THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS IN FORT MYERS, SIGNING NEW LEGISLATION THAT TARGETS TEACHERS UNIONS.

IN THE MEANTIME, DESANTIS IS READY AND WAITING TO SIGN THE NEW BILL INTO LAW TO REDRAW FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

THE NEW MAPS IMPACT UPCOMING ELECTIONS.

HE TALKED WITH THE FLORIDA HOUSE MINORITY LEADER FOR HER THOUGHTS ON WHAT THESE MAPS WILL MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA'S ELECTIONS.

AND AN UPDATE ON THE LAWSUIT AIMED AT SHUTTING DOWN ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ.

WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE DOING AFTER IT WAS RULED THAT THE IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITY CAN MAINTAIN OPERATIONS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS WAS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY SIGNING 2 NEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION FOCUSING ON EDUCATION AND TURNING THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION INTO LAW.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE HELD AT FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNOR DESANTIS MOVE FORWARD ON THE BILLS.

ONE THAT PUTS RESTRICTIONS ON FLORIDA.

TEACHERS UNIONS AND ANOTHER THAT INCENTIVIZES HIGH-PERFORMING TEACHERS TO RELOCATE TO LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY WEEK FOR THE GOVERNOR WHO IS ALSO EXPECTED TO SIGN OFF ON THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS VOTED ON BY THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> JOINING ME NOW TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF THESE MOVES AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS GOING FORWARD IS FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DOCTOR SANDRA PAVELKA WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS.

WELCOME TODAY.

THANKS, JOHN.

COULD YOU FIRST SUMMARIZE FOR US WHAT HAPPENED IN TALLAHASSEE ON WEDNESDAY WITH THE FLORIDA LAWMAKERS AND THEIR VOTE TO REDRAW OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS.

YEAH.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE VOTING ON A PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP THAT DESANTIS HAD DRAFTED AND PUT FORTH.

>> AND WHAT IT AIMS TO DO IS TO FLIP 4 OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS CURRENTLY HELD BY DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICANS.

CURRENTLY WE CAN.

WE HAVE 28 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THEM.

THEY HAVE 20 DEMOCRATS HAVE 8.

BUT IF THE FALL ELECTION GOES THE WAY DESANTIS THINK SIT WELL WITH THE WAY HE'S WHEN THESE NEW MAP BOUNDARIES FOR HALF OF THE DEMOCRATIC SEATS THAT FLORIDA CURRENTLY HAS WOULD FLIP TO REPUBLICAN.

NOW, THIS SPECIFIC ONES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THE DEMOCRATIC STATES THAT ARE IN DANGER NOW ARE AT THE TAMPA BAY AREA THAT'S REPRESENTED BY KATHY CASTOR AND CENTRAL FLORIDA DARREN SOTO SEAT.

ALSO DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ AND LOIS FRANKEL SEATS IN SOUTH FLORIDA, FEDERICO WILSON SEE DOES SEEM LIKE IT'S STILL GOING TO BE SAFE AS THOSE JARED MOSKOWITZ SAYS SO.

BUT IT REALLY IS JUST TARGETING THOSE 4.

AND I WAS CURIOUS, DOCTOR, PROVOKING TO GET YOUR OPINION ON.

HOW DESANTIS CHOSE TO TARGET, WHICH DEMOCRATIC LEANING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS HE WANTED TO FLIP WITH THIS BECAUSE ALL OF THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE HAD SPOTS WITH THE GOVERNOR, AT LEAST IDEOLOGICALLY.

WELL, THESE ARE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE REALLY >> STRONG DEMOCRATIC BASE DISTRICTS FOR YEARS AND I THINK IT'S IN TERMS OF STRATEGY THAT THE GOVERNOR REALLY WANTED TO IDENTIFY THESE DISTRICTS IN AND CHANGE THOSE THOSE BOUNDARIES FOR THOSE CONGRESSIONAL LINES.

BUT I REALLY THINK IT IT ITS STRATEGIC ON THE GOVERNOR'S PART, PERSONAL.

>> YEAH.

HOW DID HOW DID THE VOTE FALL?

WAS IT STRICTLY ALONG PARTY LINES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE?

>> IT WAS MOSTLY ALONG PARTY LINES.

THERE WERE 4 REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE WHO BROKE RANKS WITH THEIR PARTY AND VOTED AGAINST THE MAP OUTSIDE JASON BRODER, JENNIFER BRADLEY, CAROL HARRELL AND DEBBIE MAYFIELD.

THEY GAVE OF A FEW REASONS FOR WHY THEY COULDN'T SUPPORT THE MAPS.

PRIMARILY THE LEGAL RISK OF THE MAPS BEING STRUCK DOWN IN COURTS.

ALSO JUST THE SPEED WITH WHICH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAPPENED AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE VOTING ON A MAP THAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED THERE WERE NO ALTERNATIVE MAP PROPOSALS BEING LOOKED AT.

THERE WAS NO KIND OF LEGISLATIVE COMPROMISE, WHICH IS A MORE TRADITIONAL WAY OF DOING THINGS.

BUT MAINLY THEY WERE WORRIED THAT THIS WOULD VIOLATE THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS THAT FLORIDA VOTERS AND TRYING TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION IN 2010.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THOSE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS?

YEAH.

SO THOSE BASICALLY ENSHRINED IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION THAT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT LINES COULD NOT BE DRAWN TO FAVOR A PARTY OR AN INCUMBENT OR TO DIMINISH MINORITY VOTERS ABILITY TO ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE.

BUT ITS ALSO INTERESTING BECAUSE THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF DIMINISHING MINORITY VOTERS ABILITY TO ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE, LIES AT THE HEART OF A LANDMARK U.S.

SUPREME COURT DECISION WHICH ALSO CAME DOWN WEDNESDAY.

>> AND HOW DOES THAT ALL COME INTO PLAY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR STATE LEVEL?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT IS THAT WE'RE IN THE WHOLE POINT ABOUT AMENDMENT AND OUR CONSTITUTION IS TO ENSURE FAIRNESS AND COMPETITIVENESS IN ELECTIONS.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT THAT THE ONUS IS UPON.

NOT ONLY THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR, BUT ALSO THE VOTERS.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT THAT OUR VOTERS AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS REALLY NEED TO TAKE TO HEART.

AND IS THIS MAP?

CREATING FAIR ELECTIONS?

IS IT CREATING COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS?

>> AND HOW DOES THIS IMPACT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

>> WELL, THE NEW MAP REALLY MINIMALLY EFFECTS US BECAUSE WE ARE TRADITIONALLY SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THAT IS TRADITIONALLY A REPUBLICAN OR A REAL RED KIND OF AREA WITHIN THE STATE IT IT HASN'T BEEN RUN.

REDRAWN HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AT AS OTHER DISTRICTS THAT JOHN MENTIONED.

BUT IT HAS AFFECTED KIND OF THE NORTHERN AND TO SOME EXTENT AND THE SOUTHERN SOUTHERN KIND OF GOES FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST.

AND THE NORTHERN MAP GOES FURTHER NORTH TOWARDS SARASOTA, WHICH SO 17 IN 19 ARE AFFECTED.

MINIMALLY.

THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

>> AND I WAS THINKING OF SOMETHING THAT I I READ WAS SENATOR BRADLEY, WHO'S ONE OF THE GOP MEMBERS THAT VOTED AGAINST THESE MAPS SAYING THAT IT'S, QUOTE, BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THAT BRINGS US TO THERE ARE A LOT OF VOTING RIGHTS GROUPS THAT ARE VOWING TO CERTAINLY FILE LEGAL CHALLENGES AS WE SPEAK.

WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS ANY UPDATE OR STATUS ON THAT ON LITIGATION THAT COULD ENSUE FROM THIS?

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NOTHING HAS BEEN FILED YET, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY COMING.

IT'S DEFINITELY COME.

I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF IT HADN'T.

>> AND A LOT OF THESE GROUPS ARE LIKE THE NAACP.

THE ACLU COMMON CAUSE FLORIDA, FAIR DISTRICTS.

NOW THESE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE HAD LEGAL BATTLES WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE FLORIDA EXECUTIVE BRANCH OVER REDISTRICTING IN THE PAST YOU KNOW, I I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT ANY CHALLENGE THAT'S FILED IS GOING TO BE RESOLVED IN TIME FOR THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

BUT EVEN IF THAT DID HAPPEN, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE PURCELL PRINCIPLE, BUT I THINK WOULD MAKE IT EVEN LESS LIKELY THAT IT WOULD HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND THAT GOES BACK TO A SUPREME COURT DECISION FROM 2006 IN ARIZONA.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT A HARD AND FAST RULE, BUT IT DOES JUST BASICALLY MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO IMPOSE ANY NEW CHANGES TO ELECTION LAW SO CLOSE TO AN ELECTION.

>> SO THERE ARE A COUPLE SCENARIOS THAT MAY HAPPEN IF THE IF THE COURT DOES ADDRESSES AND AND DECIDES TO VOTE ON IT.

SO THE THE THE COURT CAN ACTUALLY VOTE TO UPHOLD THE MAP.

THAT WOULD BE ONE OPTION.

ONE SCENARIO A SECOND WOULD BE A STRIKE IT DOWN COMPLETELY AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY REDRAW THE MAP OR SEND IT BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR THEIR REVISIONS.

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE SCENARIOS IN CASE THAT THE COURT IS ABLE WELL, IF THERE ARE ANY LEGAL AND B, IF IF THEY DO MAKE IT TO THE COURT AND THEY CAN OBVIOUSLY MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ACCORDINGLY.

AND ALSO WITH THIS NEW SUPREME COURT DECISION, YOU KNOW, CONCERNING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

>> AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS HERE IN THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION.

THEY COULD RULE THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, WAIT AND SEE.

WE WILL.

AND WE SAW THIS IN LOUISIANA WHERE LOUISIANA'S WAS STRUCK DOWN.

OBVIOUSLY.

>> THAT WAS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK, TOO.

SO THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON WITH REGARD TO REDUCE REDISTRICTING AND AND COURT OPINIONS.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

DOCTOR PAVELKA FROM FGCU AND OF COURSE, OUR HOST.

>> FROM WGCU JOHN DAVIS.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP NEXT, FLORIDA HOUSE MINORITY LEADER FENTRICE DRISKELL JOINS US TO OFFER HER THOUGHTS.

WHAT THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA ELECTIONS.

ONE OF THE ISSUES STEMMING FROM THE PASSAGE OF THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN FLORIDA WAS THE LACK OF CONVERSATION HELD BY BOTH PARTIES.

NO HOUSE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, ASIDE FROM REPRESENTATIVE JAN, A PERSON'S MULLICA DEBATED A PROPOSAL FROM GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

THE LEGISLATION PASSED THE HOUSE.

83 TO 28.

WE REACHED OUT TO REPRESENTATIVE PERSONS-MULICKA AND HER OFFICE FOR COMMENT.

BUT WE HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM EITHER PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS AS OF YET JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT THE NEW MAPS WILL HAVE ON VOTERS IS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER FENTRICE DRISKELL REPRESENTATIVE DRISKELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE FACT THAT BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ESSENTIALLY RUBBER STAMP TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL?

THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT A TOP AIDE FOR THE GOVERNOR WHO CLAIMED SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REDRAWING THE MAPS.

ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT HE RELIED ON PARTISAN DATA TO CREATE THESE NEW MAPS, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY A VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON REDRAWING THOSE LINES FOR PARTISAN GAIN OR GERRYMANDERING.

>> WE JUST TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.

THIS MAP IS AN ILLEGAL PARTISAN, GERRYMANDER, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

AND YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY.

WHY WOULD THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE EFFECTIVELY GIVE UP THEIR POWER SEAT, THEIR POWER TO THE GOVERNOR?

WELL, WE KNOW THAT NONE OF THIS TOOK PLACE IN A VACUUM AND WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE CONTEXT, WHICH IS THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAID THAT HE WANTED TO MAINTAIN A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONGRESS TO THE MIDTERMS.

THAT IS WHEN DESANTIS, YOU KNOW, JUMPED INTO ACTION AND SAID THAT WE WOULD DO MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING AND THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WENT ALONG WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S ALL IN SERVICE TO DONALD TRUMP.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW UNUSUAL IT IS TO HAVE A MID DECADE REDRAWING?

>> OF THESE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP?

SO OUR AUDIENCE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO UNUSUAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT WE GO THROUGH A REDISTRICTING AND REAPPORTIONMENT PROCESS ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS BASED ON THE CENSUS BASED ON THE RESEARCH THAT MY TEAM AND I DID, WE CANNOT FIND ANY EXAMPLE OF WHERE FLORIDA HAS EVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

AND WE'VE BEEN A STATE IN THIS UNION FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

SO IN THE HUNDREDS OF YEARS THAT WE'VE EXISTED, WE CAN'T FIND ANY EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE'VE WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE AS A STATE.

IT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CENSUS DATA TO DRAW THE MAPS TO IN ORDER TO SUBSTANTIATE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO REDRAW THESE LINES AND TRACK POPULATION MOVEMENTS.

AND SO IT'S BIZARRE FOR FROM A NUMBER OF STANDPOINTS FIRST THAT WE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.

AND SECOND, THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE DATA TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> AND WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU REALIZE THESE MAPS WERE RELEASED ON FOX NEWS ON THE MONDAY MORNING PRIOR TO LAWMAKERS EVEN GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THEM.

>> I GOTTA TELL YOU, I WAS SHOCKED.

>> NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION, HIS TERM, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REMEMBERED FOR ONE OF THE LEAST TRANSPARENT IN FLORIDA HISTORY.

>> HE DOESN'T ALWAYS LIKE TO MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO THE PRESS.

HE THE OTHER.

THEY DRAG THEIR FEET ON PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD.

EVEN FOR ME TO GET INFORMATION AS A LAWMAKER.

SO IT WASN'T SURPRISING TO ME THAT THEY WERE WITHHOLDING INFORMATION, BUT IT WAS SHOCKING THE WAY THAT THEY RELEASED IT.

AND I THINK IT WAS A DISRESPECT TO THEM MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND CERTAINLY TO THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA, NOT ALL OF WHOM ARE FANS OF FOX NEWS.

I MEAN, IT THINGS ARE JUST GETTING WAY TOO PARTISAN IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO ME.

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW SO MANY OF FLORIDIANS FEEL LIKE GOVERNMENTS NOT WORKING FOR THEM OR PEOPLE AREN'T LISTENING TO THEM.

IT'S BECAUSE ALL THESE POLITICAL GAMES AND POLITICAL STUNTS ARE BEING PLAYED WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH THIS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD GROCERIES AND GAS AND HEALTH CARE AND RENT.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE STATE IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

UNDER DESANTIS IS LEADERSHIP.

>> AND WE HAVE 28 DISTRICTS, 20 ARE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

BUT THESE NEW MAPS THAT ARE GOP FRIENDLY DISTRICTS, THEY AIM TO FLIP 4 OF THE 8 DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS TO READ WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS WE APPROACHED THE MIDTERMS?

>> IT IS TO HELP THE REPUBLICANS KEEP A MAJORITY IN CONGRESS IN THE MIDTERMS AND WHEN ASKED MYSELF, WHY IS THAT THEY WOULD DO THIS IS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEIR POLICIES ARE FAILING ON IMMIGRATION.

THEIR POLICIES ARE NOT POPULAR.

PEOPLE ARE FEELING LIKE THIS IS NOT WHAT I VOTED FOR IT.

IT'S GONE TOO FAR WITH THE WAR IN IRAN.

PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING WHY ARE WE SENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND TO FUND THIS CONFLICT THAT THIS IS TRUMP'S CHOSEN MORE.

THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHERE HIS POLICIES ARE FAILING AND RATHER THAN STAND TO ACCOUNT AND JUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND LET THE PEOPLE VOTE AND CHOOSE THEIR POLITICIANS.

HE IS IN IN INJECTED HIMSELF INTO THE PROCESS, INSERTED HIMSELF INTO THE PROCESS WITH ALL OF THIS DO I?

I THINK AS MORE INFORMATION COMES OUT, WE'RE GOING TO FIND INCREASING INFORMATION ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION I WAS WORKING WITH THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION TO DRAW THIS MAP AND IT'S ALL ABOUT HELPING THE REPUBLICANS RETAIN POWER IN CONGRESS IN THE MIDTERMS.

>> WHAT KIND OF LEGAL CHALLENGE IS CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE UNFOLD?

>> WELL, FOR STARTERS, WE KNOW THAT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING IS STILL ILLEGAL UNDER STATE LAW.

THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENT STILL ARE THE LAW OF THE LAND IN FLORIDA.

AND SO YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE A CHALLENGE ON THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, THESE DISTRICTS, I BELIEVE, HAVE SOME RACIAL DIMINISHMENT AND THAT TO GET TOO IN THE WEEDS AND SOUND TOO MUCH LIKE THE LAWYER.

I AM.

THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE WITH REDISTRICTING THAT IF THERE IS A DISTRICT THAT IS A RACIALLY PROTECTED DISTRICT, YOU CANNOT DRAW NEW DISTRICT THAT DIMINISHES THE ABILITY OF THAT GROUP TO ELECT THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT AT LEAST 3 OUT OF 4 OF THESE DISTRICTS, THERE IS DIMINISHMENT.

SO I THINK WE'LL SEE THAT.

I THINK YOU CAN EXPECT A NUMBER OF LEGAL CHALLENGES AND HOPEFULLY THOSE CHALLENGES WILL BE EXPEDITED SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME RULINGS BEFORE THE ACTUAL ELECTION THIS YEAR.

>> SO HOW DOES ALL OF THIS IMPACT VOTERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA?

IN THE MEANTIME?

>> WELL, FOR VOTERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE JUST TOLD YOU THAT YOUR VOICE DOESN'T MATTER, THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THESE MEMBERS HAVE VERY DIFFERENT POSITIONS, OFTENTIMES DEPENDENT UPON THE PARTY THAT THEY ARE A MEMBER OF.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OF ICE WHEN IT COMES TO HOLDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACCOUNTABLE, WHETHER OR NOT WE FUND THE WAR IN IRAN ON, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT A MEDIC HERE AT CONTINUES IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT CONTINUES.

IT MATTERS WHETHER YOU'RE PUTTING REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE IN TAMPA BAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE I REPRESENT CONGRESSWOMAN KATHY CASTOR IS OUR PARK AND OUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR TAMPA BAY.

AND WE VOTED TO PUT HER THERE AND NOW THEY'RE EFFECTIVELY TAKING THAT AWAY, MAKING IT HARDER FOR HER TO RETAIN HER SEAT, THEREFORE, MAKING IT HARDER FOR US TO EXPRESS OUR VALUES IN THAT ELECTION.

AND THAT'S HAPPENED IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND IN SOUTH FLORIDA WITH THESE GERRYMANDERED MAPS.

THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA AND WILL NOW BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR VALUES THROUGH THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND ELECT A CANDIDATE THAT ACTUALLY REFLECTS THOSE VALUES AND WHO WILL GO TO CONGRESS AND FIGHT FOR YOU.

>> WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE ULTIMATE EFFECT AND GOAL?

FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, AS IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEING REPORTED THAT MORE STATES ARE WORKING TO REDRAW THEIR MAPS AHEAD OF THE MIDTERM.

SEVERAL STATES, INCLUDING TEXAS, NORTH CAROLINA AND MISSOURI READ DREW MAPS TO FAVOR REPUBLICANS.

CALIFORNIA DID PASS A MAP THAT'S FAVORABLE TO DEMOCRATS AS WELL.

WHAT IS THE THE BIG PICTURE IN ALL OF THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS IN 11TH GRADE AND I TAKE AP GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS AND MY TEACHER COACH TAYLOR POURED INTO ME.

WE WOULD STAY AFTER CLASS TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRACY INTO TOCQUEVILLE AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE.

IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, ITS AN EROSION OF FUNDAMENTAL DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES BECAUSE RATHER THAN FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION BOTH FEDERALLY AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE SEE A LOT OF POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP AND IT'S ALL ABOUT POWER AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO STARTED THIS FIGHT.

THE PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT DONALD TRUMP AS THE ONE WHO SET OFF THIS RACE TO THE BOTTOM.

WE'RE NOW YOU HAVE GOT, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN LED STATES LIKE THIS ONE JUMPING INTO THE FRAY AND DOING SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE HAVING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DRAW A MAP OF WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEGISLATURE THAT DOES THAT AND ENGAGING IN MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING AND STRIPPING REPRESENTATION AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S OUR DEMOCRACY THAT LOSES.

WE NEED MORE STABILITY.

WE NEED MORE BALANCE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

AND IF THEY TURNOUT IN THE MIDTERMS AND ACTUALLY DO THEIR BEST TO ELECT CANDIDATES WHO REFLECT THEIR VALUES AND WILL TRY TO BRING US BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF SANITY AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA, WHICH I KNOW I HEAR IN MY COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

I BELIEVE IN YOUR FREEDOM TO BE HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND SAFE.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

REPRESENTATIVE DRISKELL.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE LATEST ON THE LEGAL CHALLENGE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AGAINST ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ.

WE LEARN ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.

THEY SAY THEY ARE TAKING TO HELP PROTECT THE EVERGLADES.

DESPITE AN ONGOING LAWSUIT AGAINST THE IMMIGRANT DETENTION FACILITY KNOWN AS ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ OPERATIONS AT THE EVERGLADES SITE CONTINUE.

THAT DECISION WAS MADE LAST MONTH WHEN THE 11TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED THE FACILITY CAN STAY OPEN IN THE HEART OF THE BIG CYPRESS.

WHILE THE LEGAL BATTLES WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAMPLES JOINS US NOW FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SITE.

CAN YOU FIRST SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE?

MS SAMPLES THE BACKGROUND OF THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND WHAT WHAT PROMPTED THE LAWSUIT AGAINST ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ >> SURE.

SO LAST SUMMER IN JUNE OF 2025, A PROPOSAL WAS RULED OUT WITH ANY WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC TO BUILD AN IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN THE HEART OF THE EVERGLADES AND BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE.

THIS IS HALLOWED GROUND FOR FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES IS ACTUALLY THE REASON MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS FOUNDED FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES 1969 WAS TO PROTECT THIS VERY SAME LOCATION FROM DEVELOPMENT.

BACK THEN IT WAS PLANS FOR WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORLD'S LARGEST AIRPORT.

AND THEN LAST SUMMER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FLORIDA AND THE GOVERNOR, FLORIDA ROLLED OUT PLANS FOR A MASS IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTER IN THE HEART OF BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE.

SO FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES SPRUNG INTO ACTION WITH OUR ALLIES THAT CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AS WELL AS THE MICCOSUKEE TRIBE AND FILED A LAWSUIT UNDER THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT.

THIS IS A BEDROCK ENVIRONMENTAL LAW THAT REQUIRES THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK BEFORE IT LEAPS TO STUDY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF ITS ACTIONS TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES AND TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT AND NONE OF THOSE THINGS HAPPENED BEFORE ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ WAS BUILT LAST SUMMER AND WE HAD A BIG SUCCESS IN COURT LAST SUMMER WHERE WE SCORED A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION THAT ORDERED TO WINDING DOWN OF ACTIVITY AT THE SITE THAT INJUNCTION WAS LATER PAUSE ON APPEAL AND THEN JUST RECENTLY IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, THE APPEALS COURT DID RULE THAT THAT INJUNCTION WILL NOT STAND.

BUT OUR WHOLE CASE LIES AHEAD OF US.

AND WE FILED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS THAT ARE BEING VIOLATED AT THE SITE EVERY DAY THAT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ REMAINS OPEN.

THE EVERGLADES ARE HARMED AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO STOP THAT HARM.

>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPECIFIC SPECIES THAT YOU'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS PRIME HABITAT FOR THE FLORIDA PANTHER.

IN FACT, DURING OUR HEARINGS LAST SUMMER IN FEDERAL COURT OF FLORIDA PANTHER EXPERT TESTIFIED, BUT THE HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN TO THE SITE HAS REMOVED ABOUT 2000 ACRES OF FLORIDA PANTHER HABITAT.

REMEMBER, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 200 FLORIDA PANTHERS LEFT IN THE WILD.

SO EVERY ACRE OF HABITAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THIS SITE HAS DESTROYED 2000 ACRES FROM THAT'S A VITAL SPECIES WHOSE FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR SURVIVAL ARE BEING DISRUPTED UNHARMED BY THE OPERATIONS OF THIS FACILITY IS ALSO PRIME TERRITORY FOR THE FLORIDA BOND AND THAT ANOTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEN BE ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONCERNS.

THERE ARE REALLY SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT NEW ASPHALT THAT HAS BEEN LAID AT THE SITE WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

AT LEAST 20 ACRES OF NEW ASPHALT LATER, THE SITE SURROUNDED BY EVERGLADES WETLANDS.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BUILD A PATIO IN YOUR BACKYARD IN FLORIDA WITHOUT GETTING THE PROPER PERMITTING.

AND HERE WE HAVE OUR GOVERNMENT GOING ROGUE, BUILDING NEW ASPHALT IN THE EVERGLADES WITHOUT REVIEW.

SINCE IT'S A CONCERN.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE DETERMINED TO HALT THE HARMFUL ACTIVITY THERE.

>> AND FINALLY, ONE IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE LEGAL PROCESS.

>> YES, SO WE WILL RETURN TO FEDERAL COURT AT SOME POINT IN THE COMING WEEKS.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THAT WILL BE YET.

AND WE HAVE FILED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

WE ACTUALLY DID THAT LAST SUMMER AND UNDER OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

SO WE WILL BE BUILDING OUR CASE WHEN WE RETURN TO COURT.

WE'RE HEADED BACK TO JUDGE KATHLEEN WILLIAMS COURTROOM, WHICH IS WHERE WE HAD OUR 4 DAYS OF HEARINGS LAST SUMMER.

AND THERE IS EVEN MORE EVIDENCE NOW THAT WE'RE EAGER TO PRESENT, FOR INSTANCE, WE KNOW NOW THAT FEMA AWARDED A 608 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR THE FACILITY HERE AND THAT EVIDENCE WAS NOT PRESENTED IN COURT LAST SUMMER.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN CONTROL OF THE SITE RELATES TO WHETHER THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THESE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

AND WE BELIEVE THE EVIDENCE IS VERY CLEAR THAT THEY THEY DO AND THEY SHOULD.

AND THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA WANT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY TO.

>> THIS COULD TAKE YEARS TO WIND ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

COULD IT NOT?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

WE CERTAINLY HOPE FOR A SWIFTER OUTCOME BECAUSE EVERY DAY THAT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ REMAINS OPEN MORE HARM IS INFLICTED ON THE EVERGLADES.

SO WE'LL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO EXPEDITE THIS CASE TO ENSURE THAT THE HARM STOPS AND THAT THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AN ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ AND THE EVERGLADES CAN BE RESTORED IN A MANNER THAT IS TRANSPARENT.

AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND GIVING US THE LATEST UPDATE ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR LITIGATION AGAINST THE STATE AND FEDERER.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

THANKS.

ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, AUTISM DIAGNOSIS IS ARE UP 300% OVER THE PAST 2 DECADES.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RISING CASES AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCREENING PROCESS FOR CHILDREN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.