21 Comments

The left better start fighting a little harder. I know we teach our kids to be the bigger person but this is no time to take the moral high ground. Democrats need to fight all of these un-American bills and call them what they are. A pathetic attempt by Republicans to change laws to better suit them. After they championed the angry orange blob who is only good for insults and campaign rallies, they brought this on themselves. When you elect a braindead goon and then continue to stand behind said goon, they are getting what the deserve. Please do a piece on Matt Gaetz. I know he's guilty already but anything you could provide would be worthwhile. Thanks as always Judd!

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Moving back to Florida is one of the craziest things I have done in a long time. I now remember why I left in the first place. Reading the news is a constant torment. The only good thing locally is that we just had a town election and all the Republicans were thrown out of office after a ten year run. But we live in Palm Beach county. An island of slight sanity.

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I recently read “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism” by Katherine Stewart and it was an eye-opener for me about the insidious infiltration of these so-called “religious” groups into all aspects of our life, including freedom of expression. They work very hard at battering down the separation of Church and State. These groups embraced Trump and have had a profound effect on the Republican Party. Josh Hawley is the type that represents them. There is a chapter in the book about the connection between the religious right and Putin. Russia has a theocracy and this form of government is much admired by people like Franklin Graham. This is not off topic as I think it partly explains where the support of the actions of these Republican legislatures is coming from.

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How very ‘Orwellian’. Not surprised at all that a Republican lead state would come up with yet another way to muzzle American free speech. Or is that amendment reserved for wealthy white men?

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Republican “free speech” means agree with them or STFU

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Thank you, Judd.

Yet another desperate attempt for the criminal GOP to suppress the free vote. They are flailing now, openly panicking that (without cheating) they will become an actual minority in government soon. They already ARE a minority in reality.

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If Florida passes this legislation I would love to see Florida residents seek college in other states. Other states could offer in-state tuition rates to anyone from Florida.

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Trump hastened the appearance of most alarming trends which have been given full coverage with few opposing viewpoints in many media outlets. The goal of blurring truth and facts is obvious and quite successful at this point. White men who fear loss of power, status and control are a dangerous group! Those of us, regardless of ethnicity, who really care about helping children discern propaganda and conspiracy theories need to think long and hard about how to fairly re-build public education.

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The fairness doctrine needs to be put back, the constitutional amendment would be better and then it couldn't be removed again.

It was removed by vp Cheney. You know weapons of mass destruction and all.

20 years of festering petulance everywhere.

We each have to write Congress and senators and whoever else will listen.

Thank you Judd , and Tesmin, for your stellar journalism and all of your hard work!

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I see job applicants with a FL school on their resume being haunted throughout their career because of how they answered a survey question at the age of 18. Imagine an Attorney General seeking appointment in 2053 being denied, owing to a survey answer she gave in 2023 (and she doesn’t even agree with her 18 year-old-self any longer).

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Why I can't truly identify as a Dem. They just haven't the stones to fight the fight against Fascists like the Florida GOP ie GOP in General.

I am a fighter. It's hard to sit here and watch.

Florida almost seems a political lost cause, anyway. Hopefully, there are pockets of resistance among the young people to come out like the kids from Parkland.

Just disheartening.

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