| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Isa Domínguez | | 
DeSantis called the bill “half-baked” and unable to “meet the moment.” | John Raoux/AP | Good morning and welcome to Thursday. The Republican dispute over how to best proceed on illegal immigration is playing out mostly online. Both sides have told Playbook they’ve tried to talk directly to one another — to no avail. KATIE BETTA, spokesperson for state Senate President BEN ALBRITTON, told Playbook that the last time Gov. RON DESANTIS called was 15 minutes ahead of his Jan. 13 press conference announcing the original special session. Florida House Speaker DANNY PEREZ told The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres that the governor’s office would agree to meet only to discuss DeSantis’ proposal. A source in the governor’s office disputed the accounts, saying both Perez and Albritton declined “multiple attempts to have calls and in-person meetings with our office and the governor” in the days leading up to the special session. That’s left them communicating mainly through the press and over social media. DeSantis has used the bully pulpit of his roundtable-style public appearances — broadcast over multiple platforms — to explain why he thinks the Legislature’s bill is inadequate and why he’ll veto, POLITICO’s Gary Fineout reported. The bill hasn’t landed on his desk yet, but DeSantis indicated he’d wait a beat to act so that lawmakers would first get an earful about it from constituents — something that's been happening ever since DeSantis mass-texted supporters with phone numbers of their state lawmakers. During a stop in Titusville, DeSantis called the bill “half-baked” and unable to “meet the moment.” He accused legislative leaders of being insincere about wanting to reform immigration laws, given that they’d initially called a special session “premature.” “I’m not going to squish on this issue,” DeSantis said at another stop, this time in Fort Myers. “We can’t have weak sauce.” One Florida official receiving a good deal of ire over social media: Agriculture Commissioner WILTON SIMPSON, the man the Legislature wants to be Florida’s “immigration czar” who also has an icy relationship with DeSantis. In the last day, Albritton has chimed in less than Perez has publicly, laying out in one instance why the Simpson assignment made sense. Perez has called the governor’s criticisms dishonest and posted a one-page explainer detailing the differences between the two bills. “This isn't a feud,” Perez insisted in an interview with Florida’s Voice Radio. “Gov. DeSantis is a partner. This is a disagreement. Disagreements are healthy. There’s nothing wrong with that.” He also told Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald that the whole clash could have been avoided “if communication were an option.” Meanwhile, keep your calendars open for mid-February. State Sen. RANDY FINE (R-Melbourne Beach), who chairs the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, said he’ll be holding a hearing about the social media practices of the governor’s top communications staff. Fine told Playbook he intends to try to find out how much time staff are spending on social media during work hours by inviting them to testify at the hearing. “It was always one of the things we wanted to do,” Fine told Playbook. “The behavior of the last few days, however, is as appalling and egregious as I have seen in any industry — let alone this one — and merits us going into this now.” — Kimberly Leonard and Isa Domínguez 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 ... | | FORMER AG COMMISSIONER’S TAKE — “Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried on Wednesday slammed DeSantis and his staff for criticizing Simpson and agricultural law enforcement this week during a battle over immigration legislation,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “Fried, who served as Florida's elected agriculture commissioner from 2020 to 2024, said the governor should be ‘ashamed’ of attacking agriculture and allowing his staff to go after agricultural law enforcement. "’Whatever happened to backing the blue?’ Fried said during a video press conference. ‘The fact the governor is allowing his staff to go after agriculture law enforcement and go after a duly elected independent member of the Florida Cabinet is outrageous.’" A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND … Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen has a deep dive into the long-simmering tensions between DeSantis and Simpson. Citing just one instance: “DeSantis has sparred with Florida’s sugar industry since his run for governor in 2018, when he used his support of water issues to distance himself from then-Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. In 2023, Simpson as agriculture commissioner advocated for $100 million for a program that helps Florida farmers preserve their land from development. DeSantis vetoed it.” KICKED OUT — “Rep. Weinberger booted from hotel room for voting against DeSantis on immigration,” reports The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres. “Shortly after the state lawmakers voted in favor of the ‘TRUMP Act’ … Rep. Meg Weinberger was told by the owners of the Governor's Inn hotel that she had to immediately leave their establishment because she voted against Gov. DeSantis' immigration proposal. The Floridian Publisher Javier Manjarres was with Weinberger when she received the news that she was booted from the hotel.” — “Miami lawmakers once protected in-state tuition for so-called Dreamers. No longer,” by the Miami Herald’s Alexandra Glorioso. — “26 migrants in Coral Gables human trafficking bust were headed to Orlando, documents say,” by Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel.
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Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers discusses the medical marijuana company's product and packaging safety standards. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP | POT DO-OVER — “The committee behind last year’s failed pot legalization initiative has begun asking voters to sign petitions in support of a new measure, as the campaign pushes for a spot on next year’s ballot amid promises of tougher regulations by DeSantis,” reports POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian. “Two months after the loss, Smart & Safe filed a new pot legalization initiative, with additional language meant to address criticism that DeSantis used against Amendment 3. The committee is now mailing petitions to residents who supported last year’s effort as it campaigns for another chance to go before voters.” FLORIDA DECLINES IN ACADEMIC MEASURES — “Florida’s top education official called upon the Trump administration Wednesday to overhaul the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card, after the state posted some of its lowest scores in decades," reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said he was ‘surprised and dismayed’ by Florida’s results, which showed steep declines in reading especially among elementary and middle school students. In a memo to Trump’s Education Department, Diaz proposed reforms to what has long been a national barometer measuring student performance in which Florida and other states took a hit this year.” GAETZ HEALTH SCARE — Former Rep. MATT GAETZ wrote on X that his father, state Sen. DON GAETZ (R-Crestview), was feeling “unwell” while delivering remarks at an event in Santa Rosa County. He added that the state senator is in “stable condition” and will recover. More of the backstory, from Tom McLaughlin of the Pensacola News Journal: “State Rep. Alex Andrade called it a ‘low blood pressure event’ while speaking at a Wednesday morning event in Milton and was transported to a Pensacola hospital. ‘He's fine,’ Andrade said. Kerry Smith, the chairman of the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, said the ever-feisty Gaetz didn't want to be transported to a hospital for observation until after he finished his speech. ‘He almost got into a fight with the ambulance drivers,’ Andrade said with a chuckle.” SUNPASS SCAM — Thousands of SunPass users have received scam messages urging them to pay bills through questionable links, reports Lily Belcher of WUSF. SunPass has warned users through call center lines and social media. — “In an ‘impressive’ rescue, more than 1,200 sea turtles saved from cold Florida waters,” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Max Chesnes.
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | NO TPS FOR VENEZUELANS — The Trump administration revoked the 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for about a half million recipients from Venezuela, the Miami Herald’s Syra Ortiz Blanes, Antonio Delgado, Veronica Egui Brito, Michael Wilner and Jacqueline Charles report. Florida stands the most to lose from this order, given that it has the largest number of Temporary Protected Status recipients in the country, 60 percent of whom come from Venezuela. — “‘Powerless and angry’: Venezuelans react to roll-back of deportation protections,’” by Verónica Egui Brito and Syra Ortiz Blanes of the Miami Herald. — “Frontier floats new takeover bid for Spirit Airlines, but is rejected,” by David Lyons of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | CLASSIFIED DOCS CASE — “The Justice Department on Wednesday moved to drop its effort to prosecute Trump’s former co-defendants [Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira] in special counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents case,” reports POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney. The aides were “accused of helping Trump obstruct the investigation into classified documents stored at Mar-a-Lago after Trump’s first term. Smith charged them with obstructing justice and making false statements.” BONDI’S CONFIRMATION IS ON TRACK — Trump attorney general nominee PAM BONDI’s confirmation made it out of the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday along party lines, reported POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs. What’s next: “The former Florida attorney general is expected to be confirmed on the Senate floor. Her confirmation hearing earlier this month went fairly smoothly — so much so that Democrats repeatedly attacked Trump’s pick to run the FBI Kash Patel, who was not even in the room and will have his own confirmation hearing Thursday morning.” PALM BEACH RETURN — Trump is preparing for his first visit to his Mar-a-Lago club this week since his presidential inauguration, reports Palm Beach Daily News’ Kristina Webb. The Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary flight restrictions Wednesday morning, and Trump is expected to arrive Friday and stay for the remainder of the weekend.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | 
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, second from left, joins then-Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on stage during a rally, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa, after she endorsed him. | Bryon Houlgrave/AP | TOMORROW — DeSantis is a special guest at a fundraiser on behalf of Iowa Gov. KIM REYNOLDS, who endorsed him in the Republican presidential primary. Reynolds is eligible to run for a third term in 2026 but hasn’t officially declared her plans. FUTURE CYCLES — The GOP retreat in Doral this week included plenty of speculation about who’ll run for Florida governor — and for president in 2028, reported Kadia Goba of Semafor. “Anybody who wins the Florida governor’s race, it puts them on a national stage,” said Rep. Carlos Giménez, R-Fla. “And if they do a good job, he or she does a good job, they’re all potential candidates for 2028 because, you know? I think a lot of the country is looking to Florida and what we’re doing here.” WHAT THE NUMBERS SHOW — A Victory Insights poll of 850 likely Republican voters shows Rep. BYRON DONALDS (R-Fla.) tops a hypothetical primary field that includes Agriculture Commissioner WILTON SIMPSON. Donalds received 31 percent support while Simpson received 3 percent support, Lt. Gov. JEANETTE NUÑEZ received 4 percent support and Miami Mayor FRANCIS SUAREZ received 1 percent. In a head-to-head matchup with Simpson, the numbers are similar, with Donalds receiving 34 percent and Simpson receiving 5 percent.
| | DATELINE D.C. | | REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM — “Congressional Democrats are appealing to Marco Rubio to restart refugee resettlement services — something the new secretary of State supported as a Republican senator from Florida — after the Trump administration issued stop work orders to halt programs,” reports POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs. “In a letter, shared first with POLITICO, a group of lawmakers urged their former colleague to use his leverage to undo the pause on Reception and Placement services, which help refugees rebuild in the U.S.”
| | TRANSITION TIME | | — Sierra Club Florida has appointed JAVIER ESTEVEZ as its new political and legislative director, working with DAVE CULLEN as the chapter lobbyist in Tallahassee.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS and her daughter MAMIE helped release rescued sea turtles back into the Gulf. BIRTHDAYS: Former state Sen. Perry Thurston … Mario Rubio of Indelible Solutions. | | | | 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 | | | | |
