>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, FLORIDA DEMOCRATS PUSH TO EXPAND GUN CONTROL LAWS PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AFTER THE PARKLAND SHOOTING, BUT SOME REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING BACK.

AND AS HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS, WILL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO SHORE UP THE HOME INSURANCE MARKET BE ENOUGH?

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.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, CHRISTOPHER HEATH, WHO COVERS POLITICS FOR WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, CHRIS.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, JASON GARCIA, INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST.

HE WRITES A SUBSTACK CALLED SEEKING RENTS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, JASON.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>ALL RIGHT.

FIRST TONIGHT, THE DEBATE IN FLORIDA OVER GUN CONTROL FOLLOWING THE MASS SHOOTING IN UVALDE, TEXAS.

AFTER THE PARKLAND SHOOTING IN 2018, FLORIDA LEGISLATORS PASSED A SUITE OF MEASURES KNOWN AS THE MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL PUBLIC SAFETY ACT.

IT INCLUDED A RED FLAG LAW, AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM AGE TO BUY A RIFLE, AND A GUARDIAN PROGRAM TO ARM SOME SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.

WELL, I SPOKE THIS WEEK ABOUT THE UVALDE SHOOTING WITH OLIVIA SOLOMON, PRESIDENT OF THE UCF CHAPTER FOR MARCH OF OUR LIVES, A GUN CONTROL ACTIVISM GROUP ESTABLISHED AFTER PARKLAND.

>>IT REMINDS ME OF MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS ALL OVER AGAIN IN THE SENSE THAT I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL AND I HAD VERY GOOD FRIENDS THAT WENT THERE.

AND THEN MY HEART DROPPED.

I HAD TWO BEST FRIENDS THERE.

I WAS TEXTING THEM ALL AFTERNOON.

THEY WERE HIDING IN A CLOSET FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES AS 17 OF THEIR SCHOOL STAFF AND PEERS WERE MURDERED IN FRONT OF THEM.

AND I THINK WE'VE COME TO THE POINT WHERE HEARING THIS AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN TEXAS, IS IT'S NOT SHOCKING.

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

WE'VE BECOME NUMB TO IT.

BUT WE'RE OUTRAGED.

WE ARE ANGRY.

WE ARE SO DONE WITH POLITICIANS SITTING THERE AND SAYING, "OH, WE'RE SENDING OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS," BECAUSE THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN DO SOMETHING AND YOU ARE REFUSING TO.

>>THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE DID PASS SOME GUN CONTROL LAWS AFTER PARKLAND, BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE WANTS TO PASS WHAT SUPPORTERS CALL CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>>SO THE FACT THAT FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, AND ESPECIALLY THE FLORIDA REPUBLICANS CAN STAND THERE AS THE PARTY IN CHARGE AND SAY, "OH, LOOK, WE DID THIS.

WE CARE."

THEY DO NOT.

THE RED FLAG LAWS WAS A GREAT STEP IN A GREAT DIRECTION, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

TO JUST SIT BACK AND SAY, "OH, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A CONCEALED WEAPON WITH US AT ALL TIMES AND NOW WE NEED CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY."

IT IS A BLATANT ATTACK ON OUR FREEDOM AND THE RIGHT OF EVERYONE AND ESPECIALLY CHILDREN TO GROW UP.

WHEN WE WERE GOING BACK TO IN PERSON CLASSES, WE WE'RE LIKE, "OKAY, WELL, WHAT'S GOING TO BE OUR EXIT STRATEGY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LECTURE HALLS."

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO INGRAINED IN OUR BRAINS OF WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

HOW DO I GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT DOES AND INSTITUTING LAWS THAT JUST EXACERBATE THIS PROBLEM SHOW THAT NOT ONLY DOES THE GUN LOBBY HAVE SUCH A CHOKE HOLD ON OUR LEGISLATORS, ESPECIALLY IN FLORIDA, BUT THE AMERICAN IDEAL OF THAT WE ARE PUTTING GUNS ABOVE PEOPLE.

AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS ABOUT.

>>WELL, FOLLOWING THE TEXAS SHOOTING, SOME DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING TO EXPAND THE RED FLAG LAW IN FLORIDA, WHICH IS ONE OF JUST 19 STATES TO HAVE ONE, AND HAS BEEN USED THOUSANDS OF TIMES SINCE PARKLAND.

BUT UNLIKE 2018, THIS TIME THERE SEEMS TO BE NO BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS IN FLORIDA ON INTRODUCING STRICTER LAWS.

I WANT TO PLAY YOU THIS EXCHANGE FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE THAT CHRIS HAD FOLLOWING THE UVALDE SHOOTING WITH STATE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>>WELL, I MEAN, LOOK, AS MY SHERIFF LIKES TO SAY, "THE WAY YOU STOP A BAD GUY WITH A GUN IS A GOOD GUY WITH A GUN."

>>THERE WERE GOOD GUYS WITH A GUN THERE YESTERDAY.

>>SO, WELL, I MEAN, LOOK, WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE HAVE- >>HOW MANY GOOD GUYS DO WE THINK WE NEED UNTIL MY KIDS ARE SAFE?

>>THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

I BELIEVED IN THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM.

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

I BELIEVE THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE GUN FREE ZONES, THAT TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS DIDN'T AGREE WITH ME.

>>I'M FROM TEXAS, BUT TEXAS HAS THE BLUEPRINT THAT WE USED IN FLORIDA.

IT DIDN'T WORK YESTERDAY.

>>I THINK THAT BEFORE JOE BIDEN MAKES THOSE KINDS OF STATEMENTS, THEY SHOULD TAKE AT LEAST A FEW DAYS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF BEGINNING A SPEECH ABOUT AN UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO POLITICIZE IT AND BEGIN BLAMING REPUBLICANS AND TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL.

IT WAS UNCONSCIONABLE.

AND WHAT I FIND IRONIC IS DEMOCRATS POLITICIZE THESE THINGS, MAKE THESE OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENTS, AND THEN DEMAND REPUBLICANS SHUT UP FOR UNITY AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

NO.

WE'RE DONE WITH THAT.

WE'VE PROVED THAT IN FLORIDA.

WE AREN'T GOING TO STAND SILENT IN THE FACE OF WOKE LEFTIST RADICALISM.

WE'RE GOING TO STAND UP AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT BACK.

>>SETTING ASIDE THE PRESIDENT, JUST AS A PARENT TO A PARENT, HOW MANY GUNS DOES MY KIDS' ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEED BEFORE THEY'RE SAFE?

>>I DON'T KNOW, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THIS.

WE HAD AN ISSUE FOUR YEARS AGO IN FLORIDA.

WE THOUGHTFULLY, I VOTED FOR IT.

WE PASSED THE PARKLAND BILL.

WE HAVE THANK GOD NOT HAD AN ISSUE SINCE.

MAYBE THEY NEED TO DO OTHER THINGS IN TEXAS.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT BEFORE PEOPLE MAKE POLITICAL STATEMENTS ON THE NATIONAL NEWS, THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED.

AND WHEN DEMOCRATS COME OUT AND START SAYING, "WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY, " THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT IS NOT AN OPTION.

>>ALL RIGHT, CHRIS.

WELL, LET'S PICK UP ON THAT POINT THAT YOU MADE TO RANDY FINE THERE ABOUT THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM IN TEXAS.

IS THE TEXAS PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE ONE IN FLORIDA?

AND IS REPRESENTATIVE FINE'S POSITIONS ARE BROADLY SIMILAR TO THAT THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM OTHER REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE?

>>IT'S SIMILAR.

NO, AS I SAID THERE, IT'S THE BLUEPRINT.

BEFORE FLORIDA IMPLEMENTED THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM, WE WENT OUT TO TEXAS, WENT TO CARTHAGE, TEXAS OVER IN EAST TEXAS.

THEY HAVE THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM THERE.

THEIR STAFF IS ARMED.

THERE ARE SIGNS EVERYWHERE THAT SAY, "STAFF MAY BE ARMED."

DO NOT BRING YOUR GUNS ON CAMPUS BECAUSE OUR STAFF IS ARMED AND READY TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CARTHAGE ISD TOOK US OUT TO THE RANGE THAT THEY BUILT FOR TEACHERS TO USE.

HE HIMSELF HAD A WEAPON AND HE SHOWED US EXACTLY HOW THEY GO OUT THERE AND TRAIN.

THEY WERE VERY FORTHRIGHT ABOUT WHAT THEY DID THERE.

WE TALKED TO THE POLICE CHIEF THERE IN CARTHAGE ABOUT HOW THEY DID IT.

EVERYTHING WAS SEAMLESS THERE.

>>THIS IS THE MODEL FLORIDA IMPLEMENTED WHEN IT PUT IN THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM.

SO THAT WAS MY COMMENT TO RANDY FINE BECAUSE I'M SITTING THERE, IT WAS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR MY TWO SONS IN ELEMENTARY THAT DAY.

AND I'M SAYING, "TEXAS DID THIS.

THEY'VE DONE ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO DO?"

BECAUSE I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHERE I WAS ON COLUMBINE.

I REMEMBER WHERE I WAS FOR SANDY HOOK.

I NOW REMEMBER WHERE I WAS FOR UVALDE.

I'M LEAVING OUT DOZENS OF OTHER SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.

AT WHAT POINT DO WE HAVE A SOLUTION TO KEEP KIDS FROM GETTING MASSACRED IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS?

>>I MEAN, THERE IS A SORT OF A QUESTION ISN'T THERE ABOUT WHETHER A TEACHER WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP A GUNMAN WITH A FIREARM IF ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE UVALDE POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT ABLE TO.

>>AND THAT WAS THE THING THAT WE WERE HEARING SO MUCH MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN UVALDE.

AND IT'S LIKE IF THE SWAT TEAM WAS NOT INTERESTED IN GOING IN THERE, WHAT'S A TEACHER WITH A HANDGUN GOING TO DO?

AND THAT SETS ASIDE THE ENTIRE ISSUE THAT WE SAW BOTH IN BUFFALO, I KNOW THAT WASN'T SCHOOL SHOOTING, BUT WE ALSO SAW IN UVALDE, WHICH IS BODY ARMOR.

IF YOU'VE GOT A 22 OR A NINE MILLIMETER, THAT BODY ARMOR IS GOING TO PRETTY MUCH PREVENT YOUR WEAPON FROM DOING ANYTHING.

AND SO NOW YOU'RE UP AGAINST A GUNMAN WITH A HIGH CALIBER RIFLE AND YOU HAVE A HANDGUN.

I MEAN, AT SOME POINT, IF THE SWAT TEAM FEELS THEY'RE UNARMED, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WEAPONRY TO GO UP AGAINST THAT SHOOTER, WHAT KIND OF WEAPON WE ARE GIVING TEACHERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE GOOD TO GO?

BY THE WAY, ALSO GET YOUR LESSON PLANS IN ON TIME.

>>YEAH.

JASON, A LOT OF YOUR REPORTING KIND OF FOLLOWS THE MONEY, RIGHT?

>>RIGHT.

>>AND WE USED TO, CERTAINLY BEFORE PARKLAND, TALK A LOT ABOUT THE POWER OF THE NRA IN TALLAHASSEE AS A LOBBYING GROUP.

WHERE DOES ITS POWER STAND NOW, SINCE THAT SUITE OF MEASURES WAS PASSED POST-PARKLAND?

>>WELL, I THINK IT'S STILL VERY POWERFUL AND GUN RIGHTS AND THE NRA, THIS IS NOT SO MUCH A MONEY ISSUE AS IT IS A REDISTRICTING ISSUE, A GERRYMANDERING ISSUE.

PEOPLE LOOK AT FLORIDA AND THEY THINK OF IT AS A PRETTY JUMP BALL STATE.

STATEWIDE ELECTIONS TEND TO BE CLOSE YET REPUBLICANS CONTROL NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE SEATS IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE BECAUSE OF GERRYMANDERING.

AND SO YOU'VE GOT A MAJORITY IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WHO NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY SORT OF GENERAL ELECTION.

THEIR ONLY CONCERN IS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WHICH TEND TO BE DECIDED BY THE MOST IDEOLOGICALLY EXTREME VOTERS AND GUN RIGHTS OR GUN RIGHTS AND SECOND AMENDMENT AND NRA ACTIVISM IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MOST MOTIVATES THOSE VOTERS.

>>I MEAN, CHRIS, CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMINGS HAS SORT OF TALKED ABOUT PUSHING A RED FLAG LAW AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

I MEAN, CAN WE EXPECT TO GET ANYTHING THROUGH THE SENATE?

I MEAN, I THINK SENATORS RUBIO AND SCOTT JUST LAST YEAR HAD TRIED TO SORT OF INCENTIVIZE OTHER STATES TO ADOPT RED FLAG LAWS.

THAT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

>>NO.

AND RUBIO'S SPOKEN QUITE A BIT ABOUT WHAT FLORIDA DID POST-PARKLAND AND HE'S BEEN VERY MUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR THE RED FLAG LAWS.

BUT I THINK WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THAT FRICTION IS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE STATES ADOPT IT.

THERE IS A BRISTLING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO TRY AND MAKE IT A BLANKET, ALL 50 STATES HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY.

AND YOU CAN MAKE A FEDERALISM ARGUMENT FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE ALSO PROBABLY SITTING THERE COUNTING THE VOTES AND SAYING THERE'S ENOUGH SENATORS OUT THERE THAT ANY GUN LEGISLATION IS A NON-STARTER.

POST-COLUMBINE, THE NRA WENT VERY HARD AFTER SMITH & WESSON BECAUSE SMITH & WESSON STRUCK A DEAL WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR SOME BASIC GUN LOCKS.

AND THEY WENT AFTER THEM HAMMER AND TONGS.

SO THERE IS DEFINITELY A VEIN WITHIN THE RIGHT THAT SAYS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, DO NOT GIVE AN INCH, DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING.

SO IT'S EASIER TO SAY EACH STATE DO THIS ON YOUR OWN THAN TO TRY AND GET THAT HEAVY LIFT OF 60 VOTES IN THE SENATE.

>>YEAH.

AND THAT FILIBUSTER ISSUE JUST HANGS OVER THE WHOLE SENATE PROCEEDING.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT SUPPORTERS CALL CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, WHICH GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS HE WANTS PASSED BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE.

LET ME PLAY YOU A CLIP FROM POLITICAL SCIENTIST AUBREY JEWETT ABOUT WHAT HE SEES AS THE PROSPECTS FOR THAT POTENTIAL LEGISLATION.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>>THAT MIGHT BE RISKY, POLITICALLY.

AND I WILL SAY, UNLIKE SOME ISSUES, THE GOVERNOR HAS DEFINITELY GIVEN HIMSELF SOME WIGGLE ROOM ON THAT BECAUSE HE SAID HE PLANS ON GETTING THAT THROUGH BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE.

BUT PRESUMABLY IF HE GOT RE-ELECTED THAT WOULD GIVE HIM PLENTY MORE TIME, FOUR MORE YEARS TO GET THAT DONE.

SO HE HAS NOT BOXED HIMSELF INTO A CORNER.

AND GIVEN THE HORRIFIC SHOOTING THAT WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY, YEAH, IT MIGHT BE A TOUGH SELL.

EVEN IF THEY COULD GET IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, AGAIN, IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT SEEK SOME VENGEANCE ON DURING THE ELECTION.

AND RIGHT NOW THINGS ARE GOING PRETTY WELL FOR REPUBLICANS.

DESANTIS APPROVAL RATING IS PRETTY GOOD.

JOE BIDEN'S IS PRETTY BAD.

DESANTIS HAS RAISED A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, COMPARED TO THE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE RAISED VERY LITTLE.

AND SO I THINK FOR A LOT OF REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE PRETTY HAPPY AND SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR IN TERMS OF PASSING CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATION.

AND SO THEY PROBABLY ARE A LITTLE RISK AVERSE AND MAYBE CONCERNED ABOUT POKING DEMOCRATS AND MODERATES IN PARTICULAR WITH SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL.

>>ALL RIGHT.

CHRIS, WELL, TEXAS AGAIN HAS A SIMILAR LAW ON THE BOOKS, BUT I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK, WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH AUBREY JEWETT THERE.

IS IT TOO POLITICALLY COSTLY TO DO IT HERE IN FLORIDA?

>>HE ALLUDED TO SOMETHING THERE AND I WANT TO REALLY FLESH THIS OUT.

>>YEAH.

>>IF RON DESANTIS AND WILTON SIMPSON AND CHRIS SPROWLS DECIDED THEY WANTED SOMETHING DONE, IT COULD BE DONE WITHIN 48 HOURS.

THEY GOT RID OF DISNEY'S REEDY CREEK IN THREE DAYS.

SO THIS IDEA THAT ALL THREE OF THEM, AND ALL THREE OF THEM GONE ON THE RECORD SAYING, "WE WANT CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY."

IF THEY REALLY WANTED IT, IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

IT COULD HAPPEN, PRETTY QUICKLY.

THE FACT THAT IT HASN'T, I THINK GETS TO SOMETHING AUBREY JEWETT IS SAYING THERE, WHICH IS THERE'S PROBABLY NOT THE KIND OF DEMAND OUT THERE FOR IT, ESPECIALLY HEADING INTO AN ELECTION, THROWING IN THAT UNCERTAINTY.

BUT AGAIN, THE IDEA THAT ALL THREE OF THEM ARE SITTING BACK SAYING, "WELL, WE REALLY WANT THIS.

IF ONLY IT WOULD HAPPEN."

THEY COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN IF THEY REALLY WANTED IT TO HAPPEN.

>>YEAH.

WHEN THERE'S THE MOTIVATION, SOMETHING CAN GET DONE IN LEGISLATURES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL PUBLIC SAFETY ACT, AND THE COACH AARON FEIS GUARDIAN PROGRAM ON OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOME REPORTING FROM JASON THIS WEEK.

IN A NEW ARTICLE, HE WRITES THE FOLLOWING.

"RON DESANTIS PLOTTED AN ALL OUT ASSAULT ON PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.

RECORDS SHOW FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR DRAFTED PLANS TO STRIP AUTONOMY FROM INDIVIDUAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, CENTRALIZE POWER IN TALLAHASSEE, AND IMPOSE MORE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT."

JASON, THIS WAS A REPORT YOU PUT OUT ON TUESDAY, I BELIEVE IT WAS.

YOU PUT IN A SERIES OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.

JUST OUTLINE WHAT YOU FOUND ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS FOR STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, BOTH IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT AND BUDGET.

>>YEAH.

YEAH.

SO WHAT THIS CAME OUT OF IS WE WERE LOOKING FOR ESSENTIALLY COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON LEGISLATION.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EMERGED WAS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD PREPARED JUST THIS SWEEPING OVERHAUL OF HIGHER EDUCATION OVERSIGHT IN FLORIDA.

AND IT REALLY BOILED DOWN TO TAKING DECISION MAKING POWER AWAY FROM INDIVIDUAL UNIVERSITIES AND MOVING IT UP TO THE STATE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHERE THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS ALMOST ALL OF THE MEMBERS.

SO THE GOVERNOR EXERCISES EXTREME CONTROL OVER THE STATE'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS, WHICH OVERSEES UNIVERSITIES, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHICH OVERSEES COLLEGES.

>>SO YOU SAW A LOT OF CHANGES, RIGHT DOWN TO THE FACT, TAKING AWAY FROM UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO HIRE THEIR OWN PROFESSORS.

THEY WOULD LOSE THAT POWER.

AND THEN, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE WAS A LOT OF FUNDING CHANGES TOO.

THEY WOULD'VE REALLY CLAMPED DOWN ON UNIVERSITY'S ABILITY TO SORT OF INDEPENDENTLY RAISE REVENUE THROUGH THINGS LIKE TUITION AND FEES.

AND ON ONE LEVEL THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY POPULIST THING TO DO.

EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW EXPENSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION IS.

BUT WHAT THAT'S REALLY ABOUT IS MAKING THESE SCHOOLS EVEN MORE DEPENDENT ON FUNDING FROM THE STATE, WHICH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE CONTROL.

AND WE SAW IN THAT SAME BILL THREATENING BUDGET CUTS ON UNIVERSITIES THAT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL EDICTS OUT OF TALLAHASSEE.

>>WHAT DO YOU THINK, CHRIS?

>>WELL, I MEAN, YOU CAN TRACE THIS VEIN OF CONSOLIDATION OF POWER BACK TO JEB BUSH WHEN WE SAW A LOT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES SUDDENLY BECOME APPOINTED OFFICERS, EVERYTHING FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHICH WENT FROM BEING STATEWIDE ELECTED TO NOW APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THERE IS A VERY REAL INTEREST IN TALLAHASSEE, AND IT PREDATES RON DESANTIS BY A LONG SHOT, OF LET'S CONSOLIDATE MORE AND MORE POWER IN TALLAHASSEE.

AND THEN ONCE IT'S UP THERE, LET'S CONSOLIDATE IT, NOT JUST IN THE BROAD STROKES.

LET'S GET IT WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND SO YOU'VE SEEN STEP BY STEP BY STEP, CITIES LOSING THEIR AUTONOMY, COUNTIES LOSING THEIR AUTONOMY, AND ALL POWER GETS CONSOLIDATED EVENTUALLY UP TO ONE OR TWO OR THREE OFFICES ALL IN TALLAHASSEE.

AND THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH A TREND THAT, AGAIN, PREDATES RON DESANTIS, BUT IS SOMETHING THAT FLORIDA HAS BEEN ENDURING FOR A WHILE.

>>HOW DOES THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION RESPOND?

>>THEY DON'T REALLY ANSWER MANY QUESTIONS IN DETAIL ABOUT THIS OTHER THAN TO SAY THEY WORK ON A LOT OF PLANS.

THEY WON'T SAY IF THIS IS SOMETHING THEY INTEND TO PURSUE GOING FORWARD.

AND ALSO TO CHRIS'S POINT, HE'S RIGHT.

A LOT OF THIS BEGAN UNDER JEB CONSOLIDATING A LOT OF POWER.

HE SAW A LOT WITH JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS UNDER GOVERNOR, BUT IT HAS DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATED UNDER RON DESANTIS.

SO JUST REAL QUICK, SOME OF THE OTHER DRAFTS WE FOUND THAT HE WAS WORKING ON INCLUDED GIVING HIMSELF MORE POWER TO REMOVE LOCAL STATE ATTORNEYS, REMOVE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MAKING IT EASIER TO SUE NEWSPAPERS AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, MAKING IT HARDER TO SUE AND CHALLENGE THE DECISIONS OF THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION ITSELF.

SO THIS THEME OF CONSOLIDATING POWER, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE, HAS DRAMATICALLY EXPANDED THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>>YEAH.

FASCINATING REPORTING FOR SURE.

I WANTED TO MENTION ANOTHER IMPORTANT STORY HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA THAT BROKE LAST WEEK.

THE ARREST OF THREE PEOPLE IN A SO-CALLED GHOST CANDIDATE CASE IN SEMINOLE COUNTY.

TWO POLITICAL OPERATIVES AND A NO PARTY AFFILIATION CANDIDATE ARE FACING CHARGES.

CHRIS, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT ILLEGAL PER SE TO FIELD AN NPA CANDIDATE, BUT SOME OF THESE CHARGES SORT OF RELATE TO ELECTION FINANCING, RIGHT?

>>YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

YOU CAN RUN A GHOST CANDIDATE ALL DAY LONG.

HOW YOU FUND THAT GHOST CANDIDATE, THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN GET TRIPPED UP REAL FAST.

AND ANYONE THAT RUNS A CAMPAIGN, LIKE A REPUTABLE CAMPAIGN, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL COME IN AND THEY'LL HIRE SOMEBODY THAT UNDERSTANDS FINANCES AND UNDERSTANDS CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE IS NOT PAY ATTENTION TO, "JASON, CUT ME A CHECK FOR $3, 000."

AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK HE GAVE ME 4,000.

"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, AND YOU'RE OVER YOUR LIMIT.

I'VE GOT TO RETURN SOME OF THAT MONEY."

SO YOU GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE THINGS AND YOU CERTAINLY HAVE TO DISCLOSE IT ALL AND NOT USE FAKE NAMES AND OTHER THINGS.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU START TO SEE THESE THINGS GET TRIPPED UP PRETTY FAST.

>>JASON, THIS IS JUST ONE PART OF A SORT OF A BROADER GHOST OR SORT OF SPOILER CANDIDATE STORY IN FLORIDA.

AND WE'RE SEEING A FORMER STATE SENATOR GO ON TRIAL LATER THIS YEAR.

>>YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS WAS A STATEWIDE SCHEME THAT WAS OVERSEEN BY SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT REPUBLICANS AND CORPORATE INTERESTS IN FLORIDA.

SO JUST TO LAY IT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THERE WERE THREE COMPETITIVE SENATE RACES IN 2020, STATE SENATE RACES, THAT WERE SEEN AS THE KEY TO CONTROLLING WHICH PARTY WOULD CONTROL A MAJORITY IN THE FLORIDA SENATE.

THESE THREE GHOST CANDIDATES SHOWED UP IN THESE RACES, DID NO CAMPAIGNING OF THEIR OWN, BUT WERE PROMOTED BY A $500, 000 ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, IN ADS THAT WERE ALL DESIGNED TO MAKE THEM APPEAR LIKE PROGRESSIVE ALTERNATIVES TO DEMOCRATS, ALL DESIGNED TO JUST PEEL OFF A FEW VOTES FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THE RACES.

>>WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN BETWEEN OUR OWN REPORTING, BETWEEN RECORDS UNEARTHED BY INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE NOW PROSECUTING TWO DIFFERENT CRIMINAL CASES RELATED TO THIS OR MULTIPLE CRIMINAL CASES RELATED TO THIS, IS ALL OF THAT MONEY WAS ORCHESTRATED BY A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICAN CONSULTANTS IN TALLAHASSEE WORKING FOR BOTH THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND ALSO A GROUP OF CONSULTANTS WORKING FOR THREE COMPANIES IN PARTICULAR, FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT FLORIDA CRYSTALS, THE BIG SUGAR GROWER, AND MOSAIC, THE PHOSPHATE FERTILIZER MINER.

>>WELL, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

AND IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE OF JASON'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO HIS SUBSTACK, SEEKING RENTS, ON OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN.

THIS YEAR, IT COMES A WEEK AFTER A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN TALLAHASSEE DESIGNED TO STABILIZE A HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE MARKET IN CRISIS FUELED BY LAWSUITS, FRAUD, AND STORM RELATED LOSSES.

I TALKED THIS WEEK WITH SPECTRUM NEWS 13 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST BRYAN KARRICK.

>>ON AVERAGE, WE SEE ABOUT 14 NAMED STORMS, SEVEN HURRICANES, AND THREE MAJOR HURRICANES, WHICH IS A CATEGORY THREE OR HIGHER.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO RUN ABOVE AVERAGE.

THE PAST SEVERAL SEASONS HAVE BEEN ABOVE AVERAGE.

BUT ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT GOES INTO THAT IS THAT WE HAVE MUCH BETTER TECHNOLOGY THESE DAYS AND THE ABILITY TO SEE MORE OUT IN THE ATLANTIC.

SO WE MAY HAVE A NAMED STORM THAT WE CALL A FISH STORM THAT SITS IN THE ATLANTIC AND DOESN'T IMPACT ANYBODY, BUT IT ONLY TAKES ONE STORM TO REALLY MAKE IT A BUSY SEASON ANYWAY.

>>BRYAN, THE GOVERNOR'S MADE COASTAL RESILIENCY A PRIORITY OVER THE COURSE OF HIS TERM SO FAR.

DO YOU THINK FLORIDA IS GETTING BETTER IN IT'S LONG TERM APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THIS KIND OF STORM?

WE'VE SEEN MASSIVE EFFORTS IN PLACES LIKE MIAMI BEACH TO SHORE UP THE CITY AGAINST FLOODING, BUT ARE WE AS PREPARED HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA?

>>YEAH.

AND THE POPULATIONS THEY CONTINUE TO INCREASE BOTH AT THE COAST AND INLAND.

AND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS AT THE COAST DON'T REALIZE WHAT MAY IT COME WHEN IT COMES TO A TROPICAL STORM OR A HURRICANE?

I THINK BACK TO MATTHEW AND WHAT IT DID IN FLAGLER COUNTY.

AND SO OVER THE YEARS SINCE THEN THE CREWS ON THE COAST HAVE STARTED SHORING THINGS UP MORE AND THEY REALIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE BUILDING ON THE COAST.

SO WE'RE BUILDING THE DUNES UP, WE'RE BRINGING IN SAND FROM OTHER LOCATIONS, AND THAT ALL HAS TO BE PERMITTED.

BUT THEY'RE BUILDING THE NECESSARY STRUCTURAL ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE DONE OR THE NATURAL WAYS TO BLOCK WATER.

AND SO THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING MORE RESILIENT EVEN WITH THE POPULATION INCREASE.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPLETELY 100% FOOLPROOF ON THE COAST, BUT THE COASTAL RESILIENCY IS DEFINITELY THERE FROM BREVARD THROUGH VOLUSIA, FLAGLER COUNTIES NOW, AS WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE COASTAL DAMAGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN PAST STORMS.

>>AND OF COURSE, HURRICANE SEASON BRINGS SOME CONTEXT TO THE HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE DEBATE THAT THE LEGISLATURE WAS JUST HAVING.

>>I JUST DEALT WITH MY OWN ROOFING ISSUE AND MY INSURANCE RATES WENT UP AND I GOT A LETTER FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAYING YOUR ROOF IS OF A CERTAIN AGE AND WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE YOUR POLICY IF YOU DON'T GET IT REPLACED.

AND SO GETTING THAT INSURANCE POLICY, GETTING IT CHECKED, GETTING IT UPDATED, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT FLOOD INSURANCE IS IN THERE AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S USUALLY A SEPARATE POLICY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT TO HAVE FOR ANYBODY WHO MAY BE MOVING INTO THE AREA AND THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH RAIN WE CAN GET IN AN AFTERNOON.

>>WELL, WE SHOULD NOTE, WE ARE RECORDING THIS SHOW ON THURSDAY MORNING SO THINGS LIKE STORMS CAN CHANGE BY AIR TIME.

WE'VE GOT OUR EYES ON THE GULF.

CHRIS, I MEAN, BRYAN KARRICK'S HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE POLICY IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S GOING UP IN THE STATE.

I MEAN WHAT DID THIS LEGISLATION THAT LAW MAKERS PASSED DO TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT?

>>I MEAN, THEY'RE HOPING A LOT, BUT EVERY TIME I TALKED TO ONE OF THEM WHEN I WAS UP IN TALLAHASSEE, IT WAS LIKE, "WELL, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO STABILIZE, IT."

THEY KEPT REFERRING IT TO AS IF LIKE IT WAS A PATIENT THAT THEY'D FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER A BAD ACCIDENT.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, "WE'RE JUST GOING TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

WE GOT TO GET THEM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, BUT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO STABILIZE THEM FOR NOW."

>>THERE'S $2 BILLION THAT DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, IT'S A SLUSH FUND OR IT'S A BAILOUT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF CASH THEY'RE GOING TO PUMP IN TO TRY AND STABILIZE RATES.

THEY'RE GOING TO PUT SOME DIFFERENT REGULATIONS IN THERE ABOUT HOW OLD ROOFS HAVE TO BE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN INSURE PEOPLE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE TO STILL ALLOW THEM TO DO IT.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEDUCTIBLE IN THERE.

THEY'RE REALLY JUST TRYING TO STABILIZE THE MARKET BECAUSE IT IS REALLY BAD OUT THERE.

AND IF WE GET A HURRICANE, IT COULD GO FROM BAD TO WORSE TO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S BEYOND THAT, BUT THAT'S THE FEAR RIGHT NOW.

>>I MEAN, SOME DEMOCRATS, THIS WAS A PRETTY BIPARTISAN SESSION, BUT SOME DEMOCRATS SAY THAT THESE INSURERS ARE EXAGGERATING THEIR PROBLEMS.

I MEAN, COULD THIS LEGISLATION, AS SENATOR PIZZO SUGGESTED, MAKE IT MUCH HARDER FOR CUSTOMERS TO GO TO COURT?

I MEAN, HE CALLED IT ESSENTIALLY TORT REFORM RATHER THAN INSURANCE REFORM.

>>YEAH.

AND YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN ATTORNEYS FILE LAWSUITS SAYING YOU CAN'T DO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WITH AOB, ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS.

SO YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO GET ITSELF HAMMERED OUT.

BUT WE'RE ALL DANCING AROUND THE FACT THAT ABOUT NINE DIFFERENT INSURANCE CARRIERS IN FLORIDA IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE GONE INTO LIQUIDATION.

THEY'VE GONE INTO RECEIVERSHIP.

THE MAJOR CARRIERS, THEY PULLED OUT OF FLORIDA LONG AGO.

SO THIS MARKET WAS VERY BAD.

IT HAS JUST GOTTEN TO THE POINT NOW WHERE THEY CAN NO LONGER LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

>>AND THIS IS BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO THE ISSUE OF CITIZENS.

JASON, I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ON THIS SHOW ABOUT SORT OF THE JUXTAPOSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY ON SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE AND THE LACK OF ACTION SOME MAY SAY ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

>>RIGHT.

>>YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS RECENTLY WITH REGARDS TO THE INSURANCE MARKET.

I MEAN, ARE THESE INSURERS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT LAWSUITS IN THE LONG RUN OR IS CLIMATE CHANGE, SEA LEVEL RISE, REALLY WHAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT?

>>WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY A BIT OF BOTH.

IF YOU LISTEN TO THE EARNINGS CALLS WHERE INSURANCE EXECUTIVES ARE TALKING TO THEIR INVESTORS, AND THEY'RE TALKING TO WALL STREET AND YOU READ THEIR REGULATORY FILINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A COUPLE OF COMMON THEMES.

ONE IS THEY'RE GOING TO CLAIM THAT LAWSUITS ARE DRIVING UP THEIR PRICES.

BUT, TWO, THEY ALL ACKNOWLEDGE OPENLY CLIMATE CHANGE IS DRIVING UP THEIR RATES NOW.

THEY ARE HAVING TO BUILD INTO THEIR MODELS WHICH DETERMINE WHAT THEY CHARGE, MORE STORMS, MORE INTENSE STORMS, HEAVIER FLOODING, MORE UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER, EVEN WILDFIRES OUT IN CALIFORNIA.

ALL OF THIS IS HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT ON RATES.

>>AND ULTIMATELY, IN A STATE LIKE FLORIDA, IT'S A PENINSULA THAT STICKS OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS, TO SORT OF LIKE PERMANENTLY SORT OF SOLVE INSURANCE HERE, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>>I MEAN, YOU FOUND SOME EXAMPLES OF COMPANIES THAT WOULD TELL YOU, OR THAT YOU FOUND OUT WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?

>>OH YEAH.

THEY'RE VERY EXPLICIT.

I MEAN, THEY TAKE IT AS SORT OF A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE NOW THAT THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH SCIENCE AROUND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF THAT AND BAKING THAT STUFF INTO THEIR RATES.

BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS INSURANCE INDUSTRY INVESTORS ARE MOST WORRIED ABOUT THAT I'M INVESTING IN AN INSURANCE COMPANY, IT'S GETTING IT WIPED OUT BY A HURRICANE THAT'S BIGGER THAN ANY WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

>>YEAH, FOR SURE.

WELL, YOU CAN FIND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE HURRICANE SEASON, INCLUDING UPDATES FROM THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK BY VISITING THE WUCF STORM CENTER ONLINE AT WUCF.ORG/STORM.

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

MY THANKS TO JASON GARCIA, SEEKING RENT SUBSTACK, AND CHRISTOPHER HEATH FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

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.