Sunrise

During an appearance at a Florida megachurch, President (and newly minted full-time Florida Man) Donald Trump is defending his decision to kill an Iranian general with a drone strike. He also says the Democrats who impeached him are crazy.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— A Florida law that says the state can remove local officials for passing any law that limits gun rights is under fire at a Tallahassee appeals court.

— Opponents of the Energy Choice amendment (which might appear on the ballot in November) are asking the Secretary of State to disqualify thousands of signatures collected by the group. They claim those who signed those petitions were deceived and now oppose the amendment.

— Happy New Year to Florida panthers … or what’s left of them. A vehicle in Hendry County struck and killed one of the official state animals. The body was found one day after New Year’s.

— And a tribute to the 33-year-old Florida Man who took a punch from Rod Stewart while working security at a private event at The Breakers in Palm Beach. The 74-year-old rock star (and his oldest son Sean) face charges of simple battery.

The new year brings a ten cent per hour raise for minimum wage workers. While it’s bad for businesses that like to lowball employees, to balance it out, workers' compensation rates will be cut and the tax they pay to lease commercial space is also reduced.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Citing concerns about Chinese meddling in American research, House Speaker José Oliva is creating a select committee to investigate Chinese involvement in state research institutions … starting with the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

— If you’re a regular reader of Florida Politics, you‘ve no doubt seen the first installments of the most influential Florida politicians from the 2010s. Part 2 of a discussion with publisher Peter Schorsch about who made the list and why.

— With this being the final podcast of the week (and the year), the calendar of events is truly short — since no one likes to work this time of year.

— Not just one, but two year-ending stories of Florida Men, including the guy busted for revving a mower and another accused of armed robbery for stealing a soda by crashing his truck into a bar.

Florida may be great, but there's one thing that’s not so good — the number of Floridians who have their driver’s license suspended. It’s currently at about 2 million people ... or one out of every eight drivers. Most of the time, the suspensions have nothing to do with traffic safety.

Also, in Sunrise:

— If you’re still texting behind the wheel, stop. Texting while driving has been illegal since July, but there was a grace period … which is now about to end.

— A Sarasota-based charity raised more than $2.5 million last year to help the families of fallen law enforcement officers but spent almost all of that on fundraising and salaries.

— Democratic House Leader Kionne McGhee is mourning the death of his uncle, who was shot and killed on Christmas Eve as he mowed his lawn in South Florida.

— Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch calls in to talk about the list of the 25 most influential politicians in Florida for the 2010s. Some of the people who didn’t make the cut: Andrew Gillum and Jack Latvala (but he did get a mention).

— Today’s Florida Man segment is all about the women, including one from Tallahassee who was jailed in Louisiana after crashing her car into an assisted living facility after breaking-up with her boyfriend.

It’s a #Sunrise Christmas — a collection of holiday stories past and present from the staff at Florida Politics, as well as from some newsmakers featured on the podcast.

— The lighting of the official Capitol Christmas tree in the lobby of the Governor’s office. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried presented the tree and Gov. Ron DeSantis accepted it on behalf of Floridians.

— Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis took part in the tree ceremony. A week later, he helped burn a Christmas tree to illustrate stories about the potential terror lurking in your living room.

— One of the people covering the press conference was Sarah Mueller, who recently signed on as a Tallahassee reporter for Florida Politics. Mueller talks with Sunrise about her new gig.

— Renzo Downey joined the Florida Politics crew just a few weeks before Mueller. His favorite Christmas memories come from his mom’s side of the family, she’s from the Dominican Republic.

— Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch loves the holidays. He talks to Sunrise about where he gets the spirit of the season.

— Getting teens in the spirit of the holidays is a special challenge. Florida Politics Tampa Bay reporter Janelle Irwin Taylor has found a way.

— Department of Economic Opportunity chief Ken Lawson talks about his latest traditions and favorite Christmas memories; a classic case of making lemonade when life gives you lemons.

— Veteran TV reporter Noah Pransky, who contributes to Florida Politics, offers his Christmas traditions from his younger days, including watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” the first time it aired.

— Florida Politics Orlando reporter Scott Powers shares a Christmas memory about a holiday miracle at the Miami airport.

Special Guest: Peter Schorsch.

Despite objections from the business community, the Florida Supreme Court ruled there’s no legal reason to prevent a minimum wage amendment from appearing on the ballot next November.

Also, on today’s Sunburn:

— The battle over impeaching the President is over, and the case against Donald Trump will be moving to the Senate in the New Year. But in Tallahassee, Senate President Bill Galvano says the drama in D.C. won’t have much of an impact during the upcoming Legislative Session.

— House Speaker José Oliva orders an investigation of Moffitt Cancer Center after the CEO, VP, and four researchers are forced out because of money from China.

— Is it Ron DeSantis or DeSanta? The Governor makes three stops in the Panhandle, delivering grants to victims of Hurricane Michael; cash to help rebuild.

— The latest adventures of Florida Man: A 22-year-old Deltona man is accused of exposing himself in front of two 13-year-old cheerleaders from Galaxy Middle School. They were handing out candy canes in the school pickup and drop-off loop.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visits the Sunshine State to announce the federal government has taken the first step in bringing affordable drugs to Florida from Canada. Apparently, socialized medicine isn’t always a terrible thing.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Fresh off his impeachment drama, Donald Trump is coming to Florida this weekend to speak to a few thousand conservative students from across the country who are gathering in South Florida.

— State workers rally at the Old Capitol building to make their case for an across-the-board pay raise. That’s only happened twice in the past two decades.

— Senate President Bill Galvano defends his plan to build three new toll roads in the state, saying he doesn’t believe the federal biologist who predicts one of those roads will lead to the extinction of the endangered Florida panther.

— Checking in with a Florida Man who really understands the true meaning of the holiday spirit.

Senate President Bill Galvano meets with reporters for breakfast and a preview of the upcoming Legislative Session.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— State employees get an end-of-the-year bonus. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that they will not have to work on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve. The union that represents those workers says that while it’s nice — a raise would be better. They are holding a rally today on the steps of the old Capitol.

— State economists issue a forecast before Session starts; it hasn’t changed much since the summer and it’s still somewhat gloomy.

— Part 2 of a Sunrise interview with GOP icon Mac Stipanovich, who helped pave the way for the Republican takeover of Tallahassee. Stipanovich is NOT happy with the direction his old party is taking, calling Donald Trump an existential threat to our democracy.

— More Florida Men hijinks: A Winter Park man acting unsavory in a local Walmart and a Pasco County man who shot himself while “playing cowboy.”

GOP icon Mac Stipanovich is retiring for lobbying but is now writing columns for an old nemesis — the Tampa Bay Times. Stipanovich joins Sunrise in the studio to talk about the transition.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Backers of one of two constitutional amendments seeking to legalize the recreational use of marijuana by adults have admitted they’re not going to make it to the ballot next year. They don’t have enough signatures, with time quickly running out.

— Gov. Ron DeSantis travels to the University of Miami tout his picks for the Florida Supreme Court, as well as announce seven new judicial appointments in Miami/Dade County; four in the county court and three in the circuit court.

— Attorney General Ashley Moody is presiding over a meeting of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. They’ll have their work cut out for them at the Super Bowl in Miami and WrestleMania in Tampa next year.

— A Florida Man who spent 20 years as a Miami Beach police officer is arrested after the owner of a valet company accused him of demanding $1,000 in cash each month in exchange for not issuing parking citations.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for a law implementing federal the E-Verify system for all new hires is running into some trouble in Tallahassee.

Also, in today’s Sunrise:

— There’s also trouble brewing at the Florida State University College of Medicine after being slapped with a warning from the group responsible for the accreditation of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada. The dean of the FSU College of Medicine hopes to have things straightened about before the accreditation team returns in the spring.

— Budget wonks in The Capitol say a new proposal to cut the state commercial rental sales tax by 10 percent will cost the state quite a bit — more than $800 million over the next five years.

— State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis issues a holiday safety warning in a most unusual way, by setting a Christmas tree on fire. With it comes a lengthy list of do’s and don’ts for your tree.

— A Florida Woman tells the 911 operator that she had no intention of stopping for two deputies because they had guns, and she didn’t want to get shot. Spoiler alert: They shot her anyway.

Approximately 1,000 people work for the state as child protection investigators. But almost half of them quit after a year, and only about a fourth of them last for two years. Officials at the Department of Children and Families say they’re working on it.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— State Rep. Ray Rodrigues continues his quest to prove higher education is a breeding ground for liberals that shames conservatives into silence. He is promoting a bill to require annual surveys on intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity on campus.

— Republicans in the state Legislature say parents deserve more choices in public schools, so state Rep. Shevrin Jones filed a bill giving parents a choice — to keep their kids taking part in Florida’s battery of standardized exams.

— A conversation with Sarah Mueller, who escaped the Capitol Press Corps once before, and is now returning as a reporter for Florida Politics.

— An average day for Florida Man: Methamphetamine, embezzlement, a sex shop in Hialeah and an 11-foot alligator.