Cynthia Busch

Big news from Trump about 20 minutes ago (and ~90 minutes before the market reopens on Sunday night in Asia): The US will start Naval Escorts called "Operation Protect Freedom" tomorrow! As I noted in the repost below (from Friday), the US was "stuck" until the circumstances changed. It now seems they are about to change tomorrow! Some possible outcomes (hoping for #1 or #2, fearing #3 and #4) 1. US escorts ships out, Iran does nothing, this is over 2. US escorts ships out, Iran fires on ships that the US can repel, this is over 3. US escorts ships out, Iran fires on ships and hits them, or they hit a mine. The image of burning ships is a disaster for the Navy and the US, especially if it's a US warship. 4. The US keeps threatening to do this, but the Navy never actually does it (akin to them not firing on the 40 or so fast boats in the Strait today when Trump said they would a several days ago). The US can be criticized for talking a big game with little action.

@MappingFL Black turnout was pretty robust in 2018…I love Gwen but would that have happened if Gillum was out?

Not in retrospect. I called a non-political friend the night of the primary and said “we just lost the Florida governors race” when Gillum secured the nomination

The framers of the Constitution intended for the House of Representatives to regularly expand as the population grew, but that has not happened for over 100 years. “It's just a way to restore the logic of the system,” said Yuval Levin of @AEI, who supports expanding the House by 150 members. “Growing the House is not a silver bullet, but it's part of a larger effort to help Congress help itself.”

@PlantationFLA Rental apartment dwellers should have the ability to recycle. Right now my building only recycles clean cardboard. Compost collection outside our building would be awesome.

We are also looking for feedback on trash and recycling services. As our current contract is approaching renewal, we are getting ready to test the market for these services. Your responses will help guide the discussion on how to move forward.

The 57th Broward County Plant Affair is HERE 🌿 May 2 & 3: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Volunteer Park, 12050 W. Sunrise Blvd. Entry and parking are free! For more information: PlantationHistoricalSociety.com Let’s celebrate community, plants, and the joy of gardening together!

@AndyHazelton Expand the number of seats in the House of Representatives. It’s happened before.

Rare politics Tweet... Does anybody know of any examples of "good" (generally non-partisan, non-Twitter-hot-takes) congressional district practices I could read about? I know people have suggested proportional representation, but individualized districts seems like it's important for actually representing the interests of different communities. On the other hand, some of the ridiculous things in the new Florida maps (like putting downtown St. Pete in with rural Manatee County) removes any semblance of representation too. I know some states have done commissions, but it seems like those don't really have a ton of binding power if the state really wants to get around it (like a few blue states this year).

@HollyBullardFL I live in the new HD 22 which stretches from West Broward to Naples to Belle Glade. Biden won it by 2.8%. We need a strong Dem candidate! I’m ready to work!

This is so depressing. A US where red state Dems and blue state Reps in Congress are nonexistent, where Black and Latino representation from red states is close to nonexistent… An even more polarized nation, didn’t think that was possible. How do we even begin to set this right

@chucktodd So true!

There really is only one way to improve representation for all Americans in Congress: UNCAP THE HOUSE! It’s what the founders intended; they did NOT want to see Congressional Districts that were bigger than most major cities. Want to dilute the influence of courts and partisans, UNCAP THE HOUSE!

Are you guys following JJR? If not give him a follow. We have not had a lawyer for the people of Florida in our Attorney General for YEARS!!! HE WILL WORK FOR US!!!

Ashley St. Clair confirmed the WH runs group chats telling these accounts what to post. Within minutes of shots fired tonight, before there was any news of casualties and before the President said this exact talking point, this was the chat in real time.

@KobeissiLetter It’s already here - ground chuck at Publix was $8.99 a pound this morning, ground sirloin over $11 a pound.

Food inflation is set to accelerate in the US: Average inflation for food and beverage companies surged +7.9% YoY in March, the biggest jump in at least 12 months. This is up +373 basis points from +4.2% in February. The largest jump was recorded in tomatoes at +102% YoY, vegetables at +90%, and diesel at +88%. This was largely driven by higher fuel costs, meaning the full impact of rising fertilizer and plastics prices has not yet been reflected. Meanwhile, urea prices, the world's most widely used nitrogen fertilizer, have doubled since February, to ~$900 per metric ton, the highest since the 2022. Fertilizer costs are rapidly rising for farmers and will eventually translate into higher wholesale food prices before landing on grocery store shelves. Food inflation is set to accelerate.

@JustAFamilyMan_ Since when does the Florida GOP care about that pesky math?? Unless it about handing out favors to special interests.

The math is not adding up. I hope Floridians understand that this does not make sense.

Democrats just announced a historic multimillion dollar campaign targeting multiple Republican incumbents in Florida. The charismatically challenged lame duck Governor asked for an early Christmas present. He just got one.

I am still processing last night's @springsteen concert/revival. First, watching him still do this for 3 straight hours at the age of 76 is incredible. I got tired just watching. Second, the music was beyond amazing and unforgettable. Third and perhaps most importantly to me, the totality of his concert was an absolute repudiation of what is happening in America now and also of hope for our future. As I watched this concert with @davidjollyfl, who is my hope for our next Governor, I felt hope for Florida. I agree with Bruce in his diagnosis of all that is happening in America and Florida now, but I also feel hope because people like David choose to run. Bruce made clear that our future is up to us. The election is less than 7 months away. No excuses going forward. Get involved in campaigns, donate to candidates you like, and most importantly VOTE!!!

There will be at least two ski resorts making snow in the East tonight, possibly three. It’s April 20. Gotta love that Ice Coast spirit

@KobeissiLetter It's simple: Trump announced a deal that didn't exist, Iran's hardliners used it to kill the opening, and any pragmatists who might have sway in Tehran are now weaker. We would have gotten more by saying nothing. Trump is about Trump and that's why we are in this stupid war.

What just happened? Yesterday, at 8:45 AM ET, Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open" for all commercial vessels. At 9:06 AM ET, President Trump thanked Iran for reopening the Strait. Then, at 10:20 AM ET, Trump said Iran and the US were working together to remove all mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Between 10:40 AM ET and 12:00 PM ET, President Trump said Iran agreed to "never close the Strait again" and to "suspend its nuclear program indefinitely." Suddenly, at 6:14 PM ET, Iran's Speaker of the Parliament said Trump made "seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false." Now, Iran has CLOSED the Strait of Hormuz again and oil tankers are being struck. What just happened behind the scenes?

Yes, he really said that. Yesterday Vice President JD Vance criticized Pope Leo XIV for not knowing enough theology: "I think it's very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology ... If you’re going to opine on matters of theology, you’ve got to be careful, you’ve got to make sure it’s anchored in the truth," he said, at a Turning Point conference. One of the many, many, ironies about that statement is that it came in response to Pope Leo's comments about war and peace and, specifically, the concept of "just war," which originated with St. Augustine. As many have already noted, when the Vice President was making his comments, Pope Leo XIV, a member of the Augustinian Order, and twice Prior General of the Augustinians before his election as Pope, was visiting the hometown of St. Augustine, then called "Hippo," now in Annaba, a town in modern-day Algeria. For good measure, Pope Leo XIV, the man critiqued for insufficient theological education, earned not only a master's degree in divinity, but also licentiate and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. JD Vance's recent conversion to Catholicism is beside the point, because many converts are of course not only highly intelligent (and learned in theology) but faithful and energetic Catholics. We rejoice over everyone entering the church. What most of us do not rejoice over, however, is a deadly combination of inaccuracy and hubris. Pace, Vice President Vance, but the current war in Iran is not a just war under Catholic doctrine. You can hear that from church leaders from across the theological spectrum, from Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the head of the military vicariate and former head of the @USCCB, to Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington who holds doctorates in both theology and political science. You can look all that up online. Suffice to say, the Vice President doesn't seem to understand the tenets of just war. Nor does he seem to understand the fundamental position of the church, which is for peace. "War is always a defeat for humanity," as St. John Paul II said. If that authority isn't enough, then turn to Jesus who said, "Blessed are the peacemakers," not "Blessed are the warmongers." And after the Resurrection, the Risen Christ says to the frightened disciples not "Vengeance is mine" but "Peace be with you." Incidentally, the day before, the Vice President said that the Pope (and the Vatican) should stick to teaching about morality, also seeming to forget that war and peace are profoundly moral issues. For his part, Pope Leo was focused yesterday on his spiritual father, St. Augustine. After what seemed like an emotional visit to Hippo, he celebrated Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba. During his homily he said, "The primary task of pastors as ministers of the Gospel is therefore to bear witness to God before the world with one heart and one soul, not permitting our concerns to lead us astray through fear, nor trends to undermine us through compromise." Amen. Let's all continue to pray for the Holy Father as he works for peace. (Image: Pope Leo XIV prays at the archeological ruins of Hippo, home of St. Augustine, in current-day Algeria. CNS photo).

@harryjsisson @gtconway3d Our president is a child who needs his parent to set a screen time limit on his phone.

Trump is having a mental health episode right now. He’s been posting on social media all night. He posted at: 9:49pm (Ai Jesus photo) 9:50pm (Trump tower on moon) 10:10pm (dumb meme) 10:32pm (news clip) 10:53pm (news clip) 12:43am (announcing Hormuz blockade) 2:35am (article about Biden) 2:36am (article on naval blockade) 2:37am (article on Rep. Swalwell) 2:37am (posted the same article about Biden again) 2:38am (article on his ballroom) 4:10am (article on Iran) He’s not sleeping, he’s pretending to be Jesus, and he’s posting all night. He’s not well.

For all his authoritarian tendencies, in the end Orban did the right thing: he conceded the election, did not make phony accusations of fraud, and called his opponent to congratulate him. That's the lesson American conservatives should take from Viktor Orban.

All honor to the Hungarian people for showing the way.