| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Kierra Frazier | |  Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., speaks during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. | Paul Sancya/AP | Good morning from Milwaukee and welcome to Wednesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered some of his greatest hits last night. But this time Donald Trump was looking on from his private box at the Republican National Convention. In his primetime-slot speech, the governor made it clear in front of everyone that he would take the party-unity route after losing the presidential nomination to Trump. When he took the stage, he made his speech all about the former president. Except for the parts that were also about himself. DeSantis sprinkled in some of his favorite talking points, such as how schools should “educate not indoctrinate,” and used his oft-repeated line about DEI standing for “division, exclusion and indoctrination.” He ended his speech as he often did on the presidential campaign trail: talking about the “sacred fire of liberty” and quoting Ronald Reagan. He gave himself credit for turning Florida red. “For decades, my home state saw elections determined by razor-thin margins,” he said. “Today, due to bold leadership, the Democratic Party lies in ruins. The left is in retreat, freedom reigns supreme, the woke mind virus is dead and Florida is a solid Republican state.” After allowing a few seconds of cheering, he then added: “Now electing Donald Trump gives us the chance to do this all across America.” As DeSantis spoke, the Florida delegates were front and center. Only cheers could be heard in the audience — unlike some booing Nikki Haley faced when she took the stage right before DeSantis. Trump could be seen at one point leaning over to say something to running mate J.D. Vance and later applauding and smiling when DeSantis boasted about flying migrants to Martha’s Vineyard to try to stick it to liberals over illegal immigration. DeSantis’ speech was especially critical of President Joe Biden. He called him a “Weekend at Bernie’s” president and said he was too feeble to discharge his duties. Unlike Haley, who had to explain why she was now endorsing Trump, DeSantis didn't talk about the primary and instead focused on things he and Trump had in common. Still, his comments marked a stunning turnaround given how caustic their rivalry had been. After DeSantis’ campaign failed to take off, his supporters disagreed over whether he was too hard on Trump or not hard enough. By the end of the campaign DeSantis derided Republicans who would “kiss the ring” and portrayed himself as someone who’d be more far effective at carrying out Trump’s “America First” agenda. It’s still not clear how much further DeSantis will go for Trump — including whether he’ll want to campaign with him ahead of November. He did not attend Trump’s Doral rally last week. For now, DeSantis has been fundraising for him. And yesterday a political operation tied to him sent a text to supporters a couple of hours before he was set to speak. It linked off to a live stream and directed voters to donate to "support Donald Trump for president." It was signed by the political action committee "Restore Our Nation," or "RON." THIS WEEK: Playbook is on the ground at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Send tips to kleonard@politico.com about Florida-focused get togethers, speaking slots and anything else of interest to our readers.
| | | | CHECK OUT WHAT YOU MISSED IN MILWAUKEE!
Watch the full event from the CNN-POLITICO Grill at the RNC HERE.
The program featured Bayer’s Jessica Christiansen, senior vice president and head of crop science and sustainability communications, as well as a conversation with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill for discussions about agriculture, food policy and how these issues will impact the November election. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | | |  Orlando Police officers move anti-abortion protesters back to their permitted protest area near the “Rally to Stop the Six-Week Abortion Ban” held at Lake Eola Park on April 13, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | ANOTHER BIG ABORTION FIGHT — “In Florida, everything is a battlefield for abortion rights. Even the budget,” reports POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian. “ A normally prosaic budgeting process for proposed constitutional amendments in Florida ended in frustration — and legal threats — after Gov. Ron DeSantis and another state Republican leader tapped anti-abortion advocates to sit on a panel overseeing the state’s abortion-rights ballot measure that will be in front of voters in the fall. The fighting around obscure language related to the measure — which is Amendment 4 on November’s ballot — is just the latest battlefield in an incredibly contentious brawl over the procedure in the nation’s third-largest state, where pro-abortion rights activists say anti-abortion Florida Republicans are using every possible cog in government machinery to try to stop the amendment’s passage.” $IGNAGE — “‘Free State of Florida’ welcome signs touting DeSantis motto cost $60K,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello and Jeffrey Schweers. “Signs welcoming visitors to ‘The Free State of Florida’ now stand at 24 locations along highways and at two welcome centers, said Michael Williams, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation, in an email. Williams did not answer questions about who decided to erect the new signs, which he said were created in-house at a department facility in Lake City.” ENERGY SETTLEMENT — “Duke settlement slashes rate hike request,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “Duke [Energy Florida] and the [Office of the Public Counsel], which represents customers in rate cases, had notified state regulators July 8 that a deal was reached but had not provided details. The agreement announced Monday by Duke Energy reduces the rate increase requests to $203 million in 2025 and $59 million in 2026.” BUT … AARP on Tuesday called on the PSC to give close scrutiny to that settlement agreement. “The PSC holds the final authority to rein in corporate greed and prevent unnecessary increases unrelated to power usage or reliability,” Zayne Smith, AARP Florida's director of advocacy, said in a news release. A Duke spokesperson said Tuesday the utility does not expect opposition from other parties in the case. — Bruce Ritchie RELIGION IN SCHOOLS — “As critics decry religion in classrooms, some fear how far Florida will go,” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek. “The issue, [state Sen. Lori] Berman said, is the state is not supposed to police religion. She saw potential unintended negative consequences if the state continues down the path of allowing religion and public education to intersect.”
| | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | | NO TAX RATE INCREASE — “Miami-Dade’s garbage fees and tax rates stay flat in 2025 budget plan by Levine Cava,” reports Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks. “The flat-tax proposal follows two years of [Mayor Daniella] Levine Cava securing 1 percent reductions in Miami-Dade’s countywide property-tax rate, which is paid by all property owners in the county. While rates declined slightly, property-tax revenue continues to grow from new construction and rising property values.” MIAMI DEVELOPER FOUND DEAD — “Miami developer Sergio Pino found dead amid FBI ‘murder for hire’ investigation,” by the Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks, Tess Riski, Catherine Odom, Charles Rabin, Jay Weaver and Joey Flechas. “In the morning, FBI agents had descended on the neighborhood as part of a ‘search and arrest’ operation related to the murder for hire investigation, which began in the fall of 2023, according to a statement by Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri… A SWAT team entered [Sergio] Pino’s home after attempting to call out to anyone inside and getting no response, according to the FBI’s statement. Veltri said that Pino, who was 67, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and that FBI agents discovered him ‘alone in an upstairs bedroom.’” ‘BEST RETURN FOR OUR CITIZENS’ — “[Jacksonville] Mayor Donna Deegan presents $1.92 billion city budget, adds 40 JSO officers,” by The Florida Times-Union’s Hanna Holthaus. “When hosting community conversations over the past year, [Mayor Donna] Deegan said she heard affordable housing, homelessness, roads and public safety as the most important investments for residents. Her $1.9 billion general budget and $489 million capital improvement plan will invest in all four, she said.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | … DATELINE RNC … — Eric Trump made a surprise appearance at the Republican Party of Florida breakfast yesterday morning, where he whipped up the crowd for his father. “We’re going to win this, plain and simple,” he said. But he also spent a good portion of his speech warning of an “October surprise,” predicting that Democrats had “something up their sleeves.” He accused Democrats of trying to “cheat” to win elections, but cited no evidence of fraud. Trump, who lives in Jupiter, Florida, also talked about why he’s made the Sunshine State home. “People in Florida are legitimately happy,” he said. “They’re happy to be alive.” — Taking the stage next, Trump campaign chief pollster Tony Fabrizio predicted that his boss would win Florida in November by double digits. Donald Trump is currently ahead by more than 9 points, according to the 538 polling average. — In the afternoon, DeSantis leaned into pushback against Big Tech at a Moms for Liberty event … raising state social media age restrictions on teens and keeping phones out of classrooms are a way to “help parents navigate” their kids having access to the Internet. He also re-told the story about his battle with Walt Disney World but this time shared the happy ending that the park planned to expand. — During the main stage programming, both senators from Florida were in the spotlight. Former VP shortlister Marco Rubio praised Trump for expanding the GOP's base, pointing to how voters waited in long lines to attend his rallies. “There is absolutely nothing dangerous or divisive about putting Americans first," Rubio said. “By giving voice to every day Americans,” he said, “President Trump has not just changed our party — he has inspired a movement.” Sen. Rick Scott described a second Biden term as a “nightmare,” predicting Democrats would try to “rebuild [America] in their woke, radical image." — To top off the night, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson hosted state Republicans at the Harley Davidson Museum for an outdoor country rock concert. Guests took home cookies decorated with icing that read, "Sunshine State Shindig." … FLORIDIANS IN MILWAUKEE … — 9 a.m. Gov. Ron DeSantis will address the Republican Party of Florida over breakfast. — 11 a.m. CT: National Association of Realtors Panel with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), and Miami Mayor Francis Xavier Suarez in conversation with POLITICO's Financial Services editor and co-author of Morning Money, Zach Warmbrodt. POLITICO RSVP. — Noon: DeSantis will address the Iowa GOP. — 11:25 a.m. CT: Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson in conversation with POLITICO’s Head of News, Alex Burns. POLITICO RSVP. DONATIONS — “Scoop: Scott hasn't returned donations from businessman accused of trust fraud,” by Axios’ Yacob Reyes. “Axios asked [Sen. Rick] Scott in late June why he hadn't returned [Leo Joseph] Govoni's contributions to his fundraising committees, which totaled at least $85,000. Scott's campaign spokesperson, Will Hampson, said in text messages on June 27 that the committees had donated ‘contributions from this donor to charity.’ FEC filings released Monday show that Scott's campaign donated only $15,800 to a foundation for those with disabilities — the day after Axios inquired about the money. … Hampson told Axios that amount represents ‘everything [Govoni] donated to [the] campaign and affiliated groups this [election] cycle that we have the power to donate.’” NEW NUMBERS— “Whitney Fox again outraises Primary field in bid to flip CD 13,” by Florida Politics’ Janelle Irwin Taylor. “Fox brought in $320,632 in total contributions during the second quarter of 2024, which covers campaign finance activity from April through June. Her total fundraising to date comes to nearly $743,000.” ELECTION DENIER TO POLITICAL CANDIDATE — “Pinellas supervisor race latest in Florida to feature elections denier,” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Tracey McManus. “Clearwater resident Chris Gleason claimed that Pinellas County was ‘ground zero’ for mail ballot fraud that stole the 2020 election from former President Donald Trump, even though Trump won Florida... After nearly two years of attacking the county’s handling of ballots and voting machines, Gleason qualified to challenge [Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Julie] Marcus.”
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | |  A vehicle carrying former U.S. President Donald Trump is driven to the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse on March 01, 2024 in Fort Pierce, Florida. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | TRUMP LEGAL VISITS TO FORT PIERCE TBD — “What's next in Donald Trump's classified documents case in Fort Pierce?” by Treasure Coast Newspapers’ Melissa E. Holsman. “Some legal experts have said [special counsel Jack] Smith may try to get [U.S. District Judge Aileen M.] Cannon removed from the case, meaning it would not return to Fort Pierce and instead be assigned to a federal judge seated in West Palm Beach... But a lot has to happen before Trump might be summoned to return to the district court related to the classified documents criminal allegations.” CANNON MADE NATIONAL WAVES — “Trump’s Case Put the Judge, Aileen Cannon, Under a Spotlight,” by The New York Times’ Eileen Sullivan. “Before she was assigned Mr. Trump’s case, she had little experience with criminal trials. Her impartiality came into question with an early decision she made in the case, insisting that an independent mediator should review the thousands of documents the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized in 2022 from Mr. Trump’s private residence and club in Palm Beach, Fla. That review would have placed the case on hold for months. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned her decision in a swift rebuke.” BIG GIVING — “Florida lawyer donates $1 million to family of victim of attempted Trump assassination,” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Nina Moske. “Orlando attorney and megadonor Dan Newlin said he felt ‘called upon to help fellow Americans.’ He will also give $100,000 to the families of people injured at the rally … Newlin said he plans to meet Comperatore’s family in Pennsylvania and deliver the money in person.” — “A Trump-owned company sells $299 sneakers with an image of his bloodied face after rally shooting,” by the Associated Press’ Adriana Gomez Licon.
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