| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by The Seminole Tribe of Florida | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Traveling man — Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to hit the road again this weekend on yet another out-of-state trip. This time he's headed to the annual "steak-fry" being hosted by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. Guess who's also going to be there? Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Vice President Mike Pence. So that's 3 potential contenders for president all gathering in the same place. Rebuttal — But on Tuesday, DeSantis insisted that any speculation that he harbors national ambitions are "purely manufactured." DeSantis also added that "I just do my job and we work hard… I hear all this stuff and honestly it's nonsense." On the road — Of course, DeSantis has his re-election campaign to worry about in the near term and 2024 is a long way off politically. But this presidential question can't easily be waved away when the governor has spent quite a bit of time making political appearances in places such as Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh, and fundraising trips stretching from New Jersey to California and several spots in between. Dilemma — The conundrum for DeSantis is two-fold: His Democratic opponents have — and will — use the prospect of presidential ambitions against him. Might as well have his team come up with an answer this one: Will you serve a full four years if elected to a second term? The other — at this point larger — concern is that there are now signs that former President Donald Trump is throwing off signals that he plans to run again in 2024. Unthinkable — DeSantis is a rising star in the Republican Party who is getting loads of attention, but it would be hard to envision a scenario where he would challenge Trump for the nomination, especially since it was Trump's endorsement of DeSantis that helped propel him into the governor's mansion. Trump hasn't made it official yet, so for now DeSantis can continue to build a national network. But it could be quite the balancing act. — 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 | | A message from the Seminole Tribe of Florida: The new Seminole Compact is a partnership between the people of Florida and the sovereign nation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Announced by Governor Ron DeSantis and Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., the Compact was passed by the Florida Legislature and deemed approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Seminole Compact guarantees billions in revenues, creates thousands of jobs and brings sports betting to Florida. Learn more. | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | NOTHING TO SEE HERE — "DeSantis calls talk of a 2024 presidential bid 'nonsense,'" by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: DeSantis has built his brand by linking himself to Trump, who gave him a key endorsement when he was running against then-Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the 2018 GOP primary. Trump hasn't said if he will seek reelection in 2024, but the former president has engaged in a flurry of activity that signals a renewed interest in reclaiming the White House. A Trump candidacy would likely derail any talk of a DeSantis bid. Trump in April even suggested he would consider DeSantis as his vice president should be run for the White House again. | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attends an event with President Donald Trump on the environment at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) | OR HOW TO BLOW NEARLY $3M AND GET NOTHING IN RETURN — "Florida Realtors scrap affordable housing amendment, look for legislative solution," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey : "The Realtors are abandoning its attempt to put the question to Floridians whether to prevent the Legislature from raiding money meant for housing into the state's general pool of cash. That comes after legislative leadership applied pressure on the group to end the campaign, which started in June." COMING SOON — Punchbowl News reported on Tuesday that the National Republican Congressional Committee will hold a major fundraiser in Tampa this fall and that will have former President Donald Trump as the headliner. Axios reported that the Nov. 8-9 event comes in place of a major December retreat that had initially planned to be held in New York City. In its story, Axios quotes a prominent fundraiser who told them "I actually think it's less about Trump and more about not wanting to be seen as contributing to the recovery of cities who've 'gotten it wrong' on COVID." JUMPING IN — The race to replace Rep. Charlie Crist keeps getting more crowded. Audrey Henson, a Pinellas County businesswoman and Republican who founded the non-profit College to Congress, is joining the growing field of candidates running for Florida's 13th Congressional District . Henson, a one-time intern for Sen. Marco Rubio, says she is running for Congress to "protect Pinellas County from the threat of socialism embraced by DC progressive liberals." In her initial campaign video she says she's not "another carpetbagging politician" and notes that she grew up in Pinellas County. She says in her video that "woke liberal cancel culture" is "poisoning our schools, our businesses and our government." There are already two Republicans — including Crist 2020 challenger Anna Paulina Luna — in the race. Three Democrats including two state legislators have also filed to run. | | | |   | | |
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there were 10,162 Covid-19 infections on Monday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 13,628 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Tuesday that 47.4 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19. NEW BATTLEGROUND — "School boards challenge Florida's Department of Health rule blocking mask mandates," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury : Florida's ongoing legal saga over masks in schools is entering a new arena after four school boards asked an administrative law judge to throw out the state Department of Health rule that blocks local schools from requiring students to wear face coverings. With the DeSantis administration already defending numerous lawsuits over its masking policies, school leaders in Miami-Dade, Alachua, Broward and Orange counties now are pushing to invalidate the rule state officials used to clear a path for sanctioning defiant school board members. — " Pasco schools stick with voluntary masks despite growing calls for action," by Tampa Bay Times' Jeffrey S. Solochek — "Duval School Board approves threshold to end mask mandate as campus COVID-19 cases pass 2,000," by Florida Times-Union's Emily Bloch COMING WEDNESDAY — There will be two court hearings — one state, one federal — on challenges to Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on local school mask mandates. At 10 a.m., state Circuit Court Judge John Cooper is holding a hearing to consider vacating a stay on his ruling that blocks the DeSantis administration from enforcing its ban on local mask mandates. Court hearing No. 2 — U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore will hear arguments in Miami in a lawsuit alleging that the governor's effort to block school mask mandates has violated laws designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities. — POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie — "In four weeks, Lee County schools surpassed it COVID case total for all of last year," by Fort Myers News-Press' Dan DeLuca and Rachel Fradette CALLING HIM OUT — " Fauci says DeSantis is 'completely incorrect' to call vaccine a mere personal choice," by National Public Radio's Bill Chappell: "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is 'completely incorrect' to suggest vaccines are a personal choice with no broad implications, says Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease authority. 'If [DeSantis] feels that vaccines are not important for people, that they're just important for some people, that's completely incorrect,' Fauci said after being asked about DeSantis' views during an interview Tuesday with CNN. Vaccines have been the solution to public health crises such as smallpox, polio and measles, Fauci said — but they rely on wide adoption to work, he added." ANSWER: HIS NAME STARTS WITH A D — "Florida universities shy from stronger COVID rules. They won't say why," by Tampa Bay Times' Divya Kumar: "As a growing number of school districts defy a state order against mask mandates, Florida's public universities are showing no desire to mount their own rebellion. Repeatedly in recent days, university leaders have pushed aside calls for safety measures like mask mandates, stronger action to encourage vaccinations, or the ability to temporarily teach online." 'REALLY DANGEROUS TERRITORY' — "Spanish-language Covid disinformation is aimed at Latinos as delta surges," by NBC News' Carmen Sesin: "Evelyn Pérez-Verdía, a Democratic strategist based in Florida who was the first to point out that disinformation in Spanish against Democrats was raging on social media and WhatsApp groups during the 2020 campaign, said she thought there would be a decrease in disinformation after the elections, 'but it has been quite the opposite, as the same people seem to be targeting vaccines.' 'All the false information being repeated on social media and radio is having an influence on our communities,' Pérez-Verdía said." NEW RULES — "No mask, no show: Broward Center will require negative COVID tests for audiences, vaccines for staff," by Sun Sentinel's Arlene Borenstein-Zuluaga: "In one of the toughest public safety moves made by a South Florida destination this year, The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is requiring masks at all times for all of its partner venues including The Parker. Theatergoers must also provide a negative COVID-19 test result or proof they've been fully vaccinated." WHAT NEIL COMBEE IS UP TO — " Polk health care leaders push back on commission's letter to DeSantis. Board to revise message," by The Ledger's Dustin Wyatt: "At a long meeting Tuesday that got unruly — at one point a resident was escorted out for cussing at a doctor — the leader of Polk's health department urged the County Commission to not send a controversial letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis hyping ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as COVID treatment options. 'My concern about this letter, I think you're sending a message to the public that it's the Wild West of anything you can get your hands on, take it,' said Dr. Joy Jackson, director of the Florida Department of Health in Polk County….While spotlighting the two treatment options that are proven to work — the vaccine and monoclonal antibodies — she took aim at parts of the letter, written by Neil Combee, that alleged unproven conspiracy theories and government cover-ups." — "Orlando VA has the most COVID-19 cases in the U.S., despite decreased hospitalizations statewide," by Orlando Sentinel's Caroline Catherman — " After 13 colleagues die from COVID, Miami-Dade teachers union sets up vaccine pop-up," by Miami Herald's Michelle Marchante — "FSU 'disappointed' that more fans did not wear masks at Sunday's opener vs. Notre Dame," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jim Henry — "Volusia Councilman Lowry, conspiracy theory promoter, hospitalized with COVID-19," by Orlando Sentinel's Tiffini Theisen | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | ROLL WITH IT — Florida's gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida has won legislative approval and a greenlight from the U.S. Department of the Interior. But amid court challenges — and potential citizen initiatives that would override part of the agreement — the tribe is launching a new 30-second television ad campaign on Wednesday touting the new compact. Gary Bitner, a spokesperson for the tribe, said in an email that the point of the ad is "continuing to build awareness and understanding of the gaming compact among the broad audience of Floridians, many of whom may not be closely following it." Bitner said the ad would air in all of Florida's television markets. The compact, which guarantees $2.5 billion to the state over the first five years, will bring sports betting to Florida and lets the tribe add craps and roulette at its casinos. | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | OPENING UP — "Cuba will reopen its borders in November, hoping its vaccines will keep COVID cases down," by El Nuevo Herald's Nora Gámez Torres: "Despite an ongoing COVID-19 surge that has overwhelmed its health system, Cuban authorities will reopen the country's borders starting in mid-November, saying that the country will have vaccinated 90 percent of its population by the beginning of the high season for tourism. COVID-related measures at airports will be relaxed and 'focused on symptomatic patients and taking the temperature,' Granma, the Communist Party's newspaper, said Monday in a brief note citing information provided by the Ministry of Tourism." — " Fish kill hits Biscayne Bay as high heat, still waters worsen pollution impacts," by Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks — "Odds increase to 50% for tropical system projected to pass over Florida this week," by Orlando Sentinel's Joe Mario Pedersen and Lisa Maria Garza | | A message from the Seminole Tribe of Florida: The New Seminole Compact
Signed, passed & now Florida law. Billions guaranteed.
The historic Seminole Compact, a partnership between the people of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is the largest gaming compact in U.S. history. The compact guarantees billions of dollars of new revenue sharing for Florida, creates thousands of new jobs, ensures protections for Florida's pari-mutuel industry and brings sports betting to Florida.
The New Seminole Compact Benefits Florida:
· Provides Florida $6 billion in revenue over the next decade, guaranteeing $2.5 billion in the next five years.
· Estimated to create over 2,200 new Florida jobs.
· Modernizes the gaming industry by creating a legal construct for sports betting in Florida and provides a structure for local pari-mutuels to participate.
· Keeps Florida family-friendly by limiting casinos.
· Billions more in economic impact for our state and businesses.
Learn more about this historic moment in Florida history. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Allen Boyd reconnects with the people he once served," by Tallahassee Magazine's Steve Bornhoft: "[Former Rep. Allen] Boyd, a fifth-generation cattle rancher located in Greenville, has begun for the first time to sell cuts of beef directly to the consumer and, in the process, has eliminated several links in a traditional supply chain. On a given day, you might spy his truck in Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Panacea, St. George Island, Port St. Joe, Panama City, Crawfordville or Tallahassee. He calls his stops 'Meat Ups,' and one suspects that his daughter Suzanne, a broadcast journalist turned public relations agency owner, may have had something to do with that." BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Thad Altman … former state Sen. Anitere Flores … Karen Castor Dentel, Orange County school board member and former legislator … former Rep. Mark Foley
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