Deeper Dive with Dara Kam

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried visited the Terracotta Room during her last days in office to reflect on her time in the role, dish about Democrats' dysfunction and give a peek into her next moves.

Amy Bach, executive director of nonprofit United Policyholders, chats with Dara about a laundry list of problems plaguing Florida's property-insurance system. Amy explains why tort reform isn't the best cure for the state's flailing property-insurance market.

Jim Rosica, editor-in-chief of City & State Florida, is back in the Terracotta Room this week to chat with Dara about Gov. Ron DeSantis' upcoming inauguration events and the state Legislature's December special session. The duo also take stock of who's in and who's out among state agency heads as DeSantis prepares to move into his second term. Bonus content: Which presidents had the best Secret Se...

Dara is joined this week by state House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell for a can't-miss Deeper Dive. The pair discuss efforts to reenergize Democrats after the 2022 elections, Gov. Ron DeSantis' controversial suspension of a Tampa-area prosecutor, and much more. In a bonus segment, listeners can hear some of Driskell's famed dad jokes!

For Episode 18 of Deeper Dive, attorney and cannabis law expert John Lockwood talks with Dara about Florida's medical-marijuana program, the state's new pot czar, the industry's "vertical integration" system and much more.

As he steps into his new role as Florida House speaker, Paul Renner joins Dara on Episode 17 of Deeper Dive to talk federalism, property insurance, abortion and the death penalty. Renner also reflects on Sunshine State Republicans' sweeping successes in the Nov. 8 elections

Sure, you've heard analysis of Florida's Nov. 8 elections and the whupping that Republicans handed to Democrats on election night --- but you haven't heard the Deeper Dive breakdown. Episode 16 brings you in on an election recap that only the dynamic duo of Dara and City & State Editor-In-Chief Jim Rosica can deliver from the Terracotta Room. You don't want to miss this one!

What happened to civil conversations about politics and government? Dara and political science professor Kevin Wagner take a deep dive into why Thanksgiving dinner discussions have grown more heated and the role social media has played in that evolution. Spoiler alert: Fear and anger are involved!

Consumers are feeling the squeeze after the destructive Hurricane Ian put Florida's already ailing insurance market deeper in the hole. Attorney Amy Boggs talks with Dara and News Service of Florida Executive Editor Jim Saunders about the property insurance market's woes and how the Legislature might address the issue in a December special session.

Jim Rosica, editor-in-chief for City & State Florida, joins Dara Kam in the Terracotta Room to break down some of Florida's most consequential races in the upcoming November elections. The dynamic duo also dig into public records and legal challenges to Gov. Ron DeSantis' controversial migrant flights.

Alianza Americas Executive Director Oscar Chacón joins the Deeper Dive podcast this week to talk about Gov. Ron DeSantis' controversial decision to send about 50 Venezuelan migrants on flights from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. Chacón also discusses the plight of refugees seeking to come to the U.S. and tells Dara why suing the governor over the move was the right decision.

For episode 11 of Deeper Dive, Dara is joined by two insurance gurus. Special guest Fred Karlinsky specializes in insurance law, and News Service of Florida Executive Editor Jim Saunders is an expert at covering the issues plaguing Florida's property insurance system. Join them for a deep dive into the property insurance industry, and what impacts Hurricane Ian could bring.

Longtime NRA lobbyist and former president of the organization Marion Hammer sits down with Dara Kam for episode 10 of Deeper Dive to talk about her outsized contribution to Florida's reputation as the "gunshine state." Hammer also discusses childhood experiences that led to a lifelong love affair with firearms. Don't miss this conversation with Dara and the larger-than-life figure she calls a "pi...

Join Deeper Dive with Dara this week to hear Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley address voters' lingering distrust following the 2020 presidential election. Dara and Mark take a deep dive into what supervisors are doing to "defend democracy" as people continue cast doubt on the outcome of elections.

This episode of Deeper Dive looks through the lens of a veteran political strategist who was once the chief of staff for a Republican governor but has left the GOP. J.M. "Mac" Stipanovich and Dara take a deep dive into how he's seen the party change over the years, how Gov. Ron DeSantis has capitalized on that shift, and the dangers of demagoguery.

Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers was instrumental in making her company the state's largest medical-marijuana operator and the nation's biggest marijuana retailer. On episode 7 of Deeper Dive, Dara and Kim take a deep dive into what it's like to be a woman in a dude-dominated industry, the diversity of patients and her favorite cannabis products. Spoiler alert: Kim's a "flower girl."

Andrew Warren was elected twice to serve as state attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Andrew contends that he hasn't broken any laws, but Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended the Democrat from office last month. Dara and Andrew discuss his legal fight to get his job back, the First Amendment and the perils of a governor flexing his political power to take out his adversaries.

On this week's episode of a Deeper Dive with Dara Kam, Dara and City & State Florida Editor-in-chief Jim Rosica take a deep dive into Florida's August 23 primary election results. Dara and Jim discuss who's up and who's down on the congressional, legislative and gubernatorial fronts. Jim also elaborates on what makes Gov. Ron DeSantis the most powerful executive in the Sunshine State's modern hist...

Join a Deeper Dive with Dara Kam as John Stemberger and Dara take a deep dive into the future of abortion rights on Florida. John Stemberger, an Orlando attorney who's the CEO of the Florida Family Policy Council, has been active in the pro-life movement for decades and once lobbied for Florida Right to Life. As Florida's newly enacted restrictions on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, John pr...

In this week's episode of A Deeper Dive with Dara Kam, Yale School of Medicine assistant professor Meredithe McNamara joins Dara for a deep dive into gender-affirming care for youths and adults. Dr. McNamara discusses the state's efforts to end Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming treatment and to prohibit doctors from using puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery to treat transgender yout...

In this week's episode of a Deeper Dive with Dara Kam, State Attorney Dave Aronberg joins host Dara for a deep dive into Democrats' fighting chances in the upcoming elections. Dave, who was elected as state attorney in Palm Beach County a decade ago, also discusses his years-long efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Listen as Dara and Dave talk about Florida Democrats' headwinds in the race to uns...

For the premiere episode of A  Deeper   Dive  with Dara Kam, City and State Florida editor in chief Jim Rosica joins Dara for a  deep   dive  into why Republicans don't want to talk to mainstream media outlets. Dara, senior writer at the News Service of Florida, and Jim talk about the Republican Party of Florida largely shutting out so-called "legacy" media outlets from the party's annual marquis...

Hosted by the News Service of Florida's Senior Reporter, Dara Kam, A Deeper Dive with Dara is a weekly podcast that dissects Florida's top political stories. Each episode captures exclusive updates from Florida legislators, insights from policy influencers and industry experts who shape the political discourse across the Sunshine State.