Hello and welcome to Thursday.
BIG NEWS — “‘I’m going to Miami:’ Soccer legend Lionel Messi says he intends to play for Inter Miami,” by Miami Herald’s Michelle Kaufman
Wax on — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the past has repeatedly talked about how he doesn’t pay attention to polls when it comes to making decisions as governor.
Wax off — But he showed this week that he is paying attention to the polls in the presidential race.
Query — DeSantis, at the end of an immigration related roundtable assembled by the governor’s office in Arizona, was asked about polls that have shown him trailing former president Donald Trump by a considerable margin.
Response — “Well did you just see the Iowa polls that just came out?” said DeSantis in response, referencing a poll done by the super PAC supporting DeSantis that shows him in a near tie with Trump in the crucial early battleground state. “I mean we can talk about polls all day long … When you run in these things, you run and you persuade people, I mean, that’s the whole point of it. You don’t do a poll a year out and say that’s how the election runs out. I mean if that were the case I wouldn’t have been elected in the first place as governor.”
Yeah but — What’s left unsaid about the polling numbers is while DeSantis remains the leading challenger to Trump, a long line of other candidates have jumped into the race — including three this week.
The view from the hill — And that’s something getting noticed among Republicans in D.C., according to POLITICO’s Burgess Everett and Olivia Beavers. They quote Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) — who backs Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — saying that the influx of candidates shows that Republicans think “these top two guys may be paper tigers.”
A base — Trump supporters, meanwhile, suggested a crowded field just helps the president. Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who backs Trump, told Everett and Beavers that “there’s a core constituency that will only vote for the [former] president … As you have more, they start to break up those percentages amongst themselves, that core will always stay with the [former] president.”
Wildcard — At the same time, however, Trump’s legal woes look like they only may intensify in the weeks and months to come. Will a second indictment cause more Republicans to rally to his support, or will the constant barrage lead weary GOP voters to embrace DeSantis?
— WHERE’S RON? — Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to be in Texas for fundraisers connected to his presidential campaign.
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AS THE PAGES TURN — Trump notified that he is the target of an ongoing criminal investigation, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt, Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein: Federal prosecutors have notified former President Donald Trump in a letter that he is the target of a criminal investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter. That notification is the clearest signal yet that special counsel Jack Smith is on the verge of a charging decision in his probe of the former president. Trump is under investigation for concealing reams of classified documents at his private estate and orchestrating a scheme to prevent federal authorities from finding them.
— “Trump team braces for federal indictment as former aide testifies in Miami,” by The Messenger’s Steve Reilly, Marc Caputo and Ben Feuerherd
— Trump scores 50 endorsements from West Virginia state legislature, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw
— “Pence delivers strong rebuke to Trump in campaign announcement,” by The New York Times’ Jonathan Swan
— “Collier County man sentenced to more than 2 years in Capitol riot,” by Naples Daily News’ Tomas Rodriguez
RESPONSE — DeSantis breaks his silence about California migrant flights, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during a surprise Wednesday visit to Arizona’s southern border, defended his administration’s decision to fly migrants to California but did not respond directly to the sharp criticism aimed at him by that state’s governor. … Almost five days after that first flight, DeSantis weighed in on the transports after he was asked about it in Arizona. “These sanctuary jurisdictions are part of the reason we have this problem because they have endorsed and agitated for these types off open border policies,” DeSantis said. “They have bragged they are sanctuary jurisdictions. They attack the previous admin efforts to try to have border security … When they have to deal with some of the fruits of that they all of a sudden become very, very upset about that.”
— “Gavin Newsom: Florida officials committed crimes sending migrants to California,” by NBC News’ Amanda Terkel
— “With migrant flights, DeSantis shows stoking outrage is the point,” by The New York Times’ Shane Goldmacher
— “After flying migrants to California, DeSantis calls for multistate border partnership,” by Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos
FAULT LINES — Becerra says DeSantis bears responsibility for Covid’s outsized toll, by POLITICO’s Ben Leonard: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra took aim at Florida governor and 2024 GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis for sowing mistrust in Covid-19 vaccines and safety measures. Becerra said that people still dying of Covid are mainly “either unvaccinated or undervaccinated” and that “if you’re dying of Covid today, you didn’t take precautions” in response to a question about DeSantis’ vaccine skepticism from White House reporter Adam Cancryn at POLITICO’s Health Care Summit. “If you listen to someone telling you not to take that precaution, it’s not just your fault. It’s the fault of that leader who doesn’t give you the best information. If leaders choose not to take care of their people, that’s on them.”
SLICE — DeSantis-linked PR shop ditches PGA Tour amid LIV Golf merger blowback, by POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs and Caitlin Oprysko: The Ron DeSantis-connected PR shop Clout Public Affairs has dropped the PGA Tour as a client, after it announced its plans to merge with the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The firm had been working with both the PGA Tour and the families of 9/11 victims who had been agitating against LIV Golf for its Saudi ties. It was one of a number of public relations or lobbying shops that had cashed in on the high-profile feud between the storied PGA Tour and the controversial upstart LIV Golf. … Clout Public Affairs is a division of Axiom Strategies, a Republican political and public affairs shop founded by political operative Jeff Roe. Roe is also an adviser to the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down.
— “At border security roundtable, Ron DeSantis discounts bad 2024 polls,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski
— “Millionaires favor DeSantis in Republican presidential primary, but support for Trump grows,” by CNBC’s Robert Frank
— “20 Oklahoma lawmakers endorse Ron DeSantis,” by Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles
HMM — “Miami mayor raising super PAC cash, assembling campaign team as ’24 announcement looms,” by Miami Herald’s Joey Flechas: “Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has tapped City Hall staffers to join a campaign team and is steering political contributions into a federal super PAC, strong signs that he’s preparing to launch a bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Suarez, who has been teasing a presidential campaign for months, is expected to join supporters Wednesday evening for a fundraiser at the riverfront Kimpton EPIC Hotel, where invitations list minimum ‘suggested contributions’ at $10,000 per couple. An invite shows the event is sponsored by America For Everyone, a super PAC that raised more than $6 million last year, with large contributions from donors who have previously supported the mayor.”
— “Did Chris Christie really destroy Marco Rubio?” by The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake
LANDING SPOT — Biden taps Charlie Crist for ICAO ambassador, by POLITICO’s Irie Sentner: President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he plans to nominate former Florida governor and congressman Charlie Crist to be the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N.-chartered body that helps determine international aviation standards. The White House called Crist “a political leader … who has dedicated his life to public service” and “a staunch environmental advocate.” Crist will replace the vacancy created when “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger stepped down from the position last July after only six months of service.
— “Anna Paulina Luna gets media attention with dire, baseless claims,” by The Washington Post’s Philip Bump
— “Gaetz: McCarthy needs to commit ‘monogamous relationship’ in House battles,” by The Hill’s Julia Mueller
‘EXCLUSION ZONES’ — Chinese citizens seek to block Florida’s law banning them from owning property, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: Critics challenging a new Florida law that blocks some Chinese citizens and other foreigners from owning land in the state asked a federal court this week to block its implementation. They say the new law, which takes effect July 1, is too vague and risks creating “Chinese exclusion zones” across vast swaths of the state, including many of Florida’s largest cities. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure, SB 264, into law in May. “SB 264 fails to provide people of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to understand whether their property is subject to the law’s prohibitions,” lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida wrote in their motion for an emergency preliminary injunction filed Tuesday.
GOLDEN PARACHUTE — Republican House member offered top job at Florida state college, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: A state college in central Florida offered its top job to state Rep. Fred Hawkins (R-St. Cloud) on Wednesday, culminating a presidential search that saw the Republican emerge after the abrupt withdrawal of an original slate of finalists. Elected to the House in 2020, Hawkins is an ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis who earlier this year sponsored the Republican governor’s proposal to divert power away from Walt Disney Co.’s special taxing district in response to the entertainment giant publicly opposing state parental rights laws, labeled “Don’t Say Gay” by critics.
THAT WAS FAST — “Ricky Polston, former Florida Supreme Court justice, to leave Citizens Property Insurance,” by Florida Politics’ Gray Rohrer
IT STARTS — “Wide disagreement reigns in trial of deputy accused of not stopping Parkland killer,” by Associated Press’ Terry Spencer: “The prosecution and defense in the trial of a Florida sheriff’s deputy accused of not preventing some of the Parkland school shooting murders gave wildly divergent opening statements Wednesday, setting the stage for a trial that is the first of its kind in U.S. history. Prosecutor Steven Klinger told jurors that former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson could have confronted shooter Nikolas Cruz and stopped the deaths of six of the 17 people who died at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School five years ago. Instead, Klinger said, Peterson took cover rather than enter the three-story building where the shootings happened.”
‘WE WILL NOT RETURN’ — “2 groups cancel Orlando conventions as worries over political climate grow,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher: “AnitaB.org, an organization of female and nonbinary tech workers, is moving its annual convention out of Orlando and taking its business elsewhere, citing Florida’s political climate and actions taken by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature. And another group of nurses is canceling a 2027 event because of similar concerns, according to the Orange County Convention Center. The cancellations are the latest economic blow to the region, coming in the wake of Walt Disney Co.’s decision to drop plans for a nearly $1 billion corporate campus in Orlando with 2,000 high-paying jobs.”
CRISIS, WHAT CRISIS? — “Florida’s home insurance rates rising faster than any state, nearly triple U.S. average,” by Miami Herald’s Nicolás Rivero: “Anyone in Florida who has opened a home insurance bill in the last few years knows premiums have been skyrocketing. New estimates from a data analysis company shows they’ve actually been rising faster than in any other state — a lot faster. The numbers show just how massive the impact has been on the wallets of Florida consumers, with home insurance costs up about 57% since 2015, according to LexisNexis Risk Solutions. That’s nearly triple the national average (21%) and far outpaces Nebraska, the state with the second biggest average home insurance hike (43%).”
— “Kamala Harris will push for multinational force in Haiti during visit to Caribbean,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Michael Wilner and Jacqueline Charles
— “Insurance companies face multiple lawsuits after failing to pay for Hurricane Ian repairs,” by NBC 2’s Dave Elias
— “O Canada: Canadian tourists are ‘flocking’ to Florida,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Turner
— “‘We say gay. We say trans.’ In Miami, county mayor celebrates raising of Pride flag,” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks
— “Jaguars unveil “stadium of the future’ whose cost could hit $1.4 billion,” by Florida Times-Union David Bauerlein: “The Jacksonville Jaguars showcased the team’s vision for a dramatic overhaul of TIAA Bank Field that would wrap it in reflective material, build a shade-delivering roof that fans have long demanded, and make numerous other changes that team owner Shad Khan said would make it the Jaguars’ long-time home and spur downtown development. The rough estimate for the cost of the top-to-bottom renovation of TIAA Bank Field could be up to $1.4 billion.”
BIRTHDAYS: Kathy Mears, chief of staff for Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson … State Rep. Kevin Chambliss … Lale Morrison of Rep. Jared Moskowitz’s (D-Fla.) office … South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise
