The Florida Roundup

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the latest in the push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files with the Miami Herald’s Ben Wieder (00:00). Then, we spoke with U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, who represents the district where Epstein lived and operated (14:06). And we shared an excerpt from WLRN's new four-part podcast series exploring mental illness and the criminal justice system through on...

This week on The Florida Roundup, as the longest federal government shutdown ends, we spoke with Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (01:50) and later with Dan McCabe with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (10:04). Later, we looked at the record-breaking number of executions in Florida this year with Maria DeLiberato with Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with two of the prominent candidates in Florida’s 2026 Governor’s race. First, we heard from Democrat David Jolly, former Republican Congressman representing Florida’s 13th district (02:02). Then, we spoke with Republican candidate Paul Renner, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (10:40). Plus, we heard from listeners about affordabilit...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we talk about the impact the federal government shutdown is having on Floridians from those who receive SNAP benefits to what is happening to Head Start funding (00:00). Then, we are joined by Katie Roders Turner with the Family Healthcare Foundation to talk about changes to the ACA as open enrollment is set to begin on Nov. 1 (11:30). Plus, we spoke with PolitiFa...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Daniel Perez (R-Miami-Dade) about the effort to reduce or eliminate property taxes (00:00). Then, we were joined by The Athletic’s Matt Baker to talk about the multi-million dollar “parachute packages” for the football coaches at Florida’s top universities (28:08) following the firing of UF’s coach....

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a new state law expanding Florida’s Schools of Hope program first with Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Conner (00:00) and later with Andrew Atterbury, education reporter for POLITICO (21:26). Then, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto joined us to talk about the ongoing government shutdown (21:26). Plus, PolitiFact’s Samantha Putterman joined us to ch...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about book restrictions in public schools first with Sophia Brown, program coordinator at PEN America Florida, (00:00) then with Julie Gephards, parent and member of the group Moms For Liberty in Hillsborough County (11:10). Then, we looked at the legal challenges and court cases involving the state law governing book removals with Douglas Soule, ‘Your Fl...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke to former U.S. representatives Stephanie Murphy and Carlos Curbelo, of the Center Aisle Coalition, to discuss the government shutdown and its effect on Florida (00:19). We took listener calls and emails on the topic— specifically on how the battle over Affordable Care Act subsidies could affect Floridian's healthcare coverage. Then, we sat down with WLRN...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings about the recent state audits into the county’s spending (00:00). Then, we spoke about how the state’s DOGE efforts relate to property tax reform with Florida TaxWatch President Dominic M. Calabro (08:04) and later, Douglas Soule, Your Florida state government reporter (19:42). Plus, we spoke with a pub owner about w...

Floridians have come under public pressure for social media posts about the killing of Charlie Kirk (00:00). Then, we checked in with Samantha Putterman with PolitiFact to talk about the role that the FCC has in governing speech in broadcasts (15:02). And later, we partnered up with our colleagues at KQED in San Francisco to talk about how California and Florida have responded to the Trump adminis...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) under President Trump’s mega spending bill. First, we checked in with Meghan Bowman, Your Florida state government reporter (00:56) and later with Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association (09:12). Then, we looked at how Florida rapidly expanded publicly-funded school vouch...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner about his gubernatorial candidacy (01:04). Then, we spoke with Central Florida Public Media’s Joe Mario Pedersen and WLRN’s Carlton Gillespie about the removal of street art across the state (10:46 ). Plus, we had an update on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ from Christina Boomer Vazquez with WPLG Local 10 News (20:20) a...

This week a rebroadcast of The Florida Roundup from May 23, we revisit conversations with three authors who have written in or about Florida. First, we spoke with veteran science journalist Stephan Hall about his book “Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World” (00:52).Then, we had a conversation with Annabelle Tometich, author of “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florid...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Florida’s CFO Blaise Ingoglia about the latest ruling on “Alligator Alcatraz,” redistricting, and the state’s DOGE audits (00:00). Then, POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard joined us for a deeper dive into this week’s two court decisions around the controversial immigrant detention center in the Everglades (12:14). Plus, author and journalist Michael Grunwal...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we connected with colleagues at Houston Public Media to talk about Texas’ foray into universal school vouchers, following Florida’s lead (03:28). But first, we checked in with Your Florida state government team reporter Douglas Soule for a look at how Florida’s voucher program is going (00:00). Then, we explored the mounting tensions between condo owners and condo...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in with reporters across the state to see how cities and counties are responding to audits from the state’s Department of Government Efficiency or ‘DOGE’ (00:24). Then, we spoke with Your Florida state government reporter Douglas Soule about Gov. DeSantis’ push to draw a new congressional map for the state (19:50) and later UF Professor Sharon Austin (2...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about what’s causing record-breaking heat in parts of the state with meteorologist Megan Borowski (01:40) and how extreme heat can affect your health with Dr. Cheryl Holder (08:04). Plus, a new investigation from WLRN and the Miami Herald looks into why Brightline is the deadliest passenger train in the nation, with WLRN reporter Joshua Ceballos and Aaron...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward about the state’s plans to audit the city in addition to other local municipalities as part of its effort to reduce unnecessary government spending (00:00). We also spoke about those efforts with the Miami Herald’s Alexandra Glorioso (09:22), who stuck around for our conversation about how Florida is once again at the ce...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we talked about President Trump’s new tax and spending plan and what it means for Social Security benefits with PolitiFact’s Louis Jacobson (00:00). Plus, WUSF’s Douglas Soule joins us to tell us about an effort by Gov. DeSantis and the state to change the way education standards are set for Florida universities and colleges (20:04). And later, we check in with Me...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the new immigrant detention center in the Everglades with Rep. Anna Eskamani (00:00) and spoke about the contractors who have been hired to operate the facility with Bob Norman of the Florida Trident (09:20). Then, we were joined by former state senator Jeff Brandes about property insurance reform (19:14). And later, a roundup of news from across th...

In a rebroadcast of The Florida Roundup, we chatted with three authors who have written in or about Florida. First, we spoke with veteran science journalist Stephan Hall about his book Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World (00:45). Then, we had a conversation with Annabelle Tometich, author of The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony (19:40). Plus, host o...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at what we know so far about “Alligator Alcatraz,” the immigration detention center being built in the Everglades, with the AP’s Kate Payne and Ted Hesson of Reuters (00:00). Plus, we spoke with POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie about a new law that aims to put a long running dispute between property owners and beach goers to rest (19:20). Then, WUSF’s Douglas So...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at the demonstrations that took place across the state Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” protest (00:00). Then, we spoke with Shankar Vedantum of NPR’s Hidden Brain about our hot and cold emotional states (11:02). And after weeks of delay, state lawmakers passed a budget — POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard joined us for an update (28:14). Plus, some...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at the residential housing market across the state with a collection of business journalists (00:00). Plus, we explored the new era of collegiate athletics now that student athletes can get paid directly (19:22). Then, lawmakers are closer to reaching a budget agreement, we checked in with WUSF’s Douglas Soule for the latest on negotiations (29:06). And...

This week on The Florida Roundup, we heard from one family living in Florida who have been authorized to be in Florida for more than a decade, waiting and worrying about their immigration case (00:00). Then, we spoke with David Jolly, the former Republican Congressman who has entered Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race as a Democrat (20:16). Plus, we checked in with WUSF’s Douglas Soule for an updat...