| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Good Wednesday morning. This is the last Florida Playbook of the year. The daily rundown — Between Sunday and Monday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 10,434 (nearly 0.9 percent), to 1,223,015; active hospitalizations went up by 123 (2.2 percent) to 5,634; deaths rose by 74 (0.3 percent) to 20,754. In a year like 2020, thank you so much for reading us. Thanks for the criticism. Thanks for the questions. Changes — A year ago at this time, we made a few observations about the upcoming year. It's not that those observations were wrong — they were merely overwhelmed by the devastating year that came to be. By this time next week, at least 21,000 Floridians will have died. The state's economy got decimated and is just now starting to recover somewhat. Florida's unemployment system was an utter disaster that repeatedly failed those that needed it most. The pandemic changed our lives so much — and it sharpened the bitter divides and partisan politics more than seemed possible. Golden years — The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday put a bow on the year and released a list of what were hailed as the governor's major 2020 accomplishments. "This has been a year of challenges, but it has also been a year of historic feats, innovation and resiliency," DeSantis said in a statement. He then said he was optimistic about 2021, thanked Floridians for their "perseverance and hard work," and "rest assured, there is a light at the end of this tunnel." There's no doubt DeSantis had his successes, especially during the 2020 session, including his push to boost teacher pay and his continued emphasis on money for environmental programs. Even the election went relatively smoothly. And there were elements of his response to the coronavirus pandemic that did prove to be effective. Under pressure — But DeSantis' second year was anything but smooth. There was the unemployment system debacle, which his administration had been warned about even if they were not responsible for creating the flawed system. There was the Covid-19 mission accomplished moment in May that proved to be premature. There was the constant complaining about the press and recurring problems with transparency. There was "my way or the highway" approach to dealing with the pandemic. And there seemed to be some difficulty acknowledging the pain and chaos that has ripped the state apart. The aforementioned list of accomplishments did not note the number of people who died. Starman — That said, DeSantis is in an advantageous position heading into his re-election campaign. He has lots of money — and has started raising it again after taking a break as the coronavirus raged. Democrats are still trying to figure out why and how they lost so badly and it's not clear if they'll even have a formidable challenger to the Republican governor. President Donald Trump is leaving office. And while DeSantis is losing an ally, he gets to run in a midterm election when the party in the White House usually has a rough time. Heroes — Instead of reflecting on accomplishments, political infighting and intrigue, let's finish the year with a toast for the first responders and health care workers who have helped us weather this storm. And let's take a moment to remember those who have been lost and their families. So take a breath. Relax over the holidays. We'll be here in January. And again. Thank you. "We can beat them, just for one day. We can be heroes, just for one day." — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. Ron DeSantis. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Florida Playbook will not publish until Monday, Jan. 4, when we will return to our normal schedule. Please continue to follow POLITICO Florida. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT TRANSITION PLAYBOOK, SUBSCRIBE TODAY: A new year is quickly approaching. Inauguration Day is right around the corner. President-elect Joe Biden's staffing decisions are sending clear-cut signals about his priorities. What do these signals foretell? Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to the new administration and one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news daily and analyzes the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | |
|  | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | 'TRYING TO THREAD THE NEEDLE' — "Florida will vaccinate seniors before essential workers. Here are the pros and cons," by Miami Herald's Ben Conarck and Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower: "Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday declared elderly Floridians will be next in line to get vaccinated for COVID-19, before essential workers and younger people with underlying health conditions, cementing the state's position in a shifting public health policy debate. During a press conference in The Villages retirement community, DeSantis said the state will be prioritizing people over the age of 70 for the next round of vaccine doses. He bristled at proposed recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that would give the vaccine to essential workers and adults of any age with certain underlying conditions at the same time, in Phase 1b of the rollout. 'The vaccines are going to be targeted where the risk is going to be greatest, and that's in our elderly population,' DeSantis said. 'We are not going to put young, healthy workers ahead of our elderly, vulnerable population.'" | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a roundtable discussion with Miami-Dade County mayors during the coronavirus pandemic, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Miami. | AP Photo/Lynne Sladky | MEANWHILE — "Florida nursing home deaths spike but lower than US average," by Associated Press' Bobby Caina Calvan and Brendan Farrington: "Deaths in Florida's nursing homes doubled during the Thanksgiving holiday, according to statistics gathered by the AARP. But Florida's rate was dramatically lower than the national average, as COVID-19 infections across the country surged. Still, the rise in deaths drew concern from advocates also worried about gatherings over Christmas and other yearend celebrations. In the three weeks straddling the Thanksgiving holiday, the rate of deaths in Florida nursing homes was 4.7 for every 1,000 residents — more than double the 2.3-death average recorded in the four weeks leading into the holiday. The data was partly culled from statistics generated by the Centers for Disease Control. Nationally, the death rate over the holiday period was 15.3 deaths per 1,000." DECISIONS, DECISIONS — "Reps. Murphy, Soto join Sen. Rubio in getting COVID-19 vaccine; Rep. Demings will wait," by Sun Sentinel's Skyler Swisher and Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello: "Two Central Florida members of Congress are among the first Americans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which won't become available to most people for several months. U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Winter Park, and Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, joined Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, and Donna Shalala, D-Miami, in getting their first dose of the vaccine, according to a survey of elected Florida officials by the South Florida Sun Sentinel." OPERATING AT 35% CAPACITY — "Disney World, Universal draw holiday crowds despite COVID-19 warnings," by Orlando Sentinel's Gabrielle Russon and Dewayne Bevil: "The tourism machine is still churning this holiday season at Orlando's theme parks, despite warnings from medical experts that the coronavirus has reached a critical point in the United States. The madness of wall-to-wall Christmastime crowds from past years was gone, but the parks certainly were not empty this week as families wore matching pajamas and face masks decorated like Santa Claus. Many said they weren't scared away by COVID-19 even as Florida remains in the pandemic red zone, according to a Dec. 13 White House task force report. 'We booked our trip a year ago. … It's been a dream of mine to come at Christmas time,' said Lauren Bender, who visited Hollywood Studios on Tuesday with her family. 'When the pandemic hit, we really weren't sure if we were going to come. And then once we saw everything that Disney was putting into place, we felt pretty good.'" — "Sarasota County is on track for a record number of coronavirus infections in December," by Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson — " Orlando airport's holiday traveler numbers surge along with pandemic," by Orlando Sentinel's Kevin Spear — "Pinellas rushes coronavirus vaccine to first responders before doses spoil," by Tampa Bay Times' Allison Ross — " Can a New Year's curfew in Key West hold up in federal court? A local has sued the city," by FLKeysNews.com's Gwen Filosa — "Judge opens the door to late-night bars at a time when COVID-19 is raging," by Sun Sentinel's Lisa J. Huriash — "Tampa's Gasparilla Bowl canceled after South Carolina bails," by Tampa Bay Times' Matt Baker | | | | TUNE IN TO NEW EPISODE OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe for Season Two, available now. | | | | |
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | DON'T COUNT ON THAT MONEY YET — "Trump takes aim at Covid stimulus bill, raising specter of veto," by POLITICO's Kelly Hooper: President Donald Trump on Tuesday blasted the $900 billion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress, calling it a "disgrace" and asking for amendments to the bill to increase stimulus payments to Americans. While Trump did not directly threaten to veto the bill, his message raised the possibility that he might do so. In a video tweeted by the president Tuesday evening, Trump delivered a four-minute speech listing his many grievances with the bill — which would send much-needed aid to Americans struggling amid the pandemic. Trump specifically criticized the relief package for including "wasteful spending" on issues unrelated to Covid-19, only providing $600 to individuals and families, and not giving enough emergency aid to small businesses. INSIDE THE BILL THAT COULD BE VETOED — "Stimulus includes $250 million for Everglades restoration," by WMFE's Amy Green: "The long-awaited stimulus package approved by Congress Monday night includes $250 million for Everglades restoration. The state's top Republican leaders — including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott — had urged President Donald Trump for the spending. DeSantis has made Everglades restoration a central issue of his administration, after toxic algae gripped the state in 2018." WASHINGTON ON YOUR SIDE — " Trump commutes Esformes' 20-year sentence in massive Medicare fraud case in Miami," by Miami Herald's Jay Weaver and Ben Wieder: "Philip Esformes, a former Miami Beach healthcare mogul convicted of playing a central role in one of the nation's biggest Medicare fraud cases and using his ill-gotten millions to pay bribes for favors, won a commutation of his 20-year sentence from President Donald Trump Tuesday night. Esformes, convicted of paying bribes, money laundering and other charges, was also ordered to pay $44 million to the taxpayer-funded Medicare program and the U.S. government after a grueling 2019 trial prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami and Justice Department. Trump's commutation did not overturn that restitution order. A handful of former federal prosecutors in South Florida questioned Trump's clemency decision." PARTING GIFT — "Trump nominates Hope Hicks, Ric Grenell to government posts," by POLITICO's Nick Niedzwiadek: The president also nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve on the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as White House staff secretary Derek Lyons, who notified Trump of his plans to leave the job earlier this month. MAYBE HE'S GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE? — " Town of Palm Beach will address Trump Mar-a-Lago residency 'if and when' it's official," by Miami Herald's David Smiley: "As President Donald Trump prepares to return to Mar-a-Lago for the holidays, the town of Palm Beach is watching to see if he will indeed try to make his Winter White House his home when his time in office ends — and whether that would violate the 27-year-old deal that allowed Trump to turn the property into a social club. 'Officials and representatives of the Town of Palm Beach have received inquiries, primarily from the media and from some members of the community, regarding the reported intent of President Trump to make Mar-a-Lago his residence after his term of office as president has expired,' Town Manager Kirk Blouin told the Miami Herald. 'The town is not aware of the president's intent in this regard and has no evidence to support said claim." — "Donald J. Trump Causeway? Petition to rename Navarre Beach Causeway recirculates," by Pensacola News Journal's Annie Blanks — " Florida Democrat files petition to disbar Gaetz," by The Hill's Jordan Williams | | TRAIL MIX | | TILL THE END — "Trump orchestrates final loyalty test in dying bid to subvert election," by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney, Gabby Orr and Marianne LeVine: The broader group of House members that visited the Oval Office on Monday included Greene and Reps. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and others. The group discussed a strategy for the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, where a single House member, in concert with a single senator, can lodge challenges to any set of presidential electors, forcing debate and votes. After the White House session, which included breakouts with Giuliani and Vice President Mike Pence — who is set to preside over the Jan. 6 meeting — the lawmakers emerged increasingly optimistic they will be able to force multiple votes on the matter over as many as 18 hours. Though the participants insist this is a genuine effort to salvage Trump's presidency, the likelier effect is to force most Republicans in both chambers to vote against Trump — something they've been loath to do for four years. IN THE BUBBLE — "Maskless young conservatives chant 'four more years' with Pence at West Palm Beach conference that flouts COVID-19 rules ," by Sun Sentinel's Skyler Swisher and Eileen Kelley: "With the COVID-19 pandemic worsening nationwide, thousands of mostly unmasked young conservatives chanted "stop the steal" at the Palm Beach County Convention Center Tuesday and flouted guidelines intended to stop the spread of the deadly virus. The gathering of 2,000 people in West Palm Beach came as public health experts urged Americans to avoid traveling for the holidays. Despite those warnings, young conservatives from all over the country flocked to West Palm Beach to attend Turning Point USA's four-day Student Action Summit." STILL GOING — "As holiday approach, Fla. nonprofit pays fees, fines of 181 ex-felons throughout state," by WJCT's Brendan Rivers: "'This effort is a continuation of the work we have been doing for years. Paying the fines and fees of returning citizens serves the dual purpose of removing barriers to voting and enriching our democracy, while also providing much-needed money and resources to the state of Florida,' said Desmond Meade, Executive Director of [Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.] 'It is a win-win. We are not only helping returning citizens and the community, but protecting taxpayers.' The group announced Tuesday that they had paid another $327,000 to clear the fines and fees of 181 returning citizens living in Alachua, Brevard, Duval, Hillsborough, Lake, Leon, Martin, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie and Volusia Counties." — "Orange Co. Democratic Chair Wes Hodge enters contest for state chair," by Florida Politics' Scott Powers | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | DAMNING — "Florida's Lowell prison is cesspool of sexual abuse by staff, feds say in blistering report," by Miami Herald's Julie K. Brown: "In a scathing rebuke of Florida's Department of Corrections, the U.S. Department of Justice has found that officers at Lowell Correctional Institution have repeatedly raped, sodomized, beaten and choked female inmates as part of a pattern of rampant civil rights abuses that go back years. The sexual abuse of inmates at the institution so horrified DOJ investigators that they put the state on notice, demanding that the agency immediately reorganize Lowell's staff, install adequate video surveillance and institute a number of changes to protect women prisoners from sexual abuse by staff. 'There is reasonable to cause to believe...that conditions at Lowell violate the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution due the sexual abuse of prisoners...and these violations are pursuant to a pattern or practice,' the Justice Department wrote in the 36-page report released Tuesday. The Eighth Amendment prohibits 'cruel and unusual' punishment." I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE — "A company has started drilling for oil just 150 miles off Florida's coast, prompting a dire warning from members of Congress," by Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins: "Exploratory drilling began this week for an offshore oil well just 150 miles from South Florida, prompting a warning from 18 members of Congress, including the entire South Florida delegation, of the potential for 'severe, even catastrophic, impact' if a spill occurs. The well, operated by the British-owned Bahamas Petroleum Company under a license from the Bahamian government, will be drilled as deep as 18,000 feet in an area southwest of Andros Island. It is believed to be the only active well in the region, although the status of oil fields nearby in Cuban waters is unclear." TO COURT — "Palm Beach County challenges ruling that allows conversion therapy on sexual identity," by Sun Sentinel's Rafael Olmeda: "South Florida cities that passed bans on 'conversion therapy' counseling are urging a federal appeals court to reverse a recent decision that declared such bans unconstitutional. The ruling from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals took aim at bans in Palm Beach County and Boca Raton, but it applied throughout Florida as well as Alabama and Georgia." SPIKED — "Watchdog group OurJax and NAACP slam Lot J development deal," by Florida Times-Union's David Bauerlein: " OurJax joined the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP in coming out strongly against the proposed terms for one of the biggest development deals in city history. The NAACP ramped up its opposition by sending a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying the NFL should intervene against the proposed deal between the city and the development team of Jaguars owner Shad Khan and The Cordish Companies. 'I also ask that you develop and implement new NFL policies and practices to ensure the league and team owners will never again seek to unfairly enrich themselves at the expense of the local communities,' branch President Isaiah Rumlin wrote in the Dec. 17 letter." | | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Florida's Keyontae Johnson diagnosed with heart inflammation following collapse at game," by Gainesville Sun's Zach Abolverdi: "Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed on the court during a game Dec. 12 at Florida State University, has been diagnosed with a heart inflammation that may be related to an earlier infection for COVID-19. Following the collapse that left Johnson unresponsive, he was transferred last Monday from Tallahassee Memorial to UF Health in Gainesville, where an MRI on his heart led to a diagnosis of acute myocarditis, according to a person with first-hand knowledge." A LAST-MINUTE GIFT IDEA — If you are stuck for one last thing to get that political junkie in your life, you could send someone a copy of former Rep. Trey Radel's latest book "Conservatism Made Really F**cking Easy. The Florida man who has his own radio show says it's meant to be a "funny kinda gag gift." He includes some snippets in this video where he says the book tries to "capture the essence of the American spirit" as "Stay the f— out of my life" and "don't take my s—." BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAY EDITION: Former State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto ... Anne Gannon, Palm Beach County Tax Collector and former legislator ... AP's Mitch Stacy ... (Dec. 24) Barney Bishop ... (Dec. 25) Former Gov. Bob Martinez ... Logan Lewkow, director at The Moore Agency … (Dec. 27) Michelle Ubben, partner and president Sachs Media Group ... (Dec. 28) Rep. Nicholas Duran ... Tampa Bay Times' Amy Hollyfield ... (Dec. 29) Former Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera ... Rep. Chris Latvala ... (Dec. 31) Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith ... Jennifer Fennell with CoreMessage... (Jan. 1) USA Today's Jennifer Portman … Brian Crowley, former political journalist ... Geoffrey Becker, director state government affairs at Medtronic ... Ted Bridis, University of Florida Department of Journalism
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