| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | | | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Flashback — It was only 45 days ago that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis boldly told Florida legislators that “you ain’t seen nothing yet” as they both prepared to launch this year’s legislative session. Coda — Well, with the finish line now in sight, the grind has worn down many of those in the process. Lawmakers have chewed up hours making sure to shepherd many of the bills that are on the long, long list that likely presidential candidate DeSantis gave them just a few weeks ago. Detour — A handful of measures being pushed by the governor appear to have stalled — or, as in the case of a much-discussed bill dealing with defamation lawsuits against the media — appear to be just about dead. The Senate version of the legislation on Wednesday was postponed for the third consecutive week in a row. There are just 15 days left to go in this year’s session. The mood in the room — Meanwhile, Republican legislators are chafing at the tight control exerted on them in order to carry out the priorities of both the governor and legislative leaders. Some GOP legislators aren’t enthusiastic about going after Disney yet again, while others maintain they have not used their conservative supermajority to push through even stronger abortion and gun laws. Saying it out loud — “People are deeply frustrated,” said former state Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican who has been talking to his former GOP colleagues frequently this session. “They are not spending any time on the right problems. ... Most legislators believe that the balance of power has shifted too far and the Legislature needs to re-establish itself as a co-equal branch of government.” Time to go — State Sen. Jason Pizzo, a South Florida Democrat, offered this blunt assessment to Playbook: “I think they are fed up. There’s obviously still some true believers and there’s some very loyal and allegiant individuals and groups. … They would like him to hurry up and announce and start focusing exclusively on other stuff other than here.” Still winning — Make no mistake. DeSantis is poised to have a spectacularly successful session for his own aims with many of his top priorities crossing the finish line. One GOP senator predicted that the final ratio would wind up being “95 percent to five percent.” But it has taken its toll. One House Republican told a former legislator about being possibly resigning once session is over. House Speaker Paul Renner insisted, though, that legislators this session were living up to what they told voters last fall. “We’re doing the very things we campaigned on, we’re governing as we campaigned,” he told reporters yesterday. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | A message from Alibaba: Florida businesses are thriving with Alibaba. Sales from U.S. brands on Alibaba added $1.7 billion to the state’s GDP and supported 15,000 jobs and $936 million in wages for local workers, according to a new study by NDP Analytics. Learn about Alibaba’s positive impact on the U.S. economy. | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | | NOT HAPPY BOB — Frustrated and tired: DeSantis’ demands wear out Florida GOP allies, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ iron-clad grip on the Republican-controlled Legislature may be slipping amid growing frustration among GOP legislators. Republican lawmakers are stalling a handful of his key remaining legislative priorities with just weeks left in the annual session. And what started out as whispers in private about unhappiness over the governor are starting to become louder even though Republican lawmakers remain unwilling to speak out publicly against DeSantis because of his power and clout. STRATEGY — “DeSantis ready to fire back at Trump over Social Security, Medicare attacks,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Alex Roarty: “[Gov. Ron] DeSantis is preparing to highlight the former president’s own past support for cutting entitlement programs, according to a source familiar with the governor’s thinking, attempting to redirect one of Trump’s most frequent criticisms back against him. “Recycling debunked, establishment lies to attack Ron DeSantis says a lot about the strength of his prospective candidacy — and everything about the weakness of Donald Trump’s,” said a person familiar with DeSantis’ political orbit, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about campaign strategy.” UP IN THE AIR — Florida poised to make DeSantis’ travel records secret, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ use of state planes and other information about his official travel could soon be secret under a far-reaching bill that is coming while the Republican governor has been ramping up visits across the country ahead of a likely presidential campaign. The Florida Senate passed the bill Wednesday by a 28-12 vote, with Republicans using their supermajority to pass the measure since the Florida Constitution requires exemptions to the state’s public records law to clear a required two-thirds threshold. | 
Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., speaks to a crowd at First Baptist North on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Spartanburg, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) | AP |
GETTING ORGANIZED — “DeSantis group plans field program, showing the expanding role of super PAC’s,” by Washington Post’s Michael Scherer, Isaac Stanley-Becker and Ashley Parker: “Activists at 27 universities will soon begin meeting twice a month to organize their peers under the banner of Students for DeSantis. Office space supporting the Florida governor’s presidential ambitions will open in each of the early-voting states. And names have already been gathered by clipboard in Iowa to launch a door-knocking army. But none of these efforts will be a part of the as-yet-unannounced DeSantis campaign. Rather they are being funded and organized by Never Back Down, a technically independent super PAC that unlike federal candidates can accept donations of any value from wealthy individuals and corporations.”
SPOTLIGHT — “After high-flying start, DeSantis hits stumbling blocks on road to 2024,” by Washington Post’s Hannah Knowles, Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey and Maeve Reston: “But even as he faces head winds, [Gov. Ron] DeSantis remains in a clear second place to [former President Donald] Trump, with a cluster of other current and prospective candidates mired in single digits and showing no signs of gaining traction — and the only candidate that Trump and his team regularly focus on. He has continued to draw enthusiastic crowds in early state visits, as he did in South Carolina on Wednesday, rounding out a weeks-long circuit through the first four states in the GOP nomination fight. ‘I can see why Trump’s nervous about him,’ said Jim Morris, a retiree who came out to see DeSantis in the Charleston area Wednesday and also went to see Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who has launched a presidential exploratory committee, at a restaurant last week.” BUCHANAN MAKES IT EIGHT — “Florida GOP congressional delegation rushing to back Trump over DeSantis,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: “Donald Trump keeps piling up endorsements in Florida as he works to put Gov. Ron DeSantis on the defensive in his home state, with eight members of Florida's congressional delegation now saying they back the former president, the latest being U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. Trump called Buchanan Wednesday afternoon, and the congressman issued his endorsement shortly afterward. ‘If we want to get our economy back on track, Donald Trump is just the guy to get it done,’ Buchanan said.” BE PREPARED — “Legislators move quickly on DeSantis’ call to void Disney’s agreement with district,” by Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas: “Florida legislators on Wednesday quickly responded to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call to retroactively invalidate an agreement between Walt Disney World and its special taxing district, adopting amendments despite warnings that the proposal will not withstand a constitutional challenge. The Florida State Affairs Committee and the Senate Rules Committee each added an amendment to bills regulating land use and development regulations that requires the DeSantis-appointed board overseeing all of Disney’s parks and resorts to vote on the Disney agreement that limits the authority of the governor’s new supervisors to infrastructure and taxing issues.” DUCK TALES — “Disney’s Reedy Creek deal violated state law, attorneys for DeSantis board say,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher: “Disney’s agreements seeking to preserve its power over development in Central Florida didn’t follow requirements in state law, rendering them null and void, lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis tourism oversight board said Wednesday. ‘The bottom line is that Disney engaged in a caper worthy of Scrooge McDuck to try to evade Florida law,’ said David H. Thompson, a lawyer with the Cooper & Kirk law firm.” — “DeSantis’s electability pitch wobbles despite G.O.P. losses under Trump,” by The New York Times’ Shane Goldmacher — “Ron DeSantis PAC founder says war with ‘scourge’ Disney is a political winner,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski — “‘Mickey’s Freedom’ act urges Disney World to move to North Carolina,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher — “Republicans hit DeSantis over Disney feud,” by The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman — “In first SC swing, Ron DeSantis slams ‘woke’ culture, gender identity as ‘cultural Marxism,’” by The Post and Courier’s Caitlin Byrd — “Spartanburg crowd of 1,000 gathers for Gov. DeSantis rally. Protesters reject ‘blueprint,’” by Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s Bob Montgomery and Devyani Chhetri
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | DON’T SAY IT — Florida expands ban on sexual orientation and gender identity teachings through high school, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: The Florida Board of Education expanded the state’s restrictions on teaching students about sexual orientation or gender identity Wednesday to all K-12 public schools. Under the updated rule expanding the legislation panned as “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, teachers run the risk of losing their educator credentials for leading instruction on those topics to students through 12th grade instead of strictly kindergarten through grade 3. This new guideline, which board members approved unanimously, appears to be even stronger than the parental rights expansions that Republican lawmakers are currently advancing at the statehouse. TO THE GOVERNOR — “Florida Legislature sends ban on kids at adult drag shows to DeSantis,” by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian: The Florida House has approved a proposal that would block children from attending adult-themed drag shows, clearing the measure for final approval by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The House on Wednesday approved SB 1438 on an 82-32 vote. Lawmakers will now send the bill to DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. The measure seeks to block drag show promoters and venues that allow children to attend drag shows depicting nudity or sexual content. Florida’s business regulator can revoke an establishment’s license to operate and fine it up to $10,000 if they violate the legislation once it becomes law. — Chinese Americans warn that land-buying ban backed by DeSantis fuels anti-Asian discrimination, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie — “How agents confronted mayor at Cascades; Adam Corey's moment, by Tallahassee Democrat’s Jeff Burlew — Partisan school board elections? Florida voters will have a say, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury — “Florida proposal to fight ‘indoctrination’ at universities clears major hurdle,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Divya Kumar — Florida House passes bill targeting transgender bathroom use, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury — “Legislature passes ‘Greyson’s Law’ to safeguard children at risk of parental harm,” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | HMM — “As fears of banking crisis surged, members of Congress sold bank shares,” by The New York Times’ Kate Kelly: “On March 10, as fears were swirling over the health of the nation’s banks, an investment account belonging to the children of Representative Jared Moskowitz, Democrat of Florida, sold shares of Seacoast Banking Corporation worth $65,000 to $150,000. Two days later, with the government working to control the crisis, Mr. Moskowitz said in a television interview that he had attended a bipartisan congressional briefing on the tumult. And on March 13, as investors fretted over the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and two other, smaller banks, Seacoast Banking shares fell nearly 20 percent.” Response — “A spokesman for Mr. Moskowitz said in an email that the Seacoast share sales had been suggested by the congressman’s financial adviser as a means to diversify his young children’s holdings. Mr. Moskowitz said the congressional briefing on the bank crisis had taken place just before the television interview and after the shares were sold.” — “Citing failure to meet Jewish veterans’ burial needs, Moskowitz seeks improvement from federal agency,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man | | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | RUBIO VENTS — Without naming any names, an exasperated Sen. Marco Rubio took to social media on Thursday to complain about ongoing gasoline shortages that have occurred in the wake of massive downpours and flooding in South Florida. “They’ve got to get this thing fixed, it’s crazy,” Rubio said. Rubio took aim at officials contending that the shortages have been caused in part by “panic” buying and people filling up their cars despite exhortations against doing so. “Yeah, people are panicked. Because they got to get to work and they got places to go,” he said. State emergency management officials who report to Gov. Ron DeSantis say they have been working to resolve the problems but Rubio’s video — which has millions of views — shows that he and other South Floridians remain upset. GAS UP — “Calm down! Gas slowly returning to South Florida stations,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise: “Motorists whose tempers boiled over waiting in unexpected lines to get gas this week, take note: Supplies are slowly returning as resupplying operations from Port Everglades accelerate. That’s not to say things are back to normal. Supply issues lingered on Wednesday a week after massive flooding prompted 12 petroleum supply terminals at Port Everglades to shut down out of precaution.” — “New College trustees asked to defer or deny tenure in new memo,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Ian Hodgson
| | A message from Alibaba: Last year, U.S. businesses sold a record $66 billion in products to consumers in China on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms, a nearly 10% increase over 2021. This included sales from thousands of American brands, big and small, such as Fender, Bob’s Red Mill, and DS Laboratories.
Read how American businesses selling on Alibaba impacts the U.S. economy. | | | | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “Grills owner on Bud Light controversy: ‘It’s about transgenderism,’” by Orlando Sentinel’s Amy Drew Thompson: “Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar owner Joe Penovich drew both ire and support from the community when he responded to the controversy over an alleged incident at his Port Canaveral restaurant that was posted to the members-only Rockledge, Florida Community Updates & News page on Facebook. In the post, member Brian Loeffel claimed he witnessed ‘staff throwing every Bud Light bottle/Keg in the trash in the sun to spoil for a ‘credit.’ Loeffel also alleged that employees were directed to do so by the manager, who used a gay slur explaining, ‘We don’t serve [deleted] beer.’” BIRTHDAYS: Steve Spurrier … state Rep. Randy Fine … former Rep. Trey Radel … James Call with the Tallahassee Democrat. | | | | 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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