| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Monday. Can’t hardly wait — While many have weighed in on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reset, his decision to finally answer questions about the 2020 elections is worth noting — especially since DeSantis himself has repeatedly said that Republicans will lose against President Joe Biden if they keep dwelling on the past (even as he swerved around the topic). I will dare — During a campaign stop in Iowa on Friday, DeSantis was asked if he thought the election was stolen, as asserted by former President Donald Trump and his supporters. “I’ve said many times, the election is what it is. All those theories that were put out did not prove to be true,” DeSantis said. He criticized 2020 as an election that was not “conducted the way I think we want to. But that's different than saying [Venezuelan leader Nicolas] Maduro stole votes or something like that. And I think those theories proved to be unsubstantiated.” Suffice to say, some of Trump's supporters reacted furiously to DeSantis' supporters. Here comes a regular — DeSantis, in a newly posted interview with NBC News, said point blank about Trump: "Of course he lost. Joe Biden's the president." Answering machine — Let’s roll back the tape here. In May 2021, when asked if the election was rigged (not once but twice), DeSantis did not answer and instead pivoted to an election revamp he pushed for earlier that year that placed limits on “ballot harvesting” and banned election offices from taking grants from outside groups — a backlash to election administration grants handed out by a group that received backing from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. DeSantis cited both those issues again in Iowa. Unsatisfied — Additionally, DeSantis rejected the idea of carrying out a statewide forensic audit of the 2020 election even though it was an idea some local Republican activists pushed — they contended that Trump should have won Florida by a bigger margin than he did. But again, DeSantis didn't address whether he thought the election was stolen. Shortly after DeSantis shot down the audit idea, he advocated for the creation of a stand-alone election crimes office that would undertake voter fraud investigations that have been highly criticized. All shook down — Ultimately, DeSantis, who initially praised how smooth the 2020 election went, repeatedly pushed to clamp down on Florida’s election laws — restricting the use of drop boxes for example — without ever directly addressing Trump’s unproven allegations of fraud. Those allegations hovered in the air as he pressed ahead. And yet here we are. It only took about two years and 10 months and a presidential campaign for DeSantis to address it. Situational awareness — Kimberly Leonard is off this week so I'll be authoring Playbook for a few days. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. Ron DeSantis. NBC News is scheduled to air its interview with both the governor and first lady Casey DeSantis on the Today Show and NBC Nightly News. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com |  | DESANTISLAND | |
‘AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION’ — DeSantis’ conservative populism has left some donors chafing, by POLITICO’s Sally Goldenberg and Gary Fineout: When Ron DeSantis unveiled his economic platform last week, he presented himself as a conservative populist; a skeptic of corporations inside a party often allied with them. But DeSantis’ rhetoric hasn’t always matched his record. As governor, he has done his share to support corporations. And as a presidential candidate, he has relied on contributions from titans of the business world.
ABOUT THAT NEWSOM-DESANTIS GET-TOGETHER — ‘No wonder Trump is kicking his ass’: Newsom camp hits DeSantis on debate proposal, by POLITICO’s Andrew Zhang: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s camp on Saturday blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed rules for a long-touted debate, arguing that they are an attempt to hide his weaknesses as a candidate. “What a joke,” Newsom spokesperson Nathan Click said in a statement. “Desantis’ counterproposal is littered with crutches to hide his insecurity and ineptitude — swapping opening statements with a hype video, cutting down the time he needs to be on stage, adding cheat notes and a cheering section.” WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET? — “DeSantis' biggest donor warns he may stop funding campaign,” by Reuters’ Alexandra Ulmer: “Hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, the biggest individual donor to a group supporting Ron DeSantis' presidential bid, told Reuters he will not donate more money unless the Florida governor attracts new major donors and adopts a more moderate approach.” WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? — “Ron DeSantis’ Key West anti-migrant missions raised pilot safety concerns,” by NBC News’ Matt Dixon: “After his Keys order, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass, a DeSantis appointee and ally, informally waived existing department policies so that agents could use airplanes less suited for surveillance missions over water. He also allowed those airplanes to fly significantly further offshore in search of migrant vessels than is generally allowed, according to FDLE internal emails. Those decisions increased the likelihood of a water landing, which would put FDLE agents' lives at risk, according to five independent aviation experts interviewed by NBC News.” HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE — “Barbecues, fairs and weddings: Ron DeSantis amps up retail politics in Iowa,” by The New York Times’ Nicholas Nehamas: “Two great traditions converged in Des Moines on Saturday night when wedding crashing came to Iowa politics. Iowa State Representative Taylor Collins welcomed an unexpected guest to his wedding reception: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Mr. DeSantis and his wife, Casey, strode just behind the newlyweds into the event, held at a Beaux-Arts-style building in the state’s capital, to cheers and a standing ovation, according to videos posted on social media and confirmed by an attendee.” | | | | 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. | | | | |
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Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis walks on stage before speaking at a fundraising event for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, right, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) | AP |
— “DeSantis’ ‘anti-woke’ bills are costing Florida millions of dollars in business,” by CNN’s Alicia Wallace
— “What has nearly $34 million bought a pro-DeSantis super PAC?” by Tampa Bay Times’ Emily L. Mahoney — “DeSantis steps up dire warning to GOP about distraction from Biden, amid Trump’s latest indictment,” by Associated Press’ Thomas Beaumont — DeSantis touts record against antisemitism in New Hampshire, by POLITICO’s Andrew Zhang — “DeSantis super PAC shares cost for private air travel in unusual deal,” by The Washington Post’s Michael Scherer and Isaac Arnsdorf — “DeSantis camp hit by gloom as aides worry race is slipping away,” by Bloomberg’s Nancy Cook | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
WEB WEAVING— How Donald Trump’s many legal troubles are all starting to intersect, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden: Donald Trump’s expanding web of legal troubles is becoming ever more intertwined. Actions he takes in one case are coming back to haunt him in others. Potential trial schedules are starting to conflict. Even a lawyer representing Trump in one of his criminal indictments could be a witness against him in another.
ON NOTICE — Trump’s lawyer says he ‘will be acquitted’ if Pence testifies, by POLITICO’s Kelly Garrity: Donald Trump’s lawyer, John Lauro, will welcome testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence in the federal case Trump is facing for his alleged efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election. “Mike Pence will be one of our best witnesses at trial,” Lauro said Sunday during an interview on ABC’s “This Week.” “I read his book very carefully, and if he testifies consistent with his book, then President Trump will be acquitted,” Lauro added. — “Trump says he will seek a recusal, venue change in Jan. 6 case,” by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Kelly Garrity — “In an Atlanta suburb, American realities collide over Trump’s indictment,” by The Washington Post’s Sarah Ellison and Greg Jaffe | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
TRUMP V. DESANTIS BY THE NUMBERS — By the end of July, those boosting the campaigns of former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis had spent more than $36.4 million on broadcast and cable television ads across the United States and in early voting states, according to an analysis by AdImpact.
Nearly all the spending has been through the two super-PACs backing Trump and DeSantis. A couple of interesting observations to note: Never Back Down, the DeSantis super PAC, has spent money in both Nevada (nearly $600k) and South Carolina (nearly $3.6 million) while Trump aligned groups had not spent anything. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign directly has spent a small amount of money in both Iowa and New Hampshire while the DeSantis campaign has not spent anything directly. COMING SOON? —Push for Debbie Mucarsel-Powell to take on Rick Scott is growing, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: This week, Latino Democrats, including those connected to groups such as BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, have become vocal with their support for Mucarsel-Powell. They see her as a compelling candidate in a state in which roughly a quarter of the population is Hispanic. “Debbie would be such a fantastic recruit,” Victoria McGroary, executive director for BOLD PAC told POLITICO. “Rick Scott is one of the must vulnerable Republicans in the Senate. It is really time for Florida to have someone as strong as Debbie, a Latina, at the top of the ballot.” ENDORSEMENTS FOR BASABE OPPONENT — Current and former Democratic members of Congress are backing Joe Saunders’ campaign to oust incumbent State Rep. Fabián Basabe in House District 106. Among those endorsing Saunders for the Miami-Dade County seat are Reps. Jared Moskowitz and Maxwell Alejandro Frost along with former Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Donna Shalala and Joe Garica. Saunders once was a state legislator and is now the senior political director of Equality Florida and lives in Miami Beach. Basabe won the seat by 242 votes in 2022 and his behavior has sparked a lawsuit from former staffers. — Got Bitcoin? Now you can donate it to this GOP presidential candidate, by POLITICO’s Kelly Garrity — “Two Tampa Democrats face familiar state House challengers,” by Tampa Bay Times’ William March | | | | 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. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
SCHOOL DAZE — “Who banned what? Florida schools grapple with fallout from AP Psychology dispute,” by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: State education officials insisted late Friday that the Advanced Placement course under scrutiny can still be taught, after previously urging the College Board to exclude lessons surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity from the curriculum.
MOUNT TALLAHASSEE — “Polk County elections chief agrees to make races partisan following demand letter from state lawyer,” by Florida Politics’ Danny McAuliffe: “Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards has opted to host partisan contests after the Florida Department of State threatened legal action in a Friday letter. Edwards, a former Democratic state House member, had earlier refused to hold partisan races for some local seats, including her own. That changed on Friday, after the top lawyer for the state elections authority wrote to Edwards. The Florida Department of State ‘will be forced to bring an action to enforce the performance of your duties in accordance with the Florida Election Code,’ wrote Joseph Van de Bogart, general counsel at the agency.” | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
THIS COULD BE BIG — “Grand jury investigating bid-rigging involving DeSantis’ education department,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower and Ana Ceballos: “Federal authorities issued a subpoena to the Jefferson County School District in June seeking communications between district officials, charter school lobbyists and former top officials in DeSantis’ education department. It also seeks records relating to the department’s attempt to steer a multimillion-dollar contract to a politically connected company with ties to DeSantis’ former education commissioner, Richard Corcoran. The contract would have been funded by federal coronavirus relief dollars.”
'UPC ABANDONED ME' — “How Florida let a top insurer abandon homeowners in their time of greatest need,” by Washington Post’s Brianna Sacks: “[United Property and Casaulty] hemorrhaged money over the past six years, in large part because of costly claims from a series of major hurricanes. During this time, the company began to cut insurance adjusters’ damage estimates, and underpay and ignore increasingly desperate policyholders, according to a Washington Post investigation based on interviews with nearly two dozen people, including those who worked for UPC, policyholders, insurance experts and a review of hundreds of documents from regulators, adjusters, court cases, financial filings and other sources.” — “Florida eyes ‘classical’ education agenda,” by Axios’ April Rubin — “A COVID-19 (remember that?) summer surge is hitting Florida, but there’s a silver lining,” by Palm Beach Post’s Chris Persaud — “Decision day for controversial plan to allow mega-gas station near Wakulla Springs,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s James Call — “Netflix film ‘Civil’ featuring attorney Ben Crump receives Emmy nomination,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s TaMaryn Waters | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer … Kirsten Borman Dougherty of KB Strategic Group
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