| | | | |  | | By David Kihara | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Energized conservatives — The stunning disclosure of a Supreme Court draft opinion that would strike down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision puts a spotlight on Florida's Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis. Conservatives on Tuesday heralded the draft opinion while signaling they're not ending their push to restrict abortion. John Stemberger, president of the anti-abortion group Florida Family Policy Council said in a statement that "this is the moment that we have been working for our entire lives. This would not be the end of the pro-life movement but simply the beginning." The Tallahassee-based Florida Voice for the Unborn went much further, urging DeSantis to press the Legislature to approve a near-total ban on abortions in the state during the upcoming May 23-27 special session. "I am pleading with you to act swiftly to save the lives of Florida's unborn children by immediately amending your April 26th proclamation to include consideration of legislation that would provide a near-total ban on abortions," wrote Andrew Shirvell, the group's executive director. DeSantis reaction — When asked during a press conference, however, the governor wouldn't say if he would seek a more restrictive ban than Florida's current statute, which outlaws abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and doesn't provide exemptions for cases of rape or incest. His administration also didn't respond to a request for comment about Shirvell's letter from a POLITICO reporter. Other GOP leaders also demurred, including Speaker Chris Sprowls, who posted on Twitter that he believes Roe v. Wade is an "abuse of power" while incoming Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) released a statement saying she looked forward the high court's official ruling, which is expected over the summer. The midterms — With a 6-3 conservative-majority on the Supreme Court, there's little abortion-rights supporters can do to stop the justices from overturning Roe so Democrats are putting their hopes into the ballot box. In a fundraising appeal, Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), who is challenging Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) this fall, said "we need a fighter in the Senate who will respect the right for women to make their own choices." Even President Joe Biden highlighted the upcoming midterms, saying "it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November." Thanks for reading. I'm POLITICO editor David Kihara filling in for Gary Fineout. — 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
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | DESANTIS AND REPUBLICANS — "Energized by SCOTUS, anti-abortion group urges DeSantis to further restrict abortions," by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian and Matt Dixon: "A draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision has energized anti-abortion groups in Florida, with one organization on Tuesday lobbying Gov. Ron DeSantis to ban almost all abortions during an upcoming May special legislative session. Florida Voice for the Unborn in a Tuesday letter to the GOP governor implored DeSantis to push the Legislature to nearly completely ban abortions in the state. Voice for the Unborn Executive Director Andrew Shirvell urged DeSantis to consider legislation that would go into effect the day after the Supreme Court rules on Mississippi's 15-week ban on abortion, the focus of the high court's draft opinion. FLORIDA PROTESTS — "Tampa Bay protesters speak out about possible overturning of abortion ruling," by Tampa Bay Times' Josh Fiallo and Michaela Mulligan: Hundreds protested on both sides of Tampa Bay Tuesday in the wake of a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and end nearly 50 years of precedent that protects a person's right to abortion. Many lifted painted signs in support of abortion rights, while others waved pride flags and demanded action in speeches. Organizers passed petitions and registered attendees to vote. The mood was consistent throughout the crowd: Anger. Not just with the Supreme Court's possible decision, but with the state of the progressive movement. 'It's a weird situation,' said Bernice Lauredan, 30. 'We're all shocked, but also not at all surprised. Florida is continually seeing its basic human rights stripped away. That's why we need Tampa to be a place that's safe for everyone, even when elsewhere in the state is not.'" POLLING — "Most Florida voters oppose abortion bans, polls show," by Tampa Bay Times Langston Taylor: "Repeatedly, as courts and lawmakers have proposed rolling back abortion rights, most Florida voters have said they want to protect them. In several recent statewide surveys, the majority of people polled believed abortions should generally be legal and said they opposed potential bans. In February, after the state House of Representatives passed that bill, 57 percent of a sample of registered voters told pollsters with the University of North Florida that they opposed it, while 34 percent supported it. Opposition was slightly higher when pollsters noted the law included no exceptions for rape or incest. Seventy-four percent of Democrats, 63 percent of minor party or no-party voters and 35 percent of Republicans opposed the bill. The gender split was much smaller: 58 percent of women opposed it compared to 56 percent of men." — FROM THE ARCHIVES: "These Florida parents chose abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Here's why." by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson ON THE LEFT — "Dems vow abortion rights floor fight in wake of Roe draft opinion," by POLITICO's Marianne LeVine and Sarah Ferris: Senate Democratic leaders pledged Tuesday to soon vote to protect abortion rights in the wake of a leaked draft of a Supreme Court majority opinion to possibly overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. But it's going nowhere — just ask members of their own party. Facing yet another existential challenge in President Joe Biden's presidency, Democrats are confronting the same problems that have stymied much of their agenda for the last year and a half: slim majorities and lacking the votes to change Senate rules. ON THE RIGHT — " Republicans rage about breach of draft Roe opinion," by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney and Andrew Desiderio: Few Republican lawmakers on Tuesday were celebrating a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade . Instead, they were angrily demanding answers to how the document became public in the first place. GOP leaders trained their fire on the breach of Supreme Court protocol that led to POLITICO's publication of the draft opinion by the court's conservative majority, with only a handful of Republicans cheering the substance of the document itself even though the GOP has long opposed Roe. — " Central Florida doctors, abortion advocates outraged, say Roe v. Wade overturn would be deadly," by Orlando Sentinel's Kate Santich, Caroline Catherman and Ryan Gillespie — "' We will be ready': Biden responds to draft abortion opinion," by POLITICO's Quint Forgey — "What Rights Could Unravel Next ," by Robert Tsai for POLITICO Magazine — "What to know about Florida's abortion law as Supreme Court looks to end Roe v. Wade," by Miami Herald's Michelle Merchante | 
| | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | CAFFINATED — "Starbucks workers in Tallahassee win union election; first site in Florida to secure victory," by the Tallahassee Democrats' Christopher Cann: "A Tallahassee Starbucks location has become the first in the state to unionize after workers secured a victory in a 16-to-1 vote Tuesday afternoon. The win comes more than three months after the location, at 2264-1 N. Monroe St., announced its plan to organize and became the catalyst for two other capital city locations to follow suit. 'I can't believe this is real,' said Calum Johnson, a 25-year-old barista and union committee member who was one of under a dozen baristas who watched the ballot count from a bar in downtown Tallahassee. "Words cannot describe how proud I am of our partners." NIKOLAS CRUZ TRIAL — "The long and challenging process of selecting a jury in a death penalty case," by Palm Beach Post's Jorge Milian: "Confessed mass shooter Nikolas Cruz has the constitutional right to have his death penalty trial judged by a jury representative of his community. What Cruz, who killed 17 students and staff members on Valentine's Day 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, may get is 12 people who can afford to sit in a courtroom for many months. During the first three weeks of jury selection in Cruz's case, scores of juror candidates have been dismissed after telling Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer that serving for the trial's expected duration of three to four months would result in economic hardship. It hasn't been just Uber drivers, freelancers and those relying on tips for a living that want out. Professionals and business owners have repeatedly asked Scherer to be excused, citing the financial impact they could suffer by being away from clients and customers." FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES — "Come November, two DeSantis allies could be sitting on the Miami-Dade School Board ," by Miami Herald's Sommer Brugal: "When the Miami-Dade School Board emerges from the November election, it's likely there will be two new people on the board with ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has worked with the GOP-led Legislature to restrict what teachers can say to their students about gender issues and limit what they can teach about Black history. The two new members — one could be elected, and another DeSantis could appoint — would be joined by another board member who was initially appointed by former Gov. Rick Scott, now one of the two Republican senators representing Florida."
| | | | INTRODUCING DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR 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. | | | | | | | MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER | | ANOTHER LAWSUIT — "Jacksonville sued for council's alleged racially gerrymandered redistricting," by The Tributary's Andrew Pantazi : "Civil-rights groups sued Jacksonville on Tuesday for its City Council redistricting map that they say reduces Black voting power by illegally packing them into a few districts. Tuesday's redistricting lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida came after the Jacksonville City Council passed the map and Mayor Lenny Curry signed it over the objections of residents who protested the redistricting plan over racial gerrymandering concerns. The Jacksonville Branch of the NAACP, the Northside Coalition, the ACLU of Florida Northeast Chapter and Florida Rising, along with 10 Jacksonville voters, asked the court to invalidate seven of the city's 14 council districts and three of Duval County's seven School Board seats. The city draws each School Board seat automatically by combining two City Council seats." — "Democrats bring federal lawsuit to force New York congressional primary under current lines ," POLITICO's Bill Mahoney
| | The Campaign Trail | | PLAY NICE? — "Top DeSantis megadonor doesn't 'appreciate' him targeting Disney," by Orlando Sentinel's Skylar Swisher: "One of Gov. Ron DeSantis' top financial backers says he disagrees with Florida's move to eliminate Disney World's special government district, cautioning politicians to stay 'above the fray' when it comes to retaliating against corporate America. Ken Griffin, CEO of the Citadel hedge fund and a GOP megadonor, said he didn't 'appreciate' DeSantis going after Disney's status in Florida law after the corporation spoke out against HB 1557, officially titled Parental Rights in Education but known by critics as the 'don't say gay' law. Griffin has given nearly $10.8 million to DeSantis' political committee, making him the governor's top individual political donor. 'I don't appreciate Gov. DeSantis going after Disney's tax status,' Griffin said. 'It can be portrayed, or feel, or look like retaliation.'" OTHER STATES — "At least 19 states to offer refuge to trans youth and families amid anti-LGBTQ legislation wave" by ABC News' Kiara Alfonseca
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | THE SWAMP — "Trump organizations agree to pay $750,000 to settle lawsuit with D.C." by Washington Post's Keith Alexander: "The Trump Organization and former president Donald Trump's presidential inaugural committee on Tuesday agreed to pay the District $750,000 to settle a lawsuit the city filed alleging the organizations misused nonprofit funds to benefit the former president and his family. The city's Office of the Attorney General filed a lawsuit in 2020 in D.C. Superior Court alleging the inaugural committee, a nonprofit corporation, coordinated with Trump's family to overpay for event space in the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington and even paid for space on days when it did not hold events. Lawyers for the District also accused Trump's organization of improperly using nonprofit funds to throw a private party on Jan. 20, 2017, for Trump's children — Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric — which cost $300,000. The city also alleged that the Trump Organization, the inaugural committee and the Trump International Hotel misused $1.1 million."
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | MID-AIR TANTRUM — "Man who assaulted flight attendants, was duct taped on flight, sentenced to jail," by ABC News' Sam Sweeney: "A 23-year-old man featured in a video that went viral after he groped two flight attendants, punched a third, screamed his parents had $2 million and was duct taped to a seat of a Frontier Airlines flight was sentenced this week to 60 days in jail followed by one year of supervised release. Max Berry pleaded guilty to three counts of assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction and faced 1.5 years and a $15,000 fine. Berry had been drinking on a Frontier Airlines flight in August from Philadelphia to Miami when he spilled his drink on himself and a flight attendant. Berry went to the bathroom and came out without his shirt." Birthdays: State Sen. Tina Polsky … Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg
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