| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by USA-IT | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Democrats assembled — Florida Democrats held an hour and a half Zoom rally Tuesday night on National Voter Registration Day that featured the main Democratic candidates for governor and U.S. Senate along with exhortations for field organizers and Democrats to register voters. Normal programming — The campaign rhetoric was familiar but did include some tweaks against the regular messaging. (Didn't hear Joe Biden's name that much... hmm...) It's the economy… — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, in a possible preview of a new line of attack against Gov. Ron DeSantis, warned about the rising cost of living in the state, whether it's housing, insurance or even the price of gasoline and then noted "we have had one party controlling the state for 25 years." Going after DeSantis — Rep. Charlie Crist called DeSantis a "nightmare" and zinged him for raising money out of state and "turning his back on us" while the Florida dealt with a surge in Covid-19 cases. Crist noted that two young nieces in his family — including a 5-year-old who attends school in Pinellas (which does not have a mask mandate) — came down with Covid. Reminders — Rep. Val Demings — who is challenging Sen. Marco Rubio — did not namecheck her Republican rival but (as she has done in some prior public appearances) brought up the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol as why Democrats need to be the "firewall" and the "guardians of democracy." Oh, and the, ahem, elephant in the room — The event took place amid the backdrop of the ever-shrinking edge that Democrats now have over Republicans in voter registration. (It's now under 25,000 after being more than 700,000 back in 2008). Former Rep. Alan Grayson, who is also running for U.S. Senate, noted it head-on and said he was "horrified by the thought" of Republicans eventually passing Democrats ahead of next year's elections. Right after his comments, a Florida Democratic organizer said they had a goal of registering 150,000 Democrats in the run-up to next year before state Rep. Angie Nixon countered that "we have a way bigger ambitious goal." OK then. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | A message from USA-IT: With world-class beaches along 1,350 miles of shoreline, what makes Florida such an attractive place to live also makes it attractive to smugglers and traffickers. This illegal trade affects the safety and quality of life of all 21 million Floridians. Florida deserves better. And that's why our partners are proud to be on the ground in 2021. United to safeguard Florida from illegal trade, we're working together to fight back. Learn more. | | |
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | DESANTIS VS. BIDEN PART 72 — "DeSantis opens new fight with Biden over immigration," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday escalated his fight with the Biden administration over immigration, directing Florida agencies to stop assisting federal authorities in relocating migrants. The Republican governor also called on state law enforcement officials to "audit" large private companies to ensure their workers are legally permitted to work in the U.S. and encouraged Florida authorities to detain buses, planes or cars "reasonably believed" to be transporting someone who entered the country illegally from the southern border. Calling the lawyers — DeSantis' actions were paired with a new lawsuit filed by Attorney General Ashley Moody against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as well as other top Biden immigration officials that contends federal authorities are flouting immigration laws and that Florida is harmed when detained migrants are released and told to appear at immigration proceedings at a later date — a policy that critics call "catch and release." Response — DeSantis' actions brought swift blowback from some state Democrats. State Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Miami Democrat, called DeSantis' announcement "political posturing" and said that his executive order "further shows the governor's willingness to fuel the politics of hate to gain support for his future presidential ambitions." | | | | HAPPENING TODAY - DON'T MISS THIS PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH REP. GOTTHEIMER AS THE HOUSE PREPARES TO VOTE : President Biden's domestic agenda is on the line, with a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill slated for a House vote on Thursday. However, moderate and progressive Democrats remain at odds over a larger, multitrillion-dollar spending package — with the left even threatening to tank Thursday's vote. Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade for a virtual conversation featuring Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), the leader of the centrists urging his colleagues to take the win Thursday and continue working on the second package in the coming days. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | DATELINE D.C. | | MORE ADS TARGETING MURPHY — Rep. Stephanie Murphy, one of the House Democratic moderates at the center of the tug-of-war over the fate of the $3.5 trillion social spending bill in Congress, keeps getting pressure over the legislative battle from both sides of the political spectrum. | 
Democrats initially hoped that Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a moderate Democrat who fled Communist Vietnam as a child, would be the strongest challenger to Sen. Marco Rubio in Florida's 2022 Senate race. | Zach Gibson/Getty Images | GOP ad — The National Republican Congressional Committee said on Monday that Murphy was one of 17 Democrats it was targeting in new ads that go after Democrats for tax hikes that could be included in the spending bill. The ad namechecks President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Murphy and says "Tell Stephanie Murphy we can't afford this." Meanwhile — The Florida Immigrant Coalition announced on Tuesday that it's spending $25,000 on radio and digital ads asking voters to call Murphy's office and demand she stop her "obstruction" of the Build Back Better act and its potential provisions on immigration. "There are millions of immigrant families in the state of Florida who are counting on Representative Murphy to do the right thing and deliver on her promise to help push for citizenship for TPS holders, DREAMERS, essential workers, and agricultural workers" Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, federal campaign lead for FLIC, said in a statement. "The time to act is now, we need justice for our immigrant families," | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there were 5,056 Covid-19 infections on Monday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 6,423 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Tuesday that 25.5 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19. D.C. COIN — "Biden gives Broward schools $421,000 to offset mask mandate penalties," by Sun Sentinel's Scott Travis: "The Biden administration has awarded the Broward school district $420,957 to replace state cuts over its decision to maintain a mask mandate in schools. The funding is part of the Support America's Families and Educators, or SAFE, grant, created in early September to assist school districts that were penalized by their state government after they imposed stricter COVID-19 procedures than allowed by the state." Wasserman Schultz weighs in — "The district received praise from U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston. 'Broward school leaders bravely stood up to the COVID bully in Florida's governor's mansion, and with this funding, Biden confirms he has Broward's back in that fight to protect our children, teachers, staff and community,' she said in a statement." — "Duval School Board votes to 'explore' challenging state order on COVID-19 safety," by Florida Times-Union's Emily Bloch SHIELDED — "Florida protected nursing homes from COVID lawsuits. Then cases began to spike," by Tampa Bay Times' Hannah Critchfield: "Intended to prevent a flood of litigation overwhelming the health care system, as well as other industries, SB 72 raised the bar for individuals seeking to sue senior care homes for virus-related damages, injuries or death. The legislation, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in March, is again under the microscope as Florida has experienced an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in recent months and nursing homes faced outbreaks that may have previously opened up facilities to litigation." — " COVID-19 claims life of Green Cove Springs Police Chief Derek Ascot, 49," by Florida Times-Union's Beth Reese Cravey — "Two kids who caught COVID donate $132.01 from lemonade stand to Bethesda Hospital workers," by Palm Beach Post's Jorge Milian — "Land down under lockdown? Ron DeSantis blasts Australian COVID-19 rules," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey | | | |   | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | SPEAKING OUT — "Fried knocks DeSantis' DEP on regulation of phosphate waste sites, opposes state permits," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Tuesday she opposes Department of Environmental Protection support for injecting wastewater underground at the closed Piney Point phosphate waste site and expanding another site in Central Florida. Fried, during an online discussion of phosphate mining waste with former journalist Gil Smart of Vote Water Florida and DeSoto County Commission chair J.C. Deriso, criticized DEP's support for both measures and said "environmental concerns are falling on deaf ears in Tallahassee." THE FIRM — "Becker & Poliakoff law firm the 'nemesis' of condo safety reformers," by Sun Sentinel's Brittany Wallman, Mario Ariza, Spencer Norris and Lisa J. Huriash: "For decades, the law firm representing the collapsed Champlain Towers South has waged a successful lobbying campaign against condominium safety measures. Now, the Becker firm is at the center of discussions about how to make condos safer. The irony is not lost on those who've observed the 48-year history of the Fort Lauderdale firm formerly known as Becker & Poliakoff. 'A lot of stuff I tried to propose, the No. 1 group that would fight me was Becker & Poliakoff,' said former state Rep. Julio Robaina, R-Miami, who focused on condo legal reforms when he served in the Legislature." | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | BIG HONOR — "Voting rights activist Desmond Meade wins prestigious MacArthur Fellowship 'genius' grant," by Orlando Sentinel's Kate Santich: "Desmond Meade, the Orlando activist who overcame homelessness and drug addiction to earn a law degree and lead a sweeping movement to restore the voting rights of former felons, has won a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship 'genius' grant, one of the highest honors recognizing an individual's contribution to society, the charitable foundation announced Tuesday. The recognition comes with a $625,000 no-strings-attached prize — money that Meade, 54, said will fuel his continued work and help pay off student loans from law school." CONNECTIONS — "Seminole GOP chair who works for Brodeur knew mysterious independent candidate in key Senate race," by Orlando Sentinel's Annie Martin and Jason Garcia: "After filing to run as an independent candidate in an important Central Florida Senate race last year, Jestine Iannotti remained a mystery to most voters….But at least one prominent local politician knows [Jestine] Iannotti: Ben Paris, a former mayor of Longwood who works for [State Sen. Jason] Brodeur at the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, where Brodeur is the president and CEO and Paris is the vice president of operations." THE COUNT — " Twelve states revise counting of prisoners to address concerns about voting fairness, but not FL," by Florida Phoenix's Laura Cassels: "Florida, incarcerating 149,000 adults, had the third-largest number of people in state and federal prisons, jails and detention centers during Census taking in the nation, following Texas and California, according to 2020 Census data. That includes 80,000 in state-run prisons, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. State lawmakers in Florida and Texas are not moving to change how they count inmates for purposes of legislative and Congressional seats, but both include a handful of city, county and school-board districts that disregard local prison populations when drawing voting districts in their jurisdictions." SHOWDOWN — "In 'civil war' for Hialeah mayor's seat, familiar faces battle over a powerful job," by Miami Herald's Aaron Leibowitz: "The front-runners, [Esteban 'Steve'] Bovo and Isis Garcia-Martinez, have to distinguish themselves: They're both conservatives, both of Cuban descent, and both staples on the Hialeah political scene. 'It's almost akin to a civil war,' Bovo said Thursday from the passenger seat of his campaign manager's Tesla as they drove from Bovo's campaign headquarters at West 49th Street and Ludlum Avenue for another day of knocking on likely voters' doors." | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | — "Charged in Capitol riot, St. Augustine man dies awaiting trial," by Florida Times-Union's Steve Patterson | | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | AFTERMATH — "Three years after Parkland, school safety weaknesses linger in Florida," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Three years since a school shooting in Parkland devastated Florida, the state continues to face a gamut of school safety lapses that need to be addressed, according to the panel charged with probing the tragedy. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission on Tuesday recommended a host proposed fixes to improve security on campuses across Florida, including bringing back a plan that would give the state more power to punish noncompliant school leaders. | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | HOMEWARD BOUND? — "Advocate for homeless was paid $5 million to leave town. Now he wants back in," by Sun Sentinel's Susannah Bryan: "Sean Cononie, pied piper to the homeless, got millions from Hollywood to get out of town and never come back. Now the man who riled city leaders for years by running what many considered an eyesore of a homeless shelter wants to pop back into town for what he regards as a noble purpose: vaccinating the homeless against COVID-19." — "Petito's dad: Give some attention to all missing people," by The Associated Press' Michael R. Sisak — "Tampa protesters poised for trial as unlawful assembly charges are dropped," by Tampa Bay Times' Dan Sullivan — "Disney World opened 50 years ago; these workers never left," by The Associated Press' Mike Schneider | | | | A message from USA-IT: The very things that make Florida such a wonderful place to live—a vibrant, populous state with 14 major ports, advanced transportation infrastructure, and of course world-famous beaches and shoreline (the 2nd longest in the United States)—also make it attractive to smugglers and traffickers. This illegal trade hurts local taxpayers, local economies and the senior citizen community, ultimately affecting the safety and quality of life of all 21 million Floridians.
Private-public partnerships can help address this problem. That's why our partners are proud to be on the ground in 2021, bringing our shared expertise combating illegal trade into Florida's fight. Along with governments and local law enforcement, we're working together to fight back. Learn more. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Florida AD Stricklin says 'we failed' by keeping Newbauer," by The Associated Press' Mark Long: "Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin took responsibility Tuesday for former women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer's toxic environment that included verbal abuse toward players, assistants and staff members. Stricklin met with four media members and provided some details and a rough timeline of what transpired during Newbauer's tenure, how the University Athletic Association responded, and why he gave a coach with so many red flags a three-year contract extension in February." BIRTHDAYS: NASA administrator and former Sen. Bill Nelson … Steve Schale, Democratic strategist ... Brent Kallestad, former Associated Press reporter
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