| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Emily Ngo | |  Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) has been among the Donald Trump surrogates traveling from around the country to be with the former president at his Manhattan hush money trial. | Emily Ngo/POLITICO | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. A carousel of Republicans from Congress are showing up for Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan, ever since Sen. Rick Scott made it a thing. And Floridians seem to be an over-represented group. Yesterday’s entourage included Reps. Cory Mills and Byron Donalds, who’s interested in either being Trump’s VP pick or running for Florida governor in 2026. The members have consistently echoed Trump’s rhetoric undermining the merits of the trial — though the congressmen insisted no talking points are being distributed — as well as Trump’s clothing style. Last night, Donalds, Scott and Sen. Marco Rubio also joined Trump at a high-dollar fundraiser hosted by Manhattan billionaires. Donalds told POLITICO’s Emily Ngo in New York that he hadn’t specifically been invited up by the former president, but rather looked at his calendar and checked with Trump’s team to see whether it would be OK for him to join in. “It's really to stand with President Trump, but then also to stand for this country," he said. "There are people in this country who want justice to be blind, not used as a political weapon." Mills also said he came without being asked. “This is not just a Florida thing, this is people who have stuck by his side since day one,” said Mills, who’s backed Trump since 2015. Trump doesn’t have to be in court on Wednesdays, but on Thursday he’ll be joined by another Floridian interested in the governor’s seat: Rep. Mike Waltz, Playbook has learned. In a statement, the congressman called the trial “blatant election interference and an assault on our democratic process.” “I’ve served overseas in third world countries where this is the norm,” he said. “It’s important Americans see that other leaders stand with President Trump to refute this ridiculous trial.” Then there are the people who haven’t flown up to Manhattan but show their support in other ways, such as Rep. Carlos Giménez, who defended Trump on Fox Business. Even Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who’s a Gov. Ron DeSantis loyalist, appeared on Fox News to deliver her legal analysis. “One person makes the decision to show up and support him in court, and everyone follows suit,” said Brett Doster, a Tallahassee-based GOP consultant who worked on former Gov. Jeb Bush’s gubernatorial run and as senior adviser in Florida to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. “Not surprising, just the normal gravitational pull of political ingratiation.” One of the big questions on Playbookers’ minds has been whether DeSantis would ever make the trek up. Neither Trump’s team nor DeSantis’ would say anything about it, but the prospect is hard to envision even though the Associated Press reported that the governor is making good on his promise to raise cash for Trump’s campaign. DeSantis famously ridiculed Trump over the allegations of having an affair and paying hush money to a porn star — and then Trump snapped back with an even worse (and groundless) retort about DeSantis. A DeSantis cameo and press conference would likely lead to questions causing both men to relive the spat at a time when they're trying to move past the primary. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | |  People helping to clean up walk past a damaged building in Railroad Square in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, May 10, 2024. | Phil Sears/AP | RECOVERY EFFORTS UNDERWAY — “Tallahassee state Sen. Corey Simon on tornado recovery: 'We're in this for the long haul,’” by Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida. “While it's been five days since three tornadoes devastated Tallahassee and surrounding areas, thousands of customers who receive utilities through the City of Tallahassee were still without electricity, according to the local outage map.” HOUSING PILEUP — “Did Florida lawmakers clean up a condo-hotel mess, or create ‘dictatorships’ for developers?” by Alexandra Glorioso at the Miami Herald. “Due to a late amendment, a sprawling, 154-page condo-law bill that unanimously passed the House and Senate states that condominium residents in mixed-use buildings only own what has been given to them upfront in contracts drafted by developers. That often includes only the units themselves, meaning residents living in condo-hotels could be forced to pay pricey maintenance fees and assessments levied by commercial operators for things like elevators, lobbies and pools, but without any say over the size of the bill, how their money is spent or how the assets are managed.” BETTER FOR BUSINESS — “Why Florida medical marijuana companies are pushing so hard for recreational pot,” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Ivy Nyayieka and Kirby Wilson. “The state’s medical marijuana industry is stagnating, data shows. Experts say a slowdown in new patients means the success of the largest marijuana companies in the state could depend on the proposed amendment.” PEEKING INTO HEALTH INDICATORS — “In face of abortion ban, DeSantis says Florida is family-friendly. Is it?” by Romy Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times. “The governor and his office have repeatedly touted several measures, including extending Medicaid for women who have recently given birth, putting money toward initiatives to support men in being parents and infusing tens of millions of dollars into the child welfare system. But while health care advocates say those moves are important steps in the right direction, they and other critics note that Florida still has a ways to go to improve maternal and children’s health outcomes.” ON THE CALENDAR — “Court sets September for hearing on Florida blocking Medicaid for trans care,” reports News Service of Florida. “A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments in September in a battle about whether Florida violated federal laws by blocking Medicaid coverage for transgender people seeking hormone therapy and puberty blockers. A hearing is slated the week of Sept. 16 in Birmingham, Ala., according to a notice issued last week by the appeals court.”
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | | |  Emergency personnel work the scene of a deadly crash on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Marion County, Fla. The Florida Highway Patrol says a bus carrying farmworkers in central Florida has overturned, killing several people and injuring other passengers. | WFTS via AP | ROAD TRAGEDY — “Driver faces DUI charges in Florida bus crash that killed 8, injured 40 others,” by Mike Schneider and Terry Spencer of The Associated Press. “The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested the driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a farmworker bus early Tuesday, killing eight, on charges of driving under the influence-manslaughter …. Troopers said he was driving the 2001 Ford Ranger when it crossed into the center line on State Road 40, a straight but somewhat hilly two-lane road that passes through horse farms. The truck sideswiped the bus, causing it to veer off the road at about 6:40 a.m. It crashed through a fence and into a tree before overturning. In addition to the eight killed, at least 40 were injured.” STICKER SHOCK — “Should Miami-Dade taxpayers foot $46 million in World Cup costs? That’s the plan,” by Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald. “Legislation to endorse the subsidy package easily advanced through a County Commission committee on Monday, despite some pushback on the government spending that’s been requested for the seven international soccer games coming to Hard Rock Stadium in two years … Mayor Daniella Levine Cava helped pursue the Miami area’s bid to win some of the World Cup games, with decisions on public spending left for after the host slot was secured … Levine Cava issued a statement Monday saying she has ‘concerns’ about the price tag for the seven games — which is well above the roughly $10 million that Miami-Dade said it budgeted for the 2020 Super Bowl.” MORE BIG LOCAL SPENDING — “Orlando will pay $6 million to bring Travel + Leisure downtown,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Ryan Gillespie. “The agreements mark a culmination of talks Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer first revealed publicly in his State of Downtown speech last September. Over the years, the city has used a variety of incentives to convince marquee companies ranging from Electronic Arts to Sonesta to bring their corporate offices to Orlando, in hopes that high-paying jobs will bolster the local economy.” ON THE BALLOT — “Could two referendums on Hillsborough’s ballot spell doom for both?” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Sue Carlton and Marlene Sokol. “The district pushed forward with a plan for a property tax increase to pay teachers higher salaries in a county that competes with other districts that have this tax. Now it’s headed for the same November ballot as the county’s renewal of its Community Investment Tax, which this time has a much smaller contribution to schools.” COULD CLOSE SOON — “Despite filing appeal, Miami says it could still settle racial gerrymandering lawsuit,” by the Miami Herald’s Tess Riski. “In a joint status report filed Monday, the parties said they ‘anticipate that the settlement will be approved’ at the next City Commission meeting on May 23. At last week’s meeting, where commissioners were set to vote on a settlement agreement, Commissioner Joe Carollo led the charge to delay the vote, citing the absence of Commissioner Damian Pardo, who is a supporter of the settlement.” RESOLUTION DISPUTE — “Democratic Councilwoman Porras Savages Doral Mayor Fraga's call for Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire,” by Liv Caputo of the Floridian. “A City of Doral Democratic Councilwoman who voted in favor of Republican Mayor Christi Fraga's ‘peace and security’ resolution between Palestine and Israel, which was largely written by a pro-Palestine activist, has now reversed her position on the proposal, claiming Mayor Fraga tried to sneak the resolution past the council without discussion. Last Wednesday, the Doral City Council unanimously voted for a resolution calling for an end to all hostilities in the ongoing Israel-Palestine War, making it the first South Florida city to push for a ceasefire in the conflict.”
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S ENERGY SUMMIT: The future of energy faces a crossroads in 2024 as policymakers and industry leaders shape new rules, investments and technologies. Join POLITICO’s Energy Summit on June 5 as we convene top voices to examine the shifting global policy environment in a year of major elections in the U.S. and around the world. POLITICO will examine how governments are writing and rewriting new rules for the energy future and America’s own role as a major exporter. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | THIS WEEKEND — Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) will speak at the Republican Party of Wisconsin state convention on Saturday in Appleton, Wisconsin. The state’s GOP chair, Brian Schimming, called Donalds a “key voice for a new generation of Republican leaders committed to restoring America’s promise for working families.” PRIMARY CONTEST — “GOP challenger says U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn not Republican enough for Congress,” by James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat. “The owner-operator of a Panama City insulation company has launched a primary challenge to Republican U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, saying the four-term congressman has betrayed the voters of North Florida by siding with Democrats on recent key votes. Rhonda Woodward, a former elementary school principal, said she wants to go to Washington to represent the state's 2nd Congressional District and be part of a team of patriotic fighters in the battle to scale back the size and power of the federal government. Woodward taught in Bay County schools for more than 20 years and is now the owner of Koala Insulation Panama City.”
| | TRANSITION TIME | | SHEIN HIRES BALLARD: Fast fashion giant Shein has scooped up yet another lobbying firm with close ties to Republicans, the latest move in the retailer’s rapid build-up of a small army of hired guns amid scrutiny from the Hill. Shein retained Ballard Partners this week to work on much the same slate of issues as the other five lobbying firms the company’s hired since February: fashion and apparel industry issues, e-commerce and online competition, on-demand inventory, trade and general education about the company. — Donald Trump ally and fundraiser Brian Ballard will work on the account along with former Trump White House aide Hunter Morgen and Syl Lukis, according to a disclosure filed this week. — Shein’s newest hires — Ballard, Navigators Global, Missy Edwards Strategies, Liberty Government Affairs and Forbes Tate Partners — have skewed Republican, speaking to the source of much of the pressure on the Hill. The pressure has included Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) calls this spring for regulators to block an IPO by the company and his demands for a federal investigation into whether any of Shein’s products were made with slave labor — allegations the company has denied. — POLITICO Influence’s Caitlin Oprysko.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | ‘TRUMP FORCE ONE’ — “Trump's plane clips another jet's wings after late-night landing at PBIA; FAA investigates,” per Tom Elia at the Palm Beach Post. “The Boeing 757 landed safely at the airport at about 1:20 a.m. While taxiing, its winglet made contact ‘with a parked and unoccupied corporate jet,’ the statement from the Federal Aviation Administration said.” BIRTHDAYS: Charles Lee, director of advocacy Audubon Florida. | | | | 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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