| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Asked and not answered — Twice this past week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has deflected questions related to the 2024 presidential race, including handing out the quip “wouldn’t you like to know” when asked by a reporter during a stop in Jacksonville. Numbers — Well, to tap parlance that he himself has used: look at the scoreboard. If you were running down a checklist all the signs are there. Situational awareness — Elements of his reelection campaign remain in place, including the top officials who guided the 2022 operation. He has a book coming out later this month, which he briefly noted during a Wednesday press conference. There’s a two-day closed-door huddle with donors and policy leaders being held at a resort hotel in Palm Beach later this month. There’s already announced stops in Texas, California and Alabama in early March. Recent actions — And every move DeSantis makes gets maximum attention, such as the moves to take control of New College as well as the dispute over an AP African American Studies class. His policies have drawn sharp criticism and sparked a protest in Tallahassee on Wednesday from Black leaders, civil rights activists and clergy. Backstop — And then there’s long list he keeps piling up in front of Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature. The agenda — DeSantis has proposed in the last few weeks: A heaping package of tax cuts, proposals affecting teacher unions and trial lawyers (both viewed as long-time supporters of Democrats), measures dealing with “woke” banks and investment houses, and a crackdown on diversity programs at state universities and other institutions of higher education. Oh, and there were his proposed budget recommendations squeezed in there as well. Add it up — Also, DeSantis held an hour-long roundtable earlier this month where he and guests criticized the media and spoke about the need to change libel laws. Then last week, at his urging, the Florida Legislature quickly passed new laws designed to expand his contentious migrant relocation program, place the special district that had been controlled by Disney under the control of the governor and tweak a law so that the statewide prosecutor has more say over pursuing voter fraud cases. Another one — DeSantis announced a new “Digital Bill of Rights” on Wednesday with new policies designed once again to take on "Big Tech." A previous effort by DeSantis to go after social media giants has floundered in the courts and its fate at the U.S. Supreme Court is in doubt. The governor blamed some of the legal turbulence for that effort on both activist “leftist” judges as well as what he called “old school Chamber of Commerce Republican judges.” You get the point — The governor is giving legislators a lengthy to-do list. Maybe some of it gets dropped to the wayside, but it will be enough to bolster his pitch in a field of presidential contenders (many of whom are no longer in positions of power). What this is all about? — That’s easy. Despite some media coverage that appears bewildered about DeSantis and his motivations at times, the selling point of a campaign will be us vs. them. The argument to GOP voters will be that the governor has taken on the elites of the world, including those in the media, the medical community, “woke” corporations and banks, academia, the unions etc. etc. etc. Check, check, check. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com PROGRAMMING NOTE: Florida Playbook will not publish on Monday in observance of Presidents Day. After the hiatus, we'll be back on Tuesday.
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | CASE CLOSED — DOJ won’t charge Gaetz in sex trafficking probe, lawmaker’s office says, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: The Justice Department is closing its long-running sex trafficking investigation into GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz and will not charge the firebrand congressman, according to a lawyer representing a witness in the case and the lawmaker’s office. Tim Jansen, a Tallahassee-based lawyer representing a witness, said that DOJ officials called him shortly after noon and confirmed that prosecutors will not charge Gaetz. Jansen represented an ex-girlfriend of the congressman. Response — Speaking Wednesday night on "System Update," a program hosted on video platform Rumble by Glenn Greenwald, Gaetz said the DOJ's decision isn't a surprise but is certainly welcome. "While the two years haven't been the most comfortable of my life, I have been very focused on my work here in Congress representing my constituents and never really looking past the task at hand," Gaetz said. He asserted that the accusations against him were “false.” “It is troubling when powerful entities in media and government try to take you off the chessboard with false accusations,” Gaetz said. “They hope the accusation is so searing, even though it’s not supported by facts that it can derail opportunities to serve.”
| | DESANTISLAND | | BLUE STATE V. RED STATE — Illinois governor slams ‘demagogues’ who attack schools, libraries, by POLITICO’s Shia Kapos: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker invoked Abraham Lincoln and Elie Wiesel in his annual state of the state address, attacking “demagogues who are pushing censorship.” He didn’t mention Ron DeSantis, but it was clear that Pritzker’s ire was aimed at Florida’s Republican governor and his allies. The attack is the latest in an ongoing feud between the two ambitious governors over DeSantis blocking an advanced placement course on African American studies from his state’s school curriculum. More from speech — The governor made his comments after laying out a budget agenda focused on education funding. “It’s all meaningless,” he said, “if we become a nation that bans books from school libraries about racism suffered by Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron, and tells kids they can’t talk about being gay. It signals to Black and brown people and Asian Americans and Jews and Muslims that our authentic stories can’t be told.” | 
“It’s an ideological battle by the right wing, hiding behind a claim that they would protect our children — but whose real intention is to marginalize people and ideas they don’t like," JB Pritzker said. | Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP Photo |
UNSOCIAL MEDIA — “DeSantis says bill banning TikTok on college, school campuses coming,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen: “Floridians on their public school or state university or college internet network may no longer be able to access TikTok if a bill supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis passes in the Legislature. On Wednesday, DeSantis announced a proposal to block state and local government devices from being able to access the popular social media platform, citing concerns about potential influence or interference from entities tied to the Chinese government. His announcement came as part of a broader news conference where the governor introduced the idea of a ‘digital bill of rights’ to ensure consumer privacy.”
— “Pence moves to claim culture war lane before DeSantis gets there,” by POLITICO’s Juan Perez Jr. and Adam Wren | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | SPEAKING OUT — Black leaders rally in Tallahassee against Florida’s denial of race studies course, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Black leaders on Wednesday ramped up their ongoing criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis over Florida’s opposition to a new College Board Advanced Placement course in African American studies, claiming that the Republican governor is spurring a cultural battle to aid his expected presidential bid. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton led a rally with several hundred people, including Black lawmakers and clergy, from a local church to the Capitol to protest the DeSantis administration’s objections to the course and recent moves, such as expanding a state program to transport migrants from the southern border to other states. — “Alarmed by DeSantis, Black leaders protest and prepare for 2024,” by Washington Post’s Tim Craig, Lori Rozsa and Hannah Knowles | 
The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks to a crowd of hundreds from the steps of the Senate portico during the National Action Network demonstration in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis's rejection of a high school African American history course, Feb. 15, 2023 in Tallahassee, Fla. | Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP Photo | MEANWHILE — “Days before Florida lawmakers gather, new protest limits are set. Here’s what to know,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s James Call: “Some protests in the state Capitol Rotunda may be banned when lawmakers meet for the Florida Legislature’s 2023 session, which is expected to be spiked with culture-war-inspired legislation in advance of an expected Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign. The Department of Management Services published a Florida Administrative Code rule Feb. 14, allowing law enforcement more discretion to remove protesters from the Capitol building and charge them with trespassing.” REJECTED — Appeals court backs enviros in challenges to state springs clean up plans, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: A appeals court on Wednesday sided with environmentalists who argued that Florida Department of Environmental Protection cleanup plans for some of the state's largest springs are inadequate. The First District Court of Appeal ruled that DEP failed to identify and allocate reductions for sources of nitrogen that flow into groundwater and the Floridan Aquifer and causes springs to become choked with weeds and algae. The court sent the case back to the Division of Administrative Hearings for review.. — “Florida lawmakers send $15M to fund conservative makeover at New College,” by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury — “DeSantis signs migrant relocation, election fraud bills,” by The Associated Press’ Anthony Izaguirre — “Florida lawmakers consider Save Our Homes tax cap change to benefit homeowners,” by News Service of Florida — “JetBlue unveils 250-flight plan for Fort Lauderdale, starting with trips to Tallahassee,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s David Lyons — “Florida lawmakers seek crackdown on fans who run into field, throw objects into games,” by News Service of Florida
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TURNABOUT — “Donald Trump changes his tune on mail-in voting, ballot collection,” by Wall Street Journal’s Alex Leary and Eliza Collins: “After years of assailing early voting, Donald Trump is having a change of heart. The 2024 presidential candidate remains critical of various forms of early voting, advisers say, but his campaign is nonetheless mounting an effort to pursue such votes after Democrats excelled at doing so in recent elections. His team is studying state laws governing absentee and mail-in voting as well as ballot collection, called “ballot harvesting” by critics, in which third parties gather and turn in votes, people familiar with the effort said.”
SEPARATE WAYS — “Trump parts with TV ad maker as firm’s partner goes to Haley,” by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt: Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has split with its longtime TV ad maker, Jamestown Associates. One of the firm’s partners has decided to work with a Trump rival in 2024: Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations who launched her presidential bid on Wednesday. The former president’s campaign, in turn, has decided that it would not renew its relationship with Jamestown, which crafted commercials for Trump during the 2016 and 2020 elections. Trump’s team also used the firm after he left the White House. WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? — “D.C. police lieutenant delivered pre-Jan. 6 tips from Tarrio to Capitol Police, Proud Boy’s lawyer says, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney: In the weeks before Jan. 6, 2021, Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio shared information about his group’s planned activities with a D.C. police lieutenant, who then passed it along to top intelligence officials at the U.S. Capitol Police, Tarrio’s attorneys indicated on Wednesday. — “Trump’s meager early 2024 endorsements,” by Washington Post’s Aaron Blake — “They are trying to topple Trump. But they barely utter his name,” by New York Times’ Jonathan Weisman and Maggie Haberman — “Donald Trump to headline Lee County GOP dinner,” by Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
RESPONSE — “How Florida clinics are treating transgender youth ahead of ban,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Sam Ogozalek: “While Florida’s pending ban on gender-affirming care for minors has yet to take effect, treatment has already become harder to find across the state. Some providers have stopped accepting new patients under the age of 18 for hormone therapy, while others are continuing to do so.”
GONE — “Broward high schools remove book reported by parents’ group and labeled by DeSantis administration as pornographic,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Scott Travis, Anthony Man and Orlando Sentinel’s Leslie Postal: “Broward school libraries will remove a sexually explicit teen graphic novel that Gov. Ron DeSantis administration categorized as ‘pornography.’ The book ‘Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human’ was in the libraries of three schools, Fort Lauderdale High, Coral Glades High in Coral Springs and Nova High in Davie. It has now been removed.” — “Sex books cited by DeSantis’ crew were already gone from Orange, Seminole schools,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Leslie Postal and Scott Travis TURNED DOWN — “Judge rules against Moms for Liberty in Brevard school board public speaking lawsuit,” by Florida Today’s Finch Walker: “A federal judge has ruled against members of Brevard's Moms for Liberty chapter in their lawsuit against the Brevard school board, rejecting their claim that the board's public speaking policy had a chilling effect on them.” — “TMH says all systems restored, operations normal after cybersecurity incident,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s Jeff Burlew — “Stoneman Douglas locked down for 2 hours a day after somber anniversary; ‘no threat’ to students, Sheriff’s Office says,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Rafael Olmeda — “2 men indicted on federal charges in Lakeland drive-by shooting that wounded 11,” by The Ledger’s Sara-Megan Walsh — “‘He raised hell.’ Pioneering Miami juvenile-court judge Thomas K. Petersen is dead,” by Miami Herald’s Carol Marbin Miller — “Almost 138 million visitors came to Florida last year, breaking records,” by Florida Politics’ Gabrielle Russon | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— “Art exhibit canceled after SCF objects to works featuring diversity and inclusion,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Steven Walker: “An annual Sarasota art exhibit celebrating diversity was pulled from a planned display at a Florida college campus because the college leadership asked the organization to remove artwork with the words ‘diversity,’ ‘inclusion,’ ‘justice’ and ‘equality,’ the sponsoring group said. Embracing Our Differences, the organization behind the art display, wrote in a statement that its board of directors decided to pull the exhibit from State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota because the requests to remove the words went against the group's mission.”
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