Florida capital reporter for @USAToday Network..Ex-@OrlandoSentinel, @SunSentinel, others. Tracks state govt., politics & more. Enjoys fine irony.
Tallahassee, FL
Joined July 2009
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.@GovRonDeSantis and Fla GOP doing all it can to keep Floridians from connecting the dots in what central player @AGJamesUthmeier once called a "big nothing burger."
ICYMI: Republicans sue Jolly, Dems and TV stations over Hope Florida grand jury ads
tampabay.com/news/florida-po…
John Kennedy retweeted
The people who think Hope Florida was no big deal sure seem to be going out of their way to make sure nobody knows what happened.
John Kennedy retweeted
Many of these people have been out of power for eight days. Instead of showing empathy, he yells at them. Remarkable window into this man.
A tick-tock on the conspiracy behind Hope Florida. W/@GovRonDeSantis, @AGJamesUthmeier & @SenAshleyMoody at the helm of the $10M diversion.
John Kennedy retweeted
Florida @GovRonDeSantis this a.m. is being confronted with some angry Northwest Fla residents in Milton. One person yells out "We need help" while others are complaining about pressure they say what was placed on local officials to reopen schools. ...
John Kennedy retweeted
New @TheFloridaTrib | Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" layered new criteria onto Medicaid eligibility for immigrants. In Florida, enforcing those rules falls to a beleaguered and hollowed out state agency that is pulling eligible people into a bureaucratic vortex.
John Kennedy retweeted
Three people were either convicted or pled to crimes in a scheme meant to help Jason Brodeur get into the Florida Senate.
Now voters will decide whether he deserves to stay there.
This race should be bellwether for Florida.
1/2
orlandosentinel.com/2026/10/…
John Kennedy retweeted
Data centers dog Donalds into the campaign homestretch. Debates go dark in Florida 2026…and much more. This week in Florida politics. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
Data centers dog Donalds, no debates October surprise and Flock cameras. This week in Florida politics. Listen up!
omny.fm/shows/inside-florida…
Unplugged: TV debates go dark this election season in Florida.
For first time in decades, voters can't size up candidates in debates. No "FanGate," "he-coon," or "Bubba in the headlights" moments in '26 election. tallahassee.com/story/news/p… via @tdonline
'Collateral damage': Local officials warn about Amendment 3.
Deep cuts certain in the Big Bend if property tax measure is approved by voters, officials say.
tallahassee.com/story/news/l… via @tdonline
John Kennedy retweeted
New @TheFloridaTrib | Collectively, the law firms hired to represent state officials have taken in more than $444,000 in state funds since the Hope Florida grand jury began its investigation in August of 2025, a review of state contracts shows.
By @hellokatepayne
John Kennedy retweeted
Asked today Scott said "there’s $10 million taken out of the Medicaid program that’s supposed to go to poor kids. We ought to get all the money back so that taxpayers are not on the hook.” Said "all the facts" need to come out inc who suggested sending $ to Hope Fla Foundation
John Kennedy retweeted
.@ScottforFlorida still critical of Hope Florida funds transfer, wants answers. "There's $10M taken out of the Medicaid program that's supposed to go to poor kids," he said. "We ought to get all the money back so that taxpayers are not on the hook." politico.com/news/2026/10/08…
John Kennedy retweeted
Hopeless in Florida after appeals court erases grand jury report tying AG James Uthmeier to a $10M "sophisticated scheme." No one was allowed to argue in support of the report.
New invoices: DeSantis' office hired a third law firm 12 days before the grand jury met.
floridatrident.org/hope-flor…
John Kennedy retweeted
I'm having a hard time squaring this financial record with @ByronDonalds' statement to FAMU students: "The next governor has to have experience in how a company's balance sheet operates, how their income statement operates, how their cash flow statements operate."
Donalds's financial disclosure forms have been significantly inaccurate entire time he's been in Congress floridabulldog.org/2026/10/u… via @Florida_Bulldog
John Kennedy retweeted
This is also an example of why the money differential matters in elections. It's not everything, but this has been a huge story in Florida that has actually gotten tons of press.
Sarasota Pine View teacher case awaits next move from attorney general. @AGJamesUthmeier pauses in his pushdown of teacher involved in dispute with politically connected kid.
heraldtribune.com/story/news… via @heraldtribune
John Kennedy retweeted
“We have a leaked report that says funds were misappropriated, then we have a conclusion that no one would be prosecuted because no one would claim responsibility. My office prosecutes people every single day that don’t take responsibility.”
Orange State Attorney Monique Worrell pursuing her own criminal investigation of the Hope Florida scandal, after a Tallahassee-area grand jury found that $10 million of Medicaid settlement funds were improperly diverted for political purposes. orlandosentinel.com/2026/10/…
John Kennedy retweeted
While the voter registration numbers are notable, the bigger story here is Florida's systemic voter suppression: There are nearly 2 million more Floridians than there were at the start of the decade, yet a smaller share of people are registered to vote. 🎁
miamiherald.com/news/politic…
