| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | Presented by |  | | | BREAKING YESTERDAY — "FBI investigating second attempted assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump," reports POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw and Natalie Allison. “Secret Service agents ‘opened fire on a gunman located near the property line’ of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach” … He’s now in custody. “Trump, who was golfing at the club at the time, was unharmed … The Trump campaign, which is also headquartered in West Palm Beach, was put on lockdown.” Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged on X that Florida “will be conducting its own investigation,” saying, “The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee.” The New York Times had interviewed the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, as part of a March 2023 piece about American volunteers who went to Ukraine “to support the war effort against Russia.”
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Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) departs a vote at the U.S. Capitol July 8, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images | Good morning and welcome to Monday. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse views the property insurance crisis in Florida as the “first and worst of the coastal climate change problem.” And he’s worried it’s coming for the rest of America. The Rhode Island Democrat spent the weekend in Florida, hearing from residents who’ve faced devastating hurricanes and high property insurance rates, and listening to scientists’ presentations on how burning fossil fuels warms the atmosphere, leading to sea-level rise and more intense storms. He also joined state Democrats in Naples on Saturday for a rally about Florida’s housing affordability problem. “My primary purpose is to connect the dots between that frightening property insurance bill that comes through the mail slot, and the inadequacy of our response to emissions reductions,” Whitehouse, the Senate Budget Committee chair, told Playbook in a phone interview. He warns that the issue could cause a housing crash — that homes will become uninsurable, which in turn will mean people won’t be able to secure mortgages, “which then cascades into the property values crash.” Asked what he’d like to see Florida do, Whitehouse replied that state lawmakers could make solar power more accessible and affordable, though recently the state has seen a surge in solar installations and the building of a massive solar farm. It would also help, Whitehouse said, for more homes and businesses to take advantage of tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act. (An analysis from POLITICO’s E&E News found that so far the tax breaks for solar panels and other energy-efficient items are mostly going to wealthier Americans.) But Whitehouse stressed that he doesn’t think incentives are enough. He has been a longtime supporter of taxing carbon pollution, something Congress has debated but not come close to passing given opponents’ concerns that it would raise costs and trigger job loss. “We’re now at the stage in addressing the climate crisis that if we only do stopgaps we will fail,” Whitehouse said. “We have to address the underlying problem of fossil fuel emissions.” Over the weekend, Democrats blamed Republicans for not doing enough on climate. They raised a bill signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis that struck language directing the state to promote renewable energy and curb greenhouse gas emissions — a move he defended as geared toward creating energy policy around “affordability” and “reliability.” The law also struck the word “climate change” from state documents, banned nearshore windmills and relaxed permitting requirements for natural gas pipelines. “DeSantis has not been focused on reducing climate risk,” Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor told reporters on Saturday after a roundtable in St. Petersburg. “He has kept Florida addicted to fossil gas.” Republicans partly blame the high costs of property insurance on the Biden administration’s federal spending that contributed to inflation (though that was not the sole factor), pointing to higher costs for building materials and labor. Florida lawmakers responded to soaring insurance rates in part by making it harder to sue insurers who said litigation was driving up costs. They’ve asked the public for patience as the market settles. But for now, Florida homeowners pay way more for coverage than they used to, and more than people living in other states. Whitehouse has made an example of Florida before. As chair of the Budget Committee, he held a hearing last year about how climate change is worsening the property insurance crisis and opened probes into private insurers as well as Citizens, which is the state-backed coverage offered when people can’t get it otherwise. But Whitehouse did have a positive observation about Florida: that it had among the highest number of electric vehicle registrations in the U.S. “That’s a good sign,” he said, “that Floridians are happy to make the investment in cleaner and lower-emissions technology when they have the chance.” WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis will be on 92.5 FOX News at 8 a.m. with GOP state Rep. Spencer Roach to talk about his opposition to Amendments 3 and 4. At 10:30 a.m. he’ll hold a press conference in Orlando with Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., State University System of Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues and Florida Prepaid College Board Chairman John Rood. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget in the campaign reporting that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Uber: How does Uber expand transit access in Florida?
Every week, Uber helps over 3,000 people get to and from Brightline stations across Florida. On average, riders travel nearly 6 miles to connect to Brightline, extending their reach far beyond the tracks. Learn more about how Uber is working with transit agencies in Florida and across the country. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | HERNANDO LAND SWAP PUSHBACK — “Florida forestry official questioned DeSantis-backed swap of state forest to golf company,” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Max Chesnes and Emily L. Mahoney. “Following a request from [Cabot Citrus Farms], the Florida Cabinet — which includes Gov. Ron DeSantis — quietly approved giving Cabot Citrus 324 adjacent acres of state forest, some of it harboring threatened species. The Cabinet’s June 12 discussion, which lasted less than 30 seconds, did not mention golf courses nor the state forest where more could be built. There was no debate, no public comment. No mention of endangered wildlife. In return, Cabot would buy 861 acres of timber land about 50 miles northwest in Cedar Key to give to the state — land that largely consists of rows of planted pines with limited biodiversity.” SIREN EMOJI — “Condo association insurance costs doubled since 2022, new data shows,” reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise. “The average cost of a commercial condo association policy — the kind that covers common properties like roofs, structures, and irrigation systems — jumped 6.6 percent in the second quarter, and over the past two years has more than doubled, increasing by 103 percent from $72,570 to $147,381, according to newly released data by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.” CLASH OVER SHOTS — “Despite FDA recommendations Florida Surgeon General Ladapo warns against new COVID booster,” reports C.A. Bridges of USA Today Network — Florida. “The FDA said in a release that the updated vaccines granted an emergency use authorization for distribution this fall were designed to target the KP.2 strain but also ‘more closely target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.’” DAY IN COURT — “FPL dispute over Hurricane Irma goes to Florida Supreme Court,” reports Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida. “Attorneys for Florida Power & Light customers Friday went to the state Supreme Court in a long-running lawsuit that alleges the utility did not meet obligations to help prevent power outages during 2017’s Hurricane Irma. The attorneys filed a notice of taking the case to the Supreme Court after a panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeal in August refused to reconsider a decision that backed FPL’s arguments that the state Public Service Commission has authority to determine whether the utility met its obligations during the storm.” PUSH FOR MORE DATA — “Democrats call for increased transparency of school vouchers’ hit to state budget,” reports Jay Waagmeester of the Florida Phoenix. “Reps. Fentrice Driskell, Kelly Skidmore, and Allison Tant wrote to Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and CEO of Step Up for Students Gretchen Schoenhaar asking for demographic information about students awarded scholarships, broken down by scholarship type and school district as well as the number of recipients who have never been in public school.”
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | FACING OCT. 1 DEADLINE — “Florida homeless law: Sentinel survey shows cities and counties making scant progress,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Ryan Gillespie. “Central Florida leaders are on the hunt for more shelter beds for people who sleep on sidewalks, under highway overpasses and in the woods. But with less than three weeks until a new state homelessness law goes into effect, they’re not making progress nearly as quickly as that law suggests they should.” POST-ELECTION — “Venezuela arrests US, EU citizens over alleged plot to kill Maduro,” reports POLITICO’s Federica Di Sario. “Venezuela on Saturday arrested three United States citizens, two Spaniards and a Czech national over their alleged participation in a U.S.-sponsored plot to kill President Nicolás Maduro and several members of his government. The arrests of the six foreigners, which Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced on state TV on Saturday, occurred as the South American country, which descended into political chaos amid a contested election in late July, has seen its relations with Washington, Madrid and other Western democracies souring.”
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill arrives for an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. | Lynne Sladky/AP Photo | PERSONNEL RECORD — “Officer who handcuffed Tyreek Hill was suspended 6 times and had complaints of force violations, record shows,” reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Angie Dimichele. “The Miami-Dade Police officer who is on administrative duty after a heated traffic stop with Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill last weekend previously had been investigated for complaints of excessive force, conduct unbecoming and body-worn camera violations, according to department records. Officer Danny Torres, a 27-year veteran … has been suspended six times in his career and received multiple written reprimands. He’s also received many commendations for his service, according to a personnel record released by the department Friday evening.” — “Tyreek Hill and officer who detained him may have both broken law, legal experts say,” reports the Miami Herald’s Charles Rabin and David Goodhue. — “Pasco libraries ‘suppress’ more than 100 children’s books with LGBTQ+ themes,” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek.
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GOES WITHOUT SAYING — The Florida Democratic Party voted on Saturday to formally support two high-profile ballot initiatives that seek to legalize marijuana and expand abortion rights. The State Executive Committee of the Florida Democratic Party met to vote on recommendations for six initiatives that will go before voters in November. The committee of more than 200 members voted in support of Amendment 3, which seeks to legalize recreational pot use for people aged 21 and older. It also supports Amendment 4, which seeks to roll back state abortion restrictions, including a ban after six weeks of pregnancy. “The State of Florida has interfered in the lives of our citizens for far too long,” Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried wrote in a statement. “Amendments 3 and 4 are a good first step towards restoring our rights and keeping the government out of our business.” The party also voted to oppose the four other initiatives on the ballot this year. — Arek Sarkissian THEY WANT CHARGES — Florida Democrats also filed letters to prosecutors in three state judicial circuits demanding criminal charges over the state Agency for Health Care Administration’s website that was created to oppose Amendment 4.. The letters sent to state attorneys in Hillsborough, Leon and Orange counties argue that AHCA’s website that was created with taxpayer money violated a law that bans state agencies from campaigning. “Using a government agency to advocate for one side of an issue and mischaracterize it as the “truth” is the real danger to women’s health and a threat to democracy,” Fried wrote in a statement about the letter. — Arek Sarkissian THURSDAY —A Tallahassee fundraiser for Democrat Whitney Fox, who is running to unseat Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. Hosts include state Rep. Allison Tant (D-Tallahassee), former Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), political consultant Rick Wilson and Renee Luallen, as well as Franco Ripple, a public relations executive, and attorney Ashley Ligas.
|  Laura Loomer arrives with Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Philadelphia International Airport, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia, for the presidential debate. | Chris Szagola/AP Photo | ORIGIN STORY — “Laura Loomer’s history in Florida politics, explained,” by Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times. “A decade ago, Loomer, then a college student at the Miami-area Barry University, first made headlines by tipping off the far-right blog Gateway Pundit about an imam attending a 9/11 memorial on her campus. She eventually got suspended for an attempted sting in which she taped herself telling a teacher that she wanted to form a pro-ISIS on-campus group.” 500,000 HAITIANS IN FLORIDA — “Trump’s Haitian immigrant comments stir outrage in Florida,” reports Noah Bierman of the Los Angeles Times. “When a group of 50 Democrats of Caribbean descent gathered to watch the presidential debate in a south Florida suburb this week, the room filled with stunned laughs as former President Trump repeated a baseless rumor that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were stealing dogs and cats so they could eat them … The laughs quickly turned to anger, said Ruiz-Nicolas, who came to the United States with her parents as a child in the 1960s, and has seen new and shocking levels of bigotry directed at her people, who she said were long welcomed with open arms.” ‘IT’S ME, HI’ — “Could Taylor Swift’s Florida concerts help bring Democrats to the polls?” by the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Shira Moolten. “As Florida’s Democrats applauded Swift, they also highlighted a unique opportunity: The second leg of her famed Eras Tour commences at the Hard Rock in Miami Gardens from Oct. 18 to 20, and Florida early voting begins the next day, Oct. 21. Her arrival has already led airlines to add new flights. Hotels are getting booked. Even Brightline is planning Taylor Swift sing-along trains the weekend she’s here. Now the Democrats are getting in on the action.” — “Doctor warns he is helpless to care for patients in new Amendment 4 ad,” reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. — “A Florida physicians group comes out against the abortion ballot initiative,” reports Joe Mario Pedersen of Central Florida Public Media.
| | | | A message from Uber: Expanding transit access in Florida
Did you know that every week, Uber helps over 3,000 people get to and from Brightline stations across Florida?
Key stat: On average, riders travel nearly 6 miles to reach these stations—extending Brightline’s reach far beyond the tracks.
From MiamiCentral to Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, Uber is making it easier for Floridians to access public transit.
Learn more about how Uber partners with transit agencies to improve access to public transportation. | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | NEW BILL POST DEBATE — “Steube files bill to ban federally funded gender affirmation surgery for detainees,” reports Christian Casale of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “Sarasota’s Rep. Greg Steube filed a bill called the ‘Stopping Transgender Operation Payments and Wacky Expenses for Illegal Residents and Detainees Act’ (STOP WEIRD Act).
| | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | | BIRTHDAYS: Former Rep. Stephanie Murphy … Whitney Ray, deputy chief of staff for Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody … Christopher Heath, Orange County Supervisor of Elections‘ public information officer … Former Rep. David Rivera. | | | | 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 | | | | |
