| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by Standing Up For Florida | Good Wednesday morning. A day in the life — Well, who expected just one day in Florida politics to start with the arrest of an activist refusing to leave a governor's press conference and end with a leading Democratic candidate for governor making a (kind of, sort of) dick joke? Don't pass me by — This all overshadowed Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried's embrace — then sort of retreat on crypto — and state Sen. Annette Taddeo picking up a major endorsement in Miami-Dade County. (More on that later.) Two of us — But the first two incidents are intertwined because Democrats, including Fried, ripped into Gov. Ron DeSantis after the arrest of Ben Frazier. Frazier was part of a group that showed up at the site of a Jacksonville press conference and demanded to ask questions of the governor. Frazier's confrontation with DeSantis staffers aired live on The Florida Channel, where he repeatedly said "Why am I being handcuffed?" as police arrived and took him away. Carry that weight — The governor's supporters did their own pushback against Frazier and Democrats over the incident (which DeSantis said later he knew nothing about), suggesting a double standard was at work and that no one would expect briefings by President Joe Biden to be open to the public. Because — Christina Pushaw, a spokesperson for DeSantis, even tweeted out this comparison: "It's almost the anniversary of J6, and Democrats in my replies are insisting that government buildings should always be open to any member of the public who wants to confront an elected official, and nobody should be arrested for trespassing in a government building! Wow!" She said She said — So as the twitter meltdown kept escalating and escalating between the right and the left, Fried then came up with the following: "Ron DeSantis is doing everything he can to become a dictator. He's already half of that word here." Get it? Or maybe not? Fried followed it up with a picture of DeSantis in front of a bunch of potatoes. (Taters, get it?) Ticket to ride — Well, you can imagine what happened next as conservatives lashed back at Fried, suggesting she was high or acting like she was in middle school. Conservative scribe Ben Shapiro got in on the action tweeting out to his 3.7 million followers: "You are bad at this." Hello, Goodbye — OK, just 10 more months to Election Day. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a press conference in Kissimmee with Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch:gfineout@politico.com | | A Message from Standing Up For Florida: Watch out Florida! Out-of-state gambling interests are spending millions to place two measures on the November 2022 election ballot. These amendments have no guarantees for Floridians, would allow out of control gambling across Florida and would send profits out of state. Read on here. | | |
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses a question from the media as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo looks on during a news conference in Jacksonville, Fla., on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. | Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP | HANDCUFFED ON LIVE TV — "Community activist arrested ahead of DeSantis news conference," by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson: "In an interview, [Ben] Frazier said his group did not come to the press conference to stage a protest. They wanted to ask the governor about his pandemic and criminal justice policies. 'Had the governor chosen to deescalate the situation, he could have taken a few questions from the public, answered them and been on his way,' Frazier said. But once they were asked to leave, the situation turned into an opportunity for civil disobedience, Frazier said. When asked about the confrontation at the news conference, [Gov. Ron] DeSantis said, 'I have no idea what happened.'" — "Gov. Ron DeSantis moves Jacksonville news conference after protest and handcuffing of community leader," by Florida Times-Union's Dan Scanlan | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 51,644 Covid-19 infections reported on Monday, 39,797 on Sunday, and 45,838 on New Year's Day. The state hit a record high on Dec. 30 with 75,902 cases. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported Tuesday that 6,994 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. SCHOOL'S OUT — "Thousands of teachers, students absent as Omicron ravages Florida," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Schools in Florida are reporting droves of absences among teachers and students this week, a sign that the highly contagious Omicron variant is already wrecking the budding new semester. With Covid-19 cases skyrocketing throughout the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis is pledging to keep schools open and in-person classes churning without any mask mandates or new restrictions. The DeSantis administration instead is messaging that asymptomatic people should resist being tested for the coronavirus as hundreds of students and teachers miss the first days of school in 2022. "If you don't have symptoms, you're not a case," state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said Tuesday at an event in Naples. RED STATE RESPONSE — "GOP governors play down Omicron 'hysteria' while also asking for help," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout and Arek Sarkissian: Republican governors are downplaying the rapid explosion of new Covid infections — but they still want Joe Biden's help stopping it. Governors in Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina have all recently made it clear: No shutdowns and no vaccine mandates. Gov. Ron DeSantis this week criticized some states that tried to staunch the spread of omicron infections, saying, "If you look at what's going on in other states, they are letting hysteria drive them." Yet DeSantis, as well as Texas GOP Gov. Gregg Abbott, called on the Biden administration to do more to get the new, highly contagious variant under control. So have Arkansas's Asa Hutchinson and New Hampshire's Chris Sununu, though both have warned of the dangers of the new variant. PUSHING BACK — "Mayor: DeSantis should take care of Florida, not just family," by The Associated Press: "Florida's Republican governor recently defended his lack of public appearances during the omicron surge, saying he was with his wife who is undergoing cancer treatment, but a Democratic mayor of one of Florida's largest counties said Tuesday that elected officials should be able to care for both their families and their constituents. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he'd been dealing with the hospitalization of his elderly father and the deaths of family members over the holiday season but had still been able to make public appearances to address COVID-19 and long waits for tests." — "DeSantis urges healthy, asymptomatic Floridians to forgo COVID-19 testing even as omicron case count skyrockets," by Naples Daily News' Liz Freeman and Fort Myers News-Press' Frank Gluck | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | |
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | WHAT HAPPENS IN PALM BEACH — "Trump cancels Jan. 6 event amid GOP complaints," by POLITICO's Marianne LeVine and Burgess Everett: Senate Republicans can now breathe easier on Jan. 6. Former President Donald Trump's announcement Tuesday evening that he would cancel a previously planned press conference is good news for Senate Republicans, who earlier in the day openly fretted that he would pull their party back into debating his false election claims. CALL ME — "Jan. 6 committee seeking phone records of 2 Florida-based Oath Keepers," by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney: Two Florida-based members of the Oath Keepers facing conspiracy charges for breaching the Capitol are suing the Jan. 6 committee to block a subpoena for their personal phone records. Kelly and Connie Meggs, two of 19 defendants in the most sprawling case to emerge from the mob attack on the Capitol, say they were notified of the subpoena by Verizon last month. The subpoena seeks phone records of their family plan from November 2020 through January 2021. It's the first indication that the committee is seeking records of defendants facing criminal charges for storming the Capitol. AFTERMATH — "Insurrection's toll evident in Florida a year later as fraud claims color political debate," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson and Palm Beach Post's Antonio Fins: "Florida had the most arrests stemming from Jan. 6 and the most members of two far right extremist groups arrested in connection with the insurrection, but there has been no effort to address extremism. Instead, Florida GOP leaders have worked to placate a Republican base inflamed by Trump's unfounded election fraud claims, instituting new voting restrictions and likely pursuing other changes to election oversight this year." — " Florida connections to the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot: a Top 10 list," by Palm Beach Post's John Gallas | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FRIED'S CRYPTO MOMENT — Despite having no state law that expressly allows it, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Tuesday announced that her political committee — not her main campaign account — would start accepting cryptocurrency. Fried made the announcement in a video where she lashed into banking giant Wells Fargo, which shut down her campaign account in 2018 because of her support for medical marijuana. In the video, she said that the "democratization of our monetary system" and cryptocurrency should be a "priority for our state government." Fried's campaign defended the move by noting federal regulators allowed bitcoin to be accepted for campaigns. About that — But by nightfall, Fried was already walking back her support amid a flood of negative comments over cryptocurrency. "Saw the negativity about crypto. I hear you & I'm listening. Crypto is already a thing. Government can make it better/regulate, especially environmentally, & help expand access to capital. But most importantly, I'm open to your ideas & feedback. That's how I'll govern, too." | 
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried attends the "2022 Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception" held in the Capitol Courtyard on Nov. 30, 2021 | Gary Fineout/POLITICO | CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava endorsed Sen. Annette Taddeo for governor. The endorsement is a notable pickup for Taddeo, who entered the race months after Democratic rivals Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist. Cava comes from the state's most populous county, where Democrats must do well if they have any chance of winning back the governor's mansion. "What we've continuously seen coming from Tallahassee completely undermines local decision-making, silences local leaders, and creates state mandates that threaten the very freedoms we as Americans treasure," Cava said in a statement about her endorsement. "We must reverse course, and this begins by electing a new Governor in 2022." … Drew Godinich is already out the door after being hired as communications director for Fried's campaign back in October. American Bridge 21st Century announced on Tuesday it was bringing on Godinich as senior director of communications … State Rep. Ben Diamond announced Wednesday that he raised more than $280,000 in the final quarter of 2020 for his campaign for Florida's 13th Congressional District, bringing his total for the year to nearly $1 million. — "Anti-corruption lawyer drops bid against Diaz-Balart, pivots to race for HD 120," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio | | | | A Message from Standing Up For Florida:   | | |
| | DATELINE D.C. | | NEW JOB — "Congressional Black Caucus taps senior Harris aide as executive director," by Los Angeles Times' Nolan D. McCaskill: "The Congressional Black Caucus said Tuesday that it was naming an aide to Vice President Kamala Harris as its new executive director. Vincent Evans is returning to Capitol Hill after nearly a year in the vice president's office as Harris' deputy director of public engagement and intergovernmental affairs. … Evans, a Florida native, began his political career as an aide to a Tallahassee city commissioner and staffer in the Florida state Senate, serving on the senior staff of Rep. Al Lawson (D-Fla.). During the 2020 presidential cycle, he was Southern political director for the Biden campaign and political director for the vice presidential nominee." TRANSITIONS — Anthony Pardal is now vice president for strategic engagement at the American Bankers Association. He previously was deputy federal affairs director for Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried … Ayanna Young became communications director for Rep. Al Lawson in December. Young had been deputy communications director for the Florida Democratic Party … Hunter Koski is now legislative assistant for Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). He was previously legislative aide for Senator Marco Rubio. | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | CRISIS, WHAT CRISIS? — "Florida legislative session to open without COVID-19 restrictions," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner: "Legislative leaders are monitoring the spike in coronavirus cases across Florida but haven't made plans to reimpose restrictions on public access that were used during the 2021 session. With the 2022 legislative session starting Jan. 11, people will be allowed to roam most of the Capitol complex and address lawmakers in person. 'In light of the pandemic, the Florida House last session made significant improvements to facilities, including adding hospital-grade HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters for better air quality, ample hand sanitizing stations and more,' House spokesperson Jenna Sarkissian said in an email." CHECK THE CALENDAR — "Florida AG wants tougher sentences for smash-and-grab thefts. Critics say it barely exists," by Miami Herald's Charles Rabin: "The attorney general didn't provide numbers showing that retail theft had become a major problem in Hialeah or throughout Florida and she took very few questions before being ushered away. Critics and political foes of Gov. Ron DeSantis called the press conference a grandstanding scare tactic and demanded data to support the need for any new law or task force. 'Is this retail crime the most serious problem we have in Florida right now?' asked Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz. 'It doesn't even exist. It's smoke and mirrors.'" — " Nikki Fried, Michele Rayner-Goolsby promote clean water package," by Florida Politics' Kelly Hayes | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | SUNSHINE DISINFECTANT — "Court official seeks to release Jeffrey Epstein grand jury documents by changing Florida law," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "The official who holds court documents in Palm Beach County wants the Florida Legislature to change state law to allow the release of secret grand jury proceedings involving the deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. Joseph Abruzzo, the county's clerk of the circuit court and comptroller, inherited custody of the Epstein grand jury materials when he took office a year ago. Abruzzo said Tuesday he's seeking a change in state law to allow public release of those documents." BUT WAIT… — " Palm Beach County clerk Joe Abruzzo wants judge to rewrite Jeffrey Epstein grand jury ruling," by Palm Beach Post's Jane Musgrave: "In what some lawyers are calling an unprecedented move, Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts Joe Abruzzo wants a judge to rewrite a ruling so it doesn't say he fought the release of secret records that could explain why sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein received such lenient treatment more than a decade ago. When Circuit Judge Donald Hafele on Dec. 20 rejected The Palm Beach Post's request to release transcripts of a 2006 grand jury hearing, he wrote that 'the clerk has zealously advocated the position against disclosure.'" BREAK IN THE CASE — "Top suspect in Haiti assassination probe in U.S. custody in Miami," by Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles, Michael Wilner and Jay Weaver: "A sprawling, months-long investigation into the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse achieved a breakthrough on Tuesday when U.S. authorities charged a former Colombian solider with conspiracy, the first charges brought forth since last summer's killing. Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, 43, also known as 'Floro,' appeared in Miami federal court Tuesday afternoon after being arrested in the early morning by federal agents in Miami after arriving from Panama. He is the first person allegedly involved in the assassination of the Haitian president on July 7, 2021, to be formally charged with a crime." — "Florida passenger train line kills 5th person in a month," by Associated Press' Terry Spencer | | A Message from Standing Up For Florida: Watch Out Florida
Don't Sign The Gambling Petitions
Out-of-state gambling interests combined have spent over $54 million on petition drives to place two amendments on the Florida ballot.
These outside gambling groups are asking Florida voters to sign gambling petitions to place their two amendments on the ballot. However, the gambling amendments being proposed have no financial guarantees for Florida and would send profits to out-of-state gaming companies instead of keeping them local. The gambling amendments include many misleading promises for education funding, similar to the lottery, and would change our Florida Constitution.
Watch Out Florida – these out-of-state gambling interests will spend, say or do anything to win. Don't sign the gambling petitions. Keep reading here. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Palm Beach Police investigating letters warning 'woke' New Yorkers to leave Florida," by Palm Beach Daily News' Jodie Wagner: "Letters warning 'woke' New Yorkers to leave Florida have disturbed Palm Beach residents and prompted an investigation by Palm Beach Police. During the weekend, some residents whose cars carry New York license plates came across the notices placed on their windows urging them to leave Florida if they are 'woke.' The notices — written in capital letters — read: 'If you are one of the those 'woke' people — leave Florida. You will be happier elsewhere, as will we.'"
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