The Florida Roundup

Each week, The Florida Roundup brings us up to speed on all things Florida- be it politics, the environment, the economy, culture and more. Join host Tom Hudson for lively discussion with newsmakers, journalists and you! Email the program radio@TheFloridaRoundup.org

Florida and the government shutdown, a new book on voting rights in the state and PolitiFact

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 reporter and author, Daniel Rivero, to discuss his new book on the decades-long voting rights battle in the state (24:45). And we checked in with PolitiFact’s Samantha Putterman for a claims check (37:30).

10-03
53:12

DOGE audits Orange County, property tax reform, open carry, tropics update, and remembering El Faro

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 why he won’t allow guns onsite despite Florida's new open carry rules (24:52). We also checked in with FPREN Meteorologist Megan Borowski for an update on the tropics (29:46). And later, Maeve McGoran, reporter and host of a new podcast that explores what went wrong in the sinking of the El Faro, joined us (37:36).

09-26
53:15

Free speech after Charlie Kirk’s death, Florida and California on immigration

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 administration’s immigration enforcement tactics (19:30); NPR’s immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd also joined the conversation.

09-19
53:15

Trump's mega spending bill, Florida’s school voucher program, Donna Adelson guilty verdict and mailbag

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 vouchers and how some students have gotten lost in the mix with Natalie La Roche Pietri, education reporter at WLRN (20:32). And later, we spoke with journalist and co-host of the Surviving the Survivor podcast Joel Waldman about the guilty verdict in a murder-for-hire plot against a FSU Law professor (32:24). Plus, we dug into our mailbag to share some listener feedback about recent shows (37:36).

09-12
49:28

Paul Renner enters governor's race, street art removals, weekly news briefing, PolitiFact and Carl Hiaasen on ‘Fever Beach’

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) and spoke with Dr. Jason Goldman with the American College of Physicians about Florida’s move to remove vaccine requirements for children (25:54). We also checked in with PolitiFact’s Samantha Putterman for a claims check (32:28). And later, author and journalist Carl Hiaasen joined us to talk about his latest novel set in Florida (39:34).

09-05
49:26

Summer reading encore: Pythons, mangos and a Florida vegetarian

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, Florida, and Felony” (19:52). Plus, host of WUSF’s “The Zest” podcast Dalia Colón shared some of her favorite meals from “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook” (37:38).

08-29
53:10

A conversation with Florida’s CFO, judge orders halt of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, food and climate change, and weekly news briefing

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 Grunwald spoke about his latest book that explores the tension between food production and climate change (20:26). And later, a roundup of news from across the state including a ruling on Florida’s book ban (37:34), the standoff between local governments and state officials over crosswalks (39:40), and why a growing number of undocumented migrants are making the decision this year to self-deport (43:14).

08-22
49:26

What Texas can learn from Florida’s voucher program, condo owners vs board members, weekly news briefing.

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 board associations in the wake of condo reforms with Your Florida state government team reporter Meghan Bowman and Julio Robaina, former Republican member of the Florida House (20:28). Plus, Glenna Milberg, reporter for Local 10 News in South Florida, joins for an update on the environmental hearing on ‘Alligator Alcatraz' (37:32). And later, Florida has a new Lieutenant Governor and other news from across the state (40:52).

08-15
49:27

Florida DOGE ramps up audits, congressional redistricting and weekly news briefing

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 (28:04). Plus, a roundup of education news from the week including reports of fewer teacher vacancies (37:44) and how Florida’s voucher program is funneling money away from public schools (39:40).

08-08
53:13

Florida heatwave, investigation into Brightline deaths, and weekly news briefing

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 Leibowitz, reporter for the Miami Herald (20:00). And later, we bring you news from across the state including a look into why some mobile homeowners are being priced out (37:36), the standoff between the state and the city of Orlando over immigration policy (43:18), and a look into student protests at FAU over construction that threatens burrowing owls’ habitat (45:12). And we share some listener emails (46:52).

08-01
53:12

Florida ‘Doge’ audits, DOJ questions Ghislaine Maxwell in Tallahassee, impacts of public media funding cuts, weekly news briefing

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 center of the Epstein case (14:02). Then, we looked at how federal and state cuts to public broadcasting will impact public media in Florida with Paul Grove, president and CEO of WEDU — West Central Florida’s PBS station — and Judith Smelser, president and general manager of Central Florida Public Media, based in Orlando (19:32). Plus, a roundup of immigration news from across the state (37:24).

07-25
49:29

Taxes on social security, new college accreditor, flash flooding and weekly news briefing

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 Megan Borowski, meteorologist for the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network after a week of heavy rain and flooding (32:24). Plus, some education news from around the state including how one school district is bracing for federal funding cuts (39:02) and a group of 5th graders who are unplugging (41:48).

07-18
53:13

Who is in charge of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’? Property insurance reforms and weekly news briefing

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 the state including an outlook for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season (29:18), an update on Florida’s ban on homeless encampments six months out (41:22), and the battle between basketball and pickleball continues in Fort Lauderdale (43:12).

07-11
49:27

Encore: Pythons, mangos and a Florida vegetarian

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 of WUSF’s The Zest podcast Dalia Colón shared some of her favorite meals from The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook (37:22).

07-04
53:09

What we know about 'Alligator Alcatraz,' public beach access, 2025 legislative wrap, weekly news briefing

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 Soule joined us to recap the long and contentious 2025 legislative session (34:24). And later, we bring you a roundup of stories from around the state, including an update on the investigation into the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside (37:22), a story about embattled shorebirds (40:45), and more changes to Florida’s higher education system (46:00).

06-27
49:27

'Hot' and 'cold' states, Florida lawmakers pass $115 B budget and weekly news briefing

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 higher education (37:12) and environmental news from the week (39:54).

06-20
49:25

Condo and home prices fall in Florida, paying college athletes, lawmakers closer to state budget vote and weekly news briefing.

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 later, we bring you a roundup of news from the week including an update on the families of the victims of the deadly mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub (37:20), reactions to the Trump administration’s revoking of a humanitarian parole program (40:26), and an update on a famed flamingo (45:32).

06-13
49:26

One family’s immigration story, Jolly enters Florida’s Governor race, State budget negotiations continue, education news

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 update on ongoing state budget negotiations (31:44). And later, education news from around the state including UF’s ongoing presidential search (37:16), the FIU Board approving Jeanette Nuñez as President (46:00), and shake ups at Pasco Hernando State College (46:38).

06-06
49:24

Leadership changes at Florida universities, how ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ could impact Floridians, still no state spending plan and weekly news briefing

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about leadership changes at Florida’s universities with POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury (00:00). Then, we looked at how the U.S. House spending bill could impact Floridians with NPR’s Claudia Grisales (19:25). Plus, the latest in state budget negotiations and other legislative news with WUSF’s Douglas Soule (32:56). And later, we heard about ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian five years on (37:23) and looked at what’s behind recent state executions (42:44).

05-30
53:15

Summer reading special: pythons, mangos and a Florida vegetarian

This week on 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 of WUSF’s “The Zest” podcast Dalia Colón shared some of her favorite meals from “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook”(37:22).

05-23
49:24

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