Hello and welcome to Wednesday.

While you were sleeping — Artemis I, the rocket designed to return America to the moon, blasted off shortly before 2 a.m. from Kennedy Space Center.

In one day— Florida may be an afterthought for national Democrats, but the state could be the center of the GOP political universe for a while. Former President Donald Trump kicked off his 2024 presidential bid from Palm Beach, while Sen. Rick Scott mounted a longshot bid to take out Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader. Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, was hailed by Republican governors in Orlando, hours after he gave a bit of pushback to Trump.

All about Trump— Most of the attention for the nation’s political media was focused on Trump’s decision to seek the presidency a third time, despite a lot of hand-wringing among some in the GOP about whether Trump’s time has passed. He filed his paperwork late Tuesday before taking the stage at Mar-a-Lago to announce to supporters his latest bid.

What he didn’t say— Trump’s roughly hour-long campaign speech (which was much more low-key than his rallies) coasted through familiar territory, but the former president did not relitigate the 2020 election. (Trump did promise to limit voting to one day, coming a week after more than 5 million ballots were cast in his adopted home state ahead of time.) Trump also did not take any swings at perceived rivals such as DeSantis.

The other guy — Fresh off his big 20-point win last week, DeSantis has emerged as the main alternative to Trump in 2024. But he has not yet made a final decision on running and — for now — is focused on being Florida’s governor for the next few months. DeSantis did dismiss Trump’s recent taunts as "noise" during a Panhandle press conference. And he called Republican election performance elsewhere in the country “underwhelming” and contrasted it with how he did. “I would tell people to go check out the scoreboard,” he said.

Cautionary tale— So it would appear the future of the Republican Party in America may be decided in part by residents of the nation’s third-largest state. In the past, of course, other Florida politicians have seen their bid for national glory flame out, including prominent names like Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. Just 720 days until Election Day 2024.

— WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is expected to be at the annual conference of the Republican Governors Association in Orlando.

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TRY NUMBER THREE — Trump announces he’s running for president again, by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago, Meredith McGraw and Alex Isenstadt: Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 election and left the White House under the cloud of impeachment for his role in the Jan. 6 riots on Capitol Hill, is running for president again. The 45th president announced his bid for a second term during a primetime event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. He filed a statement of candidacy as well.

Helping out — For months, Trump and his team have been planning his announcement and sketching out a campaign operation. There will be no formal campaign manager for the upcoming run. Instead, two longtime Republican operatives, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, will oversee operations. LaCivita will be leaving his firm, FP1 Strategies, to take on the new role. Brian Jack, who served as White House political director for then-President Trump and currently runs Kevin McCarthy’s national political operation, is expected to also play a key role in the campaign and will focus on the nuts and bolts of presidential primary politics for Trump.

— “Trump announces 2024 run, repeating lies and exaggerating record,” by The New York Times’ Michael Bender and Maggie Haberman

‘DESANTIS CONTROLS HIS TIMEFRAME’ — DeSantis world on Trump's likely presidential announcement: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout and Matt Dixon: Former President Donald Trump’s announcement Tuesday night won’t derail Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ immediate plans. All signs point to DeSantis likely running for president in 2024, setting up a rivalry with Trump over the Republican nomination and, more broadly, the heart of the GOP. But those close to the governor say he has not made a final decision yet — and that Trump’s White House bid won’t change DeSantis’ trajectory, at least for the next few months.

Assessment — Seven donors and Republican consultants connected to DeSantis said in recent days that DeSantis will likely focus on being governor for the time being, with one Republican consultant in DeSantis’ orbit saying Trump’s announcement is “fairly irrelevant for DeSantis.” “He has the opportunity to spend the next several months governing while Trump has to try and convince people he still has the ability and faculties to govern effectively,” said the consultant, who like others cited was granted anonymity to freely discuss the governor and former president. “DeSantis controls his timeframe right now, so it’s almost like he gets to watch Trump punch himself out.”

AND IN ORLANDO— “Minutes before Trump announcement, DeSantis receives standing ovation at Republican confab,” by Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser: “Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida received a hero’s welcome on Tuesday night, as he addressed an audience of leading Republicans minutes before former President Donald Trump announced he was launching a 2024 White House bid. DeSantis, who last week won a landside re-election victory for a second term steering Florida, garnered a standing ovation from the audience as he delivered a keynote conversation at the Republican Governors Association’s winter meeting in Orlando, according to multiple sources in the room.”

— “DeSantis, without naming Trump, slams ‘hugely underwhelming’ midterms for the GOP,” by The New York Times’ Patricia Mazzei

MEANWHILE — “Top Trump organization testifies against firm he helped build,” by The New York Times’ Jonah E. Bromwich and Ben Protess: “After decades of loyal service to Donald J. Trump, Allen H. Weisselberg on Tuesday testified in the criminal tax-fraud trial of the former president’s family business, kicking the proceedings into high gear as he assumed an uncomfortable role: star witness for the prosecution. Mr. Weisselberg, the company’s longtime chief financial officer, pleaded guilty this summer to the same crimes for which the company is now on trial in a Manhattan court. As part of his deal, which is expected to spare him a lengthy prison sentence, Mr. Weisselberg agreed to give evidence against the company, even as he remains on its payroll and has refused to implicate Mr. Trump.”

GOING HER OWN WAY— Ivanka Trump on her dad’s announcement night: I’m done with politics, by POLITICO’s Olivia Olander: Ivanka Trump, daughter of former President Donald Trump and a political adviser in his administration, doesn’t plan to be involved in politics “going forward,” she wrote Tuesday evening on Instagram. “While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena,” Ivanka Trump said. Her statement came the same evening that the former president announced his plans to run for president again. “This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family,” she said. “I do not plan to be involved in politics.” She described her current living situation, living and working in the private sector in Miami, as “one of the greatest times of my life.”

— “The status of key investigations involving Donald Trump,” by Washington Post’s Matt Zapotosky, Matthew Brown, Shayna Jacobs, Devlin Barrett and Jacqueline Alemany

— Networks limit Trump’s airtime during 2024 announcement, by POLITICO’s Olivia Olander

— “Trump’s 2024 announcement injects new uncertainty into Justice Dept. inquiries,” by The New York Times’ Glenn Thrush

‘NOT SATISTIFED WITH THE STATUS QUO’— McConnell faces leadership challenge from Rick Scott as conservatives steam, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett: Sen. Rick Scott announced a challenge to Mitch McConnell in a closed-door party lunch on Tuesday afternoon, the first such opposition for the Senate GOP leader in 15 years at the helm.Scott told reporters that he is “not satisfied with the status quo,” a clear criticism of McConnell’s time as leader. The Kentucky Republican said afterward that while Scott was free to run against him, he won’t lose to the first-term Florida senator. The contest will come to a head on Wednesday, when GOP senators gather for leadership elections. At the beginning of the session, Republicans are expected to hold a vote on whether to delay the elections until the Georgia and Alaska Senate races have been determined.

HMM— Senators float audit of Rick Scott’s NRSC, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt: But the recriminations took a new turn on Tuesday, with one of the party’s main political vehicles now facing the prospect of a financial review. According to two people familiar with the discussion, [Sen. Marsha] Blackburn [R-Tenn.] told [Sen. Rick] Scott during the meeting that there needed to be an accounting of how money was spent, and that it was important for senators to have a greater understanding of how and why key decisions involving financial resources were made. To move forward, Blackburn said, the party needed to determine what mistakes were made. [Sen. Thom] Tillis [R-N.C.] spoke out in support of the idea, arguing that there should also be a review of the committee’s spending during the 2018 and 2020 election cycles, which would allow for a comparison to be made.

FINGER POINTING— “In GOP feud, Sen. Rick Scott adviser calls out McConnell team over Georgia runoff help,” by NBC News’ Marc Caputo and Sahil Kapur: “Hush-hush sniping between the Scott and McConnell camps spilled out into public view this week after Democrats clinched Senate control, with allies of the two men sniping at one another on social media and in the press. Now, a top adviser to Scott is questioning McConnell's commitment to winning Georgia's Dec. 6 runoff election that will decide the limits of Democratic power in the Senate, citing a lack of spending so far by the GOP leader's aligned super PAC. ‘Extremely odd. 1 week already gone, only three to go,’ the adviser, Curt Anderson, told NBC News via text message. ‘It would be complete malpractice and dereliction of duty to leave Herschel Walker behind.’”

THE TOLL — “Federal loans for damages after Ian expected to surpass $1 billion; Lee County tops Florida list,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s Sergio Bustos and Douglas Soule: “Nearly $794 million in low-interest loans have been approved to more than 11,000 individuals whose homes or businesses were damaged by Hurricane Ian, newly released data shows. Federal officials project the amount of federal aid in loans will rise above $1 billion. More than half the money approved through the Small Business Administration, which oversees disaster loans, went to Lee County, one of the hardest hit by the historic storm.”

NEW ROLE— Incoming Senate President Kathleen Passidomo announced Tuesday that she has asked Tracy Cantella to become the next Secretary of the Senate. Cantella is a long-time Senate employee who has recently been on the staff of the Senate Rules Committee, which Passidomo led the past two years. Cantella’s selection is subject to a vote by the Senate at its organizational session. Debbie Brown, the former Secretary of the Senate, retired last month. “For returning senators, Tracy is the friendly and familiar face from the Rules desk who provides concise, accurate and impartial interpretations of Senate rules during sittings,” Passidomo said in a memo sent senators.

LINKED IN— Former state Rep. Jayer Willamson tells Florida Playbook that he is “super excited about joining two dear friends and mentors of mine, Rob Bradley and Travis Cummings, at Oak Strategies. They have been doing some good work in Northeast Florida and I Iook forward to doing government affairs and local political consulting work in the Panhandle. From there we will see what the future holds!” Bradley and Cummings are two former state legislators form northeast Florida.

TO THE MOON— “NASA’s mightiest rocket lifts off 50 years after Apollo,” by The Associated Press’ Marcia Dunn: “NASA’s new moon rocket blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard Wednesday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago. If all goes well during the three-week, make-or-break shakedown flight, the crew capsule will be propelled into a wide orbit around the moon and then return to Earth with a Pacific splashdown in December.”

Big thunder — “After years of delays and billions in cost overruns, the Space Launch System rocket thundered skyward, rising from Kennedy Space Center on 8.8 million pounds of thrust and hitting 100 mph within seconds. The Orion capsule was perched on top and, less than two hours into the flight, busted out of Earth’s orbit toward the moon. ‘It’s a great day,’ said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.”

HMM— “Did Broward superintendent’s firing violate ‘Sunshine Law’? Attorney weighs in,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Lisa J. Huriash: “A day after the School Board fired the Broward schools superintendent, the school district’s attorney faced tough questions Tuesday over whether the late-night decision violated Florida’s public meetings law. In a last-minute vote late Monday night, the School District voted 5-4 to terminate Broward Schools Superintendent Vickie Cartwright after board members expressed anger over scathing audits related to two district vendors. At issue is whether the board’s decision to fire the superintendent was done in compliance with Florida’s ‘Sunshine Law,’ or whether the public received proper notice so that it could have a chance to participate.”

— “Fired Broward superintendent Vickie Cartwright may stay two more months,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Scott Travis

TURNAROUND — “Hillsborough rethinks naming courthouse auditorium for Andrew Warren,” by Tampa Bay Times’ C.T. Bowen: “A portion of a downtown courthouse won’t be named for ousted Hillsborough County prosecutor Andrew Warren. Hillsborough Commissioner Mariella Smith, who proposed naming an auditorium after Warren two weeks ago, has withdrawn the plan. It had been scheduled to be considered and voted upon by the County Commission Wednesday during what will be the final meeting with the board under Democratic control. Smith and fellow Democratic Commissioner Kimberly Overman lost their reelection bids last week. The new board, after the Nov. 22 swearing-in ceremony, will be a 4-3 Republican majority for at least the next two years.”

— “Two DeSantis-backed Miami school board members unofficially sworn in by lieutenant governor,” by Miami Herald’s Sommer Brugal

— “County to get $1.3 million in restitution from Joel Greenberg, Seminole attorney says,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Jeff Weiner

— “Morgan & Morgan law firm founder, political activist tapped as FAMU commencement speaker,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s Tarah Jean

— “Disney World increases price of park tickets, annual passes,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Katie Rice

— “Man to face murder charge after judge denies ‘stand your ground’ claim in Lantana fatal shooting,” by Palm Beach Post’s Hannah Phillips

— “Former JEA executives take aim at indictment on federal conspiracy, fraud charges,” by Florida Times-Union’s Nate Monroe: “Defense lawyers launched a multi-pronged assault Monday on the federal indictment accusing JEA's former top executives of conspiracy and wire fraud, hoping to convince U.S. District Judge Brian Davis to either dismiss the charges entirely or weaken the hand of prosecutors before the case ever reaches a jury. Those varied requests could add time and complexity to an already complicated and high-profile criminal case that was set to go to trial in May. Earlier this year, federal prosecutors unsealed a grand jury indictment that alleged JEA CEO Aaron Zahn and CFO Ryan Wannemacher conspired to enrich themselves off the potential sale of JEA — Jacksonville's publicly owned electric, water and sewer utility — a project the two had worked on throughout 2019 and that eventually consumed their tenure.”

BIRTHDAYS: Darrick McGhee, chief operating officer of Johnson & Blanton