| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout and Kimberly Leonard | Hello and welcome to Thursday. King Harvest (has surely come) — Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz was supposed to be in Miami Gardens this evening for a town hall, appearing at an event put together by State Sens. Shevrin Jones and Rosalind Osgood and Miami-Dade School Board Member Steve Gallon to discuss the state’s controversial new African American history standards. Across the great divide — Those standards, particularly the parts dealing with slavery, have already generated plenty of backlash and sparked sharp exchanges all the way from Washington to Iowa from Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Rep. Byron Donalds. The shape I’m in — Diaz, however, now says he won’t be coming. So why not? Well, Diaz (on social media at least) said last night that he can’t attend because he’s going to be “visiting schools throughout the state” welcoming students and teachers during the first day of school. Diaz said he told Jones this last week. To kingdom come — Well, what’s interesting about this change in plans is that Jones said Diaz agreed back on July 23 to come to the town hall. So, in other words, Diaz said yes when back-to-school dates were already locked down and known. Of course since then the debate over the standards have gotten a lot of attention for Florida … and especially DeSantis. Stage fright — Jones for his part said it was “deeply disappointing that Commissioner Diaz now lacks the will and courage to defend his Department’s misguided curriculum changes. Instead, the Commissioner and DeSantis’ administration have once again turned their back on the largest Black city in the state and shown who they are working for: not us. The people deserve answers, with or without the Commissioner, and we encourage community members to attend to ask questions and voice concern over these guidelines.” The weight — Look, there’s no doubt that Diaz would have been outnumbered at the event being held at a large church where a big crowd is expected. And there’s no doubt it would have gotten a lot of media attention in South Florida. So much for that. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is participating in another bus tour in Iowa, which includes a stop in Coralville. He is also planning on joining the Ruthless podcast in Des Moines. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
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REMOVED — “DeSantis suspends another elected prosecutor in move derided as ‘politically motivated,’” by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday once again suspended an elected Florida prosecutor from office, this time removing a central Florida Democrat that the Republican governor contended was too lenient with criminals and was endangering the public….“We had a duty to act to prevent this dereliction of duty,” DeSantis said. “Prosecutors do have a certain amount of discretion about which charges to bring. What this state attorney has done is abuse that discretion and has effectively nullified certain laws in the state of Florida.”
Response — Worrell, who talked the media just outside the Orange County courthouse on Wednesday, called DeSantis a tyrant and said she remained a “duly elected” prosecutor who the governor removed for political reasons. “This is simply a smokescreen for Ron DeSantis’ failing and disastrous presidential campaign,” Worrell said. “He needed to get back in the media in some positive way that would be red meat for his base.” The action came just one day after DeSantis reshuffled his presidential campaign, as he tries to close the gap between himself and former President Donald Trump. A PATTERN — “‘Authoritarian’ or ‘brave?’ DeSantis aggressively uses power to suspend elected Democrats from office,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man: “Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of the prosecutor in Orlando is drawing attention to his repeated use of his executive authority to remove local officials whose policies he disagrees with, but who have not been charged with crimes. Unlike previous Florida governors of both parties, who used their power under the Florida Constitution to suspend elected officials when they were charged with breaking the law, DeSantis has repeatedly removed elected officials for political and policy reasons.” — “Who is Andrew Bain? Federalist Society judge picked by DeSantis to replace Monique Worrell,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Jeff Weiner CAMPAIGN DROPS AD — The official campaign of Gov. DeSantis has released a biographical ad that emphasizes DeSantis’ military service while also calling him “the fighter we need as president.” See the ad here. MOUSE TRAP — Disney held an hourlong earnings call on Wednesday where CEO Bob Iger talked about streaming service price hikes, theme park attendance (apparently a bit “soft” in Florida due to an end to “pent-up demand” following Covid-19 and the end of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary), the ongoing Hollywood strikes, ESPN, etc., etc. Iger, however, did not weigh in on the ongoing legal feud between Gov. DeSantis and Disney. The call did come the same day that lawyers for the Republican governor and the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board filed their latest response in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Tallahassee. The filing on behalf of DeSantis contends that there are multiple reasons to dismiss the lawsuit, including that the state is protected by sovereign immunity, the governor has immunity over legislative actions he pursues and that the governor is the wrong person to sue. | 
Bob Iger poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' at the 76th international film festival, Cannes on May 18, 2023. | Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP Photo |
DON’T FOLLOW THE MONEY — “DeSantis, with a subtle maneuver, hides his small-dollar donations,” by The New York Times’ Rebecca Davis O’Brien and Shane Goldmacher: “When WinRed, the company that processes nearly all online Republican campaign contributions, recently released its enormous trove of donor data for the first half of the year, donations were conspicuously absent for one presidential candidate: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. It was no technical glitch. The DeSantis campaign worked with WinRed in a way that prevented the disclosure of donor information, ensuring that the campaign’s small donors would remain anonymous, according to a person familiar with the campaign.”
COMING ATTRACTIONS — “‘Like a boxing match’: Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom embrace ‘risk’ in surprise debate,” by NBC News’ Allan Smith: “As political strategists on both sides of the aisle told NBC News, DeSantis’ acceptance was not coming from a place of strength; he agreed to the challenge as his poll numbers have been trailing off and he seeks to reset his campaign. What’s more, the one-on-one showdown carries considerable risk for the Florida governor, these strategists said, should he stumble or falter in the setting. With Newsom not running for president, DeSantis is taking time to confront an opponent who isn’t actually an opponent for 2024.” — “DeSantis’ ‘terrible summer’: Donors, experts see narrowing path to overtake Trump,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
SENDING A MESSAGE — “Trump to visit Iowa State Fair with Florida Republicans who endorsed him over Ron DeSantis,” by Des Moines Register’s Brianne Pfannenstiel and Galen Bacharier: “Former President Donald Trump will visit the Iowa State Fair Saturday with a bevy of congressional endorsers in tow — not high-profile Iowans, but nine Florida Republicans who have backed him over his chief rival and fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump's campaign confirmed to the Des Moines Register that Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Carlos Gimenez, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, Anna Paulina Luna, Greg Steube and Mike Waltz will all be traveling with Trump to the Iowa State Fair and will be with him through the day.”
MORE DETAILS — “Special counsel obtained search warrant for Trump’s Twitter account,” by The New York Times’ Alan Feuer: “Prosecutors working for Jack Smith, the special counsel who has twice brought indictments against former President Donald J. Trump, obtained a search warrant early this year for Mr. Trump’s long-dormant Twitter account as part of their inquiry into his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, according to court papers unsealed on Wednesday.” — “Trump is running a TV ad in Atlanta criticizing the DA investigating him,” by NBC News’ Jake Traylor — “Trump seeks to review classified evidence at his own secure facility,” by The New York Times’ Alan Feuer — “Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign plans collide with strategy to stay out of jail,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Alex Leary | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
ROAD TO NOWHERE — “Why Miami-Dade may lose control of Dolphin Expressway in state takeover of toll roads,” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks: “In an interview, [attorney Gene] Stearns called the Leon County suit an end-run against the legal battle [Miami-Dade Expressway Authority] was already winning in Miami-Dade, where a judge ruled the [Greater Miami Expressway Agency] takeover violates the county’s Home Rule independence that prevents Tallahassee from dictating local affairs. ‘The behavior of the DeSantis administration is little more than what you’d expect from Fidel Castro and dictators in Latin America,’ Stearns said. ‘This is socialism.’”
NEVER MIND THEN — “Florida says AP psychology course meets state law as-is, adding clarity,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek: “With discontent swirling over school districts canceling the popular Advanced Placement psychology course this fall, Florida education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. sent a memo to superintendents late Wednesday aimed at explaining why they can keep the class. The course, typically taken by thousands of Florida students, had been caught up in controversy over whether its unit on gender identity and sexual orientation complied with state law restricting such lessons.” — “CFO Patronis goes after Gov. Pritzker over abolishing cash bail in IL, says it’s ‘pure insanity,’” by Florida Phoenix’s Mitch Perry | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
— “Two is a crowd for Democrats looking to take on Rick Scott without a primary first,” by Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat
— “‘Ghost’ candidate in Osceola County Commissioner race found guilty, sentenced to jail,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Natalia Jaramillo
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— “Sen. Marco Rubio asks NCAA to reconsider waiver for Florida State DL Darrell Jackson,” by Warchant.com’s Ira Schoffel
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
DON GAETZ AND THE FUTURE OF LOBBYING — A federal judge on Wednesday struck down some of the lobbying restrictions passed by voters in 2018, although the ruling does not apply to a six-year post-office lobbying ban that triggered some high ranking officials in the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis to step down at the end of last year.
Former Senate President Don Gaetz, working on the state’s constitutional revision commission, pushed to get an amendment on the ballot that would impose new ethics requirements on elected officials and those in high-ranking positions in state government. One part of that amendment prohibited current elected officials from getting paid to lobby another government body, such as a legislator getting paid to lobby the federal government or a city commission. The lobbying restrictions were challenged late last year by a handful of local officials, including Miami-Dade Commissioner Rene Garcia, a former state senator. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, placed a temporary injunction on the new law back in February and issued a final ruling this week. “Florida’s lobbying restrictions impermissibly violated the First Amendment rights of our clients and countless other local elected officials around the state,” said Scott Hiaasen, an attorney who represented Garcia and others. “We are pleased that the court recognized that Florida’s restrictions went too far.” It’s not clear if the state plans to appeal the decision. Kerrie Stillman, the executive director of Florida’s Commission on Ethics and one of those sued, said in an email that “we are reviewing the Judge’s order in the case and will be working closely with our legal counsel to determine next steps.” — “Former Joel Greenberg associate gets prison term for COVID-19 loan fraud,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Martin E. Comas — “Lawsuit filed seeking increased federal protections for gopher tortoises,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders — “High ocean temperatures are harming the Florida coral reef. Rescue crews are racing to help,” by Associated Press’ Daniel Kozin, Wilfredo Lee and Freida Frisaro | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— “It’s over: $1.6B largest Mega Millions jackpot winning ticket is sold at a Florida Publix,” by Florida Times-Union’s Scott Butler
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