Sunrise

Gov. Ron DeSantis says critics of his anti-woke legislation are trying to divert attention from the failed policies of the Joe Biden administration. Or, as the Governor put it, it’s like they’re trying to use the “Chewbacca Defense.”

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— A new study shows bonefish off the shores of Florida are pretty loaded – with pharmaceuticals.

— The Save the Manatee Club has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to try and — well — save the Manatee.

— What is the Chewbacca Defense?

Would HB 7 allow teachers to explain the Holocaust, but not say genocide is bad? Hear the debate over the bill aimed at eliminating critical race theory from classrooms.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The President of the Florida Association of Teachers explains how teachers would teach if HB 7 becomes law.

— Tom Brady’s retirement was top of mind for the Gov. Ron DeSantis. If you’re wondering … yes, he says Tom’s the G.O.A.T.

Nazis in the news. Lots of talk about Nazi demonstrators in Orlando over the weekend. The Governor’s press secretary tweeted out speculation that they may not really have been Nazis but Democrats trying to cause a fuss. Most state leaders condemned the Nazis. The Governor … sort of …

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— Sunrise goes in-depth with the Anti-Defamation League about who these Nazis are and how we should be reacting to them.

— House Democrats say this has been far from an open redistricting process.

— What are the odds that Gov. Ron DeSantis will become the next President of the United States? We’ll tell ‘ya what the bookies are saying.

Gov. Ron DeSantis laid the battle lines ahead and the enemy is clear — wokeness. In a speech before a right-leaning group meeting in Palm Beach, the Governor called “wokeness” a disaster, cultural Marxism, and a danger to America, in particular, America’s conservatives.

Also, on today’s Sunrise …

— Is this Legislative Session any different from those that came before? Veteran legislative reporter Gary Rohrer says there’s something of a pandemic hangover this year.

It’s Day One on the job for Rep. Daryl Campbell. He won the Special Election to represent HD 94, and — after some hiccups — the Secretary of State has certified his election.

Yeah, it was cold in Florida Sunday morning — iguana-dropping cold.

Real people tell their experience of getting, or not getting, the monoclonal antibody treatments the FDA had called to a halt. They came forward to back Gov. Ron DeSantis’ criticism of the FDA for yanking the COVID-19 treatments emergency use authorization.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— POLITICO Florida’s Gary Fineout talks about the Democratic walkout from a Surgeon General’s confirmation hearing and the Governor’s sense of smell when it comes to marijuana.

— The Red Dog/Blue Dog charity event raises five times as much money for animal welfare than last time.

— And Democrats score a rare win over Republicans … in the annual King of the Hill softball game. There were reportedly chants of “Stop the Steal.”

A mic drop from Democrats at the first confirmation hearing for Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. After asking for yes-or-no answers to their questions, and getting nothing close to that, they walked out of the Senate Health Policy committee meeting … leaving the remaining Republicans to vote in favor of confirmation.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— The Surgeon General tells the news media – post-confirmation – that he answered all questions accurately.

— Equality Florida talks with Sunrise about legislation moving through the Session they claim is part of a surveillance state push.

— And Gov. Ron DeSantis says he thinks marijuana stinks. No, really, he says he finds the smell “putrid.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis takes aim at the Joe Biden administration and the FDA for yanking monoclonal antibody treatments. The White House says they don’t work against the omicron variant. DeSantis says that’s bad science.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

The House Speaker says based on how many people are telling him the redistricting process is going too slow or too fast, he figures it must be right on pace.

An immigrant organization says the “midnight” migrant flights are just routine.

And a legislator goes “old-school” with a hand-written amendment.

Florida Democrats broke the internet with Zoom news conferences talking about everything from the way minorities are fitting into redistricting maps to abortion rights.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— A Florida legislator tells her own story about a fetal abnormality in pregnancy and how a 15-week limit might have changed that story.

— Democrats are raising questions about the state Surgeon General’s resume.

— And a preview of tonight’s “Red Dog, Blue Dog” event.

Gov. Ron DeSantis still won’t share his booster status, so does that mean he’s on the outs with former President Donald Trump? Well, Trump says their supposed feud is “fake news.”

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— Florida Politics Reporter A.G. Gancarski shares his read on Trump, DeSantis and “Fauci flip-flops.”

— The Governor has declared two Southwest Florida counties in states of emergency after tornados last weekend.

— And the new “smart” elevator system in the state Capitol has inspired a mocking Twitter account.

The Florida Senate has approved redistricting maps for the Senate and congressional districts. A few Senators questioned whether the congressional map really addresses the state’s growing Hispanic population.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— We dig deeper into the redistricting situation with someone who crunches data to help draw redistricting maps.

— The Governor had some good news today about the First Lady’s cancer treatments.

— And efforts to change the Florida state bird and song failed in the Senate.