Politics
[OPINION] The GOP is Now the Party of Trump
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Good news for QAnon conspiracy theorists, bad news for democracy: Donald Trump isn’t going anywhere. By recent history’s standards, former president Donald J. Trump was one of the most destructive and dangerous leaders in the United States and he is here to stay. Trump and his compatriots transformed the GOP from what establishment Republicans have long likened to be “the party of Lincoln” to the party of Trump. A cult.
Before Trump stumbled his way onto Air Force One with unpopular first lady Melania Trump in her red bottom heels to the tune of “Y.M.C.A.,” he presented his farewell speech to the nation, breaking tradition and going back to his “home state” of Florida instead of attending the inauguration of his successor, Joseph R. Biden. During the speech, Trump said:
“…I do want to thank Congress and I do want to thank all of the great people of Washington D.C., all of the people that we worked with to put this miracle together.
So have a good life. We will see you soon. Thank you.”
Trump has a lot to thank Congress for, especially the 147 members who voted to overturn the “landslide” presidential election results, the members who brought their guns on Capitol grounds to “defend” second amendment rights, and members who put their colleagues’ lives in danger with their fierce support for such a dangerous president.
CHEYENNE, WYOMING – January 28: Matt Gaetz rails against Liz Cheney at a rally in her home state of Wyoming on January 28, 2021. Image taken by Michael Cummo/AP
The GOP has even turned their back on members who have been long-time leaders of the party, with the Trumpist Arizona GOP censuring Cindy McCain, the wife of late Senator John McCain (along with Governor Doug Ducey and former Senator Jeff Flake) and Florida’s own congressman Matt Gaetz (R – Fort Walton Beach) berating congresswoman Liz Cheney (R – Wy), Chair of the House Republican Conference and daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney for wisely voting in favor of President Trump’s impeachment for inciting an insurrection.
Just a year away from the start of a 2022 midterm that already looks shaky for the Republican Party, numerous Republican senators from swing states like Pennsylvania have announced their intentions to retire from congress and in the ruins of crushed dreams, popular GOP leaders like Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona have signaled that they will not run for Congress against Democratic incumbents. Instead, the party may not return to its traditionally conservative roots, it will instead go down the populist far-right reactionary position that President Trump has shifted it to. So long as President Trump continues to have his thumb on the party, it will represent the dark eras of American history.
The remnants of the failed Trump administration continue to dominate the Republican Party. On Monday, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House Press Secretary announced her candidacy for what was once held by her uber-conservative father Mike Huckabee, Governor of the ruby-red state of Arkansas. In its endorsement of Sanders, Trump’s Save America PAC called her “a warrior who will always fight for the people of Arkansas and do what is right, not what is politically correct.”
Sanders is not the only insider of the Trump administration running for office, rumors are circulating that a member of his own family, Ivanka Trump, might present a primary challenge against Senator Marco Rubio.
Undermining his own leadership, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also pilgrimaged down to South Florida to meet with Trump on Thursday, convincing Trump to help the Republican Party win back control of the house in 2022, as if Republicans will not help themselves do that by gerrymandering districts.
To demonstrate the gravity of how devastative Trump’s continued presence in the Republican Party is for democracy, numerous insurrectionists who have been arrested explicitly stated that their actions were a direct result of what Trump told them. Even worse is the fact that numerous Trumpist members of Congress have been placed in important committees by Republican leaders, including Georgia’s Marjory Taylor Greene (R – Rome), who has embraced fringe far-right conspiracy theories, harassed Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivor David Hogg, indicated support for executing Democratic members of Congress prior to her 2020 campaign, and much more.
Unfortunately, Rep. Greene increasingly looks like the future of the Republican Party and it is a direct result of Donald Trump’s tumultuous presidency. Many members of the Republican Party, people who once called themselves nationalists and patriots now appear to put their party ahead of their country. The party that once said “America first” is now putting their party first.
The ten Republican members of the House who voted to impeach the former president are now in physical danger and their congressional seats are at stake. Rep. Peter Meijer (R – MI), the son of billionaire Hank Meijer received numerous death threats from Republicans after voting to impeach Trump, prompting him to buy body armor. Meijer held a discussion about the future of the party with CNN Anchor Jake Tapper, stating that:
“We can’t be the party of winking and nodding at the worst impulses that we have seen in the darkest corners of the internet. That’s not how you’re going to have a party that is trusted to govern. That’s not how we’re going to win over moderate independent voters.” Meijer Later went on to say “If Liz Cheney is the person who suffers the most from the events of Jan. 6 politically, it will be a very sad day for my party, I have been impressed by her leadership.”
Although the 2022 race has not started yet, Meijer is already facing a primary challenger. Meijer hails from the 3rd congressional district in Michigan, where his predecessor former Rep. Justin Amash served five terms before voting to impeach Trump the first time and switching from the Republican Party to the Libertarian Party, exiting U.S. Congress.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 19: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorses 2020 democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at a Bernie Sanders campaign rally in Queensbridge Park on October 19, 2019 in Queens, New York City. (Photo by Bauzen/GC Images)
To counteract the dangers that will result from Trump’s chokehold on the GOP, Democrats must embrace progressives like Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D – NY) and Cori Bush (D – MO), and Senators Bernie Sanders (D – VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D – MA), along with their other progressive colleagues in Congress. This means censuring Democratic Senator Joe Manchin for expressing ideas inconsistent with the Democratic Party and pushing back against Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D – AZ) and Jon Tester (D – MT) for their fierce refusal to get rid of the filibuster, which allows the minority Trumpist Republican Party to veto any legislation that Democrats bring to the table.
Democrats must not let Republicans obstruct any advancement of COVID relief aid, using every possible tool at their disposal to get bold legislation passed. Trumpist Republican Congress members have long pushed lies about the obstruction of COVID relief aid, it is time for Democrats to move on without compromising, by pushing for budget reconciliation, doing what Republicans have failed to do: the job that voters put them in for.
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Supervisor Nathaniel Douglas is the youngest ever elected to the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors in Orange County, Florida, and the youngest elected to public office during the 2020 election. He is a contributing political opinion writer for Florida National News. | info@floridanationalnews.com
Central Florida News
Affordable Housing, Transportation, and Public Safety Top Orange County’s $8.3B Budget Priorities
Orange County, Fla. (FNN) – The Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will hold its second public hearing on the proposed $8.3 billion Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 5:01 p.m. in the BCC Chambers at the Orange County Administration Center.
The proposed budget reflects the County’s investment in affordable housing, transportation safety, public safety, parks and recreation, and utilities to support Orange County’s growing population and infrastructure needs.
Housing For All
Orange County continues advancing its commitment to affordable housing. To date, nearly 3,000 affordable housing units have been created. For FY 2025-26, the County has allocated $17.7 million to the affordable housing trust fund as part of its $160 million, ten-year commitment.
Transportation Improvements
The Accelerated Transportation Safety Program completed its first year with more than 60 projects, including 14 miles of new sidewalks, 14 miles of roadway lighting, and safety upgrades across 21.4 miles of roadways. For FY 2025-26, the County has earmarked $23.9 million to continue these improvements, contributing to a larger five-year investment exceeding $100 million.
Public Safety Commitment
Public safety remains a top priority. More than $1 billion has been allocated for FY 2025-26, including $575 million for Fire Rescue, $220 million for Corrections, and $446 million for the Sheriff’s Office. Funding will support staffing, new infrastructure, and the construction of additional fire stations to ensure quick emergency response across the County.
Parks and Recreation
Orange County’s 100+ parks, trails, and recreation sites will benefit from $133 million in FY 2025-26. The funding includes 15 capital improvement projects for construction, renovations, and new amenities designed to enhance residents’ access to safe outdoor spaces.
Utilities and Essential Services
To strengthen critical infrastructure, Orange County Utilities will invest $297.9 million in water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and solid waste services. As an enterprise fund, Utilities operations are supported through customer rates and fees rather than tax dollars.
Residents can review the full budget report for detailed highlights on the FY 2025-2026 County Budget.
Politics
Congressman Frost, Stephanie Vanos Defend Public Schools in Heated Debate on School Choice and Vouchers
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FNN) – U.S. Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, brought Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos to testify before Congress during a high-profile Oversight subcommittee hearing titled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees.”
The hearing, led by Republicans, sought to highlight private schools and expanded voucher programs, but Frost and Vanos argued these policies come at the expense of public schools and the majority of American students.
Frost Defends Public Schools Against Voucher Expansion
In his opening remarks, Congressman Frost pushed back on the Republican framing of school choice, warning that taxpayer subsidies for private schools weaken public education.
“Every student’s school should set them up for success—whether through college, trade school, apprenticeships, or the workforce,” Frost said. “But in the richest country in the world, we are failing to deliver on that promise. Their so-called solution of taxpayer subsidies for private schools drains resources from the 90% of students who attend public schools.”
Frost shared his own story of attending an underfunded Florida public arts school where teachers invested in him despite challenges. “That path took me all the way to the United States Congress,” he said, underscoring the value of public education.
Vanos Calls Out $3.9 Billion in Diverted Florida Taxpayer Dollars
Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos warned that Florida’s public schools are being shortchanged. She pointed to $3.9 billion in taxpayer funds being diverted into voucher programs with little oversight or accountability.
“Public school families love public school choices, but these choices cannot be sustained with current funding constraints,” Vanos said. “Parents are frustrated when they see billions drained away into a shadow system of unregulated, unaccountable private schools.”
She urged Congress to prioritize investment in schools that are transparent, accountable, and able to serve all children.
Public Schools Under Pressure Amid Funding Cuts
The testimony comes at a critical moment for Florida schools, which face increasing budget cuts and declining student performance in math and reading. Frost and Vanos argued that public schools are the backbone of education, serving the overwhelming majority of families, and that funding must reflect that reality.
“Let’s fund their choice,” Vanos concluded. “Let’s invest in the schools that 90% of American families actually rely on.”
Central Florida News
Mayor Jerry Demings, a former Sheriff and Police Chief Hints at Florida Governor Run
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, a former Orange County Sheriff, former Orlando Police Chief, and husband of former U.S. Congresswoman Val Demings, is signaling interest in a potential run for Florida Governor. As a countywide CEO known for bipartisan appeal, Demings has built his reputation on representing all residents—Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike.
Budget Clash With Florida CFO
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia (R) took direct aim at Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings this week, accusing his administration of “excessive and wasteful” spending. Speaking at a press conference, Ingoglia claimed that Orange County residents are being overtaxed by at least $148 per person and argued the county could “easily” cut nearly $200 million from its $8.2 billion budget.
“Anyone who looks at the numbers can see it,” Ingoglia said. “In just five years, a budget that went from $1.1 billion to $1.6 billion for only 79,000 people—it’s common sense they’re wasting a tremendous amount of money.”
Mayor Demings quickly pushed back against the attack, firing back that Ingoglia should focus on his own office before criticizing Orange County’s finances: “He ought to get his own house in order first before he goes looking in someone else’s house.”
Demings Teases Possible Run for Governor
As Demings nears the end of his final mayoral term, speculation is growing about his political future. During a press conference in Orlando, when asked about a possible gubernatorial run, Demings left the door wide open:
“I’m not saying I’m not going to run. Given all these things that have been happening? I might just do that.”
Crowded Republican Primary Ahead
The Republican primary for governor is expected to be one of Florida’s most contentious in years, with names such as Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R)—already endorsed by President Donald Trump—likely on the ballot. Governor Ron DeSantis’ role in shaping the party’s direction will also loom large over the contest.
What’s Next for Jerry Demings?
If Mayor Demings officially enters the race, he would join the Democratic primary against former Rep. David Jolly (D). For Democrats, a strong nominee could be key to uniting moderates and progressives in a state that has leaned increasingly Republican in recent cycles.
As a seasoned law enforcement leader and two-term Orange County Mayor, Demings could bring a blend of executive experience, bipartisan appeal, and name recognition to the Democratic ticket. His potential candidacy raises the stakes for Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race, signaling that Democrats may put forward a serious challenge in a state long dominated by Republicans.
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J Willie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com
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