| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by AARP | Good Friday morning. Welcome to the last Florida Playbook of the year. Thank you to all the readers. Thank you for the criticism. Thank you for the questions. Please come in — It wasn't listed on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' official schedule, but he had some high-profile visitors drop by his office this week. Foreign delegation — Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., along with Yousef Al Otaiba, the ambassador from the United Arab Emirates and Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, the consul general of Israel in Miami met with DeSantis, according to photos that Herzog posted on social media Thursday. Description — Herzog on Twitter called it a "productive meeting" and added, "We gave an overview of the Abraham Accords & the strategic significance & opportunities that they present to our region, the world & to Florida. We invited him to visit our countries in 2023." And — Herzog added that he "thanked Governor DeSantis for his strong support of Israel & for the significant steps he has taken to combat antisemitism." Context — DeSantis has been quite vocal in his support for Israel. He backed the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, held a Cabinet meeting in Israel, and he pushed to go after corporations that were boycotting or limiting their activities in Israel. DeSantis' reelection campaign made outreach to Jewish voters in Florida a priority. Timing is everything — But let's also note that Herzog's meeting with DeSantis (in Tallahassee no less) comes at the same time that former President Donald Trump has come under criticism for his recent dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach with Ye, better known as Kanye West, and white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Trump is set to meet today with an Orthodox Jewish educational group in Doral, POLITICO's Meredith McGraw reports. Something to watch — Certainly, foreign leaders have visited Florida governors, including DeSantis, in the past. But it's not every day that ambassadors from two countries would make the decision to travel to Florida's hard-to-get to capital city to discuss significant foreign policy issues like the Abraham Accords — which happened while Trump was president. But it may also prove valuable if DeSantis winds up in the White House in the near future. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. DeSantis. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Florida Playbook won't publish from Monday, Dec. 19 to Monday, Jan. 2. We'll be back on our normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Please continue to follow POLITICO Florida. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | A message from AARP: Chronic problems—like understaffing and low-performing nursing homes continue to run rampant throughout Florida, leaving our most vulnerable seniors at risk. That's why AARP is fighting to make sure residents receive safe, high-quality care. Florida lawmakers can make a positive difference in the lives of nursing home residents during the 2023 legislative session. Nursing home residents deserve better. Learn more. | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | | THEN AND NOW — "Gov. Ron DeSantis' shifting positions on vaccines under fire," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas: Gov. Ron DeSantis' top media adviser has a mantra that the governor won't give an interview unless it's recorded because she doesn't want her boss' words twisted out of context. But when the governor announced on Tuesday that he wants a grand jury to investigate what he suspects is misleading information from the pharmaceutical companies over the safety of the mRNA vaccines, particularly cardiac-related deaths tied to the vaccines in young men, a cascade of old recorded interviews started spilling out." | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn't definitively said yet whether he'll run, but his popularity and rising star power in the Republican Party point to a high likelihood that he'll soon launch a campaign for president. | Octavio Jones/Getty Images |
COMING SOON — "DeSantis backs more abortion restrictions, looser gun law," by Orlando Sentinel's Skyler Swisher: "Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on abortion and guns Thursday, signaling he's ready to sign legislation on those hot-button issues next year but offering no firm details. DeSantis said he would sign more anti-abortion legislation when asked if he supported a 'heartbeat bill' that would ban abortion at about six weeks of pregnancy."
— "Will DeSantis' move to the right of Trump play across the USA?" by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello — "DeSantis signs toll relief law for frequent Florida commuters," by Tampa Bay Times' Romy Ellenbogen
| | | | POLITICO APP USERS: UPGRADE YOUR APP BY DECEMBER 19! We recently upgraded the POLITICO app with a fresh look and improved features for easier access to POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Starting December 19, users will no longer have access to the previous version of the app. Update your app today to stay on top of essential political news, insights, and analysis from the best journalists in the business. UPDATE iOS APP – UPDATE ANDROID APP. | | | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | LUNA SIGNALS A NO VOTE ON SPEAKER — Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is on the record as a firm no vote against Kevin McCarthy bid for House speaker when Republicans take control of the House in 2023. Incoming Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is making it clear it's going to take a lot for her to vote for the House minority leader as well. The Republican, who won the seat once held by Democrat Charlie Crist, this week penned a two-page letter to Pinellas County residents that the "foundation" of Congress is "broken." In her letter, she called for a series of changes, including restoring the rule that allows a motion to vacate the chair. This procedure was set aside under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi but conservative Republicans want to reinstate a rule that makes it easier for caucus members to replace their leader. Luna also cited other issues of importance to her including "fair treatment" to conservatives regarding committee assignments and a promise for Republicans to remain neutral in primaries. "I cannot represent you to the best of my abilities unless the outlined changes are made, and therefore my position remains the same. I will only vote for a Speaker candidate who embraces these changes and returns power to the American people through their representatives," Luna wrote. Luna also made it clear in her letter that she would "never vote to allow a Democrat to take the gavel." 'SET OUR PEOPLE FREE' — "House passes bill calling for binding vote on statehood for Puerto Rico," by Washington Post's Azi Paybarah: "During House debate on the bill, proponents argued that the 3.3 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico deserve greater self-determination, including the option of statehood. Only Congress can decide on statehood. … Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) said 'It's time to set our people free,' as he recalled his late grandmother, who 'lived in a colonial territory as a second-class citizen in the greatest democracy in the world. What a tragedy. What an irony.'" By the numbers — Sixteen Republicans — including two from Florida — joined with Democrats in supporting the measure. Reps. María Elvira Salazar and Bill Posey voted with the nine Democrats from Florida for the legislation.
| | | | A message from AARP:   | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | LEAVING JUST IN TIME? — "Florida's insurance commissioner quits amid state's property insurance crisis," by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower: "Florida's insurance commissioner submitted his letter of resignation Thursday, a day after the Legislature made major changes to the state's troubled property insurance market. 'I am so proud of the work the Office has been able to accomplish during my tenure,' David Altmaier wrote in a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis. 'I remain committed throughout the remainder of my tenure — and after — to continue the momentum we have established to make Florida the best place in the union to live, work, and prosper.'" HMM — "This Vets program was supposed to help fix the teacher shortage in Florida. It's only added 7," by Military.com's Drew F. Lawrence and Thomas Novelly: "Six months after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state's veteran to teacher certification pathway into law, only a handful of veterans have been approved for certification across all 70-plus school districts, Military.com has learned. When the school year started in 2022, there were more than 5,000 teacher openings in the state, and the June law was intended to help fill that gap while tackling veteran unemployment. But in total, seven teachers have been hired through the program, a sign that, while the law generated headlines, it's unlikely to fix the problem." Response — After Military.com posted its story Education Commissioner Manny Diaz snapped back on Twitter: "This is bad reporting. The new pathway, which passed unanimously through the FL legislature, was never designed to "fix" a teacher shortage. Its purpose is to support military veterans in finding employment as teachers in Florida, and it is doing just that." TOSSED — "Florida Supreme Court rejects challenges to judicial candidates," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday tossed out challenges to the eligibility of six candidates for seats on revamped state appeals courts, setting the stage for Gov. Ron DeSantis to make appointments. Justices rejected arguments that the challenged candidates are ineligible because they live outside the jurisdictions of the 5th District Court of Appeal and the new 6th District Court of Appeal." — "Here are 10 key issues Florida lawmakers addressed in an insurance overhaul," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders — "Passidomo weighs in on LGBTQ+ matters: same-sex marriages, so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law," by Florida Phoenix's Danielle J. Brown | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
REBOOT? — "Donald Trump aims to regroup after rocky first month of 2024 campaign," by Wall Street Journal's Alex Leary: "Rather than staging signature, large-scale rallies, the plan calls for [former President Donald] Trump to tour key states and conduct smaller policy events, focusing on crime, border security, foreign policy, big tech and the economy, according to people involved in the preparation. Rallies would resume later in the year; advisers said it was never the plan to do such events early on."
| 
Former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago | Joe Raedle/Getty Images |
HELLO THERE — Trump to meet with Orthodox Jewish group on heels of Fuentes, Ye dinner, by POLITICO's Meredith McGraw: Former president Donald Trump is set to meet with a Orthodox Jewish educational group on Friday, amid ongoing controversy over his decision to dine with two prominent antisemites. Trump will give a speech before the annual President's Conference of Torah Umesorah at his club, National Doral, in Miami, a person close to Trump confirmed. The event is part of a days-long gathering that brings together leaders, educators and askanim (Jewish social workers) for the group, which promotes Torah-based religious education and Jewish private day schools.
RESPONSE — "Trump lashes out at polls showing Ron DeSantis with a big lead in the 2024 GOP primary," by NBC News' Jonathan Allen: "Former President Donald Trump unloaded Thursday on polling showing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis beating him in a head-to-head matchup for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. 'Great polling has just come out on me versus various others, including [President Joe] Biden, but I still have to put up with the same old 'stuff' from The Wall Street Journal, which has lost an incalculable amount of influence over the years, and Fox News, whose polls on me have been seriously WRONG from the day I came down the escalator in Trump Tower' to announce his first run, Trump said on the Truth Social media platform." 'MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT' — "Trump sells a new image as the hero of $99 trading cards," by The New York Times' Michael C. Bender and Maggie Haberman: "Donald J. Trump's political opponents have long criticized him as something of a cartoon character. On Thursday, the former president made himself into one — but with the aim of turning a profit. In his first significant public move since opening his 2024 presidential campaign last month, Mr. Trump announced an online store to sell $99 digital trading cards of himself as a superhero, an astronaut, an Old West sheriff and a series of other fantastical figures.'"
| | | | A NEW POLITICO PODCAST: POLITICO Tech is an authoritative insider briefing on the politics and policy of technology. From crypto and the metaverse to cybersecurity and AI, we explore the who, what and how of policy shaping future industries. We're kicking off with a series exploring darknet marketplaces, the virtual platforms that enable actors from all corners of the online world to traffic illicit goods. As malware and cybercrime attacks become increasingly frequent, regulators and law enforcement agencies work different angles to shut these platforms down, but new, often more unassailable marketplaces pop up. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | CASHING IT IN — "Unequal futures: In Florida, poorer communities fund scholarships for wealthier kids," by Orlando Sentinel's Leslie Postal and Annie Martin: "An Orlando Sentinel investigation found that Bright Futures' benefits go disproportionately to students from more affluent areas and mostly bypass students living in poorer neighborhoods — the same neighborhoods where higher lottery ticket sales provide much of Bright Futures' money. The popular Bright Futures program amounts to a transfer of wealth from low-income areas to wealthier ones — or a 'reverse Robin Hood effect,' said Mary Borg, a professor of political economy at the University of North Florida." Flashback — This criticism leveled at Florida's lottery-funded college scholarship program is not new. In 2007, the late Charlie Reed, who had been Florida's top university system official when Bright Futures was first initiated gave a speech in Tallahassee where he recalled that "When I left, I called it one of the dumbest public policies I've ever seen. … I think today I'd call it the dumbest. … Why are you financing higher education for students in families who can well afford tuition?" 'IT'S DAMAGE CONTROL' — "Did the CIA use Cuban exiles in plot involving Oswald? Questions remain as Biden withholds JFK records," by El Nuevo Herald's Nora Gámez Torres: "Beyond the disclosure of CIA procedures and tactics, researchers believe there is a trove of documents that could be highly embarrassing for the agency. Most of the 44 documents related to George Joannides, the chief of the psychological warfare branch of the CIA's Miami station at the time, are among those that remain classified, experts at the Mary Ferrell Foundation, an online depository of JFK records, said Thursday." — "Florida one of the nation's worst for child health insurance coverage," by Tampa Bay Times' Christopher O'Donnell and Juan Carlos Chavez — "Drake, other rappers listed as potential witnesses in XXXTentacion Florida murder case," by Miami Herald's David Ovalle — "Jax NAACP warns confederate monuments could pose a public safety threat," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski — "Palm Beach County Republican chairman — endorsed by Trump and Rubio — survives challenge and wins another term," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Anthony Man
| | | | A message from AARP: Chronic problems—like understaffing and low-performing nursing homes continue to run rampant throughout Florida, leaving our most vulnerable seniors at risk. As our lawmakers get ready for the 2023 legislative session, improving conditions for nursing home residents must be a top priority. AARP is urging lawmakers to protect seniors in nursing homes by enhancing oversight, addressing workforce shortages, and holding facilities accountable for providing quality care. Florida lawmakers can make a positive difference in the lives of nursing home residents during the 2023 legislative session. Learn more. | | | | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "She criticized Republicans on Twitter. Then Palm Beach County schools reassigned her. Why?" by Palm Beach Post's Katherine Kokal: It started with a tweet. Palm Beach County schools administrator Diana Fedderman retweeted a Washington Post article from her personal account in early January. She added her two cents: 'Republicans are decimating public education. It's time to Act. Vote local.' Now, she argues that the deleted tweet may have cost her her job. BIRTHDAYS - SUPER-SIZED HOLIDAY EDITION: Monroe County Commissioner and former state Rep. Holly Raschein (Saturday) USA Today's Congress and DOJ editor Sean Rossman (Sunday) Rep. Bill Posey ... Rep.-elect Jared Moskowitz ... John Thrasher, former House speaker and former Florida State University president. … Stephanie Smith with Tampa Electric … Former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas .... Will Lester of The Associated Press (Dec. 20) State Rep. Kelly Skidmore ... University of Miami President Julio Frenk ... (Dec. 21) Erin Isaac ... (Dec. 23) Former State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto ... Anne Gannon, Palm Beach County Tax Collector and former legislator ... Associated Press's Mitch Stacy ... Tallahassee Democrat's Christopher Cann (Dec. 24) Barney Bishop ... (Dec. 25) Former Gov. Bob Martinez ... Logan Lewkow, director of communications at Florida Sheriffs Association … (Dec. 27) Michelle Ubben , president and partner Sachs Media Group ... (Dec. 28) Ana Navarro ... former State Rep. Nicholas Duran ... Amy Hollyfield, managing editor at the Dallas Morning News (Dec. 29) Former Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera ... Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala ... (Dec. 31) Former State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith ... Jennifer Fennell with CoreMessage... (Jan. 1) USA Today's Jennifer Portman … Brian Crowley, former political journalist ... Geoffrey Becker, director state government affairs at Medtronic ... Ted Bridis, University of Florida (Jan. 2) Former Rep. Robert Wexler | | | | 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 | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment