| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Monday. The daily rundown — Florida's Covid-19 numbers hit new record highs over the weekend. The state reported 21,683 new cases on Friday, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — more than any single day since the start of the pandemic. Florida also reported its highest-ever tally of Covid-19-related hospitalizations — 10,207 — according to The Associated Press. Starting gun? — The Democratic Club of North Florida put on a breakfast gathering outside on a humid and hot Saturday morning among large live oaks some sixteen miles from the state Capitol for their "official kick off" to the 2022 campaign season, as Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey framed the event. Demings steps forward — All three main Democratic statewide candidates — Rep. Val Demings, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Rep. Charlie Crist — were in attendance as was Ken Russell, the Miami city commissioner also running for U.S. Senate. During a 7-minute speech, Demings gave a thundering and well-received speech where she cited the Jan. 6th riot at the Capitol and denounced Sen. Marco Rubio (not directly by name) as someone who "doesn't give a damn" about raising the minimum wage or protecting voting rights or health care access. The challenge ahead — Demings, in her remarks, acknowledged the line of near misses by Democrats ("disappointing moments") in the last few cycles, but said "I am not going to give up on Florida." When asked after her speech about GOP voting registration gains and other Republican advantages heading into 2022, Demings said that "certainly as a party there is work to do. We've learned some painful lessons." Openings — But Demings also maintained an optimistic outlook, noting for example that Democrats have made gains in places such as Jacksonville, where she grew up. "Jacksonville went blue in the last cycle. I would love to see that in a headline." She added that she "won't take anything for granted" and that "I will travel this state and talk to voters, those who look like me and those who don't look like me." Demings also maintained that she would press national Democrats, including President Joe Biden, for assistance in 2022. "We will have the resources we need." — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
|  | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | WRONG DIRECTION — "Florida breaks record for COVID-19 hospitalizations," by The Associated Press Mike Schneider: "A day after it recorded the most new daily cases since the start of the pandemic, Florida on Sunday broke a previous record for current hospitalizations set more than a year ago before vaccines were available. The Sunshine State had 10,207 people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to data reported to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The previous record was from July 23, 2020, more than a half-year before vaccinations started becoming widespread, when Florida had 10,170 hospitalizations, according to the Florida Hospital Association." — "Jacksonville's Mayo Clinic to activate 'surge plan,' reaches capacity amid COVID-19 increase," by Florida Times-Union's Clayton Freeman THE NEW WAVE — "This Florida COVID surge is different. So is the state's response," by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson and Diti Kohli: "Florida has been here before. But not like this. This wave of the coronavirus crashing over the state is different. The strain is different: delta appears far more infectious than previous versions of the virus. The patients filling hospitals at an alarming rate are different. They're younger, and healthier. In the overwhelming majority of cases, they're unvaccinated." New normal — "And the politics are different. Last year, local governments issued mandates: Mask up. Shut down. Ride it out. But since then, Republican leaders have taken steps to forbid municipalities from instituting new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus." DISPATCH FROM THE INSIDE — "'It just went boom.' ICUs are being overwhelmed with younger — and sicker — patients ," by Miami Herald's Daniel Chang: "Inside a COVID-only intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, all eight beds are filled with patients. Six of the eight patients are younger than 50 years old. None of them are vaccinated against COVID-19. The youngest patient, a 27-year-old woman on a ventilator, had to be resuscitated with a bag valve mask after her blood oxygen saturation levels crashed. The oldest, a 71-year-old man, has been in the ICU for two weeks. He has been in a coma for three days. When he awakens, if he awakens, he will be a widower. The man's wife, also hospitalized with COVID-19, died two days earlier." — "'That light did turn out to be a train': UF Health Jacksonville staff face surge in COVID," by Florida Times-Union's Katherine Lewin and Beth Reese Cravey — "'I beg you to get vaccinated': TMH VP sounds alarm as hospital sets record in COVID patients ,'" by Tallahassee Democrat's Tori Lynn Schneider MOUNT TALLAHASSEE HATH SPOKEN — "DeSantis seeks to block school mask mandates in Florida," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon and Andrew Atterbury: Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to reject mask mandates for school-age students on Friday and issued an order allowing parents or guardians to choose whether their child wears a mask in schools. The Republican governor, who threatened to call a special session on masks in schools, signed the emergency action Friday, which is in response to the Broward County School District making masks mandatory for students and teachers in the face of the coronavirus Delta variant spreading throughout the state. Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in the country, will make a decision on mask mandates in the coming days. — "Palm Beach County school official calls DeSantis' expected executive order on masks 'troubling,'" by Palm Beach Post's Andrew Marra — "Starting Monday, Duval County Public Schools employees required to wear masks for 30 days," by News4Jax's Brie Isom — "Florida health department moves forward on 'vaccine passport' ban," by News Service of Florida's Christine Sexton MANDATE — "Disney requires all non-union U.S. employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations ," by Orlando Sentinel's Austin Fuller and Katie Rice: "The Walt Disney Co., Central Florida's largest employer, is requiring all of its non-union hourly and salaried employees across the U.S. to get the coronavirus vaccine. Staffers who work on-site will have 60 days from Friday to complete getting vaccinated, and those who work from home will need to provide verification of vaccination before returning to work with certain limited exceptions, an unsigned statement released by the company on Friday said. New hires will need to be fully vaccinated before starting. "Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees," the statement reads. Disney also has started conversations with unions that represent employees under collective bargaining agreements." | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | READY TO MAKE HIS PLAY — "'The one to beat': Simpson praised ahead of possible bid for Florida agriculture commissioner," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Republican Senate President Wilton Simpson has for years championed Big Agriculture in Florida — and the industry is ready to return the favor. Simpson is on a glide path to being elected the next agriculture commissioner should he choose to run, and some agricultural groups are already publicly praising him. He's a proven ally, they say, who already has deep ties to the industry. "Obviously President Simpson is a farmer who has spent a better part of 10 years in the Senate making agriculture a priority," said Adam Basford, director of legislative affairs for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. "I don't know if he will run or not but if he does he would make a fantastic commissioner of agriculture." WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — "Wealthy candidate pumps staggering $2.3 million of her own money into South Florida special election," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a candidate who has never held elected office, so badly wants a South Florida congressional seat that she's pumped more than $2.3 million of her own money into the campaign. The figure is staggering. It's $1 million more than seven other Democratic candidates combined have raised — and more than any other congressional candidate in the country has put into their own campaign in the first six months of 2021. And, Cherfilus-McCormick said in a telephone interview, she's prepared to put in more — up to another $1 million — if needed." | 
Rep. Val Demings speaking at Democratic Club of North Florida campaign kick off as Rep. Charlie Crist watches | Gary Fineout POLITICO | GAETZPALOOZA — "Congressman Matt Gaetz kicks off his 'Freedom Tour' in Brevard," by Florida Today's Emily Walker: "Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) kicked off his Florida Man 'Freedom Tour' at the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront hotel Saturday, expressing support for former President Donald J. Trump while railing against mask mandates and lockdowns. The tour is a series of rallies Gaetz said is aimed to "band together and celebrate being Floridians." It takes place amid a federal investigation of Gaetz for sex trafficking a minor." — " Matt Gaetz stops at Largo coffee shop for 'Florida Man Freedom Tour,'" by Tampa Bay Times' Jake Sheridan | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | NOT A LOT OF HELP SO FAR — "Florida has disbursed 2 percent of rent aid as eviction moratorium ending," by Tampa Bay Times' Emily Mahoney: "The state of Florida has received more than $870 million from the federal government to make landlords whole and keep renters in their homes during the pandemic, and expects to receive a grand total of more than $1.56 billion as more money is distributed. It's given out around 2 percent of what it's gotten so far." PAID FROM FEDERAL CORONA MONEY — "Debts are paid: FAMU, Robinson surprise class of 2020 graduates with news on outstanding debts ," by Tallahassee Democrat's Byron Dobson: "Florida A&M University, whose motto is 'Excellence with Caring,' has provided over $16 million to erase outstanding debts carried by students, President Larry Robinson said Saturday morning. Robinson made the announcement toward the end of commencement ceremonies for Class of 2020 graduates in the School of Business & Industry, the College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences/Institute of Public Health and School of Environment, at the Lawson Center. It was one of four ceremonies being held Saturday and Sunday for Class of 2020 graduates who were given the opportunity to participate in an in-person commencement, after previously being denied that due to the COVID pandemic." | | Bidenology | | 'FRONT BURNER' — "Biden keeps pressure on Cuba, meets with Cuban-American leaders," by POLITICO's Sabrina Rodriguez: The Biden administration on Friday announced more targeted individual sanctions on Cuban regime officials and entities as the president met with a group of Cuban-American leaders to discuss his administration's response to recent historic anti-government protests on the communist-run island. It comes after thousands of Cuban Americans on Monday protested in Washington to urge President Joe Biden to take swift action and do more to support the Cuban people following the island-wide protests. Demonstrations led by Cuban Americans have been ongoing in Washington, Miami and several cities around the country and world in the almost three weeks since protests in Cuba began on July 11. The next steps — The Biden administration has begun to roll out its Cuba strategy in recent days, including targeted sanctions on those in Cuba involved in human rights abuses and ongoing efforts to secure internet access and remittances for the Cuban people. "We're going to do everything we can to keep Cuba on the front burner" to keep the focus on the Cuban people and their right to protest peacefully, a senior administration official said in a call with reporters. The Treasury Department on Friday slapped individual sanctions on the Cuban police force, known as the Policia Nacional Revolucionaria of the Cuban Interior Ministry, and two of its leaders — Oscar Callejas Valcarce and Eddy Sierra Arias. | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | FLORIDA MAN'S BIG BANK ACCOUNT — "Trump political groups have over $100M in the bank," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt and Meredith McGraw: The scenario is virtually unprecedented: Never in history has a former president banked nine figures' worth of donations to power a political operation. Over the first six months of the year, Trump's political groups whipped up supporters with baseless claims of election fraud to pull in cash on a scale similar to the GOP's official political arms, the Republican National Committee and the party's House and Senate campaign committees. — " His campaign is over. But Trump's political groups are still spending donor money at his properties," by Washington Post's Isaac Stanley-Becker and David A. Fahrenthold A LITTLE BIT OF A RIOT? — "'Playing politics': Partisan divide evident in Polk as Jan. 6 inquiry starts," by The Ledger's Gary White: "While many Americans regard the insurrection, which disrupted the counting of votes in the 2020 presidential election, as one of the nation's worst days, prominent local Republicans don't see it that way. 'I'd call it a protest with a little bit Of a riot in there because people damaged stuff,' said J.C. Martin, chairman of the Polk County Republican Party. 'People who damage stuff should be prosecuted. But it's certainly not an insurrection because insurrections don't happen if nobody's armed. It's been so politicized by the Washington Democrats, as far as they're trying to make this like it's some overthrow of the government kind of thing. If people wanted to overthrow the government, I think they would probably have weapons.'" | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | HMM — "Ex-Haiti prosecutor once tasked with finding out who killed famous journalist is dead," by Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles: "A former top government prosecutor who was once forced to flee Haiti for Miami in fear for his life is dead. Claudy Gassant was found dead Saturday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where he recently had been living. The discovery came on the same day Gassant was expected to be in South Florida for a conference on Haiti's widening insecurity. His death was described as suspicious." | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Dean Cannon, president and chief executive officer of GrayRobinson and former Florida House Speaker ... Kevin Cate, founder of CATECOMM … Heidi Carr, professor at the University of Miami … (Was Sunday) Former state Rep. Jennifer Sullivan … (Was Saturday) Former Agriculture Commissioner and Rep. Adam Putnam ... Kristen Knapp, director of communications at Florida Health Care Association ... POLITICO's Bill Duryea … Dan McFaul of Ballard Partners
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