| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. Got My Mind Set On You — It’s no big secret that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is a fan of current Gov. Ron DeSantis. He wrote about DeSantis for Time Magazine. And Bush was the lone former governor to attend DeSantis’ inauguration in January. If I Needed Someone — Bush was also effusive with praise of the governor in a "Fox Nation" special released last week hosted by Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade called “Who is Ron DeSantis?” Bush said DeSantis had been an “effective governor” and praised his response to Hurricane Ian as well as pushback to critical media coverage. Here Comes The Sun — He added that “Florida could be a model for the country,” that DeSantis could help lead a generational change in national politics, and that it was the right opportunity for the 44-year-old to run for president. Something — Bush’s comments have been viewed as an all-out endorsement of DeSantis and ricocheted online over the weekend, drawing some angry response from some diehard supporters for former President Donald Trump. Trump of course crushed Bush in the 2016 Republican primary for president. Think For Yourself — But in an email to Playbook, Bush stated that “I was praising, not endorsing.” In that same email, he did not answer a question on who he wanted to see become the Republican nominee. But right after the inauguration, he said DeSantis would be a “great alternative” to Trump and that the governor has a “proven track record” and “great platform” to run on if he chose to jump into the race for president. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to hold events in Venice, Fla., and Leesburg promoting his newly released book. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 3/1 TO DISCUSS AMERICAN PRIVACY LAWS: Americans have fewer privacy rights than Europeans, and companies continue to face a minefield of competing state and foreign legislation. There is strong bipartisan support for a federal privacy bill, but it has yet to materialize. Join POLITICO on 3/1 to discuss what it will take to get a federal privacy law on the books, potential designs for how this type of legislation could protect consumers and innovators, and more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | | DECISIONS, DECISIONS — The Trump vs. DeSantis proxy battle shapes up with dueling CPAC vs. Club for Growth events, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison and Alex Isenstadt: There’s not one, but two major cattle calls of 2024 Republican hopefuls this week. While Donald Trump headlines CPAC’s large annual confab of activists, conservative media and firebrands in Washington, D.C., Ron DeSantis is set to be the main draw at the Club for Growth’s private retreat for donors in Palm Beach. The dueling events come as the Republican party stares down a fraught nominating process. Timing — The events are set to take place at the exact same time — Thursday through Saturday. There’s also little overlap between the speakers and attendees, another sign that the conservative ecosystem is engaged in a battle for the future of the party, with Trump as a main divide. CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS — DeSantis appoints political backers to new Disney oversight board, by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday appointed members to a new board that oversees much of Disney World’s operations, settling a long-running conflict with the entertainment giant over Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. DeSantis announced the five appointees, all political donors and loyalists, at a ceremony where he signed legislation that, in large part, creates a board to run the special district that previously granted Disney a wide range of freedom to self-govern. Florida’s GOP-dominated Legislature approved the bill during a special session earlier this month. Now in charge — The most prominent name DeSantis appointed Monday to the board of the district, which the new law renames the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, is Bridget Ziegler, a conservative education activist who was a major backer of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. She is also a DeSantis-endorsed Sarasota County School Board member and co-founder of “Mom’s for Liberty,” a group that helps train and recruit conservatives to run for school boards. Her husband, Christian, was recently elected chair of the Republican Party of Florida. | 
A sign near the entrance of the Reedy Creek Improvement District administration building is seen Feb. 6, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. | John Raoux/AP Photo |
FLIPPING THE PAGES — “Why the unwritten parts of DeSantis’ book are among its most interesting tidbits,” by Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas and McClatchy D.C.’s Alex Roarty: “For readers who have followed his numerous news conferences and political rallies, there are no new themes in the book. He heaps scorn on the ‘administrative state,’ ‘medical authoritarianism,’ the Democratic Party, ‘woke corporations,’ Big Tech companies, ‘corporate media,’ and most American universities. But for a politician whose advisors are encouraging him to become more personable and approachable, there are some new tidbits of detail for his origin story as a working-class baseball star from Dunedin with brains enough to get him into Yale University undergrad and Harvard University law.”
FLIPPING THE PAGES PART 2 — “Four takeaways from DeSantis’ new book rehashing his culture clashes as Florida governor,” by CNN’s Steve Contorno and Kit Maher: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new book, “The Courage to Be Free,” leans into the culture wars that established him as one of the early Republican favorites for the GOP nomination for the presidency. While more sparse on biographical details than most political memoirs, the 256-page book offers some new insights into his upbringing, college years and military service. But mostly, DeSantis rehashes his contentious four years as governor and suggests he has laid a path for others to follow.” — “Ron DeSantis’s scorn-filled book sets tone for potential campaign,” by Washington Post’s Manuel Roig-Franzia BEHIND THE SCENES — “Meet the Trump-loving yacht lawyer who helped engineer DeSantis’ New College takeover,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: “According to statements [Robert] Allen has made to multiple alumni, shaking up New College’s board wasn’t on [Gov. Ron] DeSantis’ radar until Allen raised the issue with the governor. ‘If Bob is to be believed, he’s the one who brought it to DeSantis’ attention that there were vacancies on the New College board where he could move in there and do whatever DeSantis wants to do,’ said Michael Armstrong, a New College alum who graduated in 1977, knew Allen socially when they were college students and recently spoke with him about the takeover effort.” — “Ron DeSantis still hasn’t said he’s running for president. What’s he waiting for?” by BBC News’ Anthony Zurcher — “DeSantis enacts Disney punishment, appoints oversight board on eve of book launch,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s John Kennedy — “The inevitable — and imminent — Trump-DeSantis war,” by Washington Post’s Aaron Blake — “Ron DeSantis’ 2024 campaign emerges from the shadows,” by NBC News’ Jonathan Allen, Natasha Korecki and Ali Vitali | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | ‘THEY WON’T LEAVE HIM’ — The ‘Always Trump’ voters are the defining feature of a crowded Republican primary, by POLITICO’s David Siders and Meridith McGraw: Indeed, the “Always Trump” component of the party is so pronounced that it’s affecting how Trump’s opponents operate around him. “All these folks are just hoping that Trump’s going to have a heart attack on a golf course one day, and that’s going to solve this problem for them,” said Fergus Cullen, a former New Hampshire Republican Party chair. “Not much of a strategy.” It’s hard to fault them. Republican campaigns have calculated that they can’t afford to offend an entire swath of the GOP electorate still sympathetic to Trump. Instead, they’ve chosen to chip away at them through non-aggressive means. | 
Former President Donald Trump | Reba Saldanha/AP Photo |
VIEWER FEEDBACK — “Trump targets Fox News for ‘promoting’ DeSantis ‘so hard and so much,’” by The Hill’s Dominick Mastrangelo: “Former President Trump renewed his attacks on Fox News this week, accusing the network of underplaying a new poll showing him with a double-digit lead on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a potential 2024 Republican presidential primary match-up. Trump, in reference to the Fox News poll published Sunday that showed him leading DeSantis by 15 points in a hypothetical match-up, knocked the media giant for ‘promoting’ DeSantis ‘so hard and so much that there’s not much time left for Real News.’”
— “Murdoch acknowledges Fox News hosts endorsed election fraud falsehoods,” by New York Times’ Jeremy W. Peters and Katie Robertson | | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | THE AGENDA — Florida targets gender studies, DEI in proposed higher education package, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: A Florida GOP lawmaker’s proposal aims to enact several key higher education polices floated by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, including forbidding schools from offering majors — or even minors — in critical race theory and gender studies. Also included — The legislation, part of the Florida GOP’s fight against “wokeness” in schools, would introduce a host of new measures for the state university system, giving trustee boards sole authority to hire faculty and power to launch a tenure review at any time. Free speech groups, academics and union leaders have already lined up in opposition of the proposal, claiming that the bill could bring about dire consequences for academic freedom and tenure at universities. — “National organizations condemn Florida bill that would bring major higher ed changes,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Divya Kumar — “Florida lawmakers seek billions for local projects,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Turner | | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | DOUBLE TROUBLE — “Study: Back-to-back hurricanes likely to come more often,” by The Associated Press’ Seth Borenstein: “What used to be a rare one-two punch of consecutive hurricanes hitting about the same place in the United States weeks apart seems to be happening more often, and a new study says climate change will make back-to-back storms more frequent and nastier in the future. Using computer simulations, scientists at Princeton University calculate that the deadly storm duet that used to happen once every few decades could happen every two or three years as the world warms from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, according to a study in Monday’s Nature Climate Change.” — “The risk of damage from hurricane winds will shift in coming decades. See the impact by Zip code,” by Washington Post’s John Muyskens, Andrew Ba Tran, Brady Dennis and Niko Kommenda — “Judge upholds acquittal in 9 hurricane nursing home deaths,” by The Associated Press’ Terry Spencer | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ‘I LOVE MY FREEDOM’ — “Decision could return man to prison in 1989 Brevard County murder,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders: “A man who served more than three decades in prison for a Brevard County murder he said he did not commit could be headed back to prison after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up an appeal. Crosley Green was released on house arrest in 2021 after a federal district judge ruled that prosecutors had improperly withheld evidence in the 1989 shooting death of 21-year-old Charles “Chip” Flynn. But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year overturned the district judge’s ruling, and the Supreme Court declined to review the case.” WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? — “Miami commissioner’s office ransacked in apparent City Hall break-in,” by Miami Herald’s Joey Flechas and Sam Navarro: “Miami police are investigating a possible break-in at City Hall after Commissioner Manolo Reyes’ office was found ransacked Monday morning. Reyes told the Miami Herald that when a staffer arrived to work Monday morning, he found the commissioner’s office “in total disarray,” with papers shuffled around, drawers left open and framed photos out of place. The staffer called Reyes, who said he had not been to the office during the weekend.” — “Richard Corcoran Q&A: New College interim president outlines vision, defends salary,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: — “Who’s the mystery tech company going on a hiring spree with Miami-Dade’s millions?” by Miami Herald’s Vinod Sreeharsha — “Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Michaela Mulligan — “Greenberg associate receives nine-year prison term for bilking investor of $9.8M,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Martin E. Comas | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “NAACP wants reparations for Tampa’s Black cemeteries that governments ‘stole,’” by Tampa Bay Times’ Paul Guzzo: “On Monday, the Hillsborough County School District unveiled a memorial marking the cemetery again. That’s a start, said Hillsborough County NAACP president Yvette Lewis, but not enough. She now wants the city of Tampa, Hillsborough County and the school district to give reparations to the Black community. ‘They stole our land,’ she told the Tampa Bay Times at the unveiling ceremony. ‘They stole our history. It’s time for them to give something back.’” BIRTHDAYS: Attorney Matthew Weidner | | | | 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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