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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 welcome to Monday. The fix — In years past, when Florida legislators rushed to pass something, they would often return the following year to pass a “glitch” bill to fix something that went wrong or didn’t work as intended. A full batch — Well, Florida legislators now have a full-fledged special session full of “glitch” bills. Going back to Tally — House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo announced late Friday afternoon that legislators — who are only one month away from their normal 60-day legislative session — will hold a 12-day special session starting on Monday. Repair job — And most of this nearly two-week special session is dedicated to clean-up work. On the list — There’s supposed to be a bill that would clear the way for state control of the special district now controlled by Disney (it’s not been filed yet) and resolve outstanding questions about taxes and debts. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republicans pledged to answer these questions when they passed a bill during a 2022 special session that called for the special district’s dismantling later this year. NIL time — Another bill would revamp a college student athlete law heralded at the time of its passage but now is hampering Florida colleges in competition with schools in other states that have no regulations. And more — Then there are two measures that would mitigate the legal challenges that have undercut DeSantis’ migrant relocation program and the high-profile arrests of voter fraud announced last August. Moving ahead — The migrant bill filed by GOP legislators would immediately wipe out the budget language that authorized the program — and which has been a focus of a lawsuit by Democratic state Sen. Jason Pizzo. It would also shift the remaining money to a different agency and make it clear in the future that migrants could be transported from anywhere in the U.S., not just Florida. Changing law — Another bill would expand the definition and criteria of what election crimes can be investigated by the statewide prosecutor. This is an effort to short-circuit challenges to some of last year’s arrests that contend the statewide prosecutor lacked the authority to bring charges. The tab — A spokeswoman for Passidomo said there would no extra cost to taxpayers for the 12-day special session since legislators were already scheduled to be in town for committee meetings. (FWIW, two special sessions held in April and May 2022 cost nearly $115,000 and nearly $114,000.) Response — Expect Democrats — who lack any power to block any of the aforementioned bills — to sharply criticize the special session. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, referencing news about the migrant relocation bill, tweeted “When you’re caught breaking the law so you call a special session to change the laws.” Cut off — One additional consequence of the lengthy special session: Normally legislators use committee weeks ahead of the regular session for fundraising opportunities. But the ban on fundraising also extends to special sessions, so the checkbooks are closed. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. DeSantis. 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. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | UP IN THE AIR — “Pentagon reports past Chinese surveillance balloons near Florida, Texas,” by Washington Post’s Dan Lamothe and Azi Paybarah: “The Defense Department has notified Congress of several previous incursions of U.S. airspace by Chinese surveillance balloons, with earlier sightings near Texas, Florida, Hawaii and Guam, U.S. officials said Sunday, as Republicans criticized the Biden administration for allowing a suspected surveillance balloon to track across much of the United States over the last week. "Rep. Michael Waltz (R.-Fla.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in an interview that defense officials identified the locations in a discussion with lawmakers and staff on Saturday, disclosing for the first time that similar surveillance balloons had been spotted in U.S. airspace near the continental United States before.” | 
Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., speaks during a campaign rally at the Ocala International Airport, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Ocala, Fla. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo |
ADDITIONAL RESPONSE — “Rubio says China flew balloon over U.S. to send ‘a message’: They think America is ‘in decline,’” by ABC News’ Tal Axelrod: “Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that despite China's claims otherwise, they sent a balloon into the U.S. to send a message about the country's sway across the globe. ‘The key part here is they knew exactly what they were doing and there was a message behind it,’ Rubio told ABC 'This Week' co-anchor Jonathan Karl.”
— Biden admin offers to brief Trump officials on past Chinese spy balloon incursions, by POLITICO’s Alexander Ward and Lara Seligman — “Marco Rubio tells a skeptical Jake Tapper there’s no comparison between this Chinese spy balloon and those that flew about U.S. on Trump’s watch,” by Mediaite’s Ken Meyer — “Chinese spy balloon is a Sputnik moment for America,” by Rep. Michael Waltz for Fox News | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | UP NEXT — Florida GOP calls for special session to expand controversial migrant flight program, by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: Gov. Ron DeSantis will use a special session next week to broaden a controversial immigration program he used in September to fly 50 mostly Venezuelan asylum seekers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard. The special session, which legislative leaders called Friday, will include consideration of a bill that would create a “Unauthorized Alien Transport Program,” according to the Florida House and Senate. Lawmakers will also handle other issues during next week’s session, including how to deal with Disney’s Reedy Creek district. UP NEXT PART 2 — “Special session bill would bolster DeSantis’ election investigations office,” by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to use a special legislative session next week to change state law to make it easier for his new election investigations office to secure convictions in court, a move that comes after that office has suffered a handful of stinging legal defeats. — Florida lawmakers put name, image and likeness changes on the fast track,” by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury — Lawmakers to consider state board to oversee Disney’s Reedy Creek during special session,” by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon | | DESANTISLAND | | THE ROAD AHEAD — “As Ron DeSantis remakes education, many look to the long-term impact it’ll have on Florida,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man and Scott Travis: “Gov. Ron DeSantis’ multifaceted reshaping of education in Florida is accelerating, with implications that could last for generations. When he’s finished, the cumulative effect of his effort to imbue conservative practices and philosophy from the first day of kindergarten through college graduation will be felt long after he’s done as governor — and long after he leaves the presidency, if he makes it that far.” — “25 days that shook New College: How Ron DeSantis swiftly transformed the Sarasota school,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson — “‘We’re sorry’: After member called Gov. DeSantis racist, Miami board leader apologizes,” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks — “DeSantis says Florida requires African American history. Advocates say the state is failing that mandate,” by CNN’s Steve Contorno
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | CONTRASTS — Trump’s ’24 game plan: Be the dove among the hawks,” by Natalie Allison, Meridith McGraw and Gary Fineout: Donald Trump is settling on a simple foreign policy pitch in his second bid for the White House: Want World War 3? Vote for the other guy. Over the past week, Trump has assailed President Joe Biden’s handling of Afghanistan. He has said he could end the almost year-long conflict in Ukraine within “24 hours,” but without any indication how, and suggested sending tanks to the country could spark nuclear war. He has railed against China and called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a “globalist.” | 
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo |
SOMEBODY ELSE — “Taking aim at Trump, Koch Network will back G.O.P. primary candidates,” by The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan, and Kenneth P. Vogel: “The donor network created by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch is preparing to get involved in the presidential primaries in 2024, with the aim of turning ‘the page on the past’ in a thinly veiled rebuke of former President Donald J. Trump, according to an internal memo.”
AS THE PAGES TURN — “US officials offer Congress briefing on Trump documents,” by The Associated Press’ Nomaan Merchant, Michael Balsamo and Eric Tucker: “U.S. officials have offered to brief congressional leaders on their investigation into the classified documents found at former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence, people familiar with the matter said Sunday. A briefing could come as soon as this week.” — Trump wouldn’t beat Biden, Sununu says, by POLITICO’s David Cohen | | | | 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 | |
DISSATISFIED — “Tampa Bay party bosses not happy with choices for state leadership,” by Tampa Bay Times’ William March: “Elected Democratic officeholders, including legislators, are “stepping on the scale” and lining up behind one candidate, Annette Taddeo, with ‘very little input from county chairs,’ said Hillsborough Democratic Chairperson Ione Townsend. ‘That is a shame because we are the ones who are supposed to implement party policy.’”
— “Scott makes third Palm Beach County visit this year on heels of 2024 candidacy,” by Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat — “Alex Andrade passes on Senate bid; doesn’t feel ‘called to run,’” by Florida Politics’ Peter Schorsch — “‘Ghost’ candidate probe unearths big business transfers to dark money groups,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Annie Martin — “Tyler Sirois to forgo Senate bid, leaving GOP path clear for Randy Fine,” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner | | DATELINE D.C. | |
‘THIS IS MORE ABOUT PAROCHIAL CONCERNS’ — “The Pentagon saw a warship boondoggle. Congress saw jobs,” by The New York Times’ Eric Lipton: “The 387-foot-long warships tied up at the Jacksonville Navy base were acclaimed as some of the most modern in the United States fleet: nimble, superfast vessels designed to operate in coastal waters and hunt down enemy submarines, destroy anti-ship mines and repel attacks from small boats, like those often operated by Iran. But the Pentagon last year made a startling announcement: Eight of the 10 Freedom-class littoral combat ships now based in Jacksonville and another based in San Diego would be retired, even though they averaged only four years old and had been built to last 25 years.”
| | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | ‘STORM AFTER THE STORM’ — “For some, life after Ian is ‘more tragic than the hurricane itself,’” by Washington Post’s Brianna Sacks: “Some nights, Tara Boyd wishes she and her husband had just given up when the eight-foot storm surge from Hurricane Ian flooded their mobile home, forcing them to swim out into the storm. It would have been ‘easy to let go and just drift away,’ she said. But they fought to survive. And they’ve been doing that ever since. She hates to admit that living after Ian feels harder than living through its terror. She can’t help it, especially on the really hard, frustrating days spent at a Federal Emergency Management Agency recovery center obtaining no real answers about the progress of their aid applications and then getting into their black Dodge Nitro, which they’ve been living out of since November.” — “All of Florida is at risk of hurricanes. So why aren’t impact windows or shutters required statewide?” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | STATUS — “How is Florida being impacted by COVID now? Here’s what to know,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Sam Ogozalek: “Florida’s COVID-19 uptick this winter may have peaked without a crushing wave of hospitalizations. Statewide, the number of new hospital admissions is dropping after an early January high and is far below what Florida recorded at this time last year when the omicron variant first hit. ‘We definitely have (virus) activity, but of course nothing like some of the surges we’ve had in the past,’ said Mary Jo Trepka, an epidemiologist at Florida International University in Miami.” | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
‘SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR’ — “Bolsonaro ponders election defeat, as crowd chants ‘fraud,’” by The Associated Press’ Terry Spencer, Eleonore Hughes and Nicholas Riccardi: “Only a few weeks after his supporters stormed the seat of his country’s government, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday expressed bafflement at how he could have lost October’s election, then smiled silently as a crowd of supporters cried, ‘Fraud!’ He did not directly address the Jan. 8 assault on the buildings housing Brazil’s Congress and Supreme Court during his appearance in Miami before a conservative group tied to former U.S. President Donald Trump.”
THE NEXT ROUND — “FSU faculty say it’s ‘rubbish’ as Christopher Rufo targets FSU ‘radical’ diversity programs,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s James Call: “Supporters cheered [Christopher] Rufo's twitter bombardment, one with a tweet to ‘Defund FSU.’ Another Twitter user asked ‘Why does this hurt your feelings so much. You act as if it’s worse than the actual racism it’s trying to address.’ FSU responded to the storm of criticism and joined the conversation in a prepared statement to say it had found much of what Rufo posted ‘obsolete.’ FSU explained that of the 206 pages of documents Rufo requested 146 pages were from a training program discontinued in 2019.” — “Relaxed Florida transfer rules lead to growing free agency in high school sports,” by Orlando Sentinel’s J.C. Carnahan — “Disney World unions turn down contract, plan to pursue better pay,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Katie Rice — “Cubans respond to zeal to new US migration policy,” by The Associated Press’ Andrea Rodríguez
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— “State moves to revoke Orlando Plaza Live’s liquor license following drag queen shows,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Amanda Rabines: “The Plaza Live, an Orlando event venue that came under state scrutiny for hosting an all-age drag queen performance in December, could lose its ability to sell alcohol, according to a complaint filed Friday by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The agency claimed The Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation, which oversees the venue, had a responsibility to make sure no minors were in attendance at the Dec. 28 show, but failed and violated Florida statute in the process.”
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