State of Emergency: Recent Episodes
Peter Schorsch
Jared Moskowitz, Florida’s one-time “master of disaster,” joins forces with Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch, one of the Sunshine State’s leading political commentators, to present a new weekly podcast “State of Emergency.” No subject will be off-limits — including the latest political news and the implications around the state — filtered through the lens of Moskowitz’s deep Florida roots and experience and Schorsch's unmatched access to the state's influencer class.
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, former 'master of disaster' Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch bring back the podcast to discuss Florida's way forward. Sen. Jeff Brandes joins the conversation to discuss the fragility of the property insurance market. Special Guest: Jeff Brandes.
On the new State of Emergency, hosts Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch welcome House Redistricting Committee Chair Tom Leek for insight into the process — and challenges — of drawing new political maps. Among the topics — redistricting done right while keeping cities and counties as whole as possible. The proposed state maps — the Supreme Court still has to sign off on them — have 19 incumbents facing off in redrawn districts, an unforeseen challenge considering not knowing where many lawmakers live. As for congressional maps, Leek breaks news as the House is filing a brief to compel a decision in light of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ own map submission — a relative rarity for the chief executive. Leek’s other Session issues include supporting law enforcement and making Florida one of the most LEO-friendly states. What are the Democrats’ chances in 2022? Kudos to U.S. Senate candidate Val Demings, a tough-as-nails “rock star” and formidable challenger to incumbent Marco Rubio. Excitement mounts as Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is set to open; it’s an innovative and unique hotel experience — with a price tag to match. And the latest on Disney Wish, the new cruise ship delayed by COVID-19, but a maiden voyage is coming soon. Special Guest: Tom Leek.
Joining Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch on a special State of Emergency — the first of 2022 — is House Speaker Chris Sprowls of Palm Harbor (during Session, no less) to discuss Florida’s new major reading initiative to put books in the hands of thousands of children. This ‘”moon shot” reading program aims to promote reading skills of about 80,000 kids and their families. Topics include the recent passing of Jared’s beloved father, prominent Miami lawyer and Democratic fundraiser Michael Moskowitz; the limits of home rule as a “true intersection between local and state governing; a possible name change for Broward County; the role of legislation in people’s everyday lives and how being Florida House Speaker is the “greatest opportunity in American politics.” The next challenge for the podcast: getting Rep. Tom Leek to join in. Special Guest: Chris Sprowls.
Hosts Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch join Florida health care veteran Justin Senior, Chief Executive Officer for the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida for a discussion on how the omicron variant impacted the health care industry during the holidays, and in what way it is a much different challenge than delta, especially on visitations in nursing homes. Justin gives an update on his priorities for the 2022 Legislative Session, which includes possible budget cuts. The talk turns to Florida’s growing attraction for relocation, where other parts of the county give off a ‘post-war’ feel. Jared provides an update on his father, and how it has been a complicated holiday season; he worries about 2022 and agrees with Peter that comedy is ‘getting soft.’
Special Guest: Justin Senior.
Joining Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch on a new State of Emergency is Williston Republican Rep. Joe Harding of Florida House District 22 to discuss being a first-term lawmaker at the final committee week before the Session, as well as Jared’s recent appointment to the Broward County Commission. Among the topics — representing rural Florida’s “horse country,” avoiding partisan traps, being authentic, and how some politicians are different when the cameras are off. Joe talks about his priorities for the Session, updating the state’s investment laws and the process of firearm permits. They all see a need for both sides to talk — despite differences — on how to balance public safety, personal choices, and doing what’s right. The Republican big tent may be getting a little too big and infighting within the Party could backfire in the long run. Special Guest: Joe Harding.
On the new State of Emergency, hosts Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch welcome Sen. Janet Cruz who has represented Senate District 18, covering Tampa and northwest Hillsborough County, since 2018. Among the issues — ways Democrats can move forward in Florida after a shocking loss in the Virginia Governor’s race.
Special Guest: Janet Cruz.
On the new State of Emergency, hosts Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch welcome Sen. Tina Polsky, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. The Boca Raton Democrat made national news this week when she asked newly named state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and his two legislative aides to leave her office after Ladapo flippantly refused to comply with her request to mask up.
Topics include:
— Life in the Twitterverse; Twitter Space hangovers.
— “Cancer sucks.” The fight and the need for more money into research and prevention.
— A new opportunity for Jared?
— Early detection, mammograms and quick treatment can make breast cancer “very curable.”
— Polsky’s newfound platform; preparing for the 2022 Session.
— The Ladapo dust-up brings bipartisan support, some hate mail, and a touch of antisemitism.
— Today’s politics promotes extremism; life imitates Twitter.
— Ron DeSantis’ lack of empathy; doubling down on Ladapo over a “simple request.”
— Politics over compassion, respect and comfort; defying logic, common sense.
— Vaccine mandates are good, but should you lose your job? Mandates are nothing new: No shoes, no shirt, no vax?
— “We’ve gotten stupid.” Political bubbles.
— Conservative Senate President Wilton Simpson a RINO? Weathering the radical fringe.
— Is nice the exception, not the rule?
— Fighting the good fight, being kind and a little more “rachmones.”
— Anti-vaxxers hurt normal childhood vaccinations.
— Pandemic politics getting worse. Corporations on the outs?
— Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist … reefer madness.
— Is DeSantis a juggernaut?
Special Guest: Tina Polsky.
On the new State of Emergency, hosts Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch welcome Rep. Jay Trumbull, the Bay County native who serves the Panhandle’s House District 6. Trumbull will be House Appropriations Chair for the 2022 Legislative Session, which is expected to have the largest state budget in history.
Topics include:
— The challenge of hosting a podcast in a hospital waiting room, as Peter’s wife Michelle awaits surgery.
— No longer funny: When do appropriations lobbyists stop laughing at the chair’s jokes?
— Rebuilding at three years after Hurricane Michael, and the region is coming back better.
— Florida’s whopping $100 billion budget; more growth means more services.
— Discretionary money and the state’s billion-dollar rainy day reserve.
— Unforeseen circumstances (like a pandemic).
— Speaking of COVID-19, Florida’s Medicaid population is growing.
— Contrasting approaches to managing budgets.
— The ins (and outs) of social media.
— Being nice … until budget meetings start.
— Working across the aisle with Democrats (and the impact they have through budgets). Fond memories of the opposing side.
— Eight days of sprinkles!
— Understanding the Panhandle region.
— State of play in Governor’s race: Charlie Crist versus Nikki Fried. Who has traction to take on Ron DeSantis?
— Val Demings fundraising triumph; is Marco Rubio vulnerable?
— Will Demings be a “savior” for Florida Democrats? Which way will voters land?
— The national spotlight heads to Florida. How strong is DeSantis, really?
Special Guest: Jay Trumbull.
On a brand-new State of Emergency, Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch welcome POLITICO senior political reporter Matt Dixon.
Topics include:
— Making podcast magic.
— Matt’s impending marriage/honeymoon (Mazel Tov).
— Happy birthday Disney World! (Don’t mess with the Mouse.)
— Florida Republican Party voter registration; will it overtake the Democratic advantage?
— NPA matter in elections.
— Center-right voters flock to Florida; there’s no “woke bullshit” here.
— Republican areas growing fastest, i.e., The Villages.
— Systemic problems with Florida Dems. Can it be overcome?
— Embracing a “need to win” mentality.
— Dems need compromise, not “swinging for the fences.” Working more to make GOP bills “less bad.”
— Fewer men in college; a good thing? Pros and cons of higher education.
— Work in progress: Matt’s upcoming book on Florida politics.
— Twitter rants, appreciating the hate and being “sorta famous.”
— Rapid-fire “big deal/no-deal” … Sabatini, Taddeo, Ladapo, Sprowls, Lukis, abortion and more.
— Redistricting battle begins in Florida!
Special Guest: Matt Dixon.
On the latest “State of Emergency," Jared Moskowitz and Peter Schorsch welcome Rep. Randy Fine, who is one never to shy away from a good debate, particularly regarding individual freedom and his deeply felt ideological beliefs.
— Randy gives an ‘alternate view’ on the battle over school mask mandates and why they won’t work (because he "can read,” he says). He points out that science isn’t there, and neither is the practicality of having children mask up in schools. The CDC’s own research backs him up, Randy adds.
— While insisting on vaccinations — having battled COVID-19 himself — Randy bristles at the idea of mandates of any kind, especially in schools.
— Instead of “catering to the unvaccinated,” we should just get the vaccine. There should be more incentives, Randy says.
— Jared discusses his take on the mask debate, especially since it has been politicized “by both sides.”
— Personal choice, getting vaccinated, and whose responsibility it is to protect society?
— Randy gives “three nice things” he has to say about Florida universities.
— The slippery slope of having two classes of citizens: vaccinated and unvaccinated.
— Affordable housing amendment, and Peter’s upcoming trip to NYC for the reopening of Broadway (and “Hamilton”).
— Celebrating the Jewish New Year.
Special Guest: Randy Fine.
On a brand new State of Emergency, Peter Schorsch and Jared Moskowitz welcome Nate Monroe, columnist for the Florida Times-Union and probably the strongest voice in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
Topics include:
— Hurricane Ida hits New York hard; is climate change to blame?
— Working for FEMA is tough; lots of turnover and burnout. In Florida, the Division of Emergency Management lost 40 staff members in the past 9 months.
— Adrian Lukis exits as Ron DeSantis’ Chief of Staff. Who will replace him? What does the Governor need for the job?
— Jared talks about DeSantis’ habit of burning through staff. What are the optics, and how will it play out politically (if at all)?
— Have DeSantis’ critics (and the media) pushed him too far? He may have taken the hits personally; his pushback is doubling down politically.
— Nate says the media has built DeSantis’ political character; but he’s embraced criticism and turned it into “media gold.”
— Contrasting the COVID-19 coverage between Florida and New York. Perhaps the media should have been a little harder on Andrew Cuomo (versus DeSantis) about his pandemic response.
— Florida is a microcosm for the nation, and the lessons of high-profile out-of-state Democrats (like Cuomo and Gavin Newsome) should be a cautionary tale. Peter says the national media doesn’t quite grasp the nuance of Florida politics.
— On the 2022 Governor’s race, a look at the distinctive styles (and appeal) of Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried.
— Is there another Democrat in the wings who could change the equation? And who would DeSantis prefer to run against?
— Doing what needs to be done in the Governor’s race.
— Nate talks about the biggest, underreported issue in Jacksonville, including a federal investigation.
— How DeSantis was seen as Northeast Florida Congressman, and his current relationship with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.
— The political force of Casey DeSantis, and how will she play out on the campaign trail (in Florida and beyond).
— Jared (with an honorary doctorate) gives rapid-fire grades to the main players in Florida politics. Who moved up, or down? What issues are holding them back?
— Peter talks about the best (and worst) thing about DeSantis.
— A parting shout-out to Rich Templin.
Special Guest: Nate Monroe.
On a new State of Emergency, Peter Schorsch and Jared Moskowitz talk with Florida Chief Financial Officer — and state Fire Marshal —Jimmy Patronis.
Topics include:
— Jimmy recounts the middle-of-the-night phone call about the collapse of Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside.
— As Fire Marshal, he bolted to the scene, describing it as a “giant anthill crawling with first responders.”
— When disaster strikes, Jimmy says Florida first responders are there. They are true heroes.
— Surfside was the third-largest building disaster in U.S. history (behind Oklahoma City and the Twin Towers), and it was not an attack.
— A firsthand description of the devastation and heartbreak in the search for survivors and comforting the victims.
— Jared said that FEMA “broke every rule” to get federal help to the scene. As someone who represented the area in the Florida House, he took the disaster “in a personal way.”
— Every elected official in the region came to offer help, support, and leadership.
— Comparing the personal difficulties of Surfside with those of the Parkland shooting.
— As for politics, Peter and Jared talk about the latest polling in the Governor’s race, and how it is just a “snapshot in time.” COVID-19 will probably not be a winning issue in 2022.
— The challenges of COVID-19 and politics; how the national media helped Gov. Ron DeSantis politicize the pandemic response.
— DeSantis’ likability takes a hit; will it come back?
— The controversy surrounding Regeneron and accusations against DeSantis. How monoclonal antibodies are “real medicine saving lives.”
— Don’t politicize unless you have evidence, Jared says.
— Puerto Rico and the results of Jared’s colonoscopy.
On a new State of Emergency, Peter Schorsch and Jared Moskowitz return after a brief hiatus — because, sometimes, life gets in the way.
Topics include:
— Peter’s time off to deal with the emergency health issue of his wife, Michelle Todd Schorsch.
— Jared and his upcoming colonoscopy.
— What happens in the wake of the Surfside condominium collapse? Will the Legislature act to prevent the next disaster, and if so, what will that look like?
— Jared talks up his new gig as a COVID-19 response consultant for Miami-Dade County. How did that come about?
— Ranking Ron DeSantis’ pandemic response, and how the war of words with President Joe Biden is elevating the Governor’s national stature.
— Could DeSantis have done things better? As expected, not everyone agrees.
— The state of the Governor’s race: is Nikki Fried making headway?
On the new State of Emergency, hosts Peter Schorsch and Jared Moskowitz welcome St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, Peter’s frequent podcast guest.
Topics include:
— How Brandes makes a good guest (“a walking Ted Talk”) based on his thorough understanding of complex policy including Silicon Valley issues and insurance.
— The lingering issue of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine passports on cruises. The struggling cruise industry is giving 125% refunds, meaning for every four cruises, you get one free.
— “Anyone who delays Star Wars on a cruise, I have a problem with,” Jared says.
— Figuring out vacation schedules for August and September.
— Brandes does not agree with the Governor on the issue of cruises and vaccines. The cruise industry is a “petri dish” for COVID-19. Maybe not forever, but they will have to adjust for now.
— A discussion of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to send FDLE, Highway Patrol and Florida Fish and Wildlife agents to the Southern border in Texas to help with the immigration crisis.
—Jared says the request was under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system, which allows states to share resources during disasters and other situations. “No matter how you feel politically,” Jared adds, “the state is following the EMAC system.”
— It’s mutual aid request no different in California sending equipment for a fire in Texas.
— “It is fantastic politics,” Jeff notes. “Whether it moves the needle on the policy it is fantastic politics.”
— Ashley Moody and her consistent struggles in legal battles. “She is going into Pam Bondi territory,” Peter says, referring to Moody’s foray into partisanship.
— However, name ID in Cabinet-level posts is not as strong as some people think. Moody may be a wonderful person, but few can find an issue where she truly leads and that makes her beatable.
— The Supreme Court bounced another referendum on the legalization of marijuana off the 2022 ballot. With that, Peter asks if recreational marijuana ever be legalized in Florida.
— “Yes, 100%,” Brandes says. It could be on the ballot as soon as 2024.
— Jared, who says he is more conservative about the issue concurs: “There is no doubt that the train has left the station on this issue in a just a matter time whether it happens here, the state or the feds … I know people thought that the federal level would have done it by now.”
— Brandes touches on the diverse ways Floridians can change the state constitution.
— A hill sitting on DeSantis’ desk could raise auto insurance rates as much as 50%, the PIP repeal bill just wasn't ready for prime time. Brandes believes DeSantis will veto the bill. PIP is not a perfect system, and most states have removed it.
— How the DOT/Pride bridge light kafuffle and the Pulse bill that was vetoed were “unforced errors.”
— The National Hurricane Conference occurred this week, where Florida got more national attention (mostly negative) than any other state wrongfully so for political reasons.
— How Brandes the hero of the Autonomous Vehicle Conference in Miami.
— Is Tesla stock overvalued? What about Bitcoin and the future of commerce?
— The world of automation is ready to take off — look for the end of the 2020s and early 2030s.
— Cutting-edge technology, electric cars, and getting prepared for the next emergency management event and the possibility of evacuations.
— DeSantis After Dark?
— A happy Father’s Day to everyone.
Special Guest: Jeff Brandes.
Co-hosts Peter Schorsch and Jared Moskowitz present the new “State of Emergency,” joined by a special guest, Democratic Sen. Lauren Book of Plantation.
On this episode of State of Emergency:
— A discussion of Pride Month, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ transgender bill signing on the first day of Pride and the Acosta Bridge lighting controversy.
— Does DeSantis have a ‘homophobic streak?’ Moskowitz says that’s not the person he knows, relating an insider’s story about the administration and its proclamation of the Pulse tragedy’s third anniversary.
— “Not everything is intentional,” was Moskowitz’s lesson while in government, adding that the number of moving pieces could leave to perceived slights. “Government is not that organized,” adding that the Acosta lighting kerfuffle is “ridiculous.”
— Most people in state government are apolitical, Moskowitz notes. Politics just doesn’t enter the equation for them.
— What’s up with the emerging Senate battle between Rep. Val Demings and incumbent Marco Rubio?
— Is Rubio’s “hostage video” response and frequent Bible quotes helping or hurting him?
— Vaccination hesitancy, access, pushback against “vaccine passports,” and what that means for the state’s cruise industry.
— Much of the problem with vaccination is transportation to get a vaccine, Moskowitz says.
— Sen. Book, as the new leader of the Democratic Caucus, talks about the 2022 Session and what that means for priorities of the minority Party.
— “We have a lot of work to do,” she says. “We have to get our hands dirty and do some of the work that has been neglected for some time.”
— One challenge is to connect with the people, beyond fundraising and door-knocking during campaigns. Book announces a Democratic statewide listening tour to every caucus member’s district starting October, to meet with constituents and boost voter registration.
— Moskowitz and Book discuss the epidemic of gun violence and the challenges of representing many of the families touched by the Parkland high school shooting.
— “It will always be a cloud around our community,” Book says.
— Moskowitz warns of desensitizing over mass shootings, which may lead to a lack of outrage. “We lost common sense as a society,” he says. “We are not seeing that political outrage.”
— Book talks about how “purity tests” are hurting the Democratic Party. “We really need to embrace who and what we are to be successful.”
— Book also gives an update on her father, legendary lobbyist Ron Book, who lives just a block away from his daughter. He comes over every day and “is as feisty as ever.”
On the premiere episode of State of Emergency, former Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz joins Florida Politics editor-in-chief Peter Schorsch and Democratic pollster/political consultant Steve Vancore for a no-holes-barred discussion of the Sunshine State’s political landscape. Topics include: — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s financial reporting misstep on the first day of her gubernatorial campaign and how it could be “weaponized” in the future. — The danger (and double standard) of objectifying female candidates. — Challenges of covering the politics of Gov. Ron DeSantis. — Being in “the room where it happens” during Florida’s COVID-19 response and its vaccination effort. — A possibility (or lack thereof) of higher office for Moskowitz. — Peter and Jared bumping into each other in Puerto Rico. — Politicos with “big smiles” after being cooped up for months of pandemic.