| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Ripple effects — The dysfunction in Washington over everything from Covid-19 policy to the intraparty tug-of-war over spending bills is forcing Democrats in Florida to take stances that pit them against other Democrats and even President Joe Biden. Try selling this in Florida — Example: House Democrats on Tuesday stripped $1 billion for Israeli missile defense from a bill designed to avert a government shutdown due to objections from a group of House progressives. Republicans said the decision proves that Democrats are anti-Israel, a charge that has resonance in a state with a large concentration of Jewish Americans. Jewish Democrats from Florida immediately objected and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is running for governor, joined with them. The blame game — Both Rep. Charlie Crist, who is running against Fried for the chance to oust Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Rep. Val Demings, who is the top Democrat challenging Sen. Marco Rubio, also said that they backed funding for the defense system known as the "Iron Dome." Crist, in a statement, tried to put the blame on the GOP since Republicans were united in opposition to the spending measure that passed the House on Tuesday: "The fact is, Iron Dome has support from the overwhelming majority of my Democratic colleagues, and had Republicans been willing to put politics aside, Iron Dome funding would still be in there." Demings v. progressives? — Demings said that "delays in funding are unacceptable. It should not be removed from this week's bill and we should pass it immediately." But Demings also contended no matter what is in the bill — or left out of the bill — Republicans would have still voted against it. Ongoing headaches — But the drama over the government shutdown bill — along with back-and-forth over the delayed infrastructure bill and the $3.5 trillion reconciliation measure — continues to write talking points for Republicans against Demings and other Democrats. True, the 2022 elections are still a long way off and there could be a lot more dysfunction and drama that will put all of this in the rearview mirror. But it doesn't make it any easier for Demings, Crist and even Fried. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to be in Tallahassee for a meeting of the state's clemency board. 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. | | | | |
|  | DATELINE D.C. | | IN THE MIDDLE — "Biden set to place peacemaker for warring Democratic factions," by POLITICO's Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris: Meanwhile, moderates — even beyond the group of nine that halted floor action last month — are vowing mutiny if the left does upend the infrastructure bill [President Joe] Biden embraced as a signature achievement, especially after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised them a vote by Monday in an agreement that salvaged the dual-track domestic plan last month. Murphy weighs in — "It would be deeply disappointing to have the bill on the floor only to have people … vote against it for political grandstanding," said Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), one of the nine centrists who struck that deal to set up Monday's infrastructure vote. And if Pelosi pulls the infrastructure bill next week to avoid defeat, Murphy added: "The mistrust that exists currently between members will spread to mistrust between leadership and members." DILEMMA — " Biden finds few good options or allies on Haitian migrant buildup," by POLITICO's Natasha Korecki and Laura Barrón López: The thousands of Haitians massing at the U.S. southern border has put the Biden administration in the exact place it's tried to avoid: knee deep in immigration politics. In the past 24 hours, the White House has responded to images and videos of aggressive tactics used by Border Patrol agents to corral those migrants by supporting an internal investigation into the matter. What it hasn't done, yet, is figure out a solution to the crowding and sanitary issues arising in what's become a makeshift encampment — or stop its policy of deporting migrants upon arrival. That's left the president and his team with few supporters and allies. | 
Evan Vucci/AP Photo | RUBIO HELPED PUSH THIS — "House sends bill aiding 'Havana Syndrome' victims headed to Biden's desk," by POLITICO's Andrew Desiderio: The House on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill to aid Americans believed to be suffering from "Havana Syndrome," as the Biden administration struggles to understand how and why U.S. spies and diplomats are developing mysterious, debilitating brain injuries. The illness, believed to be the result of an invisible directed-energy attack, has long stumped U.S. intelligence officials, and reports of what the government officially calls "anomalous health incidents" have skyrocketed in recent months. MOODY PARTNERS WITH FEDS — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has been clashing with the Biden administration on several issues (immigration policy just for one) but she is joining with the Justice Department and five other states and Washington, D.C., to block a joint venture between American Airlines and JetBlue that was initially given the green light by transportation officials under former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts federal court on Tuesday, contends the airline partnership will lead to higher fares for customers. Reasoning — Moody said in a statement released on Wednesday that "the airline industry is a highly concentrated industry. The challenged alliance between American and Jet Blue will only increase that concentration and hurt Floridians and Florida's interests. I am especially concerned with this alliance's likely effect on smaller, more regional airports in Florida where these two airlines are, at least in one instance, the only two airlines flying routes." INFINITY AND BEYOND — "NASA looks to a future that includes flights to the moon and Mars as it reorganizes," by Washington Post's Christian Davenport : "In an interview with The Washington Post, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the new directorate, known as Exploration Systems Development, will oversee the development of new tools, including habitats, rovers and propulsion systems, to help NASA push new frontiers. The success of the agency's partnership with a growing commercial space industry allows 'NASA to get out of low Earth orbit and go explore,' Nelson said." | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there were 6,904 Covid-19 infections on Monday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 8,448 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Tuesday that 34.3 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19. SKEPTIC HIRED — "DeSantis's new Florida surgeon general questions masks, vaccines, other COVID-19 measures," by Orlando Sentinel's Gray Rohrer and Steven Lemongello: "Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed a new state surgeon general Tuesday who has written essays questioning the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, the effectiveness of masks and favoring hydroxychloroquine, a drug touted by former President Donald Trump to treat the virus. Dr. Joseph Ladapo said people should make their own choices about health care, and he opposed COVID mandates and lockdowns. 'Florida will completely reject fear,' Ladapo, an assistant professor at the UCLA School of Medicine who received his doctorate from the Harvard School of Medicine, told reporters at the Capitol." NEW SURGEON GENERAL IS LEAVING THIS STATE — "California now has the nation's lowest virus transmission rate," by The Associated Press' Amy Taxin: "The nation's most populous state is the only one experiencing 'substantial' coronavirus transmission, the second-highest level on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's color-coded map. So is Puerto Rico. In all other U.S. states, virus transmission is labeled as 'high,' defined as 100 or more cases per 100,000 people in the last week. California's rate is 94 cases per 100,000. By comparison, Texas is 386 and Florida is 296." — " Duval Schools data shows COVID-19 cases are slowing. Doctors say it's because the mask mandate is working," by Florida Times-Union's Emily Bloch — "State asks appeals court to block school board challenges to Gov. DeSantis' mask mandate ban," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders | | | | JOIN THURSDAY FOR A WOMEN RULE CONVERSATION ON ENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY: Sexual assault in the military has been an issue for years, and political leaders are taking steps to address it. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) proposed bipartisan legislation to overhaul military sexual assault policies, but still face opposition. Join Women Rule for a virtual interview featuring Sens. Ernst and Gillibrand, who will discuss their legislative push and what it will take to end sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | ANOTHER L FOR DESANTIS — "Miami federal judge blocks Florida from enforcing ban on 'sanctuary cities,'" by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos: "A federal judge in Miami on Tuesday blocked Florida from enforcing a ban on so-called sanctuary cities, declaring portions of a law unconstitutional and tinged with 'discriminatory motives.' The judge's ruling struck down a key portion of the 2019 law that prohibits local and state officials from adopting 'sanctuary' policies for undocumented migrants, a main focus for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who vowed to ban 'sanctuary cities' in Florida when running for governor in 2018 even though there were none in the state." NEXT ONE UP — "Renner officially in line to become Florida House speaker," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Paul Renner keeps things close to the chest. The 54-year-old Palm Coast attorney was officially designated as the leader of the Florida House Republican caucus on Tuesday, a position that will make him leader of the chamber after the current holder of that title, House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor), leaves office in 2022. "I do not want to talk about anything specific now out of respect for where we are. ... We are teeing up the speaker's priorities and leadership priorities," Renner told reporters at the Capitol. "When the time comes, I will be very straightforward and candid with you about what is important to me." WHO NEEDS DETAILS? — "How will Florida's new standardized testing model work? It's a work in progress," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Gov. Ron DeSantis made waves by declaring that Florida would dump its standardized testing program after this school year. But the details remain scant about how the state's exams could actually look in the future. ... The Florida Department of Education unveiled its "vision" for tweaking testing throughout the state to the Senate Committee on Education yet provided little insight into specifics about what could be one of the main priorities for schools during the 2022 session. JUST NOTING — "Florida Senate Democratic leader's new top staffer a longtime Republican," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: A top staff member hired Monday by Senate Democratic leader Lauren Book is a longtime registered Republican who recently changed her registration due to "recent election cycles." Book reshaped the Senate Minority office this week with a slate of new hires, including Cathy Schroeder as deputy staff director, who until very recently was a registered Republican. Her registration status still shows that she is a Republican in the state voter file, but she told POLITICO that she has recently become a Democrat. SPEAKING OUT — " Women warn Florida lawmakers about proposing any Texas-style abortion ban next year," by USA Today Network-Florida's James Call: "Led by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, about 200 women gathered on the steps of Florida's old Capitol Tuesday and, in a warning to the Republican majority that controls the statehouse, chanted 'keep your hands off my body.' Planned Parenthood and a coalition of reproductive and women's rights group organized the 'Bans off My Body' rally as a call to action against any Texas-style abortion restrictions." FREEZER BURN — "Florida officials find Ben & Jerry's business decision in Israel distasteful," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner: "Florida continues to move closer to ending financial ties with ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's and its parent company, Unilever PLC. Ash Williams, executive director and chief investment officer of the State Board of Administration, said Tuesday he anticipates Unilever will be added to what is known as Florida's list of 'scrutinized companies that boycott Israel,' prohibiting state investments and contracts with the companies." — " Florida administrator tapped to run state's $253 billion investment portfolio," by News Service of Florida | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? — "Hunger strike by inmates reported at Glades Detention Center; ICE denies event happening," by Fort Myers News-Press Michael Braun: "A civil rights complaint filed with top U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials Thursday focuses on an reported hunger strike at Glades County Detention Center. Two national organizations say the hunger strike affects up to 100 ICE-held inmates at the detention center in Moore Haven, with them seeking medical care, access to phones and no deportations, among other demands." — "Citizens Insurance may push you toward more expensive insurers ," by Sun Sentinel's Ron Hurtibise | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Controversial confederate statue headed to Tallahassee, for now," by News Service of Florida: "A statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith that stood in the U.S. Capitol for nearly a century as a representation of Florida will be moved to Tallahassee, but don't expect the bronze likeness to be displayed publicly until a new home is found. 'The statute will be relocated and transported to the Museum of Florida History and we anticipate transferring the statue to another museum in the future to be made available for public display in Florida,' Florida Department of State spokesman Mark Ard said in an email Monday." BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Jennifer Bradley … William Stander of WHISPER LLC
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