| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. It is the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Going the distance — Florida Republicans — including Sen. Rick Scott — have been calling for more forceful action by the U.S. government, NBC, and the International Olympic Committee when it comes to the upcoming Winter Olympics scheduled to start in February in Beijing, China. Response — Biden's ultimate decision to order a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics to protest human rights abuses was quickly criticized by China as "pure grandstanding" and "political manipulation." Scott called it "weak." The former GOP governor, who previously pushed the long-shot idea of moving the Olympics out of China completely, lashed out at Biden's "appeasement," saying the administration did the "bare minimum." More needed? — Florida GOP Rep. Michael Waltz weighed in as well, saying it didn't go far enough and was "disgraceful" that U.S. companies would make money off the event. Waltz went further and told WESH that a "full boycott" was needed and that American athletes should stay home. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, in her own statement to the television station, called a diplomatic boycott the right move and said she would have opposed any push to keep U.S. athletes from attending. Echoes from the past — It was then-President Jimmy Carter who made the decision to boycott the 1980 Olympics in Moscow due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. (The Soviets staged their own boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.) But while many allies of the U.S. joined the boycott, the idea was not universally popular at the time amid arguments that in the end it does more to punish athletes than the nation hosting the event. FWIW — Sen. Marco Rubio, a fierce critic of China, did not weigh in on the Biden administration move even though he continues to block a defense bill in Congress unless it includes a provision banning imports from a Chinese region that relies on forced labor. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis will hold a press conference in Oldsmar with House Speaker Chris Sprowls, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton and Chief Resilience Officer Wes Brooks. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch:gfineout@politico.com | | | | 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. | | | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | HOW IT'S GOING — "Florida Democrats already pointing fingers as they steel themselves for November," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was heralded as a turnaround artist when he took the helm of the Florida Democratic Party. The big question nearly a year later is whether he's done enough to help Democrats win in 2022. What lies ahead — "If Florida has a bloodbath come November … that's going to be a concern, not just for myself but I'm sure for many Democrats," said State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Miami Gardens Democrat. POLITICO interviewed more than 20 Florida Democrats, including elected officials, Democratic National Committee members, activists and others about Diaz and his performance so far. Many were supportive, saying that Diaz has to overcome internal divisions that have constantly hindered Florida Democrats. Some, however, were less flattering, using terms such as "MIA" to describe Diaz's term so far. More to do — In an interview, Diaz conceded that the 2022 election cycle will be a "rebuilding year." He also pointed to some of his accomplishments, like wiping out substantial debt that he inherited. It was a financial situation so dire that it prompted layoffs at the start of the year. He's since gone on a hiring spree intended to boost field operations well in advance of the elections. "Those plans take time," Diaz said. "Am I happy with where we are? Not as happy as I would like to be. But yes I'm happy. I think we have done more in an off year than the party has ever done." ROUND 2 — "Holness plans rematch after losing primary to Cherfilus-McCormick by just 5 votes," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "A 2022 repeat is brewing among the top three finishers in the just-decided, fiercely fought South Florida congressional primary. Dale Holness, who lost the Democratic primary to Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick by five votes, is planning another candidacy. Barbara Sharief, who finished third in the 11-candiate special primary on Nov. 2, said Monday she is 'more than likely' to run again." — "Ralph Massullo to run in new SD 10, sets up possible showdown with Blaise Ingoglia," by Florida Politics' Mike Wright — "Southern Poverty Law Center triples funding for voting rights projects, including in FL," by Florida Phoenix's Laura Cassels | | DATELINE D.C. | | OPENING FOR BUCHANAN? — The decision by California Rep. Devin Nunes to leave Congress so he can take a job running former President Donald Trump's new social media company could boost Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan's clout. Nunes' departure means that Buchanan, R-Sarasota, becomes the ranking member on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. This could aid his shot in taking over the committee if Republicans retake the House, as expected. In a statement, Buchanan said "Best of luck to my friend and colleague, Devin Nunes. He's a champion for freedom and conservative values and will be greatly missed. As I indicated earlier this year, I will be running for the Ways and Means chairmanship, but my first priority is to help Republicans win back the U.S. House majority in 2022." | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 1,613 Covid-19 infections on Saturday and 1,293 on Sunday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 1,298 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. COMING SOON — "Omicron threat forces stricter COVID-19 testing rule. Will it hurt international tourism to South Florida?" by Miami Herald's Anna Jean Kaiser and Michelle Marchante: "Starting Monday, all international travelers including U.S. citizens coming into the United States on an airplane had to submit a negative COVID-19 test result from the day before flying, a temporary move to help stop the spread of the omicron variant. The tighter rule only applies to air travelers, not people who arrive in this country by boat or drive over a border crossing. It also doesn't apply to passengers flying to a state from a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." 'WE'RE SOMEWHAT LIMITED' — "As omicron variant marches across America, Florida limits locals' tools to fight it," by Palm Beach Post's Chris Persaud: "Yet as uncertainty looms over the severity and contagiousness of the omicron mutation, Gov. Ron DeSantis has stripped Florida's local governments of key powers to fight it. Since the start of this year, DeSantis has signed laws and issued orders barring cities and counties from requiring that employees get vaccinated against COVID-19; from issuing public mask mandates; and from fining people who break rules meant to slow viral spread." TO COURT — " Family of 'Sofia' files $100M federal lawsuit against teachers, Brevard School Board," by Florida Today's Eric Rogers: "The family of Sofia Bezerra, a 7-year-old girl with Down syndrome who came home from school with a mask tied to her face, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the girl's teachers and the Brevard County School Board, according to court filings obtained Friday by FLORIDA TODAY. The child's parents, Jeffrey Steel and Shirley Bezerra Steel, are demanding $100 million in the suit, court documents showed." — "Demand for booster shots rockets in Central Florida, breaks statewide record after omicron enters the U.S.," by Orlando Sentinel's Caroline Catherman | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | ASKED TO WEIGH IN — "Manatee County can't make it's own abortion ban, Florida AG says. Here's why," by Bradenton Herald's Ryan Callihan: "The Manatee Board of County Commissioners will not be allowed to introduce an ordinance that bans abortion clinics, according to Attorney General Ashley Moody's legal staff. The Office of the Florida Attorney General responded to the county's September inquiry into whether approving a ban would be possible. Commissioner James Satcher first proposed the idea in June, citing the recent approval of abortion restrictions in Texas. There are no active abortion clinics in Manatee County, but Satcher said he still wanted the measure in place to ensure new locations do not open in the future." — "Anti-bullying page, including pro-LGBTQ links, removed from Education Department website," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey — "Nikki Fried blasts Ron DeSantis, DCF over $660M in unaccounted for rental aid," by Florida Politics' Daniel Figueroa IV | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | HMM — "'If I run, he won't': Donald Trump downplays Ron DeSantis' 2024 hopes," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski: "'When Ron came to me, he was at 3%. And he had no money. And he asked for an endorsement. And I actually, you know, wasn't too thrilled because … you know, he was very good, he helped me with the (Bob) Mueller hoax, because we had many hoaxes, and he was on television a lot,' Trump said. 'But people didn't relate him doing that as Governor. So when he announced for Governor, people didn't really know who he was.'" — " Former Trump White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany to speak in Pensacola," by Pensacola News Journal | | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | DECLINED — "Justices deny fired FAU professor who questioned Sandy Hook massacre," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up an appeal by a former Florida Atlantic University professor who contended he was fired in retaliation for blog posts questioning the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Justices, as is common, did not explain their reasons for declining to hear the case filed by James Tracy, who contended that the university violated his First Amendment rights." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | GATOR GROWL — "UF researchers felt pressure to destroy COVID-19 data, faculty report says," by Tampa Bay Times' Divya Kumar: "Fear of upsetting state officials is pervasive among faculty at the University of Florida, to the point that race-related references have been edited out of course materials and researchers felt pressure to destroy COVID-19 data, according to a report released Monday by a Faculty Senate committee.The six-person panel was convened three weeks ago to investigate academic freedom issues after the university decided to bar three political science professors from testifying in a lawsuit against the state." Flowing down — "But its findings go well beyond that episode and were so disturbing — especially regarding COVID-19 research — that the group decided to speed up its work, said Danaya Wright, a constitutional law professor and former Faculty Senate chairperson who served on the committee. 'We knew it was much more widespread,' Wright said in an interview Monday. 'We knew there was more silencing and pressure coming from above. The Big Above.'" STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS — "'The city will help us.' Miami Beach took cash, fast-tracked tower on Champlain's edge," by Miami Herald's Aaron Leibowitz, Ben Conarck, Sarah Blaskey and Nicholas Nehamas: "When Miami Beach city officials rushed to greenlight construction of an 18-story ultra-luxury condo tower just across the city line from Champlain Towers South, no one knew the 40-year-old building in the neighboring town of Surfside was teetering on the edge of collapse. But the leaps Miami Beach officials took to bring the Eighty Seven Park tower from concept to reality are now under scrutiny amid litigation and investigations into what caused a once-in-a-generation building failure at Champlain South that killed 98 people in June." BLASTING OFF — "Launch startup Astra will fly its first Florida mission in January," by Florida Today's Emre Kelly: "Astra, an upstart launch provider with high-profile investors and dozens of contracts under its belt, will fly its next mission from the Space Coast. The California-based small satellite launcher will become one of a select few to fly from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in January when its launch system boosts a $3.9 million NASA mission to orbit. An exact timeframe has not yet been approved by the range." DEPARTURE — "Planned Parenthood leader Lillian Tamayo retiring after two decades defending abortion rights," by Palm Beach Post's Jane Musgrave: "While [Lillian] Tamayo announced last week that she will retire in March, she said she hasn't had time to think about what she will do when she leaves the sprawling organization that serves 45 counties from Key West to the Georgia line and across the Panhandle. With abortion rights under attack, a $22 million-a-year agency to run and an $18 million fundraising campaign underway, she said she is too busy to think ahead to retirement." — " Three more Christian missionaries kidnapped in Haiti for over a month have been released," by Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles — "Florida's gas prices continue to decline as crude markets fluctuate," by Tallahassee Democrat's Karl Etters — " Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson says 1-110 homeless camp must be cleared by mid-January," by Pensacola News Journal's Jim Little | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | MOVING ON — After seven years covering Florida and national politics for POLITICO, our colleague Marc Caputo is joining NBC News Digital as a senior national political reporter based in Miami. Prior to coming to POLITICO — and serving as the first author of Florida Playbook — Caputo was the main political reporter for The Miami Herald. BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff … Tampa Mayor Jane Castor ... Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey … Progress Florida's Mark Ferrulo ... Allie Ciaramella
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