>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, GOVERNOR DESANTIS TURNS HIS FIRE ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RAMPS UP THE PRESSURE AGAIN ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WARNS OF A DISTURBING SPIKE IN THREATS AGAINST EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL BOARDS OVER MASK MANDATES.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT.

WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

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

WELL, JOINING US THIS WEEK, GREG ANGEL, FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13, HE COVERS POLITICS OVER THERE AND LAUREN SEABROOK OF WFTV CHANNEL 9, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST TONIGHT, THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK, THAT FLORIDA'S FIRST LADY CASEY DESANTIS HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.

>>IN ANNOUNCING THE FIRST LADY'S DIAGNOSIS, GOVERNOR DESANTIS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING AS THE MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, CASEY IS THE CENTERPIECE OF OUR FAMILY AND HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS FLORIDIANS THROUGH HER INITIATIVES AS FIRST LADY.

CASEY DESANTIS IS AN ACTIVE FIRST LADY LEADING INITIATIVES ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

SHE'S ALSO KNOWN TO BE A CLOSE BEHIND THE SCENES ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNOR AND IS REPORTED TO BE A KEY MEMBER OF THE DESANTIS TEAM WITH AN OFFICE IN THE FLORIDA CAPITAL.

SHE'LL NOW FACE THE CHALLENGE NOT ONLY OF DEALING WITH BREAST CANCER, BUT DOING IT IN THE PUBLIC EYE, BALANCING HER PRIVATE LIFE WITH HER HIGH PROFILE POSITION.

FOLLOWING HER DIAGNOSIS, SHE'S RECEIVED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, HERSELF A CANCER SURVIVOR.

>>OF COURSE, THIS IS ALSO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH OF COURSE, WELL, MY COLLEAGUE NANCY ALVAREZ IS AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, A RECENT SURVIVOR OF BREAST CANCER SHE'S AWAY TODAY.

BUT EARLIER THIS WEEK, I CHATTED WITH HER ABOUT THE LIKELY PATH FORWARD FOR CASEY DESANTIS AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET A DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER.

>>IT'S ABSOLUTELY SURREAL BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST GOING ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND I DON'T KNOW IN HER CIRCUMSTANCE BUT FOR ME, IT WAS JUST A ROUTINE MAMMOGRAM.

IT IS ANOTHER THING ON MY TO-DO LIST AND I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS EXPECTED TO GET A DIAGNOSIS, YOU NEVER EXPECT THAT.

SO, I'M SURE THAT THERE'S JUST SHOCK RUNNING THROUGH THAT FAMILY RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE ALSO VERY DETERMINED TO FIGHT THIS.

>>AND IT'S NOT JUST HER.

OF COURSE, IT'S THE ENTIRE FAMILY HAS TO COME TO TERMS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYONE IS IMPACTED AND SUDDENLY YOU GO FROM BEING A HUSBAND OR A SIBLING TO A CAREGIVER.

LIFE CHANGES AS WELL FOR THE PARTNERS AND THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING THE PATIENT.

MY HUSBAND NEVER EXPECTED TO BE CHANGING DRAINS THAT I HAD AFTER A MASTECTOMY, IT'S THE MOST SURREAL THING, BUT HE HAD TO HELP ME WITH THAT.

SO, EVERYONE IS IMPACTED IN A MAJOR WAY WHEN A DIAGNOSIS LIKE THIS COMES ALONG.

>>A CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS ALWAYS TRAUMATIC, BUT YOU AND THE FIRST LADY ARE BOTH YOUNG, WHEN YOU'RE OF THAT AGE, THAT MUST COMPOUND THE SHOCK?

>>SURE.

SHE'S 41 YEARS OLD.

I'M 44 AND I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY GROUPS AND DOCTORS SINCE MY DIAGNOSIS AND EVEN JUST BEFORE THEN, JUST COVERING BREAST CANCER ISSUES WHICH I'VE DONE REALLY FOR MOST OF MY CAREER.

AND WE ARE SEEING A TREND NOW FOR SOME REASON IN YOUNGER WOMEN.

RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN THAT, 45 AND UP TO GET THAT YEARLY MAMMOGRAM, BUT NOW YOU'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PHYSICIANS RECOMMENDING IT EARLIER BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING WOMEN IN THEIR THIRTIES ARE BEING DIAGNOSED, IT'S SCARY AND THEN YOU ROLL IN THE CHILDREN TO THIS, SHE HAS THREE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.

IT'S SCARY.

>>YOU AND THE FIRST LADY DO HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

NOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU BOTH HAVE CHILDREN, BUT YOU'RE ALSO BOTH IN THE PUBLIC EYE TO DIFFERENT DEGREES.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT DIAGNOSIS THAT YOU GET WITH YOUR ROLE AS A PUBLIC FIGURE AND YOUR PRIVATE BATTLE WITH CANCER?

>>TWO DIFFERENT DEGREES FOR SURE.

I HAVE NOWHERE NEAR THE PLATFORM OF THE FIRST LADY, BUT I DO HAVE A PLATFORM HERE LOCALLY AND WHEN THEY LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND SAID, YOUR MAMMOGRAM SAVED YOUR LIFE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME, I'LL BE HONEST STEVE, I COULD NOT GET ON TV FAST ENOUGH.

OF COURSE, I WAS OBVIOUSLY DETERMINED AND MINDFUL OF MY OWN RECOVERY, BUT I COULD NOT SHARE THAT MESSAGE LOUD ENOUGH, QUICKLY ENOUGH WITH OUR FOLLOWERS, WITH OUR VIEWERS, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO SHOCKING TO ME THAT SOMETHING SO SIMPLE AND SO ROUTINE LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE JUST BECAUSE I WENT AND DID IT ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

SO, I HOPE THAT WHEN SHE RECOVERS AND WHEN SHE PUTS THIS BEHIND HER AND SHE IS A HUNDRED PERCENT PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT SHE USES HER PLATFORM TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THIS AND THE MANY LEVELS THAT COME WITH A DIAGNOSIS LIKE THIS.

>>BECAUSE THERE ARE HUGE DISPARITIES OUT THERE BETWEEN OUTCOMES OF BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS, DEPENDING ON SOCIOECONOMIC GROUP, FOR EXAMPLE.

>>I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED ME ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO BREAST CANCER OR REALLY ANY KIND OF HEALTH CRISIS.

STUDY AFTER STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT YOUR ECONOMIC STATUS CAN IMPACT YOUR SURVIVAL.

WE SEE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHERE WOMEN WHO ARE UNDERINSURED OR UNINSURED, EITHER DON'T EVER GO FOR THAT MAMMOGRAM IN THE FIRST PLACE OR GO BECAUSE THERE'S A FREE ONE IN OCTOBER BECAUSE IT'S BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, THEY FIND SOMETHING AND THEN THEY'RE DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ON EARTH THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THEIR TREATMENT.

SO, IT'S SCARY AND IT'S SAD HONESTLY, THE FIRST LADY IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO GET THE BEST CARE AND THE MOST ATTENTION BUT THAT IS NOT THE REALITY FOR WOMEN ACROSS OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY.

>>OF COURSE, THIS IN TERMS OF THE DIAGNOSIS TRANSCENDS POLITICS, DOESN'T IT?

WE'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM COME OUT AND WISH THE FIRST LADY WELL, INCLUDING FLORIDA, CONGRESSWOMAN DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ HERSELF A CANCER SURVIVOR.

THINGS LIKE THIS, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, DON'T THEY?

>>THEY DO.

IT'S HORRIBLE THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HER, BUT IT HAS BEEN SO ENCOURAGING AND REALLY INSPIRING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE AS YOU SAID, FROM BOTH SIDES HAVE COME TOGETHER.

I DID A POST ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK AND I JUST SIMPLY SAID ABOVE ALL ELSE, SHE IS A MOM PERIOD END OF STORY.

SHE'S A MOM TO THREE LITTLE KIDS WHO IS NOW FACING THIS AWFUL BATTLE.

SO, IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR HER.

>>WELL, NANCY WANTED THIS TO TELL YOU ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND THOSE STRUGGLING TO GET HELP WITH BREAST CANCER SERVICES, YOU CAN VISIT LIBBYSLEGACY.ORG, YOU'LL ALSO FIND A LINK ON THE NEWSNIGHT WEBSITE AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S SWITCH FOCUS NOW TO THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF, HIS BATTLES WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVER THE PANDEMIC ARE BROADENING TO ENCOMPASS ISSUES LIKELY TO BE FRONT AND CENTER IN ANY FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

ONE OF THE LATEST FIGHTS FOCUSES ON IMMIGRATION, WHAT THE GOVERNOR CALLS THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS.

DESANTIS SAYS DISPATCHED LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM FLORIDA TO TEXAS AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IS SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER ITS POLICY COMMONLY KNOWN AS CATCH AND RELEASE.

WELL I SAT DOWN WITH POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AUBREY JEWETT TO DISCUSS THIS LATEST FRONT IN THE BATTLE BETWEEN TALLAHASSEE AND WASHINGTON.

>>IT IS AN ISSUE THAT RESONATES WITH THE REPUBLICAN BASE IN PARTICULAR.

I THINK IT ACTUALLY RESONATES WITH A LOT OF AMERICANS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS OVER THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND NOT JUST CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, BUT JUST A LOT OF INDEPENDENTS AND EVEN A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

>>OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR HAS TO ANSWER THE CRITICISM DOESN'T HE?

THAT FLORIDA'S NOT A BORDER STATE AND WHY WOULD FLORIDA BE INVESTING THE RESOURCES IN TRYING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION ON THE BORDER WHEN WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A BORDER WITH MEXICO.

>>THAT IS CERTAINLY I THINK A FAIR CRITICISM, THE GOVERNOR OF COURSE RESPONDS AND THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE AN ANSWER, THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE IS THAT FLORIDA DEFINITELY IS AFFECTED.

ONE, THE CENSUS SHOWS THAT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE STATE WHO ARE NOT HERE LEGALLY.

AND TWO, THAT BIDEN AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ARE NOW TAKING AND RESETTLING A NUMBER OF THOSE IMMIGRANTS IN OTHER STATES.

SO, JUST BECAUSE THEY CROSS INTO TEXAS DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO STAY.

BUT, IN TERMS OF RAISING YOUR NATIONAL PROFILE, IN TERMS OF SEPARATING YOURSELF FROM OTHER POTENTIAL REPUBLICANS WHO ARE GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, IT'S A GOOD ISSUE, IT'S A WINNING ISSUE FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>>IS THIS ANOTHER OF THESE ISSUE IS THAT DESANTIS IS GOING TO KEEP REVISITING DO YOU THINK AS WE GET CLOSER TO 2024.

OBVIOUSLY HE'S MADE A LOT OF POLITICAL POINTS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID AND LOCKDOWNS AND COVID MITIGATION MEASURES AND RESTRICTIONS.

ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE HIM CONTINUE TO TOUCH ON THESE HOT BUTTON ISSUES AS FAR AS CONSERVATIVES ARE CONCERN, NOT ONLY AHEAD OF 2022, BUT ALSO 2024?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK FOR SURE THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH WAGE ISSUES, ISSUES THAT CONSERVATIVES, REPUBLICANS, THAT THE TRUMP BASE REALLY CARES ABOUT, THAT THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT AND THAT ARE CLEAR BLACK AND WHITE DISTINCTIONS, CRYSTAL CLEAR DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN TRUMP REPUBLICANS AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATS OR BIDEN DEMOCRATS.

YOU COULD RUN OFF A LIST OF FIVE OR SIX HOT BUTTON ISSUES THAT HE'S HIT IN THE LAST YEAR.

THAT AGAIN ARE ALL THE BIG TALKING POINTS AMONG REPUBLICANS, WHETHER THEY BE TRANS GENDER ISSUES, IMMIGRATION, VOTING, SECURITY, SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES, THEY'VE PASSED LAWS OR HE'S TAKEN EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, VACCINE MANDATES, ALL THINGS.

>>OF COURSE, HANGING OVER THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS AND ALL POTENTIAL GOP NOMINEES FOR 2024 IS PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE FORMER PRESIDENT HASN'T SAID YET, WHETHER HE WANTS TO RUN SEEMS LIKELY THAT HE DOES.

HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS HE HERE WHEN IT COMES TO A BALANCING ACT FOR PEOPLE LIKE GOVERNOR DESANTIS AND THEIR 2024 AMBITIONS?

>>AS OF RIGHT THIS MINUTE, I WOULD SAY HE'S THE FACTOR.

HE'S THE ONLY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN TERMS OF HOW MOST OTHER REPUBLICANS WILL DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GETTING IN THE RACE OR NOT.

IF DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCES FAIRLY EARLY THAT HE'S IN THE RACE.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE SERIOUS REPUBLICAN CONTENDERS WOULD GET IN THE RACE AND THAT INCLUDES RON DESANTIS.

>>ALL RIGHT, GREG, LET'S START ON IMMIGRATION THEN, SHALL WE?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED SERIES OF STEPS AT THE END OF LAST MONTH ON THAT ISSUE, WHAT IS HIS ADMINISTRATION DOING IN THIS AREA?

>>WELL, YOU MENTIONED STEVE ABOUT THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE SO-CALLED CATCH AND RELEASE PROGRAM AND IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS EVEN GETTING CRITICISM THEMSELVES FOR ACTUALLY ACCELERATING DEPORTATIONS, INCLUDING DEPORTATION OF THOSE HERE IN THE US AWAITING ASYLUM HEARINGS.

HERE IN FLORIDA, TWO OTHER STEPS AS PART OF THAT THREE PRONGED APPROACH FROM GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

FIRST THING IS APPOINTING LARRY KEEFE, HE IS THE FORMER US ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA IN TALLAHASSEE AND HIS JOB AS HIS PUBLIC SAFETIES CZAR IS GOING TO BE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>>HE IS MANDATING THAT ANY STATE AGENCY UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S PURVIEW CANNOT FACILITATE OR AID OR HELP ANY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN FLORIDA.

THE BIGGEST IMPACT, PERHAPS A FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND WHAT APPROACH THEY TAKE WITH LICENSES.

DO THEY REVOKE A LICENSE OF AN AGENCY THAT HELPS HOUSE UNDOCUMENTED MINORS WHO ARE IN THE STATE?

THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE SEEN AS DR. AUBREY JEWETT WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE.

WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE SETTLED WHEN THE DUST SETTLES IF YOU WILL, IS HOW MUCH OF THIS IS JUST POLITICAL CAMPAIGN RHETORIC AND HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ACTUALLY ENFORCEABLE ACTION FROM THE STATE.

>>AND YOU MENTIONED AUBREY JEWETT THERE, HE SAID THAT THIS IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF POLARIZING ISSUES THAT THE, THAT THE GOVERNOR ZEROED IN ON.

ONE OF THE OTHERS OF COURSE, JUST THIS WEEK, SOCIAL MEDIA, HE'S ORDERING AN INVESTIGATION, FACEBOOK FOR ELECTION INTERFERENCE AMID THOSE US SENATE HEARINGS FOR EXAMPLE.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS ALL ABOUT POSITIONING FOR 2024 GREG?

>>I THINK ANYBODY INVOLVED INDEED THE POLITICAL CIRCLES WILL TELL YOU THAT, YES.

THIS IS ABOUT LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024, BECAUSE AGAIN, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS WITH THESE LAWS AND THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THESE LAWSUITS THAT A STATE LIKE FLORIDA IS PURSUING IS WHAT NOT ONLY INFLUENCE, BUT WHAT AUTHORITY DOES IT HAVE TO REGULATE SOCIAL MEDIA AND BIG TECH.

AND THERE SEEMED TO BE A LOT OF LIMITATIONS.

WE KNOW THAT CONGRESS AND STATE LEGISLATURES ARE VERY SLOW AND OFTEN BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATING TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, THAT'S A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE REALLY FOCUSED IN ON WHAT IS THE ACTUAL AUTHORITY AND THAT IS WHY SO MANY ARE SAYING THE GOVERNOR IS SIMPLY FOCUSED ON 2024.

YOU TALK TO THE GOVERNOR AND HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATES, THEY'RE COY THEY'LL TELL YOU, HE'S SIMPLY FOCUSED ON JUST GETTING REELECTED IN 2022, WHICH RIGHT NOW HE'S GOT HIGH ODDS OF THAT HAPPENING.

>>LAUREN AS GREG MENTIONED THE GOVERNOR STILL HAS TO WIN NEXT YEAR.

FIRST THING FIRST AND POLLS HAVE SHOWN HIS SUPPORT SINKING AMID THE PANDEMIC.

DO WE GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE PUBLIC VIEWS THE GOVERNORS'S LAISSEZ-FAIRE POLICY ON COVID, WHICH SEEMS TO BE WHAT IS DRIVING THOSE POLLS LOWER FOR HIM?

>>STEVE, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT FLORIDA IS THAT YOU GET STRONG OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

IT'S NOT LIKE OTHER STATES WHERE YOU MAY HAVE EVERYONE IN THE STATE FOCUSED ON ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT JUST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF INFORMATION THAT'S COME OUT RECENTLY WITH THIS LAST SURGE, THROUGH THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND AS YOU SAID, THIS LAISSEZ-FAIRE ATTITUDE TOWARD IT NOT REALLY PUSHING THE VACCINES AS MUCH AS PUSHING SOME OF THE TREATMENTS, THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, YOU HAVE A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE IN FLORIDA WHO ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THE GOVERNOR FIGHTING FOR THEIR CHILD TO NOT HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AT SCHOOL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS ENDS UP PLAYING OUT, BECAUSE I THINK YOU REALLY HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS.

>>AND OF COURSE THAT SURGE IN GENERAL APPOINTMENT HAS REALLY RAISED OUR EYEBROWS FROM SOME OF GOVERNOR DESANTIS OPPONENTS.

GREG, PRESIDENT TRUMP IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK WITH YAHOO NEWS SAID OF DESANTIS, "IF I FACED HIM, I'D BEAT HIM LIKE I WOULD BEAT EVERYONE ELSE."

DO YOU THINK A TRUMP, DESANTIS SHOW DOWN IS INEVITABLE AT SOME POINT, GIVEN THAT THEY BOTH HAVE AMBITIONS, THEY BOTH SEEM TO BE ALIGNED ON ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT OR DO YOU THINK BE POLITICAL SUICIDE FOR DESANTIS AND SPLIT THE GOP WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>>WELL, I THINK DR. AUBREY JEWETT IS RIGHT THAT IF PRESIDENT TRUMP DECIDES TO RUN AND THAT'S STILL A BIG IF WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT A LOT OF FACTORS RIGHT NOW, IF HE WERE TO RUN THAT PROBABLY GIVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR DESANTIS SOME COLD FEET.

PRESIDENT TRUMP STILL COMMANDS SUCH ATTENTION AND PRESENCE IN THE PARTY, INCLUDING FUNDRAISING AND HE REALLY HAS A LARGE HAND ON THE PURSE OF THE PARTY IF YOU WILL.

BUT LOOK AT SOME OF THE STRAW POLLS, I'M NOT A POLL PERSON, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STRAW POLLS WHICH ARE TAKEN INTERNALLY AMONG GOP AND CPAC ATTENDEES, A GOOD NUMBER OF THOSE FROM THIS SUMMER SHOW GOVERNOR DESANTIS ACTUALLY BEATING PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A PRIMARY IN 2024.

AND YOU GOT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO GOVERNOR DESANTIS WHO IN MANY RESPECTS IS A FRESHMAN GOVERNOR IN HIS FIRST TERM, LARGELY NOT BIG IN THE PARTY BEFORE THIS AND HE IS NOW BEING TALKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS IN RECENT YEARS.

>>AND SO, HE HAS REALLY ROCKETED HIS POSITIONING WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I THINK THERE'S STILL QUESTIONS WHETHER OR NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP ACTUALLY RUNS, BUT IT IS AN ETERNITY BETWEEN NOW AND 2022, MUCH LESS 2024.

I WILL SAY BOTH OF THEM CAN'T RUN TOGETHER, ONCE YOU GET INTO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE RULES, LOOK AT THE 12TH AMENDMENT.

IT CLEARLY REQUIRES THAT A TICKET A PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT ARE FROM TWO DIFFERENT STATES.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ARE BOTH TECHNICALLY LEGALLY FLORIDA RESIDENTS SO, I ALSO DON'T SEE A COMBINED TICKET HAPPENING EITHER.

>>INTERESTING.

AND OF COURSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID THAT HE WOULD EXPECT RON DESANTIS TO DROP OUT WERE HE PRESIDENT TRUMP LIKELY TO RUN AGAIN.

AND YOU CAN JOIN THIS DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, THE ISSUE OF COVID AND ITS IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS CONTINUES TO BE A POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND HERE IN FLORIDA.

>>AS THE FDA CONSIDERS DATA FROM PFIZER ON COVID 19 VACCINATION FOR FIVE TO 11 YEAR OLDS, INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTORS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA SAY SHOTS IN THE ARMS OF YOUNG KIDS WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ENDING THE PANDEMIC.

>>WITH THE EMERGENCE OF DELTA VARIANT, THE VIRUS IS BEHAVING MORE LIKE WHAT WE ARE USED TO SEEING WITH INFLUENZA, WHERE SCHOOLS ARE AN IMPORTANT FOCUS OF INFECTION.

BUT FOR THIS TO WORK, WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.

VACCINES AND VIALS DON'T HELP ANYBODY, VACCINES HAVE TO GO INTO THE ARMS AND ESPECIALLY NOW INTO THE ARMS OF THE PEOPLE WE CHERISH MOST OUR CHILDREN.

>>BUT WITH VACCINATIONS FOR KIDS 11 AND YOUNGER NOT YET AVAILABLE, SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STANDING FIRM ON THEIR INSISTENCE THAT CHILDREN MASK UP IN CLASS DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION.

>>YOU'VE GOT LOCAL POLITICIANS WHO SIMPLY DON'T THINK THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

I FULLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR AND THE COMMISSIONER ENFORCING THE LAW FOR AS LONG AS IT IS THE LAW.

>>UNIVERSAL MASKING POLICIES ARE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING COVID TRANSMISSION, PARTICULARLY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>>AS THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS AGAIN TO DISCUSS MORE PUNISHMENTS FOR DISTRICTS REFUSING TO ALLOW A PARENTAL OPT OUT.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS SAID THE FBI WILL INVESTIGATE WHAT ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND CALLED A DISTURBING SPIKE IN THREATS AGAINST EDUCATORS AS PASSIONS RUN HIGH OVER MASK MANDATES.

BUT IN RESPONSE, GOVERNOR DESANTIS HIT BACK AT THE DOJ DIRECTIVE.

IN A STATEMENT DESANTIS WROTE, ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND IS WEAPONIZING THE DOJ BY USING THE FBI TO PURSUE CONCERNED PARENTS AND SILENCE THEM THROUGH INTIMIDATION, FLORIDA WILL DEFEND THE FREE SPEECH RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS AND WILL NOT ALLOW FEDERAL AGENTS TO SQUELCH DESCENT.

>>WELL, WE ARE TAPING THIS PROGRAM ON THURSDAY MORNING, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL MEET LATER THURSDAY SO THINGS WILL CHANGE BY AIR TIME.

GREG, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

THE STATE HAS RAMPED UP PRESSURE ON THESE DISTRICTS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS IT NOW WANTS TO WITHHOLD STATE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF ANY FEDERAL GRANTS GIVEN TO MAKE UP FOR STATE CUTS TO BOARD SALARIES, DOES SCHOOL BOARDS AT THIS POINT SEEM TO BE STANDING FIRM FOR NOW?

>>I THINK IF ANYTHING THE FEDERAL FUNDING IS ACTUALLY GIVING FURTHER STABILITY TO THESE SCHOOL BOARDS WHO WANT TO HOLD OUT.

IF YOU REMEMBER EARLY ON A LOT OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS WERE WANTING TO PROCEED, CAUTIOUSLY, NOT GO AGAINST THE GOVERNOR AND THEN THAT TIDE STARTED TO TURN AND NOW WITH THE FEDS STEPPING IN AND GIVING A LOT OF SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT WAS THE ALACHUA COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WHO RECENTLY BASICALLY SAID, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET SETTLED IN COURT, QUESTION HERE ALSO GOES BACK TO TIME, HOW LONG DOES THIS GO BACK AND FORTH?

FEDS SEND IN MONEY, STATE TAKES MONEY.

THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT PARENTS AND EDUCATORS AND TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE READY TO GET PAST THE POLITICS OF ALL THIS.

>>THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IS ONE OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS IN QUESTION HERE.

LAUREN, COVID IS YOUR BEAT, THE OTHER TASSEL BETWEEN ORANGE COUNTY AND THE STATE CENTERS ON VACCINE MANDATES.

THE STATE SAYS MAYOR DEMINGS IS BREAKING THE LAW BY REQUIRING COUNTY WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED AND THAT FIRST DEADLINE FOR WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED PAST ALREADY, WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT BACK AND FORTH AND WITH THE OBJECTIONS OF FIREFIGHTERS IN PARTICULAR?

>>WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW LETTERS GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE LATEST THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT THE MAYOR HAD SENT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR BASICALLY SAYING WE ARE NOT BREAKING THE LAW BECAUSE WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO FIRE ANYONE WHO DOES NOT GET VACCINATED.

SO, THEN THE GOVERNOR CAME BACK AND SAID, "WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU TO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU TO IT."

I RESPONDED TO THE STATE AND SAID, "DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY WILL NOT BE FACING ANY FINES AT THIS POINT?"

NO RESPONSE FROM THE STATE ON THAT YET.

>>SO, IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO LET HIM CONTINUE ON WITH THIS WITHOUT GETTING ANY FINES, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY DIFFERENT, BUT HE'S ALSO DEALING WITH ABOUT 40 FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT SAYING THAT HIS VACCINE MANDATE INFRINGES ON THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

AND THE THING IS, THEY WERE HAPPY WHEN HE CAME OUT AND SAID THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO FIRE ANYONE OVER THIS, BUT THEY'RE STILL FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD BE GETTING WRITTEN REPRIMANDS AND IN FACT, THEY DID ON FRIDAY AFTER THAT FIRST DEADLINE PASSED.

AND SO, THEY THINK THAT THIS IS STILL TOO MUCH DISCIPLINE BECAUSE SOME FIREFIGHTERS ALREADY HAVE WRITTEN REPRIMANDS.

SO, A SECOND ONE WOULD STILL MEAN TERMINATION FOR THEM.

>>GREG, LET'S GO BACK TO EDUCATION A MINUTE.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID THIS WEEK THAT FLORIDA HAD MISSED A DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ITS PLANS FOR 2.3 BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL AID FOR FLORIDA SCHOOLS.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT AND HOW HAS THE STATE RESPONDED?

>>WELL, THE STATE IS SAYING UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT IT HAS NOT MISSED ANY DEADLINES.

THE FOLKS WITH FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAY THEY HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TELLING THEM THAT THEY WERE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL TIME TO PROPERLY PUT THESE REQUESTS AND APPLICATIONS TOGETHER.

US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THEIR LETTERS IS TELLING THE STATE THAT, YOU MISSED THE DEADLINES, YOU'VE MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP THIS FUNDING AND THAT THE FEDS IN DC ARE FIELDING COMPLAINTS FROM VARIOUS FLORIDA DISTRICTS TALKING ABOUT LOSING MONEY.

SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE GOVERNOR SAYS, LOOK, THEY STILL HAVE THE FIRST ROUND OF AID THAT IS HELPING TO SUPPORT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS ARE MET.

BUT AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE POLITICS ENTERING EVERY FACET OF LIFE, EVERY FACET OF BUSINESS AND EDUCATION.

AND SO, IT IS JUST YET ANOTHER UNRESOLVED ISSUE THAT THIS STATE IS HAVING TO CONTEND WITH, WITH NO REAL CRYSTAL BALL ON EXACTLY HOW IT'S GOING TO BE FINALIZED BECAUSE OF THE INFLUENCE OF POLITICS.

>>LAUREN, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR REPORTING THAT YOU'VE DONE RECENTLY.

YOU'VE BEEN REPORTING ON PARENTS WHO ARE PREPARING THEIR KIDS AGED FIVE TO 11 TO GET THE COVID VACCINE ONCE IT'S APPROVED.

HOW ARE PARENTS FEELING ABOUT THAT FROM YOUR CONVERSATIONS?

>>STEVE, ITS INTERESTING BECAUSE SOME OF THE SAME PARENTS WHO COULD NOT LINE UP FAST ENOUGH TO GET THE VACCINE THEMSELVES ARE STILL A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR KIDS AND THEY WANT TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE DATA SHOWS.

ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE REASON THAT THIS AGE GROUP IS TAKING LONGER IS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO LOOK TO SEE IF THE DOSES WOULD BE THE SAME FOR A CHILD WHO WEIGHS MUCH LESS THAN AN ADULT WOULD.

AND SO, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT DURING THE STUDIES AND THE GREAT THING IS WE'VE HAD SO MANY PEDIATRICIANS COME OUT AND SAY, AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THIS AGE GROUP, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THIS COULD BE A REAL GAME CHANGER IN THE PANDEMIC FOR US.

AND EVEN LAST WEEK, WE SAW SOME PEDIATRICIANS HERE LOCALLY COME OUT AND SAY THAT THEY HAD CHILDREN IN THIS AGE GROUP, THE FIVE TO 11 YEARS OLD AND THEY WOULD BE LINING UP FIRST TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED.

>>CERTAINLY A LOT OF ISSUES THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING AND IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME FOR PARENTS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

YOU CAN FIND MUCH MORE, INCLUDING MY EXTENDED CHAT WITH NANCY ON OUR WEBSITE, IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK I'M AFRAID, MY THANKS TO GREG ANGEL FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND LAUREN SEABROOK OF WFTV CHANNEL 9.

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

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.