| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Good Tuesday morning. Be Hit And Hit Back — Former President Donald Trump continues to lay into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Play It All Night Long — The Florida resident who is already running for president ripped into likely presidential candidate DeSantis while traveling to a campaign stop in the crucial early battleground state of Iowa as well as on his way back to West Palm Beach. “Remember this: If it weren’t for me, Ron DeSanctimonious would right now be working probably at a law firm, or maybe a Pizza Hut, I don’t know,” Trump told reporters. Mr. Bad Example — Trump also at one point likened DeSantis to Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, called him a “disciple” of “RINO loser” Paul Ryan and reminded Iowa voters that DeSantis voted against subsidies that benefited ethanol. He even said he regretted his endorsement of DeSantis that helped him cruise past Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the 2018 primary. “When I endorsed him, the race was indeed over, but it was over for him,” Trump was quoted as saying and adding that he was “dead as a dog.” Reconsider Me — Of course, what’s fascinating is that all this is happening as the two Republican stake out positions that echo one another. DeSantis gave a detailed foreign policy answer to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson where he said that supporting Ukraine is not in the national interest — a stance that puts him in the same territory as Trump about the conflict. But Trump meanwhile is advocating education policies that sound eerily similar to ones pushed by the governor over the past two years. He even said in Iowa on Monday that he would not give money to schools that had vaccine mandates. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | I’M NOT HAPPY BOB — Trump lashes out at DeSantis, says he regrets his endorsement of him, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt: Former President Donald Trump is intensifying his attacks on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling him disloyal and saying that his political career would have been over had he not endorsed his ultimately successful 2018 campaign. “He was dead as a dog, he was a dead politician. He would have been working perhaps for a law firm or doing something else,” Trump told a small group of reporters aboard his plane on Monday afternoon en route to Iowa, where he was to make an appearance that evening. | 
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Monday, March 13, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa. | Ron Johnson/AP Photo |
ON THE TRAIL — “Trump returns to Iowa, with a plan to avoid the missteps he made in 2016,” by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt: He was in a notably good mood, with little indication that the legal troubles surrounding him were causing any stress. Indeed, he was feisty at times, going after his leading potential opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom he derided as a “disciple” of former House Speaker Paul Ryan, “a RINO loser.” “To be honest with you, I don’t think he’s going to be doing so well here,” Trump said of DeSantis.
— “Trump rips Ron DeSantis in Iowa as the 2024 presidential race heats up,” by NBC News’ Jonathan Allen — “Trump, DeSantis focus on education in race for GOP voters,” by Wall Street Journal’s Alex Leary and John McCormick | | DESANTISLAND | | TURNABOUT — “Ron DeSantis says protecting Ukraine is not a key U.S. interest,” by The New York Times’ Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has sharply broken with Republicans who are determined to defend Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, saying in a statement made public on Monday night that protecting the European nation’s borders is not a vital U.S. interest and that policymakers should instead focus attention at home. The statement from Mr. DeSantis, who is seen as an all but declared presidential candidate for the 2024 campaign, puts him in line with the front-runner for the G.O.P. nomination, former President Donald J. Trump. Flashback — “Back in 2014 and 2015, when Mr. Putin was in the initial stage of his invasion of Ukraine by annexing Crimea, Mr. DeSantis sounded like a conventional Republican hawk. He attacked then-President Obama for not doing enough — just as many Republicans are today criticizing President Biden. ‘We in the Congress have been urging the president, I’ve been, to provide arms to Ukraine,’ Mr. DeSantis said in an interview with the conservative talk radio host Bill Bennett in June 2015, unearthed by CNN.” WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS — “Is DeSantis darkening Florida’s sunny open-records laws?” by The Associated Press’ David A. Lieb: “Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, weighing a presidential bid, is pursuing a home-state agenda that could make it harder for people to learn what public officials are doing or to speak out against them. In an unprecedented move for the Sunshine State, DeSantis has claimed an executive right to keep key government records secret. He’s also seeking to weaken a nearly 60-year-old national legal precedent protecting journalists and others who publish critical comments about public figures.” | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
FIVE YEARS LATER — Florida Republicans may roll back gun law passed after Parkland, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Republicans are pushing to undo a key provision of the sweeping gun law passed in the aftermath of the Parkland massacre that left 17 people dead. A Florida House panel on Monday voted to let those aged 18 to 20 years old purchase a rifle, a restriction that lawmakers put in place five years ago after the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, was able to legally purchase the AR-15-styled rifle he used to kill and wound people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Flip — Even though he voted to raise the age requirement back in 2018, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) said he now supports rolling it back. Gov. Ron DeSantis has not publicly weighed in on the measure but has stated previously that he was opposed to raising the age limit. “The Florida House is restoring the ability of young adults to exercise their Second Amendment rights,” Renner said in a statement following the 12-5 subcommittee vote in favor the bill. ‘A REGIONAL BAN’ — “Kamala Harris slams Florida’s proposed 6-week abortion ban,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher: “Vice President Kamala Harris blasted Florida’s proposed six-week abortion ban on Monday, calling it an “extreme” attack that will put the government in charge of health care decisions and effectively wipe out abortion access throughout the South. The White House’s criticism foreshadows a clash over an issue that likely will be at the forefront of the 2024 presidential election.” BY THE NUMBERS — Florida lawmakers have big budget surplus but downturn expected, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida legislators are expected to be overflowing with a substantial budget surplus this year even though state economists remain somewhat befuddled as to when an expected economic downturn could begin to take effect. Economists meeting on Monday at the Capitol expect that Florida’s main budget account will grow by more than 5 percent during the current fiscal year — but they anticipate the economy will “downshift” in the next 16 months. UPDATE — “Broward transgender athlete pushes back at Florida’s attempt to dismiss her lawsuit over 2021 law,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders: “Saying the law is part of a ‘larger national effort to scapegoat this protected group,’ attorneys for a Broward County teen fired back Friday after the state urged a judge to toss out a challenge to a 2021 ban on transgender female students playing on women’s and girls’ sports teams Attorneys for a transgender high-school volleyball player identified by the initials D.N. argued that U.S. District Judge Roy Altman should reject a state motion to dismiss the case.” MEANWHILE — Senate panel approves proposed ban on transgender treatments for kids, by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian: The Senate Committee on Health Policy has advanced a bill on party lines that seeks to outlaw gender affirming medications and surgeries for children while also tightening restrictions on similar procedures for adults and doctors. The bill, SB 254, introduced by state Sen. Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville) would bar doctors from prescribing hormone-blocking drugs and conducting gender-affirming surgeries on people under the age of 18. The measure also would require that adults seeking those treatments sign a written consent form. THE PARTY LINE — “Students, professors protest DEI bill before House panel OKs it,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Jeffrey Schweers: “Scores of students and professors expressed their opposition Monday to a bill aimed at achieving Gov. Ron DeSantis’ goal of cleansing the state’s universities and colleges of what he deems to be socialist ideology. More than 150 people traveled from all over Florida to speak out against HB 999 at the bill’s first House subcommittee. Chair Lauren Melo R-Naples, restricted their allotted time to 30 seconds each, and then as the hours passed, cut their time at the mic to just a one-word declaration of opposition.” — “DeSantis roundtable hammers diversity programs at Florida universities,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Divya Kumar | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to a question during a press conference announcing expanded toll relief for Florida commuters, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Miami, Fla. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo |
THE NEW NORMAL — “A Florida-sized roadblock for the League of Women Voters,” by ProPublica’s Megan O’Matz: “The league revealed that it had been denied permission by the Florida Department of Management Services to hold an outdoor rally on the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee under a new DeSantis administration rule requiring groups to first get sponsorship from a sympathetic state agency. The rule took effect March 1 and says the requested use of the space must be 'consistent with the Agency’s official purposes.' … Capitalizing on a loophole that allows for news conferences, the league on Wednesday set up a podium in a nearby plaza, where it publicly addressed what it sees as the state’s crackdown on civil rights, including free speech.”
HAPPENING TODAY — The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is having its annual Awareness Day at the Capitol. — “Orlando lawmaker wants to make amusement rides safer, add public record exemption after teen’s death,” by Florida Politics’ Gabrielle Russon — “Democrats, advocates castigate GOP over LGBTQ-related bills,” by Florida Politics’ Gray Rohrer — “Florida has a new insurance commissioner,” by Florida Politics’ Christine Jordan Sexton
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — “GOPers, led by Florida men Trump, DeSantis, mining PBC for dollars, votes,” by Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat — “Maitland incumbent decries ‘ugly rhetoric’ in ad ahead of Tuesday’s municipal elections,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak — “Broward Democratic leader steps down after 10 years. He says party can make Florida comeback,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man — “Nikki Fried tells Jacksonville Democrats it’s ‘time for us to start winning,’” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | WARRANT SIGNED — “DeSantis sets execution for ‘ninja killer’ in 1989 murders,” by The Associated Press’ Curt Anderson: “A man convicted of a 1989 double slaying in Florida for which he was dubbed the “ninja killer” is set for execution next month under a death warrant signed Monday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Barring delays on appeal, the execution of Louis Bernard Gaskin is set for April 12 at 6 p.m., according to the governor’s office. It would mark the second execution in Florida this year after a long pause dating back to 2019.” FINAL RESOLUTION — “Closed Pensacola abortion clinic owners banned from ever operating in Florida,” by Pensacola News Journal Jim Little: “The owners of Northwest Florida's sole abortion clinic, which was permanently closed last year, have been banned from operating another clinic in Florida. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration issued a final order against American Family Planning on Tuesday that included a settlement agreement between the agency and the clinic that was forced to shut down last year. American Family Planning's license was permanently revoked as part of the agreement, and the clinic's operators admitted no wrongdoing in the case while agreeing to pay a $343,200 fine.” FREE — “‘I never gave up’: Judge exonerates South Florida man in prison for nearly 35 years,” by Miami Herald’s Grethel Aguila and Omar Rodríguez Ortiz: “After spending nearly 35 years behind bars in South Florida, Sidney Holmes is a free man. The 57-year-old was exonerated Monday after a wrongful conviction for a 1988 armed robbery in Broward County. Family members caressed each other as they shed tears of joy in Courtroom 6870 of the judicial complex in Fort Lauderdale following Circuit Judge Edward Merrigan’s order authorizing Holmes to be let out of prison.” — “Coming soon to Florida beaches: Massive, messy and maybe record mounds of seaweed,” by Miami Herald’s Nicolas Rivero | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— “This local newsman has witnessed every Florida execution since Ted Bundy,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Dan Sullivan: “A radio journalist since the 1970s, [John Koch] has been a press witness to Florida executions since 1989. By his count, he has seen 81 of them. The tally includes 25 who died in the electric chair, and 55 who were killed by lethal injection. Two were women. A handful were botched. The work, he said, is no hobby.’”
BIRTHDAYS: Jimmy Loomis, U.S. Department of State foreign affairs officer and former defense and foreign policy adviser to Rep. Stephanie Murphy. | | | | 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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