| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout and Kimberly Leonard | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. My old school — As students across the state get ready to head back to school, the fallout from the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature’s and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to revamp school standards and reading materials the last two years continues to generate confusion and headlines across the state. My rival — There was the bitter back-and-forth over the state’s newly adopted African American history standards and slavery that sparked criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris and generated pushback from DeSantis, including again on an NBC News interview on Monday where the governor said that if this was happening in a "different state" that "no one would have said anything." But that's just one part of what's going on. Do it again — Late last week the College Board and the Florida Department of Education — which clashed earlier this year — had yet another flare-up over a popular Advanced Placement Psychology course. The College Board said state education officials had contended parts of the course conflicted with the state’s Parental Rights in Education Law that limits teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation. But then Education Commissioner Manny Diaz said the high school course could be taught in its entirety in a manner that is “age and developmentally appropriate." Time out of mind — But, but, but …. the Orlando Sentinel reported Monday that did not assuage many districts who decided they won’t offer the course in order to make sure they won’t run afoul of new state laws. “It’s very confusing,” Orange County Superintendent Maria Vazquez told the Sentinel. “We don’t want to add on more stress to our teachers.” Reeling in the years — Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Hillsborough County schools plan to offer only excerpts, not the full text, of William Shakespeare’s works for several reasons, because it too could run against new state education laws. Sticking to excerpts would steer clear of anything sexual. “There’s some raunchiness in Shakespeare,” Joseph Cool, a reading teacher at Gaither High School told the Times. “Because that’s what sold tickets during his time.” Home at last — Another new law requires all campuses to digitally chronicle each book shelved and available for students in classroom libraries. That has prompted school districts to spend tens of thousands on a third-party vendor to screen books, POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury points out. Oh, and while all of this confusion continues to churn through the schools across the state now there's a federal investigation looking at the Florida Department of Education's handling of a multimillion-dollar bid to oversee a north Florida school district. Hmm. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to attend a fundraiser luncheon in the Kansas City, Mo., metro area. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | A NEW PODCAST FROM POLITICO: Our new POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy around the world. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and cybersecurity, POLITICO Tech explores how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, innovations and industries that will matter tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY. | | | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | |
FEC WARNING LETTER — Federal election regulators sent a letter over the weekend to the presidential campaign of Gov. Ron DeSantis raising questions about contributions listed in the campaign’s first fundraising report. The letter included 46 pages of contributions that the FEC said appeared to exceed federal campaign contributions limits. Federal law limits individual contributions to $3,300 per election, but candidates can accept contributions for both the primary and the general election, meaning that someone could give up to $6,600 at the same time. It appears that contributions flagged by the Federal Election Commission were lumped into one election category and that the campaign will need to redesignate them.
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Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a fundraising event for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo |
HELP WANTED — “DeSantis still can’t find enough employees for his voter fraud crackdown,” by The Intercept’s Akela Lacy: “The current vacant roles include a senior attorney, assistant director, and four government operations consultants. The office is also hiring for a program director.”
— “Ron DeSantis tours Wichita State’s National Institute for Aviation Research facility,” by The Wichita Eagle’s Matthew Kelly — “Donald Trump camp fires back after Ron DeSantis says ‘of course’ Trump lost in 2020,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
TROUBLE FOR DESANTIS PICK — The lead agency that oversees key Florida affordable housing programs in the state is without a leader after Michael DiNapoli, executive director of the Florida Housing Finance Corp,was placed on paid leave and is being investigated by an inspector general, reported John Kennedy with USA Today Network-Florida. Kennedy reported that “sources say the investigation focuses on questions about DiNapoli’s management and accusations that he’s created a hostile work environment at FHFC, which has more than 130 employees.” (For what it’s worth FHFC — an organization in charge of hundreds of millions in taxpayer money — did not initially comment, or even acknowledge, that DiNapoli has been placed on leave until after the story was published. Multiple news organizations sought information about this in the past week.)
DiNapoli, who used to work for the former Department of Economic Opportunity, was brought to lead the organization earlier this year at the suggestion of DeSantis. The Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower reported that DiNapoli fired two high-level officials with the corporation. Marie Mattox, a Tallahassee attorney representing Sheila Freaney, the FHFC liaison to its board of directors, told the Times that Freaney was fired after reporting “wrongdoing” about irregular spending practices and use of a state credit card. HMM — “Fabián Basabe references Kevin Spacey verdict to allude to his own legal plight,” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner SCHOOL DAZE — “In DeSantis’ Fla., schools get OK for climate-denial videos,” by E&E News’ Scott Waldman: “Climate activists are like Nazis. Wind and solar power pollute the Earth and make life miserable. Recent global and local heat records reflect natural temperature cycles. These are some of the themes of children’s videos produced by an influential conservative advocacy group. Now, the videos could soon be used in Florida’s classrooms. Florida’s Department of Education has approved the classroom use of material from the Prager University Foundation, a conservative group that produces videos that distort science, history, gender and other topics.” | | | | 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. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
— Trump objects to strict limits on sharing evidence in election interference case, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney
— Trump and his new lawyer are not on the same page about judge’s recusal, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney — “Trump cheers the defeat of Rapinoe and the U.S. Women’s soccer team,” by The New York Times’ Maggie Astor — “Judge tosses Trump’s defamation suit against writer who sexual abuse lawsuit against him,” by Associated Press’ Jennifer Peltz — “Married couple in the Florida Keys accused of involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot,” by FLKeysNews.com’s David Goodhue | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
MR. SOCIAL MEDIA — Digital ad digest: Pro-Suarez super PAC is outspending the field on Meta, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro: A super PAC supporting Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s longshot presidential campaign is quietly becoming one of the largest political spenders on Meta’s platforms. Over the last 90 days, SOS America PAC has spent nearly $1.1 million on ads on Facebook and Instagram. The group has outspent every other outside group and campaign focused on the presidential election in that time period on Meta, save for President Joe Biden’s reelection effort. Roughly half of that spending has come in the last week alone, as the super PAC pushes people to donate to Suarez to help get him on the stage for the first Republican National Committee-sanctioned primary debate later this month.
Getting closer? — Suarez, meanwhile,announced on social media on Monday evening that he has more than 40,000 donors — which is one of the thresholds he must cross in order to qualify for the first Republican debate scheduled for Aug. 23. ”In less than six weeks my team and I have quite literally gone from zero to a hundred and we are confident that I will be on the debate stage in two weeks. If my party wants to beat Joe Biden, then we need to build a bigger and better tent, and I believe I can attract the Hispanic and suburban voters pivotal to winning back Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania that no other candidate can.” A big question, however, is whether Suarez can meet the polling requirements in place. So far eight candidates have qualified for the debate. — “Controversial state Senate race was in 2020. ‘Ghost candidate’ trial is set for 2024,” by Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
IN THE GOVERNOR’S BACKYARD — Wakulla Springs is located roughly 20 miles south of the governor’s mansion and its crystal-clear water has been a backdrop for Hollywood films stretching back decades. But lately a bitter zoning dispute over a gas station proposed near the springs has been shining a spotlight on how Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature have altered the state’s environmental laws, reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie.
DeSantis frequently has touted his environmental bonafides, particularly as it relates to Everglades restoration and water quality in other parts of the state. But critics say the governor and Legislature have altered environmental laws so dramatically that regular citizens are now nearly powerless to challenge developers. In years past, opponents would have mounted a legal challenge against the project. But that’s a much more risky endeavor under the "loser pays" law change approved earlier this year by the Legislature. The Wakulla County Commission on Monday evening postponed a vote on land use and zoning changes that would have allowed the gas station — which some view as a threat to the springs — to move forward. Commissioners expressed support for the state buying the land after Chair Ralph Thomas said he spoke with state Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe) about the state's interest in acquiring the property. Some want state leaders to step up to protect the springs — which are located inside a state park. | 
A tour boat glides over Wakulla Springs, April 2021. | Bruce Ritchie/POLITICO |
BUILD IT AND … — “Florida State Guard’s $10 million headquarters to include gun ranges, offices and more,” by Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos and Emma Rose Brown: “Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Florida State Guard is expected to spend $10 million to build its new headquarters in a sprawling plot of land in northeast Florida, complete with administrative offices, a firearms range and a tactical shooting house. Construction for the new facility has not started yet as the lease between the State Guard and Flagler County has to be finalized. But on Monday, county officials indicated support for a 30-year lease agreement at no cost to the state, as long as the space is shared with local public safety agencies.”
— “Anna Paulina Luna continues fight with feds over Pinellas beach renourishment,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Jack Prator — “Escambia’s fighting for control of 60,000 texts a commissioner claims were ‘stolen’ by a rival,” by Pensacola News Journal’s Jim Little — “Brightline delays Miami-Orlando service start by 2 weeks,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Kevin Spear | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— “Hialeah councilman’s family sues city, former mayor over raid of their strip club,” by El Nuevo Herald’s Verónica Egui Brito: “Close family members of Hialeah Council Member Jesús Tundidor are suing the city government and former Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernández for a raid of their strip club two years ago. According to the civil suit filed in federal court, the action carried out by the Hialeah Police under the orders of then-mayor Hernández was ‘retaliation for the Tundidors’ support of a family member’s unsanctioned bid for political office in Hialeah.’ ‘Using his political machine and the resources available to him as mayor, Hernández acted as a powerful gatekeeper of the seven seats on the City Council,’ the lawsuit states.”
BIRTHDAYS: Former state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez … Slater Bayliss with The Advocacy Partners
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