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Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Erika Donalds talks education policy and gov race
Good morning and welcome to Monday. Gubernatorial candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS shot to fame in conservative politics largely thanks to his role as a key surrogate for President DONALD TRUMP. But his wife, ERIKA DONALDS, has also been intimately involved in shaping some Trump administration policy — including supporting the Department of Education's unwinding in discussions with the White House and Congress. She leads education policy at America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank, and she also serves on the advisory board of the conservative Moms for Liberty group. She additionally is founder and CEO of a charter school management company and foundation (the latter of which has drawn millions of dollars in state contracts, the Florida Bulldog reported). Should her husband be elected governor, all of this means the future first lady of Florida would have significant experience in overhauling education policy, similar to what Gov. RON DESANTIS has done. The Donaldses were at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino over the weekend attending the first-ever CPAC Latino, where Erika Donalds appeared on a panel about education policy. She spoke with Playbook about education initiatives and the gubernatorial campaign shortly before her husband took the stage. What follows are snippets from the conversation. On education policy in the state: Erika Donalds has been a major proponent of Florida's school choice movement, which has culminated in the state allowing students to use vouchers for private or charter schools regardless of family income. Now, she said, it should be easier for families and schools to take part. She noted Florida only uses one main organization, called Step Up For Students, to manage and give out school vouchers, while other states have several for families to choose from, which she said allows for 'competitiveness around customer service and technology.' She also said it should be easier for micro schools, pods and other types of learning environments to participate, and that the state could do more to help charter and private schools expand because the demand is so high, leading to long wait lists. On whether education would be her platform if she were to become Florida's first lady: Though Erika Donalds said 'it might be premature' to discuss a potential platform, she said she cared deeply about improving proficiency in reading and math in the state and in helping vulnerable groups succeed, including those in foster care and the juvenile justice system. 'I've always been very passionate about children who are in difficult circumstances and making sure that they have a pathway to success,' she said, citing her own difficult upbringing and how education was 'the ticket out.' On whether she saw expanding Hope Florida as a way to do that: 'There's been a lot of noise around that,' she said, alluding to the investigation by state House Republicans into the project spearheaded by Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS. 'I'd love to learn more about the outcomes and what's actually happening there that is helping families, aside from anecdotal. I'm a data person. I want to see the data, understand not only what we're doing, but what other states are doing that are successful, and really understand what the best practices are.' On where things stand with the relationship with DeSantis: The governor hasn't supported Byron Donalds to succeed him, even though Trump has. He instead has talked up Casey DeSantis for the job, but she hasn't made a decision about whether to run. Erika Donalds said her husband and Ron DeSantis haven't talked about the race. 'We've been very supportive of the governor and we think he's done a great job as governor,' she said. 'We're very grateful for all that he's done for our state and we're just hoping to continue that legacy.' On what it's been like to have a spouse become more high-profile: Erika Donalds stressed that the experience has been overwhelmingly positive, with people lining up to take pictures with her husband and even recognizing him when they travel to states like California. It's 'very energetic,' she said, with 'people excited that they have an option that they believe is going to continue what DeSantis has done so far.' Many of them are already greeting the congressman with 'Hey, governor,' she said. But she added she was pleased DeSantis signed a measure into law that would shield the addresses of lawmakers, given some threats their family has received. 'It is disconcerting when those death threats and other threats come in at an increasing rate,' she said, 'and I think it was the right thing to do.' WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis is doing a press conference in Wildwood at 10 a.m., where he's expected to sign the budget. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Twelve members of Florida's Republican House delegation have signed onto a letter saying they'll support the final version of the 'One Bill Beautiful Bill Act' on taxes, border security and cuts to food and health care programs. The letter went out this morning, led by Rep. VERN BUCHANAN, and is intended to tout provisions to Floridians such as the legislation's tax cuts and its billions of dollars in funding for border security. The legislation, they argued, would be 'putting families first.' They cited a portion that would remove tax from tips — something House members noted would benefit people who work in the hospitality industry in tourism-heavy Florida — as well as how it removes taxes from overtime pay. 'Any member of Congress who opposes this legislation will be voting for the largest tax hike in American history,' Buchanan said in a statement. 'This is a pro-growth, pro-worker, America-first bill, and we will send it to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.' The Senate's version of the legislation advanced to debate over the weekend following 51 votes; it's expected to go up for a vote-a-rama in the Senate today. One amendment being considered would end the 90 percent share the federal government gives to states that expanded the Medicaid program to cover low-income people, reports POLITICO's Jordain Carney. Florida doesn't have the Medicaid expansion that most other states have, so there won't be as much effect here regarding that policy change. But Jordain notes the provision itself has been promoted by Sen. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.). They'll be voting on the amendment today, which would take effect in 2031 and apply to new people enrolling on the program. The House delegation that sent the letter of support argued other changes they're making to Medicaid, such as obligating non-disabled, childless adults who get Medicaid coverage to work, would make the program stronger by 'rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.' The Council of Economic Advisors estimated that in Florida, that would result in $1.5 billion in cuts, which is less than other large states. Critics contend the extra paperwork will just make it harder for people who need the program to stay enrolled, and point to how work requirements in states haven't gone smoothly. The House can expect to vote on the Senate's version of the bill either Tuesday or Wednesday, House Majority Leader STEVE SCALISE told members, according to POLITICO's Benjamin Guggenheim and Meredith Lee Hill. Among the dozen who signed onto the letter are Donalds, and Reps. ANNA PAULINA LUNA and RANDY FINE. ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... WHAT TIME IS IT? The clock has run out and the moment has arrived for DeSantis to act on the $115.1 billion budget that was passed by the Florida Legislature just two weeks ago. DeSantis last week pledged to deal with the budget ahead of July 1 — the date the new budget is supposed to take effect. That means today will likely be the day the governor signs the budget — and hands out line-item vetoes of individual spending items. One potential bit of irony is that the GOP-controlled House, which has been at odds with DeSantis for months now, passed a much smaller and leaner budget of just under $113 billion. It was only after a weeks-long standoff with Senate Republicans that the two sides settled on a higher amount. So DeSantis could make the budget more in line with what House Republicans wanted, even if he also vetoes items lawmakers in that chamber championed. The biggest thing to watch: whether DeSantis trains his veto pen on legislators who bucked him this year. That list has gotten longer than it used to be in previous years and includes lawmakers from Pensacola to Miami. — Gary Fineout AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND — 'Environmental groups on Friday sued federal agencies and the state in federal court over the planned immigration detention center being set up in the Everglades west of Miami,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie. 'The lawsuit filed in Miami by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity alleges the state is moving forward without legal authority on the airstrip within Big Cypress National Preserve. And the suit claims the Department of Homeland Security did not conduct environmental reviews under federal law.' GOOD POLITICS FOR DESANTIS — 'Alligator Alcatraz' has been 'a boon for the national profile of both DeSantis and his appointed attorney general, James Uthmeier,' reports NBC News' Matt Dixon. 'Both have received waves of national attention — and a resulting boost to their political stock … DeSantis has long made immigration enforcement a linchpin of his political messaging, so the effort to build a headline-grabbing facility surrounded by swamps, snakes and alligators, is consistent with the administration's overarching policy goals.' PROTESTS ERUPT — 'Hundreds of people, including indigenous groups, environmentalists and immigration advocates gathered outside DeSantis' planned 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility in the middle of the Everglades Saturday, the second protest there in a week,' Shira Moolten and Mike Stocker of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. 'About 1,000 stood in the heat along Tamiami Trail near Mile Marker 50 as of early Saturday afternoon, outside the gates of the little-used airfield that is now set to become an immigration detention center. Cars lined the road for miles in each direction. Members of the Miccosukee and Seminole Indian tribes beat drums and led ceremonies with sage to cleanse the area while others carried signs, chanted and wore anti-ICE T-shirts.' BUT TRUMP EXPECTED TO GO TO TUESDAY OPENING — Flight notices indicate the president may be attending the soft launch Tuesday, reports Antonio Fins of the Palm Beach Post. — 'Meet the folks who live near 'Alligator Alcatraz' and call the Everglades home,' by Amanda Rosa of the Miami Herald. PENINSULA AND BEYOND CITY WATER CRISIS — 'The city of Apalachicola, which has been plunged into an emergency over its failing water purification system, told residents on June 27 that it had completed flushing its main lines and that quality was improving,' reports Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat. 'But residents reported mixed results at best, with some reporting improvement in the appearance but not the odor of the water. Others saw no change at all.' — 'St. Pete Pride attendees celebrate LGBTQ+ advocacy, resilience,' by Lizzy Alspach of the Tampa Bay Times. ...HURRICANE HOLE... WATCHING THE STORM — 'Two tropical storms formed Sunday on both of Mexico's coasts, and they are expected to drench the region for several days,' reports CBS News. 'Barry, the second named storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, became a tropical depression by Sunday night, when it made landfall shortly before 11 p.m. ET. It made landfall over Mexico's east coast about 15 miles south-southeast of Tampico, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.' CAMPAIGN MODE POTENTIAL SENATE CANDIDATE — 'Alexander Vindman — the now-retired Army officer whose testimony provided critical evidence in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump — is now living a much quieter life in Broward County,' reports Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. 'Heavily involved in public policy and politics, he'd return to a much higher profile if he decides to run for U.S. Senate in 2026, something Vindman said in a recent interview he's contemplating.' CAMPAIGN FORMATION — 'Mitchell Berger has never run for office. But he knows a lot about candidates and campaigns,' reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man. 'The Fort Lauderdale lawyer who has held numerous campaign and government roles has now signed on as campaign chair for David Jolly, a Democratic candidate for governor.' — 'Can Florida politicians replicate Mamdani's success? Young Democrats chime in,' by Kairi Lowery and Zoey Thomas of the Orlando Sentinel. — ''I could do it': Eric Trump ponders a future run for president,' by Phillip M. Bailey of USA Today. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Erin Grall … former state Rep. Travis Cummings.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran trying to 'save face' following US strike on nuclear sites, expert says
As the total damage to three Iranian nuclear sites continues to be assessed, one Middle East expert says that Iran's stated assessment only reinforces U.S. and Israeli views. Israel, which has said the strikes set the Iranian nuclear program back years, has the greatest resources in place to make a determination and the most incentive to get the facts right, Jacob Olidort, director of the Center of American Security at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital. "Both the US and Israel say they achieved their objectives," Olidort said. "Israel presumably had planned around this for many years, and Israel says it has met its objectives, which is destroying Iran's ability to enrich uranium." The U.S. launched a surprise strike using B-2 stealth bombers and bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities on Saturday. Hegseth Tears Into Reporters, Alleging They 'Cheer Against Trump' And Iran Strikes Some media reports have pushed back on the Trump administration's claims that the sites were destroyed and set Iran back years in its quest to achieve a nuclear weapon. Read On The Fox News App Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Wednesday told Al Jazeera that "our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure," though he refused to go into detail. Israel-iran Conflict: Live Updates Olidort said that "everything Iran is doing now is to save face." 'The Mission Was Accomplished': Senate Republicans Push Back Against Leaked Report On Iran Strikes "We should never take anything Iran says at face value, but their assessment can only reinforce the views of Israel and the U.S. view," he said. The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi, reiterated on Thursday that the damage done by Israeli and U.S. strikes at Iranian nuclear facilities "is very, very, very considerable." "I think annihilated is too much, but it suffered enormous damage," Grossi told French broadcaster RFI. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Iran trying to 'save face' following US strike on nuclear sites, expert says
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's ‘both sides' approach to Israel, Iran comes into question
President Trump's strategy of playing both sides is coming into question as he fumed over Israel and Iran's continued fighting while demanding peace in the region. The president was so frustrated Tuesday morning he dropped an expletive on the White House lawn on his way to the NATO summit, contending that the two adversaries 'don't know what the f— they're doing.' He also offered a window into his handling of the situation in which he stressed criticism mostly for Israel but also Iran in his quest to end the fighting: 'All I do is play both sides.' Whether Trump's strategy to have a foot in each camp will be successful depends on if Israel and Iran will abide by his desire to stop fighting in the long term, but some foreign policy experts think it will take more disciplined diplomacy to reach a peaceful end. Elliott Abrams, U.S. special representative for Iran during Trump's first term, argued that if the administration took a more subdued approach and called on Israel to de-escalate instead of retaliate when Iran continued strikes, Trump would have likely not gone on his 'tirade' on Tuesday. 'With the announcement of the ceasefire and the Iranians cheating, the Israelis were going to respond. They did respond. And I think that had he or Rubio called Netanyahu and said, 'We don't want to lose the ceasefire. So how do you plan to respond? And, don't blow up Tehran, do something moderate.' That would have worked,' Abrams said. 'There was no need for a public and private tirade.' Abrams contended that while Trump may have been posturing toward both countries, his public outburst did the situation few favors. 'You never know with Trump how much is performative, but I think there was no need for what he did,' added Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Trump allies have argued that the president's flexibility and willingness to pivot on a dime is an asset, particularly when it comes to foreign policy. Where critics see Trump as having few strongly held beliefs and a lack of commitment to long-standing allies, the president's supporters see him as able to shift his tone and approach to get whatever result he desires. White House officials this week have trumpeted that 'only' Trump could have produced the results he did with Iran, a nod to his unorthodox approach that can change from day to day or hour to hour depending on the situation. Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute's Center for American Security, argued some tension between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to be expected, but he emphasized that Trump is unwaveringly pro-Israel despite his public frustrations. 'Netanyahu is not Trump's puppet, and he has to look out for the interests of his nation, not simply do what Trump tells him to do,' Fleitz said. 'And I think that creates conflict from time to time.' One Trump ally noted that the Iran-Israel conflict was far from the first time the president has deployed an 'all sides' approach. They argued Trump has used it at times when addressing the war in Ukraine, alternately attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and bellowing that he is unhappy with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he attempts to bring the two sides to the negotiating table. A version of that was also on full display Tuesday as Trump posted a cascade of Truth Social posts as he was flying to the Netherlands for the NATO summit this week. While he left the White House just after sunrise in a huff, his Truth Social posts soon began suggesting that the ceasefire was holding and that he was telling Israel to turn their planes around. By the time Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One, he relayed that he spoke to Netanyahu and that he was optimistic a truce would hold. 'The ceasefire is very much in effect, and I think we're going to keep it there for a long time,' he said. 'I said, 'You got to turn back the planes.' And there was going to be a retaliation this morning by Israel and I said, 'You got to call back the planes. It's enough, it's enough.' And they did, which I respect very greatly,' he said. By late Tuesday, the ceasefire appeared to have been held by both Israel and Iran with few if any reports of Tehran striking Israel after Trump's earlier remarks. Trump said there wouldn't be consequences for the fighting that occurred overnight when the ceasefire was supposed to initially begin. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the most hawkish Trump allies in Congress, argued in response to Trump's outburst that Israel and Iran can't be lumped together. 'I can understand his frustration, but there's no moral equivalency between Iran and Israel,' Graham said on Fox News. 'Israel is our friend, Iran is our enemy.' The U.S. entered into a days-long conflict between Israel and Iran when it struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday with some of the most powerful ammunition in the U.S. arsenal. Iran struck back Monday with several missiles over Qatar where a large U.S. military base is located but gave fair warning to the U.S. before doing so, which prevented casualties, according to Trump. Trump announced the parameters of a ceasefire deal later Monday, but fighting between Iran and Israel continued overnight, much to the president's chagrin Tuesday morning. Abrams said he was surprised that Trump was upset with Israel and Iran, but added, 'another thing you never know … what is the factual basis for his comment.' He added, 'God knows what someone said to him over the phone or what tweet he read that set him off. He may actually not have understood the situation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


E&E News
7 days ago
- Business
- E&E News
Former White House official jumps to Trump-aligned think tank
A former White House official who held a top perch on President Donald Trump's National Energy Dominance Council has returned to the think tank America First Policy Institute. The institute on Tuesday announced that Oliver McPherson-Smith, who left the administration in March after a short time on the job, is now serving as its vice chair for energy and environment. He previously served as the group's director for energy and environment before joining the Trump administration. A White House official in March said McPherson-Smith left the administration to 'return to his family in Texas,' but a person with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO's E&E News that McPherson-Smith's husband's job at Exxon Mobil presented too many conflicts of interest. Advertisement During McPherson-Smith's short tenure in the White House, Trumpinked an executive order that called on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to prioritize public lands for mining-related activity.


The Hill
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump's ‘both sides' approach to Israel, Iran comes into question
President Trump's strategy of playing both sides is coming into question as he fumed over Israel and Iran's continued fighting while demanding peace in the region. The president was so frustrated Tuesday morning he dropped an expletive on the White House lawn on his way to the NATO summit, contending that the two adversaries 'don't know what the f—k they're doing.' He also offered a window into his handling of the situation in which he stressed criticism mostly for Israel but also Iran in his quest to end the fighting: 'All I do is play both sides.' Whether Trump's strategy to have a foot in each camp will be successful depends on if Israel and Iran will abide by his desire to stop fighting longterm, but some foreign policy experts think it will take more disciplined diplomacy to reach a peaceful end. Elliott Abrams, U.S. Special Representative for Iran during Trump's first term, argued that if the administration took a more subdued approach and called on Israel to de-escalate instead of retaliate when Iran continued strikes, Trump would have likely not gone on his 'tirade' on Tuesday. 'With the announcement of the ceasefire and the Iranians cheating, the Israelis were going to respond. They did respond. And I think that had he or [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio called Netanyahu and said, 'we don't want to lose the ceasefire. So how do you plan to respond? And, don't blow up Tehran, do something moderate.' That would have worked,' Abrams said. 'There was no need for a public and private tirade.' Abrams contended that while Trump may have been posturing toward both countries, his public outburst did the situation few favors. 'You never know with Trump how much is performative, but I think there was no need for what he did,' added Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Trump allies have argued that the president's flexibility and willingness to pivot on a dime is an asset, particularly when it comes to foreign policy. Where critics see Trump as having few strongly held beliefs and a lack of commitment to long-standing allies, the president's supporters see him as able to shift his tone and approach to get whatever result he desires. White House officials this week have trumpeted that 'only' Trump could have produced the results he did with Iran, a nod to his unorthodox approach that can change from day-to-day or hour-to-hour depending on the situation. Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute's Center for American Security, argued some tension between Trump and Netanyahu is to be expected, but that Trump is unwaveringly pro-Israel despite his public frustrations. 'Netanyahu is not Trump's puppet, and he has to look out for the interests of his nation, not simply do what Trump tells him to do,' Fleitz said. 'And I think that creates conflict from time to time.' One Trump ally noted that the Iran-Israel conflict was far from the first time the president has deployed an 'all sides' approach. They argued Trump has used it at times when addressing the war in Ukraine, alternately attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and bellowing that he is unhappy with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he attempts to bring the two sides to the negotiating table. A version of that was also on full display Tuesday as Trump posted a cascade of Truth Social posts as he was flying to the Netherlands for the NATO summit this week. While he left the White House just after sunrise in a huff, his Truth Social posts soon began suggesting that the ceasefire was holding and that he was telling Israel to turn their planes around. By the time Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One, he relayed that he spoke to Netanyahu and that he was optimistic a truce would hold. 'The ceasefire is very much in effect, and I think we're going to keep it there for a long time,' he said. 'I said, 'you got to turn back the planes.'' Trump said. 'And there was going to be a retaliation this morning by Israel and I said, 'you gotta call back the planes. It's enough, it's enough.' And they did, which I respect very greatly.' By late Tuesday, the ceasefire appeared to hold by both Israel and Iran with few if any reports of Tehran striking Israel after Trump's earlier remarks. Trump said there wouldn't be consequences for the fighting that occurred overnight when the ceasefire was supposed to initially begin. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the most hawkish Trump allies in Congress, argued in response to Trump's unleashing that Israel and Iran can't be lumped together. 'I can understand his frustration but there's no moral equivalency between Iran and Israel,' Graham said on Fox News. 'Israel is our friend, Iran is our enemy.' The U.S. had been pulled into a dayslong conflict between Israel and Iran when it struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday with some of the most powerful ammunition in the U.S. arsenal. Iran struck back Monday with several missiles over Qatar where a large U.S. military base is located, but gave fair warning to the U.S. before doing so, which prevented casualties, according to Trump. Trump announced the parameters of a ceasefire deal later Monday, but fighting between Iran and Israel continued overnight, much to the president's chagrin Tuesday morning. Abrams said he was surprised that Trump was upset with Israel and Iran, but added, 'another thing you never know… what is the factual basis for his comment.' He added, 'God knows what someone said to him over the phone or what tweet he read that set him off. He may actually not have understood the situation.'