He Said, She Said: Intersection

Key Insights

• On this episode of He Said, She Said, Peter and Michelle find themselves at the intersection of pop culture and politics. They bring on two Florida politicians to talk major pop culture issues shaping the news.
• But first, Peter and Michelle recap the Oscars, share their thoughts on The Green Book and other big winners, and talk red carpet fashion (Yes, Peter took notes).
• Michelle laments Bradley Cooper's Best Actor loss and rethinks her promise to never watch the Oscars again. Peter talks the intimacy of the Lady Gaga - Bradley Cooper performance in bold terms.
• Their first guest, Florida Senator Lauren Book of Plantation talks R. Kelly the Mute R. Kelly campaign, as well as the sex trafficking ring uncovered in South Florida. Book is a Florida State Senator, a child sexual abuse survivor, and a child advocate.
• "There is so much shame and embarrassment that goes along with being a survivor of sexual assault, sexual abuse, childhood sexual abuse. Your perpetrator tells you that no one will believe you." - State Senator Lauren Book
• Peter on Lauren Book, "State Senator isn't big enough ... I know this sounds crazy, Lauren Book could be governor and then President... If 20 years from now Lauren Book is in the White House, I would not be surprised."
• Michelle: "I would be surprised because I just don't believe America is ever going to elect a woman for president ... America is just not ready for a woman to be in the White House."
• Their next guest is Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of central Florida, who weighed in on the Jussie Smollett story Friday, sharing his own story as a victim of hate violence.
• Rep. Smith on the current media climate: "The narrative immediately started turning to a place where ... the Trumps of the world and the Anne Coulters of the world are saying that all hate crimes are hoaxes, that they don't exist."
• On why he spoke up: "I felt compelled to speak out because hate crimes are real, I know that from direct experience as a survivor of anti-gay hate violence."
• Looking back at documents from Rep. Smith's case, he said: "I was stunned at how clearly anti-gay and homophobic the attack was. The charging document specifically charged the attacker not only with battery but with battery evidencing prejudice."
• On advocacy: "There are going to be folks who are going to disagree with you on the issue no matter what happens, no matter what stories or facts you bring forward to prove your side of the issue. But then there's also people in the movable middle, whether they are lawmakers or every day people who might for whatever reason believe that because of the Jussie Smollett case, hate crimes are made up."
• "I have a passion and energy behind my advocacy, and this is one part of my story. It doesn't define who I am - being a survivor of hate violence - but it does inform my lived experience." - Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith
• Peter and Rep. Smith talk to reckless rhetoric surrounding the UCF misappropriation of funds controversy and some unpopular comments about a shutdown plan for the university, made by Rep. Randy Fine.
• What Rep. Smith hopes to accomplish in the upcoming session: "Make a difference on some of the issues I feel I fairly align with the governor's office on." Those issues include medical cannabis reform and its affordability, common sense gun safety laws, and state appropriations to arts and culture.
• Back to politics as usual, Peter on Senator Marco Rubio: "He's not really the U.S. Senator right now, he's basically the Secretary of Latin American affairs."
• Issues to watch in Tallahassee this session: Efforts to shut down Visit Florida, smokable marijuana, a bill that will allow pharmacists to prescribe and treat for the flu and strep throat, school choice and scooters.