Last Call for 9.24.25 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

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

First Shot

Florida is preparing to distribute $60 million to encourage the medical community to innovate in cancer treatments and prevention, and Gov. Ron DeSantis says applications will be available soon.

“We need to work hand-in-hand with all of our partners in Florida so that we lead on cancer research and innovation. This will make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis, a cancer survivor, held a news conference in Tampa announcing that the Florida Department of Health will begin accepting applications for the first round of grants from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund on September 29. 

“This cycle’s applications will focus on research related to preventative nutrition as well as emerging medical treatment options for cancer patients,” DeSantis said. “The cycle’s funding prioritizes projects that seek to increase preventative practices and or learn more about what we can do in our daily lives to prevent or limit cancer development.”

Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo added that the state will look at alternative therapies, including exercise and nutrition.

“Merck and Pfizer are not going to be funding those studies. But in the Cancer Innovation Fund, we’re interested in that,” Ladapo said before pivoting to a puzzling analogy.

“I hope that we continue to reject the normal and we pursue a path that feels righteous, that feels like we’re actually aiming toward the thing that we want to improve. That opportunity is there. Thankfully, we have leadership uniquely in this state to do it. And I hope it spreads like all those minor viruses that my critics are afraid of or something.”

Read more on Florida Politics.^[1]

Evening Reads

—“Shutdown crisis tests Donald Trump’s go-it-alone approach to Democrats” via Catie Edmondson of The New York Times^[2]

—”The race back to America for a plane full of H-1B workers” via Robert McMillan of The Wall Street Journal^[3]

—”After Trump targets H-1B visas, can India lure back skilled workers?” via Karishma Mehrotra and Supriya Kumar of The Washington Post^[4]

—”Jimmy Kimmel, somber but defiant, defends free speech in return to ABC” via John Koblin and Michael M. Grynbaum via The New York Times^[5]

—”The right wants Charlie Kirk’s death to be a ‘George Floyd moment’” via Zack Beauchamp of Vox^[6]

—”The 22 very online upstarts changing the face of politics” via Makena Kelly, Jake Lahut and Elisa Muyl of WIRED^[7]

—”RESOLVED: Kamala Harris is (and always has been) a bad candidate” via Chris Cillizza of So What^[8]

—”Hillsborough overspent by $279 million, Blaise Ingoglia says” via Kirby Wilson and Nina Moske of the Tampa Bay Times^[9]

—“Joe Ladapo says it’s ‘reasonable to conclude’ there’s a connection between Tylenol, autism” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics^[10]

—”‘Waste is in the eye of the beholder’: Local officials challenge Florida property tax accusations” via Livia Caputo of the Florida Phoenix^[11]

Quote of the Day

“I’m sorry, that math does not math.”

— CFO Blaise Ingoglia, on Hillsborough County’s budget increases since 2019.^[12]

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.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is serving a Tombstone to all the SSI recipients six feet underground with a bill that would cut off improper payments to dead people. Next stop: the U.S. House.^[13][14]

If there’s a bar near the Newberry Veterans Memorial, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack could use an Old Glory after making the long trek back to Florida’s 3rd Congressional District with a new U.S. flag in tow.^[15][16]

Pharmaceutical companies, take note: if you bring a kickback scheme to Florida, Attorney General James Uthmeier will serve you a Drop Kick.^[17][18]

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Rays still have something to play for

Eliminated from the American League wild card race, the Tampa Bay Rays continue a three-game series in Baltimore against the Orioles with a chance to finish the season with a .500 record (6:35 p.m. ET, FS1).

Tampa Bay has lost 81 games and must win the last five games of the season to avoid a losing record. Last season, the Rays finished the year with a record of 80-82. On Sept. 4, the Rays sat at two games over .500 before losing 12 of the last 17 games while chasing a wild card spot. 

As it stands, the Rays are the latest teams to be eliminated from American League postseason contention. The New York Yankees have clinched a playoff spot, while the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers currently hold the inside track for the other two wild-card spots. The Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers are still mathematically alive for a wild-card spot.

This season marks the second consecutive year that the Rays have missed the playoffs, following five years of playoff appearances from 2019 to 2023. Tampa Bay must win at least four of the last five games to avoid the franchise’s worst record since going 68-94 in 2016. 

Right-hander Shane Baz is scheduled to start for the Rays against Baltimore’s Tyler Wells, who will make his third start of the season for the Orioles.

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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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