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Gary Fineout's must-read briefing on what's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and good Monday morning. Dropping by — Vice President Kamala Harris touched down in Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon, spent the night in Florida’s capital, and on Sunday gave a speech in front of roughly 1,500 people blistering Republicans over abortion rights. Backdrop — The speech, which she gave at a former grocery store turned nightclub, on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade included a couple of direct jabs at Florida Republicans but it could have been given nearly anywhere in the state. (But apparently not in a better venue as efforts to hold the speech on the campuses of nearby Florida State University and Florida A&M University were rejected. Hmm.) Freedom rock — But the symbolism was clear: It was done in the backyard of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seen as a likely challenger to President Joe Biden in 2024. She laced her speech with references to “freedom,” a direct response to DeSantis’ oft-repeated line of the “free state of Florida” although Harris never mentioned the governor’s name directly. There was a chant of "hey, hey, ho, ho, Ron DeSantis has got to go" before Harris took the stage. Where was the governor? — (Let’s note that the night before Harris’ speech DeSantis was in Kansas City, Mo., for the Chiefs game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was not on DeSantis’ official schedule but footage of him greeting fans showed up on social media.) Holding back? — Despite Harris giving a tongue-lashing to Republicans in the state capital, the DeSantis administration was relatively quiet in its initial response. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez did say on Twitter late Sunday afternoon that “freedom and infanticide aren’t the same thing. Pass it on.” Message received anyway — “Harris’ visit to Tallahassee is about politics not abortion,” said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council. “She knows Gov. DeSantis is both a present and future threat to the radical policy agenda of the Biden-Harris administration.” Next steps — Harris suggested — buoyed by a memorandum from Biden — that their administration may find a way to challenge states such as Florida that have warned pharmacies about offering abortion pills. But that was for a future day. Coming soon? — Questions, however, remain about what the GOP-controlled Legislature will do in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court decision that returned power over abortion to the states. House Speaker Paul Renner was vague when asked about it last week. There have been suggestions of moving Florida’s recently approved abortion ban of 15 weeks to 12 weeks, while Stemberger is expecting a bill that would ban the procedure after six weeks. Prediction — House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said she can’t imagine Republicans won’t do something in the weeks ahead. “DeSantis is running for president in 2024,” said Driskell. “He controls everything in that building.” — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis will be in Jacksonville where he will be at a charter school with Education Commissioner Manny Diaz. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA’S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | THE E WORD — Harris calls out ‘extremists’ over abortion as Florida Republicans eye more restrictions,” by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout and Kierra Frazier: [Vice President Kamala] Harris gave a midday speech in Tallahassee highlighting the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, where she not only weaved in several mentions of “freedom” — a subtle dig at DeSantis’ recurring remarks about the “free state of Florida” — but said “extremists” in the statehouse had passed a “radical abortion ban” last year. “And can we truly be free if so-called leaders claim to be ‘on the vanguard of freedom’ while they dare to restrict the rights of the American people and attack the very foundations of freedom,” arris said. Backstory — Nikki Fried, Florida’s former agriculture commissioner who attended the event, said that both Florida State University — and Florida A&M University, a historically Black college and university — turned down requests to have Harris appear on campus. … Fried suggested that the schools turned down Harris because the institutions feared angering DeSantis, but Dennis Schnittker, assistant vice president of communications for Florida State University, said the university “was unable to accommodate the Vice President due to previously scheduled events and operations.” — “‘We are not going down without a fight.’ Abortion advocates rally as more restrictive laws likely in Florida,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Cindy Krischer Goodman — “Florida’s anti-abortion movement won big last year. What do they want now?” by Tampa Bay Times’ Kirby Wilson | 
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to a crowd at The Moon in Tallahassee, Fla., on the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. | Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP |
DETAILS — “Florida gives it reasons for rejecting proposed AP African American Studies course,” by CNN’s Steve Contorno: “Florida rejected a proposed Advanced Placement course focused on African American Studies because it included study of topics like the Movement for Black Lives, Black feminism and reparations, according to a list of concerns provided to CNN on Friday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. The one-page document prepared by the Florida Department of Education also questions the inclusion of certain Black authors and historians whose writings touch on critical race theory and Black communism.”
REACTION — “Vice President Harris: Florida leaders ‘extremist’ for banning AP African American studies course,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Natalia Jaramillo: “Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday called Florida education leaders 'extremist' for their decision to ban an AP African American Studies course from all public high schools. … “Every student in our nation should be able to learn about the culture, contributions, and experiences of all Americans — including Black Americans — who shaped our history,” Harris said in a statement released by the White House.” FOR YOUR RADAR — “State employee alleges Florida sidestepped process in excluding gender-affirming care from Medicaid,” by The Hill’s Brooke Migdon: “Florida health officials circumvented traditional regulatory channels to draft a report recommending gender-affirming health care be excluded from coverage under Medicaid, a state employee alleges in an exchange included in new court filings.” | | DESANTISLAND | | ‘THIS IS NOT OVER’ — “Judge rules DeSantis’ ouster of prosecutor was unconstitutional, but upholds suspension, by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: A federal judge on Friday ruled that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the Constitution when he suspended former Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren — but the judge said he didn’t have the authority to reinstate the twice-elected Democrat. In a nearly 60-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle overwhelmingly sided with Warren, who was ousted by DeSantis in August after Warren pledged not to prosecute women for violating Florida’s recently enacted ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. — “Andrew Warren ruling: A deep dive into what the judge was thinking,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower: — “So what does ousted state attorney Andrew Warren do now?” by Tampa Bay Times’ Sue Carlton | 
Suspended Florida State Attorney Andrew Warren holds a press conference discussing his lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 17, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. | Octavio Jones/Getty Images |
ANOTHER ONE — “Swamplandia – The money behind Ron DeSantis’s populist facade,” by Harper’s Magazine’s Andrew Cockburn: “[Former President Donald] Trump’s friends and advisers believe that, in primary fights beyond Florida, Republican voters will opt for the real Donald Trump over what they deem the ersatz version. Among their myriad differences, one Trump confidant recently reminded me, is [Gov. Ron] DeSantis’s hawkish instincts, at variance with the Republican Party’s isolationist wing, a constituency to which Trump catered in his original campaign. ('DeSantis is a neocon. It’s going to be one of Trump’s greatest assets.') Another Trump friend and adviser, Michael Caputo, confidently told me that 2024 will resemble 2016, with Trump rising above a crowded lineup of hopefuls.”
— “Ron DeSantis is courting anti-vax voters. Florida surgeon general’s podcast appearances help,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s John Kennedy — “CPAC leaves Orlando, keeps Trump as a headliner. What about DeSantis?” by Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | VIEW FROM BELOW — “As Florida Democrats sink into political quicksand, the party gears up for a new leader,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man: “Now, Democrats need to find a new state chair, someone able to work through multiple priorities for a party that many believe is facing years of election losses and an exhausting struggle to escape the political quicksand. ‘The reality is that we’re below zero. We can’t get any lower than we are right now. Every aspect of our party needs to be rebuilt,’ said Stephen Gaskill, president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, who was among those who favored Diaz’s departure.” VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM PART 2 — “‘There is no plan. There’s nothing’: Florida Democrats despair over future,” by Washington Post’s Sabrina Rodriguez and Michael Scherer: “More than two months after enduring humbling midterm losses, Democrats in Florida are in a state of disorder, with no clear leader, infrastructure, or consensus for rebuilding, according to interviews with more than a dozen organizers, former lawmakers, donors and other leaders. These factors have compounded their worries about Democrats outside Florida all but writing off the nation’s third most populous state, which was once seen as a marquee battleground.” MEANWHILE — “GOP divisions highlighted in raucous Sarasota event featuring far right from across FL,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: “Key figures in this coalition of right wing activists and GOP leaders descended on Sarasota Friday in an attempt to force a no confidence vote on Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, who is running for reelection. The vote attracted about 150 Republican activists who held a boisterous rally outside the meeting to put pressure on state GOP leaders to oppose McDaniel. "It also drew prominent Republicans such Congressman Matt Gaetz, a conservative firebrand who has been at the center of national politics recently for blocking House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from taking over the leadership role until the 15th ballot. Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn also was in attendance at the rally outside, along with a pair of individuals from the Proud Boys extremist group.” 2 YEARS — Florida Rising — a left-leaning statewide voting rights and grassroots organizing group that focuses on communities of color — celebrated its second anniversary on Friday. The group was formed by the merger of New Florida Majority and Organize Florida in January 2021. Florida Rising endorsed candidates and knocked on doors during the 2022 elections and has been involved in litigation against the state’s congressional map. “We are ready to be in Tallahassee, mobilizing our communities and supporting some critical bills for Black and Brown families,” said Florida Rising executive director Andrea Cristina Mercado. “Currently, the GOP has a majority in the legislature, however, not in the streets.” — “A year after notifying targets, state won’t reveal status of ‘ghost’ candidate probe,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Annie Martin
| | Transitions | | Jossie Barroso is the new communications director and press secretary for Florida Senate Democrats. Barroso has spent the past eight years with The Florida Channel, the state’s public affairs programming channel. She started as a videographer and then became a reporter fours year later. Barroso is a graduate of both University of Florida and Florida State University.
| | DATELINE D.C. | | BACK HOME — “Sarasota Congressman Greg Steube discharged from hospital after treatment for injuries,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: “U.S. Rep. Greg Steube was released from the hospital Saturday and is recovering at home from injuries sustained in an accident while he was trimming tree limbs. ‘All praise and glory goes to God!’ Steube said in a statement on Twitter, adding he and his wife ‘remain endlessly blessed by the prayers and support from our friends, family and community.’” — “U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan not happy, but won’t quit over snub,” by Tampa Bay Times’ William March — “Cherfilus-McCormick: Biden immigration plan ‘good first step’ but not enough,” by Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ‘AN INFORMATION WAR’ — ‘Fox News in Spanish’: Inside an upstart media company’s big plans to impact the 2024 election, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison: “Americano Media, which launched in March, is embarking on an aggressive expansion plan to shape center-right Hispanic opinion during the upcoming election cycle. The network has hired more than 80 Latino journalists and producers, are expanding their radio presence to television, and by the end of the year will have studios in Miami, Las Vegas and D.C. with reporters covering the White House, Congress and embedding in 2024 presidential campaigns. This month, Americano is launching a $20 million marketing campaign to draw in new viewers.” ‘I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT’ — “A Black professor defies DeSantis law restricting lessons on race,” by Washington Post’s Lori Rozsa: “On a recent afternoon, he gathered students and their parents at the cemetery and told them about the Rev. Josh J. Baskin and five other Black Floridians hanged by a White mob from an oak tree in 1916 after an accusation over a stolen hog sparked two days of terror. The painful chapter in Florida’s history known as the Newberry Six lynchings is one the university professor has taken pains to help document over decades of research. It’s also one that he fears will be removed from Florida history lessons under a new education law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as part of a broader push to root out ideas he deems ‘woke.’” — “Hedge fund billionaire turned philanthropist is behind Miami-Dade’s bail reform software,” by Miami Herald’s Camellia Burris — “COVID surge on the wane in Florida: Here’s why,” by Palm Beach Post’s Chris Persaud — “A Fox News analyst was booted from a North Miami café. Then came drama and harassment,” by Miami Herald’s Grethel Aguila — Trump withdraws Florida lawsuit against New York attorney general, by POLITICO’s Joseph Spector | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Former Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner
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