE THE PREGNANCY POSES A SERIOUS RISK TO THE MOTHER OR IT'S A FETAL FATAL ABNORMALITY.

>>HAVING DONE THIS 26 YEARS, WE'VE WORKED WITH MANY MOMMIES THAT WERE RAPED OR HUMAN TRAFFICKED THAT CHOSE TO PLACE THEIR BABY FOR ADOPTION AND AT LEAST BRING A GOOD OUT OF SOMETHING THAT WAS EVIL AND TO NOT TAKE THE LIFE OF AN INNOCENT PERSON.

>>DIVIDED ON ABORTION LAWS, BOTH SIDES AGREE THE FUTURE OF ROE V. WADE IS ON THE LINE.

>>WHEN THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS ROE V. WADE, THE STATE OF FLORIDA WILL BE ABLE TO EVENTUALLY OUTLAW ABORTION HERE IN FLORIDA.

I THINK THERE'S A PREPONDERANCE OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IN JUNE, THE SUPREME COURT WILL IN FACT OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.

>>AND I FEEL LIKE OUR COUNTRY'S TRYING TO WHITTLE AWAY AT IT LITTLE BY LITTLE AND I HOPE AND PRAY FOR THE DAY WHEN WE MAKE IT ALL ILLEGAL.

>>ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S PICK UP ON THAT LAST POINT, CHRIS.

FLORIDA USED MISSISSIPPI'S 15 WEEK LAW AS A MODEL.

THEY'LL BE CONSIDERED BY THE SUPREME COURT, OF COURSE.

IF THE COURT DECLINES TO OVERTURN THAT LAW, DO YOU THINK THERE IS AN APPETITE HERE IN FLORIDA FROM THE LAWMAKERS THAT YOU TALKED TO FOR MORE STRINGENT MEASURES, SIMILAR TO THE ONES PASSED IN TEXAS, OKLAHOMA?

>>CERTAINLY.

AND THIS IS WHERE YOU START TO GO DOWN THAT LINE.

THE 15 WEEKS IS REALLY BASED AROUND THE IDEA OF VIABILITY AND IS THE FETUS VIABLE AT 15 WEEKS?

THE SUPREME COURT WILL BE WEIGHING THAT ISSUE.

AND IF MISSISSIPPI'S LAW IS UPHELD, THEN FLORIDA'S LAW OBVIOUSLY HAS CLEAR SAILING.

AND THAT THEN GIVES PURCHASE TO LAWMAKERS TO MAYBE START TO MAKE OTHER RESTRICTIONS AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES, WHETHER IT BE CRACKING DOWN ON THE KIND OF LICENSES THAT ABORTION CLINICS MUST HAVE OR THE KIND OF ADMITTING PRIVILEGES OR WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE 24 HOUR WAITING PERIOD GO INTO EFFECT, MAYBE MAKING THAT 48 HOURS.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ALONG THE WAY TO CONTINUE TO RESTRICT AND IF THE COURT GIVES THE SIGNAL THAT YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT, THEN YOU MAY SEE STATES, INCLUDING FLORIDA, START TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.

>>IT'S GOING TO BE A LEGAL QUAGMIRE FOR A WHILE.

I MEAN, CURTIS, HOW DOES FLORIDA'S LEGISLATION SORT OF STACK UP WITH THOSE OTHER STATES THAT I JUST MENTIONED, OKLAHOMA BEING THE MOST RECENT ONE, A NEAR TOTAL BAN?

>>RIGHT.

AND THAT'S THE THING IT'S LIKE FLORIDA'S, WHILE PEOPLE SAY, "OKAY, 15 WEEKS."

THEY GET A LOT OF CONTENTION ABOUT IT.

WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO SOME OF THESE OTHER STATE, NOT AS STRINGENT, AS YOU WOULD SAY LIKE IN OKLAHOMA, WHERE IT'S A FELONY TO EVEN PERFORM ABORTIONS NOW.

>>YEAH.

>>AND ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF TEXAS WHERE IT'S AT SIX WEEKS.

>>SIX WEEKS, YEAH.

>>SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WHERE YOU STILL HAVE 15 WEEKS.

SO NOT AS STRINGENT HERE IN FLORIDA, BUT THESE OTHER STATES OF COURSE ALREADY SETTING A PRECEDENT.

AND OF COURSE WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SUPREME COURT MAKES ITS RULING.

>>AND INTERESTINGLY, OKLAHOMA'S BEEN A DESTINATION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TEXAS WHO'VE BEEN SEEKING ABORTIONS.

I MEAN, CHRIS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, AND WHAT THE SUPREME COURT IS LIKELY TO DO.

ARE WE CONFIDENT IN WHICH WAY THEY'RE GOING TO GO?

>>NO.

I MEAN, NEXT QUESTION.

>>HOW CAN WE BE, RIGHT.

>>I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU CAN READ THE TEA LEAVES AND YOU CAN SIT THERE AND SAY, "WELL, THIS JUSTICE ASKED THIS QUESTION OR THIS JUSTICE WAS REALLY SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS PIECE OF ARGUMENT."

BUT, NO, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

YOU WOULD THINK, GIVEN THE MAKEUP OF THE COURT, GIVEN A LOT OF THEIR PAST RULINGS BY THE JUSTICES, EITHER BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE COURT OR SINCE THEY'VE BEEN ON THE COURT.

>>YEAH.

>>THAT YOU COULD SAY PROBABLY GOING TO SIDE WITH MISSISSIPPI, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE COURT IS GOING TO BREAK ON THIS ONE.

>>I GUESS A LOT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THEY DECIDE ROE IS SORT OF SETTLED LAW.

AND THAT WAS SORT OF SOMETHING WE HEARD A LOT DURING AMY CONEY BARRETT'S CONFIRMATION HEARINGS.

I MEAN, CHRIS, DEMOCRATS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO TELL ME THAT THEY THINK THAT FLORIDA REPUBLICANS HAVE OVERREACHED HERE ON ABORTION AND THAT THIS IS SORT OF A PIVOTAL MOMENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>>IT'S NOT SHOWING UP SO MUCH AT THE BALLOT BOX.

THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE FOR A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE LEFT.

IT IS AN ABSOLUTE ISSUE FOR THE RIGHT.

AND I SAY THAT TO MEAN, NOT THAT IT'S NOT AS IMPORTANT FOR THE LEFT AS IT IS FOR THE RIGHT.

IT MOTIVATES THE RIGHT SO MUCH MORE THAN IT DOES THE LEFT.

AND SO, YES, THIS MAY ACTIVATE A CHUNK OF THE LEFT, BUT THERE WILL BE A BIGGER CHUNK OF THE RIGHT THAT IS MOTIVATED BY THIS.

IT'S JUST TRADITIONALLY THE WAY THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BROKEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

>>IT'S A REALLY FASCINATING ISSUE TO WATCH MOVE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURES AND THE COURTS.

I WANT TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT POLITICAL TOPIC OF THE LAST FEW DAYS AND THAT'S MATH BOOKS.

>>YES.

>>THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECENTLY REJECTED 54 MATH BOOKS, OR 41% OF THOSE SUBMITTED BY PUBLISHERS, FINDING THEY CONTAINED EITHER CRITICAL RACE THEORY, ELEMENTS OF COMMON CORE, OR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

CURTIS, WHAT DOES THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION SAY ABOUT ITS DECISION BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO REJECT THESE MATH BOOKS?

>>THEY STAND BY THAT DECISION, STEVE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE SAYING HERE IS THEY'VE BEEN REALLY ON A QUEST HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL TEXTBOOKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ALL TEACHING MATERIALS FOR THAT MATTER DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THEM WHATSOEVER.

SO THEY STAND BY THEIR MISSION HERE TO KIND OF GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE TEXTBOOKS, AS WELL AS ANY TYPE OF LITERATURE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT WOULD MAKE SOMEONE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IF THEY ARE IN A CLASSROOM AND THEY'RE RECEIVING INSTRUCTION.

>>AND ONE OF THE ISSUES HERE, CHRIS, IS THAT THE TRANSPARENCY, I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE FAVORS RELEASING SORT OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY CERTAIN BOOKS WERE REJECTED OR NOT, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION HASN'T REALLY PUT OUT THOSE DETAILS YET.

DO WE KNOW WHY?

>>IT REALLY ALL DEPENDS ON EXACTLY WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS.

DO THESE PUBLISHERS HAVE A CHANCE TO APPEAL THIS?

IS THERE SOME SORT OF LIKE ISSUE WITH, IF WE SAY THAT THIS BOOK WAS REJECTED FOR THIS REASON, DOES THE PUBLISHER THEN GET TO COME BACK AT US?

SO, NO, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME ISSUES THERE.

THE BIGGER THING IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO REJECT THE BOOKS AND LET THAT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC, TELL US WHY, AND DON'T JUST GIVE US THESE NEBULOUS REASONS OF, "WELL, WE DIDN'T LIKE THEM BECAUSE OF X, Y, Z."

>>OR COPYRIGHT.

>>YES.

>>IS THE OTHER ISSUE, WE HEAR.

>>YEAH.

CITE EXACTLY WHY EACH OF THESE BOOKS WAS REJECTED INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, THEY DIDN'T MEET OUR STANDARDS, BE IT THROUGH COMMON CORE OR BE IT THROUGH CRITICAL RACE THEORY."

>>AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, FLORIDA DOES NO LONGER FOLLOW COMMON CORE.

>>I MEAN, YEAH, I GUESS SO.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I MEAN, COMMON CORE IS REALLY- >>THAT'S THE STANDARD FOR THE NATION, RIGHT?

>>YEAH.

AND TO SAY FLORIDA NO LONGER FAVORS COMMON CORE.

WE TOOK COMMON CORE AND MADE IT FLORIDA STANDARDS.

WE JUST CHANGED THE NAME OF IT.

ESSENTIALLY, IT WAS THE SAME.

SO TO SAY WE DON'T FOLLOW COMMON CORE, I GUESS, BUT IT'S ALL BEEN A BIT OF A KABUKI DANCE OUT OF TALLAHASSEE.

>>WELL, A REALLY BUSY AND FASCINATING WEEK IN POLITICS.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING IN.

JUST A REMINDER TO BE SURE TO HEAD ON OVER TO OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

YOU'LL FIND A LOT MORE CONTENT THERE.

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

MY THANKS TO CURTIS MCLEOD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND CHRISTOPHER HEATH FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

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 WEEKEND.