| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Good Monday morning. The daily rundown — Between Saturday and Sunday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 8,958 (0.8 percent), to 1,125,931; active hospitalizations went up by 62 (1.3 percent) since Friday, to 4,686; deaths rose by 81 (0.4 percent), to 19,866. Ho, ho, ho — So, who's ready for a Christmas party? Come on in — Despite the warnings from national officials about holiday gatherings, Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis plan to host a holiday reception at the governor's mansion this evening for state legislators. The reception will come a few hours after Republican electors plan to gather at the state Capitol and officially cast Florida's 29 Electoral College votes for President Donald Trump. Maskless at the mansion? — It's not clear how many of Florida's 160 legislators will be there. Several Democrats said they have no plans to attend the event, which comes a week after video surfaced of a GOP reception held at the mansion where the governor and nearly all the attendees were maskless while standing on the back patio. Senate President Wilton Simpson, who is a Trump elector, said in a text message, "it's on my calendar and if I go I will wear a mask." Tis' the season — It's not necessarily surprising that DeSantis — who has grown increasingly dismissive of anyone who doesn't agree with him (inside and outside his administration) — would hold this gathering. But it's quite the split screen going on. His administration is being criticized for its lack of transparency, including a newly filed lawsuit by news organizations trying to get copies of White House task force reports that the DeSantis administration refuses to release. The governor also boiled over in one of his few recent public appearances when he got asked a question about the recent search of the house of a former data analyst that has gotten widespread national attention. The vaccine is finally coming, but even DeSantis has acknowledged that the first wave for Florida wasn't that large. Party on? — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to be in Tallahassee. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | BIG SCOOPS IN TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: In the runup to Inauguration Day, 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 one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter is breaking big news and analyzing the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming administration. Subscribe today. | | | | |
|  | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | DOES HE NEED A SNICKERS? — "DeSantis ends a good-news event with a tongue-lashing," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon, Gary Fineout and Arek Sarkissian: A mental health roundtable on Friday ended abruptly after Gov. Ron DeSantis lashed out at the media, muddled his own past statements, and stormed off stage. Such fits of temper are becoming a hallmark of the governor's brand, a response he's willing to brandish in self-defeating ways that overshadow his crafted political talking points and themes. The Friday event held at the Tampa Firefighter Museum included House Speaker Chris Sprowls, a Tampa-area Republican, and featured first lady Casey DeSantis, who has been the face of the administration's efforts to boost mental health care. And the announcement included what most people would consider good news — a $23.1 million infusion of federal cash for mental health efforts. The blow-up — It would have been an easy messaging win going into the weekend. But the upbeat news — the state wants to help people suffering from mental illness — was lost after DeSantis reacted angrily to questions about another story dominating the headlines, particularly the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's search of a house belonging to Rebekah Jones, former state data analyst who has criticized the governor's handling of coronavirus data. — "Cybersecurity lax for 'very sensitive' emergency alert system at the center of the Rebekah Jones raid," by Sun Sentinel's Skyler Swisher — "DeSantis defends FDLE treatment of COVID-19 whistleblower," by Tampa Bay Times' Christopher | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers a question during a roundtable meeting with transportation industry leaders at the Hilton Orlando-Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 7, 2020. | Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP | WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DOESN'T WANT TO RELEASE — "White House task force report warns Florida — again — to increase mask-wearing, limit indoor gatherings," by Orlando Sentinel's Naseem S. Miller: "As Gov. Ron DeSantis touts the arrival of a limited supply of the now-approved Pfizer vaccine, coronavirus continues to spread across the state, according to the Dec. 6 White House Coronavirus Task Force report. The weekly report, which Gov. Ron DeSantis has not released since November, warns that mitigation efforts — such as no indoor gatherings outside of immediate households and mask-wearing — must increase. 'Begin warning about any gathering during December holidays,' says the latest report obtained by the Center of Public Integrity, but not from a Florida agency." — "DeSantis refused to disclose White House coronavirus report that contradicted him," by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson DEAR GOVERNOR — "Orlando Sentinel sues DeSantis for refusing to release weekly White House coronavirus reports ," by Orlando Sentinel's Naseem S. Miller: "The Orlando Sentinel has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his office for failing to provide the weekly White House Coronavirus Task Force reports in a timely manner. DeSantis' office has not provided any of the task force reports for the month of November. It's been 37 days since the newspaper requested the Nov. 1 weekly report. The lawsuit alleges that DeSantis and his office have violated the Public Records Act by refusing the release of the reports. It seeks the immediate release of the requested and future reports." FALLOUT — "'I didn't make it.' A Walt Disney World waitress struggles to hold on to her middle class life amid a pandemic and catastrophic layoff," by Washington Post's Greg Jaffe: "'Dear Cast Member,' the late October layoff notice began. Flaviana Decker, 44, retreated to her living room couch and tried to stop her tears before her eldest daughter, due home from school any second, burst through the door. Her 14-year career as a Walt Disney World waitress was over. 'I'm crying,' Flaviana texted her fellow servers. 'Is anyone else?' 'I'm angry, so I haven't gotten to the crying phase,' responded one friend who felt hurt by Disney's decision to restore temporary cuts to its top executives' salaries just weeks before axing more than 28,000 of its lowest-wage workers. Others were stung that their years, and in some cases decades, of service to a company that they loved had ended with an impersonal email." MORE PLEASE — "DeSantis had hoped for more initial COVID-19 vaccines than Florida got," by News Service of Florida's Christine Sexton: "With nearly 180,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses slated to head this way, Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged on Friday that the amount coming to Florida is less than what he initially anticipated. Nevertheless, the governor expressed optimism as he explained the state's plan to distribute the first round of vaccines to front-line workers at five hospitals across the state and to long-term care facility residents and staff." GOOD TO KNOW — " Some Florida hospitals won't require COVID-19 vaccinations, even as they require flu shots," by Fort Myers News-Press Frank Gluck: "Some of Florida's top hospitals, including those expected to soon get the first shipments of vaccines to prevent COVID-19, won't require medical and support staff to get the shots even though they require inoculations against the far-less-deadly flu virus. Health center administrators, the nation's leading nursing union and Florida's hospital lobbying organization argue that it should be an individual's choice, especially since the vaccine was so recently developed and tested." 'THE SCREEN IS JUST NOT THE SAME' — "Failed by distance learning, more students plan to return to school," by Sun Sentinel's Scott Travis: "Distance learning has failed many South Florida students during the pandemic, leading to a push by local schools to get kids back on campus. Schools are trying to persuade more parents that schools are safe places in the age of COVID-19 and that online learning may not be the best option, as data shows the number of student absences and F grades have more than doubled since last year. Broward plans to overhaul its on-campus experience so that students spend more time interacting with teachers in the same room and less time on a computer. 'I'm at my wit's end about what's happening to students in this district. It is incumbent upon us to do something different,' Broward School Board member Laurie Rich Levinson said at a meeting this week." MEANWHILE — "Tampa Bay charter schools are growing during the coronavirus pandemic," by Tampa Bay Times' Marlene Sokol : "Already on the rise in Florida, charter schools are seeing an enrollment boost this year, one more way the pandemic has left a mark on public education. Funded with tax dollars but operated independently, charters are attracting families who want a clean new building, teaching methods they see as innovative and other features they sometimes find lacking in traditional public schools. Charter schools gained 4,854 students in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties collectively, according to September enrollment statistics, while traditional schools in those districts started the semester with 18,056 fewer students than last year." — "As COVID vaccines head to Florida, long-term care facilities finalize their rollout plans," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padro Ocasio and Samantha J. Gross — "With Pfizer's vaccine approved, here's what happens next for Tampa Bay, " by Tampa Bay Times' Thomas C. Tobin — "TGH officials expect to receive first doses of COVID-19 vaccine Monday Morning," by WFTS' McKenna King — "COVID-19 vaccine to arrive at UF Health Jacksonville Monday," by First Coast News | | | | HAPPENING TUESDAY - CONFRONTING INEQUALITY IN AMERICA TOWN HALL : The pandemic-induced recession has put over 40 million Americans at risk of foreclosure and eviction and caused a steady decline in Black homeownership. What solutions need to happen to make housing more inclusive and fair? Join POLITICO for its fourth town hall in the series "Confronting Inequality in America." Our latest town hall explores "The Housing Gap" and will convene policymakers, lawmakers, advocates and mortgage industry leaders to discuss various approaches for eliminating housing inequality as we begin to recover from the Covid-19 recession. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | TRAIL MIX | | REJECTED — "Supreme Court rejects Texas-led effort to overturn Biden's victory," by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney: The Supreme Court has rejected a longshot bid by Texas and other Republican-led states to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's victory in last month's election, dashing President Donald Trump's last-ditch hope that the justices effectively hand him a second term. In a brief order Friday evening, the justices summarily refused the unusual case Texas filed Monday against four swing states whose voters favored Biden. 'Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections,' the court wrote in its unsigned order. Alternate reality — Some of the president's allies pledged to continue their fight. "Now all eyes are on January 6th," Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said in a Fox News interview as he alluded to a challenge that several House Republicans plan to make when Congress certifies the Electoral College votes. "We still think that there is evidence that needs to be considered." Reminder — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was one of 17 attorneys general who signed a brief in support of the Texas lawsuit and the effort to throw out millions of votes. Gaetz was one of many Republicans in Florida's congressional delegation who signed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the effort as well. The Orlando Sentinel jabbed one of them — Rep. Michael Waltz — by apologizing to readers that the newspaper's editorial board had endorsed Waltz in his re-election bid. "We had no idea, had no way of knowing at the time, that Waltz was not committed to democracy. During our endorsement interview with the incumbent congressman, we didn't think to ask, 'Would you support an effort to throw out the votes of tens of millions of Americans in four states in order to overturn a presidential election and hand it to the person who lost, Donald Trump?'" — " Gus Bilirakis explains (sort of) his support of Texas lawsuit to overturn election results," by Tampa Bay Times' William March THE STORY THAT KEEPS ON GOING — "Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner to head south as she explores political future," by CNN's Kate Bennett: "'Ivanka definitely has political ambitions, no question about it,' the source told CNN. 'She wants to run for something, but that still needs to be figured out.' Putting down roots in Florida is certainly a first step. 'Assuming she's not interested in a low-profile political office, that would leave the United States Senate as a possibility,' said Adam C. Smith, former Tampa Bay Times political editor and now consultant with Mercury Public Affairs. 'Marco Rubio is up for reelection in 2022 and is expected to run again. But I wouldn't think Rubio would deter her if she wanted to run. The last time Marco Rubio ran against a Trump in Florida, in the 2016 presidential primary, Rubio was crushed by 19 percentage points.'" HAPPENING TODAY — "When electors meet at Florida Capitol, Trump will gain victory in lost election," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's John Kennedy: "'It is as of right now a bittersweet moment from the standpoint of, with the inauguration planned just a month down the road and the uncertainty that exists about (Trump) getting sworn back in, it's incredibly disappointing," said Florida GOP Chair Joe Gruters, a Sarasota state senator who is one of Trump's 29 Florida electors. Like virtually all of Trump's allies, Gruters won't publicly acknowledge the president's defeat. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has endorsed Trump's persistent efforts to overturn the November election, which has included dozens of failed lawsuits across six states." — "Electoral College vote Monday should end 2020 presidential election. Or will it?" by Daytona Beach News-Journal's Mark Harper RENNER PUTS HIS TEAM TOGETHER — State Rep. Paul Renner, who is line to become the next House speaker, officially announced late last week his team that will oversee House campaigns for the 2022 elections. Frank Terraferma, a familiar face and veteran of multiple Florida campaigns, is returning from a stint as executive director of the Idaho Republican Party to take over the position as director of House campaigns. Faron Boggs will remain as political director and Andres Malave will serve as communication director. Malave had been working as Florida communications director for Americans for Prosperity. Kevin Reilly, who was legislative affairs director for former Gov. Rick Scott, will serve as finance director. Kay Linton, who has been an accountant for the Republican Party of Florida, will be administrative director. Eli Menton will work as a political aide. Katie Ballard will serve as chief fundraising consultant and Tony Cortese will also work as a fundraising consultant. — "Trump loyalist wins another term as Palm Beach County Republican chairman," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man — " St. Pete mayor's race still has candidates weighing their options," by Tampa Bay Times William March | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | 'MANIPULATING THE PROCESS' — "Jeffrey Epstein case: PBC state attorney worked with defense to undercut feds, report says," by Palm Beach Post's Jane Musgrave: "Instead of vigorously pursuing the politically connected financier on charges that he sexually assaulted dozens of teens at his Palm Beach mansion, [Barry] Krischer joined hands with [Jeffrey] Epstein's defense team and undermined federal prosecutors' efforts. The conclusions, detailed in a 300-page report of an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, paint a damning picture of both Krischer's duplicity and federal prosecutors' naivete." MAJOR UNDERTAKING — " Everglades restoration: 20 years, $5 billion and so very far to go," by Fort Myers News-Press: "Twenty years and $5 billion into the biggest environmental restoration in the U.S. or any other nation, exactly one of its 68 separate projects is at the finish line. That's not to say the federal-state Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is faltering, but it does illustrate the staggering challenge of such an undertaking. Aiming to salvage 1.5 million acres of a World Heritage Site that also provides drinking water to 8 million people, it was signed into law by outgoing President Bill Clinton after Congressional authorization in 2000. The goal: 'restore, preserve, and protect the south Florida ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region, including water supply and flood protection.'" WORTH WATCHING — "Will Goldman Sachs' potential move help turn Palm Beach County into 'Wall Street South?' by Palm Beach Post's Wendy Rhodes: "Rumors swirled this week around the idea that New York City's Goldman Sachs was eyeing South Florida as a potential new home for its asset management division. Now, downtown West Palm Beach is looking like a real possibility to eke out Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Texas, according to Brian Gale, vice chairman of Cushman and Wakefield and a leasing agent at Phillips Point, a 451,858-square-foot Class A office building located at 777 S. Flagler Drive." — " A protester told the cops they shot him with a rubber bullet. Then the murder charge came up," by Sun Sentinel's Andrew Boryga — "Legoland plans major expansion with more rides, attractions," by Orlando Sentinel's Amanda Rabines — " Researchers warn red tide is back in southwest Florida," by Fort Myers News-Press | | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Rapper Lil Wayne pleads guilty to gun charge. He flew to Miami with a gold-plated pistol," by Miami Herald's Jay Weaver: "One year after flying to Miami in a chartered plane with a bag packed with a gold-plated handgun and drugs, rapper Lil Wayne pleaded guilty Friday to possessing a firearm as a formerly convicted felon. Lil Wayne, who had a felony gun-possession record from New York, was charged only with the new firearm offense despite being caught with marijuana, cocaine and other drugs during his holiday trip from Los Angeles to Miami, according to court records." — " Clerk's office execs got cash after vowing never to 'disparage the Clerk,'" by Palm Beach Post's Andrew Marra: "Outgoing Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller Sharon Bock gave five-figure payments to three top executives this year for resigning and promising never to sue or talk negatively about her or her office. The unusual payouts to the senior officials were among 14 separation agreements Bock arranged this year for departing employees. The agreements awarded employees with extra severance pay if they agreed never to sue or "disparage the Clerk" in the future." BIRTHDAYS: Former Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.) ... Dinah Voyles Pulver, investigative and environmental reporter USA Today … (Was Sunday) Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried … Hayden Dempsey , shareholder with GreenbergTraurig ... Mike Stone with WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel … (Was Saturday) Former State Rep. Jennifer Webb
| Want to make an impact? POLITICO Florida has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Sunshine State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment