News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: The White House vs. DeSantis, Round 2 — Florida's ballot crackdown law remains blocked — Crist wants state workers to get vaccines

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

POLITICO Florida Playbook: The White House vs. DeSantis, Round 2 — Florida's ballot crackdown law remains blocked — Crist wants state workers to get vaccines

Aug 04, 2021

Hello and welcome to Wednesday.

The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control on Tuesday posted information showing that more than 50,000 new Covid-19 infections had been reported by the state over the weekend and Monday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on its dashboard that 11,863 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients.

Do we have your attention now? — The politically polarized messaging war between the White House and Gov. Ron DeSantis over Covid-19 went another round.

Nothing to see here — DeSantis on Tuesday, confronted with questions by reporters about the recent coronavirus surge, said that the spike was seasonal and that hospital numbers were about to stabilize. He said the situation was still better than in 2020 because last year more vulnerable and older patients were getting sick. DeSantis — using his ever-favorite go-to move when asked a question that he deems offensive — also contended the media was engaged in "hysteria" and liked to "fearmonger."

Sidebar — There could be a whole separate essay written about DeSantis' unwillingness to concede anything. (Even when something doesn't work, the governor rarely admits he was wrong. But that's a trait many politicians share.)

The president weighs in — But that probably doesn't matter after President Joe Biden — who had a nonpolitical and polite session with the governor when he visited Surfside after the condo collapse — tweaked DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over some of their policies on Tuesday. He urged them "to get out of the way of the people that are trying to do the right thing. Use your power to save lives."

Call me? — As Biden was leaving an event on Tuesday, he was even asked by a reporter "why not call Gov. DeSantis?" Biden stopped, chuckled briefly and replied: "To say happy birthday or what?" (Well, it is coming up in September.) DeSantis has already ripped into the Biden administration over numerous issues, including cruise lines, the border with Mexico, Cuba, etc., so it probably won't take too long before he responds to the president's quip.

— WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

Biden speaks about importance of people getting a Covid-19 vaccination

Biden speaks about importance of people getting a Covid-19 vaccination | Win McNamee/Getty Images

SHOWDOWN — "Biden tells DeSantis 'to get out of the way' amid Covid surge," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: President Joe Biden criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday amid the state's surge in coronavirus cases, saying he should 'get out of the way' of people who are trying to 'do the right thing.' The president's comments come as Florida has become one of the worst states in the nation for infections, with more than 11,500 hospitalizations reported Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Over the past three days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the state has had more than 50,000 new infections and 100 deaths. Biden blamed both DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for barring Covid restrictions like mask mandates or vaccine passports — policies that DeSantis has pushed even as the state's Covid rates skyrocket.

— "DeSantis downplays COVID-19 concerns during Sarasota and Miami events Tuesday," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson

'I DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PUT THEM' — " He went from Surfside horrors to ER virus surge: 'Worst it's ever been,'" by The Daily Beast's Michael Daly: "[Dr. Ben Abo] He has resumed his second job as an emergency room physician just as new virus cases and hospitalizations in Florida have spiked to an all-time high. 'It's the worst it's ever been,' he told The Daily Beast on Monday morning after coming off an overnight shift at a Naples hospital. And the case numbers are not all that makes the present surge even harder to bear than the previous pandemic high in January. The vast majority of people who fall seriously ill could have protected themselves and others by getting something available to everyone aged 12 and older. 'If more people would have been vaccinated, then we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now' he said. 'This variant, it's pretty bad. It's more contagious.'"

'WE ASK FOR STRENGTH' — "Younger, sicker, unvaccinated: Today's COVID patients in Florida are different," by Sun Sentinel's Cindy Krischer Goodman: "With younger patients now struggling to breathe on their own, '[Juana] Mejia faces each shift trying to keep one more COVID patient alive. 'We are the ones right in front of them. We get personal with them and when they don't make it, we cry.' The newest wave of COVID patients into Florida's hospitals hit hard and fast, bringing mostly people between ages 25 and 55 who are unvaccinated and often have no underlying health conditions. As of Tuesday, more than 11,377 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 in Florida, a new record."

'GET SERIOUS' — "Charlie Crist calls on state workers to line up for COVID vaccinations," by Tallahassee Democrat's James Call: "[Rep. Charlie} Crist called on [Gov. Ron] DeSantis to immediately require state employees to get vaccinated. If they can't or won't, he wants them to undergo regular COVID testing and wear a mask while at work. DeSantis has resisted government mandates to curb the spread of the virus. He issued an executive order last week to prohibit school districts from requiring students to wear masks, for example."

WHERE THE KIDS WENT — "Homeschooling up 35 percent in Florida fueled by pandemic," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: More than 37,000 new students opted for homeschooling in Florida last year, a massive spike that marks a 35 percent increase in the school choice option that is largely attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from the Florida Department of Education. Far and away a new record for Florida, the heightened rate of families choosing to home school their children in 2020-21 helps explain drastic enrollment swings school districts experienced since the coronavirus.

— " UF faculty, graduate unions call for stronger COVID protocols this fall," by Tampa Bay Times' Divya Kumar

— "Sarasota County resident Stephen King criticizes Ron DeSantis while promoting new book," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Wade Tatangelo

— "COVID surge in Pinellas is delaying emergency care, hospitals warn," by Tampa Bay Times' Tracey McManus

— "Tests reveal Central Florida is home to several COVID-19 variants. Here's how scientists know," by Orlando Sentinel's Caroline Catherman

— "2 Tampa Bay women seek end to airline mask mandate in federal lawsuit," by Tampa Bay Times' Natalie Weber

CAMPAIGN MODE

SO MUCH FOR THAT DESANTIS PRIORITY — Florida lawmakers were warned by their own legislative staff that a proposed $3,000 cap on donations to groups pushing citizen initiatives may be unconstitutional. But pushed on by Gov. Ron DeSantis and allies such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the GOP-controlled Legislature steamrolled critics — primarily Democrats — and passed the bill anyway. They contended the legislation was needed to prevent "special interests" from gaining access to the ballot.

Deadline passed — Well, that law is now on hold and is unlikely ever to take effect. As predicted last week, Florida has opted to accept a federal judge's ruling that blocked the new law sponsored by Sen. Ray Rodrigues and Rep. Bobby Payne. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, an appointee of former President Donald Trump who once worked for then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, issued a preliminary injunction on July 1 against the measure. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody's office decided to let the appeal deadline pass, meaning the injunction will remain in place.

What's next — The law was challenged by the ACLU of Florida and three political committees led by former Rep. Sean Shaw that want to place voting rights measures on the 2022 ballot. Still, the legal battle isn't completely over. The group suing the state have asked Winsor to permanently strike down the law. One recent court filing says there's no chance of the two sides reaching a settlement, but given Winsor's initial ruling it will be an uphill battle for the state.

$$$ — The injunction means that groups seeking to make the 2022 ballot — which includes several gambling interests — can continue to draw in large donations to pay for signature-gathering efforts.

— " Poll: Ron DeSantis approval rating sags as COVID-19 rages," by Florida Politics' Scott Powers

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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

NOT ON SAME PAGE — "Florida's Ron DeSantis, Nikki Fried offer different takes on red tide," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner: "Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried made appearances Tuesday along the Gulf Coast, offering competing views about an ongoing toxic red-tide outbreak. Fried, the state agriculture commissioner, reiterated a call for DeSantis to declare a state of emergency to help combat the outbreak that has caused at least 600 tons of dead fish to wash up along Tampa Bay shores. DeSantis, saying he's 'happy about the progress' of the state's red-tide mitigation efforts the past three years, made a midday visit to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota to promote the state's work to fight the current outbreak."

FREEZE — "Florida takes aim at Ben & Jerry's decision not to sell products in West Bank," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "State investment in the parent company of the Ben & Jerry's ice cream chain could be blocked later this year after Ben & Jerry's announced plans to stop selling its products in the West Bank and Gaza. Ash Williams, executive director and chief investment officer of the State Board of Administration, said in a letter Monday that the parent company, Unilever PLC, has been added to what is known as Florida's list of 'Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel.' That move, which occurred Thursday, triggered a 90-day window. If Unilever does not reverse the Ben & Jerry's decision during that time, it would face a prohibition on state investment and contracts."

— "'Blueprint is yours': Scott Maddox texts reveal his role as the man who would be kingmaker," by Tallahassee Democrat Karl Etters

DATELINE D.C.

RUBIO'S AGENDA — "Rubio presses DNI to investigate alleged unmasking of Tucker Carlson," by The Hill's Dominick Mastrangelo : "The top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee is calling on the director of national intelligence to investigate allegations that the federal government 'unmasked' Fox News host Tucker Carlson. In a letter to Avril Haines, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said that recent media reports that 'Mr. Carlson was unmasked by a government agency' have 'only fueled the perception that unmasking is being used as a political hammer or to satisfy curiosity.' 'As such, it is essential that the IC [intelligence community] — under your leadership — hold itself to account if misconduct has occurred, and convincingly reassure an American public increasingly attuned to the perception of widespread misconduct where it has not occurred,' Rubio wrote."

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

AWFUL — "First police videos released in Surfside condo collapse: Scenes of shock, confusion and chaos," by Miami Herald's Charles Rabin and Martin Vassolo: "Body camera video from three of the first Surfside officers on the scene of the Champlain Towers South condo collapse captured scenes of almost unthinkable chaos: Thick clouds of dust, a landscape strewn with wreckage and cries of help from unseen, seemingly unreachable victims. The town released the footage on Tuesday. The images are difficult to watch, reviving the shock and horror that faced the very first responders to the catastrophe early in the morning of June 24."

MAGIC CITY BOUND — "Free-speech site, touted as a Facebook alternative, moving to Miami," by Miami Herald's Rob Wile: "The founders of a website known for hosting conservative and libertarian-leaning personalities announced Monday they had moved its headquarters to Miami. The website, Locals.com, was co-created by online personality Dave Rubin. Rubin and co-founder Assaf Lev announced the move with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez in a 'cafecito talk' posted on Suarez's Twitter and YouTube pages. The plan is to have a dozen employees in Miami within the next 12 months or so."

GROUNDED — " Jet Blue cancels flight to Florida, keeps HQ in New York City," by The Real Deal: "After publicly floating the idea of taking flight from Long Island City, JetBlue has decided to stay in New York. The airline announced that it would not relocate to Florida and would instead expand its flagship terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens. The company will also add jobs at all three regional airports — JFK, LaGuardia and Newark — according to Crain's. JetBlue reviewed the landscape before making its decision, even going through a competitive bid process. But the company ultimately decided to stay in the same place it began in 1998."

MOVING AHEAD — "Removal of old Tamiami Trail roadbed opens new doors for Everglades revival," by Miami Herald's Ariana Aspuru and Adriana Brasileiro: " The Tamiami Trail was hailed as an engineering milestone when it opened nearly a century ago, a thin ribbon of rocky fill and asphalt connecting Florida's two coasts. Over the decades, it also became an environmental disaster — literally a roadblock to the historic natural flow of the Everglades, leaving water too deep to the north and sending too little to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay to the south. On Tuesday, South Florida water managers celebrated the final removal of sections of the old Trail, the culmination of a years-long project that earlier had erected a series of bridges designed to increase the flow of the Shark River Slough, the major fresh water artery for the southern Everglades."

— "For the first time, Cuba approves Cuban-owned Miami company to do business on the island," by El Nuevo Herald's Sarah Moreno

— "Natural gas drives up Tampa Electric, Duke bills," by News Service of Florida

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— "Only in Florida: Iguana found thrashing around toilet in Hollywood home," by CBS4's Ted Scouten: "Here's something sure to make you feel a little uncomfortable. Imagine you go to sit down on in the most popular seat in the house and there's an iguana thrashing around right underneath you. That's exactly what happened at Hilberth Home in Hollywood when a spiny tailed iguana was found splashing around in the toilet bowl. It happened to Kurt Hilberth on Saturday, July 24. Hilberth told CBS4's Ted Scouten he first noticed the unwanted toilet intruder out of the corner of his eye, when he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. 'It was so big that it was not submerged completely in the water. And it's got that tail that whips back and forth,' Kurt said."

BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Andrew Learned … Leonora LaPeter Anton of the Tampa Bay Times … Herbie Thiele with Sachs Media

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