| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Friday. Overture — Let’s make it clear: Florida Sen. Rick Scott has considered running for president. Those who know Scott started mentioning his interest in the position while he was still governor. Amazing journey — But... the timing has never seemed to work out quite right. (He would have likely run in 2020 if Hillary Clinton has defeated Donald Trump four years earlier.) So instead, Scott and his team have been firmly fixed on a reelection strategy. Key personnel who were part of his staff and then with him at the National Republican Senatorial Committee are now part of the 2024 campaign. Sparks — So when The New York Times dropped a story suggesting Scott could become the fourth GOP candidate from Florida to run for president it flamed across social media quickly. The Scott team and then Scott himself reacted by pouring water on it. “What’s accurate is I’m running for the Senate, I’m not running for president,” Scott told reporters in Washington D.C. Welcome — The whole scenario led to speculation that Scott and his team floated the candidacy as a subtle dig at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose inevitable bid for the White House has not gone as planned. Whether that is the truth, it is not a deep, dark secret that those in Scott world and DeSantis land don’t get along. I’m free — A Scott bid for president of course would send a seismic shock wave across Florida Republican politics and trigger some big moves, including the emergence of GOP Rep. Michael Waltz as a statewide candidate. (That day will come at some point. Waltz’s resume and his time as a Fox News regular make him a strong contender.) Sensation — A Scott candidacy would also be quite the story. It’s true that the former two-term governor and multimillionaire businessman has won each of his three elections narrowly and isn’t a natural politician. But those in his orbit describe Scott as a machine whose message discipline and work ethic are unmatched. He has repeatedly been underestimated by political opponents. DeSantis and his team should hope Scott sticks to his plans. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to give a speech at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | | DODGEBALL — DeSantis won’t say if he’ll support Trump in 2024, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declined on Thursday to say whether he would support Donald Trump if the former president becomes the Republican nominee to challenge President Joe Biden in 2024. DeSantis, who launched his own presidential campaign last month, was asked whether he would “support” in the wake of Trump’s recent barrage of criticism over the governor’s handling of Covid-19. DeSantis sidestepped that part of the question and instead said Trump was “full of it” for criticizing how DeSantis responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. JUST SAY NO — When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis first became governor he stepped into a debate about whether or not the state should allow the smoking of medical marijuana. Voters had approved medical marijuana but legislators had banned the use of a smokable version. DeSantis, however, sided against the Republican-controlled Legislature and with medical marijuana advocates, such as famed trial lawyer John Morgan. Lawmakers repealed the ban. DeSantis since that time has expressed skepticism over the legalization of recreational marijuana — which is poised to go before Florida voters in 2024. But during a Thursday presidential campaign visit with voters in South Carolina, the Republican governor came out with his most emphatic opposition yet to the idea. A South Carolina resident asked DeSantis if he were elected president would he “please, please” make pot legal by 2025. DeSantis, however, told him no. He said he feared that young people would have easier access to marijuana if it were legal and he was concerned about the potency of pot now and the possibility of other dangerous drugs being added to it. “I think we have too many people using drugs in this country right now,” DeSantis said. SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY: POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky reports that a major Republican women’s group in New Hampshire is “disappointed” in DeSantis for counterprogramming their Tuesday luncheon with Donald Trump with an event of his own — or are they? The New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women blasted out a statement yesterday dinging DeSantis for scheduling a campaign event in Hollis at the same time as their sold-out “Lilac Luncheon” in Concord, and asking him to change it. But a few hours later, the group’s public relations chair put out her own statement, saying she wasn’t consulted on the salvo and was resigning her post over it. Another member tweeted that she was resigning from the group. It’s a fraught and intriguing backdrop against which the two Florida men will campaign in the first-in-the-nation primary state on Tuesday. ANOTHER LAWSUIT — DeSantis challenges Biden on another legal front – college accreditation, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: The DeSantis administration sued the U.S. Education Department and top federal officials this week, claiming they are impeding efforts by Florida universities to switch accreditors — a significant priority for state Republicans. Florida’s suit is challenging federal rules governing accreditation boards that Gov. Ron DeSantis contends wield too much power over schools and are circumventing policies and decisions from state leaders. THE F WORD — “Frost rips ‘abuses’ by DeSantis at unusual congressional hearing,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello: “An ad hoc congressional hearing led Thursday by U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost tore into Gov. Ron DeSantis and what Frost called his 'shocking abuses of power in Florida.' ‘The actions of Gov. DeSantis are not politics as usual,’ Frost, D-Orlando, said at the end of the 90-minute hearing in Washington, D.C. ‘… Fascist leaders don’t want to solve real problems. They want to exploit fake problems to get power. And that’s exactly what we see going on in the state of Florida.’”
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Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., speaks during a news conference on gun violence prevention on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. | Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo | TOSSED — Andrew Warren, prosecutor suspended by DeSantis, loses another round in court, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and rejected suspended prosecutor Andrew Warren’s latest bid to win back his job. The court, by a 6-1 margin, ruled that Warren had waited too long to ask the high court to challenge DeSantis’ decision to remove the twice-elected Democrat. DeSantis removed Warren from office last August, citing a handful of reasons, including a pledge the prosecutor made where he promised he wouldn’t prosecute women for violating Florida’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Reaction — Warren, who appeared Thursday at an ad hoc congressional gathering of Democrats criticizing DeSantis and Florida Republicans, told one Democratic member that he was aware of the latest ruling but had not yet had a chance to read it. In a statement, he said that was disappointed by the high court’s decision since the justices “cited a technicality and avoided a ruling on the merits of the case.” Some added analysis — Warren’s statement doesn’t deal, however, with what his ultimate plan will be. The first big question is whether Warren pushes ahead and asks for the Florida Senate to consider his suspension. The argument is that there’s little chance that the Republican-controlled Senate would act in an independent fashion. (See the 2023 session as proof of that.) But Warren could still force senators into an uncomfortable vote. He could also get publicity for a future political run even if he chooses to just run for another term as state attorney in 2024. — “Florida Gov. DeSantis picks up backing from 15 South Carolina lawmakers as he makes a campaign swing,” by Associated Press’ Meg Kinnard — “DeSantis to start launching new policy proposals next week,” by ABC News’ Tal Axelrod
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | FRIENDLY TERRITORY — “Trump trial setting could provide conservative jury pool,” by The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan and Alan Feuer: “When Judge Aileen M. Cannon assumed control of the case stemming from former President Donald J. Trump’s indictment for putting national security secrets at risk, she set the stage for the trial to be held with a regional jury pool made up mostly of counties that Mr. Trump won handily in his two previous campaigns. She signaled that the trial would take place in the federal courthouse where she normally sits, in Fort Pierce, at the northern end of the Southern District of Florida.” — “Republicans fear growing 2024 field clears path for Trump,” by The Hill’s Caroline Vakil and Brett Samuels
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — “‘The parent is coming in:’ Nikki Fried intervenes as Palm Beach County Democrats feud,” by Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat — “Trump, DeSantis interviews show Fox influence on GOP field still strong despite troubled year,” by Associated Press’ David Bauder — “Alan Grayson files for U.S. Senate run in 2024 against Rick Scott,” by Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles — “Lakeland activist plans run as Democrat against Rep. Canady in Florida House-50 race,” by The Ledger’s Gary White
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | NO EXPECATIONS — “Democrats lack faith in FL Supreme Court to uphold abortion rights in state,” by Florida Phoenix’s Michael Moline: “Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said Thursday that she doesn’t trust the Florida Supreme Court, with its supermajority of conservatives placed there by Gov. Ron DeSantis, to vindicate Floridians’ privacy right to abortion. During a news conference in Miami, called in advance of Saturday’s one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning 1973’s Roe v. Wade, recognizing the right to abortion, Fried said that DeSantis chose his court appointees for their willingness to take a conservative line.” CHARGED — “Panty-throwing arrests, protest in the Florida House sparks debate,” by USA Today-Florida’s Douglas Soule: “And, on April 18, one person was arrested in a group that flung panties at lawmakers on the House floor as they discussed a bill that would put more teeth into Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors and add some restrictions to the care for adults. It ended up getting passed and signed by DeSantis. Despite the session wrapping up in early May, the arrests continue, further catalyzing a debate about the line between free speech and criminal conduct. Four more of the panty protesters were arrested earlier this month, said Dana Kelly, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's communications coordinator.” — “DeSantis signs death warrant in 1988 Florida rape, murder case,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ‘A PARADIGM SHIFT’ — “Capitalism makes strong comeback in Cuba after six decades of socialism. Will it last?” by El Nuevo Herald’s Nora Gámez Torres: “In news that would have shocked communist hardliners just a few years ago, Cuba’s economy minister, Alejandro Gil, said during a recent address to the National Assembly that the private sector is on track to buy over a billion dollars in goods by the end of the year — outpacing the government as the country’s largest importer.” FOR YOUR RADAR — “Top taxpayer-funded anti-abortion center in Florida abruptly shuts down amid IRS trouble,” by Bob Norman for the Florida Trident: “But now there are no women receiving any services at [Mary’s Pregnancy Resource Center] at all. Its parking lot sits empty. The Florida Trident learned the center was abruptly shut down in April, with clients and employees left in the lurch. MPRC’s social media manager, Victoria Werner, said she wasn’t notified about the closing and had to find out about it from other employees. Werner knew there were problems brewing when her paychecks were heavily delayed beginning last fall and Reyes became more and more isolated from the center and staff. In early June, Werner told the Trident that she hadn’t been paid yet for the months of March and April.” — “Witnesses to Parkland massacre describe their confusion in pinpointing gunshots’ location,” by Associated Press’ Terry Spencer — “Local theater company adds age restriction to pride performance due to new laws,” by WTXL’s Kendall Brandt
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “Coyotes are on the prowl in downtown Orlando-area neighborhoods,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Ryan Gillespie and Skyler Swisher: “Residents near downtown Orlando have noticed new neighbors prowling their streets, checking out their yards, and in some cases, leaving bloody evidence of a recent meal. Coyotes, the pointed-eared canine relative of the wolf, have been sighted with regularity in Lake Eola Heights, Colonialtown and other neighborhoods on a near-nightly basis. They trot down brick streets, hide out in city parks and sometimes eye people walking small dogs.” BIRTHDAYS: Former State Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil (Saturday) U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom … Tara Price, attorney with Shutts & Bowen (Sunday) Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos Muniz … state Sen. Bryan Avila … South Miami mayor and former state Rep. Javier Fernández | | | | 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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