| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | |  Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall/AP | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis used last night's CNN town hall to try out a fresh argument about why he should be the Republican presidential nominee instead of Donald Trump. It seemed to boil down to: "Don’t like how things are going under President Joe Biden? Blame the guy who was in the White House before him." It wasn’t the first time DeSantis attacked Trump on national television, but it signaled an evolution in his messaging. Throughout the night, he laid out ways that Trump's failures to deliver on certain promises set the stage for what he saw as some of Biden's worst policies. The earliest sign of this last night was when he got a question from an audience member about the economy. The policies under Trump had been good for the first three years, DeSantis said, then the Trump administration mishandled Covid through stimulus checks and lockdowns. That allowed Biden to come in and “pour gas on the fire.” On the surge of migrants entering the U.S., Trump’s failure to build the wall made it easier for Biden to have a more lax illegal immigration policy, he said. He also blamed Trump for political divisiveness in the U.S., citing his social media posts and ways that he attacks people, and said that paved the way for Biden’s anti-MAGA speech in Philadelphia. Over the course of the event, DeSantis again tried to contrast himself with Trump as someone who followed through on what he said he'd do. Only this time he was able to articulate why that should matter to voters. “I'm the only one running who has beat these people,” DeSantis said. “We beat the teachers union with school choice. We beat Fauci on Covid. I beat the left prosecutors. We beat the Dems on election integrity. We have delivered victory after victory.” On top of that, DeSantis doubled down on Trump attacks he made before, questioning Trump's motives to run for president, underscoring that Trump made few appearances in Iowa and calling out his criticism of Florida's six-week abortion ban. In all, CNN tallied eight attacks on Trump. DeSantis even linked a Satanic Temple display at the Iowa state Capitol to Trump, given that under his administration the IRS approved the group for tax-exempt status. But overall DeSantis took a less combative tone at the town hall than he does typically (with the exception of when he talked about former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley) and even raised several of his bipartisan accomplishments in Florida. In an effort to close the gap against Trump, DeSantis is welcoming every opportunity for interviews and appearances like the one he did last night, even if it does mean embracing media outlets he has historically avoided. A year ago, DeSantis was the clear favorite in a hypothetical GOP matchup against Trump. But now an NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll shows he’s 30 points behind Trump in Iowa despite big-name endorsements, millions of dollars in spending and visiting the state’s 99 counties. In a recent New Hampshire poll, DeSantis fell to fifth place. Ever since launching his campaign, DeSantis has struggled to articulate his argument for why voters should choose him instead of Trump, and he has often avoided criticizing Trump. While it's not clear when and how taking on Trump differently would have changed the expected outcome of the GOP primary, the Trump campaign spent months attacking DeSantis before he even made a presidential run official, and hasn't stopped. What DeSantis has been saying so far hasn't worked, and he has less than five weeks to sell Iowans on his candidacy ahead of the caucuses. — WHERE’S RON? Gov. DeSantis will participate in a virtual press conference with Iowa media at 11 a.m. EST and he’ll join Sean Hannity on Fox News Channel during the 9 p.m. EST hour. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off next week and the week after for the holidays but back to our normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Or, if you know which experts are helping the governor craft his health care plan, get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
TODAY — U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle will preside over a case challenging state law that bans Medicaid coverage for transgender-related care for minors.
ALSO TODAY — Florida House and Senate committee and subcommittee hearings on agriculture, criminal justice and technology. (Tune in.) 25 YEARS LATER — A quarter-century after Gov. Lawton Chiles died at the end of his second-term in office members of his family as well as top officials in his staff gathered Tuesday at the Governor’s Club In Tallahassee to remember the governor known as the “ole he-coon.” There were many stories, including one where a staffer recalled that Chiles once responded to a harsh written rebuke from a state senator by writing him back and telling him he had a security breach because someone had gotten hold of his official stationery. SPOTTED: Chiles’ former Supreme Court Justice Major Harding, Chiles chiefs of staff Linda Shelley and Tom Herndon, well-known attorney Barry Richard, veteran U.S. Sugar lobbyist Bob Coker, former state Rep. Loranne Ausley. The event was hosted by Chiles communications director turned public relations executive Ron Sachs. — Gary Fineout UNDERAGE WORKERS — “Two Florida bills could roll back child labor laws. What do they do?” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen. “Two proposed bills in Florida’s Legislature could roll back child labor protections and allow some teenagers to work longer hours on school days and in hazardous professions. The bills resemble legislation in several other states. The House bill is backed by a national conservative advocacy group based in Florida. Legislation in the Senate is backed by the Associated Builders and Contractors and Florida Home Builders Associations, two powerful industry lobbying groups.” ESCALATION — Florida AG launches antitrust investigation after FSU football snub, reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. Attorney General Ashley Moody on Tuesday sent a civil investigative demand letter to the College Football Playoff, the organization that administers the playoffs and ultimately determined that FSU couldn’t compete in it despite an undefeated regular season. Moody’s office wants a long list of documents and information including all communications with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Southeastern Conference and sports media outlet ESPN.
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Flooded homes are shown in Port Charlotte, Fla., after Hurricane Ian moved through the Gulf Coast of Florida in September 2022. | Win McNamee/Getty Images | LESS THAN HALF — “Florida’s home-hardening grant program is lowering insurance premiums for some, but not all homeowners. Here’s why,” reports Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner. “Of the 4,198 homeowners who were approved for grants, secured a contractor, paid for home upgrades and received reimbursements from the state, 2,050 saw their insurance premium decrease … About a third (1,044) did not see their premiums go down and about 1 in 7 (625) actually saw their premiums rise.” Why? One reason “is because they only replaced some, but not all, of their windows … Another way a policyholder may not get a better premium is if the repaired or replaced aspect of the home was previously in such disrepair that they were at risk of losing coverage. MORE PAPERWORK — “New Florida law pushes some small town officials to resign,” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Tracey McManus. “At least eight elected officials in the Pinellas County municipalities of Belleair, Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Indian Rocks Beach and Seminole have left office or will resign by the time [a new financial disclosure] law takes effect on Jan. 1 to avoid filing the form. They are among several officials across the state leaving for the same reason.” | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
ON THE CLOCK — U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Tuesday told attorneys representing Disney, DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that in the “next couple weeks” he would decide whether to dismiss Disney’s lawsuit that alleges changes pushed by DeSantis were retaliatory and violated the company’s First Amendment rights.
Winsor made his comments at the end of a nearly two-hour hearing where both sides argued over everything from whether Disney has the “standing” to sue the governor to whether Disney was “targeted” by the DeSantis administration and how past court rulings have dealt with similar disputes. Disney filed the federal lawsuit after Florida legislators revamped the local governing board that controls the area that includes Disney World. Lawmakers did this after Disney objected to the state’s “parental rights in education” bill that critics labeled “don’t say gay.” During the hearing Charles Cooper — a well-known D.C. conservative attorney hired by the district — argued that changes that affected Disney were “ordinary” regulatory provisions dealing with special districts. The lawyers for Disney strongly disagreed and said that the governor was “front and center” at the changes and that he maintained control over the district board. — Gary Fineout STANDING FIRM — Moms for Liberty cofounder refuses to resign from Sarasota school board, reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. All four board members besides Ziegler — including two who were endorsed by DeSantis — passed a resolution calling for her to vacate her position amid revelations surrounding her personal life that emerged as her husband, Florida GOP chair Christian Ziegler, is investigated for an alleged rape. Yet Bridget Ziegler remained defiant in the face of the public admonishment from the board, which has no legal authority to remove her. PROBATION — Florida high school fined more than $16K for allowing transgender athlete to play girls’ volleyball, reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. Carried out by the Florida High School Athletic Association, the move is a substantial one for the state, marking what appears the be the first time a school has been penalized over the 2021 “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” touted by DeSantis that bans transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ sports. RENEWAL — Agency votes to issue permit for Ginnie Springs water bottling, reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. The district voted to follow a state judge's recommendation to issue the permit for nearly 1 million gallons per day more than 3-1/2 years after agency staff had recommended denying the request. | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | |  Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Gov. Chris Sununu speaks to reporters following a town hall campaign event, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. Haley received the New Hampshire governor's endorsement. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) | AP | SU-NO-NO — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu endorses Nikki Haley, not DeSantis, for president, reports POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky. “What happens in New Hampshire will be significantly impacted by the outcome in Iowa, where a true Trump alternative will emerge,” DeSantis campaign spokesperson Andrew Romeo said in a statement. “And when Ron DeSantis comes out in that position he will be joined by over 60 New Hampshire state legislators who stand ready to take the fight to the establishment.” ‘TOO FAR’ — “DeSantis’ campaign and allied super PAC face new concerns about legal conflicts,” reports The Associated Press’ Steve Peoples and Thomas Beaumont. “DeSantis’ team shared messaging concerns with members of Never Back Down’s board, which includes Florida-based members with close ties to the governor, according to multiple people briefed on the discussions. Some of the board members then relayed the DeSantis team’s wishes to super PAC staff, which was responsible for executing strategy, the people said.” DOCTOR ON THE TRAIL — “Joseph Ladapo to campaign for DeSantis in US Virgin Islands,” reports Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski. He’ll appear at GOP receptions at Republican Party receptions Dec. 17 on St. Thomas and Dec. 18 on St. Croix to aid DeSantis’ campaign for the party’s nomination.” JIC BALLOT — “No Labels mulls third party 2024 alternative to Biden and Trump. Seven things to know,” reports the Palm Beach Post’s Antonio Fins. “The Florida Division of Elections said last month that No Labels had procured enough signatures to place candidates on the 2024 ballot.” — “After fallout from Trump's comments on ending Obamacare, Florida Dems take aim at Rick Scott,” reports the Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat | | DATELINE D.C. | |
HILL ALLY — “Rep. Bob Good, DeSantis backer, elected new Freedom Caucus chair,” reports NBC News’ Scott Wong. “Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) has been elected the new chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, the group of far-right rabble rousers that frequently clash with GOP leadership, a lawmaker confirmed … The Freedom Caucus traditionally has been aligned with former President Donald Trump. But in May, Good endorsed DeSantis over the GOP frontrunner Trump, saying that as Florida governor, DeSantis had demonstrated ‘strength in the face of adversity’ and delivered ‘effective results for every man, woman and child.’”
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried … Hayden Dempsey, shareholder with GreenbergTraurig ... Mike Stone with WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel
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