| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Made-for-TV — Ok, so it wasn't billed as a reelection kickoff. But Gov. Ron DeSantis's hour-long townhall, err, informercial from The Villages airing Wednesday night on Newsmax marked one of the first times that he has begun to articulate his pitch for a second term. Greatest hits — Much of the show was a recitation of DeSantis talking points on coronavirus and his handling of the pandemic. He discussed his running feud with the "corporate media" and spun out a quip that he borrowed from President Lyndon Johnson. New version — Johnson is quoted as saying, "If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: 'President Can't Swim." DeSantis's modern update: "If I walked across the ocean, they'd say DeSantis can't swim." It could be worse — But in terms of his selling point for 2022, DeSantis contended that if he had lost in 2018 to Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum "that this state would be a total disaster," and that Florida would have gone along with more stringent lockdowns — a la California — due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It's about jobs still — The Republican governor then framed next year's election as one that will decide whether Florida will remain "an oasis of freedom." "I do think 2022 can be very, very important for this state's vitality going forward," he said. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to hold a press conference in Ormond Beach. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com |  | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
UPHILL CLIMB — "Poll shows DeSantis on solid ground as Democrats try to find openings," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: "Three polls all have DeSantis with favorable job approval ratings more than a year and a half ahead of Election Day and highlight the difficulty that Democrats will have with the incumbent, who is raking in millions for his reelection effort. Still, at least one poll paid by Democratic state Sen. Annette Taddeo's political committee, shared exclusively with POLITICO, shows that Democrats may have some openings to go after the incumbent. Taddeo's poll, conducted by SEA Polling & Strategic Design, suggests not all Floridians support the governor's move to ban so-called "vaccine passports" or crack down on mail-in balloting and drop boxes."
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Gov. Ron DeSantis remains on solid ground as he heads into his reelection campaign as Democrats ramp up their efforts to challenge him, a fresh new round of polling in Florida shows. | Matias J. Ocner/AP Photo | NEXT MOVE FOR TADDEO — As the governor's race field begins to solidify, one person who remains out of the race for now is State Sen. Annette Taddeo. The Miami Democrat had been considering her own candidacy – and even paid for polling – as part of that process. But a source close to Taddeo confirmed that she had been serious about pursuing a statewide run — but with the likely entry of Rep. Val Demings, she will focus on her re-election campaign. Taddeo, however, will continue to keep an eye on how the gubernatorial race takes shape. SPOTTED: State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried having dinner in Orlando with well-known trial attorney John Morgan and Chris Dorworth, the former state representative and former lobbyist with Ballard Partners. Dorworth recently left the lobbying firm amid news reports detailing his friendship with embattled Rep. Matt Gaetz. — "Nikki Fried hints at June 1 announcement in race for governor," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
PALM BEACH STORY— Scoop From POLITICO Playbook: Law enforcement officials in Palm Beach County, Fla., have actively prepared for the possibility that Manhattan District Attorney CY VANCE could indict former President DONALD TRUMP while he's at Mar-a-Lago, according to two high-ranking county officials involved in planning sessions.
Among the topics discussed in those meetings: how to handle the thorny extradition issues that could arise if an indictment moves forward. An obscure clause in Florida's statute on interstate extradition gives Gov. RON DeSANTIS the ability to intervene and even investigate whether an indicted "person ought to be surrendered" to law enforcement officials from another state — which means that as Mar-a-Lago prepares to close down for the season and Trump relocates to Bedminster, N.J., it isn't just the Florida heat he's leaving behind: He could lose a key piece of political protection. "The statute leaves room for interpretation that the governor has the power to order a review and potentially not comply with the extradition notice," says JOE ABRUZZO , clerk of the Circuit Court of Palm Beach County, the official who would be in charge of opening a potential fugitive-at-large case. One wrinkle to Abruzzo's potential role in all of this: He is a former close associate of President JOE BIDEN'S younger brother, FRANK. Abruzzo tells Playbook that despite his friendship with the Biden family, "the full extent of the law will be followed and carried out appropriately, without bias." If an indictment comes down while Trump is in Bedminster for the summer, this could all play out very differently. New Jersey's extradition statute is similar to Florida's, giving the governor the power to investigate an out-of-state warrant. But its governor is Democrat PHIL MURPHY, who is no fan of Trump's, and would not likely intervene to stop Trump's extradition. In the event of an indictment, Trump's lawyers could also negotiate a condition of surrender, which could cut local law enforcement out. An attorney for Trump declined to comment.
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| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | |
The daily rundown — Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 3,184 (0.1 percent) to 2,278,549; active hospitalizations decreased by 40 (nearly 1.5 percent) to 2,710; deaths of Florida residents rose by 51 to 35,882; 9,350,957 Floridians have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
TROUBLING — "'Unacceptable': Only 7 percent of vaccinated Florida residents are Black," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Just 7 percent of the roughly 9 million people vaccinated for Covid-19 in Florida are Black, a figure that has Gov. Ron DeSantis administration officials and advocates pledging to do more to boost vaccination rates in Black communities. Shamarial Roberson, the Florida Department of Health's deputy secretary for health, told reporters Wednesday that just 658,000 Black Florida residents are fully vaccinated, adding that "we have a lot of work to do." SCHOOL DAZE — " Florida schools inching back to 'normal' – but not fast enough for some," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Schools across Florida are preparing to gradually return to normal as early as this summer, even as school districts and parents continue to fight over mask mandates. Under the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, a growing number of school districts are choosing to scrap virtual learning programs for next year and are reconsidering their rules surrounding face coverings for students and teachers. Mask on, mask off — Mandatory face mask policies are proving to be a long-lasting flashpoint in Florida even as the school year winds down. With weeks left before summer, parents continue to flood school board meetings demanding that masks be made optional for students. In most cases, though, school boards are sticking with face masks until at least early June, much to the dismay of parents who oppose the rules. TO COURT — " Florida can't force cruises to restart during pandemic, feds argue in court," by Sun Sentinel's David Lyons: " The U.S. government says the state of Florida has no legal right to force the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to reopen the cruise line business at the nation's seaports. Lawyers representing the state and federal government squared off before U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday in Tampa on Wednesday after Florida sued the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services, claiming an agency program for cruise lines to resume sailings is "unlawful," taking too long and creating widespread economic harm. After a daylong hearing, the judge did not issue a ruling." — "Disney World, other Orlando theme parks cut back on physical distancing, end temperature checks," by Orlando Sentinel's Gabrielle Russon — "COVID hospitalizations are falling faster in South Florida than the rest of the state ," by Miami Herald's Ben Conarck | | DATELINE D.C. | |
PUSHING BACK — "Sen. Marco Rubio says Rep. Ilhan Omar 'out of her mind' for anti-Israel tweet," by New York Post's Samuel Chamberlain: "Controversial Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is "out of her mind" for accusing Israel of committing "an act of terrorism" by carrying out airstrikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Wednesday. The airstrikes came after Hamas and other Islamic terror groups launched hundreds of rockets into Israel, targeting cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv."
More Florida reaction: Rep. Ted Deutch didn't cite Omar by name, but the Florida Democrat took to Twitter to weigh in: "Hamas terrorists have launched >500 rockets at Israel hoping to kill civilians. The international community has condemned Hamas for using human shields & launching rockets from in or near schools and hospitals in violation of international law. No one should defend Hamas. Ever." MAYBE THE SENATE CAN PASS IT THIS TIME — " U.S. House passes legislation designating Pulse nightclub as a national memorial," by Orlando Sentinel's Katie Rice: "Nearly five years after the Pulse nightclub shooting killed 49 and wounded 53 others, the U.S. House passed a bill Wednesday designating the site as a national memorial. The House passed H.R. 49 shortly after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday following a brief debate. A similar bill, H.R. 3094, unanimously passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. Flanked by photos of the victims of the shooting, the bill's sponsor Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, moved to pass the bill by underscoring the importance of memorializing the victims and survivors of the June 12, 2016, shooting alongside the first responders who were on the tragedy's frontlines and the Central Florida community that united against hatred in the shooting's wake." | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
'ROBUST PLAN' — "DeSantis signs landmark Florida sea level rise bills into law," by Tampa Bay Times' Zachary T. Sampson and Kirby Wilson: "Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills Wednesday that lawmakers say will leave Florida better prepared for future flooding and sea level rise. The bills, SB 1954 and SB 2514, will — among other things — set aside hundreds of millions of state dollars for flooding infrastructure projects. The Republican-led efforts would redirect a significant portion of that money from an affordable housing trust fund to the storm hardening efforts. 'The Legislature delivered on my calls for meaningful, significant investments in resiliency,' DeSantis said at a bill signing ceremony in Tarpon Springs, surrounded by lawmakers."
END IS NEAR — "Florida's jobless will soon have to start looking for work again to get unemployment benefits," by Orlando Sentinel's Gray Rohrer and Steven Lemongello: "Beginning May 29, Floridians claiming unemployment benefits must search for jobs again to receive the benefit. Florida law requires those seeking benefits to contact five employers each week, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has waived that rule since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic last year. Now, with the economy rebounding and restaurant owners complaining of a lack of applicants to fill open positions, Dane Eagle, Secretary of the Department of Economic Opportunity, said it's time to put it back in place." — " Gov. DeSantis holds key to health care projects," by News Service of Florida's Christine Sexton — "Legislature takes drinks-to-go party to Gov. DeSantis's desk," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
PANIC AT THE PUMP — "Gasoline fever rages as pipeline company begins restart," by New York Times' Clifford Krauss and David E. Sanger: "Anxious drivers circled from one filling station to another, gasoline prices rose and thousands of stations were out of fuel in the Southeast on Wednesday as a ransomware attack continued to cripple a vital fuel pipeline. There was a sign of relief late Wednesday when the operator of the pipeline, which transports gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from Texas to New Jersey, said it had "initiated the restart" of operations. But the company, Colonial Pipeline, said supplies would take several days to return to normal. Since the pipeline was shut down on Friday, the uncertainty about supplies has prompted a growing frenzy among motorists determined to fill up."
IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE — "Facing rising temperatures, Miami appoints chief heat officer," by Craig Pittman for The Washington Post: "Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (D) recently announced the county was creating a first-of-its-kind position — chief heat officer. 'We know extreme heat does not impact people equally — poorer communities and Black and Hispanic people bear the brunt of the public health impacts,' the mayor said in a statement. A chief heat officer will 'coordinate our efforts to protect people from heat and save lives.' It's a position that other communities, including Athens and Freetown, Sierra Leone, also battling rising temperatures, are expected to create, according to the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, a nonprofit organization." DEBUT LOOMING — "Mary McLeod Bethune sculpture near completion in Italian studio, might make Daytona visit," by The Daytona Beach News-Journal's Eileen Zaffiro-Kean: "About four years after setting out on the journey to create a sculpture of Mary McLeod Bethune that would one day stand in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall, the marble likeness of the trailblazing educator and civil rights activist is just a few weeks away from completion. Master sculptor Nilda Comas has been toiling in her artists' studio in the Italian hamlet of Pietrasanta, first creating smaller clay and plaster models in preparation for chiseling out a statue of Bethune from a 4-ton block of marble." Almost done — "The 4-ton, 11-foot-tall marble statue of Mary McLeod Bethune being sculpted in an historic Italian art studio is nearing completion. Plans are underway to have a blessing ceremony and program with local officials in Pietrasanta, Italy in July. Now Comas is putting the finishing touches on the 11-foot-tall white marble statue of the woman who created a school for girls in Daytona Beach in 1904 that evolved into Bethune-Cookman University." — " Florida takes step toward the catching of Goliath grouper," by Associated Press' Terry Spencer — "Miami doctor accused of hate crime insists she was the real victim and target of slur," by Miami Herald's David Ovalle — " Times Square shooting suspect arrested in Florida," by Associated Press — "City leaders end plan to spend $50,000 to find who released public record," by Sun Sentinel's Lisa J. Huriash
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| | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— "Turkey vultures terrorizing Hillsborough neighborhood, residents say," by WFLA's Beth Rousseau: "Families in a neighborhood in Westchase say turkey vultures are invading the area and tearing up their homes. Resident Judy Oliveri says the neighborhood is overrun with the birds which have been multiplying since they showed up three years ago. 'We could have 20 to 25 vultures on our roofs. They land on our screens, their under feathers are all over the roof, their droppings are all over the place,' Oliveri said."
— " She posed as a Miami-Dade student to boost Instagram following, cops say. She's behind bars," by Miami Herald's Carli Teproff and Devoun Cetoute: "Audrey Francisquini tried to blend in with the students at American Senior High School on Monday. She wore a black backpack, carried a skateboard and held a painting as she walked through the hallways handing out pamphlets promoting her Instagram page, police said. The problem, police said: Francisquini is 28 years old and is definitely not a high school student." BIRTHDAYS: Kim Hill, interim vice president, communications and marketing at University of South Florida … Adam Weinstein, writer and producer at MSNBC … Phil Musser, VP of government affairs at NextEra Energy Resources. | 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 | | | | |
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