| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. What we're following — Two Floridians are dominating the political headlines this week and it's not clear where any of this ends. Bring on the lawyers — Donald Trump's legal battles were front and center on Wednesday as New York Attorney General Tish James filed a civil lawsuit that accused the former president, his company and his family members of an "astounding" amount of fraud through his real estate empire. Then last night the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals — including two judges appointed by Trump — sided with the Department of Justice in blocking part of a lower court's ruling on materials removed from Trump's Palm Beach home of Mar-A-Lago. Response — Trump appeared on Fox News last night where he maintained he had declassified the documents at the heart of the dispute with the FBI although the interview appears to have been done prior to the latest ruling. Worth noting — Then, of course, there's the highly publicized effort by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to transport migrants from Texas to other parts of the country. A story that moved last night by the Miami Herald includes reporting from Texas that suggests that a plane of migrants paid for by the state of Florida was indeed scheduled to go to Delaware this week but was then scrapped at the last minute. Recording — The Herald interviewed migrants in San Antonio who explained the effort to recruit them for a flight only to find out that it had been abruptly canceled. The news organization even had video that captured one of the encounters with one of those helping recruit migrants. What's going on? — This raises continued questions about the transport program — many of which the DeSantis administration is not responding to — including what a second payment of $950,000 to the company that organized last week's flights to Martha Vineyard actually paid for. NBC News' Marc Caputo reported last night that the governor's office denied the money was used to pay for an empty plane to fly from Texas to New Jersey. (That's where the same plane used to ferry migrants to Martha's Vineyard wound up on Tuesday.) Focus — The migrant flights have commanded a great a deal of attention for DeSantis as he has defended the operation that he says is being done to send a message about the surge of migrants entering the country — many of whom he insists want to come to Florida. Last week's effort triggered an investigation by a Texas sheriff — who is an elected Democrat — and sparked a lawsuit in Boston. Weighing in — The lawsuit, by the way, drew the ire of Sen. Marco Rubio — who took to Twitter with a video where he stated "America is apparently the only nation on earth where you can enter by violating our laws and then a week later sue the government whose laws you violated." It was a much stronger defense of DeSantis' actions than Rubio had done last week, but it also drew a retort from his Democratic opponent Rep. Val Demings. "This is a shameless and cynical stunt from Marco Rubio. We are sick and tired of the political games he plays with Florida's immigrant community," she said on Twitter. — 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
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | |  | Top Talkers | | ON THE GROUND — "Operatives linked to DeSantis promised to fly migrants to Delaware — but left them stranded ," by Miami Herald's Sarah Blaskey and Nicholas Nehamas: "She brought them food and a message: They were being sent to Delaware. The bus to the airport would be leaving at 5 a.m. the next day — Tuesday, Sept. 20 — she said, according to interviews with six migrants housed at the hotel. The migrants didn't know that they were being swept up in an operation that bore striking similarities to one organized the week before by operatives for Gov. Ron DeSantis that ended with 48 Venezuelan migrants dropped off on a Massachusetts island. Or that the trip to Delaware being dangled would never happen." — "The difference between DeSantis's migrant flights and the Biden administration's," by Washington Post Aaron Blake — " Crist joins Hispanic leaders criticizing DeSantis for migrant flights," by USA Today Network-Florida's John Kennedy
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | 'JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE' — Trump, company and family members sued by New York AG over alleged fraud scheme, by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein, Erin Durkin and Kyle Cheney: New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed suit against former President Donald Trump, three of his adult children and his business empire, accusing them of large-scale fraudulent financial practices and seeking to bar them from real estate transactions for the next five years. The attorney general's civil suit alleges more than a decade of deception, including billions of dollars in falsified net worth, as part of an effort by Trump to minimize his companies' tax bills while winning favorable terms from banks and insurance companies. 'THIS IS JUST THE CHERRY ON TOP' — 'He knows how to play the victim card perfectly': Why Trump's legal woes only make him stronger, by POLITICO'S David Siders and Meredith McGraw: But to Republicans, after Trump's presidency and its aftermath, the bombshell was simply more of the same. Just as they rallied around Trump when the FBI searched his estate at Mar-a-Lago, they saw little reason to conclude the New York lawsuit would do anything politically but help Trump with his base. "I don't see this working in terms of impacting the perceptions of the president," said Dave Carney, a national Republican strategist based in New Hampshire. "He is under attack by the left, they're using all the tools of government, they're politicizing the legal system – this is just the cherry on top." REBUFFED — Trump suffers setback as appeals court rejects Cannon ruling, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein: A three-judge appeals court panel has granted the Justice Department's request to block aspects of U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon's ruling that delayed a criminal investigation into highly sensitive documents seized from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. The panel ruled that Cannon, a Trump appointee, erred when she temporarily prevented federal prosecutors from using the roughly 100 documents — marked as classified – recovered from Trump's estate as part of a criminal inquiry. — Trump: I could declassify documents by thinking about it, by POLITICO's Olivia Olander — Tish James just sued Trump — but they've been at it for years , by POLITICO's Erin Durkin — Trump's allies in Congress slam AG James, by POLITICO's Olivia Beavers, Jordain Carney and Nancy Vu
| | DATELINE D.C. | | WASSERMAN SCHULTZ CALLS OUT DEM — "House Democrat slams Tlaib for 'antisemitic' remarks on Israel," by The Hill's Mychael Schnell: "Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) on Wednesday slammed Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for claiming that individuals cannot be considered progressive if they support Israel. In remarks at an American Muslims for Palestine event on Tuesday, Tlaib — who is Palestinian American — spoke out against the 'apartheid government of Israel' before vowing to 'push back' on the idea that individuals can be progressive and pro-Israel." Response — Wasserman Schultz denounced Tlaib's comments, labeling them 'antisemitic' and arguing that progressivism and support for Israel are not mutually exclusive. 'The outrageous progressive litmus test on Israel by @RashidaTlaib is nothing short of antisemitic. Proud progressives do support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. Suggesting otherwise is shameful and dangerous. Divisive rhetoric does not lead to peace,' she wrote on Twitter." — " Matt Gaetz says U.S. should 'bomb' Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel over Fentanyl Trafficking: 'Not kidding,'" by Mediaite's Kipp Jones
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | NEXT CHAPTER — Fried starting political committee focused on abortion rights candidates, 2024 ballot measure, by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Fresh off a loss in Florida's Democratic gubernatorial primary, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said on Wednesday that she's starting a new political committee focused on supporting abortion rights causes. The committee, called "Won't Back Down," will begin raising money immediately with the goal of both helping female candidates who support abortion rights and getting a measure on the ballot in 2024 protecting the right to get an abortion in Florida. 'Do what it takes' — "We don't have a one election cycle problem, we have a future of Florida problem," Fried said in an interview announcing her new fundraising committee. "So, we are going to do what I did in 2018, we are going to go to red areas and talk to Republican and independent women, and we are also going to do what it takes to win the future."
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Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried speaks with members of the media on Aug. 18, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. | Gerardo Mora/Getty Images | DUNN LEADS LAWSON — A new poll released by the Rep. Al Lawson-backing Southern Roots PAC and shared with Playbook finds that Rep. Neal Dunn is leading Lawson 49 percent to 43 percent in the race for Florida's 2nd Congressional District. But the poll shows a much tighter race after positive and negative messages were told to likely voters about the two candidates. Dunn's lead shrinks to 49 percent to 47 percent, which is inside the margin of error. Lawson's existing North Florida district was dismantled by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature at the urging of DeSantis and his home in Tallahassee was placed inside Dunn's reconfigured district. Lawson opted to challenge Dunn. David Binder Research surveyed 600 likely voters by telephone and online between Sept. 14 and Sept. 18. The margin of error is plus/minus 4 percent. STAYING ON MESSAGE — " After abortion ruling, Demings tries to paint Republicans as anti-freedom," by McClatchy D.C.'s Alex Roarty: In the three months since the Supreme Court's landmark Dobbs ruling revoked the right to an abortion, the Democrats' nominee for Senate in Florida has argued that Republicans — led by her opponent GOP Sen. Marco Rubio — are attempting to limit or altogether eliminate the freedom once afforded to women, replacing personal decisions with ones mandated by state or federal government. In statements, campaign-trail speeches, and widely broadcast ads, the congresswoman has repeatedly leaned into the message, hoping it can win over not just core Democrats but also the valuable swing voters her campaign needs to attract in droves ahead of November's election. — "Mayor's race will have most diverse field of candidates in Jacksonville history," by Florida Times-Union's David Bauerlein and Hanna Holthaus
| | | | DON'T MISS - MILKEN INSTITUTE ASIA SUMMIT : Go inside the 9th annual Milken Institute Asia Summit, taking place from September 28-30, with a special edition of POLITICO's Global Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive coverage and insights from this important gathering. Stay up to speed with daily updates from the summit, which brings together more than 1,200 of the world's most influential leaders from business, government, finance, technology, and academia. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | MUM'S THE WORD — Florida Republican legislative leaders mum on DeSantis migrant flights, by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Republican leaders in the Florida Legislature have not come to Gov. Ron DeSantis' side as he faced an onslaught of criticism from opponents over his decision to fly mostly Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. They have, in fact, been silent. DeSantis' decision to use a portion of $12 million lawmakers put in the state budget to fly mostly Venezuelan migrants seeking asylum from Texas to other parts of the country has sparked a national partisan clash, with Democrats and many immigration activists calling the move not just immoral, but illegal — and many DeSantis-aligned conservatives cheering on the move as a way to highlight President Joe Biden's border policies. NEXT STEP — Florida appeals 11th Circuit social media ruling to SCOTUS, by POLITICO's Rebecca Kern: Florida's attorney general filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn a May decision by a federal court that had struck down major parts of a Florida law banning social media companies from deplatforming political candidates for violating the First Amendment. The May decision by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals conflicts with a ruling last week by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a similar Texas social media law. the Supreme Court agrees to take up the appeal, it would mark the first time the highest court will have weighed in on the underlying issues at play in the 11th Circuit case as to whether social media platforms' handling of user content is protected by the First Amendment. — "Nearly 400 veterans have applied to become teachers in Florida under DeSantis-backed program," by News4Jax's Travis Gibson
| | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | GO AWAY — "'It's very early' but could a second Hurricane Hermine get into the Gulf of Mexico?" by Tallahassee Democrat's Karl Etters: "A tropical system making its way west off the coast of South America has the potential to be named Hermine. And its forecasted path could bring it into the Gulf of Mexico, much like the storm that walloped Tallahassee and the Big Bend in 2016. Naming of storms is on a six-year cycle and Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist with WeatherTiger, said he hasn't been able to find any instances where consecutively named storms have similar impact zones. 'It would be unusual for a storm with the same name to threaten the same area,' he said."
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | CRISIS, WHAT CRISIS? — Citizens to grow to 15 percent of Florida marketplace, by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Citizens Property Insurance, the state's insurer of last resort, is once again over 1 million policies and is expected to comprise 15 percent of the state's residential insurance market by the end of the year. That stark assessment came Wednesday from Citizens president and CEO Barry Gilway to the organization's board of directors. Concerns about Citizens have long been a focus of lawmakers, but little has been done to stop its rolls from swelling as other insurers go belly up or stop doing business in the state. 'I WAS DISSATISFIED' — " Shalala, UHealth exec she fired square off in trial over bitter academic 'soap opera,'" by Miami Herald's Jay Weaver: "An academic 'soap opera' is unfolding in Miami federal court this week with a plot revolving around turf wars and a blame game between University of Miami president Donna Shalala and a top medical school executive who was hired and then quickly fired a decade ago. The UM medical school's former chief operating officer, Jack Lord, who is seeking millions in damages, testified Tuesday at a wrongful termination trial that Shalala treated him in a 'crappy way' when she fired him. Shalala, the prominent former university leader and ex-Miami congresswoman, countered in her testimony Wednesday that Lord was a 'destructive' force akin to a 'bull in a china shop.'" 'SLAM BOOK' — "'Mean Girls': Suspended School Board member blasts grand jury report as misleading and malicious," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Scott Travis: "A former Broward School Board member has blasted the statewide grand jury report that led to her suspension, describing it as a 'Mean Girls slam book' and a 'political maneuver' for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Still, Donna Korn expressed confidence this week that DeSantis will allow her to keep a countywide School Board seat should she win it again in a Nov. 8 runoff. The governor's office has made no such promises." — " FIU's only candidate for president: Interim president who had vowed not to stay on for long," by Miami Herald's Jimena Tavel — "Artemis I passes tanking test ahead of potential launch next week ," by Orlando Sentinel's Richard Tribou — "Hialeah cops fired 122 times in killing motorist. City to pay $500,000 to settle lawsuit," by Miami Herald's David Ovalle — "Teacher was suspended for hitting kids with yardsticks. Now he may be fired for chokeholds," by Palm Beach Post's Katherine Kokal
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "He's a Jan. 6 defendant, a racist livestreamer and new Tampa Bay resident," by Tampa Bay Times' Tracey McManus: "Anthime Gionet appears behind the microphone with his signature Pit Viper glasses and the same bleached hair that was on display when he livestreamed the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection from inside the U.S. Capitol. Fans know him as Baked Alaska, a nickname referring to his home state, and follow along in the chat box as he shouts out each one by their usernames. The host and his audience spend more than six hours a night together via livestream, time mostly filled with him playing video games on a shared screen. But he also leads hours-long discussions on politics and culture, spreading an ideology where white Christian men are under threat and women shouldn't be leaders." BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Jennifer Bradley … William Stander of WHISPER LLC | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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