Axios Miami

June 23, 2026
Good morning, Miami!
π€οΈ Today's weather: High of 90, low of 82.
πΊSounds like: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" by Baccara β a favorite of Scottish soccer fans.
π ICYMI: Axios Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale have officially launched!
Today's newsletter is 1,024 words β a 4-minute read
1 big thing: π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Tartan Army takeover
Thousands of Scottish soccer fans took over Little Havana yesterday ahead of Wednesday's World Cup clash against Brazil.
- Two days before the match at Hard Rock Stadium, the Scots marched to the Marlins game.
Why it matters: The Scottish fans have endeared themselves to the American public with cheerful, booze-fueled partying often accompanied by bagpipes, singing and giving money to charity.
- After partying in Boston for their first two World Cup matches, the Scots have brought their trademark flair to Miami β including placing traffic cones on statues from downtown to South Beach.


Driving the news: The Tartan Army partied at Ball and Chain on Monday afternoon before marching to the Marlins game.
- Despite the high humidity and 91-degree heat, many Scots donned their kilts for the nearly mile-long trek up Southwest 15th Avenue.
- Before the march, Miami police estimated that between 2,000 and 10,000 fans were expected to take part.
- Along the route, fans chanted "No Scotland, No Party" and waved to locals filming them from their driveways. They also made sure to recycle their beer cans.
What they're saying: Graeme Taylor, a Scotland native, said he hopes the Magic City embraces the Tartan Army like Boston did.
- "We don't come here to win, we come here to enjoy ourselves. And if we win, even better."
Friction point: Taylor, who wore a kilt, said the heat didn't bother him much.
- "It's part of our traditional wear. You just wear it. It doesn't matter how hot it is. You man up, you get on with it. The beer cools you down."


2. π₯ Heat land Giannis
A superstar is heading to Miami after the Milwaukee Bucks reportedly dealt forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat last night.
Why it matters: The "Greek Freak" is an NBA champion, a two-time league MVP and still in his prime at 31. He's a franchise-altering player.
- With apologies to Jimmy Butler, Antetokounmpo is the most talented player to grace a Heat roster since the days of LeBron and Wade.
State of play: In acquiring their Freak, the Heat are trading away a haul: Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in tonight's draft) and more, per ESPN.
- The Heat also get forward Bobby Portis in the deal.
By the numbers: The trade instantly shifted betting odds for next season in Miami's favor.
- The Heat's title chances at DraftKings Sportsbook went from 30-1 (9th likeliest) yesterday morning to 18-1 (5th likeliest) after the news, ESPN reported.
3. Catch me up: Surfside collapse investigation
Federal investigators probing the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse determined that a flawed design and construction, along with decades of deterioration and modifications, led to the building to fail. (New York Time)
Real estate broker George Pino was found not guilty of charges arising from a boat crash that killed a teen girl. (Miami Herald)
π The Florida Panthers traded for star Ottawa forward Brady Tkachuk, uniting him with brother Matthew. (Miami Herald)
π§ Companies hired to operate the "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention center were notified yesterday to begin "full demobilization" of the center. (CBS Miami)
4. State may bar undocumented students
The Florida Board of Education will meet this month to decide whether to adopt a new rule prohibiting undocumented immigrants from attending the state's public colleges.
Why it matters: Tuition at state-level colleges is much more affordable than at universities, and with undocumented immigrants no longer eligible for in-state tuition, these colleges may be their only chance at higher education.
- An estimated 8,000 undocumented students graduate from the state's high schools each year, per the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.
Driving the news: The new rule aims to ensure that all students admitted to the Florida College System are citizens or lawfully present in the U.S.
- It would require applicants to attest to their legal status and provide supporting documentation before they are admitted.
- The rule would also saddle colleges with new operational demands, requiring them to develop procedures to verify applicants' legal status.
Between the lines: The State Board of Education is using administrative rulemaking to advance a policy goal that Republican lawmakers tried, but failed, to enact through legislation in 2025 and 2026.
- It would not be the first time state officials have used rulemaking to move major pieces of Gov. Ron DeSantis' agenda.
- The state Board of Medicine did the same in 2022, using rulemaking to ban gender-affirming care for minors after lawmakers twice declined to take up a bill to do so. Lawmakers later codified the restrictions in 2023.
The big picture: DeSantis signed a bill last year eliminating in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants, closing off a key path to higher education for students who cannot receive federal financial aid or legally work.
Zoom out: The rule wouldn't only cost undocumented students; a report by the Florida Policy Institute shows that the state college system could lose about $15 million each year in tuition and fees.
5. πͺ Your time capsule ideas
We asked readers what they think Florida should have buried in America's Time Capsule to depict what life in the Sunshine State in 2026 was like.
- Some of you were not fans of the items that Florida's politicians chose to include in the time capsule, like government challenge coins and a letter from the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Here's what you suggested instead:
π Vicente "Vince" P.H. β A Florida orange, piece of live coral or blades of sawgrass preserved inside a solid acrylic box.
- A model Navy Blue Angels plane ("signifying the state's close relationship with the military"). "Or maybe a map of Florida."
𦩠J.I. β Representations of South Beach, the Florida Keys, stilt homes, the Wynwood Walls, Florida wildlife or a photo of the Everglades.
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Martin and Sommer welcome the Tartan Army to Miami. If you have any Scottish fan sightings, email them to us at [email protected].
This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.
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