News: DeSantis everywhere all at once (but not CPAC)

Monday, February 27, 2023

DeSantis everywhere all at once (but not CPAC)

Feb 27, 2023

Hello and welcome to Monday.

Incoming — Get ready for Ron DeSantis overload.

In print — The Florida governor’s book — “The Courage to Be Free” — officially drops on Tuesday, but reviews (such as a negative one in The New York Times) and excerpts are already sliding out rapidly. An hour-long special featuring the governor and first lady Casey DeSantis will air on SiriusXM Patriot this morning. A session with Fox News’ Mark Levin aired on Sunday evening, where the governor talked about the book, his biography and familiar criticisms.

Huddling up — Over the weekend, DeSantis held a closed-door retreat in Palm Beach that featured donors, GOP elected officials and conservative stalwarts, including a “fireside chat” with Fox’s Laura Ingraham.

Scheduling — Over the next two weeks, DeSantis will hold book promotional events in Florida while also taking time to sprint across the country as he headlines Republican Party events in Texas, California and Alabama. Tickets are already being sold for appearances at Books-A-Million stores in Leesburg, Jacksonville Beach and wait for it … Brandon, Florida.

Then this — There’s also a State of the State address that he is scheduled to give at the start of the annual legislative session on March 7 — a session in large part dedicated to giving DeSantis a basket full of legislative wins to tout on the presidential campaign trail.

Skippable — What’s not included in the list is an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference being held later this week in the Washington D.C. area. Former President Donald Trump, former ambassador Nikki Haley and other Florida Republicans such as Sen. Rick Scott are scheduled to appear at the event.

Getting started — DeSantis’ campaign team has not responded to questions about CPAC, but the governor’s team will likely have little trouble getting a flood of coverage in the days ahead even from the corporate media he rails about. The spring of discontent is getting underway.

— WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

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DESANTISLAND

WARMING UP — “DeSantis moves toward GOP presidential bid on his own terms,” by The Associated Press’ Steve Peoples: “Republican presidential contenders typically fight for prime speaking slots at the Conservative Political Action Conference. But as conservative activists gather in suburban Washington this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be courting donors more than a thousand miles away in Texas and California. The apparent CPAC snub is nothing new for DeSantis, who has emerged in the early phase of the 2024 presidential election as a leading contender for the GOP nomination even as he ignores many conventions of modern politics.”

REWIND — “Former Disney CEO privately complained to DeSantis about ‘pressure’ from woke left amid Florida fight: book,” by Fox News’ Thomas Phippen: “The Florida governor said if Disney stayed out of the politics, Disney would face 48 hours of outrage when the bill passed. ‘[And] when I sign it, you will get another 48 hours of outrage, mostly online,’ [Gov. Ron] DeSantis said, adding, ‘Then there will be some new outrage that the woke mob will focus on and people will forget about this issue, especially considering the outrage is directed at a political-media narrative, not the actual text of the legislation itself.’ DeSantis wrote that [Bob] Chapek and Disney 'ultimately caved to leftist media and activist pressure and pressed the false narrative against the bill.'"

SHOWING UP — Longtime Trump backers flock to DeSantis event, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt: The Florida governor’s three-day retreat at the Four Seasons hotel — just four miles down the road from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate — kicked off Friday evening with a cocktail reception and dinner for the approximately 150 attendees. The event, billed as a celebration of the “Florida blueprint,” precedes a likely DeSantis presidential bid that would pit him against Trump. And the roster of people there shows that the governor is appealing to major GOP figures who’ve previously aligned themselves with the former president.

FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks as he announces a proposal for Digital Bill of Rights, Feb. 15, 2023, at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla. DeSantis has emerged as a political star early in the 2024 presidential election season even as he ignores many conventions of modern politics. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

PALM BEACH STORY — “From Palm Beach to Staten Island, DeSantis makes 2024 moves on Trump’s turf,” by Washington Post’s Hannah Knowles and Josh Dawsey: “The confab here was designed to showcase DeSantis’s record and show it could be applied nationally, people familiar with the event said. That’s an appealing prospect to many Republicans, including some who used to be staunch Trump supporters. ‘Most people wish Trump wasn’t running. He’s the best president of our lifetime, but he’s older, and Biden’s older,’ said Doug Deason, who once co-chaired Trump’s Texas finance operation and stood in the front row of the East Room of the White House as Trump spoke on election night in 2020. ‘It’s time for a new fresh face and new blood. I think DeSantis would be great.’”

ANOTHER POLL — “Fox News Poll: Trump, DeSantis top 2024 Republican preference,” by Fox News’ Dana Blanton: “One year out from the 2024 primaries, here is the debut Fox News national survey on the presidential nomination races. Spoiler alert, former President Donald Trump looks formidable, while President Biden faces doubt. Republican primary voters were read a list of 15 announced and potential candidates for the 2024 nomination. Trump tops the list with 43%, followed by Ron DeSantis at 28%, Nikki Haley and Mike Pence at 7% each, and Greg Abbott and Liz Cheney at 2% each.”

THE RECORD — “Ron DeSantis wanted to send weapons to Ukraine when he was a congressman — as a presidential hopeful he questions US involvement,” by CNN’s Em Steck, Andrew Kaczynski and Olivia Alafriz: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis once strongly supported arming Ukraine to fight Russia, urging then-President Barack Obama to do so as a deterrent to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe — a position at odds with his statements this week questioning the United States’ involvement in the conflict.”

‘I CAN’T DO THAT, RIGHT?’— “Ron DeSantis’s education policies leave Florida teachers feeling unsure,” by Wall Street Journal’s Arian Campo-Flores, Scott Calvert and Ben Chapman: “Cassie Gibson was teaching a unit on slavery last spring to her sixth-grade U.S. history class in Polk County, Fla., when she noticed a paragraph in a textbook that gave her pause. It said some white Southerners fought abolitionism and defended slavery. The passage struck her as potentially violating a 2022 law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis—which he dubbed 'Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (W.O.K.E.) Act'—that prohibits, among other things, teaching that people should feel guilt over past actions by members of their racial group.”

— “Preaching freedom, Ron DeSantis leads by cracking down,” by The New York Times’ Jennifer Szalai

— “DeSantis meets with Iowa influencer ahead of book release as 2024 hopefuls make moves,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Alex Roarty

— DeSantis leads Trump in California matchup, by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White

— “Threatened with suspension, Plantation High School student leads classmates on walkout to protest DeSantis,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Shira Moolten

— “Backed by DeSantis, lawmakers look to gut press freedom. It might not stop in Florida,” by Miami Herald’s Jay Weaver and Ana Ceballos

CAMPAIGN MODE

YOU WANTED IT? YOU GOT IT — Florida Dems elect Nikki Fried to lead the party after ‘horrific November,’ by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Democrats on Saturday elected Nikki Fried to what many Democrats consider the worst job in state politics. Democrats picked Fried, the state’s former agriculture commissioner who also ran for governor last year, to be the party’s chair, replacing Manny Diaz, who stepped down in January.

Won with 52 percent of vote — Fried overcame a somewhat divisive and spirited battle against former state Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Miami-area Democrat who ran for governor as well as Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.)’s congressional seat in 2022. Fried also faced animosity from some progressive elements of the party who went so far as to call Fried a “Republican operative” because she previously helped and donated money to GOP candidates.

Promises, promises — In her remarks following her victory, Fried vowed to unite the party, and work to deny the White House to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to run for president. “You better believe we are going to take it to Ron DeSantis every damn day,” Fried told a crowded room of Democrats gathered at a hotel just north of Orlando.

Reaction — Republicans took glee in Fried’s selection, pointing how she was soundly defeated by [Charlie] Crist in the Democratic primary last August. Christian Ziegler, who last week was elected chair of the Republican Party of Florida, said before Fried can even address all the Democratic Party shortcomings “she is going to have to start by convincing the 65 percent of Democrats who rejected her just months ago.”

— “Will Annette Taddeo supporters get over the blues and rally behind Nikki Fried?” by Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles

— “Meade keeps up battle to help Florida felons vote again,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello

— “Mailers from mystery backers attack council critics of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor," by Tampa Bay Times' William March

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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

BILL TRACKING — “Proposed sex trafficking legislation could harm victims, advocates warn,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Spencer Norris: "A flurry of bills filed in the Florida legislature aimed at combatting sex trafficking and assisting victims are facing a backlash from advocates who say they were written hastily, without input and with language that could do more harm than good. With the 2023 session looming, state legislators have filed at least 16 bills related to human trafficking."

DATELINE D.C.

— “Neal Dunn highlights China threat to U.S. sovereignty at secret NYC ‘police station,’” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner

— “Florida members of Congress urge Biden administration to redesignate TPS for Nicaragua,” by Miami Herald’s Syra Ortiz-Blanes

— “Marco Rubio voices ‘grave concern’ over Cuban visit to Coast Guard HQ,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski

...HURRICANE HOLE...

SIGNIFICANT DECISION — “Hollywood Hills nursing home administrator acquitted in deaths of 9 residents after Hurricane Irma,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Angie DiMichele and Rafael Olmeda: “A judge decided Friday that a top administrator should not be held criminally accountable for the deaths of nursing home residents who perished in intense heat at the facility after it lost power to its air-conditioning system due to Hurricane Irma in 2017.”

Response — “[Jorge] Carballo is ‘overwhelmed with joy and relieved’ at the decision, said defense attorney David Frankel. ‘This was very political. There never really was any evidence,’ Frankel said. ‘It was just somebody needed to be blamed.’”

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

BIG WATER — “It’s the $4 billion ‘crown jewel’ of Everglades restoration. But will it be enough?” by Miami Herald’s Alex Harris: “It’s a rare undertaking with bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration calls it a 'national priority.' Gov. Ron DeSantis, who does not exactly see eye to eye with the president on many issues, also bills it as a 'top priority' and has even gone to political battle to support it. But the reservoir also ranks among the most controversial projects in more than two decades of Everglades restoration efforts — and there are still questions whether it can come close to meeting the lofty goals of curtailing foul fish-killing algae blooms that have crippled waterways on both coasts and restoring the flow of clean water to the southern Everglades.”

— “Signs of Everglades recovery emerge. Long way to go but ‘trending in the right direction,’” by Miami Herald’s Alex Harris

HMM — “‘Very, very huge question:’ New College scrambles for funds to pay Richard Corcoran’s $699,000 salary,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: New College Foundation officials tasked with scraping together funds to cover much of Interim President Richard Corcoran's $699,000 salary said Friday they still are trying to determine where the money will come from and raised concerns about donations drying up, even as those supporting Corcoran's hiring have made public assurances that the money is available to pay him."

— “Corey Jones family, Palm Beach Gardens reach settlement 7 years after police shooting,” by Palm Beach Post’s Hannah Phillips and Lianna Norman

— “UM archivist responsible for one of the largest collections of Cuban history dead at 95,” by Miami Herald’s Devoun Cetoute and Howard Cohen

— “Arrest warrant issued for rapper Kodak Black in Florida,” by The Associated Press

— “Rejecting transgender labels, Catholic store’s lawsuit fights Jacksonville human rights law,” by Florida Times-Union’s Steve Patterson

— “Florida man pleads guilty to supporting IS extremist group,” by The Associated Press’ Curt Anderson

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— Darren Samuelsohn, a veteran journalist who worked for Insider and POLITICO, has launched a new podcast called "love, journalism." His first episode features an in-depth interview with Khambrel Marshall, whose lengthy career in television included a stint in South Florida from 1985 to 1999. In the episode, Samuelsohn recalls how he admired Marshall, who first started out as a sportscaster, when he was a child growing up in South Florida. Marshall also talks about media attention in Miami he received when he first got hired because he was Black. Marshall was also a news anchor when Hurricane Andrew pummeled South Florida in 1992. There’s also a bonus episode where Marshall tells stories about Don Shula, Dan Marino, Arthur Ashe while he was the tennis pro at Doral, and Muhammad Ali.

BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Angie Nixon … Ryan Duffy, director of corporate communications at U.S. Sugar ... Kathleen Haughney, assistant director of research communications at Florida State University ... MacKay Jimeson with Ember Global Advisors.