| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout and Kimberly Leonard | CHALLENGE ACCEPTED — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has agreed to debate California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Fox News. “I’m game,” DeSantis told Sean Hannity on live TV late last night. Newsom’s team said they’ve already floated two dates: Nov. 8 or 10. “DeSantis should put up or shut up,” a Newsom aide said. “Anything else is just games.” Good morning and thanks for starting your Thursday with us. A grim memorial — Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a South Florida Democrat who helped persuade GOP state legislators to take action in the immediate aftermath of the Parkland massacre, will step on to the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tomorrow with eight other members of Congress and several relatives who lost loved ones during the 2018 shooting. Reminder — The idea is simple: Have top policy makers see for themselves the building where 17 people were killed. Five of the members joining Moskowitz are Florida representatives including GOP Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and John Rutherford. Up close — In the days after the shootings several top Republicans traveled from Tallahassee to see the devastation in person. Although legislators could not enter the building because it was a crime scene, they still got a close-up view of the carnage and were briefed by police who explained how Nikolas Cruz tried to kill more people but was unable to shoot out the hurricane-proof glass on the third floor. Why it mattered — “I think that was the pivotal moment,” said Moskowitz, an alumnus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas. “If they had not seen the school personally and just saw the media footage from 1,000 feet away it would not have hit home.” Reaction — The Legislature — over the objections of the NRA — responded by passing a comprehensive bill that included raising the age to purchase a rifle in Florida and put in place a “red flag” law that allows police to ask a judge if they can remove guns from someone who is a threat to themselves or others. “No one lost their reelection,” said Moskowitz, who noted he’s tried to tell this to lawmakers in D.C. Reality check — That said, Moskowitz added: “I’m not naive. On Monday we won’t be passing legislation. That’s not how D.C. works. … It’s just important that other folks in D.C. and Congress go see what it looks like.” Why now — The first-term member of Congress said the idea of touring the site came from Max Schachter, whose son was among the 17 killed. The timing of the visit coincides with a reenactment of the 2018 shooting that was permitted as part of a civil lawsuit against Scot Peterson, the former Broward County school resource officer who did not enter the building or engage with Cruz that tragic day. End coming — The eventual plan is for Broward school officials to demolish the building, but Moskowitz said for now it is a “time capsule” and he wants more people to know the story about what happened and how Florida Republicans and Democrats responded. | | | | 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. | | | | |
— WHERE'S RON? — Scheduled to be in Tallahassee, and will hold a virtual press conference with South Carolina media.
|  | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | |
HAPPENING TODAY — Former President Donald Trump is expected to be arraigned at 4 p.m. at the Elijah Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in D.C., on four felony charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump is expected to appear in person, though since the pandemic the court sometimes allows virtual hearings.
— Trump faces latest charges, just steps from the Capitol his supporters stormed, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney — “D.C. prepares for Trump’s return, as a criminal defendant,” by The Washington Post’s Emily Davies, Ellie Silverman and Spencer S. Hsu WHAT TRUMP KNEW — “Heart of the Trump Jan. 6 indictment: What’s in Trump’s head,” by The Washington Post's Devlin Barrett and Josh Dawsey: “Trump’s trial for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election may hinge on a long-debated aspect of the former president’s mind-set: How much, or if, he believes his own false claims.” |  FILE - Former President Donald Trump gestures after speaking during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., June 10, 2023. The latest indictment of Donald Trump alleges the former president conspired to overturn the will of voters and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. Yet Trump's most devoted followers claim these serious criminal charges actually show that Trump is the victim of political persecution. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) | AP |
THE STAKES — “Should Trump go to jail? The 2024 election could become a referendum on that question,” by Associated Press’ Jill Colvin: “For Trump, who’s now facing his third criminal indictment — this time for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and block the transfer of presidential power — winning is about more than ego, redemption, score-settling or the future of the country. ‘This election may very well be about Donald Trump’s personal freedom,’ said Ari Fleischer, a longtime Republican strategist. ‘It’s not an exaggeration to say, if convicted, he could be sentenced to prison unless he wins and he uses the levers of justice to reverse it or stop it or drop it.’”
— 641 years behind bars? No, but Trump’s risk of prison is real, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden RUBIO’S TAKE — Wednesday’s newsletter included a roundup of reactions from Florida politicians about Trump’s indictment. When the letter went out, Sen. Marco Rubio hadn’t yet issued his statement about the indictment but did so midday, writing: “Apparently it is now a crime to make statements challenging election results if a prosecutor decides those statements aren’t true. So when should we expect indictments of the democrat politicians who falsely claimed Russia hacked the 2016 election?” RECALL — While the Russians did not alter any votes during that election Rubio confirmed in 2019 that hackers accessed a Florida county elections system and were “in a position” to change data on voter rolls. DeSantis later revealed the hackers tapped into the voter registration files of two Florida counties in 2016. “There was no manipulation, or anything, but there was voter data that was able to be got,” DeSantis said at the time. — “Special counsel asks if Nauta’s attorney has too many Mar-a-Lago clients,” by the Washington Post’s Perry Stein and Josh Dawsey — “Trump dines with Fox News executives after learning of third indictment,” by The New York Times’ Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman | | DESANTISLAND | |
TOSSED — Florida ethics commission rejects complaint lodged against top DeSantis aide, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: The ethics commission did not conduct a full-blown investigation prior to the vote, but concluded instead that there was not a legal justification to consider the complaint against Budget Director Chris Spencer, who asked a GOP legislator to endorse DeSantis in the presidential race. The panel’s decision — which came during a closed-door meeting last Friday — was bundled with other complaints and done by a voice vote with no debate.
DISNEY V. DESANTIS — A federal judge is signaling that he may ignore suggestions from attorneys for both DeSantis and the entertainment giant Disney over when their legal battle should head to trial. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, Trump appointee, said in a brief scheduling order that he wasn’t sure he found merit in the timelines put forward by either side. “It is not clear that either proposal is reasonable under the circumstances,” wrote Winsor this week. The feud between Disney and DeSantis has been going on for more than a year now, and is being waged on multiple fronts. Disney filed a federal lawsuit earlier this year that contended that actions by DeSantis and others are unconstitutional and retaliatory. Lawyers for the state have asked the judge to toss the lawsuit. In late June, lawyers filed a joint memo that contained suggested trial dates. Disney wants the case to head to trial in July 2024, when DeSantis could still be in the midst of a presidential campaign. But lawyers for the governor and the state suggested that the trial be held two years from now — in August 2025. Winsor said he will render a decision on timing after he rules on the motion to dismiss filed by the state. The filings on that motion must be completed by Aug. 9. | 
People visit the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., April 18, 2022. | Ted Shaffrey, File/AP Photo |
HAT TIP — It turns out the DeSantis rental car reservation that we highlighted in yesterday’s Florida Playbook was first reported at News 6 in Orlando, so we want to give credit where it’s due.
OWNING IT — We also solved a mystery about why the Chattanooga police incorrectly reported “government vehicles” had been involved in the crash. Kevin West, spokesman for the department, called Florida Playbook and said he’d made an “idiotic error” in his press release. What happened is that investigators told him that only the motorcade was involved in the crash. By that, they meant that other civilian cars in the area weren’t implicated. West said he wrote “government vehicles” in the press release but later realized that wasn’t accurate. The spokesman hasn’t heard from the DeSantis campaign about his mistake. “It’s all me,” he said. “I did it. I was the one.” LINGERING QUESTION: Was the bill for the rental cars — and now the towing and insurance claims — footed by Florida taxpayers or the DeSantis campaign? And how did the DeSantis campaign team get to the fundraiser (and subsequent others that day) if the cars were towed? Did they have to catch an Uber? Maybe we’ll have answers when the Federal Election Commission reports come out. — “Analysis: Most of DeSantis’ former billionaire backers aren’t supporting presidential PAC,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson — “Ron DeSantis’ spokesman used to love vaccines and Anthony Fauci,” by The Daily Beast’s Kelly Weill — “California Republicans invite Ron DeSantis to speak - one day after inviting Donald Trump,” by The Sacramento Bee’s Andrew Sheeler — “Ron DeSantis fumes about ‘frivolous’ federal spending after billions of dollars went to Florida,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski | | DATELINE D.C. | |
NEW BILL — Castor files legislation targeting utility influence amid scandals, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: "FPL used shady tactics and dark money to hijack elections, mislead voters and steal elections, and it is time for it to end,” Castor said in an announcement. “In fact, the numerous public corruption scandals involving electric utilities across the country require federal action immediately.”
— “‘They’re giving us the runaround’: Anna Paulina Luna floats defunding Pentagon positions if UFO information isn’t released,” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
HMM — “Florida veered from norms to strip transgender care from Medicaid, records show,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Emily Mahoney and Romy Ellenbogen: “Hundreds of pages of state employee testimony and internal agency records gathered as part of the federal case show how closely the state coordinated with consultants who have taken stances counter to major medical organizations on how to treat gender dysphoria. Those consultants were paid tens of thousands of dollars by the state. One grew friendly enough with a top agency official that he took to calling him ‘mighty Jason’ and ‘J-man’ over text.”
— “Florida grand jury immigration investigation extended until April,” by News Service of Florida | | | | 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. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
REBRAND — “FL Dems rebrand Spanish channels as statewide voter registration tour begins,” by Florida Phoenix’s Jackie Llanos: “The Dems ditched the ‘Vamos Demócratas’ username on Facebook and Instagram in favor of the Spanish translation of the party’s name, Partido Demócrata de Florida, to increase branding recognition, communications staff told the Phoenix in a phone interview.”
— “Rick Scott taps 2016 Trump rivals for his Senate campaign finance committee,” by Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
SCHEDULED FOR TODAY — “Florida set to execute inmate James Phillip Barnes in nurse’s 1988 hammer killing,” by Associated Press’ Curt Anderson: “Florida is preparing to execute a man convicted of strangling his wife and brutally murdering another woman years earlier — a lethal injection that’s expected to proceed on schedule after he dropped all legal appeals and said he wants to accept his punishment. James Phillip Barnes, 61, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday at Florida State Prison in Starke. He would be the fifth person put to death in the state this year.”
FOR YOUR RADAR — “Leprosy may be endemic in Central Florida, scientists report,” by The New York Times’ Apoorva Mandavilli — “Save it or lose it: As seagrass vanishes, a mass death of marine life and a brown-water future,” by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Bill Kearney — “‘I didn’t do anything.’ Body-camera video shows Miami-Dade police director in handcuffs,” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks and Charles Rabin — “Pensacola medical district ranks No. 1 in Florida opioid deaths; double state average,” by Pensacola News Journal’s Benjamin Johnson — “Inmates in Florida prisons grapple with ‘oppressive’ heat,” by News Service of Florida’s Dara Kam — “FSU will consider leaving the ACC without “radical change” to revenue model, school’s president says,” by Associated Press’ Mark Long | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— “The only lesbian bar in Florida: How The Lady’s Room in Largo hangs on,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Aisha Baiocchi and Maddy Franklin
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