| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by The Great Courses Plus | Good Wednesday morning. The daily rundown — Between Monday and Tuesday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 7,985 (0.7 percent), to 1,073,770; active hospitalizations went up 63 (1.4 percent), to 4,558; deaths rose by 96 (nearly 0.5 percent), to 19,378. Endorsement time — As the contest to pick a new leader for the Florida Democratic Party builds up, former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz has nabbed an important endorsement from South Florida. Wilson backs Diaz — Rep. Frederica Wilson from Miami-Dade today is endorsing Diaz's bid to become party chair, an important boost because it signals that members of Florida's congressional delegation are finally starting to take sides in the contest that will be decided next month. "At a time when redistricting is ahead and donors are losing faith in Florida, we need a strong leader with the vision, relationships, and capacity to earn their trust," Wilson said in a statement about her endorsement. Wilson's also praised Diaz's tenure as mayor. Timing — Wilson, whose political career also include stints in the state Legislature, has long been active in Democratic circles. Her decision to back Diaz is also noteworthy because it comes a day after former state legislator and current Alachua County Democratic chair Cynthia Chestnut announced her own run for the position now held by Terrie Rizzo. Chestnut has a built-in constituency to aid her run since she has been the leader of the group that represents county chairs. Chestnut was among those Democrats who warned last summer that Joe Biden's campaign was repeating mistakes that could wind up with Democrats losing the state. Trying for momentum — Diaz has been building up his campaign for chair by racking up endorsements of mayors and legislators, but it's the members of the congressional delegation who may prove to be especially pivotal. Outside of Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, members of Congress remain the most prominent Democratic figures in the state. It will be telling if more of them begin to gravitate toward Diaz. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis. | | | | A message from The Great Courses Plus: Don't be stagnant, keep your mind active with The Great Courses Plus . Learn at your own pace with the ability to stream lectures like the Art of Investing anytime, anywhere. Tap into an expansive selection of over 13,000 video streaming lectures from some of the world's greatest minds. Learning should be enjoyable, so start learning today with The Great Courses Plus! | | |
|  | TRAIL MIX | | BEING HELD 'MOSTLY INDOORS' — "2021 CPAC to be held in person in Florida," by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser: "The American Conservative Union says it will hold the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference in person amid the coronavirus pandemic. And for the first time ever, the largest and most influential annual gathering of conservatives that's best known as CPAC, will be held far from the nation's capital. Fox News learned on Tuesday that the conference will be held the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 25-28. The conference, first launched in 1974, has always been held either in or around Washington, D.C. For the past eight years, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland, just outside of the District of Columbia, has been CPAC's home. But the massive resort remains closed amid the worst pandemic to strike the globe in a century. Organizers tell Fox News that the event, which last year attracted nearly 20,000 people over its four days, will be held mostly indoors, with plenty of virtual components, at the Hyatt Regency, a 1,641-room hotel that is connected to the Orange County, Fla., convention center." — "Bevy of mayors backing Manny Diaz's bid for FDP chair," by Florida Politics' Scott Powers | | | | TRACK THE TRANSITION & NEW ADMINISTRATION HEADING INTO 2021: President-elect Biden is pushing full steam ahead on putting together his Cabinet and White House staff. These appointments and staffing decisions send clear-cut signals about Biden's 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, it tracks the appointments, people, and the emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | |
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | MORE DETAILS ABOUT RAID — FDLE agents spent more than five minutes calling fired Florida Department of Health Rebekah Jones about a search warrant connected to an errant text about Covid-19, but Jones stopped communicating with them, according to records obtained Tuesday night by POLITICO. Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said Tuesday an investigator briefly spoke with Jones on the first call, which lasted 17 seconds, and three subsequent calls went to Jones' voicemail. Then an investigator knocked on Jones' front door, and she answered. An outgoing call log from an FDLE investigator's cellphone contrast a video and message Jones posted on Twitter hours after agents left her home. She said "state police" served a search warrant on Monday at her Tallahassee condo and pointed guns at her kids, a point FDLE denies. The call log from an FDLE agent's cell phone also shows Jones was called four times between 8:38 a.m. to 8:43 a.m. Jones has said she was fired from DOH in May for saying the state was manipulating Covid-19 data to temper the severity of the pandemic. The search warrant was part of an FDLE investigation into an errant emergency message sent on Nov. 10. The FDLE investigation was requested by the state Department of Health, which manages the system. The executed search warrant also obtained Tuesday, shows FDLE investigators were looking for computer hardware, scanners, printers, external hard drives and software. The warrant was signed by a state Circuit Court judge on Dec. 3. (From POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian.) FALLOUT — "Florida officials defend raid on COVID-19 whistleblower as questions emerge about case ," by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos, Sarah Blaskey and Nicholas Nehamas: "Florida's law enforcement chief and state officials with the Department of Health said their internal emergency communication system was "hacked" on Nov. 10, conjuring images of a nefarious digital break-in. But court records show officials suspect Rebekah Jones, a former DOH employee, simply used old login credentials to gain "unauthorized access" to an employee messaging platform and send a group text. The message encouraged DOH employees to "speak up" about COVID-19 deaths — and criticized how Gov. Ron DeSantis has handled the pandemic." — "Republican lawyer resigns appointed state post over treatment of data analyst," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas: — "Rebekah Jones raid social media reaction from celebrities, scientists: 'Get to the bottom of this ,'" by Tallahassee Democrat's Jennifer Sangalang BRING THE NOISE — "Trump amps up pandemic politics at 'vaccine summit,'" by POLITICO's Nick Niedzwiadek: President Donald Trump on Tuesday gathered people at the White House to celebrate the "miracle" of a coronavirus vaccine. But the vaccine makers declined to attend. An introductory video tossed some of Trump's own government scientists under the bus. And the man Trump tapped to help speed vaccine development spent the morning distancing himself from the executive order Trump signed at the event. Instead, the event — or Trump's part of it, at least — was the typical Trumpian mixture of political theatrics, brags, grievances and accolades doled out based on fealty to his preferred narrative. In the audience were the Trump political allies, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who have most vocally supported the president. | 
President Donald Trump hands a pen to Vice President Mike Pence after signing an executive order on vaccine distribution Tuesday. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo | — "COVID-19 vaccine: "Portions of Pensacola's at-risk population could see first doses in January," by Pensacola News Journal's Jim Little VIRUS, WHAT VIRUS? — "Florida representative calls out Gov. DeSantis for hosting a holiday reception," by WTSP's Allison Kropff: "The CDC has put out guidance on holiday celebrations, saying to keep them to members of your own household. A state representative is criticizing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for not following those guidelines. State Representative Anna Eskamani, out of Orlando, called out the governor on Twitter for hosting a holiday party for lawmakers. She posted the invitation from the governor's office: The Governor and First Lady of the State of Florida cordially invite you and a guest to attend a Holiday Reception at the Governor's Mansion. Typically, she says this is a tradition held by the governor. All 120 House representatives and 40 state senators are invited and can bring a plus one." AT THE TOP — "Florida ranks high in COVID workers' comp claims," by News Service of Florida's Christine Sexton: "A new report shows that Florida is near the top nationally in the rate of COVID-19-related workers' compensation insurance medical claims filed in the first six months of 2020. Florida, along with Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut and New Jersey, had more than 300 COVID-19-related workers' compensation claims for every 100,000 active claims, according to a report released by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. A claim is considered active if an injured worker has received at least one medical encounter during the period." PRETTY PLEASE — "With options limited, Miami-Dade tries a PR campaign to combat latest COVID spike," by Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks: "Miami-Dade has a new slogan for its COVID-19 fight as the county government faces a third spike in cases without the enforcement tools it wielded during the prior two. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava unveiled the "We Can We Will" campaign at a press conference Tuesday where she also acknowledged the county could use some stronger measures to combat a surge in cases overlapping with the higher risks from indoor gatherings during the holiday season. "Fines would be nice," she said when asked what local powers she'd like Gov. Ron DeSantis to return to local governments during the pandemic." — "COVID-19: Challenge to Leon County mask mandate dismissed," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders — "As COVID surges, city of Sarasota renews mask ordinance," by Herald-Tribune's Timothy Fanning — "16,000 struggling Lee students to be encouraged to return to in-person learning," by Fort Myers News-Press' Pamela McCabe | | | | A message from The Great Courses Plus:   | | |
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | HEADING SOUTH — "Trump is likely to return to Florida and remain the most powerful Republican in the U.S.," by Miami Herald's David Smiley: "Such a move could make South Florida the new seat of power for the Republican Party, retain Mar-a-Lago's draw as a place of political access, and complicate the future of Florida's top GOP politicians, at least for the immediate future. 'Mar-a-Lago provides the ideal venue for a regrouping for Donald Trump,' said Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen, a non-profit watchdog organization based in Washington, D.C. 'It's already been turned into a political resort.'" TO INFINITY AND BEYOND — "Florida launches 'strong case' for Space Force command," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner: "Space Florida leaders on Tuesday praised aerospace facilities and commercial operations in the state, as site selectors inspected Patrick Air Force Base as a finalist to be the permanent command headquarters of Space Force. Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello told the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors that Florida has made a "very strong case" for the Brevard County military base south of Cape Canaveral, which is one of six finalists for U.S. Space Command headquarters." Speaking of space — Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Wednesday and he is also planning to chair a meeting of the National Space Council at Kennedy Space Center. Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez will join the vice president during his trip to Florida. — "U.S. House passes bill to improve forecasting of harmful algal blooms ," by Treasure Coast Newspapers Max Chesnes | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | POTENTIAL AG COMMISH CANDIDATE SAYS WHAT? — "Simpson says state 'probably should stop' building Everglades reservoir," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson said Tuesday the state "probably should stop" building a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, saying it was a mistake for the Legislature to authorize the project in 2017. Speaking at a Florida Chamber of Commerce online transportation and infrastructure summit, Simpson, an egg farmer, said the state would get "at least twice the bang for our buck" by storing water north of the lake rather than building the reservoir to the south. "At the time I thought it was a mistake because all the problems are actually in the northern Everglades," Simpson said of FL SB10 (17R), which the Senate passed unanimously. "If you solve the northern Everglades problem, you substantially solve your problem." The details: Simpson's remarks echoed the arguments of farmers, the sugar industry, and their agricultural allies. ROUND 2 — "Florida lawmakers will try again on pre-K reforms," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Florida lawmakers will try again to pass early learning reforms in 2021 after landmark legislation that would have set new testing metrics for the state's youngest students failed to pass last session. House leaders are advocating for new prekindergarten standards ahead of next session, but the real challenge lies in the Senate, where the proposal stalled in 2020. State Rep. Chris Latvala (R-Clearwater), the new chair of the House Education Committee, on Tuesday expressed confidence that an early learning overhaul will get through the Senate this time. GREEN MOVEMENT? — "What is the future of legal marijuana in Florida?" by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson: "Despite legalization's murky federal prospects, State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, said Congress' action on Friday is evidence of an unstoppable surge of momentum for legalization. 'The writing is on the wall, A growing movement of Americans understand how archaic the Federal marijuana laws are,' Brandes wrote in a text message Monday. Florida, in some ways, is a microcosm of the uncomfortable tug-of-war between the will of voters and largely conservative lawmakers who don't favor drug legalization." FLASHBACK: 10 YEARS AGO TODAY — " Jim Morrison is pardoned in indecent exposure case," by Gary Fineout for The New York Times: "Jim Morrison, the charismatic front man of the Doors who died nearly 40 years ago, was granted a posthumous pardon by Florida on Thursday. Gov. Charlie Crist, one of four members of the state clemency board, led the effort to clear Morrison of his conviction for indecent exposure and profanity stemming from a notorious concert at a Miami auditorium in 1969. Morrison, who was born in Melbourne, Fla., briefly attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, Mr. Crist's alma mater." | | | | HAPPENING THURSDAY - CLOSING THE ORAL HEALTH CARE GAP : Oral health care remains out of reach or limited for millions of people living in the United States, particularly for those with low income, those living in rural communities, and in communities of color. What will it take to improve access and quality of oral care for Americans, especially for the most vulnerable? Join POLITICO for a virtual conversation exploring the challenges in oral care disparities and the policies and strategies that can help solve them. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | JOHN THRASHER IS A LIBERAL? — "Opponents stand their ground as guns on campus legislation filed in Florida," by WFSU's Blaise Gainey: "'I want to make the pledge to you one more time that I've made every year. That I will continue to fight any kind of campus carry legislation,' said [Florida State University President John] Thrasher. 'We've all experienced enough heartache to know that more guns on campus do not make us safer.' During Thrasher's tenure as President, the campus has had several run-ins with gun violence. In 2014 an FSU grad and attorney shot and wound three people at Strozier Library, and in 2018 a faculty member and student were killed in a shooting at a local yoga studio. [State Rep. Anthony] Sabatini says Thrasher is trying to tear down the constitution. 'John Thrasher is a liberal and wants to keep the liberal teacher and college faculty union happy." Backstory — Thrasher, who was a captain in the U.S. Army and fought in Vietnam, is a former House speaker and state senator who also served as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. ON HOLD — " Federal judge postpones all his trials until Florida COVID case counts drop," by News Service of Florida's Dara Kam: "Saying he is acting 'out of an abundance of caution,' Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said he is postponing all of his civil trials until the coronavirus pandemic is under control and the number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths in Florida has dropped. Walker's order Monday came in a lawsuit involving the National Rifle Association. The gun-rights group is challenging a Florida law, passed in the aftermath of the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland high school, that prevents people under age 21 from buying guns." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | TRYING TO GET ANSWERS — "Ex-deputy tied to missing Collier men Terrance Williams, Felipe Santos to face questions," by Naples Daily News' Janine Zeitlin: "For the first time in more than a decade, a former Collier County sheriff's deputy will be called on to answer questions about two men who vanished after separate encounters with the deputy in north Naples. Steven Calkins is set to be deposed Tuesday as part of a civil wrongful death suit filed in 2018 by the mother of Terrance Williams on behalf of his estate." 'I'M BRACING FOR THE FLOOD' — " Sea level rise could flood thousands of Miami's affordable housing spots, research shows," by Miami Herald's Alex Harris and Yadira Lopez: "Daelé Guerra keeps a stack of bricks in her first-floor apartment in Hialeah. It's the only protection she can afford against the floodwaters that have ruined all of her belongings three times this year alone. When the water comes, she uses them to prop up her furniture. This spring, Guerra, a 53-year-old supervisor at a medical center, had to room with a relative for nearly three months while her landlord renovated the ruined one-story building. Since then, the apartment has flooded twice more." OUT — " Longest-serving marijuana inmate in US released from prison in Florida," by The Ledger's Gary White: "For the first time in more than 31 years, Richard DeLisi will be able to spend Christmas with family members. DeLisi, described as the longest-serving inmate for nonviolent marijuana crimes in the nation, walked out of South Bay Correctional Facility in Palm Beach County on Tuesday morning as a free man. Sentenced in 1989 to a 90-year term in a Polk County courtroom, DeLisi left prison ahead of his scheduled June 2022 release." — "Lee County School Board approves $950k settlement in Riverdale player's heatstroke death," by Fort Myers News-Press' Adam Regan — "Florida will contribute $67 million to extend Tampa streetcar," by Tampa Bay Times' Caitlin Johnston — "Jaguars agree to wait for Lot J vote in January," by Florida Times-Union's David Bauerlein | | | | A message from The Great Courses Plus: Are you an inquisitively curious individual that loves learning? Join a community of life-long learners, and learn more about any topic with The Great Courses Plus. Stream thousands of videos by some of this world's brightest minds. From the Art of Investing to the Theory of Everything, quench your thirst for knowledge with courses designed for the endlessly curious cat. With The Great Courses Plus, you'll enjoy being able to learn anytime, anywhere at your own pace. Now there's nothing keeping you from starting your educational journey. Learn now with The Great Courses Plus! | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Two men with rifles burst into a Broward's men shop. It wasn't what the police thought," by Miami Herald's Michelle Marchante: "From the outside, it looked like a robbery. Two men with rifles storming into a men's clothing store. A demand to put money in the bag. A witness calling police. Officers swarming a Pembroke Pines shopping center. Then, about five minutes later, the all-clear. Turns out, what went down before 11 a.m. Tuesday at Spazio, a men's fashion clothing and accessories store, wasn't a robbery at all. The rifles were fake — and the men holding them were filming a video, said Amanda Conwell, a spokeswoman for the Pembroke Pines Police Department." BIRTHDAYS: state Rep. Webster Barnaby … Rick Hirsch, Miami Herald managing editor
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