| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Good Wednesday morning. Zero — There are still a few months to go before Florida is fully immersed in another contentious campaign season, but right now no one appears to be locking down time for television ads in the state, according to an analysis down by AdImpact. Next door — Significant ad-buying is already underway in other states, including neighboring Georgia, where Senate Majority PAC, the super PAC that works to elect Democrats, has already reserved close to $25 million worth of time in a state where Sen. Raphael Warnock is running for a full term. Omens — Is this yet another sign that Democrats on the national level are giving up on Florida this cycle, a situation that some in the party such as state Sen. Annette Taddeo have publicly warned about? Fluid — J.B. Poersch, the president of Senate Majority PAC, told Playbook that "you shouldn't make assumptions based on what we've done so far." He added that the amount of time reserved for the fall is a "moving target." Poersch also said his organization "likes the chances" of Democratic Rep. Val Demings, who is challenging Sen. Marco Rubio this fall. "We feel strongly we have got a good candidate," he said. Another big quarter for Demings — One element that may cause Democrats to assist Orlando's Demings is her continued fundraising prowess. The Demings campaign announced early Wednesday that the campaign raised more than $10 million in the first quarter of the year and that they have more than $13 million cash on hand, which they say is the most ever for a Senate challenger. "We're building the most robust campaign Rubio has ever faced, one that will let Floridians know that they have a choice between a 27-year law enforcement officer and a career politician who doesn't show up for work," Demings campaign manager Zack Carroll said in a statement. What comes next — The continued success in raising money, much of it online, certainly is a positive trend for Demings. The question, however, is what it will take for Democrats to overcome the challenging environment in Florida that includes President Joe Biden's sagging approval ratings. And will Democrats be willing to spend the millions of dollars necessary in a very expensive state when other battlegrounds such as Georgia are at stake? — 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
| | | | DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today. | | | | | |  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | HOLDING OFF — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday declined to endorse Senate President Wilton Simpson in his bid for agriculture commissioner. But then he praised Simpson's work and suggested that he could be handing out additional 2022 endorsements soon. Simpson is one of a handful of Republicans running for the Cabinet post, but this past week Army veteran Chuck Nadd joined the race. Nadd is calling himself a "DeSantis Republican" and has previously criticized Simpson for not doing enough to help DeSantis in the Legislature. DeSantis, when asked during a press conference in Monticello, said "I think Sen. Simpson has helped us in a number of things" over the two years he has held the top legislative position. The GOP governor said he anticipated making more endorsements ahead of Florida's August primary. IT ALL SPENDS — " DeSantis calls out 'fake news,' but his campaign used fake news site to rise cash," by McClatchy D.C.'s Ben Wieder: "But when it comes to raising money for his reelection bid, the Republican governor's campaign and an associated political committee have sought help from a satire website with the tagline 'Fake news you can trust.' The governor's campaign committee as well as the associated Friends of Ron DeSantis political action committee paid the conservative-leaning satire website The Babylon Bee a combined $15,000 last year for services related to online fundraising, according to state campaign finance records." CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — Sen. Rick Scott announced on Tuesday that the National Republican Senatorial Committee broke fundraising records for March ($13.28 million) and the first quarter ($43 million). Scott said the committee's next report will show that the NRSC has $44.1 million in cash on hand … Longboat Key Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan announced that his reelection campaign raised nearly $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2022 and has raised $2.8 million overall so far. ... State Rep. Michele Rayner, who is running for Florida's 13th Congressional District, announced on Tuesday she has picked up endorsements from three members of Congress, including Rhode Island Democrat Rep. David Cicilline. Cicilline is chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Caucus. "Rep. Rayner would be the first openly queer Black woman to serve in the United States Congress and send an incredible message of representation and inclusivity to people across the country," Cicilline said in a statement. Rayner was also endorsed by California Democrat Mark Takano and New York Democrat Ritchie Torres. … State Rep. Jackie Toledo's campaign announced she has raised more than $353,000 in her bid for Florida's 15th Congressional District. — "Report in election fraud investigation says jailhouse sign-ups could compromise Florida's voting system ," by Fresh Take Florida's Carolina Ilvento and Alexander Lugo
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | SCHOOL DAZE — "Florida's feuding over education laws is in national spotlight. GOP seizes the moment," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio, Ana Ceballos and Sommer Brugal: "But in a state run by the GOP with a growing Republican base, pandemic-related policies such as masking, discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity and teaching about race and racism have all been linchpins for parents who've become angered with public education — and Republicans are seizing the opportunity. From curriculum fights to school board term limits — and fresh off the high of a legislative victory — Florida Republicans are leaning on education as a wedge issue during the midterm elections, hoping it will mobilize their base and appeal to independent voters as they consider candidates for legislative and statewide offices all the way down to local school board races." LIMBO — "Cheaper prescription drug imports for Floridians? Plan remains stalled in Washington, D.C.," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders and Jim Turner: "[Gov. Ron] DeSantis said he worked with [former President Donald] Trump on the issue and that President Joe Biden indicated he wanted to move forward with drug importation. DeSantis on Tuesday criticized the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "The FDA has not done anything," he said. 'So, I can only construe that as meaning that they probably hope it just withers on the vine.' But the lawsuit, filed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Partnership for Safe Medicines and the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, has moved slowly in U.S. district court in Washington." — "Nursing home staffing bill sent to Gov. DeSantis for action," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton — " More than 20 mayors urge Gov. DeSantis to veto 'local business protection act,'" by Florida Politics' Jesse Scheckner — "Alachua County judge sides with Gov. DeSantis on removal of former school board member ," by The Gainesville Sun's Gershon Harrell
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | BEHIND CLOSED DOORS — "Ivanka Trump testifies to House panel investigating Jan. 6 attack," by The New York Times' Luke Broadwater: "Ivanka Trump, former President Donald J. Trump's eldest daughter, who served as one of his senior advisers, testified for about eight hours on Tuesday before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, according to people familiar with the matter. It was not immediately clear how revelatory her testimony was for the committee, but those familiar with the interview said Ms. Trump did not seek to invoke any privilege — such as executive privilege or the Fifth Amendment, as other witnesses have done — and broadly, if not garrulously, answered the panel's questions." | 
AP Photo |
WHAT HAPPENS IN PALM BEACH — "2020 election claims dominate lively night for Trump, allies at Mar-a-Lago," by Washington Post's Josh Dawsey: "Former president Donald Trump and a coterie of his top allies, donors and paying club members gathered at his palatial beachfront club Tuesday night for a reunion of sorts: to sip Trump-branded wine, snack on an amuse-bouche of fried shrimp and pastry-wrapped hot dogs on the Mar-a-Lago patio and, most importantly, relitigate parts of the 2020 election that he lost 17 months ago."
FLORIDA MAN — " Enrique Tarrio, longtime Proud Boys leader, pleads not guilty in Jan. 6 riot," by Washington Post's Tom Jackman: "Henry 'Enrique' Tarrio, a longtime national chairman of the far-right group the Proud Boys, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to seven federal counts that accuse him of organizing an assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory." 'You want to storm the Capitol' — "Tarrio was arrested in Miami, where a judge initially denied his release, and he has not been brought to D.C. He appeared by video and his lawyers said he was being held in Oklahoma. Defense lawyers argued Tuesday that the government had unfairly delayed the case, in part by taking nearly a year to access Tarrio's phone. Prosecutors said the FBI had difficulty unlocking the phone, and moved swiftly once it had gained access. The indictment of Tarrio states that early on Jan. 4, Tarrio said in a voice note to other Proud Boys leaders, 'I didn't hear this voice note until now, you want to storm the Capitol.'" — "Trump's Truth Social in trouble as financial, technical woes mount," by Washington Post's Drew Harwell and Josh Dawsey
| | | | INTRODUCING DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR MORNING TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | WASSERMAN SCHULTZ TESTS POSITIVE — Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced late Tuesday that she has tested positive for Covid-19. In a brief statement, the South Florida Democrat said "I was informed this evening that I have tested positive for Covid. Thankfully, I am both vaccinated and boosted, and my symptoms are manageable. Please, if you haven't yet, don't wait to get vaccinated and boosted." SHOWDOWN — "Matt Gaetz and defense secretary argue over U.S. military capability and 'wokeism,'" by CNN's Jeremy Herb and Ellie Kaufman: "Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Rep. Matt Gaetz got into a heated argument during Tuesday's House Armed Services hearing after the Florida Republican accused the Pentagon of being too focused on 'wokeism' and not defense. Austin charged that Gaetz appeared to be 'embarrassed for his country' by questioning the US military's capability, and the two men shouted over one another at several points. 'This is the most capable, most combat critical force in the world, it has been and it will be so going forward, and this budget helps us to do that,' Austin said."
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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is pictured during a press conference on February 19, 2022 in Vilnius, Lithuania. | Paulius Peleckis/Getty Images | | | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | BUMPY START — "Mistrial possible in Parkland school shooting case, but it would mean only a slight delay," by Sun Sentinel's David Fleshler, Rafael Olmeda and Brooke Baitinger: "The case of the Parkland school shooter appeared to be headed toward a mistrial Tuesday after defense lawyers balked at how the judge handled a group of jurors who declared they could not follow the law on the case. A mistrial at this stage of proceedings would be a bump in the road — two days of jury pre-selection would be scrapped, but lawyers would be able to start from scratch as early as Wednesday morning."
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | FOR YOUR RADAR — "Florida COVID update: New cases trend up for the first time in over a month," by Miami Herald's Devoun Cetoute : "In the past seven days, the state has added 1,505 cases and 39 deaths per day, on average, according to Miami Herald calculations of data published by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.] Over the past three weeks, on average, 21 more cases were logged each day in Florida, showing an increase in trends. This is the first increase in over a month."
— "Florida closing its COVID sites, but Miami-Dade will keep free tests, vaccines open ," by Miami Herald's Daniel Chang — "Mickey Mouse can start hugging again at Disney parks," by The Associated Press
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | NOT GIVING UP — "Internet café lawyer Kelly Mathis appeals to continue $50M wrongful-arrest lawsuit," by Florida Times-Union's Steve Patterson: "A Jacksonville attorney sentenced to prison and then exonerated over his guidance to internet cafes will try Wednesday to revive his lawsuit against the former sheriff and prosecutors who put him in jail. Kelly Mathis will tell appeals court judges in Atlanta that a federal judge in Jacksonville was wrong to dismiss his $50 million lawsuit against figures including former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi." 'CONFUSION' DUE TO NEW LAW? — " Coach wouldn't let a transgender student join the boys soccer team. Now Duval Schools is apologizing," by Florida Times-Union's Emily Bloch: "The sophomore made it through several rounds of tryouts for the boys soccer team this school year when the head coach told him he would need to move to the girls team tryouts instead. A recent law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last year bars transgender girls from playing on the girls soccer team. But the law allows transgender boys to play on the boys team. When Duval County School District leaders were told by a Times-Union reporter what happened to Zach, they acknowledged that things were handled the wrong way. Now they're apologizing." 'A DEEP CRISIS' — "More than 46,000 Cubans, biggest wave in years, have arrived in U.S. in five months," by El Nuevo Herald's Nora Gámez Torres: "Driven by a government crackdown on dissent, widespread poverty and a lack of opportunities, young Cubans are leaving the island in a new exodus by land and sea that has already eclipsed the balsero crisis of 1994, when more than 35,000 Cubans took to the sea in makeshift rafts. In the five months between October and the end of February, 47,000 Cubans arrived at the Mexico-U.S. border, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics." — " NY mobster who escaped federal custody rearrested in Florida," by The Associated Press
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Slain Florida mom's ex-boyfriend was ordered to pay her $5,920 in attorney fees 9 days before she disappeared," by Fox News' Stephanie Pagones and Paul Best: "Just nine days before slain Florida mother Cassie Carli disappeared while attempting to pick up her 4-year-old daughter from her ex-boyfriend, Marcus Spanevelo, a judge ordered Spanevelo to pay Carli $5,920 in attorney fees related to a years-long custody battle, according to court records. Carli's remains were recovered Saturday from a shallow grave in Springville, Alabama, on a property that authorities say is connected to her ex-boyfriend." BIRTHDAYS: Olivia Perez-Cubas , senior vice president of communications for Bullpen Strategy Group ... Florida Politics' Kelly Hayes ... journalist Jeremy Wallace ... photographer Colin Hackley
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