| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted information that there were 23,335 new Covid-19 infections reported by the state for Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on its dashboard that 17,096 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Wednesday that 55 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19. Question — How long can this go on? 2024 alert — President Joe Biden calls out red state governors over their mask policies during a late afternoon press conference from the White House. A few hours later, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is on Fox News returning fire, where he's blasting Biden over Afghanistan, masks and the border with Texas. Foreign policy — DeSantis appeared on Hannity Wednesday night — a favorite safe space for the governor — where the first few minutes featured a discussion about Afghanistan and not Florida. The Republican governor did a balancing act many conservatives are walking on the topic, saying former President Donald Trump was "right to say we needed to come home from Afghanistan" but that Biden blew it on the actual withdrawal. My obsession — The conversation did eventually pivot to the mask wars. Biden earlier in the day went after governors such as DeSantis for their opposition to mask mandates for schoolchildren. "Some politicians are trying to turn public safety measures — that is children wearing masks in school — into political disputes for their own political gain," he said. "Some are even trying to take power away from local educators by banning masks in school. They're setting a dangerous tone." This drew a retort from DeSantis that Biden is "obsessed with having kindergarteners wear masks." Path not taken — The governor was not asked on Fox News about the fact that two of the largest school districts in the state had defied him earlier in the day and went ahead with mask mandates despite potential threats of funding cuts or even removal from office. Prediction — So at this point, there's still no end in sight to this feud. POLITICO has already reported on how the Biden administration is willing to keep sparring with DeSantis. The governor seems eager to keep up the fight. One of the comments from DeSantis during his critique of Biden was "I think we are in for a rocky three-and-a-half years as long as he's president." 2024 here we come. — 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 | | | | INTRODUCING OTTAWA PLAYBOOK : Join the growing community of Politicos — from lawmakers and leaders to pollsters, staffers, strategists and lobbyists — working to shape Canada's future. Every day, our reporting team pulls back the curtain to shed light on what's really driving the agenda on Parliament Hill, the true players who are shaping politics and policy across Canada, and the impact it all has on the world. Don't miss out on your daily look inside Canadian politics and power. Subscribe to Ottawa Playbook today. | | | | |
|  | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | RESISTANCE IS SPREADING — "Miami, Tampa schools defy DeSantis on masks despite threats," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Two of the largest school districts in Florida and the nation on Wednesday bucked the DeSantis administration by passing mask mandates for all students just one day after other school districts in the state were put on notice for taking similar action. By requiring masks, the school districts encompassing Miami and the Tampa area are violating emergency rules from Gov. Ron DeSantis and state agencies meant to thwart local Covid-19 mandates. The Republican governor has shown no desire to turn down the heat on defiant school districts, leaving them open to dire sanctions like officials being ousted from office. MEANWHILE — "Biden hits governors who 'intimidate educators' on mask mandates," by POLITICO's Bianca Quilantan: President Joe Biden escalated a confrontation with Republican governors over school mask mandates Wednesday, directing the Education Department to "use all available tools" to aid local governments trying to institute the measures. The battle over face coverings between the Biden administration and GOP governors who have moved to punish school districts for requiring them is roiling an already complicated start to an academic year where educators broadly support full-time, in-person learning. Despite the efforts to reopen classrooms, the number of children hospitalized with Covid-19 has shot up in many parts of the country. | 
Biden speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington | Susan Walsh/AP Photo | DISPATCHED — "Broward judge refuses to block DeSantis order banning school mask mandates," by Sun Sentinel's Marc Freeman: "But Broward Circuit Judge Fabienne Fahnestock ruled against [Miramar parent Elvin] Dowling's bid for a temporary injunction, which could have blocked the governor's order pending a more thorough review. The judge declined to wade into the legal arguments on both sides. She also denied DeSantis' request to stop Dowling's lawsuit from going any further. Instead, Fahnestock agreed with the governor's counsel that the proper venue to hear the dispute is a Leon County court, because DeSantis' base of operations is in Tallahassee and the matter is not centered around Broward." — "Red state govs push pricey Covid treatments while fighting masks," by POLITICO's Dan Goldberg — "Alachua schools: Mask rule extended eight weeks," by The Gainesville Sun's Gershon Harrell — "Nikki Fried rallies around lawsuit against ban on school mask mandates," by Florida Politics' Jason Delgado MIXED EMOTIONS — "Poll: Floridians back vaccine mandates, proof of shots but split on masks," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: A new poll from Florida Atlantic University shows that Floridians are split on whether parents should be allowed to decide if their children wear masks in schools. But that same poll shows a solid majority agree that employers should be able to mandate that their employees get vaccinated. FAU's Business and Economics Polling Initiative polled 500 Florida residents and found that two-thirds of those surveyed backed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that school children, teachers and staff wear masks in schools. But a bare majority — 51.3 percent — agreed that the decision to wear masks in schools should be decided by parents. About those 'passports' — A majority also said they favored letting businesses require proof of vaccinations. Nearly 70 percent said cruise ships should be able to require proof while a majority — 61.2 percent — said they supported large sporting and entertainment events requiring proof. That support, however, dropped when it came to restaurants. Only 53.3 percent said they supported letting restaurants require proof from dine-in customers. ON YOUR RADAR — "Alachua County Commission approves one-week mask mandate as COVID-19 cases rise," by The Gainesville Sun's Cindy Swirko: "Fish out the masks if you haven't already — the Alachua County Commission Wednesday evening issued an order requiring face coverings indoors. That may start late Thursday and continue for seven days. The mandate was approved unanimously and will be evaluated after a week. It is for ages two and above in any indoor space, except private homes, in which at least two unrelated people are present. Exceptions will be made for people with health issues that could be worsened by the use of a mask. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that went into effect July 1 limiting the power of local governments from enacting coronavirus safety measures — such as requiring masks." — "Jacksonville fire lieutenant becomes JFRD's first member to die from COVID-19 in line of duty," by Florida Times-Union's Dan Scanlan — "Disney World tweaks face mask policy, optional for outdoors," by The Associated Press | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GOAL — Tampa Bay Rays owner Jeffrey Vinik is chipping in to help Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried even though he has given money in the past to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republicans. Vinik's private investment office — American Investment Holdings LLC — this week donated $16,000 to Fried's political committee. Vinik is a former hedge fund manager turned sports owner and developer with a significant presence in the Tampa Bay area. Campaign records show that American Investment Holdings has made more than $1.4 million in donations over the last five years, including $50,000 to a political committee controlled by Gwen Graham when she ran for governor. In April 2019, American Investment Holdings gave $20,000 to DeSantis' political committee and last October donated $70,000 to the Republican Party of Florida. INSIDE THE MARGIN — "Only half of Florida voters support re-electing DeSantis and Rubio, but they're still polling ahead of likely Democratic challengers," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "Slightly more than a year in advance of Florida's gubernatorial primary, a poll released Wednesday found Democrat Charlie Crist in a slightly better position than Nikki Fried as the candidate to go up against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The survey, paid for by the gaming company BUSR and conducted by a well-rated firm, Susquehanna Polling and Research, found DeSantis with 46% of the vote to 43% for Crist. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points, making it impossible to say which one would fare better in the November 2022 general election." — "PAC activity in 2020 'ghost' candidate race mirrored tactics in '18 Gainesville-area election," by Orlando Sentinel's Annie Martin and Jason Garcia — "Miami-Dade Democrats elect a new leader during chaotic virtual meeting," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio. | | | | 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. 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| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | SHIELDS DOWN — "Florida lacks cybersecurity experts as state sees growing threats," by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower: "Gov. Ron DeSantis' new technology office is supposed to resolve the state's longtime tech woes and lead the state's defense against cybersecurity threats. A year into its inception, the office is struggling. In the last several months, the new Florida Digital Service has seen a wave of high-level departures. Top officials have left without giving notice. It's looking for its third chief information security officer, who leads cybersecurity defense for the state's $100 billion government, in less than a year. Half of the state's 10-member cybersecurity response team positions are vacant." 'BOMBSHELL REPORT' — "Program for brain-damaged kids arbitrarily denied claims, overspent on perks, audit finds," by Miami Herald's Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang: "Over the last two years, Florida's embattled compensation program for children who suffer brain damage at birth spent nearly $800 for holiday luncheons and violated state spending laws by offering lavish buffets to employees and board members, but refused to reimburse a family for the full amount of a $1,314 computer designed to help a non-verbal child speak. Parents traveling with their children to out-of-town doctor appointments were limited to $6 for breakfast — although administrators for Florida's Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association, or NICA, paid $158 per person for a board meeting breakfast buffet and all-day non-alcoholic drinks." AFTERMATH — "High stakes: Medical marijuana analyst sees consequences for Trulieve after guilty verdict of CEO's spouse," by USA Today Network-Florida's Jeffrey Schweers: "The question on the minds of cannabis purveyors, analysts and investors is whether [J.T.] Burnette's guilty verdict Friday on five felony corruption charges will affect the company or [Kim] Rivers' role as CEO of the medical marijuana juggernaut. 'This looks like a disaster for Trulieve, and after learning a bit more about the case I think it's justifiably so,' said Alex Carchidi, a writer for Motley Fool, a private financial advisory service that has been in business for nearly 30 years." | | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | AFTERMATH — "Parkland ex-deputy Peterson breaks down outside courtroom: 'I did the best that I could,'" by Sun Sentinel's Rafael Olmeda and Lisa J. Huriash: "Scot Peterson, the school resource officer accused of hiding during the Parkland shooting, broke down in a Broward courthouse hallway Wednesday, saying he never would have sat idle while students and staff were killed. Standing outside the courtroom where his lawyer had just argued to dismiss child negligence charges against him, Peterson lost his composure, fighting back tears as he described how his life changed after Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ARRESTED — "County commissioner's daughter charged with fraudulent COVID loans," by Sun Sentinel's Brooke Baitinger: "The daughter of a Broward County commissioner who is running for Congress faces federal charges for orchestrating a scheme to file fraudulent loan requests through a federal COVID-19 relief program meant to help small businesses survive the pandemic. Damara Holness, 28, daughter of Broward Commissioner Dale Holness, is accused of receiving a $300,000 loan from the Paycheck Protection Program to pay 18 employees who didn't exist at Holness Consulting Inc. in Plantation. She was charged Tuesday with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud." Response — "Dale Holness said via text message Wednesday that he and his daughter have been estranged for many years. 'I have always offered guidance and counsel to my daughter Damara to do what is right,' he wrote. 'I have no details as to how she conducted her business or what she did with her business entities.'" UM, OK — "'Narcissistic waste': Former Sheriff Morgan spent $75,000 of taxpayer money on statue of himself," by Pensacola News-Journal's Colin Warren-Hicks: "Former Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan spent thousands of public tax dollars to order a life-size bronze statue of himself last year before the end of his final term in office. Current Sheriff Chip Simmons called the 6-foot-4-inch statue, which arrived last week at the Sheriff's Office, a 'brash narcissistic waste.' 'You don't make a statue of yourself,' Simmons said Wednesday. 'And you don't use tax dollars to do it.' Former Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan had his likeness cast on bronze before leaving the office. Morgan defended the decision, saying it was not that big of a deal." A TREND — "FL public school names still commemorate 'The Lost Cause,' but that's changing," by Florida Phoenix's Isaac Morgan: "In Miami, what was known as Robert E. Lee Middle School is now Jose De Diego Middle School — the Confederate general's name ripped away and replaced in honor of a hero of Puerto Rican independence. In Jacksonville, Stonewall Jackson Elementary School is now Hidden Oaks Elementary, following protests against the old name by community members. In a trend amplified following the murder of George Floyd and last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, school districts across the country, including Florida, are relegating the names of Confederate 'heroes' that once graced public spaces through monuments, flags, symbols, and even school buildings to the ash heap of history." — "Beach park seen as site for Florida condo collapse memorial," by Associated Press' Curt Anderson | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Disney World replaces free FastPass system with paid reservation service, by Orlando Sentinel's Katie Rice: "Walt Disney World's free FastPass+ reservation system will be replaced by a paid attraction reservation service as part of the resort's new planning app Disney Genie, the theme park revealed Wednesday. Disney Genie, first announced in August 2019, includes enhanced and personalized itinerary options, dining reservations and forecasted wait times, which are all available for free at Disney's domestic parks within the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps. But with the Disney Genie+ paid service, guests will be able to purchase attraction reservations the day of their visit through a program called Lightning Lane, which the company compared with Disneyland's paid MaxPass system in its announcement." BIRTHDAYS: Tallahassee Democrat executive editor William Hatfield ... Mark Seibel, technology policy editor at The Washington Post and former managing editor for news at the Miami Herald ... Administrative law judge John D.C Newton II
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