In today’s polarized political climate, there’s still one policy point most Americans agree on: Members of Congress shouldn’t be allowed to trade stocks.There’s been a bipartisan group workingto ban the practice. Under current law, members are allowed to buy and sell stocks, even though they have the power to regulate companies. But they must quickly and publicly report their trades (which they don’t always do, to little consequence).Last week, House Speaker MIKE JOHNSON said he supported a stock trade prohibition, citing the “appearance of impropriety.” President DONALD TRUMPsupports a ban (though he has faced conflict-of-interest scrutiny over his businesses), as does Gov. RON DESANTIS.Florida’s delegation varies widely in its practices and positions on this issue. One measure, the TRUST in Congress Act, would have members place investments into a blind trust. It counts Democratic Rep. JARED MOSKOWITZ as the lone rep from Florida to cosponsor — though records show a financial adviser manages his stock portfolio, which includes trades in companies like Amazon and Honeywell.Newest GOP Reps. RANDY FINE and JIMMY PATRONIS haven’t reported selling any stock since their April elections, though they have extensive portfolios. Fine’s IRA shows he holds investments in companies like Apple, Home Depot and ExxonMobil, while Patronis’ brokerage account includes shares in Google parent company Alphabet, aerospace and defense company Boeing and for-profit hospital chain HCA Healthcare.Over in the Senate, the office of ASHLEY MOODY said she’d been part of a family investment partnership managed by a financial adviser without her input. Records show more than 50 stocks were traded this year — some valued between $100,000 to $250,000, including in chips company NVIDIA Corp and pharma giant Eli Lilly. Her office said that after the Senate appointment, she “immediately” took steps to withdraw from the partnership, a move finalized in April, and that she would “absolutely support” legislation “to ensure there is no appearance of impropriety” on member stock trading.A financial adviser who manages Rep. BYRON DONALDS’ IRA made numerous trades this year, including in internet service provider GoDaddy and delivery service DoorDash. A Donalds spokesperson said the trades are all done “without the direction or approval” of the Donaldses and that the gubernatorial candidate “believes members and spouses should be banned from initiating and executing stock trades.” (Donalds previously failed to disclose trades in a timely manner when he first came to Congress.) GOP Rep. NEAL DUNN has a similar broker arrangement and said he supports the current reporting standards.Democratic Rep. LOIS FRANKEL’s financial adviser moved her assets into ETFs, as well as into mutual funds, after she faced questions over trades in 2023. GOP Rep. MIKE HARIDOPOLOS backed up Johnson’s call for a ban over social media and told Playbook he sold his individual stocks when he decided to run for Congress. He now holds only broad-based mutual funds.Of Florida’s 30-member delegation, at least seven don’t own, buy or sell stocks, nor do their spouses or dependent children, a Playbook review of public records showed. They include GOP Reps. KAT CAMMACK, CORY MILLS and DANIEL WEBSTER and Democrats DARREN SOTO, FREDERICA WILSON, SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK and MAXWELL FROST.Democratic Rep. KATHY CASTOR only has investments held in exchange-traded funds. She supports a ban, she said, because of “recent brazen market manipulation by President Trump and arbitrary tariff announcements that appear to have benefited some Republicans in Congress.”Members whodidn’t own stock but reported some among dependent children included GOP Reps. MARIO DIAZ-BALART and BRIAN MAST, and Democrat DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. GOP Reps. MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR and GREG STEUBE reported trades for their spouses since the start of 2024 but didn’t trade themselves. Steube said in a statement that he supports a ban, saying, “This kind of self-dealing is exactly why trust in Congress is at an all-time low.”Republican Rep.LAUREL LEEholds stock but hasn’t bought or sold while in office, though her spouse has. And Rep. ANNA PAULINA LUNA, also a Republican, doesn’t own stocks but did invest in the private energy company America First Natural Resources.Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at:.
‘CASTING A CLOUD’ — “Florida A&M University named Marva Johnson, a vice president of government affairs at Charter Communications with ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top Republicans, as the school’s new president Friday in a decision that went against the wishes of many top alumni,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “Johnson, who led the state Board of Education under former Gov. Rick Scott, takes the reins at the highly respected historically Black university during a critical time for the school, as the Trump and DeSantis administrations reshape higher education by targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. And she will do so without initial support from many alumni and students who vehemently opposed her as a finalist for the top job at the state’s only public HBCU.”ON DECK — Get ready for some bill actions. The Florida Legislature on Friday officially sent DeSantis 54 bills — slightly more than one-fifth of all bills passed during the 2025 session. The governor has until Friday to act on the legislation since the Legislature is still technically in session. DeSantis did sign eight of the 54 bills late last week, but there are several notable bills he needs to act on in the next few days.— “Recyclable wine container measure tapped into law by Ron DeSantis,”by Drew Dixon of Florida Politics.‘A STEP BACK’ — “The Trump family and the city of Doral are once again fighting Miami-Dade County after legislation that could have ended a yearslong showdown over a defunct waste-to-energy incinerator died in the Florida Legislature,” reports POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez.“After President Donald Trump’s reelection, Eric Trump joined Doral residents in opposing the incinerator, which stands nearly 3 miles away from the Trump National Doral resort. Although residents hoped his involvement would spark change statewide, it wasn’t enough to pass the legislation.”PAGING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL — “The National Rifle Association (NRA) on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its challenge to Florida’s ban on firearm purchases by adults under 21,” reports Mitch Perry of Florida Phoenix. “The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denied the legal challenge by the NRA in March. … Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said after that ruling that his office would not defend the law if in fact the NRA filed an appeal with the high court.”— “Hope Florida’s foster care claims ring hollow, child welfare groups say,”by Christopher O’Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times.— “After ‘Officer Jason Raynor Act’ dies near finish line, its sponsors disagree on who killed it,”by Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics.— “Florida fights ruling that it violated Endangered Species Act threatening manatees,”by Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida.— “25 years of ‘unintended consequences’: Tallahassee players look back on a quarter century of term limits,”by Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics.
WILES WEIGHS IN — “Susie Wiles, President Donald J. Trump’s chief of staff, blasted a controversial and fast-tracked proposal backed by Florida regulators that would trade 600 acres of sensitive and prized public land in St. Johns County to a private developer, calling the proposed swap ‘outrageous’ and a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ in a statement to The Tributary on Sunday,” reports The Tributary’s Nate Monroe. “Wiles, who has decades-long ties to Northeast Florida, called for members of the Acquisition and Restoration Council — an obscure body of bureaucrats and political appointees thrust into the headlines over the contested land deal — to vote down the ‘land grab.’”ABOUT THAT SAME DEAL— “State Rep. Kim Kendall, a Republican from St. Augustine, sent an email blast to every member of the Florida House around 4:30 a.m. Saturday asking for help building opposition,” reports Emily Mahoney and Max Chesnes of the Tampa Bay Times. “She also emailed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, asking them to reveal the identity of the person or company behind the proposal, she told the Tampa Bay Times.”CAMPAIGN STARTING —The Brigid Alliance, an abortion support organization, says it is launching an ad campaign in three Southern states — Louisiana, Georgia and Florida — designed to highlight services the group provides including travel assistance to go to states with less stringent abortion laws. In Florida, the organization plans to run digital and audio ads on Facebook, Instagram, Google and Pandora that will direct people to an information page. Last year Florida put in place a six-week ban on abortion.— “Is killing Florida bears a good way to control them,”by Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel.— “Florida just created a law to ban fluoride in water. What should you do?”by Cindy Krischer Goodman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.— “Shootings prompt Kissimmee, Orlando to look at booze sales, downtown safety,”by Natalia Jaramillo and Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel.— “Hillsborough Judge Nancy Jacobs to resign after panel recommends removal,”by Dan Sullivan of the Tampa Bay Times.
FOR YOUR RADAR — “Alexander Vindman, the whistleblower who triggered Donald Trump’s first impeachment, is considering a run for the United States Senate next year against Florida Republican Ashley Moody,” reports CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede. “In an exclusive interview with CBS News Miami, the retired lieutenant colonel said he was approached about running and was discussing it with close friends and advisors. ‘I think that the Democrats need to win in some very, very difficult places in order to wrestle control back,’ he explained during an interview.”— “Florida’s 2026 governor’s race: Would third-party candidates lock in another Republican victory,”by Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
FROM DAYTONA 500 TO UFC FIGHT IN MIAMI — “So far this year, [President Donald] Trump has attended the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the NCAA men’s wrestling championships and a UFC fight in Miami. Three White House officials, who were granted anonymity to share details of the president’s thinking, said Trump recognizes that many sports fans see politics in terms of persona, more than as a set of policy prescriptions or position papers,” reports POLITICO’s Megan Messerly and Jake Traylor. “The longtime sports fan, who broadened his appeal on the UFC circuit and at one point owned a professional football team, has made sports a defining feature of his second term.— “Mike Waltz fell into an age-old trap in political history,”by Joshua Zeitz for POLITICO Magazine.
— “Donatella is mad. The fashion icon and a force behind the Versace brand took to her Instagram account last weekend to denounce a new South Beach hotel and restaurant for using her name,” reports Vinod Sreeharsha of the Miami Herald. “”The hotel and restaurant named ‘Donatella’, located near the property where my brother’s life was taken, has and will never have anything to do with me, or my family,’ she wrote. ‘To try to capitalize on our tragedy and my name for profit is disgraceful.’”
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‘CASTING A CLOUD’ — “Florida A&M University named Marva Johnson, a vice president of government affairs at Charter Communications with ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top Republicans, as the school’s new president Friday in a decision that went against the wishes of many top alumni,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “Johnson, who led the state Board of Education under former Gov. Rick Scott, takes the reins at the highly respected historically Black university during a critical time for the school, as the Trump and DeSantis administrations reshape higher education by targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. And she will do so without initial support from many alumni and students who vehemently opposed her as a finalist for the top job at the state’s only public HBCU.”ON DECK — Get ready for some bill actions. The Florida Legislature on Friday officially sent DeSantis 54 bills — slightly more than one-fifth of all bills passed during the 2025 session. The governor has until Friday to act on the legislation since the Legislature is still technically in session. DeSantis did sign eight of the 54 bills late last week, but there are several notable bills he needs to act on in the next few days.— “Recyclable wine container measure tapped into law by Ron DeSantis,”by Drew Dixon of Florida Politics.‘A STEP BACK’ — “The Trump family and the city of Doral are once again fighting Miami-Dade County after legislation that could have ended a yearslong showdown over a defunct waste-to-energy incinerator died in the Florida Legislature,” reports POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez.“After President Donald Trump’s reelection, Eric Trump joined Doral residents in opposing the incinerator, which stands nearly 3 miles away from the Trump National Doral resort. Although residents hoped his involvement would spark change statewide, it wasn’t enough to pass the legislation.”PAGING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL — “The National Rifle Association (NRA) on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its challenge to Florida’s ban on firearm purchases by adults under 21,” reports Mitch Perry of Florida Phoenix. “The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denied the legal challenge by the NRA in March. … Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said after that ruling that his office would not defend the law if in fact the NRA filed an appeal with the high court.”— “Hope Florida’s foster care claims ring hollow, child welfare groups say,”by Christopher O’Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times.— “After ‘Officer Jason Raynor Act’ dies near finish line, its sponsors disagree on who killed it,”by Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics.— “Florida fights ruling that it violated Endangered Species Act threatening manatees,”by Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida.— “25 years of ‘unintended consequences’: Tallahassee players look back on a quarter century of term limits,”by Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics.
WILES WEIGHS IN — “Susie Wiles, President Donald J. Trump’s chief of staff, blasted a controversial and fast-tracked proposal backed by Florida regulators that would trade 600 acres of sensitive and prized public land in St. Johns County to a private developer, calling the proposed swap ‘outrageous’ and a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ in a statement to The Tributary on Sunday,” reports The Tributary’s Nate Monroe. “Wiles, who has decades-long ties to Northeast Florida, called for members of the Acquisition and Restoration Council — an obscure body of bureaucrats and political appointees thrust into the headlines over the contested land deal — to vote down the ‘land grab.’”ABOUT THAT SAME DEAL— “State Rep. Kim Kendall, a Republican from St. Augustine, sent an email blast to every member of the Florida House around 4:30 a.m. Saturday asking for help building opposition,” reports Emily Mahoney and Max Chesnes of the Tampa Bay Times. “She also emailed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, asking them to reveal the identity of the person or company behind the proposal, she told the Tampa Bay Times.”CAMPAIGN STARTING —The Brigid Alliance, an abortion support organization, says it is launching an ad campaign in three Southern states — Louisiana, Georgia and Florida — designed to highlight services the group provides including travel assistance to go to states with less stringent abortion laws. In Florida, the organization plans to run digital and audio ads on Facebook, Instagram, Google and Pandora that will direct people to an information page. Last year Florida put in place a six-week ban on abortion.— “Is killing Florida bears a good way to control them,”by Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel.— “Florida just created a law to ban fluoride in water. What should you do?”by Cindy Krischer Goodman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.— “Shootings prompt Kissimmee, Orlando to look at booze sales, downtown safety,”by Natalia Jaramillo and Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel.— “Hillsborough Judge Nancy Jacobs to resign after panel recommends removal,”by Dan Sullivan of the Tampa Bay Times.
FOR YOUR RADAR — “Alexander Vindman, the whistleblower who triggered Donald Trump’s first impeachment, is considering a run for the United States Senate next year against Florida Republican Ashley Moody,” reports CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede. “In an exclusive interview with CBS News Miami, the retired lieutenant colonel said he was approached about running and was discussing it with close friends and advisors. ‘I think that the Democrats need to win in some very, very difficult places in order to wrestle control back,’ he explained during an interview.”— “Florida’s 2026 governor’s race: Would third-party candidates lock in another Republican victory,”by Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
FROM DAYTONA 500 TO UFC FIGHT IN MIAMI — “So far this year, [President Donald] Trump has attended the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the NCAA men’s wrestling championships and a UFC fight in Miami. Three White House officials, who were granted anonymity to share details of the president’s thinking, said Trump recognizes that many sports fans see politics in terms of persona, more than as a set of policy prescriptions or position papers,” reports POLITICO’s Megan Messerly and Jake Traylor. “The longtime sports fan, who broadened his appeal on the UFC circuit and at one point owned a professional football team, has made sports a defining feature of his second term.— “Mike Waltz fell into an age-old trap in political history,”by Joshua Zeitz for POLITICO Magazine.
— “Donatella is mad. The fashion icon and a force behind the Versace brand took to her Instagram account last weekend to denounce a new South Beach hotel and restaurant for using her name,” reports Vinod Sreeharsha of the Miami Herald. “”The hotel and restaurant named ‘Donatella’, located near the property where my brother’s life was taken, has and will never have anything to do with me, or my family,’ she wrote. ‘To try to capitalize on our tragedy and my name for profit is disgraceful.’”
