Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 8.13.26 — Burnin’ today: Party time, Hinchee, THC, Donalds, Vindman, Rogers & product placement

Your morning scoop of Sunshine State people, policy and politics ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Good Thursday morning. From: Extensive Media Enterprises Where’s the party? It’s that time of year again. Candidates up and down the Primary ballot are making their final pitches to voters, and their campaigns are planning celebratory shindigs, where they hope to celebrate a win but will raise a glass for a hard-fought battle regardless. Election Night: every campaign plans a victory speech and quietly keeps a concession draft nearby. Whether you’re running for dogcatcher or Governor, City Council or Congress, we want to know where your campaign and supporters will celebrate the long road to get to this point. From local haunts to upscale dining destinations, candidates put their unique mark on Election Night parties, and the location says almost as much about a candidate as their messaging. So, what’s it going to be, candidates? Send us the deets: peter@floridapolitics.com. In the meantime, Florida Politics raises a glass to everyone who is leaving it all on the field. ___ 🌦️— Midterm forecast: Political prognosticator Nate Silver is out with his 2026 Midterm Election forecast, giving Democrats an 87% chance of flipping the House and a 57% chance of flipping the Senate. Dig into more, including individual candidate forecasts, here. ___ The UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is turning to a veteran legislative staffer to lead its government affairs efforts in the state Capitol. John Hinchee is joining UF/IFAS as Director of Government Relations after more than a decade working in the state legislative process, most recently in Senate President Ben Albritton’s office. Hinchee served as the go-to adviser for the Wauchula Republican on agricultural issues — a key policy plank for Albritton, who comes from a long line of Florida farmers. John Hinchee trades the Senate suite for UF/IFAS, where agriculture still requires plenty of Capitol cultivation. “John’s relationships in Tallahassee and his expertise in the legislative process will make him an effective advocate for UF/IFAS,” said Scott Angle, UF’s senior vice president of Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of UF/IFAS. “Because of the people he knows, he has instant credibility as he speaks on our behalf. With his experience crafting and advancing legislation, he’ll be a superior strategist and a master of the how-to in advancing our mission.” Beyond Albritton’s office, Hinchee’s resume includes work on grassroots political campaigns and staff roles for multiple lawmakers in the House and Senate. The Umatilla native also brings a background in agriculture and natural resources to the job, having earned bachelor's degrees in environmental science and political science from UF as well as a master's degree in political science from Florida State University. Early in his career, Hinchee worked in the Ocala National Forest with the U.S. Forest Service, an experience UF/IFAS said helped “solidify his appreciation and interest for Florida’s natural resources and environment.” “I consider myself incredibly lucky to have worked with so many amazing people over the years in the Florida Legislature who have taught me how meaningful change is made at the state level,” said Hinchee, who steps into the role Sept. 15. “I am very excited to bring my skills and knowledge to UF/IFAS and am looking forward to working with such a world-class team for the benefit of our state.” ___ A bipartisan push in Congress would bring low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages under a federal regulatory system modeled on the rules governing beer, wine and spirits. U.S. Reps. Beth Van Duyne, a Texas Republican, and Greg Landsman, an Ohio Democrat, introduced the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, drawing immediate support from the Beverage Alcohol Merchants Coalition. Congress wants hemp drinks to play by booze rules — same buzz, more paperwork. The legislation would establish a national framework for hemp beverages, including a three-tier distribution system and a nationwide minimum purchasing age of 21. Products would also be subject to mandatory testing and federal permitting by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The proposal would impose strict limits on THC content while requiring standardized labeling, advertising rules and consumer risk warnings. Hemp-derived beverages would also become subject to federal excise taxes, bringing their treatment closer to traditional alcoholic beverages. BAMCO says the legislation would provide regulatory consistency for a rapidly expanding product category while creating clearer rules for manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The bipartisan measure puts Congress into a growing debate over how hemp-derived intoxicating products should be regulated as THC beverages become increasingly available to consumers nationwide.

Situational awareness   Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet: —@GasBuddyGuy: BREAKING: The national average is now at its highest ever level this late in the calendar year, according to GasBuddy data. Meaning the national average has never been above $4/gal after Aug. 12 in any previous year — ever. Tweet, tweet:

Days until   ‘Lanterns’ premieres on HBO — 3; Primary Election Day — 5; ‘The Dog Stars,’ directed by Ridley Scott, premieres — 15; Florida TaxWatch Government Productivity Awards — 19; NFL regular season kicks off — 27; Republican National Midterm Convention — 27; San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in the first-ever NFL regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia — 28; Yankees host the Mets for the 9/11 anniversary — 29; MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 33; General Election UOCAVA ballot deadline — 37; Tampa Bay Buccaneers home opener against the Cleveland Browns — 38; General Election domestic ballot send window begins — 42; General Election domestic ballot send deadline — 49; ‘Digger,’ with Tom Cruise, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, premieres — 50; General Election voter registration deadline — 53; ‘The Social Network’ sequel, with Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison, premieres — 57; Optional General early voting begins — 67; 'Six Kings Slam' on Netflix — 69; Florida TaxWatch Fiscal Accountability Leadership Summit begins — 69; General Election ballot request deadline — 70; Mandatory General early voting begins — 72; General Election — 82; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 85; ‘Wild Horse Nine’ premieres — 85; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit — 90; 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' starring Johnny Depp premieres — 92; 'Paper Tiger' starring Adam Driver premieres — 92; Joe Biden’s memoir, ‘Promise Me, America’ releases — 96; New legislator training sessions — 96; Senate convenes for general organization and selection of officers — 96; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 99; ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth,’ with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres — 104; ‘Madden’ premieres — 105; Committee Week #1 — 109; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 127; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 127; ‘Dune: Part 3,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres — 127; Committee Week #2 — 144; Committee Week #3 — 151; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas — 165; Committee Week #4 — 172; Grammys — 178; Committee Week #5 — 179; Super Bowl LXI — 185; Committee Week #6 — 186; Opening day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session — 201; Tampa Mayoral Election — 201; ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan premieres — 204; Oscars — 213; Jacksonville First Election — 222; Miami Marlins Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. New York Mets — 224; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. Baltimore Orioles — 224; Democratic Mayors Association 2027 annual summit in Miami begins — 244; Jacksonville General Election — 278; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 296; Citrus Series — Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins — 337; ‘Bluey the Movie’ premieres — 358; ‘Miami Vice’ reboot premieres — 358; Citrus Series — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — 393; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 491; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans — 529; ‘The Batman Part II’ premieres — 554; Oscars — 570; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 652; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 673; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 701; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 817; ‘Black Panther 3’ directed by Ryan Coogler premieres — 855; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa — 893; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,217; College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami — 1,257; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 1,948.

Top story   “Byron Donalds says $80M is the price tag for winning Florida” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Donalds says winning the Governor’s race requires money on a scale few Florida candidates can match. Donalds, who has raised more than $100 million, says a serious contender needs $40 million to $50 million to win a Primary and $80 million to $90 million to prevail in November. Byron Donalds says winning Florida takes $80 million. Statewide name recognition comes with statewide prices. That benchmark separates him sharply from the rest of the field. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is the only Republican rival to clear $10 million between his campaign and political committee, while Paul Renner remains below $7 million and James Fishback has yet to reach $2 million. Likely Democratic nominee David Jolly also remains below $10 million raised, leaving Donalds with a substantial financial advantage heading into the closing days of the Primary and, potentially, the General Election. Donalds argues the price tag reflects Florida’s size and fragmented media environment. Campaigns must reach voters across Miami, Palm Beach, the Panhandle, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa, while also buying space on local television, cable, streaming platforms, and social media. The media mix is changing fast. Younger voters increasingly consume political content through Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and other streaming or social platforms, forcing campaigns to spread advertising dollars across more outlets than in previous cycles. Donalds is already putting that strategy into practice. His operation has committed $20 million to advertising ahead of the Primary and is airing a new spot targeting Jolly over gender-affirming care. The spending underscores a central reality of the 2026 race: statewide visibility now requires increasingly statewide money.

2026   “Donalds says he’ll remove local officials who indulge in ‘sanctuary’ policies” via Mitch Perry of Florida Phoenix — One of the hallmarks of the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis compared to its GOP predecessors has been the removal of locally elected officials from office — or threats to do so — for actions they claim are unlawful. Now, Donalds, positioned to succeed DeSantis in the Governor’s Mansion next year, is promising more of the same. Under a state law passed in 2025, "the Sheriff or the chief correctional officer" operating a county detention facility must enter into 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE. Donalds told the Phoenix over the weekend that Florida is not now and will never be a sanctuary state. "If we have local officials decide that they want to ignore federal immigration law and the laws of the state of Florida and create sanctuaries, they’ll be removed from office, as well," he said following a campaign rally in Tampa. Byron Donalds promises no sanctuary for sanctuary policies — or local officials who embrace them. Happening today — Donalds holds a Get Out the Vote Rally in Wakulla County alongside U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, state Sen. Corey Simon, state Rep. Jason Shoaf, Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power and Wakulla County Commissioner Ralph Thomas. The rally begins at 11 a.m. at El Jalisco Crawfordville Mexican Restaurant, 90 Preston Circle, Crawfordville. “Donalds says ‘5%-7%’ of Congress actively trades stocks, but he’s not among them” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — During an interview with podcaster O’Keefe, Donalds said it was “not true” that he’s “getting rich in office.” People “were saying, ‘Oh, he’s doing nothing but all these stock trades.’ Well, my investments are run by the firm that I worked with. So, I gave them my IRA that has individual stocks. They trade them on my behalf. I don’t call my broker. I don’t initiate any trades, because I think that’s wrong,” Donalds said. He noted that as a securities-licensed fiduciary, he knows the rules and abides by them. Donalds also guessed that “5% to 7%” of members of Congress actively trade, and that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is “the worst.” “Donalds defends Israeli bond investments, but Treasuries now pay more” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Republican gubernatorial hopeful Donalds is defending Florida’s investment in Israeli bonds, arguing they deliver a better return than U.S. Treasuries. The current numbers tell a different story. During a conversation with podcaster James O’Keefe, the Naples Congressman recounted answering a question at a recent rally from a voter who asked whether Florida should divest from Israeli bonds over political controversies and move the money into Treasury bonds. “I said, ‘Well, ma’am, Treasury bonds have a lower yield than Israeli bonds. So, what you’re saying is the retirees in that fund, police officers, teachers, nurses, firefighters … should get a lower rate of return in their retirement?’ Like, that’s what’s happening. But I know it’s a hot-button issue. So, you’ve got to bring facts and reality to the situation.” But Treasury bonds currently offer higher yields. Israel’s 10-year sovereign bonds, which are denominated in shekels, yielded about 3.84% as of Wednesday morning. The American equivalent stood near 4.66% — roughly 0.8 percentage points higher. “Alex Vindman campaign launches closing turnout push ahead of Aug. 18 Primary” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — Retired Army Lt. Col. Vindman is closing out the Primary with a turnout push his campaign says will reach more than 1 million voters in a single weekend. The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate’s campaign announced a closing Get Out the Vote push. It includes daily phone banks targeting voters in all 67 counties and a “weekend of action” Saturday and Sunday, when the campaign wants to hit the 1 million contact mark. More than 5,000 recruited volunteers will knock on doors and rally voters at polling locations, the campaign says. “Our campaign is built by and for the people of Florida,” said Vindman campaign spokesperson Albert Fujii. “Democrats run military veterans as they hope for blue wave in Florida” via Tampa Bay Times Staff — Darren McAuley served 26 years in the Air National Guard with worldwide combat deployments, but it was his work as a doctor at Tampa’s veterans hospital that inspired his run as a Democrat in Tampa Bay's Congressional District 12. Dozens of veterans are running for office in Florida this year as Democrats. VoteVets has endorsed a prominent veteran at the top of Democratic voters’ Primary ballot next week: retired Lt. Col. Vindman, who sacrificed his career in the Army to act as a whistleblower in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial. Vindman is running for U.S. Senate, hoping to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Ashley Moody. "The way the state is headed is deeply troubling. The way this country is heading is deeply troubling," he said. "We need legislators and Senators who are independent-minded.”

More elections   “New poll shows Austin Rogers up 10 in CD 2 with a week to go, Keith Gross underwater” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — Rogers, a Panama City lawyer and former General Counsel to U.S. Sen. Scott, leads the crowded field with 25% support, according to a new co/efficient survey commissioned by Panhandle Patriots PAC, a political committee supporting his campaign. Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power runs second at 15%, followed by Purple Heart Army veteran Luke Murphy at 13%. Gross, the Panama City businessman who began the race as the presumed front-runner, has fallen to 8%, tied with Gulf County Schools Superintendent Jim Norton. Retired law enforcement officer Audie Rowell takes 4%, and retired airline pilot Lee Jones takes 1%. Another 26% of likely Primary voters remain undecided ahead of the Aug. 18 Primary. Austin Rogers is up, Keith Gross is underwater, and plenty of CD 2 voters are still shopping. “Cory Mills hopes Donald Trump boost will overcome ethics headlines in Florida Primary” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — Mills heads into next week’s Republican Primary leaning heavily on Trump’s endorsement as he faces three challengers, ethics scrutiny and weak fundraising. Mills, seeking a third term in CD 7, has less than $70,000 in his campaign account and remains under investigation by the House Ethics Committee into whether he benefited from federal contracts. He has denied wrongdoing amid other allegations and investigations. Challenger Ryan Elijah has consolidated support from several prominent Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, who argue that Mills could put the GOP-held District at risk in November. Democrats are already targeting the seat and backing Bale Dalton. Trump carried the unchanged District by more than 12 points in 2024. “Mills’ lackluster fundraising worries fellow Republicans” via Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel — Mills faces dwindling campaign funds and growing opposition from members of his own party, potentially imperiling his re-election bid with less than a week to go before the Primary. But Mills, who is under investigation by a House Ethics Committee and, reportedly, by the U.S. Department of Justice, still has a big feather in his cap: an endorsement from Trump. And as an incumbent, he has a natural advantage over his Republican and Democratic challengers. Yet some political scientists and polling suggest Mills, whose District includes all of Seminole County and the southern part of Volusia County, could be in trouble. Mills’ most imminent threat is from other Republicans, namely former Fox35 anchor Ryan Elijah. “Mike Beltran sues successfully to stop super PAC from sending computer-manipulated image of him” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Congressional candidate Beltran took a super PAC boosting GOP Primary opponent Kevin Steele to court over political ads with computer-manipulated photos he says mislead voters. Beltran sued Conservative Solutions for America in Hillsborough Circuit Court to stop its political messaging being sent by text or by mail. He asked courts to intervene after the super PAC sent out texts and mailers with a digitally created image of Beltran holding a "Defund the Police" sign and attacking him for casting votes against the state budget when he served in the Florida House in 2024. Circuit Judge Christine Marlewski on Monday issued a restraining order against the ads, citing the integrity of the election and the need to protect voters from deceptive AI-generated political content, and suggested the images in question were a clear violation of the new law. “Ola Hawatmeh stays out of negative ad war crossfire, hopes positive message wins in CD 19” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — As self-funders blast one another in a heated Republican Primary, congressional candidate Hawatmeh has stayed out of the fray. She said that, as she greeted voters at an early voting location, a voter told her he had intended to support former U.S. Rep. Chris Collins but had been turned off by attack ads. Hawatmeh said she won’t go negative in her closing message to voters in Florida’s 19th Congressional District. As Catalina Lauf, Jim Oberweis and Jim Schwartzel spent hundreds of thousands in the final weeks of the race, Hawatmeh spent under $292,000 through July 29 while knocking on an average of 150 doors a day. "Then I looked at the other candidates attacking each other," Hawatmeh recalls him saying. "Then I looked at you, and you're the only one talking about local issues.” Ola Hawatmeh is betting positive politics can survive a Republican Primary attack-ad season. —"CD 25 Republicans go scorched earth as Jared Moskowitz looks past his Primary challenger” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics “María Elvira Salazar seeks to fend off Primary challenge from political newcomer Vincent Arias” via Fabrizio Gowdy of Florida Politics — Republican voters in Florida’s 27th Congressional District are set to decide whether to stick with incumbent U.S. Rep. Salazar or nominate first-time candidate Arias, a lawyer who says the three-term Congresswoman has lost touch with the District. Salazar enters the Primary as the clear favorite and holds a commanding financial advantage. Through June 30, she had amassed nearly $2 million this cycle and spent nearly $1.1 million. She held just under $2.27 million as of June 30, including carryover funds from previous cycles. Arias, a 65-year-old Coconut Grove lawyer making his first run for public office, raised about $35,000, lent his campaign $99,000 and spent about $77,000 through June 30.

Even more elections   “Race to replace Alex Andrade is between a Blue Angel and paratrooper” via Jim Little of the Pensacola News Journal — Pensacola-area Republicans will choose between two military veterans as their nominee in the race to succeed Andrade in HD 2. The two candidates vying for the party’s nomination are Jon Fay and Trei McMullen. Fay is a retired Navy flight officer and was the executive officer of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. McMullen is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and finished his military career in special forces as an Army paratrooper in the 7th Special Forces Group at Eglin Air Force Base. Both candidates in the race are pitching themselves as conservative Republicans. Fay, who has the backing of the traditional Republican donors, largely approves of the approach Florida’s Republican leaders have taken in Tallahassee, but he acknowledges there’s been too much pre-emption of local governments by the state. Jon Fay and Trei McMullen bring military résumés to a Primary where the next mission is Tallahassee. “Bernie Sanders-aligned group endorses Antione Fields in crowded HD 21 Primary” via Fabrizio Gowdy of Florida Politics — National progressive organization Our Revolution has thrown its support behind political organizer Fields in the competitive all-Democratic race for House District 21. Our Revolution was founded by U.S. Sen. Sanders as a continuation of his 2016 Presidential campaign, aimed at advancing the priorities he championed during his run. The group’s endorsement cited Fields’ past advocacy for voting rights, his pledge to reject corporate PAC and lobbyist money, and his work to protect springs, curb development and oppose AI data centers. "Florida House District 21 deserves a representative who will fight for working people, protect our democracy, and stand up to entrenched interests," Our Revolution said in its endorsement. "Antione Fields has spent his career doing exactly that, and he'll bring those same values to the state Capitol in Tallahassee.” “JJ Grow sets the pace in HD 23 Republican Primary” via Mike Wright of Florida Politics — Grow, an Inverness Republican, is far ahead financially of fellow GOP challenger Tod Cloud heading into Tuesday’s Primary for House District 23. Grow also has a host of endorsements, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, police and fire unions, Citrus County Sheriff Dave Vincent, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and the Florida Medical Association PAC. Grow is a businessman with an agriculture degree from the University of Florida. Grow won the open seat in 2024 with 74% of the vote over Democrat Judith Vowels, and he sits on the Health and Human Services Committee in his first term. Speaker-designate Sam Garrison said, "The king of Citrus County, that's what we call him. This is our guy. He's going to be a leader, not just when I’m Speaker, but long after that.” “Kelly Ann Walker committee accuses Jennifer Winkler of offering ex-husband ‘hush money’ totaling $150K” via Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics — The Republican Primary for HD 74 took a deeply personal turn as a political committee supporting Walker accused rival Winkler of offering her ex-husband $150,000 and a vehicle to keep quiet as she campaigns for office. Friends of Kelly Ann Walker sent voters a text declaring that “Winkler offers hush money to ex-husband” and accusing Winkler of trying to “BRIBE” him. The message included a screenshot claiming to show texts from Winkler — which the Walker PC said were sent to her ex-husband — outlining three $50,000 payments tied to milestones in her campaign. “Stick it out ‘til Primary, walk away with money. Go now, end up with nothing,” one purported text message reads. Another lays out what it calls a “deal,” saying the recipient would receive $50,000 if Winkler made it to the August Primary “without incident,” another $50,000 if she advanced to the November General Election and another $50,000 if she wins the race. “Meat and greet: Meg Weinberger adds barbecue to the campaign menu” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — The Palm Beach Gardens Republican will hold a pair of meet-and-greets at Park Avenue BBQ Grille locations this month — Friday, Aug. 28, at the West Palm Beach restaurant, 2215 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., and Monday, Aug. 31, in Jupiter at 6775 W. Indiantown Road. Both run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The campaign is billing the events as a chance to “meet Meg, hear about the issues impacting our community, ask questions, and learn how you can get involved.” RSVPs go to Lisa@megforflorida.com. Weinberger, a nonprofit executive and animal welfare advocate, is seeking a second term in House District 94, which covers Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter Farms and Royal Palm Beach. “Four Republicans compete to defend HD 100, the only GOP-held House seat in Broward County” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — The only Republican-held House seat entirely inside Broward County is open for the first time in eight years, and four men are competing for the right to defend the GOP’s foothold in the District. Lawyer and Army Reserve captain Yoni Anijar, insurance executive Raul Gallon, pediatric plastic surgeon Eric “Doc” Stelnicki and former Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Mayor Chris Vincent are competing in the Aug. 18 Republican Primary for HD 100. All hope to succeed term-limited Lighthouse Point Rep. Chip LaMarca, who has held the seat since 2018 and won re-election two years ago with 57.4% of the vote. HD 100 traces the Broward coastline from southern Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line. The winner of the GOP Primary will face Democrat Michael Ferguson in the Nov. 3 General Election. Save the dates: and

Statewide   “James Uthmeier announces 116 people arrested in connection with human trafficking” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Uthmeier detailed law enforcement investigations in the Hillsborough County area that ended with the arrest of 116 people suspected of engaging in human trafficking. While there are plenty of charges against those arrested, Uthmeier said the investigation called "Operation Relentless Summer" is ongoing and there may be additional suspects. Five people believed to be victims of sex trafficking were recovered and have been placed in support services. "Thanks to the outstanding work of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, 116 of these criminals are behind bars, five victims have been rescued, and one trafficker is facing three life sentences," Uthmeier said. A foreign national man ended up being a key arrest in the investigation. James Uthmeier touts 116 arrests while Operation Relentless Summer lives up to its name. “'Dereliction of duty': Daniel Perez's vax reversal riles Ron DeSantis” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Perez may have moved on from being House Speaker, but DeSantis hasn't forgotten how the Miami Republican and current Ambassador to Brazil thwarted a priority during not just a regular Legislative Session but a Special as well. "The FL Senate passed a transformational medical freedom bill that voters had been asking for, but Republicans in the Florida House couldn't even be bothered to vote on it. A dereliction of duty and a slap in the face of the voters who expected better," DeSantis posted to social media Wednesday, after Perez hailed Trump for an Executive Order establishing "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations." The EO reduces the number of mandatory vaccinations from 18 to 11. DeSantis immediately attacked the House on X. “Lawsuit claims Florida sex offender registry is unconstitutional” via Curt Anderson of USA Today Network–Florida — A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging the Florida system of requiring convicted sex offenders to register with the government, saying it imposes unconstitutional restrictions and unjust punishment. The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 11 in federal court in Tallahassee, names as defendants the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and 50 counties and municipalities that enforce the registry rules. It was filed by the Florida Action Committee, a nonprofit advocacy group for registrants, which says about 90,000 Floridians are covered. “The cumulative effect of residency restrictions, presence restrictions, travel restrictions, reporting requirements, speech limitations, and local ordinances has created a system that functions as perpetual punishment rather than civil regulation,” FAC said in a statement.

D.C. matters   “Trump says Karoline Leavitt resigning as White House Press Secretary” via Dan Mangan of CNBC — White House Press Secretary Leavitt will leave that post by the end of August, Trump said on Wednesday. Leavitt's departure was announced less than a month after she returned to the White House from maternity leave following the birth of her daughter on May 1. Leavitt, 28, is resigning "so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!" Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing her planned departure. In a post on X on Wednesday, Leavitt said, "Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least.” Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House podium for more time with family. “Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent took decoy Air Force One, Pete Hegseth flew on secret flight with Trump” via Jennifer Jacobs of CBS News — Secretary of State Rubio and Treasury Secretary Bessent were on a decoy flight last month when Trump secretly took a different plane from the publicly identified Air Force One aircraft from the NATO summit, according to sources familiar with the situation. Defense Secretary Hegseth was on the secret flight with Trump out of Turkey. White House aides Natalie Harp, Walt Nauta and Dan Scavino were also on the catering truck and the flight with Trump. Rubio and Bessent, who separated and maintained the line of succession, were aware that the President was on another, secret plane. Several other White House aides were on the decoy flight, including Stephen Miller, Will Scharf, Steven Cheung, Mike Needham, Ross Worthington and Monica Crowley. While the plane the President is traveling on is supposed to be identified as Air Force One, the decoy flight was publicly identified as Air Force One. “CIA had 'low confidence' in Iranian threat before Trump switched planes in Turkey” via Warren P. Strobel, John Hudson and Dan Lamothe of The Washington Post — U.S. intelligence officials were skeptical of an Iranian assassination threat against Trump that was relayed by Israel and prompted an extraordinary clandestine maneuver that saw him secretly fly out of Turkey in an alternate military aircraft, current and former U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence said. The assassination threat was relayed by the Israeli government to the CIA, where analysts did not view the intelligence as compelling and conveyed that skepticism to Trump administration officials, one of the officials said. Another official called the reports of threats against Trump’s life "Israeli-derived, not U.S.-generated, and viewed as low confidence." But he secretly left that aircraft and was shuttled in an airport catering truck to a third plane, an Air Force C-32A, that flew him and a few key aides to Britain. “The White House is going to expand its AI policy” via Hugo Lowell of WIRED — The White House announced this month that it had developed an AI framework, where the most powerful models created by U.S. labs would be tested for safety by the federal government before they could be released publicly. The administration has not made the framework public and reportedly has no plans to do so. The AI framework currently deals only with so-called closed models developed by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI. But the framework is expected to cover open models in the coming months, a White House official tells Inner Loop. In short, as soon as open models reach the same “frontier” capabilities as Anthropic’s Mythos-class models and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6, they will be added to the framework and subject to prerelease testing, the White House official says. “Inside Trump’s college sports lobbying push” via Burgess Everett and Shelby Talcott of Semafor — Trump has a new legislative obsession: College sports. Trump is getting closely involved in efforts to pass the Senate's bipartisan college sports bill. But his latest effort is bigger than the athletic focus that helped him appeal to younger voters in 2024 — it’s a legacy play that would put his stamp on the multibillion-dollar college sports economy and boost a long-ago rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. He's spent the last week whipping Senators to support it and even enlisted former Alabama football coach Nick Saban to dial up undecided lawmakers. "Like millions of sports fans, Trump knows that college sports are driven by chaos. He sees the Protect College Sports Act as the only viable solution, or else we'll lose dozens of programs and thousands of scholarships, particularly in women's sports," Cruz said on Tuesday.

Local: S. FL   “In Broward School Board race to see who's the better Dem, Sharry Kimmel is a wolf in sheep's clothing” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — Broward County School Board races are nonpartisan, meaning candidates' political affiliations won’t appear on the ballot. Based on the information that has been piling up over the course of the race, Sharry Kimmel isn't winning it. But Kimmel changed her voter registration to Democrat just 10 days before she qualified for the School Board race. Not a single Black leader has endorsed Kimmel. "I’m a loving, wonderful person who likes and has nothing but love for everybody. I like all the Democratic posts. I like whatever posts come on my feed," Kimmel previously told Florida Politics. "I probably didn’t even read it. I just go through and like, like, like, like, like — probably like, you know, 100 things a day. I don't analyze everything. It sounds like you have, but I haven't.” Sharry Kimmel likes plenty of Democratic posts; voters get to decide whether they like her. “Miami DSA voter guide backs Judge Mavel Ruiz for re-election” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — The socialists and the police unions have picked opposite corners in one of Miami-Dade's most watched judicial races. The Miami-Dade chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is recommending Judge Ruiz for re-election to the 11th Circuit Court, Group 67, in its 2026 Primary voter guide. The chapter's priorities include housing for all, healthcare as a human right, free education from pre-K through college, reproductive freedom and an end to mass incarceration. On the bench since 2015, she drew national attention last year when she temporarily blocked the transfer of Downtown Miami land for Trump’s presidential library, and the guide notes her endorsements from the League of Prosecutors, SAVE PAC and the Miami Herald. "For her track record and contrast with her opponent, we recommend Mavel Ruiz," the chapter writes. “Candidate conspired to take down Miami judge over Trump ruling, suit alleges” via Grethal Aguila of the Miami Herald — A Miami-Dade judge is accusing her challenger of conspiring with politically connected individuals to send out text messages that attack her partiality as a judge — and falsely state she was a communist who hates the United States, according to a recently filed lawsuit. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Ruiz alleges in the filing that the internet attacks and text messages included defamatory statements — and were part of a “civil conspiracy” — to defame Ruiz and “improperly and unlawfully influence the outcome” of the Aug. 18 election. Ruiz, 65, says her opponent, Destiny Alvarez, a Coral Gables lawyer who was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2020, collaborated with others on the coordinated attack campaign. “West Palm Mayor wouldn’t trim city budget. Now his Office faces cuts” via Andrew Marra of the Palm Beach Post — The Palm Beach City Commission agreed at a budget workshop to lower the city’s property tax by about half a percent and trim about $1 million from the city’s spending plan for next year. Nearly all the cuts will come out of Mayor Keith James’ office budget, primarily by reducing the number of staff. Under the plan, the city would not replace Deputy City Administrator Armando Fana, who is stepping down this Summer. And two other unnamed office employees would work for only half of the budget year, departing in March when James’ term ends.

Local: C. FL   “Experience matters in Orange clerk of court race” via the Orlando Sentinel editorial board — Roberta Walton Johnson is the stronger choice to succeed outgoing Orange County Clerk of Court Tiffany Moore Russell, bringing experience and a record of helping modernize an office responsible for more than 109 million records and $107 million in annual collections. As Moore Russell’s General Counsel, Walton Johnson helped expand legal self-help services and payment plans and wants to put more records online while protecting sensitive information. Opponent Rick Singh, a former Orange County property appraiser, brings name recognition and operational ideas but left office amid lawsuits alleging misuse of taxpayer resources and records. Walton Johnson has her own past — a 30-year-old bank fraud conviction followed by cooperation with prosecutors, clemency and a legal career. Experience and accomplishment give her the edge. Roberta Walton Johnson brings courtroom experience — and a second-act story — to Orange County’s clerk race. “Five vie for open Osceola Commission seat, with growth key issue” via Sara-James Ranta of the Orlando Sentinel — Osceola County’s rapid growth in the past decade has left one question hanging over the race for the District 4 seat on its County Commission: How hard to hit the brakes on new growth? Five candidates, three Democrats and two Republicans, are running to replace Cheryl Grieb, the three-term Democrat who has held the seat — covering parts of Kissimmee and St. Cloud — for nearly 12 years. Mary Downey, 44, is the founder and CEO of Hope Partnership, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing and homelessness, and the Orlando Sentinel’s 2019 Central Floridian of the Year. "What is going to be the consequences in the meantime for that community? Does it mean that their wait time at a red light used to be five minutes and now it’s 25 minutes because there's so much traffic?" she said.

Local: TB   “Ken Welch bled support, so now he's banking it from leaders who want to take the Rays” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — On Wednesday, St. Pete Mayor Welch, who faces a possible pink slip from voters next week, proudly announced support from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who Welch described in his post as "a great colleague." Demings is part of a leadership team quietly attempting to woo the Tampa Bay, er, Orlando Rays to Central Florida, a theft from St. Petersburg that costs a hell of a lot more than a hastily thrown-together turkey sandwich. Welch touted support from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor all the way back in April, at the height of stadium negotiations for St. Pete's Major League Baseball team to pack up its Tropicana Field digs to head across the Bay. One of them, City Council member Brandi Gabbard, climbed into the ring against him. Ken Welch collects endorsements while St. Pete voters decide whether to extend his stay at City Hall. —"Dave Eggers leans on 23 years of name recognition as he faces Primary challenger” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics “Three Pinellas School Board races on the ballot are nonpartisan, but there are plenty of partisan fingerprints” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Three Pinellas County School Board races will be on Tuesday’s ballot. Of those, two races will be decided Tuesday, with another possibly heading to a runoff in the November General Election. Incumbents Lisa Cane (District 2 countywide) and Dawn Peters (District 3 countywide) are facing challenges, while the District 6 race is open after incumbent Stephanie Meyer announced in January that she would not seek re-election. Cane faces Nancy Velardi, and the race will be decided in the Primary since there are only two candidates. Peters faces two challengers — Curtis Campogni and Dawn Douglas. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to the General Election.

Local: N. FL   “DeSantis backs Pensacola's Birdon project with $9 million” via Jim Little of the Pensacola News Journal — Pensacola is working to find funding to bring the Australian shipbuilding company and a 400,000-square-foot shipbuilding facility to the Port of Pensacola. The city is in final talks for a $76 million grant paid for with BP oil spill settlement funds through Triumph Gulf Coast. The new facility will cost an estimated $275 million, with Birdon itself expected to contribute $152 million of that cost. The city had previously said the remaining funds would be $76 million from Triumph Gulf Coast, $14 million from the Florida Job Growth Fund, and $33 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce. DeSantis announced the Florida Job Growth Fund would back the project at $9 million, and despite the amount being $5 million less than the city had hoped for, Reeves said the Aug. 12 announcement marked a new "clear era of growth" for the Port of Pensacola. Ron DeSantis puts $9 million behind Pensacola’s Birdon project, giving the shipbuilding pitch serious ballast. “Jacksonville City Council’s in-house lawyer raises questions about expanding role” via Molly Farrar of The Florida Tribune — Jason Teal, Jacksonville City Council’s secretary and legislative counsel, has emerged as an influential legal voice whose expanding role is drawing scrutiny inside City Hall. Teal has challenged General Counsel Michael Fackler’s legal findings, aggressively questioned JEA officials and recently addressed the Jacksonville Aviation Authority despite acknowledging the appearance fell outside his Council responsibilities. Former Mayor John Delaney called Teal’s actions “pushing the envelope,” while former Council President Bill Gulliford criticized his warning that Aviation Board members could face personal or criminal liability. Teal also became involved in a public-records dispute over former Council President Kevin Carrico’s communications. Teal maintains that his experience as a former General Counsel makes him particularly suited to protect Jacksonville’s consolidated government. “Met Park Marina reopens for boaters after multimillion-dollar rebuild” via David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union — Met Park Marina reopened three years after closing in 2023 for a complete rebuild of the marina. As before, all 78 slips are open to reservations by the public. Mayor Donna Deegan called it another piece in making the downtown riverfront "Jacksonville's front porch." "We are, of course, a city surrounded by water — our gorgeous ocean, our beautiful river and all the tributaries around it — and we want to take full advantage of that," Deegan said. The opening marks the latest completed project in the area where Jaguars owner Shad Khan is building the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences. In a development agreement with the city, his family's development company also built the marina, a marina support building where boaters can purchase supplies, and an event lawn for outdoor activities. “Leon County Schools may sell, consolidate administrative buildings” via Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat — The wheels are turning on plans for Leon County Schools to sell off its administrative buildings – with an ultimate goal of consolidating divisions and facilities under one roof. During an Aug. 11 Board meeting, members unanimously voted for LCS Superintendent Rocky Hanna to prepare a financial analysis by the end of December for the potential sale of four School District building properties. The report will also outline the consolidation of all personnel currently housed in the facilities, either through the purchase or a long-term lease of an existing property. The buildings that may hit the market include the School District’s Administration East and West complexes on West Pensacola Street, the Aquilina Howell Center — where Board meetings are held every two weeks — also located on West Pensacola Street, and the historic Bloxham building. “One Florida college stands out in Forbes' new HBCU rankings” via Samantha Neely and Tarah Jean of USA Today Network-Florida — FAMU has been recognized by Forbes as the second-best public HBCU in the nation this year, which places it behind North Carolina A&T State University in that category. Founded in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students to train teachers, FAMU is the only public HBCU in Florida and one of the largest in the country. “We are honored that Forbes has recognized Florida A&M University as the No. 2 public institution on its inaugural list of America’s Top HBCUs,” FAMU President Marva Johnson said in a statement. “This ranking affirms what our students and families already know: FAMU delivers a world-class education at exceptional value.”

Local: SW. FL   “Jada Langford Fleming challenged by India Palencia for Lee County School Board District 6 seat” via Nathan Mayberg of Fort Myers Beach Talk — District 6, which encompasses all districts in Lee County, will pit incumbent Fleming against challenger Palencia. The race features two educators seeking the $54,000 position on the School Board. Langford Fleming is seeking her second term on the School Board in a year when the District is facing some of the toughest financial strains in its history. Palencia is challenging the School Board's management of the District's finances, whose superintendent disclosed earlier this year that the District was in the red by more than $90 million. "I just didn’t approve of the direction of the School District," Langford Fleming said of her decision to leave teaching. "We had topics of CRT (critical race theory) in the curriculum. My moral compass didn’t align with that," she said. Jada Langford Fleming and India Palencia face off countywide, with Lee County schools on the ballot. “Fort Myers weighs cuts to close $9.2M budget gap” via Evan Williams of Gulfshore Business — Fort Myers City Council is considering a comprehensive list of cuts to help close next year's $9.2 million budget gap, from a citywide hiring freeze to eliminating signature programs, such as The Edison Awards and arts and culture grants. City staff identified about $6.8 million in cuts for fiscal year 2026-27, split among services, programs and vacant positions that could be left unfilled. Finance Director Christine Tenney said general fund revenue is expected to rise just 0.2% to $183.6 million while expenses climb 5.3% to $192.8 million. "Really take a hard look at them and see where we might be able to save some," Mayor Kevin Anderson advised Council and staff. "It's a tough year, and we have to make tough decisions.” “84-year-old Fort Myers man battles FEMA alone after Hurricane Ian denial” via Ryan Kruger of WINK News — A Fort Myers man who says he lost everything in Hurricane Ian is still fighting with FEMA nearly four years after the storm. Donald Jones sued the federal government after being repeatedly denied assistance. FEMA gave out more than $10 billion after Hurricane Ian decimated parts of Southwest Florida. "There was about three feet of water, so I said, 'It's time for me to get out of here,'" said Jones, who was staying in a hotel downtown during the storm. With no money to hire an attorney, Jones sued the federal government himself and lost. "I’m broke. At my senior age, this is the worst time. If I was younger, I could start something else," Jones said.

Top opinion   “Only cowards smear a gay candidate with HIV lies in Miami’s Congressional Primary” via the Miami Herald editorial board — Anonymous text messages targeting Shevrin Jones have brought an ugly combination of false medical claims and anti-gay stereotypes into the closing days of the Democratic Primary for Florida’s 24th Congressional District. The messages falsely claim that Jones, who is openly gay, has HIV. They were designed to look like communications from Equality Florida, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization that endorsed Jones. Jones does not have HIV, and Equality Florida says it had nothing to do with the texts. Whoever sent them hid behind someone else’s identity while attempting to exploit Jones’ sexuality and revive the stigma historically associated with HIV and AIDS. Equality Florida blamed a “shady, dark money group” supporting one of Jones’ opponents, though the sender remains unidentified. This isn’t the first time Jones has faced such tactics. A similar smear surfaced in 2022 after he discussed being prevented from donating plasma under federal restrictions that then affected gay and bisexual men. The latest attack comes as seven Democrats compete to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson. Jones and fellow openly gay candidate Kendrick Meek Jr. were also targeted by another deceptive text appearing to come from “Equity Florida,” a name resembling Equality Florida. Political campaigns can get rough, particularly in crowded Primaries. But fabricating a candidate’s medical condition, exploiting his sexuality and disguising the source crosses a different line. Voters deserve arguments about qualifications and issues, not anonymous misinformation designed to activate prejudice.

More opinions   “Florida lets private schools use faith to discriminate but not protect public health” via Scott Maxwell of Orlando Sentinel — Two weeks ago, Uthmeier sent a letter to the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops that threatened to make their schools ineligible for taxpayer-funded vouchers if they require vaccinations. Basically, Uthmeier says that if a parent claims vaccines violate their religious beliefs — at a school that has said vaccines are clearly part of their religious beliefs — the parent’s version of faith should win. Because remember: Florida does allow voucher-supported religious schools to use their faith as a rationale to refuse to admit LGBTQ students and even students who have same-sex parents. What a twisted version of faith — one that makes it clear Uthmeier and other GOP leaders aren’t really committed to respecting these schools' religious values or freedoms, except when they mirror the politicians' ideology. “Libya could become Trump’s next strategic success” via Abdullah Al Lafi for Florida Politics — Trump has made clear that his approach to foreign policy is rooted in practical outcomes, shared responsibility and partnerships built on mutual interests. Libya is a telling example of how those principles might play out on the ground. By helping Libya build stronger institutions, attract investment and modernize its infrastructure, the United States can support the kind of long-term self-sufficiency that makes for a more stable partner. This is not about ramping up American involvement. It is about engaging in ways that help Libyans build lasting institutions, encourage private-sector growth and connect more closely with their neighbors. The real measure of success is not how much the U.S. spends, but how much Libya can do for itself. “Quiet hurricane season? It only takes one.” via Ruben ‘Butch’ Delgado for Florida Politics — Florida is well into the 2026 hurricane season, with early forecasts predicting a “below-normal” number of named storms. In fact, a new forecast from Colorado State University, a gold-standard research institution, is now predicting even fewer named storms than previously expected. While that’s great news, homeowners should not let their guard down. Some may recall that Hurricane Andrew, the most destructive hurricane ever to hit the Sunshine State, also occurred during a below-normal season. Andrew was a true crisis. And like Hurricane Katrina, Michael, Milton, Helene, and so many others, the hard work of putting homes, businesses, and communities back together continues long after the storm passes.

Instagram of the day

Aloe   “Big brands are becoming Hollywood’s newest studios” via Alex Weprin of The Hollywood Reporter — As Hollywood studios and streamers cut production, major consumer brands are increasingly filling the void by financing and producing entertainment themselves. Companies including Gap, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Toyota, Nike and Procter & Gamble are building in-house studios and recruiting Hollywood talent to create films, series and digital projects designed to reach fragmented audiences. The shift comes as U.S. motion picture and video production employment has fallen 21% over the past decade, and television production remains well below pre-strike levels. Brands are spending anywhere from tens of thousands to more than $50 million on projects, while stars such as Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Martin Scorsese increasingly embrace branded storytelling, once considered potentially damaging to celebrity reputations. Hollywood’s new studio bosses may come with logos, marketing budgets and an eye on the checkout line. “Forbes fired top editor after discovering he received secret $6 million payment” via Benjamin Mullin of The New York Times — Forbes fired chief content officer Randall Lane last month after learning he’d taken roughly $6 million from RJ Shook, founder of Shook Research, the firm Forbes has partnered with since 2016 on its wealth-adviser rankings. The payment reportedly came after Shook sold a majority stake in his company to a private equity firm last August; Lane says he saw it as a personal gift from a friend and didn’t disclose it, which he now calls a serious error in judgment. He was replaced on an interim basis by executive editor Kerry Lauerman. “Ewan McGregor demands Obi-Wan Kenobi return and pressures Disney” via Zack Sharf of Variety — McGregor is putting the pressure on Disney when it comes to playing Obi-Wan Kenobi again. The actor, while on the press tour for his latest movie, “The End of Oak Street,” said that the ball is in Disney’s court regarding his future with the “Star Wars” franchise. “I’m ready whenever they are,” McGregor said. “They just seem to not be ready, but I’m up for it. At the end of the ‘Obi-Wan’ series, I’m walking off into the desert, and I’ve decided to leave. I’ve realized I can’t keep the pressure on Luke. I realized he has to have his own childhood, so I leave him with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. And I wander off … and Qui-Gon’s back. And we go off … but where are we going?” … “The next time we find Obi-Wan Kenobi, he’s Alec Guinness up in the mountains,” the actor continued.

Happy birthday   Best wishes to Erika Donalds, a wonderful wife, mother, and advocate for educational freedom. ___ Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.

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