| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Friday. There is lots of important legal action to get to, but let’s start with Gov. Ron DeSantis' visit to a New York City pizzeria with Fox News’ Jesse Watters on Thursday to talk about coal-fired ovens (a topic with a lot of currency on Fox due to a proposed city rule about emissions.). Much of the back-and-forth allowed DeSantis to hit familiar recurring themes, but there were a couple of moments worth noting. On his wife, first lady Casey DeSantis and her popularity: “She would never want to run. But if I were like a Republican running in a primary I would never want to run against her. She would be really, really tough because people like her.” (This is an interesting answer given the buzz — albeit still at a low level — about whether Casey DeSantis could run for office eventually.) On running for president and being governor: “I’m still working though. We’re signing bills, we’re vetoing bills … I’m just sleeping less … You just got to prioritize. I don’t watch TV. I don’t do a lot of the other stuff. I kind of look after my wife and kids … do what I have to do as governor and do this.” After this exchange, Watters asked whether DeSantis watches Fox News. DeSantis answered in the affirmative and then said he will be watching Watters when he takes over the 8 p.m. time slot that had been held by Tucker Carlson. On whether he’s being ‘disloyal’ to Trump by running: “Disloyal to who? I mean politicians have to earn support. They are not entitled to support. I did a lot for him in 2016 and 2020 by the way, was happy to do it. But at the end of the day, I’m loyal to my family, to our constitution and to the good Lord.” — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to give remarks at the Moms for Liberty annual conference being held in Philadelphia. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com PROGRAMMING NOTE: Florida Playbook will not publish on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4. After the brief hiatus, we'll be back on our normal schedule on Wednesday, July 5. Please continue to follow POLITICO Florida. (Have a great Fourth of July, everyone!)
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | NOT GUILTY — “Deputy acquitted of all charges for failing to act during deadly Parkland school shooting,” by Associated Press’ Terry Spencer: “A Florida sheriff’s deputy was acquitted Thursday of felony child neglect and other charges for failing to act during the 2018 Parkland school massacre, concluding the first trial in U.S. history of a law enforcement officer for conduct during an on-campus shooting. Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson wept as the verdicts were read, while the fathers of two students murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb, 14, 2018, stared straight ahead and quickly left the courtroom. The jury had deliberated for 19 hours over four days.” The scene right afterwards — “After court adjourned, Peterson, his family and friends rushed into a group hug as they whooped, hollered and cried. Kevin Bolling, Peterson’s private investigator, chased after lead prosecutor Chris Killoran and said something. Killoran turned and snapped at him, 'Way to be a good winner' and slapped him on the shoulder.” REACTION — The verdict drew a sharp reaction from the families who lost children at the Parkland massacre as well as those in political office. Lori Alhadeff, who was elected to the Broward School Board after her 14-year-old Alyssa was killed, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that “today the jurors actually made schools less safer … They could have set a precedent today… Unfortunately that didn’t occur today and so school resources officers might now be thinking twice before they go in to take down a shooter in school. So I’m completely disappointed.” Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said on CNN last night: “Well, it's shameful. It's no justice for the Parkland families first … The shooter, who is solely responsible, got life in prison, instead of the death penalty, and now Officer Peterson, who not only did not go into the building for 45 minutes and hid in the stairwell outside, he prohibited other officers that arrived on the scene from also going into the building. … I'm glad he got his life back. That's what he said on that video. But the 17 families who lost loved ones, the 15 kids that are in cemeteries, they don't get their life back.” FALLOUT — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday handed down a major decision regarding affirmative action in university admissions that drew a sharp response, as Republicans such as DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott and others heralded the decision while Florida Democrats criticized it. But affirmative action has been prohibited in Florida for the past two decades. LOOKING AT THE RECORD — “Can colleges be racially diverse without affirmative action? Experience suggests no,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Melissa Korn: “Florida eliminated race-based affirmative action after a 1999 executive order by then-Governor Jeb Bush, a Republican. The state guarantees admission to its public university system—though not to specific campuses—to the top 20% of public high-school graduates there. Such plans have proven only moderately successful in boosting minority enrollment.” By the numbers — “At the flagship University of Florida, the share of Black students rose for some years after the policy was enacted, but declined over the past decade to 5.5% in 2022. That’s below where it was before the change and far below the share of Florida high-school graduates who are Black. Enrollment by Hispanic students has roughly doubled, to about 21%, but they are also still underrepresented compared with the state’s high school population.”
| | DESANTISLAND | | HAPPENING TODAY — “Trump, DeSantis among 2024 GOP set to appear at Moms for Liberty gathering,” by Associated Press’ Ali Swenson: “Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the main rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, are scheduled to speak Friday at the annual gathering of Moms for Liberty, a two-year-old group that has fiercely opposed instruction related to race and gender identity in the nation’s classroom. The group, which has quickly become a force in conservative politics, advocates 'parental rights' in education, but an anti-hate watchdog has labeled it 'extremist' for allegedly harassing community members, advancing anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation and fighting to scrub diverse and inclusive material from lesson plans. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and DeSantis’ wife, Casey DeSantis, also are slated to address the group Friday at the downtown Philadelphia hotel hosting the conference.” DONATE NOW — Why Ron DeSantis is emailing his supporters about men getting pregnant, by POLITICO’s Jessica Piper: Ron DeSantis flooded his supporters’ inboxes three times this week with the subject line: “Do not tell my children that men can get pregnant.” … Emails that rail against President Joe Biden, “wokeness” and the left were most common across the field, according to a POLITICO analysis of more than 200 emails sent by presidential campaigns in the past month. There were still plenty of yard signs and apparel giveaways, too. ‘COMMUNICATION IS NECESSARY’ — The DeSantis campaign just pissed off New York Republicans, by POLITICO’s Julia Marsh: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis irked an influential New York Republican after his presidential campaign failed to coordinate a Rockland County fundraiser with the local party leader. The suburban county’s GOP Chair Lawrence Garvey told POLITICO he got no heads up from the DeSantis campaign before it sent out a flier for a $6,600-a-person June 29 fundraiser with “major business leaders” at the Crowne Plaza in Suffern. “The Republican Party is a big tent and we’re always honored to have national figures come to Rockland County. At the same time there’s courtesies and protocols involved,” Garvey said.
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Casey DeSantis smiles during a campaign event on Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Rochester, N.H. | Charles Krupa/AP Photo | ON THE TRAIL — POLITICO’s Shia Kapos reports that on Wednesday Casey DeSantis and her daughter, Madison, had lunch in Quincy, Ill., with about 80 supporters before heading to Springfield for two events, including a stop at Home Plate Bar & Grill. “The whole place broke into applause when she arrived. She’s got star power,” Richard Porter, a Republican National Committeeman from Illinois, told Kapos. The second event in Springfield was a meet-and-greet with a moms group (which one, we wonder). DeSantis also tweeted about her day. ANOTHER ROUTE — “Largely ignored by Congress, DeSantis woos state lawmakers to help lift his campaign,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Alex Roarty: "Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign has the formal backing of five U.S. representatives, one governor, and exactly zero U.S. senators — a grand total of six endorsements from the nation’s top elected officials. He’s also won the support of at least 259 state lawmakers. The discrepancy is no accident. As he tries to build support for his GOP primary campaign, DeSantis and his political team have undertaken a calculated and sustained effort to court the endorsement of state lawmakers, hopeful that politicians with little national profile but close ties to grassroots voters can best bolster the Florida governor’s candidacy." — “Ron DeSantis faces one setback after another in battle against LGBTQ rights,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Michael Wilner and Ana Ceballos — “Christie bashes DeSantis’s Jan. 6 remarks: ‘Did he have a TV?’” by The Hill’s Lauren Sforza — “‘A baffling decision’: DeSantis vetoes bipartisan bill to buy Florida more electric cars,” by Miami Herald’s Alex Harris — “DeSantis appeals Hamburger Mary’s drag show ruling,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders — “DeSantis, Trump seek to rewrite history on COVID response,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | AS THE PAGES TURN — “Top Trump campaign aide Susie Wiles met numerous times with special counsel investigators in documents probe,” by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Kristen Holmes, Paula Reid and Sara Murray: “A senior campaign official for Donald Trump was allegedly shown a classified map by the former president during a meeting at his New Jersey golf club after Trump left office, according to a source familiar with the matter. The campaign adviser, Susie Wiles, has spoken to federal investigators numerous times as part of the special counsel’s Mar-a-Lago documents probe, multiple sources told CNN. Wiles is not named in Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump, but a source familiar with the matter identified her as the ‘representative of his political action committee’ who is referenced in the indictment.” RULING — Judge rejects Trump’s ‘presidential immunity’ defense in second E. Jean Carroll case, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Erica Orden: A federal judge on Thursday sharply rejected Donald Trump’s claim of “presidential immunity” to fend off a defamation lawsuit from the writer E. Jean Carroll, ruling that Trump’s disparaging comments about Carroll in 2019 had no legitimate connection to his duties as president. The 46-page opinion all but ensures that Carroll’s second lawsuit against the former president will go to trial. And it’s the latest setback in Trump’s repeated bid to use the muscular protections of the presidency to shield him from civil litigation. — “Investigation of Trump documents case continues after his indictment,” by The New York Times’ Alan Feuer and Maggie Haberman
| | | | 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 ... | | THE GLOW LANE — DeSantis signs ‘radioactive roads’ bill, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill that would allow the use of a phosphate mining waste byproduct in roadway demonstration projects while it is being studied. DeSantis signed the bill, requested by phosphate mining giant Mosaic Co., despite opposition from some environmentalists who requested a veto and have said the use of phosphogypsum waste would create “radioactive roads.” Industry officials maintain that the mildly radioactive material is safe. The bill directs the state Department of Transportation to conduct a study of the use of phosphogypsum in roadways if federal officials approve its use, which environmentalists oppose. — “Gov. DeSantis signs bill letting businesses to sue local governments, halt ‘arbitrary or unreasonable’ ordinances,” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | A NEW MANDATE — “On Saturday, Florida hospitals start asking patients’ immigration status. Advocates call the requirement ‘dangerous,’” by Orlando Sentinel’s Caroline Catherman: “Starting Saturday, most Florida hospitals will start collecting data on patients’ immigration status, bucking advice from clinicians who warn this could deter sick people from seeking care. A new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, SB 1718, requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to inquire about immigration status on patient admission forms. The hospitals are required to then de-identify this data and submit quarterly reports to the Agency for Healthcare Administration, which will calculate Florida’s annual cost of uncompensated care for people who live in the state illegally.” — “Investigation: South Florida’s smaller airports top the country in toxic lead emissions, but at-risk residents remain unaware,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Shira Moolten
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Erin Grall … former State Rep. Travis Cummings (Sunday) Sandi Poreda of Bulldog Strategy Group ... Meredith Woodrum Snowden, VP of legislative affairs for Leath Consulting (Tuesday) State Rep. Tiffany Esposito ... State Rep. Randy Maggard | | | | 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 | | | | |
