| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Good Wednesday morning. The daily rundown — Between Monday and Tuesday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 14,896 (1 percent), to 1,503,482; active hospitalizations went up by 71 (0.9 percent), to 7,720; deaths rose by 156 (nearly 0.7 percent), to 23,227. Unchanged — While there are indications that today's historic vote to impeach President Donald Trump a second will include the backing of some Republicans, there are no signs that any of those will be from Florida. Same as it ever was — Nearly all of the state's House delegation voted against certifying the election for Joe Biden even after last week's deadly Capitol riots. And they all voted against the Democratic-backed resolution Tuesday night calling on Vice President Mike Pence to use the 25th Amendment to declare Trump incapable of executing the duties of his office. No — Freshman Rep. Carlos Gimenez, the former Miami-Dade County mayor who was endorsed by Trump, blasted the resolution vote: "Congress should be holding thorough investigations into the insurrection on Capitol Hill by domestic terrorists." Gimenez added that the resolution "would have no effect in getting us closer to the truth or help our nation" and that "we must stop the political charades." And Rep. Matt Gaetz — one of Trump's staunchest allies — remains unmoved by anything that has happened in the last week or in the months the president spent falsely telling his supporters that the election was stolen: "President Trump called for protests that would be peaceful and patriotic... he got labeled a national security threat," he wrote on Twitter. Gaetz, who represents a ruby red district, maintained "this is a deeply unpopular impeachment" despite the fact that many Republicans are expected to support it. Yes — Just as Florida's Republicans appear lined up to support President Trump, Democrats remain resolute in support of impeachment and appear ready to press the button for yes. Rep. Ted Deutch went on MSNBC saying that as more images and video emerges from last week's riots, it is more imperative that lawmakers act. "It was an attack on our democracy and we have to respond," Deutch said. Maybe it will all go away? — Meanwhile, other staunch supporters of President Trump appear determined to sidestep questions about the riots. While Sen. Marco Rubio — who voted for certification but has called impeachment "ridiculous" — has said Trump bears some of the blame for what happened, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday did not acknowledge a reporter's question about the president. He simply walked away instead. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to hold a press conference in Ponte Vedra Beach. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | HAPPENING THURSDAY - THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT: What are the logistical challenges facing the coronavirus immunization campaign? Who is overseeing the process and working to overcome obstacles to ensure that vulnerable groups have access to the vaccine? Join POLITICO for a virtual discussion on the outgoing Trump administration's plan to prioritize lower-income, rural, and communities of color for vaccine distribution and what the Biden administration can do to streamline plans and fill in any gaps. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
|  | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | CRACKING — "Republicans begin turning on Trump," by POLITICO's Heather Caygle, Kyle Cheney, Sarah Ferris and Marianne LeVine: President Donald Trump's impeachment firewall has begun to crack. A day before the House is set to charge Trump with "willful incitement of insurrection" — the gravest allegation ever lodged against a sitting president — fissures in the Republican Party Tuesday threatened to transform the vote into a resounding bipartisan rebuke. And after Vice President Mike Pence officially rejected Democrats' demands he forcibly remove Trump by using the 25th Amendment, the House will move forward with impeachment Wednesday, this time with key Republican support. "The facts are very clear — the president called for this seditious attack," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday night. ON THE GROUND — "Capitol riot fueled by deep network of GOP statehouse support," by POLITICO's David Siders: In Florida, state Rep. Anthony Sabatini on Tuesday was tweeting lists of Republicans "WITH courage" and those without, the latter group including Republican Sens. Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski, who have been critical of Trump. He called Rep. Liz Cheney, the Wyoming Republican who plans to support Trump's impeachment, a "national security threat." | 
Capitol police officers in riot gear push back demonstrators who try to break a door of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. | AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana | — "Tallahassee, Florida law enforcement agencies on high alert amid state Capitol threats," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jeff Burlew BE PREPARED — " DeSantis vows Florida will be ready if protests engulf state Capitol," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a top ally of President Donald Trump, vowed Tuesday that state authorities would be ready in case of any unrest ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. DeSantis, who has refrained from criticizing Trump over last week's riots at the U.S. Capitol, acknowledged FBI warnings about possible protests and violence at state capitals leading up to the Jan. 20 inauguration, but said he did not know about anything "specific" targeting at Tallahassee. "If anything is disorderly, we are going to act very quickly," DeSantis said at an unrelated press conference at The Villages. CHARGED — "Sanford firefighter spotted among U.S. Capitol mob arrested by feds," by Orlando Sentinel's Grace Toohey and Jeff Weiner: "A Sanford firefighter who was photographed inside the U.S. Capitol among the pro-Trump mob that flooded the building during last week's deadly riot has been arrested by federal authorities, records show. Andrew Williams, who is also a paramedic for the Sanford Fire Department and has been with the agency since 2016, faces a charge of disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, according to federal court records." IN THE MIX? — " Arrest of Proud Boys' Miami based leader was linked to insurrection, feds say," by Miami Herald's David Smiley: "The FBI on Tuesday said Washington, D.C., police arrested the Miami-based leader of the far-right Proud Boys days before the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol because they had developed information showing he was among those planning to incite violence as Congress voted to certify the presidential election. In the agency's first remarks since a pro-Trump mob attempted to overrun Congress as it voted to certify the results of the presidential election, Steven D'Antuono, assistant director in charge at the FBI's Washington field office, said federal authorities had worked in the preceding days to identify bad actors planning to attend a Jan. 6 rally near the White House in support of President Donald Trump's false claims that the election was rigged." ON ALERT — "Something 'very drastic' to happen next, says pro-Trump organizer; watchdog investigator says threats should be taken seriously," by Palm Beach Post's Wendy Rhodes: "On Monday, a well-known Palm Beach County supporter of President Trump warned that 'very drastic' efforts are in the works to keep Trump in power and prevent President-elect Joe Biden from being sworn in next week. Willie Guardiola, who organizes pro-Trump rallies and sign-waving events in Palm Beach County — where Trump's Mar-a-Lago home is located — told The Palm Beach Post 'Trump is not going anywhere' and added 'he is not going to lay down and be impeached' either." 'A POWERFUL MESSAGE' — " Scoop: Rubio asks Biden for $2k stimulus checks as unity appeal," by Axios' Alayna Treene: "Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) urged President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday night to immediately call on Congress to pass $2,000 stimulus checks for the American people as a sign of congressional unity, according to a letter obtained by Axios. Why it matters: Rubio has supported such payments before, but in asking the incoming president to 'break the paralysis in Washington by delivering desperately needed relief,' the possible 2024 presidential candidate is presenting himself as a practical partisan. Biden already supports the payments. What he's saying: 'It would send a powerful message to the American people if, on the first day of your presidency, you called on the House and Senate to send you legislation to increase the direct economic impact payments to Americans struggling due to the pandemic from $600 to $2,000,' Rubio wrote." — "Florida lawmakers tell staff to avoid state Capitol Sunday because of election protests," by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson — "Polk County GOP leaders still loyal to Trump, doubt Capitol riot details," by The Ledger's Gary White | | | | KEEP UP WITH THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WITH TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: It was a dark week in American history, and a new administration will have to pick up the pieces. Transition Playbook brings you inside the last days of this crucial transfer of power, tracking the latest from President-elect Biden and his growing administration. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news and analyzes 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. | | | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | FOR YOUR RADAR — "'Something we have never done': Florida schools drain reserves to feed kids at home," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: A pandemic-driven budget shortfall across Florida school districts is threatening local meals programs, a core function whose funding is fanning a bitter political feud over how to direct precious money. Students are eating significantly fewer school meals across the 2020-21 academic year amid the monthslong public health crisis but districts are collectively seeing a financial hole as deep as $370 million, according to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. Food service costs are higher this year in part because schools are sending thousands of meals home with students who are learning remotely. Schools changed how they serve meals so they could reach more students, especially with scores yet to return to their campuses and unemployment rates still soaring high above pre-pandemic levels. No response? — For months, Fried, whose agency oversees the National School Lunch Program, has pushed for putting federal CARES Act dollars toward feeding students. But so far, Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has ignored requests from Fried, the state's only statewide elected Democrat, to bring up the issue, including letters sent in September and December. Citizens should be outraged that Florida won't consider pumping more CARES money into school lunches like other states, including California and Vermont, Fried said in an interview with POLITICO. PROMISES, PROMISES — "'We did a bad job': Florida child welfare chief vows reforms after USA Today investigation," by USA Today's Suzanne Hirt: "Florida's child welfare chief announced Tuesday that in response to a USA TODAY investigation, the Florida Department of Children and Families will establish specialized teams to investigate child abuse allegations against foster parents and to review the agency's decisions in those cases. In a meeting with the Florida Senate's Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee in Tallahassee, DCF Secretary Chad Poppell confirmed USA TODAY's findings and said his department assessed its handling of the 'heartbreaking' cases of child sexual abuse at the hands of foster parents that the series brought to light." AFTERMATH — "State says troubled domestic violence system 'stabilized,' ready for new vendor," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas: "A top state agency head said Tuesday that domestic violence services have now "stabilized," nine months after the state took control of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence amid revelations that the agency had misused state and federal funds and paid its executive director more than $7.5 million over three years. 'This is another case where the department got too far away from what was happening,' said Chad Poppell, secretary of the Department of Children and Families at a meeting of the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs." R-E-A-C-T — "Legislators seek to punish social media giants for 'selective censorship' of Trump," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas: "After the nation's most powerful social media platforms banned President Donald Trump's Twitter and Facebook accounts following the mob violence on the nation's Capitol last week, two Florida legislators are drafting legislation that will retaliate against the companies for engaging in what they call "selective censorship" of conservative opinions. State Sen. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican, and Rep. Randy Fine, a Brevard County Republican, each said they were motivated by the response to the social media platforms and by Google, Apple and Amazon, which blocked Twitter alternative Parler." — "Florida must do better at stopping sexual abuse in foster care, top official says," by Tampa Bay Times Kirby Wilson | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | CORONAVIRUS STILL SURGING — "Florida adds nearly 15,000 COVID cases as total tops 1.5 million, with 156 new deaths," by Miami Herald's Howard Cohen: "Florida's Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed 14,896 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's known total to a new milestone: 1,503,482. Also, 156 new resident deaths were announced, bringing the state's resident death toll from the novel coronavirus to 23,227." TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK — "Flawed vaccine rollout will create political stars — and has-beens ," by POLITICO's Joanne Kenen: In Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis already had been offering the vaccine to people as young as 65, vaccination rates have picked up in the last few days but still aren't meeting demand. Recriminations are running in all directions. Democratic mayors like Jane Castor in Tampa and Dan Gelber in Miami Beach are faulting the Trump approach — and said they've been doing the groundwork for months, training medical staff and setting up support sites. Castor said they'd even been setting up transportation for the elderly to get their shots, but supplies from Washington were inconsistent, making planning difficult. "It feels reactive and random," Gelber said. "There was not a single instruction sent to us from above." He recalled how much work went into disaster planning when he was staff director of a U.S. Senate investigative committee in the 1990s. "All of this should have been practiced months ago," he said. I DID IT MY WAY — "'Putting seniors first was the right decision.' DeSantis defends vaccine rollout," by Sun Sentinel's Skyler Swisher: "Gov. Ron DeSantis defended Florida's rollout of the vaccine to older and vulnerable residents at The Villages mega-retirement community on Tuesday, saying he was ahead of other states in prioritizing seniors. Long lines, faulty appointment websites, jammed phone lines and blindsided local officials marred Florida's push to offer the shot to seniors. But DeSantis said he made the right call to rush out the vaccine to seniors. He touted state statistics showing that almost 350,000 people older than 65 had received their first dose as of Tuesday." IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL — "Disneyland becomes COVID-19 vaccine super site. Disney World could be next," by Orlando Sentinel's Gabrielle Russon and Steven Lemongello: "The public can't ride any attractions at Disneyland, which has been closed for nearly a year. But starting this week, the California theme park will open up a super COVID-19 vaccination site in its parking lot where thousands of people will get inoculated daily. Could Disney World be named a giant vaccine site, too? It's possible. Disney World is talking with the state and offering to help the vaccine efforts in any way it can. The company said it is focused on being a good community partner to help with the pandemic. Like hospitals across the state, Disney World has the capacity to store the vaccine with an ultracold freezer, said state emergency director Jared Moskowitz during a virtual town hall with state Rep Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, last week." — "27 more Publix stores will give COVID-19 vaccines. South Florida isn't on the list," by Miami Herald's Devoun Cetoute — " As vaccine requests swell, health department struggles with tech issues in Palm Beach County," by Sun Sentinel's Wells Dusenbury — "Health director: Seniors shots could take months; Publix in PBC could have doses soon," by Palm Beach Post's Jane Musgrave — "Will South Beach have spring break? Mayor wants to avoid COVID 'super-spreader,'" by Miami Herald's Martin Vassolo | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | R.I.P. — "Famed Pensacola attorney Fred Levin has died at the age of 83 from COVID-19," by Pensacola News Journal's Jim Little: "Famed Pensacola Attorney Fred Levin has died at the age of 83 from COVID-19. Levin Papantonio Rafferty spokesperson Mollye Barrows confirmed to the News Journal that Levin died Tuesday afternoon from COVID-19. Barrows said Levin was asymptomatic when diagnosed with the virus five days ago and the family is not releasing any additional details at this point. Levin, a Pensacola native, was known as one of the nation's top trial attorneys throughout his career, which began in 1961 when he joined the Levin and Askew law firm founded by his brother David and Reubin Askew. Levin's most famous victory in the courtroom came in 1990s when he was able to get the Florida Legislature to change the statute to Florida's Medicaid law that allowed it to recoup money for the cost of treating lung cancer. Levin used the change in the law to lead an effort to reach a $13 billion settlement with the tobacco industry." NOT A BAD QUESTION — "Why was a tank driving around a Miami-Dade neighborhood?" by WPLG's Janine Stanwood: "Video on social media showed what looked like a military tank driving around a Palmetto Bay neighborhood on Sunday. Commenters on the Cutler Bay Social Facebook page wondered if the tank was part of a military operation. But a spokesperson with the Florida National Guard said the tank was not part of its fleet, and military experts said the tank appeared to be a British combat vehicle. The matter was cleared up by Miami-Dade Police, which issued a statement that read: 'Miami-Dade Police Department, Village of Palmetto Bay units received reports of a military-style vehicle observed on the Village roads. They looked into the matter and confirmed that the vehicle belongs to a private collector of decommissioned, surplus military items.'" — "'They came to us. Amazon makes plans to build new 'last-mile' facility in Jackson County," by Tallahassee Democrat's TaMaryn Waters | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "'The original Twitter.' Meet the Hialeah liquor store owner whose signs amuse and offend," by Miami Herald's Carlos Frias: "The president's days in the White House are numbered — and Robert Gewanter is counting them down for all to see. 'Nine days or 25th Amendment,' read the luminescent sign Monday at M&M Liquors, where, for more than 30 years Gewanter has posted limericks, witticisms and political commentary about everything from Hialeah politics to social justice in 16 words or less. 'People called it the original Twitter,' he jokes. For the last four years, Gewanter's muse has been the U.S. president, Donald Trump. And his medium has been six-inch-tall letters for the store's sign on the corner of Le Jeune Road and Southeast Eighth Street in Hialeah. On the day after the election, Gewanter posted: 'No concession required Donald you're fired' 'It's easy to be a political humorist when you have Donald Trump working for you,' he said. 'So, yeah, I'm really going to miss Trump.'" — "David Cassidy's former Fort Lauderdale home sells for $2.6 million," by Sun Sentinel's Ron Hurtibise. BIRTHDAYS: Phillip Perry, VP client services for Asana Creative Strategy (h/t Joshua Hicks)
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