| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Jabbing over the jab — The campaigns and allies of former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis continue to sharply attack each other over how each Republican responded to the Covid-19 pandemic — a sign that both intend to use arguments over the vaccine and lockdowns to cudgel each other among primary voters. Classical gas — The two sides went at each other hard on Tuesday night over the issue. Trump War Room, a Twitter account supporting Trump, put out a video on social media that lambasted DeSantis as a “liar and a fraud,” saying that DeSantis is trying to “gaslight the American public” into thinking that he didn’t support lockdowns during the pandemic. The L word — The Trump campaign also put out press releases, including a link to a CNN story pointing out DeSantis' praising of former chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci in the spring of 2020, and another that said DeSantis “continues to lie about his record” and that he oversaw “mass vaccinations” and “imposed radical lockdowns.” Returning serve — DeSantis’ allies hit back with the Twitter account DeSantis War Room (which has been overseen by Christina Pushaw, the governor’s former press secretary and a tenacious defender) putting out a video that includes Trump saying “I don’t regret lockdowns” in his recent interview with Fox and video of DeSantis voicing opposition to lockdowns. Never Back Down, a super PAC backing DeSantis, issued its own video of Trump explaining why he didn’t fire Fauci. Still more — In another response, DeSantis War Room had a video of Trump praising DeSantis for opposing lockdowns and also responded to Trump allies by stating “you’re embarrassing yourselves” in response to the “gaslight” contention. The account also used another clip from Trump’s interview with Bret Baier where Trump talks about the vaccine. Context — The back-and-forth and finger-pointing over Covid-19 is a reminder of how DeSantis’ position did shift during the first year of the pandemic — but his recalibration came quickly and ahead of many other Republicans. And he disavowed lockdowns after first going along with some (not all) types of measures. Backstory — It was also the governor’s resistance to vaccine mandates and mask mandates that helped him become a national Republican star and was a central part of his reelection campaign message in 2022. It’s also true that DeSantis swung from being a cheerleader for the vaccine development under Trump to now being a full-blown skeptic of the vaccine who even asked a statewide grand jury to investigate the manufacturers of the vaccine. Yet to be said — What’s also true, however, is while DeSantis has talked about his thinking about Covid-19 (primarily in his book), he has yet to answer tough questions about his evolution — especially when it comes to his fierce turnabout on the vaccine. — 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
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | | OFF AND RUNNING — The campaigns and allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump have already spent nearly $35 million on television ads in four battleground states and on national cable, an analysis by AdImpact shows. Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting DeSantis and that recently got an $82.5 million infusion from the governor’s state-run political committee (a move being challenged), has already spent more than $4 million in Iowa and nearly $4 million in South Carolina and $1.27 million on ads targeting New Hampshire. Never Back Down has spent another $5.13 million on national cable ads. Make America Great Again, a Trump-supporting super PAC, has spent close to $19.5 million but most of that has been on national cable buys, although the group has spent $2.2 million on broadcast television ads in Iowa and nearly $1.6 million in New Hampshire. MEANWHILE — “Pro-DeSantis PAC airs new ad focused on fight with Disney, ‘woke culture,’” by CBS News’ Aaron Navarro: “A new advertisement from Never Back Down, a super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' 2024 presidential bid, is centered around his fight with Disney and taps into general conservative resentment toward what he often characterizes as ‘woke ideology.’ The 30-second television ad, which mimics the style of a fairy tale, is a seven-figure-buy that will begin airing Wednesday morning in Iowa and South Carolina, according to details first shared with CBS News.” TRAVELOGUE — “Ron DeSantis posts video from S.F. street corner, says liberals have failed ‘once great city,’” by San Francisco Chronicle’s Jordan Parker: “In California for a fundraising tour Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a stop in San Francisco to promote his presidential campaign, posting a video on social media saying ‘leftist policies’ have ruined ‘the once great city.’ In a one-minute video on his official Twitter account, DeSantis stood at the corner of Geary Boulevard and Hyde Street and, with garbage and graffiti visible in the background and cars zooming by, said, ‘We’re here in the once great city of San Francisco. We came in here and we saw people defecating on the street, we saw people using heroin, we saw people smoking crack cocaine.’”
|  Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his family take the stage at the 8th Annual Basque Fry at the Corley Ranch in Gardnerville, Nev., on June 17, 2023. | Andy Barron/AP Photo | BEHIND CLOSED DOORS — “Gov. Ron DeSantis used secretive panel to flip state Supreme Court,” by The Washington Post’s Beth Reinhard and Josh Dawsey: “The governor is battling to keep private the names of the other advisers who worked with [Leonard] Leo in a court case that could have sweeping ramifications for access to government records in Florida. But people familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the confidential panel, confirmed several participants to The Washington Post. The elite group of conservatives included a former U.S. senator from Florida and Chris Kise, now a top member of Trump’s defense team in his classified records case.” — DeSantis world makes Massachusetts moves, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky — “DeSantis, Trump to make dueling stops in crucial presidential primary state in 2024 showdown,” by Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO — “Trump says DeSantis attacks are personal, calls him ‘disloyal’ for running against him: ‘I got him elected,’” by Fox News’ Yael Halon: “Trump, who is battling DeSantis for the GOP presidential nomination, was discussing the COVID response of several Republican governors when he invoked the Florida governor's nickname, ‘Rob DeSanctimonious’ during the second part of the hour-long interview that aired Tuesday on 'Special Report.' ‘Why do you use that name?' [Bret] Baier interjected. ‘I got him elected,’ Trump replied. ‘And I thought it was very disloyal when he said ‘Yes, I’d run.’ I got him past two races. I’m a big loyalist,’ Trump continued. ‘Some people right here in this room tell me ‘sir don’t worry about loyalty, it doesn’t mean anything in politics.’ I said, to me it does. I got the guy elected.’” — Judge sets tentative trial date for Trump documents case, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney — “Trump real estate deal in Oman underscores ethics concerns,” by The New York Times’ Eric Lipton — “‘The indictment isn’t it’: Why Trump keeps his primary lead as opponents stall,” by The Messenger’s Marc Caputo and Tom LoBianco — “Donald Trump team turns post-arraignment Versailles visit into campaign ad,” by Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | FOR YOUR RADAR — “Florida Supreme Court weigh dispute over death penalty law change,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders: “After Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature this spring eliminated a requirement for unanimous jury recommendations before death sentences can be imposed, the Florida Supreme Court said Tuesday it will decide whether the new law should apply to resentencing proceedings for two men convicted of committing murders in 1997. The Supreme Court issued stays in the Wakulla County cases of Jason Looney and Guerry Hertz after their attorneys appealed a decision by Circuit Judge J. Layne Smith that would allow the new law to apply. The law allows death sentences to be imposed based on the recommendations of eight of 12 jurors — an easier standard than requiring unanimity.” AHEM — “Why Florida’s new insurance commissioner is optimistic about rates,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GOP EDGE INCREASES — The Florida Division of Elections on Tuesday posted updated voter registration numbers that show Republicans now have a nearly 500,000 lead over Democrats among active registered voters. Republicans had a nearly 473,000 edge at the end of April and that increased to more than 496,000 by the end of May. There are more than 14.4 million active registered voters in the state overall. Nearly 37 percent are Republicans, more than 33 percent are Democrats and just under 30 percent are either registered with no party affiliation or belong to a minor party. DEBATE WATCH — Your guide to the first Republican presidential primary debate, by POLITICO’s Kelly Garrity — “‘Sedition panda’ files for 2024 Citrus County Commission seat,” by Florida Politics’ Mike Wright
| | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | STILL STRUGGLING — “‘Adds insult to injury’: Florida insurance complaints rise in the wake of Hurricane Ian,” by WESH’s Greg Fox: “New numbers continue to paint a grim picture for property owners after Hurricane Ian devastated communities across the state. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation says ‘insured’ losses from the storm are now up to $16.7 billion, according to a report released on June 16. Statewide, claims have increased to 738,441. Of those, 104,614 remain open, and 190,254 have been closed with no payment from insurance companies.” ‘MIND-BOGGLING’ — “‘The Atlantic is definitely on fire’: Unusually hot ocean sparks up early hurricane season,” by Miami Herald’s Alex Harris: “The Atlantic Ocean is hot right now. Hotter than it’s supposed to be for this time of year, and hot enough to worry scientists — particularly ones who monitor hurricanes. Those higher-than-normal temperatures help explain why the National Hurricane Center’s tracking map on Tuesday looked a lot more like a snapshot from August than June. It shows two brewing systems east of the Lesser Antilles, including one that has already reached tropical storm strength, Bret. Named storms in June are rare and past ones have typically popped in the Gulf of Mexico or near the Atlantic coast.”
| | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | ‘IN CLEAR SIGHT’ — “Deputy at Parkland shooting would have seen the bodies if he opened door, officer testifies,” by Associated Press’ Terry Spencer: “A former Florida sheriff’s deputy who says he couldn’t pinpoint the shooter during the Parkland high school massacre would have seen bodies if he opened a building’s door instead of backing away, a police officer testified Tuesday at the deputy’s trial. Sunrise Police Lt. Craig Cardinale said when he arrived at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School from his nearby home, he immediately ran to the three-story 1200 building because that’s where his son was attending class, ignoring the direction of Broward County deputies who told him it was too dangerous.”
|  Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson is shown at the defense table during his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, June 20. | Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | THIS COULD BE A BIG DEAL — “Beijing plans a new training facility in Cuba, raising prospect of Chinese troops on America’s doorstep,” by Wall Street Journal’s Warren P. Strobel, Gordon Lubold, Vivian Salama and Michael R. Gordon: “China and Cuba are negotiating to establish a new joint military training facility on the island, sparking alarm in Washington that it could lead to the stationing of Chinese troops and other security and intelligence operations just 100 miles off Florida’s coast, according to current and former U.S. officials. Discussions for the facility on Cuba’s northern coast are at an advanced stage but not concluded, U.S. intelligence reports suggest. The Biden administration has contacted Cuban officials to try to forestall the deal, seeking to tap in to what it thinks might be Cuban concerns about ceding sovereignty.” Reaction — Some members of Congress reacted sharply to the latest story about Cuba-China cooperation. Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar issued a joint statement with California Republican Young Kim that said “this development cannot be ignored” and that “this latest revelation highlights the danger the Cuban communist regime poses to the United States. Cuba is housing troops for overseas adversaries just like at the height of the Cold War.” NO TANGO — Florida school district and state ed leaders sued over restricting kids book on penguins, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: A group of students alongside the authors of a children’s book centered on a penguin family with two fathers sued a central Florida school district and top state education officials Tuesday claiming that limiting its availability is a violation of free expression. The lawsuit, one of several challenging Florida’s policies for launching local book objections, aims to require Lake County officials to make the book — “And Tango Makes Three” — available to all students. — “DOH Martin County issues toxic algae health alert for Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie Canal,” by Treasure Coast Newspapers' Ed Killer — “Pinellas teachers challenge 2 school board members tied to Moms of Liberty,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek — “Section of south Broward under quarantine after giant African land snail found in Miramar,” by CBS Miami’s Ted Scouten — “Ryan Serhant of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing real estate firm sued,” by Palm Beach Post’s Alexandra Clough
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “Tampa woman left her mansion and an inheritance to 7 cats,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Paul Guzzo: “That’s true, said Sherry Silk, executive director of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, and, for nearly six months, the cats remained in the 4,000-square-foot South Tampa home that the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser website says has a market value of $2.5 million. Someone stopped by a few times a day to check on them, but a Hillsborough County probate judge decided that it was best if the cats found new homes, said Silk, whose organization has had the felines for a month. ‘Cats shouldn’t be left by themselves in a big house. I am going to personally make sure that we can keep as many together as we can and that they go to the perfect house.’” BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Linda Chaney … State Rep. Chuck Clemons … former Rep. Jim Bacchus … (Birthweek) Gregg Birnbaum, editor and journalism professor (was Tuesday) | | | | 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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