| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard, Gary Fineout and Siena Duncan | |  U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) addresses attendees at the Republican Party of Florida Freedom Summit, Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP | Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Florida has never really been the pipeline for prominent national leaders. There has never been a Senate leader, House speaker or president elected that claimed the state as home. Florida instead has had a long line of governors and senators that tried to get there but ultimately failed. That could change dramatically should voters elect former President Donald Trump, who adopted Florida as his home halfway through his first term. And then there’s Sen. Rick Scott. Scott on Wednesday launched his second bid for Republican leader of the Senate, a spot that could catapult him into majority leader if the GOP wins back that chamber in November. He’d hinted to Playbook in February that he hadn’t given up on the idea of running again after losing to Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2022. But with McConnell ready to leave his leadership post after this Congress, Scott is taking another shot. “It'd be good for the state of Florida that we have a Florida president and a Florida Majority Leader in the Senate,” Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) told POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy during a brief interview on Capitol Hill. Scott said if elected he would serve no more than six years in leadership. He called for legislation to be deliberated openly in committees instead of “backroom deals cut in secret,” and to allow amendment votes to major spending bills. The leadership bid fits in with the trajectory Scott has undertaken since he jumped directly into politics 14 years ago with his first run for governor. Those close to Scott, a former two-term governor, said previously that he had entertained thoughts of running for president. But fate and Trump intervened and scrambled it all up. At one point the speculation was that Trump would lose in 2016 and that would give Scott the opening to challenge Hillary Clinton in 2020. Of course that didn’t happen. And then Trump lost in 2020, further complicating a path ahead. Trump and Scott’s connection goes back years. Scott was the first member of Congress to show up in New York City at Trump’s trial to show support. Trump hasn't yet weighed in on the contest, but in a letter to colleagues asking for support, Scott highlighted his relationship to the former president and promised to deliver a "dramatic sea change" alongside him. He already got the support of former 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who endorsed him on X last night. A Trump endorsement of Scott’s bid for Republican leader could be a big enough boost to help put potentially a second Floridian in a position of high power in D.C. Of course, Scott will first have to win his reelection to qualify for the leadership election. Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who’s vying to challenge Scott in November, said the "stakes of this race just got so much higher" now that her opponent laid out his future plans. She warned he would bring about a "toxic and out-of-touch agenda" and the Florida Democratic Party called him "self serving" and warned he would try to make America like Florida, calling it a "disaster for the country." — Gary Fineout and Kimberly Leonard
| | | | 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 ... | | TRUMP APPOINTED JUDGE — “Federal judge blocks key part of DeSantis anti-immigration law,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “A federal judge is blocking — for now — a key portion of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-immigration law that he pushed ahead of his unsuccessful run for president. The contentious measure, which passed out of the Republican-controlled Legislature last year, made it a felony for someone to transport undocumented migrants into the state.” DECISION IN — “Appeals court backs FPL in hurricane costs lawsuit after law change,” by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “A state appeals court on Wednesday sided with Florida Power & Light Co. in lawsuit claiming the utility should pay customers for electricity lost during Hurricane Irma in 2017. The 3rd District Court of Appeal said FPL and other utilities are protected from such lawsuits by legislation passed in 2023 that provides the Public Service Commission with oversight of disaster preparedness and response.”
|  Starbucks coffee. | Gene J. Puskar/AP | GRANDE PROBE — “DeSantis and Moody announce state investigation of Starbucks’ DEI practices,” reports the Florida Phoenix’s Jackie Llanos. “Florida Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody wants the state agency in charge of investigating violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act to inspect Starbucks’ diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.” SYMBOLIC DISPLAYS — “DeSantis’ ‘Freedom Summer’ means no rainbow lights for Florida bridges,” by Lori Rozsa of The Washington Post. “As part of what Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling ‘Freedom Summer,’ his Transportation Department has told cities across the state that if they want to light up their bridges at night, they can only use the colors red, white and blue. A number of bridges across the state prominently display rainbow colors in honor of Pride Month in June, among other celebrations throughout the year.” ACTIVIST OPPOSITION — “Some human trafficking advocates object to Florida’s new tip line,” by Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. “A law set to go into effect in Florida on July 1 mandates the display of human-trafficking awareness signs in public spaces where that activity is likely to occur. The signs will include a Florida-specific tip line for individuals to report human trafficking, in addition to the existing national hotline, [which state Attorney General Ashley Moody has criticized]. … Some human trafficking survivors and their advocates strongly disagree, pointing to a distinct difference between a hotline — a telephone number you call when you need help or resources — and a tip line, where such calls go directly to law enforcement.” — “Bills on 'rural emergency hospitals' and other health issues sent to DeSantis,” reports News Service of Florida. — “Rep. Carolina Amesty drops defamation lawsuit against Orlando Sentinel,” by the Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello.
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | | | 
Florida Surgeon Gen. Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo before a bill signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Brandon, Florida. | Chris O'Meara/AP | WHAT TO WATCH — A motion by a member of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board that sought to adopt Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo’s highly criticized Covid-19 vaccine recommendations was dead on arrival before the start of a Tuesday meeting, at least in its original form. But that did not stop members of the "Medical Freedom" movement from telling the nine-member board they made the wrong decision. “I would like this board to explain exactly why it is so difficult to put Surgeon General Ladapo’s recommendation on your web site,” said Sally Nista, a self-proclaimed grassroots conservative who was one of 100 people who turned out for the meeting. “I understand he has a different opinion based on the expertise and research that he has accumulated, I appreciate that he is giving Floridians a different perspective.” Hospital board member Victor Rohe made a motion earlier this year to adopt Ladapo’s recommendation against the use of Covid vaccines that use mRNA technology. Rohe’s motion was on Tuesday's agenda, but the board had already agreed to significantly revise the motion during an earlier meeting. The revised motion, which was approved 8-1, directs the hospital to respect patient health care decisions and preserve confidentiality in doctor-patient relationships. Ladapo made himself a national figure early in the Covid-19 pandemic by writing opinion pieces that blasted efforts to control the spread of the virus. In October 2022 he released a recommendation warning adult men against using the mRNA vaccines along with a report he personally altered to prove his concerns, leading to criticism from experts around the world. — Arek Sarkissian DOG DAYS — “‘Insane’ heat has been scorching Miami. It’s not even June,” by Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times. “The heat index reached 112 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday, breaking the previous daily record by an astonishing 11 degrees. Sunday’s high of 96 degrees was also record-breaking, Mr. McNoldy said. Saturday’s high of 94 was one degree shy of that day’s record. All of this in May, normally a sufferable month in Miami compared with the three or four that follow.” INVESTIGATION WRAP-UP — “Monarch High administrators, athletic director cleared in transgender athlete investigation,” by Angie Dimichele and Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “The Florida High School Athletic Association fined Monarch High $16,500 and imposed other sanctions stemming from the student’s participation on the volleyball team. The athletic association also banned the student, who played during the 2022 and 2023 volleyball seasons, from participating in sports for a year.” — “Bridget Ziegler absent as public rallies against her at Sarasota School Board meeting,” reports the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Steven Walker. — “Former Tallahassee mayoral candidate arrested in armed robbery of a Dollar General store,” by Elena Barrera of the Tallahassee Democrat.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FUNDRAISER, INTERRUPTED — “Democratic operative arrested at fundraiser for Anna Paulina Luna’s would-be opponent,” reports the Miami Herald’s Max Greenwood. “Vanessa Brito, announced last month as [Phil] Ehr’s campaign manager, was taken into custody by Miami police just before the scheduled end of a fundraiser for Democrat Sabrina Bousbar at Gramps Wynwood. Video of the arrest obtained by the Miami Herald showed Brito being comforted by other women as an officer led her to a police car outside of Gramps.”
| | DATELINE D.C. | | AID ALLIANCE — “Angry airport encounter pushes Hurricane-relief bill forward,” by Richard Rubin and Katy Stech Ferek of The Wall Street Journal. “The path that led Rep. Greg Steube (R., Fla.) to find common cause with House Democrats and make an end run past his party’s leadership started at the airport shoeshine stand last month. Steube, who represents a storm-battered coastal stretch between Sarasota and Fort Myers where many homes still have tarped-over roofs, recalled that he was getting his boots polished at Reagan National Airport when an irate constituent approached him, pointing a finger at the congressman and reminding Steube that he had said he would deliver a tax bill to help disaster victims.” MILITARY — “Space Force STARCOM to locate permanently at Patrick SFB in Cape Canaveral,” reports Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles. “The Space Force last year moved its Space Training and Readiness Center to the Cape Canaveral military base. Before the location could be considered as a permanent home to the operations, the U.S. Air Force had to conduct an environmental review for the base to make sure it was suitable. That review has been completed, and the Space Force has decided to leave STARCOM headquartered at the Cape Canaveral base. The permanent location cements the Space Coast as a key locale for the newest branch of the military.”
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | THE FLORIDA TRUMP TRIAL THAT WASN’T — “‘Garbage argument’: Hearing in Trump’s classified docs case gets heated,” by POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. “The judge in the Donald Trump classified documents case reprimanded a prosecutor Wednesday during a tense hearing over a Trump co-defendant’s accusation of prosecutorial misconduct. ‘I’m going to have to ask that you calm down,’ Judge Aileen Cannon told prosecutor David Harbach, a member of special counsel Jack Smith’s team.The reprimand came after Harbach became agitated when Cannon asked him whether prosecutors had kept evidence of an August 2022 meeting with defense lawyer Stanley Woodward.”
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