Florida continues to reel from the shockwaves of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed in Utah last week. The 31-year-old, known for his close ties to former President Donald Trump and his energetic advocacy among young conservatives, leaves behind a grieving family and a network of supporters across the Sunshine State. Over the weekend, communities and universities throughout Florida gathered for vigils, mourning Kirk’s loss and reflecting on his outsized influence in political circles.
Yet, the tragedy has ignited heated debate and controversy, especially within Florida’s education system and local governments. According to POLITICO, several educators at Florida schools and universities faced disciplinary action over their reactions to Kirk’s murder. Some social media posts were described as dismissive or even celebratory, while others suggested Kirk’s rhetoric had made him a target for violence—comments that sparked fierce backlash and, in some cases, were later recanted. The state’s response has been swift: at least one teacher in Clay County has already been suspended, with reports of ongoing investigations into others who may have crossed the line in their public commentary.
One of the most contentious episodes unfolded in Palmetto Bay, a suburb of Miami, where city councilman Steve Cody became the focus of a bipartisan call for accountability. On Friday, September 12, Cody shared a post referencing Kirk’s controversial statement about the cost of gun rights in America, writing, “Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our Lords Smith & Wesson. Hallowed be their names.” The post, referring to the firearms manufacturer, was quickly screenshotted and circulated, prompting outrage from both sides of the political aisle.
After realizing the gravity of his words, Cody deleted the post and his Facebook page, issuing a public apology. “I woke up the next morning realizing my post was incredibly stupid,” Cody told POLITICO. He insisted he would not resign, however, arguing, “Mr. Kirk has been proffered as a champion of free speech. So I wonder how he would feel, especially given some of the things he has said over the years. I’m not trying to excuse what I did. What I said was wrong. I don’t want people to think I condone violence of any kind. But I don’t think that the government should be in a position of trying to punish people for speech.” Cody, whose term runs until 2028, expressed concern about the precedent of punishing officials for their words, especially in a state where others have lost their jobs over controversial statements.
Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham, a registered no-party affiliated voter and retired first-grade teacher, strongly disagreed. She told POLITICO, “When you have a public role—whether taking care of children or overseeing the policy and day-to-day activities that you are entrusted with—you need to lead by example.” Cunningham plans to publicly call for Cody’s resignation and censure at a city meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, though she acknowledged the council lacks the power to forcibly remove him. “It’s not like ‘Survivor.’ We can’t vote anybody off the island,” she quipped, but emphasized the importance of marking her disapproval. Cunningham also noted she had spoken directly with Cody several times since the incident.
The controversy has drawn the attention of state leaders. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called for Cody to resign “immediately,” and Governor Ron DeSantis’s office confirmed the governor is aware of the situation. The episode comes amid a broader movement among state officials to hold educators accountable for their reactions to Kirk’s death, as reported by POLITICO. The debate over free speech versus public responsibility is now playing out in real time, with some arguing for grace and others for strict standards.
Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Laura Kelley offered a more conciliatory stance, telling “This Week in South Florida” that while she didn’t condone Cody’s comments, she believed he had taken “ownership and accountability.” Kelley argued that the options were to either extend grace or risk sliding into “cancel culture, which I’m opposed to.” Still, the pressure on Cody remains intense, with bipartisan calls for higher standards among public servants.
Meanwhile, the state’s political landscape continues to shift. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo recently announced a push to end state vaccine mandates, aligning himself closely with Governor DeSantis and echoing positions championed by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Ladapo, a longtime skeptic of vaccines widely used for decades, made his intentions clear at an event with DeSantis earlier this month. According to POLITICO, Florida’s move to roll back vaccine requirements is one of the most aggressive steps taken by any state to date, and could serve as an early indicator of the broader impacts of the MAHA movement’s policy ideas.
This high-profile rebuke of conventional medical wisdom has alarmed many public health experts and those at higher risk, who fear that such rhetoric may sway public opinion before individuals even consult their doctors or pharmacists. With Florida having supplied numerous personnel and policy ideas to the Trump administration, the state’s decisions on health policy are being closely watched nationwide.
Beyond the immediate controversies, Florida faces a host of other pressing issues. State Rep. Lawrence McClure, the House’s budget chief, warned on Friday that Florida could face budget shortfalls by 2028 and beyond, suggesting that lawmakers may need to consider spending cuts or an overhaul of state employee health insurance to keep the state’s finances in check. “We’ve got to keep chipping away at this,” McClure said, pledging that the House would “dig deeper” in the upcoming session to identify potential savings.
Local governments are also gearing up for a legal showdown over recent state law changes that restrict their ability to adopt more stringent land use and development regulations following hurricanes. According to lawyer Jamie Cole, 17 local governments have agreed to join a lawsuit challenging the law, which was enacted after the devastating 2024 hurricane season. Environmental advocates, like the group 1000 Friends of Florida, argue that the legislation is overly broad and creates confusion for municipalities trying to respond to future disasters.
In the energy sector, Florida Power & Light’s proposed $2.5 billion rate hike has hit a snag, with a Public Service Commission hearing officer rejecting an alternative settlement proposal backed by energy justice groups. The officer concluded that the proposal amounted to a “position paper” rather than a genuine settlement, echoing the utility’s objections.
Other stories making headlines include sharp projected increases in health insurance rates for over four million Floridians who rely on ACA or small employer plans, new warnings about the Atlantic hurricane season from the National Hurricane Center, and the 14th execution scheduled for the year after Governor DeSantis signed a death warrant for a convicted double murderer.
As Florida grapples with political violence, heated debates over free speech, and looming policy challenges, the state remains at the forefront of national conversations—sometimes for reasons that are as troubling as they are newsworthy. The coming weeks will reveal how leaders, institutions, and everyday Floridians respond to these tests of principle, policy, and public trust.
