Florida Phoenix

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general. Sen. Chuck Grassley criticized Democratic opposition to Blanche, while Democrats raised concerns about his past handling of the Epstein files and an anti-weaponization fund linked to President Donald Trump. The delay follows a meeting where committee members addressed other business, including judicial nominees and subcommittee roles.

A cyclosporiasis outbreak has surged to over 4,173 confirmed cases across 41 states, with symptoms including severe intestinal issues and 308 hospitalizations. The CDC links 1,644 cases to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico sold by Taylor Farms, while state health departments face challenges tracking the parasite's complex genome.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces opposition from former DOJ officials and an Epstein abuse survivor ahead of a Senate committee vote on his nomination. Critics cite his ties to President Donald Trump, involvement in an IRS settlement, and mishandling of Epstein-related files as disqualifying factors.

Education experts and advocates criticized recent federal student loan changes under the GOP’s tax and spending cut law, warning they will push borrowers to private lenders and disrupt higher education. Rep. Bobby Scott highlighted concerns over Treasury Department taking over loan collections and reduced federal borrowing limits for graduate students.

The U.S. House passed a bill combining restrictions on congressional stock trading and voter ID requirements, with 232-198 votes. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Steil, mandates voter ID for ballot access and prohibits Congress members and their families from certain stock purchases. It faces Senate challenges requiring 60 votes for passage.

The U.S. House GOP passed a budget resolution allocating $95 billion, including $60 billion for military operations in Iran and $13 billion for intelligence agencies, amid partisan debates over funding sources and deficit impacts. House Republicans plan to use reconciliation to advance the package, following similar strategies in prior legislative efforts.

Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) secretly investigated critics of its policies, including opponents of a bear hunt, by accessing their driving records and using highway surveillance cameras to track their movements. The agency's chair, Rodney Barreto, admitted to the practice but dismissed it as routine, despite no criminal investigations being active against the targets.

The Trump administration secured a court victory when the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed rulings that had freed three immigrants without criminal records, supporting its mandatory detention policy. The policy, part of a July 2025 memo, aims for 1 million annual removals but faces legal challenges, with the U.S. Supreme Court likely to rule on its legality.

The Trump administration proposed ending a requirement for employers to report workforce demographics, which the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted 2-1 to advance. The rule would remove annual data submissions on sex, race, and ethnicity for employers with 100 or more workers, with experts warning it could reduce transparency and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.

Cameron Hamilton, previously fired as acting FEMA chief by President Donald Trump, is moving closer to confirmation as the agency's director. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved his nomination, while Hamilton has held roles at LTS, Inc. and the Education Department since his 2025 dismissal.

Florida will require school districts to transfer student disciplinary records to colleges after the Florida State University shootings, aiming to prevent future campus violence. The policy, part of HB 757, mandates sharing records of concerning behavior and psychological evaluations with postsecondary institutions.

A supermajority of U.S. Senate Democrats and independent Senator Angus King requested Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to deploy body cameras to all immigration officers after two fatal shootings in Texas and Maine. The lawmakers cited Congress's $175 billion funding for DHS since 2023 and criticized the department for not prioritizing body-worn camera procurement despite earlier commitments.

Henry Mack was confirmed as Florida's next education commissioner, recommended by Gov. Ron DeSantis and praised by Erika Donalds, a school-choice advocate and wife of GOP gubernatorial frontrunner U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. Mack previously served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor and expressed commitment to academic excellence and collaboration with the state's education leadership.

The U.S. House approved a stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded until Dec. 4, passing it along party lines and sending it to the Senate for revisions. The measure aims to avoid a shutdown before the November midterms but faces opposition from Democrats over funding allocations, including transfers to the Border Patrol.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified that the Iran war has cost $37.5 billion, with warnings of critical shortfalls if Congress does not approve additional funding. Senate Appropriations Committee members debated the need for emergency military spending, with Republican Chair Susan Collins emphasizing urgent requirements and Democrat Patty Murray criticizing the war's impact and opposing further funding.

A nonprofit hospice in Washington partnered with Compassus, a private equity-backed company, leading to operational changes that pressured staff to increase patient visits and falsify documents. Critics warn that such joint ventures may bypass state laws aimed at regulating private equity in healthcare.

James Fishback faced a Leon County hearing to determine his eligibility for the gubernatorial race after admitting to voting and purchasing property in Washington, D.C., which could violate Florida's constitutional requirements. During the hearing, Fishback threatened to imprison the lieutenant governor’s senior adviser and exchanged insults with supporters. The judge delayed ruling on his ballot status.

The union representing transportation security officers criticizes the Trump administration and Tampa International Airport for planning to privatize security operations via TSA Gold+ in 2027. The program would shift security screening and technology management to private contractors, with TSA oversight. Airport officials argue the move supports modernization and operational resilience.

Indiana election officials have canceled or rejected voter registrations for hundreds of immigrant residents under a proof of citizenship law. Charrie Stambaugh, a U.S. citizen for nearly 30 years, had her registration canceled despite voting regularly. The law resulted in 981 existing voter cancellations and 644 rejected registrations, affecting about 62% of 2,602 processed cases.

Tropical Storm Bertha is moving westward from Florida’s Panhandle, bringing potential flash flooding and up to six inches of rainfall. The National Weather Service has issued tropical storm warnings and watches, with the storm expected to gradually weaken by Friday.