Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The year 2019 was one in which the word lie seemingly was thrown around at almost any and every partisan statement.
That must have been a challenge for PolitiFact, which Monday is naming President Donald Trump’s declaration that the Ukraine phone call whistleblower got almost everything wrong to be the Lie of the Year.
The falsehood stood out because of the dominoes that were toppling around it.
The still publicly unidentified whistleblower did what Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team of lawyers and investigators could not do last spring, give the Democrats a reason to impeach Trump.
It was more than that. The whistleblower’s report to the chairs of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees, alleging Trump was exerting pressure on Ukraine to deliver political favors, arrived on August 12. That set the wheels in motion, eventually leading to the announcement of a House investigation almost a month later, and then, two days after that, the Trump administration’s release of the $400 million in military aid that Ukraine desperately needed.
Trump sought to destroy the report’s credibility by variously saying it was almost all wrong, fake, total fiction, and all sorts of like adjectives. Yet it turned out he was destroying his credibility when the House Intelligence Committee brought in 17 witnesses who all corroborated the report, and none who disputed it.
PolitiFact notes that there have been and will continue to be disputes about interpretations of the July 25 phone call that the whistleblower described, but not about the details of fact.
“Despite what Trump claims, the whistleblower got the call ‘almost completely’ right,” PolitiFact declared.
The result: Wednesday’s vote on the House floor to make Trump the third President to be impeached.
Evening Reads
“PolitiFact Lie of the Year 2019: Trump’s claim whistleblower got Ukraine call wrong” via Katie Sanders of PolitiFact
“Republicans have one last chance to stand up” via Mac Stipanovich for the Tampa Bay Times
“Congress reaches deal to fund gun violence research for first time in decades” via Jessie Hellman of The Hill
“Congress to permanently repeal 3 major health taxes in year-end spending deal” via Susannah Luthi and Caitlin Emma of POLITICO
“Legalize marijuana group drops out of 2020 Florida ballot, won’t yet endorse rival campaign” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel
“Republican field wanting to take on Stephanie Murphy getting crowded” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Budget experts: Economic slowdown still in Florida’s future as 2020 Session nears” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics
“Bill nixing newspaper notice requirement refiled for 2020” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics
“Legislation would expand electric vehicle charging stations on Florida highways” via Janelle Irwin of Florida Politics
“Violent children: A crisis we must not ignore” via The Sun-Sentinel editorial board
“Police: Florida officer demanded cash to ignore violations” via Martin Vassolo for The New York Times
“Universal Orlando pledges 20 acres of land to build as many as 1,000 affordable housing units in tourism corridor” via Stephen Hudak and Chabeli Herrera of the Orlando Sentinel
Quote of the Day
“It is a tribute to my colleagues and the firm that I have never, in almost half a century, considered working anywhere else. I am grateful for the friendship and support that have shaped my professional life.” — Venerable Republican operative Mac Stipanovich, in his retirement announcement as a lobbyist for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Suncoast Connector Task Force will meet to discuss a proposed toll road extending the Suncoast Parkway from Citrus County to Jefferson County. The meeting begins at 9 a.m., 203 Forest Park Dr., in Perry.
The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will meet at 9 a.m. in the Knott Building at the Capitol.
The Space Florida Investment Committee will discuss Space Commerce Way Connector and replacing the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Indian River bridge. The conference call begins at 9 a.m. The call-in number is 1-866-528-2256. The conference code is 4875556.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis will deliver remarks at the Department of Children and Family’s Child Protection Summit. That’s at 10 a.m., World Marriott Center, Palms Ballroom, 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will consider a homeowner’s insurance rate increase proposed by Edison Insurance Co. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in the Larson Building, 200 East Gaines St., in Tallahassee.
The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze the finances of the state’s KidCare insurance system. It convenes at 1:30 p.m. in the Knott Building at the Capitol.
