Latest news with #JOHNMORGAN
Politico
4 days ago
- Business
- Politico
How Florida's political disruptor spent his summer
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: kleonard@ 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.
Politico
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Morgan and Morgan and … governor?
Good morning and welcome to Thursday. JOHN MORGAN, the famous attorney who runs the nation's largest injury firm and is known for his 'For the People' billboards and ads, has been teasing for months that he may run for Florida governor in 2026. He wasn't definitive Wednesday after talking for nearly an hour at the Capitol Tiger Bay Club in Tallahassee. But in profanity-laden remarks interspersed with jokes and slams against Republicans and Democrats alike, he laid out what could be a campaign blueprint. Morgan criticized Democrats — a party he once donated huge sums to — as well as Gov. RON DESANTIS and a Legislature he said cared more about special interests than helping with the problems residents are dealing with. He said, 'I believe that whether you're on the far left or the far right that the defining problem in our country today is income inequality. People can't afford to live.' A Morgan candidacy would jolt a contest that already features GOP Rep. BYRON DONALDS and probably DAVID JOLLY, a former Republican congressman who recently became a Democrat. First lady CASEY DESANTIS remains a possibility and sidestepped a question about a bid during an event held in Brandon on Wednesday with the governor. Morgan, who is extremely wealthy, has already proven to be a successful campaigner as the architect and primary funder of ballot initiatives that raised the state's minimum wage and legalized medical marijuana. When it came to running for governor, Morgan said he is willing to spend time and money to mount a campaign and said JAMES CARVILLE once told him that a governor 'can do more good than any other person in the country.' But he admitted he goes back and forth about the idea. 'There are moments where I go, you know what? I could do it. I could do it. And then when I'm sitting in Hawaii with the marijuana cigarettes and a glass of rosé and then,' Morgan said before pausing, noting the age of newly selected Pope Leo XIV and adding he's 'deep, deep, deep' in the fourth quarter of life at the age of 69. Morgan told reporters, however, that he is serious about a potential run. But the Kentucky native said he wants to see how other potential candidates fare down the back 'stretch' before jumping in. He acknowledged — without giving any names — that if certain people run then he might be motivated to get into the contest. The attorney has tremendous name recognition already and said that as someone who has mounted a successful initiative campaign, 'I have an advantage that nobody, that nobody else really has.' He said he can afford to wait. 'I think I'd rather reach running a sprint than running a marathon,' he said. 'I'd rather have a three-month window than an 18-month window.' Morgan says if he does run, it would not be as an independent, and he was skeptical of state Sen. JASON PIZZO's efforts to run with no party affiliation, saying Americans like to be on a team. He is moving ahead with plans to launch a third party that he said is needed to represent those in the middle who are not aligned with the far-left and far-right wings of the Democratic and Republican Party. 'We're stuck in the middle and we don't have a voice, any voice, but yet we have a lot to say but we're paralyzed,' Morgan said. — Gary Fineout ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... MORGAN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ROUND 2 ON POT — 'Morgan is optimistic about an effort backed by Florida's $2 billion medical marijuana industry to place adult recreational pot use on next year's ballot — partly because Gov. Ron DeSantis can't use tax dollars to fight it … DeSantis enlisted state agencies to launch marketing campaigns warning against the pot measure, and Smart & Safe organizers believe he spent at least $50 million in state dollars to place ads on TV,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian. 'A new law, approved by the Legislature this year in response to fraud claims made by state elections officials among voter signatures turned in for last year's abortion initiative, includes plenty of restrictions on the citizen-led initiative process. But there's also a prohibition on the use of state dollars to pay for public service announcements geared toward a political campaign.' DESANTIS RESPONDS TO COMMITTEE INVITATION — When asked whether he would accept an invitation from the Florida House Select Committee on Property Taxes to present his proposals on property tax relief, the governor said no. 'That's not the role of the chief executive,' he added, before slamming the House for not taking up his property tax ideas sooner. 'When I called the special session for immigration, the response was, 'Oh, we in the House legislate, the governor doesn't legislate,' right? And so they didn't want to do it,' he continued. 'Now they're saying, 'Well, this is the governor's responsibility to tell us what that — well, you can pick one, right? It's got to be one or the other.' — Isa Domínguez APALACHICOLA OIL DRILLING PERMIT LATEST — A state lawyer is urging the Department of Environmental Protection to reject portions of a judge's order recommending the agency toss out a permit application for oil drilling near the Apalachicola River. DEP senior attorney JEFFREY BROWN, rather than directly challenge the recommendation, took issue with how the judge characterized DEP's application review. In his April 28 order, Administrative Law Judge LAWRENCE P. STEVENSON wrote DEP accepted Clearwater's expectation of drilling success and that was 'typical of DEP's very deferential review.' Stevenson also wrote in a footnote the application presented a 'constantly moving target' for challenger Apalachicola Riverkeeper that should have triggered a deeper level of departmental review. Brown wrote in Tuesday filings that the judge's statement 'adds nothing of substance to the findings or conclusions, and it would be inappropriate for the Department to include that statement in its final order.' DEP is expected to issue a final order July 28. — Bruce Ritchie FIRST LADY CLAPS BACK — 'DeSantis and the first lady lashed out at critics of their Hope Florida program on Wednesday and defended the state's decision to steer money from a Medicaid settlement to a related charity,' report Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times and Alexandra Glorioso of the Miami Herald. 'During a roundtable in Brandon, Casey DeSantis vowed to continue Hope Florida despite intense scrutiny from news outlets and Republican lawmakers.' … Casey DeSantis said: 'It's just really disheartening and very sad, but not surprising, to see these slanderous, false accusations hurled at Hope Florida.' STRUCK DOWN — 'Citing parental rights, a Florida appeals court Wednesday ruled that a law that can allow minors to have abortions without their parents' consent is unconstitutional,' reports Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida. 'A three-judge panel of the 5th District Court of Appeal, backing arguments by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, said the law violates parents' due-process rights. The ruling came as the appeals court rejected a request by a 17-year-old girl to have an abortion without parental consent.' — 'Former Senate budget chairs see rough waters ahead as negotiations unfold in Legislature,' by Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. — 'DeSantis poised to sign legislation banning psychedelic mushroom spores in Florida,' reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. — 'Florida Supreme Court suspends Gary Farmer from Broward bench amid misconduct inquiry,' reports Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics. — 'Hillsborough killer Glen Rogers to be executed Thursday evening,' reports Dan Sullivan of the Tampa Bay Times. PENINSULA AND BEYOND TODAY — MAX CHESNES and EMILY MAHONEY of the Tampa Bay Times will answer questions about the state parks scandal they broke at 1 p.m. on Zoom as a part of the 'It's Your Times' fundraising campaign. Their story sparked bipartisan backlash and prompted DeSantis to reverse course and recently sign a bill preventing development in the parks. USF IN LEGAL TROUBLE — 'After a 2023 audit showed the University of South Florida overcharged students nearly $8.6 million in 'distance learning' fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, USF denied wrongdoing,' reports Ian Hodgson of the Tampa Bay Times. 'But newly released emails and meeting notes, uncovered in an ongoing lawsuit and disclosed in a recent court filing, allege that university officials intentionally raised those fees to secretly recoup revenue from other waived charges.' PUBLIC RECORD LAWSUIT SETTLED — New College of Florida settled a public records lawsuit with the Florida Center for Government Accountability. New College will pay $125,000 in attorney's fees and will have to comply with reforms to increase transparency over official communications. — 'Toddler who was separated in the U.S. from her deported parents is back in Venezuela,' by Antonio Maria Delgado of the Miami Herald. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP — 'U.S. AG Pam Bondi sold more than $1 million in Trump Media stock the day Trump announced sweeping tariffs,' reports ProPublica's Robert Faturechi and Brandon Roberts. — 'Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Trump, asks to have charges dropped,' reports NPR's Greg Allen. BLANK SPACE — 'The White House has galactic-sized plans for space. But no one seems to know who will carry them out,' reports POLITICO's Sam Skove. 'Space industry officials and Capitol Hill staffers describe a rudderless administration when it comes to space policy, with no single person driving the big shifts. This has left them confused about the White House's priorities and their role in the process, even as President Donald Trump pushes to put humans back on the moon, land an astronaut on Mars and redefine American space power.' — 'Democrats plan to fly 'Qatar-a-Lago' banner at Trump's home to troll him over airliner gift,' reports Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. DATELINE D.C. TODAY — The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding an executive meeting at 10:15 a.m. on Trump's nomination of JASON REDING QUINONES to be United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida. (Tune in.) FINE ON GUNS — Rep. RANDY FINE (R-Fla.) on Wednesday doubled down on expanding access to firearms in certain locations, but this time, it was in favor of a bill that expands the ability of active and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in public locations, such as school zones. In his first speech on the House floor, he cited the shooting at Florida State University, in which law enforcement officers swiftly subdued 20-year-old PHOENIX IKNER after he had killed two people and injured six others. 'Because the fact of the matter is, when these horrific things happen, it will take law enforcement time to get there, and the only way for you to defend yourself is for you to do it,' he said. During his time in the Florida Senate, Fine unsuccessfully tried to pass a bill that would have allowed people to carry guns on campus. It died in committee after one Republican senator joined Democrats in voting against it. (Two Republicans were absent during the vote, and the legislation had no counterpart in the Florida House.) — Isa Domínguez BONDI AND RUBIO IN HOT WATER — 'Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both joined President Trump's cabinet promising to restore 'integrity' to their offices,' reports Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel. 'Nearly four months in, however, both prominent Floridians are neck deep in administration controversies.' FUNDRAISING AFTER DOGE CUTS — 'At the end of March, DOGE made cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities, which eliminated over $1.7 million in annual funding to Florida Humanities,' reports Lily Belcher of WUSF. Now Florida Humanities is launching a 'Save Florida's Stories campaign,' hoping to raise $300,000 by September. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: Charles Lee, director of advocacy for Audubon Florida.
