>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SET TO TACKLE VACCINE AND MASK MANDATES AS GOVERNOR DESANTIS UPS THE ANTE OVER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PANDEMIC POLICIES.

COULD FLORIDA OFFER A SOLUTION TO BACKUPS AT CALIFORNIA SHIPPING PORTS?

AND FORMER SEMINOLE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR JOEL GREENBERG GETS MORE TIME TO COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS.

WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT A DELAY IN HIS SENTENCING MIGHT MEAN.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M NANCY ALVAREZ AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

AND WE DO THIS BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK VIA SKYPE, DARLENE JONES, MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE, AND STEVE LEMONGELLO, RETURNING TO US COVERING POLITICS FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, AND MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT IN THE STUDIO WITH ME ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK.

>>HEY NANCY.

>>HELLO, STEVE.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS, THIS WEEK LIFTED ORANGE COUNTY'S COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY.

IT WAS BIG NEWS.

BUT WHILE POSITIVITY RATES PLUNGE, THE LEGISLATURE IS SET TO MEET NEXT MONTH FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT VACCINE MANDATES.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS THE SPECIAL SESSION WILL TACKLE THE ISSUE OF EMPLOYERS WHO REQUIRE THEIR STAFF TO BE VACCINATED OR FACE TERMINATION.

IT'S A NEW FRONT IN THE GOVERNOR'S BATTLE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

DESANTIS HAS ALREADY SAID HE WILL CHALLENGE WHITE HOUSE PLANS TO REQUIRE VACCINATION MANDATES FOR BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN A 100 EMPLOYEES.

>>WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT FLORIDA JOBS.

AND WE HAVE A SITUATION NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS VERY MUCH TRYING TO USE THE HEAVY HAND OF GOVERNMENT TO FORCE A LOT OF THESE INJECTIONS.

AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THAT DECISION SHOULD BE THEIRS.

>>THE GOVERNOR'S CALLING FOR PROTECTIONS FOR FIRED WORKERS, INCLUDING AN ABILITY TO CLAIM UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

AND HE WANTS EMPLOYERS WHO ENFORCE MANDATES TO FACE PENALTIES, SUCH AS BEING STRIPPED OF FLORIDA'S COVID-19 LIABILITY SHIELD.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNOR SAYS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, INCLUDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FIRING EMPLOYEES FOR REFUSING TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINATION.

DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WILL FIGHT THE EFFORTS.

>>WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE GOVERNOR TRYING TO LEVERAGE THIS WEDGE ISSUE TO REALLY DIVIDE OUR STATE.

>>THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL MASK MANDATES IS ALSO SET TO COME UP IN THE SPECIAL SESSION.

WHILE THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION CONTENDS FLORIDA'S PARENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS ALREADY BARS DISTRICTS FROM REQUIRING MASKS WITHOUT A PARENTAL OPT-OUT, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS MORE TOOLS IN PLACE TO HOLD SCHOOL BOARDS TO ACCOUNT.

>>MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE FORTIFYING THE PARENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A SITUATION NOW IN FLORIDA WHERE INDIVIDUAL PARENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED THEIR RIGHTS IN A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES.

>>BREVARD STATE REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE HAS CITED THE CASE OF A DOWN SYNDROME STUDENT REQUIRED TO WEAR A FACIAL COVERING, PROMISING PUNISHMENT FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED MASKING WITHOUT A PARENTAL OPT-OUT.

>>THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR THE THREE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS TO THIS GIRL.

THIS GIRL EXPERIENCED REAL CHILD ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF THE BREVARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THIS SESSION, THERE'S GOING TO BE HELL TO PAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DID THAT.

>>THIS WEEK CAMPAIGNERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MASK ISSUE RALLIED OUTSIDE THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING.

THE HEAD OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION SAYS A SPECIAL SESSION IS SIMPLY POLITICAL THEATER.

>>CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION AT THIS TIME OF THE PANDEMIC IS A LITTLE TROUBLING AND IT SEEMS LIKE HE WANTS TO JUST USE IT TO PUSH HIS POLITICAL AGENDA.

THE TIME TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION WAS WHEN LEGISLATORS ASKED HIM TO DO IT WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

SO AS FAR AS HIS ORDERS, I THINK THAT THEY'RE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

THEY'RE NOT SCIENTIFICALLY BASED.

AND I THINK WE'RE BETTER OFF FOLLOWING CDC RECOMMENDATIONS.

>>WELL, TO TALK ABOUT THE POLITICS OF ALL THIS, I SPOKE WITH POLITICAL SCIENTIST FRANK ORLANDO.

>>ALTHOUGH A SMALL MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY IS IN FAVOR OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VACCINE MANDATE, IF YOU LOOK AT JUST REPUBLICANS, EVEN REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED, THE SUPPORT FOR VACCINE MANDATES IS STILL ONLY AROUND 20%.

AND SO WHETHER THE THING HAPPENS OR NOT, AT THIS POINT DOESN'T QUITE FRANKLY MATTER AS MUCH AS THE FACT THE HE MADE THE ATTEMPT, AND IS SEEN AS STANDING UP AND BEING TOUGH ON THIS ISSUE.

>>IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSING GOING TO DISAPPOINT SOME THAT ARE CALLING FOR AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON VACCINE MANDATES.

>>THERE'S A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN THE MORE POPULIST TRUMP WINGS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND STILL THE MORE ESTABLISHMENT WINGS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO IT IS WATERED DOWN, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT A FINAL BILL WOULD PROBABLY HAVE CARVE OUTS AND CUTOUTS FOR CERTAIN BUSINESSES, LET'S SAY DISNEY, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, CERTAIN KEY EMPLOYERS.

>>COULD ALL THIS RUN AFOUL OF THE FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATE?

>>WE KNOW WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ABOUT THIS.

THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE, FEDERAL LAW TRUMPS STATE LAW.

SO IF IT'S A FEDERAL VERSUS STATE ISSUE, WE KNOW WHAT SIDE WILL WIN IN THE COURTS, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, FOR THE GOVERNORS THAT ARE GOING TO WANT TO GET THIS DONE, EVEN BEING DEFEATED IN THE COURTS ACTS AS A VICTORY IN TERMS OF OPTICS.

>>DOES THE GOVERNOR SEE BLOOD IN THE WATER WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, DO YOU THINK?

HE DOES SEEM TO BE STEPPING UP THESE ATTACKS ON HOT BUTTON ISSUES AS THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL RATING FALLS.

>>PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS HAD A ROUGH LAST FEW MONTHS AND NOW IS THE TIME TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT, FOR FUNDRAISING, FOR JUST IN GENERAL GETTING PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR GROUP, BECAUSE IT'S A WIN TO ATTACK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK THIS GET IS TO THE VACCINE MANDATE, BUT I ALSO THINK IT GETS TO WHY IS GOVERNOR DESANTIS TRAVELING THE STATE TALKING ABOUT SOLVING THE NATION'S SHIPPING CRISIS VIA FLORIDA?

AS ANOTHER WAY TO SAY, "FLORIDA WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS CREATED OR HAS FAILED TO SOLVE."

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND WE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT PORTS LATER, BUT FIRST LET'S START WITH SCHOOLS, AND WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE DO RECORD THIS PROGRAM ON THURSDAYS, AND ANYTHING COULD CHANGE AT ANY MOMENT, PARTICULARLY IN ORANGE COUNTY WHERE WE'RE EXPECTING A DECISION ON MANDATES TO COME DOWN.

THE STATE CONTENDS THAT DISTRICTS ALREADY BARRED FROM IMPOSING MANDATES WITHOUT A PARENTAL OPT-OUT.

SO WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR HOPING THE LEGISLATURE WILL DO NOW ON SCHOOLS, STEVE?

>>YEAH.

SO YOU SEE ALREADY, JUST THE OTHER DAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEDUCTED FROM ALACHUA COUNTY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE COUNTIES THAT HAS THIS MASKS MANDATE, ALMOST THE EXACT AMOUNT OF MONEY IT WOULD'VE GOTTEN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE UP FOR GETTING THE MONEY PULLED.

SO THEY'RE PULLING THE MONEY BEFORE THE FEDS CAN GIVE THEM THE MONEY.

SO IT'S SORT OF LIKE IT'S CONTINUING BACK AND FORTH.

IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THAT DESANTIS WILL WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO GET EVEN MORE HARSHER ON WHAT SCHOOL BOARDS CAN DO IN GENERAL, IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF POWER AT THE STATE FOR MAKING LAWS ABOUT WHAT SCHOOL BOARDS SIMPLY ARE ALLOWED TO DO AND AREN'T ALLOWED TO DO.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS BEING PLACED ON SCHOOL BOARDS.

>>DISTRICTS ARE CHANGING THEIR POLICIES AS POSITIVITY RATES DECLINE.

BREVARD, FOR EXAMPLE, NOW HAS A PARENTAL OPT-OUT.

COULD ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION REALLY BE MOOT AT THIS POINT, DO YOU THINK?

>>THE WHEELS ARE MOVING, STEVE, SO IT VERY WELL BE BECAUSE AS YOU JUST SAID, SLOWLY WE ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE DISTRICTS DROP THOSE MANDATORY MASK MANDATES AND GIVING PARENTS THE OPTION OF WHETHER THEY WANT WITH THEIR CHILD TO WEAR A MASK OR NOT.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT WHAT THE GOVERNOR MAY BE DOING IS TO SORT OF HEDGE HIS BETS, IF YOU WILL, IN THE EVENT THAT WE SEE ANOTHER SURGE, WHICH HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE BEEN TELLING US IS UNLIKELY.

THEY THINK THE WORST OF THIS IS BEHIND US, BUT THE GOVERNOR MAY BE ASKING LEGISLATORS FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION RATHER THAN THE NEED FOR POTENTIALLY RELYING ON AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DOWN THE ROAD, IF HE'D NEED TO DO THAT.

BUT AS YOU HEARD ONE OF THE FOLKS IN THE STORY SAY, A LOT OF THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALSO BE POLITICAL THEATER.

AS WE KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS HIGHER EXPECTATIONS, AND THIS CONTINUES THE DEBATE, IT CONTINUES TO GET NATIONAL ATTENTION.

AND SO IT SORT OF HEIGHTEN AWARENESS AND KEEPS THE FOCUS ON THIS SORT OF DEBACLE THAT CONTINUES TO UNFOLD HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

>>AND, DARLENE, LET'S SWITCH NOW TO THE VACCINE MANDATE PART OF ALL OF THIS.

THE GOVERNOR IS ASKING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES AND REEVALUATE LIABILITY LIMITS FOR BUSINESSES, BUT HE'S NOT CALLING FOR AN OUTRIGHT BAN.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF MEASURES HE WANTS.

>>SO IT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP.

AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS SIMPLY ASKING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS, AS YOU SAID, FOR THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOW HEARING OR FACING TERMINATION BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'RE CALLING UNFAIR AND DISCRIMINATORY COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES.

I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR THINKS THAT THIS WILL ESSENTIALLY REAFFIRM THAT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND THESE BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO MANDATE PEOPLE TO GET THESE VACCINES.

BUT IT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE WHILE YOU HEARD STEVE TALK ABOUT THE FINES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN LEVIED AGAINST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THESE MANDATES, I WILL BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW FAR GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE THIS WHEN IT COMES TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT MANDATE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

>>STEVE, DISNEY AND SEVERAL OTHER MAJOR COMPANIES HAVE VACCINE MANDATES, RIGHT?

THERE BEEN ANY PUSHBACK FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.?

>>YES, WELL, DISNEY'S THE BIG DOG HERE, THE LARGEST SINGLE EMPLOYER.

WHILE DESANTIS HAS BEEN TOUGH ON THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE, AS PART OF HIS FIGHT TO NOT HAVE VACCINE PASSPORTS FOR CRUISES, AND LIKE DARLENE TALKED ABOUT, DESPITE THE RHETORIC LAST WEEK WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN FIRED OR LEFT THEIR JOBS OVER THE VACCINE MANDATE, THERE ISN'T AN ACTUAL STRAIGHT OUT BAN ON THESE THINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN REPUBLICANS, ARE SAYING THAT'S KIND OF QUESTIONABLE WHETHER THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT.

AND ONE OTHER STATE, LIKE TEXAS, WHICH IS SORT OF SIMILAR TO FLORIDA IN WHAT IT'S DOING IN TERMS OF BANNING OR GOING HARD AGAINST VACCINE MANDATES, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN NOT HAVING A STRAIGHT UP BAN ON VACCINE MANDATES FOR BUSINESSES EMPLOYEES.

>>STEVE, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER STORY A MOMENT, THAT WAS FIRST REPORTED BY FLORIDA POLITICS.

THE NEW SURGEON GENERAL JOSEPH LADAPO WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE OFFICE OF A STATE SENATOR WHO'S ABOUT TO UNDERGO CANCER TREATMENT BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T WEAR A MASK.

HE'S RECEIVED BIPARTISAN CRITICISM FOR THAT.

LET ME READ PART OF A STATEMENT THAT DR. LADAPO PUT OUT IN RESPONSE TO THAT CONTROVERSY.

>>"DURING THE ENCOUNTER WITH SENATOR TINA POLSKY, I STATED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT SHE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO IMPLEMENT ANY SAFETY PROTOCOL SHE WANTED IN HER OFFICE.

I ATTEMPTED IN GOOD FAITH TO FIND SOME WAY FOR US TO COMMUNICATE THAT WOULD RESPECT EACH OF OUR PREFERENCES.

HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WHILE WEARING A MASK IS NOT SOMETHING I FIND PRODUCTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER OPTIONS EXIST.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH PEOPLE.

I CAN'T DO THAT WHEN HALF MY FACE IS COVERED."

>>STEVE, GIVE US SOME CONTEXT HERE.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE FALLOUT FOR THE SURGEON GENERAL AND WHAT MIGHT IT MEAN FOR HIS CONFIRMATION?

>>YES, HE'S GOT A LOT OF CRITICISM IN THIS FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

FOR HIS CONFIRMATION, VERY SIMPLY, IF DEMOCRATS, AND EVEN SOME REPUBLICANS, DON'T CONFIRM HIM, HE CAN JUST BE ESSENTIALLY INTERIM APPOINTED FOR NEXT YEAR AND A HALF ANYWAY.

SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH DESANTIS WILL GET WHAT HE WANTS HERE, BUT HE HAS A HISTORY OF BEING STRAIGHT UP ANTI-MASK.

SOME OF HIS COMMENTS LAST WEEK WERE VERY, VERY CRITICAL OF VACCINES AND QUESTIONING THE SAFETY OF VACCINES.

HE HIMSELF HAS NOT SAID WHAT HE'S GOTTEN VACCINATED HIMSELF.

SO YEAH, HE'S ON THE EXTREME WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPE OF THINGS AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE.

DOCTORS LIKE HIMSELF ARE AMONG THE ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH AND WEARING MASKS AT THEIR JOBS AND PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR ALMOST EVER.

SO HIM SAYING THAT HE CAN'T MAKE HIMSELF EXPRESS HIMSELF THROUGH A MASK AS A DOCTOR IS A BIT QUESTIONABLE.

>>YEAH.

AND YOU CAN SEE MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH FRANK ORLANDO ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS MAJOR CALIFORNIA PORTS ARE NOW OPERATING 24/7 AS THE NATION FACES A SUPPLY CHAIN CRUNCH.

BUT AS BOTTLENECKS PERSIST, COULD FLORIDA BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE GLOBAL CRISIS?

>>FIRSTLY, WHAT'S CAUSING THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT ARE RESULTING IN A SHORTAGE OF GOODS AND RISING PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES?

WELL, ECONOMISTS SAY THERE ARE MANY FACTORS.

THEY INCLUDE WORLDWIDE COVID-19 MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT CAUSED A DROP IN PRODUCTION SINCE THE START OF 2020.

THAT MEANS A LACK OF SUPPLY MADE A RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OF DEMAND, ESPECIALLY AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON APPROACHES.

A SHORTAGE OF LOWER WAGE LABOR SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, PARTICULARLY WAREHOUSE WORKERS AND TRUCK DRIVERS.

THAT RESULTED IN GRIDLOCK AT SOME OF THE WORLD'S BUSIEST PORTS, INCLUDING LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH.

AND THAT'S WHERE GOVERNOR DESANTIS HOPES FLORIDA CAN COME IN.

HE SAYS THE STATE'S PORTS ARE BACKLOG FREE AND COULD EASILY ACCOMMODATE SHIPS FROM ELSEWHERE.

ECONOMISTS SAY THAT COULD WORK, BUT THAT FLORIDA'S GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY MIGHT BE AN ISSUE.

SENDING SHIPS TO FLORIDA WOULD ALSO REQUIRE EXTENSIVE RE-ROUTING AND CHANGES TO TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS ONCE THEY REACH PORT.

THERE ARE ALSO QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER SOME FLORIDA PORTS COULD HANDLE THE TYPES AND SIZES OF SHIPS THAT NEED TO DOCK.

>>ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HOW REALISTIC THIS IS.

STEVE, HOW HAVE THE EXECUTIVES AT FLORIDA'S PORTS RESPONDED TO THE GOVERNOR'S SUGGESTION THAT, "HEY, LOOK AT US.

WE'RE OVER HERE.

WE CAN DO THIS."

THAT WE COULD TAKE SOME OF THAT TRAFFIC FROM CALIFORNIA AND ELSEWHERE.

>>YEAH.

OBVIOUSLY THE HEAD OF THE PORTS IS LIKE, "OF COURSE, BRING ALL THE SHIPPING INTO OUR PORTS."

THEY'RE 100% ON BOARD.

SOME EXPERTS THOUGH SAY IT'S SIMPLY JUST NOT PLAUSIBLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PORTS ENOUGH TO GET IN THE TYPES OF SHIPPING THAT YOU NEED TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS.

THE CANAVERAL, FOR EXAMPLE, IS SIMPLY NOT A SHIPPING PORT.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY USED FOR TOURISM, FOR CRUISE SHIPS, AND FOR BRINGING THINGS IN AND OUT OF NASA.

SO YEAH, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY IS DESANTIS, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IN THE COUNTRY, BIG ISSUES RIGHT NOW IS THIS SUPPLY CRISIS , ALONG WITH OIL AND THE PRICE OF OIL, SO DESANTIS IS NOT GOING TO CALL FOR DRILLING, SO I GUESS THIS IS THE OTHER THING HE CAN DO AND STAND IN FRONT OF AND SAY, "HEY, WE CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM HERE."

>>AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS HE WANTS TO ENSURE AMERICANS GET THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFTS ON TIME.

BUT THE FLORIDA PORTS COUNCIL SAYS THIS ISSUE COULD GO ON ACTUALLY FOR MUCH LONGER THAN DECEMBER.

SO, DARLENE, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS PREDICTING RIGHT NOW.

>>YEAH.

AND NANCY, THEY'RE THE EXPERTS.

AS STEVE SAID, THIS IS YET ANOTHER NATIONAL ISSUE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS KIND OF JUMPED INTO.

LOOK GLOBAL ECONOMISTS HAVE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE CHINA FACTORY SHUT DOWNS.

ON THE US SIDE, THE ISSUE IS MUCH MORE OF A LABOR ISSUE.

YOU HEARD US EARLIER TALK ABOUT THE JOBS AND THE SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE AND THE TRUCKING SHORTAGE.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THE LABOR INDUSTRY.

WE ALL HAVE GONE ON AND REVAMPED OUR LIVES AND WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL.

BUT ALL OF THE COMPANIES THAT THEY WERE PRODUCING THESE PRODUCTS AND GETTING IT TO US, THEY SHUT DOWN, WORKERS LEFT, THEY HAD TO LET PEOPLE GO, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE AT HOME FOR A YEAR OR MORE.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

SO THE ECONOMISTS ARE PREDICTING THAT THIS IS GOING TO GO WELL INTO NEXT YEAR.

THERE IS NO SOLVING THIS BY FLORIDA AND ITS GOVERNOR SAYING, "HEY, COME ON OVER HERE.

WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM."

IT'S JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE.

>>YEAH.

AND, STEVE, TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THAT WORKER SHORTAGE DARLENE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, FLORIDA SENATOR RICK SCOTT THIS WEEK BLAMED THE FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATE FOR A WORKER SHORTAGE.

SO DO INDUSTRY GROUPS AGREE WITH THAT?

>>NOT REALLY.

THERE'S A LOT OF HEADLINES ABOUT X NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES REFUSE TO TAKE THE VACCINE, X NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AT A COMPANY EITHER FIRED OR LEAVE THEIR JOBS.

BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN THOSE COMPANIES, IT'S A HUGE, HUGE NUMBER.

IT'S USUALLY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS OF EMPLOYEES, A LOT OF THESE LARGE COMPANIES WHO ARE REFUSING TO GET VACCINATED.

THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF RHETORIC FROM RICK SCOTT AND OTHER REPUBLICANS AS WELL, IN TERMS OF BEFORE THEY BLAMED THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AS SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THERE'S STILL A WORKER SHORTAGE, BUT THOSE ENDED AND REALLY NOTHING REALLY CHANGED, SO IT'S A PROBLEM BEYOND THAT IN TERMS OF WHY THERE IS A WORKER SHORTAGE.

>>YEAH.

I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A MOMENT TO A DIFFERENT STORY, BECAUSE DARLENE HAS BEEN COVERING IT EXTENSIVELY.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO., I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE GROVELAND FOUR, DARLENE.

THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT THIS WEEK SAID HE WANTED THE FOUR POSTHUMOUSLY FULLY CLEARED OF ANY OFFICIAL CHARGES OR CONVICTIONS THAT THEY RAPED A WOMAN IN 1949.

IF YOU COULD REMIND VIEWERS ABOUT THAT CASE AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

>>YEAH.

IT'S HUGE, STEVE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE.

IN FACT, I PROBABLY LOOK TIRED NOW BECAUSE I WAS UP MOST IN TO 2:00 OR 3:00 THIS MORNING, JUST REREADING THE 71 PAGE REPORT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE MOTION THAT STATE ATTORNEY BILL GLADSON FILED FOR CONSIDERATION BY A LAKE COUNTY JUDGE AND WE DO EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OR SO.

BUT IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS IN 1949, A RURAL LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY, GROVELAND, FLORIDA, FOUR YOUNG BLACK MEN WERE ACCUSED OF RAPING A WHITE WOMAN WHO HAD A HISTORY OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, SHE AND HER YOUNG HUSBAND HAD ISSUES WITHIN THEIR MARRIAGE.

AND THESE FOUR BLACK MEN WERE ACCUSED OF RAPING HER.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW HER.

TWO OF THE YOUNG MEN HAD NEVER EVEN MET EACH OTHER, DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND SO WE'VE HAD DECADES NOW, MORE THAN 70 YEARS OF WHAT SOME WOULD CALL AN INJUSTICE THAT HAS JUST SAT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE THEY WERE FALSELY ACCUSED OF THIS CRIME.

AND EVEN UP UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO, THE WOMAN WHO ACCUSED THEM OF RAPING HER INSISTED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE PARDONED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA BECAUSE THEY RAPED HER.

NORMA PADGETT SAID THAT IN FRONT OF FLORIDA LAWMAKERS AS THEY WERE CONSIDERING, AND THE GOVERNOR, AS THEY WERE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO PARDON.

WE KNOW THAT DID HAPPEN AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS APOLOGIZED, BUT FAMILY MEMBERS I'VE SPOKEN WITH, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS FULL EXONERATION AND CLEARING OF THE GROVELAND FOUR HAVE BEEN ADAMANT THAT NOTHING MATTERS UNLESS THEY ARE FULLY EXONERATED AND THEIR NAMES ARE FULLY CLEARED.

AND SO THIS CASE IS EXTREMELY FASCINATING AND I KNOW THESE FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FINALLY GETTING JUSTICE THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO.

>>IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY THAT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL KNOW ABOUT.

SO THANK YOU, DARLENE, FOR THAT.

AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN JOIN THIS DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE FINAL PART OF THE SHOW THIS WEEK, I DO WANT TO THANK OUR PANEL, DARLENE JONES FROM WFTV AND STEVE LEMONGELLO FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS WEEK.

>>ALL RIGHT, FINALLY, TONIGHT, THE SENTENCING DELAY FOR FORMER SEMINOLE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR JOEL GREENBERG, AN ASSOCIATE OF FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ.

AT A HEARING LAST WEEK, A JUDGE GRANTED A SECOND DELAY THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SAY WILL ALLOW MORE TIME FOR GREENBERG TO PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION.

GREENBERG, WHO'S PLEADED GUILTY TO SIX CHARGES, IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL.

WELL, I SPOKE THIS WEEK WITH CHANNEL SIX INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER MIKE DEFOREST, WHO'S BEEN COVERING THIS STORY SINCE GREENBERG'S ARREST IN 2020.

>>WHAT I THINK NONE OF US IN THE COMMUNITY REALIZED WAS THE DEPTH OF CRIMINALITY THAT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WOULD LATER DISCOVER.

JOEL GREENBERG HAS ADMITTED TO BEING A CRIMINAL.

HE'S PLEADED GUILTY TO SIX FEDERAL CRIMES, THE MOST SERIOUS BEING CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.

HE ADMITS HE DID IT.

>>NOW GREENBERG'S SENTENCING HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL MARCH BECAUSE HE'S CONTINUING TO COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AGENTS THAT SAY THE INFORMATION HE'S GIVEN THEM HAS LED THEM TO PURSUE MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS.

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE PROBES?

>>ON THE RECORD, NO, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT GREENBERG IS TALKING ABOUT.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT TOO, IT WAS BACK IN MAY WHEN JOEL GREENBERG ENTERED INTO THIS PLEA AGREEMENT WITH PROSECUTORS, PLEADING GUILTY TO THESE SIX FEDERAL CRIMES.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT PLEA DEAL AND PROSECUTORS DROPPING A SLEW OF OTHER CHARGES, HE AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON OTHER INVESTIGATIONS.

NOBODY ELSE HAS BEEN CHARGED CRIMINALLY.

NOBODY'S BEEN ARRESTED.

ALL WE KNOW IS THERE ARE INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THOUGH, WAS JOEL GREENBERG ENTERED INTO THIS PLEA BACK IN MAY.

HE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED IN AUGUST.

JUST BEFORE THAT SENTENCE HEARING HAPPENED, HIS ATTORNEY SAID, "HEY, JUDGE, WE'RE STILL COOPERATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

CAN WE POSTPONE HIS SENTENCING?"

SO THEY POSTPONED IT TILL NOVEMBER, NEXT MONTH.

WELL, IT WAS JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT GREENBERG'S ATTORNEY SAID, "HEY, JUDGE, CAN WE POSTPONE IT AGAIN?

WE NEED EVEN MORE TIME TO COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES."

AND THIS IS WHAT WAS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS HEARING WAS THE US ATTORNEY ACTUALLY STOOD UP AT THE PODIUM AND FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, PUBLICLY ON THE RECORD, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT YES, JOEL GREENBERG HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH HIM FOR MONTHS, HE HAS PROVIDED LOTS OF INFORMATION.

SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALREADY KNEW ABOUT AND GREENBERG WAS SIMPLY CORROBORATING OTHER EVIDENCE.

IN OTHER CASES, THOUGH, THE US ATTORNEY SAYS GREENBERG HAS PROVIDED INFORMATION THEY DID NOT KNOW.

AND THAT IN ESSENCE HAS LAUNCHED SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS, MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, BUT THE US ATTORNEY ASKED THE JUDGE, "HEY, CAN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO SENTENCE GREENBERG SO WE CAN TRACE DOWN THESE LEADS?"

>>DID THE JUDGE SAY WHETHER THIS WOULD BE A FINAL DELAY AND THAT INVESTIGATORS WERE NOW ON A DEADLINE?

>>EXACTLY.

THE JUDGE DIDN'T WANT THIS TO DRAG ON FOREVER, POINTING OUT IT WILL HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO A YEAR BY THE TIME GREENBERG IS FINALLY SENTENCED.

EVEN A US ATTORNEY SAID, "YOUR HONOR, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS UNUSUAL FOR US TO REQUEST TO DELAY THE SENTENCING OF A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT."

ON THE FLIP SIDE, THE US ATTORNEY SAID, "THIS IS AN UNUSUAL CASE."

>>WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT GREENBERG'S TIES TO CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ GOING BACK MANY YEARS?

>>THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR QUITE A WHILE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE AT LEAST SINCE ABOUT THE TIME JOEL GREENBERG RAN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE AS TAX COLLECTOR IN SEMINOLE COUNTY.

I KNOW THAT GAETZ HAS BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING, "GREENBERG WAS HIS WING MAN."

THEY'VE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED TOGETHER.

THEY HAVE PHOTOS OF EACH OTHER ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO THAT THEY WERE DEFINITELY CLOSE, DEFINITELY VISITED EACH OTHER.

NOW WE NEED TO POINT OUT MATT GAETZ HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH ANY CRIMES.

HE'S NOT BEEN FORMALLY ACCUSED OF ANY CRIMES.

AND HE HAS ABSOLUTELY DENIED THAT HE HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

>>SO WHAT'S IN IT FOR GREENBERG TO COOPERATE THIS EXTENSIVELY WITH INVESTIGATORS IN TERMS OF THE SENTENCE HE MIGHT RECEIVE.

I MEAN, THERE'S A MINIMUM MANDATORY SENTENCE, ISN'T THERE?

>>I'VE TRIED TO FIND OUT, BUT AT THIS POINT I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH LEEWAY IN THAT MANDATORY MINIMUM 12 YEARS, THAT'S FOR THE CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT.

NOW THE THING IS, GREENBERG'S SENTENCE ULTIMATELY IS IN THE HANDS OF THE JUDGE.

HE COULD FACE POTENTIALLY DECADES MORE THAN THAT 12 YEARS, POSSIBLY THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

SO THAT IS WHY IT'S IN JOEL GREENBERG'S BEST INTEREST TO COOPERATE.

>>NOW, WHY ARE PROSECUTORS GOING ALONG WITH THIS?

THEY DIDN'T EXPLICITLY SAY THIS BUT OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THE SENTENCING IS IN THE JUDGE'S HAND, THE MINUTE THE JUDGE HANDS DOWN THAT SENTENCE, IF GREENBERG'S NOT HAPPY WITH IT, HIS COOPERATION COULD END AT THAT POINT.

HE COULD SAY, "I'VE SAID EVERYTHING I'VE GOT TO SAY."

WE DO NOT KNOW THE TIMELINE OF WHAT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE WORKING ON, BUT WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT THEY MAY BE NEEDING TO PRESENT ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE TO GRAND JURIES.

THEY MAY NEED JOEL GREENBERG TO APPEAR IN COURT.

AND SO, I AM JUST SPECULATING HERE, BUT THAT MAY BE A REASON WHY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE SO ON BOARD WITH ASKING THE JUDGE IN THIS VERY UNUSUAL REQUEST TO DELAY GREENBERG'S SENTENCING TO THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MILK HIM FOR ANY INFORMATION AND TESTIMONY HE CAN PROVIDE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

YEAH.

DEFINITELY A CASE WE'LL ALL BE FOLLOWING.

>>FOR SURE.

>>VERY CLOSELY.

>>FOR SURE.

>>ALL RIGHT, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 RIGHT HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND.