>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT.

WITH MORE THAN A MILLION FLORIDIANS VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19, WHAT WILL PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PANDEMIC STRATEGY MEAN FOR OUR REGION, AMID A SPIKE IN JOBLESS CLAIMS TO START THE YEAR?

CAN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY SUCCEED IN BOOSTING CENTRAL FLORIDA'S BELEAGUERED HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY?

AND BREVARD COUNTY LOSES OUT IN ITS BID TO BECOME HOME TO THE US SPACE COMMAND.

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.

AND 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.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, DARALENE JONES OF WFTV CHANNEL 9 AND BRENDAN BYRNE OF 90.7 WMFE, AND THE HOST OF THE ARE WE THERE YET PODCAST?

MY COLLEAGUE NANCY ALVAREZ IS AWAY THIS WEEK.

WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS SWORN INTO OFFICE GIVING A SPEECH CALLING FOR UNITY.

>>WE'VE LEARNED AGAIN THAT DEMOCRACY IS PRECIOUS.

DEMOCRACY IS FRAGILE.

AND AT THIS HOUR, MY FRIENDS, DEMOCRACY HAS PREVAILED.

>>WELL, THE INAUGURATION IS EXPECTED TO BRING ABOUT CHANGES THAT WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON FLORIDA, PARTICULARLY IN THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND PANDEMIC RELIEF.

I SAT DOWN WITH UCF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, AUBREY JEWETT, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INAUGURATION SPEECH.

>>I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY SOLID INAUGURAL SPEECH AND IT WAS IN MANY WAYS WHAT ONE MIGHT EXPECT, GIVEN THE TIMES.

IT DID DRAW A DISTINCTION IN BOTH STYLE AND SUBSTANCE TO MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE LAST FOUR YEARS, NOT ONLY CALLING FOR UNITY, BUT CALLING FOR SORT OF A CALM, CALLING FOR A RETURN TO MORE NORMAL POLITICS THAT WE WOULD SEE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>>ON THE NUTS AND BOLTS, OF COURSE, THE CORONAVIRUS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH NOW.

ALREADY HERE IN FLORIDA, GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS SAID THAT JOE BIDEN'S PLANS TO USE THE NATIONAL GUARD, FOR EXAMPLE, TO SET UP VACCINATION SITES IS "A BIG MISTAKE".

THIS KIND OF TEES UP A PRETTY CONTENTIOUS TIDE, DOESN'T IT?

>>IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT UNDER JOE BIDEN.

HE'S TAKING IT MORE SERIOUSLY RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO.

ONE OF HIS FIRST THINGS WAS TO REQUIRE MASKS BE WORN ON FEDERAL PROPERTY.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE A CORONAVIRUS CZAR, BASICALLY, THAT REPORTS TO HIM THAT IS GOING TO OVERSEE FEDERAL EFFORTS.

AND HE IS GOING TO TRY TO HAVE A MORE OF A FEDERAL ROLE IN GETTING THESE VACCINES DISTRIBUTED.

IT DOES SET UP, OF COURSE, THE POSSIBILITY THEN IN A LOT OF STATES RUN BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, THEY MAY RESIST.

>>ON THE ECONOMY, OF COURSE, THE SITUATION IS TOUGH IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION A GREATER EMPHASIS ON PANDEMIC MITIGATION WHEN IT COMES TO A STRATEGY FOR REVIVING THE ECONOMY?

>>YES, IT IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

AND WE HAVE SEEN AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL UP TO NOW, AT LEAST IN MANY STATES LIKE FLORIDA, WHERE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS HAVE BASICALLY SAID, "WE ARE GOING TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY.

YES, WE KNOW THE CORONAVIRUS IS THERE, BUT THE DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY IS JUST AS BAD, PARTICULARLY IN THE LONGER RUN.

AND SO WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK."

>>AND WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, IT SEEMS AS IF THEY WILL SAY, "HEY, A KEY PART OF GETTING THE ECONOMY GOING IS GOING TO BE GETTING THE CORONAVIRUS UNDER CONTROL."

WE'VE SEEN THIS HUGE SPIKE IN CASES OVER THE LAST, SAY SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS.

THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINES AT BEST IS GOING OKAY.

IT'S NOT GOING GREAT.

AND SO WE NEED TO GET THAT ROLLOUT GOING MUCH BETTER, AND WE NEED TO GET THIS CORONAVIRUS SURGE UNDER CONTROL.

AND THAT WILL THEN LEAD TO A MUCH STRONGER ECONOMY IN THE LONG RUN.

>>PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS CALLED FOR A MINIMUM WAGE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

OF COURSE, FLORIDA VOTERS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED A PHASED IN MINIMUM WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO DO AWAY WITH THE TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH OF COURSE COULD HAVE A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, RIGHT?

>>WELL, IT COULD, YES.

AND FLORIDA VOTERS SPOKE IN THE LAST ELECTION AND SAID THAT THEY DID WANT TO PHASE IN A $15 MINIMUM WAGE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS HERE IN FLORIDA, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT IN FLORIDA, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

BUT FOR DEMOCRATS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY CONSIDER A LIVING WAGE FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR SOME YEARS.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE CALLS FOR UNITY AND TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY THAT WE EXPECT ON THE INAUGURAL SPEECH, SORT OF COME CRASHING INTO THE SHORE WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL POLICIES WHERE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS.

>>ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S BREAK IT ALL DOWN.

DARALENE, THE PRESIDENT SAID IN HIS ADDRESS, "THE DREAM OF JUSTICE WILL BE DEFERRED NO LONGER."

I MEAN, GIVEN THE STORIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN COVERING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM THE SPEECH?

>>STEVE, PRESIDENT BIDEN, IT WAS CLEAR TO ME HE WAS TRYING TO FOCUS ON UNITING IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND I FOUND IT VERY STRIKING THAT HE SPOKE MORE THAN ONCE DIRECTLY EVEN TO THOSE WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM, WHICH SHOWS JUST HOW IMPORTANT HE SEES IT TO GET SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ON BOARD WITH THIS UNIFICATION THAT HE'S WORKING TOWARD.

IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH HE KNOWS THAT HE NEEDS TO CHANGE THE MINDS AND THE HEARTS OF SO MANY IN THIS COUNTRY JUST TO REALLY MOVE FORWARD TOWARD ANY SORT OF UNITY.

AND THE CORE OF HIS SPEECH WASN'T REALLY ABOUT BEING A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT IN THIS MOMENT.

IT SEEMED TO ME THAT HE REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON US AS A COUNTRY, AS HUMAN BEINGS, GETTING PAST THOSE WHO MAY NAIVELY THINK THAT SO MUCH IN THIS COUNTRY HAS REALLY CHANGED, THINGS LIKE RACISM, THINGS LIKE INJUSTICE THAT WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THAT WE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT IN THE LAST YEAR.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ALSO STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME WHEN HE SPOKE TO HIS SUPPORTERS, PERHAPS THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN UP ON PROGRESS IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THEY HAVE SEEN SO MUCH HATE AND SO MUCH INJUSTICE.

>>YEAH.

BRENDAN, LET'S TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE REACTION OF FLORIDA'S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

SENATOR RICK SCOTT, I UNDERSTAND, ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION, BUT SENATOR RUBIO DID NOT.

WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR REASONS?

>>WELL, RICK SCOTT SAID THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO BE THERE.

NOT ONLY WAS IT TRADITION, BUT IT WAS THIS SIGN OF SUPPORT IN SYMBOLIC GESTURE IN THIS PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER.

SO SCOTT WAS IN ATTENDANCE.

SENATOR RUBIO TWEETED THAT HE WAS IN DC, BUT HE WOULD NOT BE ATTENDING THE INAUGURATION BECAUSE HE WAS BUSY DEALING WITH SOME OBJECTIONS TO BIDEN'S DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL, OR I'M SORRY, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE THAT WAS BEFORE SENATE CONFIRMATION.

AND HE SAID HE WANTED TO DEAL WITH THAT BECAUSE THIS WAS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT POST THAT NEEDED TO GET DONE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

AND THAT APPOINTEE DID GET PASSED A SENATE CONFIRMATION THIS WEEK AS WELL.

SO A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE UP THERE.

>>YEAH.

AND JUST TO REMIND YOU, YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.

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

WELL, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT NOW IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DESCRIBED THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AS A DISMAL FAILURE AS CORONAVIRUS CASES IN OUR STATE CONTINUE TO STACK UP AND THE DEATH TOLL TOPS 400,000 NATIONWIDE.

AS MORE VACCINATION SITES OPEN UP, INCLUDING AT ADDITIONAL PUBLIX STORES, GOVERNOR DESANTIS NOW SAYS EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE HAS AT LEAST ONE LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET A SHOT.

BUT EVEN AS ACCESS IMPROVES, THE WHITE HOUSE IS WARNING FLORIDA IS EXPERIENCING A FULL COVID-19 RESURGENCE.

IN ITS MOST RECENT REPORT, THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE SAYS WITHOUT UNIFORM IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE FACE MASKING, TWO OR THREE PLY AND WELL-FITTING, AND STRICT PHYSICAL DISTANCING EPIDEMICS COULD QUICKLY WORSEN AS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE VARIANTS SPREAD AND BECOME PREDOMINANT.

THE CDC NOW SAYS FLORIDA LEADS THE NATION IN DETECTED CASES OF THE NEW HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE UK VARIANTS.

BUT THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER, GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS LIMITED THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO IMPOSE COVID-19 MITIGATION MEASURES.

HE IS INSTEAD FOCUSING ON THE VACCINE ROLLOUT, TARGETING ONLY THOSE 65 AND OLDER, EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN ORANGE COUNTY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WORKING WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GET VACCINES TO TEACHERS 65 AND OLDER.

>>OUR STAFF WILL BE WORKING TO DO A CLOSED POD OF FOUR ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF 65 PLUS.

THAT WILL BE COMING UP VERY SOON.

>>UNIONS HAVE BEEN PRESSING FOR ALL TEACHERS TO BE PRIORITIZED FOR VACCINATION.

SO FAR, THE STATE HAS DECLINED TO CHANGE ITS RULES.

SEVERAL OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING LAKE COUNTY, HAVE MOVED TO GET VACCINES TO OLDER TEACHERS AS WELL.

>>ALL RIGHT, LOTS TO TALK ABOUT DARLENE.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAID THIS WEEK, THAT BIDEN'S PLAN TO USE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FEMA AND THE NATIONAL GUARD TO SET UP VACCINE CLINICS IS "A BIG MISTAKE".

I MEAN, WHY DOES HE SAY THAT?

>>GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS PROBABLY FEARS THAT WHEN AND IF PRESIDENT BIDEN REALLY ROLLS OUT A PLAN FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CONTROL OF THIS PROCESS, THAT THE STATES WILL IN FACT LOSE CONTROL.

SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE WHOLE IDEA AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR THE GREATER GOOD, WHICH BY THE WAY, THE FEDS CONTROL THESE VACCINE SHIPMENTS ANYWAY.

SO I THINK WHAT THE FEAR IS HERE IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE STATES THAT ARE LOSING CONTROL OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

AND SO I THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, IS CREATE A UNIFORM APPROACH TO THIS VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

BECAUSE I MEAN, EVERY DAY WE'RE REPEATING TO OUR REVIEWERS THAT, "HEY, BY THE WAY, DISTRIBUTION IS DIFFERENT IN EVERY COUNTY SO WE'VE POSTED THIS PLETHORA OF INFORMATION SO YOU CAN KNOW HOW IT'S BEING DONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY."

AND SO IT'S REALLY BEEN A MESS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AS IT STANDS NOW, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FEDERAL GUIDELINE TO PASS DOWN TO THE STATE AS TO HOW THIS DISTRIBUTION AND ROLLOUT SHOULD BE WORKING.

>>YEAH, CERTAINLY NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A MUCH MORE CENTRALIZED APPROACH.

BRENDAN, THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS WEEK THAT GETTING THE VACCINE IN FLORIDA NOW MEANS YOU HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF RESIDENCY.

HOW WILL THAT WORK?

>>THIS IS TO COMBAT WITH THE SO-CALLED VACCINE TOURISM, RIGHT?

THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING TO FLORIDA TO GET THEIR VACCINE.

AND MUCH LIKE THE VACCINE ROLLOUT HERE IN THE STATE, IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING AS TO HOW THIS WILL WORK.

SO DESANTIS SAYS YOU'LL HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF RESIDENCY, AT LEAST PART-TIME RESIDENCY HERE IN FLORIDA WHEN YOU GO TO GET YOUR VACCINE.

A LOT OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE KIND OF DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO INTERPRET THAT.

THEY WERE JUST GETTING THE GUIDANCE THIS WEEK ON IT.

SO IT'S STILL UNCLEAR HOW EACH OF THESE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS WILL ROLL OUT IN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES, MUCH TO DARALENE'S POINT THAT EACH OF THE COUNTIES IS KIND OF GOING ON THEIR OWN WAY TO DISTRIBUTE THE VACCINE.

AND IT VARIES DIFFERENTLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>>YEAH.

THE FLORIDA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, JARED MOSKOWITZ, HAS TALKED ABOUT ESTABLISHING A STATEWIDE VACCINATION APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

BUT DARLENE, THERE HASN'T REALLY BEEN A TIMELINE OUTLINED HAS THERE, FOR SETTING THAT UP?

>>NO, THERE HASN'T.

AND JUST GOING BACK TO THAT LAST CONVERSATION, IT REALLY HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE JUST HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, SOME SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE NOW ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE IN SOME DISTRICTS AND SOME AREN'T.

AND SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN A VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION FOR THE COMMUNITY JUST KNOWING WHEN AND WHERE TO GO.

>>AND SO I THINK THAT REALLY THE GOVERNMENT HAS ITSELF TO BLAME WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS "VACCINE TOURISM."

PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING WHERE THEY CAN TO GET WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE IS A LIFE-SAVING VACCINE.

AND YEAH, THE STATE IS TRYING TO WORK TO ALLEVIATE THE STRAIN ON LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES BY WORKING ON THIS STATEWIDE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM NOW, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE STATE IS TRYING TO CLEAN UP WHAT, AS WE SAID, HAS BEEN A VERY BOTCHED ROLLOUT.

I MEAN, THERE WAS NO PLAN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

NO ONE KNEW AND HAD A SENSE OF HOW THIS VACCINE WAS GOING TO BE ROLLED OUT HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND EVEN IN SOME OTHER STATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

SO THEY ARE HOPING THAT THIS STATEWIDE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM WILL HELP IMPROVE THAT AND SORT OF RELIEVE THE BURDEN, SO TO SPEAK, ON LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND GOVERNMENTS.

>>DOES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN PRETTY CHAOTIC UP UNTIL THIS POINT.

VACCINATIONS RAMPED UP AT ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AS WELL THIS WEEK AS MORE VACCINATION SITES COME ONLINE AT PUBLIX AND SO ON.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION, BRENDAN, THAT IT'S BECOMING EASIER TO GET A VACCINE?

OR DOES IT REMAIN DIFFICULT?

>>YEAH, I THINK OUR CONVERSATION JUST SHOWS THAT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR LISTENERS AND OUR VIEWERS AND FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT IT HAS BEEN CONFUSING.

IT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING.

IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.

AND STATE LEADERS, THEY'RE WORKING TO KIND OF ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT BUT IT COMES DOWN TO SUPPLY.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE STATE SURGEON GENERAL IS CALLING FOR THIS WEEK, IS JUST MORE VACCINES.

HE SAYS "WE'LL GET TO YOU, YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT."

BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S GETTING ANY EASIER AND IF THE SUPPLY IS NOT THERE, THEN THERE ISN'T ANYTHING TO DISTRIBUTE.

THE STATE SURGEON GENERAL, SPEAKING WITH THE AP THIS WEEK ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT DISTRIBUTING THESE VACCINES TO THINK ABOUT DISTRIBUTING IT TO THE POPULATIONS THAT HAVE THE MORE VULNERABLE CITIZENS, LIKE FLORIDA.

FLORIDA IS THE THIRD HIGHEST STATE BY POPULATION, BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT WILL NEED THE VACCINE IN THE 65 AND OLDER CAMP.

SO THEY'RE KIND OF CALLING FOR MORE VACCINES TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE DISTRIBUTION ITSELF, BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF IT WORKS.

>>YEAH.

AND OF COURSE, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BEEN ROLLING OUT SEVERAL EXECUTIVE ACTIONS AND DIRECTIVES ON COVID-19 THIS WEEK, AND WE'LL HAVE LOTS MORE ON HOW ALL OF THIS WILL AFFECT YOU IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

AND OF COURSE, UNEMPLOYMENT IN FLORIDA SPIKED AGAIN AT THE START OF 2021 WITH HOSPITALITY, CONTINUING TO BEAR THE BRUNT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SO-CALLED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN LINKS ECONOMIC RECOVERY WITH GETTING THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL.

I ASKED TIM GIULIANI FROM THE ORLANDO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP IF HE AGREES THAT SOLVING OUR REGION'S ECONOMIC WOES DEPENDS ON PANDEMIC MITIGATION.

>>THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM AND SO WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

THE ECONOMY HAS BECOME A SYMPTOM OF THAT AND SO TO BUILD CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, WE'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME WORKING WITH OUR ELECTED LEADERS UNDER REALLY STRONG LEADERSHIP, I THINK, LOCALLY TO GET THE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES IN PLACE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT GOING TO WORK, GOING TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT EVEN IF IT'S OUTSIDE, KEEPING THOSE SMALL RESTAURANTS IN BUSINESS, GOING TO SHOPS.

THERE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TO MAKE THAT A LOT SAFER.

>>YEAH.

DARALENE, FLORIDA'S REALLY TAKEN A HANDS-OFF APPROACH TO THIS PANDEMIC, HASN'T IT?

I MEAN, DOES IT SEEM TO BE AT ODDS, THAT STRATEGY WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLANS, WHICH REALLY FOCUS HEAVILY ON CONTROLLING THE PANDEMIC?

>>YEAH.

THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND REALLY IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS THEY REVEAL MORE ABOUT THEIR MITIGATION PLANS TO TRY TO GET THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

RIGHT NOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ONLY PUSHING THAT MASK MANDATE AS WE KNOW IN THOSE FEDERAL BUILDINGS, BUT I DO WONDER HOW SOON IF AND WHEN HE MAY TRY TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING MORE NATIONALLY IN TERMS OF A MASK MANDATE AND STRICTER RULES ON SAFETY GUIDELINES IN BUSINESSES.

I WAS LISTENING TO A REPORT, I BELIEVE ON NPR THIS WEEK WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT SO MANY EMPLOYERS JUST AREN'T FOLLOWING THE SAFETY GUIDELINES THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN BY THE CDC.

AND YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP ABOUT IT BECAUSE WHAT, WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LOSING THEIR JOBS.

THE ECONOMY IS BAD.

AND SO IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE IF WE DO SEE STRICTER GUIDELINES AND EVEN ENFORCEMENTS AND MANDATES COMING DOWN FROM THIS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>>SOME OF THE OUTBREAKS THAT WE'VE SEEN EVEN HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, JUST IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE COME FROM BUSINESSES AND SOME OF THOSE LARGE GATHERINGS THAT ARE STILL HAPPENING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.

AND I THINK THE FEAR IS THAT AS PEOPLE HEAR MORE ABOUT A VACCINE ROLLOUT, THE VACCINE IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE SORT OF HAVE THIS NAIVE AND FALSE SENSE OF HOPE THAT WE ARE OKAY.

BUT IT REALLY IS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, AND GETTING THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON HOW QUICKLY OUR ECONOMY CONTINUES TO RECOVER.

>>WELL, DEFINITELY SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT ON THIS ISSUE IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

JUST WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT NEXT TIME ON NEWSNIGHT, WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE SHIFTING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN WASHINGTON AND WHAT IT MAY MEAN FOR OUR STATE.

PLUS, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TAKES UP RESIDENCE AT MAR-A-LAGO.

>>THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, LAST MONTH THAT HE AND/OR SOME OF HIS CHILDREN MAY GET MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN FLORIDA POLITICS.

>>PLUS, CONCERNS GROW IN FLORIDA OVER THE NEW AGGRESSIVE COVID-19 VARIANT.

THAT'S NEXT TIME ON NEWSNIGHT, FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 ON WUCF.

AND BE SURE TO HEAD ON OVER TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EVERYTHING YOU HEAR ON TONIGHT'S SHOW.

WE'RE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>OKAY.

FINALLY TONIGHT, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE SPACE COAST.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA WILL BECOME HOME TO THE US SPACE COMMAND.

BREVARD COUNTY HAD BEEN ONE OF THE SIX FINALISTS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

I ASKED DALE KETCHAM FROM THE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY SPACE FLORIDA ABOUT THE DECISION.

>>ALABAMA CERTAINLY PUNCHES WAY ABOVE ITS WEIGHT IN TERMS OF POLITICAL HEFT, BUT HUNTSVILLE ALSO HAS A LOT OF TALENT AND CAPABILITY.

SO WE STILL HAVE OUR HOMEWORK TO DO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, BUT WE'LL LEARN THAT AND FACTOR THAT INTO OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE.

>>DO YOU THINK THERE WAS POLITICS BEHIND THE DECISION?

>>I'VE BEEN DEALING IN THE SPACE BUSINESS NOW FOR MANY, MANY, MANY DECADES AND ALABAMA HAS A LONG HISTORY TO THEIR CREDIT OF USING THE POLITICAL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THEM AS EFFICIENTLY AS ANYONE IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN WITH OUR FRIENDS IN ALABAMA, BUT IT'S ALSO THE CASE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT AND CAPABILITY IN THE HUNTSVILLE AREA, SO I DON'T WANT TO PASS JUDGEMENTS PREMATURELY.

THEY MAY HAVE PUT THE BEST PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE.

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

>>THIS DOES HAVE TO BE A BLOW, RIGHT?

I MEAN, FLORIDA HAD TRIED REALLY HARD TO GET THE US SPACE COMMAND.

>>IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY NICE TO HAVE, BUT IT WAS NEVER VIEWED AS ESSENTIAL.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD ARGUE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN IMMENSELY SUCCESSFUL UP UNTIL NOW.

ALREADY, WE'RE AWARE OF IN THE PIPELINE AND WE'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING NOW FOR QUITE A FEW MONTHS, DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MISSIONS, UNITS AND PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH SPACE FORCE AND THE ENTIRE EXERCISE OF GOING AFTER US SPACE COMMAND REALLY AS A STATE INITIATIVE TO BEGIN WITH, AND THEN FOCUSED ON THE SPACE COAST.

ALL OF THAT REALLY WILL PAY OFF AGAIN IN THE FUTURE IN OUR PURSUIT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'LL GET OUR SHARE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LAWMAKERS FROM OTHER STATES THAT WERE IN THE MIX, I'M THINKING NEW MEXICO, COLORADO AND NEBRASKA ARE CALLING BRENDAN FOR A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE SELECTION PROCESS WITH CLAIMS THAT THIS WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

I MEAN, WHY DO THEY THINK THAT?

>>AS MUCH AS WE LIKE TO THINK WE ARE ON THE FOREFRONT AND THE DOMINANT STATE, WHEN IT COMES TO SPACE FLIGHT, ACTUALLY COLORADO WAS REALLY THE CLEAR FRONT RUNNER FOR HOSTING A SPACE COMMAND.

SO I THINK THIS WAS A BIG SHOCK TO EVERYONE IN THAT DECISION IN THAT COLORADO DID NOT MAKE THE FINAL CUT TO THIS.

WHAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING AND WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE ASKING FOR HERE IS THEY WANT AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW THIS DECISION WAS MADE, RIGHT?

THESE ARE DIFFERENT STATES OFFERING INCENTIVES TO BRING A PART OF THE MILITARY TO THEIR STATE.

SO THEY WANT TO KIND OF SEE WHAT KIND OF BACKDOOR DEALS WERE MADE, WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES WERE MADE.

AND A LOT OF CRITICS ARE JUST CALLING TO TAKE THIS PROCESS OUT OF THAT, JUST HAVE THIS BE A DECISION MADE BY THE PENTAGON WITHOUT ALL OF THESE DEALS BEING MADE.

>>AND OF COURSE, PRESIDENT TRUMP RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

DARALENE, SPACE FLORIDA IS PUTTING A BRAVE FACE ON THIS.

WE HEARD THAT THERE FROM DALE KETCHAM.

NEVERTHELESS, FLORIDA HAD REALLY PUSHED HARD FOR THIS, HADN'T IT?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

AND I SORT OF CHUCKLED A LITTLE BIT WHEN I HEARD DALE KETCHAM IN HIS COMMENTS TALK ABOUT THEY'RE BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE JUST FINE AND KIND OF NODDING TO ALABAMA.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK HARD IN BOOSTING OUR SPACE COAST.

LOOK, OUR SPACE COAST TOOK A BIG HIT MANY YEARS AGO AND SO THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE TO TRY TO BOOST THAT UP.

THERE HAVE BEEN REALLY HARD PUSHES TO SORT OF GET MORE CONTRACTS OVER THERE, MORE WORK OVER THERE.

AND SO THE BRAVE FACE WAS CUTE, BUT CERTAINLY THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE.

>>YEAH.

AND BRENDAN, YOU COVERED THE FAREWELL OF FORMER NASA ADMINISTRATOR, JIM BRIDENSTINE ON WEDNESDAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, HOW DO YOU THINK HIS LEGACY IS GOING TO BE VIEWED ON THE SPACE COAST?

>>HE CAME INTO THIS JOB FACING ENORMOUS CRITICISM FROM DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING OUR OWN THEN SENATOR BILL NELSON WHO SAID THAT HE WAS THE FIRST POLITICIAN TO LEAD NASA.

HE WAS A CONGRESSMAN OUT OF OKLAHOMA.

AND NELSON AND OTHER CRITICS THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD POLITICIZE THE OFFICE, BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT NASA NEEDED OVER THESE THREE YEARS.

HE MANAGED TO NAVIGATE AND IN EVER INCREASINGLY DIVIDED CONGRESS AND WAS ABLE TO GET NASA MORE MONEY, I THINK AT SOME $4 BILLION ADDITIONALLY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS THAT HE WAS IN OFFICE.

AND HE REALLY STEERED NASA IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM AND IT'S NEW MOONSHOT AND EXPEDITING THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.

SO I THINK IN HIS SHORT THREE YEARS, HE'S DONE INCREDIBLE THINGS FOR THE NASA OFFICE.

LIKE I SAID, GOT MORE FUNDING AND ALSO INCREASED THOSE NASA PARTNERSHIPS, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T START UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION, BRIDENSTINE'S NASA LAUNCHED HUMANS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE END OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM FROM US SOIL WITH A COMMERCIAL COMPANY.

AND THAT WILL FOREVER BE HIS LEGACY, IS WHAT HE DID TO GROW THOSE COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS.

>>FOR SURE, AND THAT REALLY DID GROW A LOT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT GOING FORWARD.

BIDEN'S NASA EIGHT MEMBER TRANSITION TEAM INCLUDED FIVE WOMEN.

TELL US ABOUT THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR NOW.

AND COULD NASA HAVE A WOMAN AS ITS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE FIRST TIME?

>>YEAH, SO THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR RIGHT NOW IS STEVE JURCZYK.

HE'S A LONG TIME NASA SENIOR MANAGER.

HE'S AN ENGINEER.

HE RAN NASA'S LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER AND WAS BRIDENSTINE'S NUMBER TWO.

HE'S THE HIGHEST RANKING CIVIL SERVANT THERE NOW AND HE PUT OUT A LETTER TO THE AGENCY THIS WEEK AFTER BRIDENSTINE STEPPED DOWN WHEN BIDEN WAS INAUGURATED.

TALKING ABOUT THE AGENCY'S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE, AND I THOUGHT THESE WERE THREE VERY INTERESTING THINGS FOR NASA TO BE FOCUSING ON.

AND IT DOES APPEAR THAT WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE FIRST FEMALE NASA ADMINISTRATOR.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE DIRECTION THAT THINGS ARE GOING.

OF COURSE, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TIGHT LIPPED ABOUT WHO THOSE CHOICES WILL BE.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED ON THIS ADVISORY PANEL, WE SEE A LOT OF WOMEN AND FORMER ASTRONAUTS AND ENGINEERS ON THIS PANEL.

SO ALL INDICATIONS ARE THERE, BUT REMEMBER IT TOOK ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO GET JIM BRIDENSTINE INSTALLED, SO NASA IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR NEW ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT I WILL ARGUE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POST TO HAVE SOMEONE LEADING.

>>NO DOUBT.

AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH, OF COURSE, FROM BIDEN LEADING UP TO NOW ABOUT WHAT HIS PLANS ARE FOR NASA.

JUST FINALLY, A TEST OF NASA'S DELAYED SLS ROCKET ENDED PREMATURELY THIS WEEK.

WHAT HAPPENED?

AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE ARTEMIS PROJECT AND THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION'S MOON AND MARS GOALS?

>>YEAH.

SO THE TEST WAS TO FIRE THE ROCKETS FOUR MAIN ENGINES FOR UP TO EIGHT MINUTES, SIMULATING WHAT THE LAUNCH WOULD BE FOR ARTEMIS I, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN LATER THIS YEAR FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AN UNCREWED MISSION AROUND THE MOON.

IT ONLY FIRED FOR ABOUT 60 SECONDS, WELL SHORT OF THE MINIMAL TWO MINUTES THAT ENGINEERS WANTED.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RETEST THIS, IF SHIPMENT OF THE BOOSTER WILL BE DELAYED TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.

NASA LEADER SAID IT'S STILL POSSIBLE WE COULD HAVE A MOON MISSION LAUNCHING FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT.

IT'LL BE TOUGH.

>>WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A BIG YEAR ON THE SPACE COAST, NO DOUBT.

AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO DARALENE JONES OF WFTV CHANNEL 9 AND BRENDAN BYRNE OF 90.7 WMFE AND THE HOST OF THE ARE WE THERE YET PODCAST.

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

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