Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Another day in America, another mass shooting. This one chills the marrow of those of us in the news business.
Thursday’s tragedy came at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, where a gunman shot “multiple people,” according to initial reports.
Police there soon confirmed an “active shooter” at the paper’s offices. At around 4:30 p.m., Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman said a suspect was in custody and at least five people were reported to have been killed, county officials said.
The latest shooting comes four and a half months after a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County shot and killed 17 people.
“What a heartbreaking and senseless tragedy at the @capgaznews,” Gov. Rick Scott tweeted. “@FLAnnScott and I are thinking today of journalists in newsrooms in Florida and across the country.”
Democratic candidate for Governor Gwen Graham also weighed in on Twitter: “This is not normal. We cannot accept journalists hiding under desks, or children huddling together in school closets, or concertgoers running for their lives … We must do everything we can to make our communities safer from senseless gun violence.”
The incident happened to occur the same week right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos called on “the vigilante squads to start gunning journalists down on sight,” as reported in a New York Observer story.
He later explained he had simply issued his “standard response to a request for a comment.”
Phil Davis, the Gazette’s crime reporter, tweeted Thursday as he waited to be interviewed by police: “Gunman shot through the glass door to the (newsroom) and opened fire on multiple employees. Can’t say much more and don’t want to declare anyone dead, but it’s bad.”
The Gazette is owned by The Baltimore Sun, where police were also stationed “as a precaution,” that paper reported.
Evening Reads
“Digital ad pressures Bill Nelson to support Donald Trump’s next Supreme Court pick” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
“Tallahassee mayor’s path to Governor’s mansion runs through Florida’s black community” via Elizabeth Koh and Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald capital bureau
“Incoming House Speaker backs Ron DeSantis in Governor bid” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel
“Adam Putnam: ‘Grassroots passion’ to prevail over Donald Trump-backed Ron DeSantis” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Democrats say FEMA, HUD have ‘abandoned’ Puerto Rican evacuees in last-minute push” via Bianca Padró Ocasio of the Orlando Sentinel
“Shad Khan backs Alvin Brown for Congress” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Feds still deliberating entering lawsuit over FIU bridge records” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
“Lake Okeechobee discharges to St. Lucie River will stop for nine days, then resume” via Ed Killer of TCPal.com
“In volatile market, big Florida law firms grew financially — or just held on” by Lizzy McLellan of Daily Business Review
“How to watch the first Florida Republican gubernatorial debate tonight” via Steve Contorno of the Tampa Bay Times
Quote of the Day
“There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you’re under your desk and then hear the gunman reload.” — A tweet by Phil Davis, crime reporter at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
A POLITICO Playbook Elections event is set to discuss the 2018 midterm cycle and issues shaping the races. This event is part of the POLITICO-AARP Deciders series and will feature interviews with Democratic congressional candidates Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, David Richardson and Donna Shalala. That’s at 8 a.m., InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami.
The Department of Corrections is offering “same-day job offers for correctional officers” in north Florida at an event on the Gulf Coast State College campus. That’s at 8:30 a.m. Central time, Robert L. McSpadden Student Union East, 5230 W Highway 98, Panama City. Preregister for the event by calling 866-562-3362.
The Republican Party of Florida’s “Sunshine Summit” will continue and feature numerous speakers, including U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and conservative figures such as Dinesh D’Souza and Grover Norquist. That’s at 9:30 a.m., Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, 6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee.
Republican John Ward, who is running for an open seat in Congressional District 6, is slated to take part in a Lake County GOP “Coffee with the Candidate” gathering. That’s at 10:30 a.m., Lake County Republican Party office, 212 West Main St., Tavares.
The Florida Democratic Party will start its “Leadership Blue 2018” event in Broward County. That’s at 3 p.m., The Diplomat Beach Resort, 3555 South Ocean Dr., Hollywood.
