| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Split-screen — Two 2022 rivals appeared on national television Tuesday night. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried vs. Gov. Ron DeSantis. MSNBC vs. Fox News. Tribal politics. Divided nation, divided state, all on full display. Day 1 — Fried's appearance on MSNBC came a few hours after she officially announced her plans to challenge DeSantis with a two-minute video, an orchestrated rollout that avoided the logistical hurdles of doing a live event. What economy? — But in what should have been a friendly environment, Fried made what appeared to be an unforced error where she suggested cruise lines should pull out of Florida if DeSantis won't find a way to exempt them from the state's newly enacted ban on vaccine passports. "They should look at leaving if the governor's not willing to work with them," Fried said. Dismissive — Fried also zinged Democratic primary rival Rep. Charlie Crist, the former governor who wants to win his old job back by declaring that "his time in statewide elected office has come and gone." The NCAA made me do it — DeSantis, meanwhile, went on Fox News to wrap up a day's march through conservative media outlets to boast about signing a bill (on the first day of Pride Month) that bans transgender athletes from playing girls and women's sports. During his brief segment, DeSantis revealed that he pushed House Speaker Chris Sprowls to adopt the ban after he heard that the NCAA threatened to pull events from states that adopted the policy. What economy part 2? — First, DeSantis said he wasn't worried about a potential boycott and said "the hell with these events." But later added, he doubted there would be any serious economic consequences. That led to a curious remark where he suggested Florida has avoided fallout from a recently enacted election bill that he called "stronger" than one adopted in nearby Georgia. (This blanket assessment flies in the face of the legislative debate where GOP lawmakers said it was "not Georgia 2.0." And for what it's worth, Florida's new restrictions are not as extensive… but hey, it's television.) Long and winding road — So, we have two candidates, both willing to ding Florida's economy in their appeal for Democratic and Republican base voters. Only 17 months to go. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis will be in New Smyrna Beach, where he will hold a press conference. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FINALLY — "Florida's Nikki Fried jumps into 2022 race to challenge DeSantis," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Tuesday officially entered the race for governor in 2022, becoming the second well-known Democrat to challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis in what will be one of the most high profile governor's races in the country. Fried told POLITICO she wants to run for governor "because I've stood up my whole life for those who have needed a fighter." Fried is the only statewide elected Democrat in Florida. "At every turn I've seen a system that was rigged and works against the people," she said. "It's time to break that system. After two decades of Republican governors it's time to try something new." — "Nikki Fried needs to tack left if she wants to replace Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis," column by Mac Stipanovich for the Tampa Bay Times. | 
AP Photo | STAYING PUT — "St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman rules out congressional run," by Tampa Bay Times' Josh Solomon and Romy Ellenbogen: "Mayor Rick Kriseman, who is term-limited come January, announced on social media Tuesday that he will not run for Congress. Kriseman, a Democrat, said he "strongly considered" running to replace U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg), who announced a 2022 gubernatorial run, in Florida's 13th Congressional District, which includes St. Petersburg. 'Mindful of the important work that remains, the amount of time left in my term and the time commitments and requirements (lots of fundraising!) of being a strong congressional candidate, I have decided not to be a candidate for the open U.S. House seat in Pinellas County,' Kriseman wrote." TRUMP EFFECT — "Trump found millions of new voters in 2020. Will they turn out for next year's midterms?" by Wall Street Journal's Aaron Zitner: "New data on the 2020 election show that then-President Donald Trump drew substantial support in some battleground states from Americans who had skipped prior elections, creating a new pool of voters whose decisions on whether to participate again will be central to next year's midterms. These voters had cast ballots intermittently or sat out all prior elections, despite being old enough to vote, but were drawn off the sidelines by the Republican president's race against his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden. New analyses by TargetSmart, a Democratic voter-data firm, and the Republican National Committee found that more of these 'low-propensity voters' chose to register as Republicans than Democrats in several of the closest battlegrounds, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida." THE OTHER BIG 2022 RACE — "To beat Marco Rubio, Val Demings' inner circle says she must 'double down' on Latinos, rebut socialism," by Newsweek's Adrian Carrasquillo: "The last time a Democrat lost a Florida Senate race was in 2018, when Rick Scott beat former senator Bill Nelson, who was doomed by tepid Latino support and the belief within the party that he took Hispanics for granted. Representative Val Demings will have to avoid that mistake, and other political landmines with Latinos, after announcing that she is 'seriously considering' running against incumbent Senator Marco Rubio in a state that has only become more unfriendly terrain for Democrats since then. 'Bill Nelson in 2018 is the poster child of ignoring the Latino vote in Florida, and that should be the warning for everybody to remember,' said Democratic strategist Jose Parra, who has worked with candidates in the state." — "Ballot initiatives seek to boost voting in Florida," by News Service of Florida | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | GAME OFF — "DeSantis signs bill banning transgender women and girls from sports," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Tuesday a policy banning transgender athletes from playing girls and women's sports that opponents have condemned as deeply discriminatory against transgender athletes and students. Dubbed the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," Florida's new law establishes that women's sports from middle school through college, including intramurals and club teams, are closed to males based on the biological sex listed on a student's birth certificate. The measure has been widely celebrated by Republicans for "protecting the integrity" of girls athletics. Florida joined more than 20 other GOP-leaning states pushing similar ideas. RESPONSE — "Activists rally for transgender rights after DeSantis signs trans sports ban," by Orlando Sentinel's Katie Rice: "State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, condemned DeSantis for using his power to sign an 'unnecessary' bill that sends transgender youth 'a hateful message of exclusion.' 'This bill isn't just a new rule that bans trans students from participation in the future; this bill expels transgender children from teams they're already playing on today, and it disrupts their education and humiliates them in front of their peers for no good reason,' he said." START THE CLOCK — With less than a month to go before the next fiscal year starts, the $101.5 billion budget approved by the Florida Legislature finally landed on the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday. DeSantis has 15 days to act, but so far the governor has been moving quickly once legislation is sent to him. The governor has met with his budget and policy director four times in the last eight days, suggesting he could be prepared to hand out budget vetoes. (And yet another reminder: The total of $101.5 billion does not include the nearly $7 billion in federal aid that is authorized for the current fiscal year. That's the pot of money DeSantis wants to use for $1,000 bonuses to teachers and first responders.) 'HARDSHIP, THAT'S WHAT IT IS' — "Florida protected OB-GYNS from paying for their mistakes. They handed taxpayers the tab," by Miami Herald's Daniel Chang and Carol Marbin Miller: "This is the story of how Florida lawmakers stripped parents of the right to sue over births gone catastrophically wrong, created a no-fault program funded by fees paid by doctors and hospitals to cover those claims, made hundreds of millions investing those funds in the markets, accumulated $1.5 billion in assets and then offloaded much of the costs of care onto taxpayers. That left parents like the Benitezes to grapple with Medicaid's arcane rules, a shortage of doctors willing to accept Medicaid patients and frequent denials of claims." PUSHBACK — "Attorney General asks judge to block DNA testing in Tommy Zeigler case that State Attorney agreed to," by Orlando Sentinel's Monivette Cordeiro: "Florida's attorney general pushed back Tuesday on an agreement to allow additional DNA testing in the death penalty case of Tommy Zeigler, arguing it does not comply with Florida's procedural rules. Zeigler, 75, has spent more than four decades on death row after being convicted in the killings of his wife, her parents and a customer at the family's Winter Garden furniture store in 1975. Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell said last month that her office was supporting Zeigler's request for testing after multiple denials to 'ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice.' But Attorney General Ashley Moody's office said Zeigler's request did not explain how additional testing will exonerate him or mitigate his sentence, according to court records." — "Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody wants quick action in immigration appeal," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | |
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — Between Thursday and Tuesday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 8,275 (0.4 percent) to 2,326,755; active hospitalizations decreased by 191 (9.2 percent), to 1,884; deaths of Florida residents rose by 136 (nearly 0.4 percent), to 36,869; 10,344,328 Floridians have received at least one dose of a vaccine. (The Department of Health did not release daily totals over the Memorial Day weekend.) LOOK WHO'S BACK ON FOX — "Pam Bondi backs Ron DeSantis, Ashley Moody in vaccine passport fight with feds," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski: "'Florida is wide-open. We are open for business. You wouldn't even know COVID had happened here,' [Former Attorney General Pam] Bondi contended, in a breezy description of a disease that has taken nearly 37,000 lives thus far in Florida alone. Bondi then went on to make another easily rebutted claim. 'The majority of our state, they are being vaccinated,' Bondi said, even as official data shows that number still under 40%." — " Need shelter this hurricane season? Miami-Dade to require masks, but not proof of vaccine," by Miami Herald's Alex Harris — "Disney Cruise Line lines up test sailing from Port Canaveral," by Orlando Sentinel's Richard Tribou — " Florida State University seeks to scuttle COVID-19 lawsuit," by News Service of Florida — "COVID hits Central Florida tax rolls, but real estate values still grow," by Orlando Sentinel's Stephen Hudak | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | MUCK — "Florida environment groups join Mast, Donalds calling on Corps to stop Lake O discharges," by Treasure Coast Newspapers Max Chesnes: "U.S. Rep Brian Mast joined a coalition of Florida environment groups at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam Tuesday to convey support for a revised Lake Okeechobee plan which sends more water south to the thirsty Everglades and eliminates discharges from the lake to coastal estuaries. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of re-writing its lake management rules for the first time since 2008, and decision time is drawing closer. Corps officials say the selection of a final plan could come as soon as July. Now, the Palm City Republican and fellow Congressman Byron Donalds (R-Naples) are publicly calling on the Corps to adopt an improved version of one of five final Lake O plans." 'THESE KIDS ARE KILLERS' — "'Unbelievable': Children, 12 and 14, use AK-47, other guns in shooting rampage on Volusia deputies," by WKMG's Adrienne Cutway: "Two foster children broke into a Volusia County home, Tuesday night, then used guns they found inside the residence — including an AK-47 — to repeatedly fire at deputies for about 30 minutes, according to sheriff's officials… [Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood] described the two juveniles as 'Bonnie and Clyde' and said they shot at deputies from several vantage points in the home, including the pool deck, the bedroom and from the garage. He called the pair 'evil.' 'Their conversation was they were going to kill my sergeant. They were coming out to kill cops. They were coming out to kill deputies, that's the conversation,' Chitwood said." A START — "In historic first, Swiss firm settles suit by U.S. family over property seized in Cuba," by Miami Herald's Adriana Brasileiro: "A Swiss multinational cement company has agreed in principle to settle a lawsuit brought by a family seeking compensation for the use of their property in Cuba seized in 1960 after Fidel Castro came to power, according to court documents. If the agreement is finalized, it will be the first settlement of a legal claim launched under Title III of the U.S. Helms-Burton Act of 1996, which established the right to sue for compensation for business property confiscated in Cuba. Thanks to a surprising decision by former President Donald Trump in May 2019 allowing people to sue under the Title III provision, owners of property seized by the Cuban government can demand compensation from foreign companies in Cuba 'trafficking in stolen property.'" — "Developer unveils $1.1 billion plan Riverfront Jacksonville development in downtown," by Florida Times-Union David Bauerlein | | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | UM, WHAT? — "He killed an iguana and got arrested. Now he's claiming a 'stand your ground' defense," by Sun Sentinel's Marc Freeman: "The iguana started it. Or so says a man who claims he feared for his life and had every right to bash the creature to death under Florida's stand your ground law. PJ Nilaja Patterson, 43, is accused of animal cruelty over killing an iguana. But the 6-foot-3, 165-pound man argues that he was in fear for his life — and that the 3-foot green iguana was the first to resort to violence during their horrific encounter in Lake Worth Beach. 'The vicious animal got the best of Patterson and savagely bit his right arm,' say Patterson's lawyers. The man went to the hospital and got 22 staples to close the wound caused by the 'wild beast.' Patterson's tussle with the invasive reptile is thought to be the first time anyone has pursued a stand-your-ground claim over a deadly confrontation with an iguana." — "Woman donates kidney to hubby's ex-wife days after wedding," by The Associated Press' Kelli Kennedy: "Ten years after their first date, Debby Neal-Strickland put on a cream-colored lace gown and married her longtime sweetheart at their Florida church. Two days later, she put on a hospital gown and donated a kidney to Mylaen Merthe — her new husband's ex-wife. An unusual story? Yes. But the tale of Jim Merthe and his two wives is a testament to how love and compassion can triumph over division. Mylaen, 59, had long struggled with kidney disease. By last year, she was ghostly pale with dark circles under her eyes, dragging herself through the workday with no energy. By the time she was admitted to the hospital in November, her kidneys were only functioning at 8%. Her brother offered to donate a kidney, but wasn't a match so Debby volunteered." — "Tate yearbook editor disciplined over homecoming queen photo can walk at graduation," by Pensacola News Journal's Madison Arnold: "The Tate High School yearbook editor who was suspended over an altered photo of the now-expelled homecoming queen will get to participate in her graduation ceremony after all. Samantha Guerrier, 18, was suspended from school for the last four days of her senior year and barred from participating in the June 7 graduation ceremony after an uproar over the photo in which a bucking horse mascot sticker was placed over the face of Emily Grover. The rear end of the horse covers Grover's face in the group photo, something Guerrier said was an unfortunate accident." BIRTHDAYS: Former state Rep. Mike Hill … Political analyst and consultant Chris Ingram
| 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