| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | | | Good Tuesday morning. Upcoming — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told an audience gathered at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Orlando that he plans to name a new justice to the Florida Supreme Court this week. By the numbers — This will mark his seventh appointment to the high court since he first took office in early 2019, and as a result the court has already shifted firmly to the right. But this choice is likely to be closely scrutinized because this will be the first one that comes while he is ramping up his presidential campaign. The process used by DeSantis to screen candidates has been very shrouded at times. His official schedule, for example, has not shown that he has met one-on-one with any of the six candidates for the post. Looking ahead — The Republican governor then told the crowd that over the next two presidential terms (eight years), whoever is president could be responsible for picking successors for both Justice Samuel Alito, who is 73 years old, and Justice Clarence Thomas, age 74. The DeSantis standard — “You can’t really do better than those two,” said DeSantis, who has previously praised both justices numerous times. “They are the gold standard for jurisprudence.” He said that if the next president appoints someone like Chief Justice John Roberts to replace Thomas “you are actually going to see the court shift to the left.” And even more — DeSantis went further and said that it’s even possible that the next president may also have to appoint successors for both Roberts and/or Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Roberts and Sotomayor are both age 68. He made the context clear by then saying that whoever is in the White House could help create a conservative majority on the court that would “last a quarter century.” Seems like it could be a new talking point that could soon be heard in Iowa. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to attend a meeting with the Florida Cabinet in Tallahassee. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | A message from Airlines for America: Did you know? Every day 800,000 workers make the U.S. airline industry run. Last year, we helped 50,000 new careers take flight -- thousands of new pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and others. In fact, job growth for U.S. airlines in March was three times the overall U.S. job growth – and we are still hiring! Learn more: www.airlines.org/jobs. | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | TO COURT — Chinese citizens sue Florida over law barring them from owning houses, by POLITICO’s Andres Picon: A group of Chinese citizens who live and work in Florida are suing the state over a new property law that threatens to restrict some people from China and a handful of other countries from purchasing homes and land in the state. The plaintiffs allege that the law, SB 264, is discriminatory and that it stokes racial biases against Chinese Americans and undermines their financial freedom. Gov. DeSantis signed it into law and it is set to go into effect on July 1. ANOTHER ONE — “Hamburger Mary’s sues DeSantis to stop drag show law,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Austin Fuller: “Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando is suing Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida in federal court, claiming the restaurant has been deprived of its First Amendment rights and is already losing customers under a new law affecting drag shows. Gov. DeSantis signed bills last Wednesday taking aim at transgender treatments for minors, pronouns in schools, bathroom use and children attending drag shows. The changes included penalties for venues letting children into 'adult live performances' and potential first-degree misdemeanor charges for violators.”
| | DESANTISLAND | | MAKE AMERICA FLORIDA — OR NOT — “Ron DeSantis is learning that not every state wants to be Florida,” by NBC News’ Henry J. Gomez: “But a funny thing has happened as DeSantis travels the country with a ‘Make America Florida’ message that underpins the Republican’s soon-to-launch presidential campaign. DeSantis has found that not everyone wants to be Florida. And he has encountered spirited pushback from competitive fellow governors and GOP officials who believe that their states have done just as much, if not more, to advance a conservative agenda. ‘It’s a lot of fun competing with my colleagues and Republican governors across the country,’ Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has hosted DeSantis in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, said in an interview with NBC News. ‘But make no mistake, we are competitors.’”
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks with audience members during a fundraising picnic for U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Sioux Center, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo | THE PITCH — “DeSantis vows to protect faith, family at National Religious Broadcasters event: ‘Put on full armor of God,’” by Fox News’ Deidre Reilly: “In remarks at the opening session here of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) International Christian Media Convention on Monday night, Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to continue taking on woke agendas, make pro-family decisions and support Americans’ right to practice their faith. DeSantis, believed to be throwing his hat in the ring as a presidential candidate in 2024, spoke through strong applause at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando as he outlined his views on protecting faith and family.”
| | | | A message from Airlines for America:   | | | STRATEGY — “How DeSantis is trying to lure older voters away from Trump,” by The New York Times’ Alexandra Glorioso and Nicholas Nehamas: “As a 44-year-old member of Generation X, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida might be an unlikely candidate to wrest his party’s older voters away from Donald J. Trump, a 76-year-old baby boomer. But he is trying anyway. As Mr. DeSantis closes in on the official rollout of a 2024 campaign for president, he is seeking to make early inroads with this large, politically influential group of voters, and doing so by appealing to their pocketbook concerns. He has focused especially on his efforts to lower prescription drug costs in Florida, including pushing the federal government for permission to import cheaper drugs from Canada.” LEV RETURNS — “Texts tie DeSantis closely to Trump insider Lev Parnas in 2018 race,” by Reuters’ Aram Roston and Joseph Tanfani: “But DeSantis and [Lev] Parnas worked more closely together than the Republican governor has disclosed, according to a detailed account of their relationship Parnas provided to Reuters and 63 previously unreported text messages from DeSantis to Parnas between May and October 2018, as DeSantis campaigned for governor. A jury later found Parnas guilty of campaign finance crimes and other charges. As DeSantis prepares to take a widely anticipated leap into the 2024 presidential campaign this week, the disclosures from Parnas cast new light on the Florida governor’s relationship with the businessman and the role Parnas played in helping DeSantis gain entree to the circle of former President Donald Trump.” MOUSE TRAP — “Ron DeSantis thinks his feud with Disney will pay off. Here’s why,” by BBC News’ Anthony Zurcher: “All of Disney Springs is owned by the Disney Company, and [Gov. Ron] DeSantis' attempt to wrest oversight of the land from Disney - with accompanying hints of new regulations, taxes, toll roads and even prison construction nearby - has prompted [Disney Spring restaurant owner Steve] Schussler to speak out against what he says are the governor's strong-arm, anti-business tactics. ‘We as business owners feel disgusted and betrayed by the governor's proposed taxes and rhetoric,’ he says, adding that his only political goal is to have ‘peace, quiet, harmony and not to be attacked.’” — “‘We’ve got a real dilemma’: How ‘Never Trump’ Republicans view DeSantis vs. Trump,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Alex Roarty — “Over 100 former Trump administration officials back DeSantis for president: ‘A proven winner,’” by Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | PAUSE — “DeSantis puts hold on Florida execution following insanity claim,” by News Service of Florida’s Dara Kam: “Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday temporarily put a hold on the execution of Duane Eugene Owen and ordered a psychiatric evaluation of the death row inmate after his lawyers argued that he may be insane. Owen, 62, is slated to be executed by lethal injection on June 15. But DeSantis issued an executive order calling for three psychiatrists to evaluate Owen. According to the order, Owen’s lawyers sent a letter to the governor that included a neuropsychologist’s ‘recent evaluation’ saying that Owen ‘meets the criteria for insanity.’ Owen was ‘feeling that he is a woman in the body of a man’ and ‘was trying to fully become the woman he really was,’ according to the order, which quoted from the neuropsychologist’s report.” NEXT STEPS — “Scott Maddox released from federal prison after serving 18 months of 5-year bribery sentence,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s Jeff Burlew: “Former Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox has been released from a federal prison camp in Pensacola after serving 18 months of a five-year sentence for his role in a notorious City Hall bribery scheme. The Bureau of Prisons website lists Maddox’s current location as RRM Orlando, the residential reentry management office that oversees prisoners from north and central Florida who are on home confinement or in a halfway house. His exact location is not publicly known. However, one person with knowledge of the situation said Maddox recently returned to Tallahassee after his release from the prison camp and is on home confinement.”
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | RINSE AND REPEAT — “Trump warned Ron DeSantis not to run. Now, he plans to keep hammering away,” by NBC News’ Jonathan Allen: “And though they are keeping the specifics of their plans to welcome DeSantis to the race close to the vest, they say the thrust of their strategy won't change much at a time when support for [former President Donald] Trump's top rival has fallen. ‘We're not going to telegraph everything we're going to do — we don't generally do that — but suffice to say, it'll be more of the same,’ said Chris LaCivita, one of Trump's co-campaign managers. ‘I don't know of anything that's changed in our approach and in the way that we will pursue the narrative.’” — “E. Jean Carroll seeks new damages from Trump for comments on CNN,” by The New York Times’ Benjamin Weiser — Trump wishes Scott ‘good luck’ with presidential campaign, by POLITICO’s Minho Kim — “Mar-a-Lago prosecutors sought records of Trump Organization deals,” by The Washington Post’s Devlin Barrett
| | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | ‘I WANT THE TRUTH TO COME OUT’ — “Ex-Florida deputy charged with failing to confront Parkland shooter says he’s eager for trial,” by The Associated Press’ Terry Spencer: “A fired Florida sheriff’s deputy charged with failing to confront the gunman who murdered 17 at a Parkland high school five years ago said Monday that he is ‘looking forward’ to his trial, which is scheduled to start next week. Former Broward County sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson told reporters after a court hearing that the public needs to know he did everything he could as Nikolas Cruz murdered 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018. Peterson, the deputy then assigned to the school, says he didn’t charge into the three-story classroom building during the six-minute massacre because he thought the dozens of shots fired were coming from outside.” — “Will more jurors need to walk through Stoneman Douglas mass shooting site? Judge to decide this week,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Rafael Olmeda
| | | | A message from Airlines for America: Did you know? U.S. airlines are proud to employ their largest workforce in more than 20 years – 800,000 workers strong! We are constantly working to secure a pipeline of new employees – pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and others – and strengthening our recruiting efforts to ensure we have the right people in the right place to meet the growing demand for air transportation across the country and around the globe. This is why U.S. airlines are investing heavily in our employees and offering quality jobs with wages above the U.S. private sector average. In 2022, airlines helped 50,000 new careers take off – and we are still hiring! Learn more about U.S. airline jobs at www.airlines.org/jobs. | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ‘RIGHT-SIZE THIS LANDSCAPE’ — NAACP president explains why the group issued Florida travel advisory, by POLITICO’s Kierra Frazier: NAACP President Derrick Johnson on Monday said African Americans’ lives “are not valued” in Florida, which is why the organization has issued a travel advisory in response to the state’s education, immigration and LGBTQ policies. “We didn’t end here overnight. It was because of the election,” Johnson said on “CNN This Morning.” “So we have to prepare for the next election, so we can get rid of him once and for all. This othering that we have seen first by Trump, now by him, is not only un-American, it’s dangerous, and we have to right-size this landscape.” Response — The travel advisory drew pushback from those in both the administration of Gov. DeSantis as well as from those in his political network. DeSantis’ press secretary Jeremy Redfern told outlets that it was a “political stunt.” But Matt Wolking of Never Back Down — the super PAC supporting an expected DeSantis presidential run — went further and started sharing social media posts of NAACP leaders that showed them visiting Florida over the last few years. HEATING UP — “New College of Florida faculty votes to censure trustees,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Divya Kumar: "Faculty members at New College of Florida have taken the unusual step of censuring the school’s board of trustees for 'disregarding their fiduciary duties,' according to a letter sent to college leaders Monday. About 80% of the faculty voted in favor of a motion listing 13 complaints against the board, which was revamped on Jan. 6 when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed six new trustees to change the direction of the small, liberal arts college." — “Miami-Dade K-8 bars elementary students from 4 library titles following parent complaint,” by Miami Herald’s Sommer Brugal — “Appeals court rejects lawsuit over FIU’s shutdown during COVID pandemic,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders — “With all the politics and maneuvering, how is life in Florida changing for its residents?” by The Associated Press’ Brendan Farrington — “Alfie Oakes files lawsuit against Collier School Board over superintendent search,” by Naples Daily News’ Nikki Ross
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez … Alvin Malnik, American businessman and attorney
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