| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | | |  People visit the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., April 18, 2022. | Ted Shaffrey, File/AP Photo | Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Disney is plowing cash into its family-friendly experiences, and Florida stands to benefit despite an ongoing legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Executives are preparing to “turbocharge” Disney parks and experiences across the globe with $60 billion over the next decade. About 70 percent of the money will go toward new rides and attractions, the company said during a financial call yesterday. When asked directly by an analyst whether Florida would get a fifth Disney park out of the push, CEO Bob Iger said the company would be expanding “every single one of our locations,” meaning not just in Florida but also California, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Paris. The company hasn't yet said whether some parks will benefit more than others, but Iger said that, starting in 2025, a “menu of things” would be rolling out. The call served as a reality check for both sides of the DeSantis-Disney debate. Disney is far bigger than Florida, but it also can't let the state go since it's home to the world's largest theme park. One way Disney keeps its visitors coming back is through fresh material, meaning the park has to invest here to keep up with the competition. And the competition is becoming more fierce in Florida given that crosstown rival Universal Studios is opening a new theme park in 2025. But that's not all. Disney has a key way it'll expand in Florida outside its resort: through cruise lines that leave from Florida ports (which, unlike Central Florida, don't come with a governor-appointed board trying to wield control). All of this growth will come with new jobs, businesses and influence on policymakers. Walt Disney’s properties and businesses brought $40.3 billion to the state in jobs, tourism and tax revenue, among other thing, according to a study the corporation commissioned. DeSantis’ office declined a request for comment. “We are a welcoming business environment,” Republican state Rep. Randy Fine, who introduced the bill that overhauled Disney’s special tax district, texted in response. Yesterday’s financial call was also a reminder of what a behemoth Disney is compared to when it entered Florida five decades ago. Disney recently lost a lawsuit to DeSantis that it plans to appeal, became the subject of an Elon Musk-funded lawsuit and has been under pressure from activist investors. Yet it still made a splash through surprise announcements, including a foray into video games and sports streaming, and getting the rights to Taylor Swift's "Era's Tour." If the company faces challenges in one of its businesses, it can count on another. That's true just looking at the experiences part of the business. During the last three months of 2023, Disney's international parks soared, as did cruises, while Walt Disney World had lower attendance compared to the same period a year earlier, when it benefited from the fanfare around the park’s 50th anniversary celebration. “What is happening in Florida is important, but it's not determinative,” said Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, adding, “I have a feeling that Disney will be around long after Ron DeSantis is gone.” Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com | | A message from Alibaba: Every day, American businesses generate big global sales on Alibaba's online marketplace – to the tune of $66B in one year alone. These sales are having a bigger impact on communities back home. Florida companies like Timberwolf Pet Foods and DS Laboratories sell to over one billion consumers in China through Alibaba, supporting 15,800 local jobs and contributing $1.9B to Florida's GDP. Learn more about how Alibaba positively impacts Florida's economy. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
TODAY — The Florida House and Senate will vote on the state budget.
BALLOT IN COURT — ‘People of Florida aren’t stupid’: State high court grapples with abortion measure, by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian and Alice Miranda Ollstein. After less than an hour of oral arguments, Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz said that he thought Florida voters would be able to understand the abortion ballot question and its implications. Toward the beginning of the hearing, Justice John D. Couriel said that one of the goals of the court was to determine whether the 75-word summary would go before voters was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” By the end, Muñiz said the summary was simply a wolf and not “trying to be deceptive.” ALSO IN COURT — Florida Supreme Court justices question challengers to 10-year utility storm plans, reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. Florida Supreme Court justices on Wednesday grilled a consumer lawyer over a legal challenge to utility grid-hardening plans approved in 2022 by the Public Service Commission. ‘PROBLEMS’ — Florida's push to protect Confederate memorials in doubt, reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo suggested Wednesday that a contentious bill designed to protect Confederate memorials was unlikely to pass this year following a racially charged hearing over the legislation. “There are problems with the bill,” Passidomo said. “More than that, there are problems with the perceptions among our caucus, on all sides. So I’m going to take that into consideration. I’m not going to bring a bill to the floor that is so abhorrent to everybody.” EXPLAINER — “How and why Florida lawmakers are pushing to end civilian police watchdog agencies,” by Alyssa Johnson of the Miami Herald. “Civilian oversight agencies, or COAs, are citizen-led groups that provide external oversight to local police departments. Some conduct independent investigations into the complaints of misconduct against police officers. LITTER — Balloon ban bills still afloat while container preemption measure appears canned in Senate, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. Bills that would ban the release of balloons to prevent litter are moving through the Legislature —but at the same time, another that critics say would increase the litter problem appeared dead in the Senate on Wednesday. PROBE — “State investigating HCA surgery shutdown,” reports Main Street Daily News’ Gary Nelson. “An undisclosed number of patients have had their surgeries put on hold since at least Jan. 17, when the hospital closed its operating rooms and told first responders to rush the critically sick or injured somewhere else.” — “A coming attraction for Netflix subscribers in Florida — a state tax,” reports WLRN’s Tom Hudson | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
‘NOTHING TO DO’ — “As Ziegler scandal looms large, Sarasota School Board approves new jobs, purchases land,” by Sarasota Herald Tribune’s Steven Walker. “More than 50 people spoke during the public comment period at Tuesday's meeting, with most speaking against Ziegler, though more spoke in her favor than at the previous two board meetings last month. Several speakers who supported Ziegler urged her to continue resisting demands that she resign. Following the public comments, Ziegler reaffirmed her intention to stay on the board, saying she would never address issues of her personal life in the board chambers.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
THIS WEEKEND — The Republican Party of Florida will hold its annual meeting and vote on key leadership posts.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All endorsed former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for the U.S. Senate to face off against GOP incumbent Sen. Rick Scott.
|  Taylor Swift performs as part of the "Eras Tour" at the Tokyo Dome on Feb. 7, 2024, in Tokyo. | Toru Hanai/AP | LOOK WHAT SHE MADE THEM DO — Democrats embrace Taylor Swift’s star power in Florida, by POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. Florida Democrats want Joe Biden to Stay Stay Stay in the White House. And they’re hoping Taylor Swift will help. Party members in the Sunshine State are absolutely giddy over news that Swift is launching a new song titled “Florida!!!” in her upcoming album and that she added three tour stops in Miami in October, just ahead of the November elections. But they’re not only super fans. Democrats are planning voter registration drives at her concerts and will hold listening sessions and karaoke parties of her music when her new album is released in April. NOT KIDDING — ‘Matt sure knows how to troll’: Gaetz stands by endorsement of Kevin McCarthy as RNC chair, reports POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Wednesday stood by his recent endorsement of nemesis Kevin McCarthy for chair of the Republican National Committee — even as some of his Republican colleagues suggested it was a joke. “The tweet speaks for itself,” Gaetz repeatedly told POLITICO on Wednesday when asked about the endorsement he posted on social media Tuesday night. TAR-GAETZ — Gaetz ousted McCarthy. Now he's moving on to another House GOP target, reports POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers. The Florida Republican is slated to headline a campaign rally this week with Darren Bailey, the GOP primary rival of Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Bost is a longtime foe of Gaetz's inside the GOP conference, but the rally amounts to an escalation of their mutual disdain. ANOTHER OPTION — “Florida's Joe Gruters in the mix for RNC chair as Ronna McDaniel expected to depart,” reports Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “Gruters is a former chair of the Florida GOP and Sarasota GOP who served in the Florida House before being elected to the state Senate. He is a certified public accountant who lost a race for RNC treasurer last year and currently is running to be Florida's national committeeman, representing the state on the RNC. As Sarasota GOP chair, Gruters twice gave Trump the party's statesman of the year award. He backed his presidential campaign early during the 2016 cycle, when most leading Florida Republicans were supporting former Gov. Jeb Bush or U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.” REVISITING DOWNFALL — “Andrew Gillum reveals feeling abandoned by former friends after hotel scandal,” reports Ike Morgan of Atlanta Black Star. “If we were of different genders, we might talk about this even more differently,” Gillum said. “I made a choice to go somewhere at 5 in the afternoon, with the expectation of leaving in 30 minutes. After my drink, I don’t have a memory for six hours. Every picture, every video, and everything we’ve collected that was taken shows me the duration of that time looking with no ability of consent, approval, or anything else. And so, I put myself in that situation. Yes, we all make choices.” | | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | |  Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. | Kevin Dietsch/AFP via Getty Images | LEGAL ISSUES — “Marco Rubio has doubts about Florida youth social media ban,” reports Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski. Rubio said he thought the courts would strike it down, adding that “social media is not a state phenomenon. It is an interstate commerce issue. It involves things across state lines. It’s very difficult for states to regulate that.” | | | | YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS: From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. | | | | | | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis … Nicole Dicocco, director of international relations for Red Banyan
| | A message from Alibaba: Timberwolf Pet Food, a family-owned company based in Windermere, Florida, achieved an impressive 7-figure growth after launching on Alibaba's online marketplace, which reaches over one billion consumers in China. Partnering with Alibaba helped the 25-year-old company double its sales projections, allowing Timberwolf to expand its product lines, production, and staffing to meet the increasing demand.
Florida businesses generated enough global sales on Alibaba’s online marketplace to add $1.9 billion to Florida’s economy, supporting 15,800 local jobs and $1.1 billion in wages in one year.
"I knew from experience that Alibaba, with over one billion online consumers, was essential to launch our brand in China successfully," said Timberwolf CEO Kam Martin.
Learn more about how Alibaba positively impacts Florida's economy. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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