Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

— First Shot —

Lauren Book’s 1,500-mile trek across Florida is rounding the final turn. Tomorrow, the former state Senator and Lauren’s Kids founder will march through Santa Rosa County alongside Santa Rosa Kids House, Rep. Nathan Boyles, the Pace Center for Girls Escambia and other groups. The Voices Project — a new awareness initiative dedicated to centering survivors — continues to travel with the Walk, capturing survivor stories along the way. The Santa Rosa portion sets out at 10 a.m. from Santa Rosa Kids House, located at 5643 Stewart St. in Milton. The full 2026 Walk In My Shoes schedule is available on the Lauren’s Kids website.

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Opponents of a newly signed law targeting local diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs say the measure could have devastating effects in communities across Florida.

SB 1134, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on Wednesday, prohibits cities and counties from funding or implementing DEI initiatives and allows locals to sue if they believe a program is discriminatory.

Equal Ground Executive Director Genesis Robinson said the law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, threatens years of progress local governments have made in addressing public health, education and economic disparities.

“Supporters will claim this is about ‘merit.’ It is not. We know what ‘merit’ looks like in systems that were never designed with us in mind. Black communities have had to navigate redlining, underfunded schools, discriminatory lending, and inequitable contracting and still built thriving businesses, families, and institutions,” she said.

“DEI did not hand out opportunities; it helped level a playing field that has long been tilted.”

Supporters indeed claim the legislation is about merit — shortly after DeSantis signed the bill, sponsor Clay Yarborough told Florida Politics that “decisions related to individuals and actions should be based on merit and, if they are not, those making the decisions need to be replaced.”

Equality Florida, meanwhile, said the law is “dangerously vague” and warned it could create uncertainty for local governments that fund programs or events recognizing LGBTQ residents and other communities.

Public Policy Director Jon Harris Maurer said the measure sends “a clear message that celebrating diversity and supporting LGBTQ Floridians can carry legal and political risk.”

He added, “Our communities have faced unjust laws before, and responded with resilience, strength, and solidarity. Equality Florida will continue to stand with local leaders, community organizations, and residents to ensure that LGBTQ people remain visible, celebrated, and supported. Pride will continue, programs that support inclusion will continue, and our communities will remain strong despite attempts to intimidate or silence them.”

— Evening Reads —

—”Donald Trump floats taxpayer bailout for Middle Eastern autocracy” via Rebecca Crosby and Noel Sims of Popular Information

—“Republicans have one Midterm edge, and it’s worth $600 million” via Theodore Schleifer of The New York Times

—”The redistricting wars are almost over. Here’s the score.” via Christian Paz of Vox

—”‘Maximum Warfare’: Hakeem Jeffries promises Dems will target eight GOP incumbents in Florida if redistricting happens” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—”What Virginia meant” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—“Trump’s enormous gerrymandering blunder” via Russell Berman of The Atlantic

—”Ron DeSantis officials gave $1.5M to data center campus. They say they were tricked.” via Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times

—”Gov. DeSantis still doesn’t have final plan, timeline to get rid of homestead property taxes” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

—”DeSantis pressures House to pass AI Bill of Rights, references FSU shooting” via Liv Caputo of the Florida Phoenix

—”New gas-powered data centers could emit more greenhouse gases than entire nations” via Molly Taft of WIRED

— Quote of the Day —

“Please, be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida and campaign. I’ll put you up in the Florida Governor’s mansion.”

— Gov. Ron DeSantis, responding to taunts from U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

— Put it on the Tab —

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

It’s a Tick Tock for DeSantis, who is still holding off on releasing his long-promised property tax proposal six months out from Election Day.

Last night’s redistricting win in Virginia has emboldened Democrats, but the Governor is pouring a Fat Chance on Jeffries’ dreams of flipping Florida seats.

CFO Blaise Ingoglia gets another Pot O’ Gold for overseeing back-to-back record-setting months in unclaimed property returns.

— Breakthrough Insights —

— Tune In —

Magic continue playoffs

The Orlando Magic try to take a commanding lead in the first round of the NBA playoff series against the Detroit Pistons tonight (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Orlando, the eighth seed in the East, stole a game on the road at the top-seeded Pistons on Sunday, 112-101. All five Magic starters scored at least 16 points, led by Paolo Banchero’s 23 points and nine rebounds. The Pistons’ Cade Cunningham led all scorers with 39 points, but only one other Detroit player, Tobias Harris, scored in double figures (17).

If the Magic can take game two, they would head back to Orlando in a dominating position in the best-of-seven series. What made Sunday’s win more remarkable is not only that the eighth-seeded team beat the top seed, but that Orlando had a losing record away from home during the season.

In four meetings during the regular season, Orlando split four games against the Pistons, winning one and losing one at home and again on the road, so the matchup is more balanced than many No. 8 v. No. 1 series might be expected to be.

Still, only two teams that earned an eight-seed advanced to the NBA Finals: the 1999 New York Knicks and the 2023 Miami Heat, both of whom lost in five games. Orlando has a long way to go to get there, but the first round series is off to a good start for the Magic.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.

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