This week, Florida’s statehouse cleared the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis to
sign a six-week abortion ban. The man who shepherded the bill, House
Speaker Paul Renner, joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza for this
episode of Playbook Deep Dive. 

You might not know Renner’s name – but you definitely know his work: 

- A bill to ban surgeries and prescription treatments for transgender
minors, which has passed the state Senate and Renner will soon push
through the House
- One of the most comprehensive new school voucher laws in the country
- Legislation removing books with sexual content from Florida public
schools
- A major tort reform bill, big tax cuts
- And if he gets around to it this session: a bill aimed at
over-turning the 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan decision, the most
important First Amendment ruling of the last century

All of this is aimed at Renner’s other project: helping Gov. Ron
DeSantis build a record of accomplishments in Florida on which he can
base his presidential campaign. 

While Republicans have created a legislative assembly line that is
spitting out laws to change seemingly every aspect of life in Florida, a
big question suddenly hangs over their project: 

Are they building a record of accomplishments that can launch the
DeSantis rocket to the White House? Or are they weighing down the
governor with so much right-wing baggage that he crashes upon liftoff?

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Paul Renner is the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer for POLITICO audio.