| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Isa Domínguez | | 
Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, speaks during the Family Leader's Thanksgiving Family Forum when he was a presidential candidate in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 17, 2023, | Charlie Neibergall/AP | Good morning and happy Friday. DONALD TRUMP’s first term as president left anti-abortion advocates thrilled as he delivered wins for them and was named the “most pro-life president in history.” But when Trump ran in 2024, he refused to go along with advocates’ demands to endorse a national abortion ban over fears it might cost him the election. The stance left an opening for other Republicans, including Gov. RON DESANTIS, to criticize him and take staunch positions on the issue. DeSantis didn’t always appear at ease talking about abortion and would sometimes give vague responses when asked about it. But that posture shifted decidedly about a year ago — and he took the state GOP along with him to vocally embrace the issue rather than sidestep it like some others in the GOP did. As DeSantis prepared to run for president to the right of Trump, he signed a bill into law making most abortions in Florida illegal after six weeks of pregnancy. During the 2024 election, the governor used his bully pulpit, the courts, his political committee and state resources to fight a ballot amendment that would have undone those restrictions. And he won. Despite majority support among Florida voters for abortion rights, the amendment failed to reach the 60 percent threshold required for passage. These are all key reasons why the governor is getting a “National Pro-Life Recognition Award” from Priests for Life in Washington this morning — and why he’s speaking at the annual anti-abortion “March for Life” rally by the Wahington Monument. On Thursday, POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein reported Trump would be speaking as well, though remotely. (Tune into the program at noon.) In an interview, March for Life President JEANNE MANCINI credited “the work and energy” of DeSantis and Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS in defeating the abortion amendment — known as Amendment 4 — and further called the six-week law “very courageous.” She argued that one of the reasons other politicians backpedaled on abortion was because of “fear-mongering” that conflated abortion with stories of miscarriage care. “We're grateful to the governor for using all of his resources and platforms to really effectively message on that, message against the disinformation from Amendment 4 backers,” she said. (In the lead-up to Election Day, abortion rights advocates similarly argued the anti-abortion arguments against the amendment were misleading.) Mancini contended that if politicians “lean into this with confidence” like DeSantis did, then it would become a “winning issue.” She added that she hoped people at the march would share why the issue was important to them, in similar fashion to the governor sharing during his presidential bid that his wife had a miscarriage when they first decided to start a family. This year’s theme is “Why We March,” and Mancini said it was aimed to get the discussion back to the basics and “instill courage in all Americans.” Asked what other abortion restrictions advocates would be pressing for in Florida, Mancini called for education “about the inherent dignity of the unborn child” and “more support for moms facing unexpected pregnancies.” But, she added, “We really seek to change hearts and minds.” “We're not in this just to change laws,” she said, “but to make abortion unthinkable.” — Arek Sarkissian contributed. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
| | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | NEXT WEEK — DeSantis has called a special session to address illegal immigration, condo safety laws and rules on ballot initiatives. PRESSURE POINT — “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned Thursday that Republican legislators could pay a political price if they defy him and refuse to enact sweeping illegal immigration and ballot initiative bills during next week’s scheduled special session,” by POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez and Gary Fineout. “DeSantis wants lawmakers to act quickly, pinning the need for urgency to the inauguration of President Donald Trump and his immigration executive orders. The governor ordered lawmakers back to town, but so far there are no signs that the GOP-controlled Legislature will actually take any action during the five-day session.” MASS DEPORTATION PREPARATION — Florida immigrant advocacy groups are urging undocumented immigrants to designate a power of attorney and have contact information for an immigration attorney, reports the Florida Phoenix’s Jackie Llanos. The Florida Immigration Coalition will be hosting workshops about due process. — “As Florida ERs see flu cases spike, CDC issues new bird flu guidance,” reports Joe Mario Pedersen of Central Florida Public Media.
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | NEW MAN IN CHARGE — “Higher ed reform continues as DeSantis appointee elected UWF chair,” by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “University of West Florida trustees chose Scott Yenor, a Boise State University political science professor with ties to national conservative think tanks, to lead them on Thursday, as the board attempts to ‘refocus’ the school under DeSantis. “The 8-5 vote saw more tenured trustees advocating for the board’s longest serving member to take over in hopes of avoiding a ‘cloud of controversy’ lingering over the Pensacola university. But Yenor, who has faced criticism for his comments on women in the workplace, was elected chair by a new majority of UWF trustees recently appointed by DeSantis to ‘break the status quo’ as his administration continues to rail against ‘wokeness’ in higher education” SNOWBALLS AND PEPPER BALLS — What started as a spontaneous snowball fight among students in Tallahassee’s College Town ended as a confrontation with the local police, reports Douglas Soule of the Tallahassee Democrat. After the police received calls about vehicles getting hit by snowballs, officers tried to disperse the crowd using pepper balls. One person was arrested for “Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.” BUSINESSES TIED TO COVONI SUBPOENAED — Days after a judge found Clearwater businessman LEO GOVONI liable for $122 million in missing medical trust fund money, three businesses and a lawyer have been subpoenaed for records concerning an ongoing bankruptcy case against Govoni, reports Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics. In her capacity as Florida attorney general, ASHLEY MOODY sued Govoni and other defendants for stealing money from beneficiaries and for holding funds in trusts intended for people with special needs and using the money to loan his other businesses. FLUORIDATION SKEPTICS FLOURISH IN CENTRAL FLORIDA — Per the Florida Department of Health, more than 70 percent of Floridians who get water from community water systems receive fluoridated water. But more Floridians are opting against fluoridation, reports Central Florida Public Media’s Molly Duerig and Joe Mario.
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | TRUMPBRARY — “Florida International University may be on the list for what could be Trump’s most high-profile real estate deal: his presidential library,” reports Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald. “Trump’s local real estate lobbyist recently toured the state school’s main campus in the Miami suburbs as part of an early effort to scout potential library sites. … For now, according to the sources, FIU appears to be an underdog to Florida Atlantic University, a state school in Boca Raton that’s about 25 miles away from Trump’s palatial Palm Beach home, Mar-a-Lago.” Reached for comment, MAYDEL SANTANA, associate vice president at FIU, said: “We are aware there has been a campus tour, but FIU has not been approached officially, nor has FIU received a proposal regarding a presidential library on campus. Hosting a presidential library is an honor and FIU certainly welcomes the opportunity to discuss the possibility.” — “After his Jan. 6 case was dismissed, a Florida man is arrested on a gun charge,” reports Christine Hauser of The New York Times. — “South Florida man arrested for jumping over wall at Trump's Mar-a-Lago,” by Kristina Webb of the Palm Beach Daily News.
| | | | New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | SATURDAY — The Florida Democratic Party is meeting in Lake Buena Vista to hold leadership elections. SCHEDULED — The special elections for state senator representing District 19 and for state representative for District 3 are set for June 10. The primary elections for both seats are scheduled for April 1. The deadline to register to vote for the primary elections is March 3, and the registration deadline for the general elections is May 12. State Sen. RANDY FINE is resigning from the District 19 seat to run for Congress, and state Rep. JOEL RUDMAN is resigning from the District 3 seat to run for former Rep. MATT GAETZ’s seat in the 1st Congressional District. NEXT WEEK — House Republicans are holding their retreat at Trump National Doral. EXPANDING MEDICARE FOR HEARING AIDS — Reps. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-Fla.) and SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK (D-Fla.) signed on as co-sponsors of a measure that would have Medicare cover hearing aids, reports Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner. The bill would also instruct the Government Accountability Office to look into how much federal programs and health insurance cover treatments and devices for hearing loss.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio greets people as he arrives to speak to State Department staff at the State Department in Washington on Jan. 21, 2025. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP | RUBIO HEADS TO LATIN AMERICA — Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO is set to visit several Latin American countries, including Panama, as early as next week, reports POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi and Robbie Gramer. Rubio’s goals for this trip include at least two issues at the top of the MAGA foreign policy agenda: curtailing illegal migration and reclaiming the Panama Canal. WALTZ SENDS STAFFERS PACKING — National security adviser MIKE WALTZ sent 160 National Security Council aides home in a shake-up intended to align the team with Trump’s national agenda, reports The Associated Press’ Zeke Miller and American Madhani. Waltz chief of staff BRIAN MCCORMACK announced the news in a two-minute call, telling the aides that they “are directed to be on call and report to the office only if contacted by the NSC leadership.” One official says that, by the review’s end, Waltz will achieve a “more efficient, flatter” National Security Council. FLORIDA SPACE COAST EXPANSION? — Rep. ANNA PAULINA LUNA (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Trump urging him to move NASA’s headquarters from D.C. to Florida, reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. Earlier this month in an appearance at the Kennedy Space Center, DeSantis approved of the idea, saying it would be “very, very fitting.”
| | TRANSITION TIME | | — GENESIS ROBINSON has been named the full-time executive director of Equal Ground, and founder JASMINE BURNEY-CLARK will take on the role of senior adviser. — Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has named OLGA VIEIRA as the firm’s newest co-managing Partner of its Miami office. Vieira will be serving in this role alongside SAMUEL WILLIAMSON.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Karen Woodall, Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy co-founder … former Tampa Bay Times photojournalist Scott Keeler … former state Rep. Bev Kilmer … (Saturday) Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick … Rep. Aaron Bean … Gus Corbella, senior director of government law and policy practice with Greenberg Traurig … (Sunday) Tallahassee Democrat’s Byron Dobson ... Dave Royse, author and journalist ... Jan Pudlow, former senior editor at The Florida Bar and former journalist. Correction: Thursday's Florida Playbook mischaracterized the special election dates for two legislative seats. The primary election is April 1, and the general election is June 10. | | | | 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 | | | | |
