Students across Florida -- and the nation -- held walkouts in solidarity with Parkland, Fla., Wednesday. The protests come one day after Florida House Republicans blocked a move by Democrats to debate a ban on assault weapons in the state. State Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Coral Springs) explains the response inside Florida's Capitol to the student protests for more gun control. "We have not talked about meaningful gun control in 20 years in the state of Florida," says Moskowitz. "It is the students who are the ones getting the attention and making something happen." It's been one week since the mass shooting inside a Parkland high school left 17 dead. "These kids are still sad, these kids are still grieving. But they are also determined," says Moskowitz, whose district includes the Parkland community. "They want to see something done." Until a court ruling in 2017, Florida had a law on the books preventing doctors from discussing gun safety with patients. "Florida is, unfortunately, the Petri dish for the NRA," says Moskowitz. "I am angrier than angry. I've been going to funeral after funeral, and I'm sad, and I'm distraught."

Share:
More In Politics
LGBTQ Strides in Political Representation
Progress for the LGBTQ community was made last week when Andi Mudryk, a long-time disability advocate, became the first openly transgender person appointed to the bench in California. Chris Johnson, White House reporter for the Washington Blade, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
How Biden’s Billionaire Tax Would Work
President Biden proposed a new billionaire’s tax, that would subject the richest Americans to a minimum tax rate of 20 percent. The White House says billionaires pay an average tax rate of just eight percent, much lower than the national average of 22 percent. Cheddar News speaks with ProPublica’s Paul Kiel who explains how the regulation would work.
Environmental Groups Call on Bitcoin Industry to Lower Energy Use
The most popular and most valuable cryptocurrency is also the least eco-friendly - data shows that Bitcoin mining generates the same amount of carbon emissions as the entire country of Thailand. According to nonprofit Fair Planet, 96 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions come from Bitcoin mining every year. Now, a consortium of climate activist groups is calling on the Bitcoin industry to cut its energy use by making changes to its software code. Michael Brune, former executive director of the Sierra Club, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Activist Works to Get Women into Politics
Susannah Wellford, founder and CEO of Running Start, joins Cheddar News to discuss getting more women involved in politics. Running Start helps provide women and girls the tools they need to get involved in politics, and to see a future where they can become political leaders.
New York Progressive Campaigns for Open House Seat
Congressional candidate Melanie D'Arrigo came on Cheddar Politics to talk about her campaign for the Democratic nomination in New York's Third Congressional district. The progressive activist ran in the 2020 primary against incumbent Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi. The seat is open this time, as Suozzi seeks the New York Governorship.
Black Women Media Founder Addresses Race in SCOTUS Hearings
Reecie Colbert, founder of Black Women Views Media, breaks down the roles of race and partisanship in the Senate hearings for Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. She also discusses the importance of standing up for Black women in the public sphere.
Load More