Deeper Dive with Dara Kam

Forrest Saunders, Capitol Reporter for E.W. Scripps, rejoins Dara in the Speakeasy this week to delve into a week of alligators, vetoes and founding fathers. Forrest breaks down Gov. Ron DeSantis' action on the state's $117.4 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that began Tuesday. The biggest news this week, however, is percolating at a migrant detention center in the middle of the Everglade...

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz rejoins Dara this week for a wide-ranging chat about partisan family feuds, threats against elected officials, and so much more. The Broward County Democrat doesn't hold back on her assessment of President Donald Trump and what she calls the "Big, Ugly Bill" under consideration in D.C. DWS, a former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. Are congres...

Forecasters are predicting another above-average hurricane season, but Deeper Dive's got you covered. National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Mark Wool joins Dara in the Speakeasy this week with details about the forecast and tips for storm prep and response. Mark also shares some good news about recent staff cuts at NWS and the National Hurricane Center. The meteorologist also...

The boys are back! E.W. Scripps Capitol Reporter Forrest Saunders and Spectrum News Capitol Reporter Jason Delgado join Dara in the Speakeasy to break down a week chockfull of news. Oh, no! Ono's a no go! Dara and the dynamic duo dig into a momentous decision by the state university system's Board of Governors to reject the selection of Santa Ono as president of the University of Florida. The chie...

State Rep. Allison Tant has done it all, and then some. The Tallahassee Democrat was an aide, a lobbyist, an advocate and the chair of the Florida Democratic Party before her election to House District 9 in 2020. On this week's Deeper Dive, Allison visits with Dara and shares about her "humble" roots, her fierce advocacy for people with disabilities and the journey that led her to the state House....

In Part 2 of Dara's dive with John Morgan, the pair get deep. John's launching a new political party aimed at Republicans and Democrats who feel like their choices are too extreme. Divas can learn more about that in Episode 1. This week, John and Dara discuss what "faith" means & explore the afterlife. John also shares insights into former President Joe Biden's physical and cognitive decline (Note...

Wanna be part of a new political team? For centrists who feel the GOP & the Democrats are too extreme, trial lawyer-entrepreneur-philanthropist John Morgan is recruiting! Prizes are involved... "Pot Daddy" joined Dara this week to dish about his "serious" consideration of a run for governor. In this two-part, wide-ranging episode, Dara and the OG delve into the political landscape in Florida and b...

Legislative winners and losers, dueling tax cuts and the biggest story no one's talking about! Join frequent guest of the show Steve Bousquet, opinion editor at the South Florida Sun Sentinel, and Dara for a reporter roundtable where the pair break down those issues and more from the 2025 legislative session. Can House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula,...

Freshly minted Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman and Sen. Tina Polsky join Dara to delve into the multi-layered 2025 legislative session as lawmakers prepare to head home -- for now! Leader Berman, who takes over a caucus of 10 members, also shares insights about Democrats in the upper chamber and statewide, following her predecessor Jason Pizzo's stunning decision to drop his party affiliation j...

In the race to the end of this year's legislative session (or not), today's Reporter Roundtable features Jeffrey Schweers, capitol bureau reporter for the Orlando Sentinel. Jeff and Dara continue to dig into the House's probe of First Lady Casey DeSantis' signature welfare-assistance program, Hope Florida, and its affiliated charity, the Hope Florida Foundation. Jeff discusses what his investigati...

That's right, we're having another Reporter Roundtable -- this time with Capitol Press Corps dynamic duo Alexandra Glorioso (state government reporter, The Miami Herald) and Lawrence Mower (Tallahassee correspondent, Tampa Bay Times). The power couple (IRL, as well as in breaking news) join Dara in the Speakeasy to dive deep into their investigation into First Lady Casey DeSantis' signature welfar...

Back by popular demand, E.W. Scripps Capitol Reporter Forrest Saunders & Spectrum News Capitol Reporter Jason Delgado rejoin Dara in the Speakeasy as we head into the last half of the 2025 legislative session. The highly caffeinated trio dig into the verbal fisticuffs exchanged by House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, and discuss this week's Winners and Losers. Is Hope Florid...

State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues joins Dara in the Speakeasy for a lively, 2-part episode focusing on higher education. The pair delve into a panoply of changes affecting the state's public universities, such as doing away with DEI programs and services. The chancellor also gives Dara an update on federal funding cuts for research might impact Florida institutes of higher learning....

State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues joins Dara in the Speakeasy for the first of a lively, 2-part episode focusing on higher education. The pair delve into a panoply of changes affecting the state's public universities, such as doing away with DEI programs and services. The chancellor also gives Dara an update on federal funding cuts for research might impact Florida institutes of hig...

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia joins Dara for a freewheeling chat about politics, legislation and rumors that he might be the state's next chief financial officer. Sen. Ingoglia also talks about his legacy as a former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. The Spring Hill Republican shares some insights about Gov. Ron DeSantis that might surprise divas! Join Deeper Dive this week to discover what Blai...

Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, rejoin the show (for the first time since they've taken over as leaders in their respective chambers!) to give give Dara an update on the 2025 legislative session. Speaker Perez talks about the House's probe into reports that insurance industry leaders allegedly withheld critical information about their revenues a...

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power finally visits Dara in the Speakeasy to dish about DOGE, talk about the Sunshine State's political prominence and weigh in on the 2026 elections. Evan and Dara also discuss the impact President Donald Trump, aka the Disrupter in Chief, has had on GOP politics in Florida and the nation. The chairman gives his take on a move to eliminate property taxes...

They're baaaack! EW Scripps Capitol reporter Forrest Saunders and Spectrum News' Capitol reporter Jason Delgado -- two of Dara's fave Capitol cohorts -- join the Chief Diva in the Speakeasy to prep listeners for the upcoming multi-layered legislative session. The trio break down all things DOGE, dig into immigration and dissect the 2026 gubernatorial race. Key players? President Donald Trump, Gov....

Senate Regulated Industries Chairwoman Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, joins Dara this week for a wide-ranging chat about issues facing Floridians. The senator dispels myths about recent efforts to strengthen condo safety laws and discusses a move to make structural-integrity reports more transparent. Sen. Bradley, who was instrumental in securing funding for improvements to the state's aged p...

Sen. Joe Gruters was a key player in the drama surrounding plans to help carry out one of President Donald Trump's top priorities -- boosting enforcement of illegal immigration. On this week's Deeper Dive, the Sarasota Republican chats with Dara about potential legislative fallout from the GOP family squabble over the immigration proposals. The senator, who's treasurer of the Republican National C...

Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, R-Sunny Isles Beach, gives Dara his take on GOP legislation aimed at addressing illegal immigration ("It's crap!"), offers some alternate solutions, and weighs in on Republican leaders' showdown with the governor. The "candid and comprehensive" former prosecutor also offers a frank assessment of Florida Democrats, saying his caucus is "a lot less progressive and...

In this week's Reporter Roundtable, POLITICO politics reporter Kimberly Leonard and The Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos join Dara to dissect the showdown between Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP legislative leaders. Who will emerge the winner in a brutal messaging war over how best to implement President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration? How will the standoff affect the 2026 governor's race &...

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Wilton Simpson rejoins Dara this week for a wide-ranging, lively discussion Divas will not want to miss! The Ag Commissioner gives Dara an update on how recent historic snowfall in North Florida is affecting nurseries, cattle ranchers and other ag producers in the state. Commissioner Simpson also enthusiastically welcomes President Donald T...

Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell chats with Dara this week about what keeps her motivated, as Republicans continue to make political gains in the Sunshine State. The Democratic leader also explains how the GOP's looming crackdown on immigration could affect Florida families and the state's economy. Tune into this episode of Deeper Dive to find out what's on Leader Driskell's legisla...

Former Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins joins Dara this week to discuss what drove her to launch Educated We Stand, a group aimed at countering Moms for Liberty. Jennifer shares details about harassment and intimidation she endured as a school board member in ruby-red Brevard after defeating Tina Descovich, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, in 2020. Jennifer also talks about wha...