* So far, Florida “leads” the nation in arrests (76) connected to Jan. 6. (At least 20 are those alleged to belong to either the Oath Keepers or the Proud Boys.)
* In the third quarter of 2021, Florida drew 32.6 million visitors, which was 2 million more than forecast. It’s also 0.3 percent above the number of visitors in the third quarter of pre-pandemic 2019.
* No surprise that Gov. Ron DeSantis is playing down the “insurrection” aspect of the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol. “It’s an insult to people when you say it’s an ‘insurrection.’ … People here in Florida, they care about inflation, and they care about gas prices and education and crime,” stated DeSantis—as if Floridians focused on inflation, gas prices, education and crime can not also discern and prioritize a literal assault on the Capitol and American democracy.
* Gubernatorial candidate—and former governor—Charlie Crist, the St. Petersburg Congressman, said that if elected in November, he’d veto any state budget that did not include Medicaid expansion. Florida is one of 12 states that still hasn’t expanded Medicaid.