| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. The daily rundown — Well, about that. Late last night the Florida Department of Health — which ceased releasing its own daily public reports about Covid-19 when cases were waning earlier this summer — contended that the data issued earlier in the day by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were in error because multiple days were included into one. The CDC had posted information (that is supposed to come from the state) that showed that nearly 57,000 cases had been reported over the weekend. Doubleplusgood — After the health department's Twitter account took swipes at media outlets that had reported the initial numbers ("wrong again"), shortly after 10 p.m. it gave out figures for the past three days showing that the cases went down over the weekend. The agency said there were 19,567 new infections for Saturday and 15,319 for Sunday. The path not taken — So of course this shows that the department could — if it wanted to — still do some form of daily reporting on Covid-19. The agency could — if it wanted to — have put out some kind of official statement explaining what had gone on instead of going after media outlets that relied on the CDC data. (The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis, by the way, had taken issue with critics of its decision to halt daily reporting by saying, well, we're now giving it to the CDC.) The department could — if it wanted — put before the public and media Dr. Scott Rivkees, the state surgeon general, or some other top department official to go over what's happening in the state with the Delta variant. A mess — This back-and-forth over whether the numbers were correct came at the end of a day where some school districts announced their decision to defy DeSantis' edict that they can't enact blanket school mask mandates. This was followed by the administration saying it would potentially dock the pay of school superintendents and board members who go against the governor. Cite the statute — Where's the legal authority for this? Suffice to say, there are differing opinions and some local school officials weren't too keen on the threat. Then there was the insistence from the administration that the state did not threaten to withhold funding from school districts. What? It was in the order issued last week by the governor. Getting straight answers — and the right numbers — appear to be difficult right now. — 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 | | SHOWDOWN UP AHEAD — "DeSantis threatens to withhold salaries of education officials as counties find mask workarounds," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: By requiring a doctor to endorse students going maskless, Leon and Alachua counties are pushing stricter health guidelines than many districts that are working to meet the demands of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who wants parents to have the ultimate choice. Education leaders in both counties run the risk of losing funding — namely their pay — for enacting more stringent rules than recommended by state agencies, signaling the latest policy scrap surrounding masks. Line drawn — "If something happened and things went sideways for us … and heaven forbid we lost a child to this virus, I can't just simply blame the governor of the state of Florida," Rocky Hanna, superintendent of Leon County Schools, told reporters Monday. — "Why our school district is defying Florida's ban on mask mandates — even if it means we lose funding," by Alachua County School Superintendent Carlee Simon for the Washington Post RUBIO: "IT MAKES SENSE TO GET VACCINATED' — Sen. Marco Rubio on Monday distributed a video to press organizations in both Spanish and English that encouraged Floridians to get vaccinated due to the surge of the Delta variant. In the nearly minute and a half message, Rubio says instead of telling people what to do he wants to share "facts" about the variant and the chances of someone getting hospitalized or dying from this latest wave. "Unlike the first wave of Covid, we are seeing children in hospitals and even in intensive care. And that's something we didn't see the first time around. Now look, those are facts based on what we know about Covid right now. In America, you are free to decide what you want to do with that information. I personally think it makes sense to get vaccinated." | 
| BY THE NUMBERS — "Duval Schools: Nearly 4 percent of student body opts-out of masks," by Florida Times-Union's Emily Bloch: "Even as COVID-19 continues to surge in Northeast Florida, thousands of public school students across Jacksonville won't be wearing masks this week as schools re-open — their families signed paperwork making sure of it. According to Duval County Public Schools, the school district has received forms for 4,700 students opting them out from wearing face masks on campus. The news comes a week after the local school board voted to make masks required unless a student's family filled out and turned in paperwork requesting otherwise." — " Pinellas schools decide to keep masks optional," by Tampa Bay Times' Marlene Sokol — "Florida Democrats denounce DeSantis' mask mandate ban, urge local school districts to mask," by Tallahassee Democrat's Casey Chapter and Byron Dobson IN THE DARK — "As new COVID cases hit Florida prisons, staff vaccinations rates are unknown," by Tampa Bay Times' Hannah Critchfield: "Coronavirus cases are hitting Florida correctional facilities anew, with state and federal prisons, jails and an immigration detention center reporting COVID-19 infections. The new infections come as Florida has taken center stage amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant. Currently, the Florida Department of Corrections is not releasing vaccination rates among detention staff, data that a little over half of other states in the nation have opted to disclose. The state used to provide information about active staff infections, but stopped sharing this data two months ago." WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? — "Norwegian vaccine ruling could embolden cruise lines in challenge to DeSantis," by Miami Herald's Taylor Dolven: " Other cruise companies said Monday they are assessing what the ruling means for their cruises, which are already underway in Florida. They could start requiring proof, daring the state to enforce its $5,000 fines, said Larry Gostin, professor of global health law at Georgetown University and director of the World Health Organization's center on global health law. 'This will embolden them to do that, and I think it should,' he said. 'When you have law that is contrary to the public's health and to the Constitution, the burden is on Florida to see if they can enforce it legally.'" COMING THIS FALL — "Florida public universities not expected to house students in COVID isolation," by Tallahassee Democrat's Byron Dobson: "The heads of the State University System on Friday said there is no expectation that Florida's 12 public campuses will provide on-campus housing for students in isolation following positive COVID-19 tests. In a memo, Syd Kitson, chairman of the Board of Governors, and Marshall Criser III, chancellor of the system, reiterated that they are 'strongly recommending' students, especially those participating in campus organizations and athletic teams, get vaccinated." — " Pensacola unlikely to implement another mask mandate," by Pensacola News Journal's Madison Arnold — "COVID's quick spread among unvaccinated worries doctors at Palm Beach County hospitals," by Palm Beach Post's Jane Musgrave — " Jacksonville's Lynyrd Skynyrd halts tour due to guitarist's COVID-19 infection," by Florida Times-Union's Tom Szaroleta | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | IF YOU LOSE YOU STILL WIN — "DeSantis loses again in court as critics say his political ambition drives challenged laws," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello: "Gov. Ron DeSantis' sweeping agenda is increasingly running aground in the courtroom. The decision by a federal judge Sunday to block DeSantis' ban on vaccination passports for Norwegian Cruise Lines is just the latest judicial setback for the Florida governor on issues ranging from his touted Big Tech anti-censorship law to the so-called 'John Morgan law' that would have severely curtailed funding for ballot measures. Critics say those and others were just red meat for the right-wing GOP base in advance of DeSantis' reelection run next year and his designs on the White House in 2024. But one expert said whether they're enforced might not matter politically." — "Tallahassee judge Barbara Hobbs urges state Supreme Court to stick with 60-day suspension," by Tallahassee Democrat's Karl Etters — "Justices to hear red-light camera dispute," 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. | | | | |
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | DISPATCH FROM DEEP INSIDE FLORIDA — Dropping later this morning is a lengthy new piece for Vanity Fair magazine by special correspondent Joe Hagan that seeks to explain how Florida is remaking conservative politics in the nation and why an army of Trump supporters have descended on the state. "If you're Sean Hannity, you can't walk down the street in Manhattan, you get punched in the face," explains Tucker Carlson. | 
FILE Nov. 21, 2016, photo, shows the Mar-a-Lago resort owned by President Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Fla. Protesters are demanding that charities move their upcoming galas from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Petitions are circulating that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Cleveland Clinic move or cancel gala's scheduled for the Florida club's ballroom later this month. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) | Lynne Sladky/AP Photo | Cameos galore — "Postcards from the Edge" features Trump ally Roger Stone explaining why he won't get vaccinated and nearly getting in a bar fight in Palm Beach County. "I've been boxing for 30 years… I could have killed him with one shot," Stone says. After giving a "right wing tour" to locations in South Florida, Ann Coulter announces that she and Matt Drudge are leaving Florida, while the piece also includes cameos from Laura Loomer and other Trump supporters. | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | A VERY CROWDED BALLOT — "Large field of candidates qualifies for ballot in contest to fill South Florida congressional vacancy," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Mann: "After months of talk, the 26 people who have declared their desire to go to Congress via a South Florida special election have to lay it on the line — with cold, hard cash. By noon Tuesday, candidates must officially qualify to get on the ballot for the Nov. 2 primary and Jan. 11 special election to fill the vacancy created by the April 6 death of the late Congressman Alcee Hastings. His long tenure — Hastings was first elected in 1992 — is one reason so many people want the job: 16 Democrats, five Republicans, one Libertarian and four no party affiliation/independents. As of mid-afternoon Monday, 14 candidates — so far — had qualified." — "Crist kicks off Hispanic outreach tour in Tampa," by Tampa Bay Times' Romy Ellenbogen | | DATELINE D.C. | | GENTLE GIANTS — "Two Florida representatives file bill to put manatees on 'endangered' list," by News Service of Florida: "With Florida seeing a record number of manatee deaths this year, two U.S. House members from Florida on Monday said they have introduced legislation that would designate the sea cows as an 'endangered' species. The proposal by Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan and Democratic Rep. Darren Soto would upgrade the status of manatees under the Endangered Species Act from 'threatened,' offering more protections." | | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | GO AWAY — "South Florida in cone of concern for what's expected to become Tropical Storm Fred," by Sun Sentinel's Robin Webb and Angie DiMichele: "Tropical Storm Fred is expected to form overnight Monday from a system moving toward the Caribbean, and all of South Florida is in the cone of concern, forecasters said. The system's potential track shows it could reach South Florida in the next four to five days. South Florida could be affected by heavy rain and potential flooding later this week and into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service." — " Hurricane shelters: Unvaccinated and vaccinated will not be separated," by Sun Sentinel's Austen Erblat | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | WHAT'S GOING ON? — "Black state senator from Broward reports mistreatment from white Delta Air Lines employee at Orlando airport," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Mann: "Shevrin Jones, a Florida state senator who represents South Broward, said a baggage issue Monday resulted in racist treatment from a Delta Air Lines employee at Orlando International Airport. Jones, a Democrat, is Black. He said the Delta employee is white. 'So, here's my thing: I try my best not to automatically jump to the extreme of calling anybody a racist or all that other stuff,' Jones said Monday afternoon in a telephone interview. 'But the unfortunate part here is given the nature of how she responded to me at the moment, it was blatant,' Jones said. 'No one should be treated in that manner. Nobody.'" 'THEY'RE TERRIFIED' — "Cuban exile community worries and mobilizes to support loved ones on island," by Washington Post's Lori Rozsa: "Hundreds of activists, journalists and other citizens have been detained since last month's historic demonstrations, which brought thousands onto the streets in the face of increasingly severe blackouts, food shortages and a spiking coronavirus outbreak. The ongoing crackdown has shaken this country's Cuban-exile community, which remains deeply connected to the island. Relatives and friends are desperate to know if their detained loved ones are safe. Many wonder if they'll ever hear from them again. 'The families are worried and afraid because they know what can happen in a Cuban prison,' said Gus Garcia, co-founder of the Miami nonprofit Movimiento Democracia. 'They're terrified.'" POINTING FINGERS — "Florida is suing Piney Point's owners. Is the state also to blame?" by Tampa Bay Times' Zachary T. Sampson: "Florida's lawsuit against the owner of the Piney Point fertilizer plant property breaks down the many ways the state says HRK Holdings failed to care for the site. It is supposed to leave no doubt that, after years of struggling to maintain the complex, HRK left Piney Point open to disaster. But all those allegations, critics say, also read like a list of warning signs that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection missed before the crisis." | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Former state Sen. Jeremy Ring … Bay News 9's Phil Willette
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