| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Turn it on — The brighter spotlight on Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is bringing with it closer scrutiny of his administration —and along with it a fresh round of complaints and targeted responses coming from political rivals. Here and there — The action is coming on multiple fronts. Rep. Maxwell Frost announced late last evening that after getting rebuffed by the GOP-controlled House that he has put together an “emergency ad hoc hearing” on what his office is calling “anti-Democratic abuses” in Florida. The hearing will be held today at noon in Washington, D.C., by Frost and several other Democratic members of Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Now appearing — Among those scheduled to appear at this event (which is probably akin to a press conference) will be state Rep. Anna Eskamani, suspended Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren and Brian Covey, a former Duval County substitute teacher who posted video of empty bookshelves at a middle school. Long list — In a (19-page!) memo sent to other members, Frost — who recently made news when he said “F--- Ron DeSantis” onstage during a Paramore concert — said that both he and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) asked House Republicans to hold a hearing into the effort by Florida to “undermine democracy” by the legislative and executive branches but that they received no response. The memo catalogues Frost’s complaints about DeSantis. A different F word — Frost also writes that “through these actions, members of the Florida legislative and executive branches have collaborated to consolidate power, punish dissent, and strip the rights and freedoms of Floridians. Together, these three steps are characteristic of creating a fascist state and are antithetical to the principles and practices of democracy.” And there’s this — While this is going on, the DeSantis administration is getting hit with complaints filed by the Florida Democratic Party over actions by three aides in the governor’s office, including chief of staff James Uthmeier. What’s going on — The complaints filed with the state’s ethics and elections commission highlight recent reporting by news outlets about whether Uthmeier and other staffers solicited presidential campaign contributions from lobbyists and solicited endorsements for DeSantis’ White House bid. “These allegations represent a gross violation of state laws and ethics,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, “and we could not in good conscience ignore them.” Rebuttal — Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for DeSantis, responded to the Democratic Party complaints: “Adding this to the list of politically motivated attacks. We know the great work he’s accomplished as governor. If the executive team wants to fundraise, knock doors, or volunteer their free time, more power to them – they have First Amendment rights like every American.” — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is holding a press conference in Tampa with Attorney General Ashley Moody, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz and State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. He is also scheduled to be in North Augusta, S.C., for a presidential campaign event. 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 | | DEPARTURE ZONE — Two top aides to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are leaving the governor’s office. Both Stephanie Kopelousos, the governor’s long-time director of legislative and intergovernmental affairs, and Taryn Fenske, the communications director, are departing. Playbook was told that both would be assisting DeSantis’ bid for the White House in some capacity. Fenske has been DeSantis’ top communications staffer for more than two years and came over from the Department of Education. During the 2018 cycle she worked as the Florida communications director for the Republican National Committee. Kopelousos, who is from Jacksonville, worked on Capitol Hill before heading to Tallahassee. She served as Department of Transportation secretary under then-Gov. Charlie Crist. After Gov. Rick Scott was elected in 2010, she returned to northeast Florida where she was hired as Clay County manager. DeSantis tapped her as his legislative affairs director in December 2018. Kopelousos is also one of three aides mentioned in newly-filed ethics complaints against the DeSantis administration this week by Democrats. It's not clear who will succeed either Kopelousos or Fenske. But DeSantis’ Wednesday schedule showed that he was meeting with Deputy Communications Director Jason Mahon. The DeSantis administration announced in late May that Alex Kelly, who has been deputy chief of staff, would be leaving to become secretary of the newly reconfigured Department of Commerce. COSTS MORE THAN AN PS5 — “DeSantis donor supplied golf simulator for “Governor’s Cabana’ and private flights,” by The Washington Post’s Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, Nate Jones, Michael Scherer and Alice Crites: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s wealthy donors and supporters lent a golf simulator to the Governor’s Mansion and provided private flights to fundraisers and other political events, according to records obtained by The Washington Post. The golf simulator came from Mori Hosseini, a major home builder who chairs the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees and lent the device to the Governor’s Mansion in DeSantis’s first year in office, according to documents released to The Post in response to a public records request.” Response — “In an emailed statement, DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said, “As with all donations, it was accepted and coordinated by staff and approved by legal counsel. Donations to the residence and grounds have been received over many administrations. It will remain in the state’s possession for the use of first families, their guests, and staff as it is now.” OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS — “Some raise ethical questions as DeSantis campaigns while governing,” by Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos, Alex Roarty and Mary Ellen Klas: “But DeSantis’ pursuit of a presidential bid has Republicans and Democrats questioning whether he values the traditional separation between his role as the governor for all of Florida, and his role as the candidate seeking the GOP nomination for president. Those questions have led to a state ethics complaint and a state elections complaint against DeSantis and his aides, who have been seen as increasingly blurring the lines between official state business and political work meant to advance DeSantis’ political aspirations.”
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Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at an annual Basque Fry at the Corley Ranch in Gardnerville, Nev., Saturday, June 17, 2023. | Andy Barron/AP Photo | DESANTIS WEIGHS IN ON CUBA NEWS — During yet another exchange with a friendly conservative outlet on Wednesday evening, Gov. DeSantis touched on the news that China is engaged in active conversations with Cuba about creating a new joint military training facility on the island nation. “That’s a huge, huge threat to this country,” said DeSantis during his interview with Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany. DeSantis also said that President Joe Biden had “projected weakness” in his dealings with China. Earlier this month the Biden administration admitted China had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, after initially saying that the reporting on negotiations over such a base by The Wall Street Journal, POLITICO and other outlets was “inaccurate.” R-E-A-C-T — DeSantis inspires New Jersey ‘academic freedom’ bill, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: In a move inspired by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a trio of New Jersey Democrats have proposed mandating that state colleges and universities appoint an “academic freedom advocate.” “Across the nation, there has been an increase in recent years in efforts to stifle ideas, silence debate, and limit the autonomy of institutions of higher education whose faculty, staff, or students may disagree with political officials,” states the bill, which was introduced Tuesday by Assemblymembers Reginald Atkins (D-Union), Mila Jasey and Shanique Speight (both D-Essex). Jasey chairs the Assembly Higher Education Committee. — “DeSantis’ Disney board adopts ‘new culture’ whistleblower rules,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher — “Ron DeSantis roasts Gavin Newsom as California residents flee: ‘People vote with their feet,’” by Fox News’ Maria Lencki — “Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says DeSantis campaign is ‘close to being over,’” by The Messenger’s Aneeta Mathur-Ashton
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | RULING — Federal judge knocks down Florida’s Medicaid ban on gender-affirming treatment, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: This latest decision, however, is not just limited to those who brought a lawsuit against the state. It applies to the mammoth, multibillion-dollar safety net health care program that is paid for by a mix of state and federal tax dollars. Those who filed the initial legal challenge estimated that up to 9,000 Medicaid enrollees in Florida are transgender. “There is no rational basis for a state to categorically ban these treatments or exclude them from the state’s Medicaid coverage,” stated [U.S. District Judge Robert] Hinkle, who was first appointed to the court by former President Bill Clinton. WHERE THINGS STAND 1 YEAR LATER — Florida’s abortion access hinges on conservative court overhauled by DeSantis, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: There is no set time when the Florida Supreme Court will act, but abortion-rights advocates are anticipating the court will allow recently passed restrictions to remain in place, including a ban on abortions at six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion-rights advocates are already focused on gathering voter signatures to place a citizen initiative on next year’s ballot. “The majority supports protecting abortion rights. Waiting for the courts to save us is not realistic,” said Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who once worked for Planned Parenthood. Status report — The group must gather nearly 900,000 signatures in order to qualify for the ballot. Organizers say they have collected roughly 240,000, though none have been officially certified by election officials. MEANWHILE — The Democratic National Committee announced that ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that rescinded Roe v. Wade it is launching a paid media campaign in Florida to highlight the stakes of the 2024 presidential election and abortion rights. The DNC is putting up a billboard in Tallahassee that will say “No to Republican Abortion bans.” The party is also launching digital ads on Facebook, Instagram and other places that highlight what GOP candidates are saying about abortion.
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | LED BY LUNA — House GOP votes to censure Schiff over role in Trump investigations, by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), the sponsor of the resolution, and other conservatives tried to advance a similar censure measure last week, but 20 Republicans — objecting to language that could have resulted in a $16 million fine for Schiff, unless he resigned from Congress — joined most Democrats to sink it before it came up for a full House vote. Luna removed that provision to allay their concerns. — “Greg Steube introduces bill to abolish Patriot Act,” by The Floridian’s Jim McCool
| | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | FINAL WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION — “‘Anything to get kids to safety’: Detective who arrested Parkland gunman testifies in ex-deputy’s trial,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Rafael Olmeda: “Two veteran police officers sat on opposite sides of the courtroom Wednesday, the first insisting he did everything he could, based on what he knew at the time, to prevent one of the worst tragedies in Broward County history, and the other telling a jury that the first officer failed. Prosecutors rested their child neglect case against former Broward Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson Wednesday, calling to the stand one final witness — the deputy who arrested Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School gunman Nikolas Cruz after the 2018 murders of 17 people. Another 17 were injured.” — “Flagler School Board votes 3-2 against proposed Guardian program to arm school staff,” by The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Brenno Carillo
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | FALLOUT — “Florida advances new entrance exam for public universities,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Divya Kumar: “Florida’s public universities will likely be adding one more standardized test to be used as an entrance exam, adding to the SAT and ACT tests that have been accepted for years….The test emerged as an option earlier this year after DeSantis became embroiled in an ongoing feud with the College Board, the company that administers the SAT and operates the Advanced Placement high school curriculum.” — “George Floyd protester shot in the face with rubber bullet scores a victory in legal fight with Fort Lauderdale,” by Miami Herald’s Camellia Burris — “Worrell’s office drops more felony charges against minors than any other in Florida, report says,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Christopher Cann — “Far-right groups ‘actively working’ to replace Karen Rose on Sarasota school board,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Steven Walker — “CEO of company that owns missing Titanic tour sub faces fraud lawsuit by Winter Park couple,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Silas Morgan — “Tampa General CEO John Couris signs new 10-year contract to lead hospital,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Christopher O’Donnell
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