| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello it's Monday. The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted information that there were a record 25,991 new Covid-19 infections reported by the state on Friday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on its dashboard that 15,985 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. Also rising — While the state reported on Friday that there had been 286 deaths in the previous week — the overall total has risen by 1,687 between July 30 and Aug. 13. That's because there is a lag between when the deaths occur and when they are eventually reported. Florida adds deaths to the total from the day they happen, so it raises the cumulative total. Caution — Rep. Michael Waltz has warned about the U.S. completely pulling out of Afghanistan. The former Green Beret and one-time adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney did it in his 2014 book — "Warrior Diplomat" — that chronicled his time spent in the country. The Florida Republican did it last summer when he cautioned about the negotiations between the Trump administration and the Taliban. And he did it again this year when the Biden administration announced plans for a complete withdrawal. Upset — This weekend's chaotic end to U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and the rapid collapse of the country's government angered Waltz, who knew soldiers that died fighting the 20-year-old war. It also "disappointed" Democrats such as Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy, whose family fled Vietnam decades ago. The path not taken — Waltz told Playbook that the Biden administration's assertion that it had no choice but to wind down American involvement due to the deal put in place by Trump was a "weak and feckless excuse." Waltz said he disagreed with what the Trump administration did but "that doesn't give the Biden administration an excuse that they had to proceed with any idea they inherited." Bucking other Republicans — And Waltz not only sharply disagrees with Biden — he also parts ways with some of the isolationists in his own party, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has criticized "forever wars." Gaetz on Sunday tweeted out that "Fools put US credibility on the line for the likes of Afghanistan. It is not a country. Never was. The BIG LIE was that more US blood & treasure could have ever made a difference. Know what many of those 'Afghan Forces' are doing now? Joining Taliban. Delivering US weapons." Waltz called it "an easy talking point" to suggest all the troops should be pulled out, but noted that the U.S. still has a presence in countries like Italy, Germany and South Korea. What happens next? — Waltz, who was on a briefing the Biden administration had Sunday with House Republicans, said his real fear is what this might mean going forward. The complete withdrawal of an American presence "means now we're blind" as the Taliban takes back power — this time with equipment and materials provided to the Afghans by the United States. "This is a global problem against terrorism," he said. "What's the plan going forward?... Are we going to let the problem fester until we have Al-Qaeda 3.0?" — 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. | | | | |
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | BIPARTISAN CRITICISM — "'Clearly botched': Biden White House under assault on Afghanistan drawdown," by POLITICO's Natasha Korecki and Christopher Cadelago: The whole episode hit home for Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) a Vietnamese refugee whose parents escaped the war-torn country by boat when she was an infant. Murphy said her heart breaks for those battling to leave Afghanistan and expressed disappointment in how the U.S. was departing. "I also worked at the Department of Defense, I know what a planned drawdown looks like. I know what an orderly departure looks like. I'm disappointed that this is the way in which we are withdrawing," Murphy said in an interview Sunday. | 
A U.S. Chinook helicopter flies over the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Helicopters are landing at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as diplomatic vehicles leave the compound amid the Taliban advanced on the Afghan capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) | Rahmat Gul/AP Photo | BOILING POINT — "Republicans trash Afghanistan 'embarrassment' in closed-door briefing," by POLITICO's Sarah Ferris, Olivia Beavers and Heather Caygle: In response to the GOP criticisms, [Secretary of Defense Lloyd] Austin pointed to the weak resolve of the Afghan military to fight off the terrorist group, remarking that they "can't buy will and can't purchase leadership," according to people on the call. These remarks however angered Republicans listening to the call like Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), who served in Afghanistan, who saw the administration blaming their policy failure on Afghans who fought and died alongside U.S. forces throughout the course of the war. | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | THE TOLL — "'No one should die.' Tampa Bay doctors, nurses exhausted by COVID surge," by Tampa Bay Times' Christopher O'Donnell: "Four months later, Florida hospitals are filled with more coronavirus cases than at any point during the pandemic. After 17 months of fighting the ravages of COVID-19, the end is no longer in sight for doctors and nurses who say they're risking their mental health and 'burn out' dealing with this fourth pandemic wave. On Aug. 7, Armstrong prepped two COVID-19 patients for a chest tube thoracostomy, a procedure to release pressure on their lungs that builds up when oxygen is pumped. Separately, he asked two nurses how they were coping. Both broke down in tears. 'They feel like a lot of people don't care,' he said, 'that a lot of the community cares more about their own feelings, their rights and freedoms than the health care workers having to deal with this.'" CRISIS, WHAT CRISIS? — "'Health care system is really hurting,' but Florida isn't under a COVID-19 state of emergency," by Orlando Sentinel's Skyler Swisher : "Despite record hospitalizations, Florida isn't under a state of emergency as the highly transmissible delta variant sends cases soaring, frustrating one Central Florida emergency manager's response and tying the hands of other local leaders confronting the new pandemic challenge.Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to reinstate Florida's emergency declaration, even as the number of people needing to be hospitalized for the virus exceeded previous peaks, and he's also curtailed the ability of local leaders to craft their own responses." BACKUP — " Biden praises superintendents for school mask mandates," by POLITICO's Raymond Rapada: President Joe Biden praised superintendents of school districts in Arizona and Florida for imposing indoor mask mandates for students, teachers and staff as the Delta coronavirus variant races across the states. In separate phone calls Friday to Phoenix Union High School District superintendent Chad Gestson and Broward County Schools interim superintendent Vickie Cartwright, Biden thanked them for their leadership and discussed their shared commitment to getting students back for full-time in-person classes this school year, according to a White House official. WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — "Biden administration offers financial help to Florida school leaders defying DeSantis," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: The Biden Administration further inserted itself into Florida's mask fight on Friday by offering to pay the salaries of Florida school board members who lose state funds by defying Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on local K-12 mask mandates. In a letter to DeSantis and his Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wrote that school districts stripped of state funding for passing local coronavirus safety measures can use federal relief dollars to replenish the cash. OUT AT SEA — " 27 cruise ships have reported COVID-19 infections. Why can't we find out how many?" by Sun Sentinel's Ron Hurtibise: "Good luck if you'd like to know how many people infected with COVID-19 are coming into South Florida seaports aboard cruise ships. Cruise lines and government agencies are not making that data publicly available as the cruise industry resumes operations from U.S.-based ports. Critics who want to see more transparency say cruise consumers and community members deserve to know how successful cruise lines are at preventing spread of the virus." FLIP-FLOP — "UF does 180-degree turn, says classes will be in-person, as scheduled," by Stephany Matat for The Gainesville Sun: "Hours after an email told University of Florida students and faculty that their courses might be online for the first three weeks of the fall term, UF President Kent Fuchs released a late-night statement saying all classes will be in person, as planned. 'In efforts to manage the pandemic's effects on university life, there have been discussions about moving some courses online for the first three weeks of the semester,' Hessy Fernandez, director of issues management and crisis communications said in an email to The Sun. 'The decision was made today that UF will not pursue that option, nor will any other university in the State University System,' Fernandez said." 'EVERYBODY WAS QUITE OFFENDED' — "Immigrant advocates: Rep. Roth's comments linking COVID-19 spike to undocumented migrants 'racist,'" by Palm Beach Post's Jorge Milian: "Officials with the Guatemalan Maya Center in Lake Worth Beach say Republican state Rep. Rick Roth made offensive remarks about undocumented immigrants during a virtual meeting this week with local community leaders to promote vaccination efforts. Roth, of West Palm Beach, allegedly connected the swelling number of COVID-19 cases nationwide to the surge of migrants on the U.S.-Mexican border and urged those participating in Wednesday's call — mostly health-care professionals — to write President Biden and urge him to close the border." — "Elections supervisor imposes vaccine mandate for all poll workers in Broward special congressional election," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | CHANGE OF PLANS — Gov. Ron DeSantis at the last minute scrapped his plans to attend the 6th Annual Basque Fry, an event that attracts thousands of conservatives in the early battleground state of Nevada. The event is sponsored by the Morning in Nevada PAC that was created by supporters of former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt. Laxalt and DeSantis have been friends for many years. But The Associated Press reported that DeSantis still sent a video message and that "audience members shushed each other to hear his video message, in which he claimed to be 'living rent-free in Joe Biden's head' and encouraged Laxalt to run for Senate. | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | INCOMING — "3 tropical systems impacting US, Caribbean and Berumda," by The Associated Press' Terry Spencer and Andrea Rodriguez: "Tropical Storm Fred was located in the Gulf of Mexico and could make landfall by Monday evening along the Florida Panhandle, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. A tropical storm warning and a storm surge warning were in effect for coastal areas. Fred had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was located 160 miles (255 kilometers) south of Panama City, Florida. It was traveling north at 9 mph (15 kph). Forecasters said the system could slightly strengthen before landfall. The main threats from Fred were rainfall — anywhere from 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) for Florida's Big Bend and Panhandle — and storm surge." — "Tropical Storm Grace could bring heavy rain to Haiti, but moves away from Florida," by Miami Herald's Adriana Brasileiro | | DATELINE D.C. | | MAKING A PITCH — The 10 Democratic members of Florida's congressional delegation sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday calling "immigration reform an essential element" of any budget reconciliation package. The letter does not spell out any specific proposals but says it ensure that "Dreamers, TPS holders and essential workers are considered in any economic recovery legislation." The correspondence comes as Pelosi must do a balancing act over how to proceed with the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the budget resolution for a $3.5 trillion spending plan while keeping Democrats on board. | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | JUST TERRIBLE — "Nearly 1,300 confirmed dead in Haiti earthquake as rescue crews fear aftershocks, storms," by Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles, Michael Wilner, Jay Weaver and Joey Flechas: "Almost 1,300 people have lost their lives in the major earthquake that on Saturday struck the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, where aftershocks and looming tropical weather threatened to hinder search and rescue teams and humanitarian efforts. Officials on Sunday evening said 1,297 people were confirmed dead, 5,700 injured and 30,250 families were homeless following the strong quake that caused widespread destruction in the nation's southwestern peninsula on Saturday. A day after the tremor, people in Haiti's government and across an array of humanitarian organizations said some of the hardest hit communities are in desperate need of potable water and temporary shelters to house families who lost everything." AFTERMATH — "'Speechless.' Shock of another devastating earthquake rocks Miami's Little Haiti," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio, Devoun Cetoute and Carl Juste: "Edwina Paul, a hair salon owner, landed in Miami on Saturday morning after visiting her hometown in Haiti, when her phone froze with a barrage of WhatsApp messages and calls she was receiving, all at once. 'When I finally pick up the phone, and they was like, 'Oh my God, where you came from is destroyed,' ... it's heartbreaking,' Paul said, referring to the southwestern Haitian town of Les Anglais, which is part of Jeremie in the Grand Anse region of the Caribbean country." | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Bobby Bowden remembered for faith, family and football," by Bob Ferrante for The Associated Press: "The longtime college football coach may have been known across the country for winning two national championships and 377 games, including 314 of them at Florida State from 1976 to 2009. But the eulogies delivered for him Saturday focused almost entirely on how his faith led him in life as well as how much he valued his family — and that included his thousands of players. More than 300 players and coaches were among the crowd of about 2,500 who returned to the Donald L. Tucker Center to remember Bowden, who died last Sunday at 91 of pancreatic cancer." — "'Evil men and their 12 trolls': State attorney blasts Jeremy Matlow at Tallahassee Chamber Commerce," by Tallahassee Democrat's William Hatfield: "A day after Tallahassee Chamber leaders pledged to be more vocal and visible in the issues of the day and elections, State Attorney Jack Campbell took the podium at the annual conference and dropped a bomb that will echo all the way to the 2022 local elections. 'We need [City Commissioner] Jeremy Matlow out of office,' Campbell said to loud applause. 'I'm tired of him questioning the integrity of the Chamber' and others." BIRTHDAYS: Michael Grunwald, journalist and author … (Was Sunday) Former Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.) … (Was Saturday) … Los Angeles Times' Laura Wides-Munoz ... Martin J. Sweet, author and professor ... Sean Miles, principal at the Mayfair Group and a Rick Scott alum.
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