| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted information that there were a record 24,753 new Covid-19 infections and 16 deaths reported by the state on Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on its dashboard that 15,449 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. Waiting in the wings — Exit Donald Trump, enter Ron DeSantis? Even as the former president continues to exert considerable influence over the GOP, for now it appears that the White House is using its time and energy to show off the contrast between President Joe Biden and Florida's governor. Rationale — And there is apparently some thinking behind the quips and comments that have been aimed at DeSantis in the last two weeks, including White House press secretary Jen Psaki's remark on Wednesday the governor "does not seem to want to participate in the fight" against Covid-19. POLITICO's Marc Caputo reports that White House advisers say Biden and his team had no choice but to take on the Republican who has come to represent opposition to Covid-19 restrictions. The path not taken — "DeSantis epitomizes the opposite choice in the sense of the way he handles this issue and his personal style," said Celinda Lake, a pollster and Biden political adviser told Caputo. "Without getting into the polarization of Trump — a lot of voters think Trump is sort of gone from the scene for now — he reinforces the contrast that helped us win the election and sharpens the focus on the Trump style and policies." Boost — Of course by focusing on DeSantis the White House is helping coalesce Republican support for the likely 2024 presidential contender. Republican Party of Florida executive director Helen Aguirre Ferré says the "White House looks scared and tone deaf." But one Biden adviser says they are questioning DeSantis' commitment to fighting Covid-19, a strategy that worked against the former president. "DeSantis is Trump's Mini Me," the adviser told Caputo. "And he's going to suffer the same fate as Trump. Unfortunately, a lot of people will get sick and die." — 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. | | | | |
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | 2024 PREVIEW? — "White House seizes an opportunity to whack DeSantis," by POLITICO's Marc Caputo: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made himself the national face of the anti-Biden Covid-response resistance. So the president decided to punch it. For the past two weeks, Biden and his allies have publicly escalated a war of words and with DeSantis on Twitter, in speeches by the president and in White House press briefings. Biden advisers see DeSantis — who has defiantly fought mask mandates as infections and hospitalizations skyrocketed in the battleground state — as a foil to a president whose strength is his empathetic style and safety-first response to coronavirus that helped him defeat DeSantis' benefactor, President Trump, nine months ago. | 
Gov. Ron DeSantis during a April 2021 press conference | Gary Fineout POLITICO | PATRONIS AND 'FAKE' NEWS — Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis went on Fox News early Wednesday suggesting — with zero evidence — the CDC altered the case numbers in Florida to make DeSantis look bad. From the tape — "Look, the CDC got Florida's numbers wrong, what else did they get wrong?" he said. "I mean it's obvious that Joe Biden and the CDC are just obsessed with my Gov. Ron DeSantis and you know, if they care so much, I just don't understand why Biden doesn't deal with the border first." When he was asked again, he said that "I just think it goes back to just the obsession duel between the governor and the president. Florida is doing things right." But wait — Except that DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw said that's a wrong take. She told the New York Post: "We appreciate that the CDC corrected the error yesterday and published the accurate case count. Reports that the CDC and Florida's health department are 'feuding,' or disagree whatsoever about Florida's COVID numbers, are categorically false. That fake narrative does generate clicks, but the media should prioritize truth and accuracy in reporting over likes and retweets.'" OOPS — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who has been ripping DeSantis' response to Covid-19, gave the governor a big promotion when she appeared on MSNBC late Wednesday night. Fried was asked about his support among Republican donors and GOP leaders when she said this: "But we are seeing Republicans across this state backing up this president — excuse me, this governor — my god that's a Freudian slip there." She went on to say that DeSantis is "vengeful" and that Republicans are "scared" to stand up to him. THE THREAT — "Broward Schools must reverse mask mandate or risk 'sanctions,' Florida commissioner says," by Miami Herald's Michelle Marchante and Ana Ceballos: "Broward school leaders have until Friday to tell Florida if they intend to comply with state rules on mask mandates that call for an opt-out option for parents who don't want their kids to wear one. Broward's mandate doesn't have an opt-out option. If the district doesn't change its mask-requirement policy, the state could invoke "sanctions," including withholding the salaries of the superintendent and School Board members, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran warned in a letter." MEANWHILE — "Leon County school district backs off mask mandate," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: "School leaders in Leon County, encompassing Florida's capital city, backed off from a local mask mandate that defied Gov. Ron DeSantis mere hours before classes were scheduled to begin Wednesday. Leon County was slated to start the school year requiring masks for kindergarten through eighth grade students unless they had permission from a medical professional to go maskless. But Superintendent Rocky Hanna reversed course on the policy on Tuesday night and will allow parents to opt their children out of wearing masks, a decision that came as the DeSantis administration threatened to strip the pay of superintendents and school board members who mandated face coverings in schools." — "Florida kids head back to school amid COVID-19 surge," by The Associated Press' Freida Frisaro and Adriana Gomez Licon — "New first day experience: Letter home warning of COVID-19 positive person at school ," by Palm Beach Post's Sonja Isger THE SURGE — "Florida hospitalizations soar for another day, led by Broward County; 24,753 new daily cases break record," by Sun Sentinel's Cindy Krischer Goodman: "For the 11th straight day, Florida hospitals set records for the number of COVID patients they are treating, and on Wednesday the state set a new high for daily cases. On Wednesday, Florida hospitals had 15,449 patients a significant jump from just two days earlier when admissions surpassed 14,000 to set a record. The high count reached Wednesday occurred with only 230 of 261 hospitals reporting their COVID patients to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The state also tallied 24,753 new COVID cases for a single day on Wednesday, surpassing the last record high of 23,958 on Aug. 6." DISCONNECT — "Florida asks feds for more ventilators, but Gov. DeSantis says no shortage in state," by Orlando Sentinel's Skyler Swisher: "Florida asked for more ventilators from the federal government's emergency stockpile as COVID-19 hospitalizations broke records, a request that Gov. Ron DeSantis says he didn't know about or authorize. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved sending 200 ventilators, 100 smaller breathing devices and other supplies to Florida as cases spike, WPLG Local 10 first reported. Christina Pushaw, a DeSantis spokesperson, said Wednesday there isn't a ventilator shortage in Florida and the request for federal help wasn't made at the governor's direction." OUT FRONT — "Republicans risk becoming face of delta surge as key GOP governors oppose anti-Covid measures," by Washington Post's Felicia Sonmez and Hannah Knowles: "They and other national and local GOP officials cast their opposition to such measures as an effort to protect personal choice. But some fear the party is on track to make itself the face of the delta variant — endangering fellow Americans while also risking severe political damage in the long term. 'They're making a political bet on the lives of the people they serve,' said former Republican National Committee chairman Michael S. Steele, who has been sharply critical of former president Donald Trump and has formed an exploratory committee for a potential 2022 Maryland gubernatorial bid. 'The party leadership has gone so far out on this limb that there they stand with a saw in their hand and they're sawing it off.'" Rebuttal — "DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw defended the governor's actions, calling him "pro-vaccine but anti-mandate….Protecting individual rights is the cornerstone of conservatism,' Pushaw said in a statement. 'If a business or any level of government is infringing upon individual rights . . . then it is indeed conservative for a leader to step in and ensure individual rights are protected.'" — "Black Floridians still have low COVID-19 vaccination rates. Community leaders hope to change that," by Orlando Sentinel's Caroline Catherman | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | DATA DUMP — "Florida's redistricting battle lines drawn as feds prepare to release new data," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: The arduous process of redistricting begins this week in Florida, a state whose previous map-drawing legacy is defined by political dirty tricks and brutal, yearslong legal challenges. The ongoing pandemic has delayed redistricting, but on Thursday the U.S. Census Bureau is expected to release data that outlines race, ethnicity and voting age populations down to the neighborhood block level, which allows the process to begin in earnest. Florida is picking up one congressional seat. Worried — The delayed release of that data has shortened time frames for drawing new maps and has heightened concern among some progressives that less time will equal more secrecy. "During the last redistricting cycle, legislators really lost a tremendous amount of trust from the state," said Ellen Friedin, head of Fair Districts, which in 2010 passed a ballot measure adding anti-gerrymandering provisions to Florida's Constitution. — " High stakes redistricting process to start. Will Florida redeem bruised reputation?" by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas GETTING CROWDED — "Gun reform activist Maxwell Frost announces run for Congress to succeed Val Demings," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello: "Former ACLU staffer and March For Our Lives activist Maxwell Frost of Orlando is the latest candidate to announce a bid to succeed Val Demings in her western Orange County congressional district next year. 'When I'm elected to Congress, I'll be among the first members of my generation, Generation Z,' said Frost, 24, who would meet the constitutional age requirement of 25 by the time the term would start in 2023. 'I am an Afro-Cuban, born and raised in the district and someone who has been doing work on the ground for a while.'" | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | Gaetz-gate | | STILL UNDERWAY — "Gaetz associate providing feds intel, documents as probe into congressman continues: Sources," by ABC News Will Streakin and Katherine Faulders: "As the federal investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz continues into the summer, sources tell ABC News that Gaetz's one-time wingman has been steadily providing information and handing over potential evidence that could implicate the Florida congressman and others in the sprawling probe. Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, as part of his ongoing cooperation with prosecutors, has provided investigators with years of Venmo and Cash App transactions and thousands of photos and videos, as well as access to personal social media accounts, sources said." Details — "ABC News has reviewed Google Voice text messages from September 2018 that appear to show Greenberg texting with a woman he met online. In the texts, Greenberg appears to discuss payment options and asks the woman if she would take drugs; he then sets up a get-together with himself, Gaetz, the woman, and one of her friends." | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | MONEY DROP — "DeSantis teacher bonuses are hitting bank accounts," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Teachers and principals across Florida are starting to pocket the $1,000 checks promised by Gov. Ron DeSantis as one of his top legislative priorities for 2021. Funded through federal Covid-19 relief dollars, DeSantis' $216 million teacher bonus idea is coming to fruition after the plan was flagged by the Biden administration over the summer. Some 180,000 teachers and 3,600 principals are expecting to see the awards that the Republican governor pushed through the state Legislature. BALANCING ACT — "Wife's election to state House could prove tricky for Florida Chief Justice Charles Canady," by News Service of Florida's Dara Kam : "Jennifer Canady's campaign website bills her as a lifelong conservative and a Lakeland native, attributes that could be considered requisites for the Florida House seat in Polk County that she hopes to capture in next year's elections. But while it also describes her as a teacher, wife, mother and community leader, what it doesn't say is perhaps more interesting: Canady's husband holds one of the most powerful posts in the state as chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court." Separation of powers? — "But the Canady union could also prove thorny for the chief justice if his wife, who's amassed a considerable campaign- contribution advantage over her two fellow Republican opponents, wins the District 40 race, according to legal experts. The family relationship between a sitting Florida judge and a Florida legislator 'may very well raise serious issues of judicial conduct and disqualification under the Florida code of judicial conduct,' University of Miami law professor Anthony Alfieri said." HOW THINGS WORK IN TALLAHASSEE — "Burnette told FBI agents he helped Florida box out competition in medical marijuana law," by USA Today Network-Florida's Jeffrey Schweers: "A conversation between Tallahassee businessman John 'J.T.' Burnette and undercover FBI agents recorded five years ago seems to confirm what some Florida politicos and marijuana lobbyists have been saying for years:That former state Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, stacked the deck in favor of an application his brother and the spouse of his childhood friend, Burnette, had submitted to the state for one of five licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana. Let's go to the tape — "Beshears has consistently denied it. But at Tuesday's hearing, prosecutors played a tape of a secretly recorded 2016 conversation in which Burnette boasted about working with Beshears in 2014 to erect legal barriers for certain applicants looking to get into the state's fledgling medical marijuana business. 'Well, Halsey and I worked through it,' Burnette told agents investigating City Hall corruption during Operation Capital Currency. 'I mean it was one afternoon.' But when questioned under oath Tuesday, Burnette quickly recanted." PUSHING AHEAD — "Federal judge clears way for challenge to Florida protest law," by News Service of Florida's Dara Kam: "A federal judge has refused to toss out a legal challenge to a controversial new law that creates a host of crimes and enhances existing penalties for protests that turn violent or block traffic, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis during this year's legislative session. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Monday allowed the lawsuit filed by a coalition of groups including the Dream Defenders to proceed, leaving DeSantis and three sheriffs as defendants but dismissing Attorney General Ashley Moody from the case." | | DATELINE D.C. | | WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — "Florida could get billions for infrastructure; here's where it could go," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "Florida could get $16 billion-plus in projects from infrastructure legislation that moved significantly closer to becoming law Tuesday with U.S. Senate passage. Where the money will go isn't yet known, though some likely priorities can be deduced through a combination of educated guesswork, the overall size and shape of the measure that won Senate approval on Tuesday, and earlier infrastructure legislation passed by the House." — " U.S. Congresswoman Murphy gets closer look at Little Wekiva River disaster," by Orlando Sentinel's Martin E. Comas | | Bidenology | | TRAVEL PLANS — "DHS Secretary Mayorkas traveling to Miami next week to meet with Cubans, Haitians," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio: "Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will meet with Cuban and Haitian Americans in Miami next week, amid ongoing crises faced by both Caribbean countries, according to a White House official. The trip is part of the White House's efforts to meet with members of the Cuban diaspora in South Florida, over a month since the July 11 anti-government protests broke out on the island, sparked by a shortage of food and medicine and a lack of access to vaccines." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | THE NEXT CHAPTER — "Bidder offering up to $120 million for Surfside condo property. Government purchase 'unlikely," by Miami Herald's David Ovalle and Martin Vassolo: "A private bidder has emerged to offer up to $120 million to buy the beachfront tract where the doomed Champlain Towers South building once stood — a development that comes as an effort for a publicly funded purchase for a future memorial site seems to have fizzled. The offer from a new, unnamed buyer was revealed Wednesday morning during the latest hearing on a slew of lawsuits over the June 24 collapse of the tower, which killed 98 people in one of the deadliest building failures in U.S. history." — " FPL revises its rate-hike plan, but critics say it's 'not the time to raise rates,'" by Sun Sentinel's Ron Hurtibise | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Former Rep. Connie Mack IV ... former state Rep. Matt Caldwell
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