How Florida's political disruptor spent his summer

Politico

2 days ago

Hello and welcome to Monday.
JOHN MORGAN, the billionaire attorney and frequent disruptor of Florida politics, still isn't running for governor.
But Morgan — who is nearly ubiquitous as the founder of law firm Morgan & Morgan — continues to find novel ways to broadcast his folksy and unique message and get the attention that could boost a possible run for political office.
Take for example his decision to recently spend a half-hour sparring with a room of Floridians for the popular Jubilee YouTube channel. The video —provocatively titled '20 people confront a billionaire' — features Morgan weighing in on everything from his wealth to oppression in China and a revelation that he previously drug-tested his own children. The encounter has racked up nearly 2 million views and more than 11,000 comments since it dropped in late July.
Morgan touched on his successful efforts to legalize medical marijuana and raise the minimum wage in Florida. He repeated the message he gave during a recent visit to Tallahassee — that income inequality is the No. 1 issue in the country. This eventually led to a moment where one of the people questioning him asks Morgan what stops him from helping the people in the room who are struggling with their bills. Morgan stopped, took a $100 bill out of his pocket and handed it to him.
The Jubilee video came on the heels of a video posted in June by the School of Hard Knocks in which Morgan talks about what it takes to be successful and asserts he made more money last year than NBA superstar LeBron James.
He was asked if he was ever — ahem — screwed over in business deals. He said he has been, then added, 'But I f--- back.' Both videos show Morgan talking about being raised poor and finding a path to success. At the end of the Hard Knocks video, Morgan asserted, 'I'm a lucky guy. Successful people pat themselves on the back too much. What they really should do is get on their knees and thank God.'
Morgan's wealth — and blunt talk — would have the chance to upend 2026 if he were to take the plunge and run statewide. As Floridians continue to struggle with affordability, he has very sharp views about insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry. In the Jubilee video, he said people keep asking him to run for governor. When reached by Playbook last week, Morgan continued to assert that, if he were to run, he would not do it under the banner of either party.
But Morgan, who is now 69, also added: 'Once upon a time being governor would have been an ego boost. But now my ego has been satisfied. And my children are my greatest accomplishment and pride and joy.'
Morgan went on: 'So now doing this would be an incredible sacrifice … as would the job itself. But the direction of our state and country causes me to feel real despair … both parties. All or nothing. I only have so many summers left ... so I need to be careful and cautious, but not too careful.'
So again, it's not a firm yes or no. Although it sounds more like a no.
— Gary Fineout
WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis is holding a press conference in Melbourne at 9:30 a.m. with Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert. (Tune in at The Florida Channel.)
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: [e-mail] and @leonardkl.
... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
RESEARCH OVERHAUL AT UNIVERSITIES — President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape higher education in a conservative mold aren't just targeting Ivy League elites. They're stripping millions from Florida universities — and the state's Republican governor is happy to help.
While institutions like Harvard University and Columbia University are taking heat from the Trump administration, colleges all across the country — including deep red Florida — are feeling the squeeze of sweeping federal research cuts. Florida universities this year saw more than 90 grants terminated across key federal agencies.
Some states are suing the federal government to push back on the downsizing. But Florida, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, has the state's government accountability DOGE team auditing university research projects and even recommending grants for termination.
— Andrew Atterbury
PHONELESS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL — Most Florida students are back in the classroom today. And the biggest change coming for elementary and middle school students is that they won't be allowed to use their cell phones throughout the school day. They'd already been banned from access during instructional time, but the new rules are more strict.
In high school, students will be prohibited from using their cell phones while in the classroom, unless a teacher tells them to use their phones or tablets as part of a lesson. A pilot program in six districts will be assessing what an all-out ban would look like.
More and more states have instituted these limits to keep students from being distracted when they're supposed to be learning, and to help teachers from having to get into a back-and-forth with students about confiscating their phones. They also want to curb social media use and instances of cyberbullying that contribute to mental health struggles.
The phone restrictions come amid rapid technological advancements, with artificial intelligence on mobile devices able to answer test questions or write essays.
What else is new: A school safety law has also been revamped this year. Last year, a law obligated schools to lock all their doors and gates when students are around, or to have staff at any entrances that are left unlocked. It was partially intended as a response to the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
But the law ended up causing other safety concerns and being logistically difficult once implemented; now, schools have more flexibility. Under the change, doors that go to the outside of the school still need to be locked, as do classrooms. But other doors throughout schools can be unlocked, and there's more options before and after school, when clubs or athletics meet.
Other laws for schools further aim to address safety. Child care centers can now take part in a program to have security on site. And school staff have to be trained to be able to see when students are having a severe allergic reaction, and administer an EpiPen.
— 'State is reviewing school choice scholarship payment rules,' reports Jay Waagmeester of the Florida Phoenix.
FPL AGREEMENT REACHED FOR RATE HIKE — 'Florida Power & Light, along with several groups representing business interests, have proposed settling the utility's historic rate case, which would bring an end to a battle that affects the electric bills of roughly 12 million Floridians,' reports Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times.
'In a filing posted late Friday afternoon, Florida Power & Light notified regulators that it has reached an agreement with several of the groups involved in its rate case. The list of those groups included many business interests — such as a federation of retail companies, Walmart, gas stations and industrial companies — but did not include the state-appointed consumer advocate or other groups that represent residents.'
ON SATURDAY — Florida celebrated its first ever Bob Graham Day in commemoration of the late governor and senator. A law passed during this year's legislative session officially designated August 9, 2025 as Bob Graham Day to match up with the date the Save Our Everglades program was founded.
'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' AGREEMENT — 'More than a month after Florida opened 'Alligator Alcatraz' in the Everglades, the state and ICE signed an updated agreement spelling out how state corrections officials should handle federal immigration detainees at non-correctional facilities,' reports Mike Schneider of The Associated Press.
'The addendum signed this week updated a 2020 agreement between the Florida Department of Corrections and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that had explained how to handle federal immigration detainees at correctional facilities, but not at places like this new detention center. The update was made public Thursday in court papers in response to a civil rights lawsuit claiming that 'Alligator Alcatraz' detainees have been unable to meet with attorneys or get access to immigration courts.'
— 'At 'Alligator Alcatraz,' did a detainee just faint or need CPR?' by Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times.
— '36 hours before DOGE arrived in Broward, one city's commissioners gave selves 200 percent pay raise,' reports Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— 'Coastal Florida farm is identified as source of raw milk that sickened 21,' by Kate Payne of The Associated Press.
— 'Did politics help former state Rep. Amesty evade criminal charges?' by Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel.
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
— 'Hillsborough County schools remove LGBTQ+ book under state pressure,' by Stephany Matat of USA Today Network — Florida.
...HURRICANE HOLE...
EYE ON THE STORM — 'A cluster of showers and thunderstorms that moved off the African coast last week became a tropical rainstorm Sunday morning near the Cabo Verde Islands. Further strengthening is expected and the rainstorm is expected to become a hurricane by late week. The next name on the list is Erin,' reports Elizabeth Danco of AccuWeather.
CAMPAIGN MODE
LAWSON SETS ULTIMATUM — 'David Jolly is on notice: He has three months to prove he's built a coalition capable of winning the governor's mansion or Jolly will face a challenge from Al Lawson Jr., the Democratic dean of North Florida politics,' reports James Call of USA Today Network — Florida.
'Jolly, a former Republican Congressman turned Democrat, is seeking to revive a lifeless Florida Democratic Party that has lost seven consecutive gubernatorial races.'
RUBIO ALL THE RAGE — 'At least twice in recent months, President Trump has declined to formally crown Vice President JD Vance as the successor to the MAGA movement. Instead, Trump is leaving his options open,' report Alex Leary, Meridith McGraw and Natalie Andrews of The Wall Street Journal. 'On Tuesday, he told reporters Vance is probably the favorite to succeed him, echoing what he has privately told associates. But Trump also talked up another administration official who has emerged as one of his most trusted advisers: Secretary of State Marco Rubio.'
One notable exchange: 'Which one of you is going to be at the top of the ticket?' Trump asked the men earlier this year, according to a person with knowledge of the conversation. 'I used to think it would be Vance-Rubio, but maybe it will be Rubio-Vance.'
TRANSITION TIME
— BRETT TUBBS will be joining the Florida Chief Financial Officer's team as director of advancement. Tubbs has worked for the Republican National Committee and the White House, as well as several Florida agencies, coming to the CFO's office from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
— TREVOR SCHAETTLE will be executive assistant to Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia. Schaettle previously worked as Legislative Affairs Manager at Greenberg Traurig.
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
BIRTHDAY: CBS Miami's Jim DeFede.