Best WLRN Podcasts (2025)

1
Miami-Dade 2025 elections: Mayors, runoffs and referendums 50:55

8h ago50:55

50:55

On this episode of The South Florida Roundup, we took a look at the spate of elections that took place throughout South Florida this week, and how the political patterns of the past several decades seem to be shifting in some major city governments. We spoke with the two mayoral candidates for the City of Miami that are now set to battle in a runof…

1
2026 Florida Governor's race, Floridians consider leaving over rising costs, federal shutdown and more 53:12

2h ago53:12

53:12

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)…

1
ACA enrollment amid government shutdown, PolitiFact and weekly news 53:12

6d ago53:12

53:12

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 beg…

1
The government shutdown, hurricane Melissa's aftermath and a Hollywood movie 50:57

7d ago50:57

50:57

On the latest episode of The South Florida Roundup, we discussed how the government shutdown could cause skyrocketing premiums for those who use government subsidized healthcare. In Florida, that's nearly 3 million people. And how SNAP running out of funding further compounds the affordability squeeze [1:06]. We also checked in on the recovery from…

1
Property tax reforms, football finances, “River of Grass” film & other news 52:56

13d ago52:56

52:56

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 univer…

1
Charter schools in public schools, the world's most revered Holocaust witness and Argentina's election 50:50

16d ago50:50

50:50

On this episode of The South Florida Roundup, we tried try to understand why and how charter schools can literally move into public schools like South Florida’s — and enjoy public school resources…for free [01:03]. Is this the death knell for public education? We also talked to Elisha Wiesel, who's the son of the late Holocaust survivor and Nobel p…

1
Alligator Alcatraz lawsuit, the loss of a Liberty City activist and Miami's Great Hurricane 50:52

25d ago50:52

50:52

On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we looked at the sudden revival of the plaintiffs’ case in their challenge to the state - or is it the federal? - migrant detention center in the Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz [01:09]. We also spoke with a close friend of Dwight Wells, the beloved Liberty City community activist and ment…

1
‘Schools of Hope’ expansion, week 2 of shutdown, hedge funds and newspapers 53:10

20d ago53:10

53:10

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). Plu…

1
Book removals, COVID-19 vaccine availability and the government shutdown 53:20

28d ago53:20

53:20

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 go…

1
Maria Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize, Trump's presidential library and the end of Florida's pride crosswalks 50:54

30d ago50:54

50:54

On The South Florida Roundup, we hailed today’s announcement that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has won the Nobel Peace Prize — an award for democracy movements across the Americas [1:09]. We also looked at the controversy — and now a lawsuit — over Miami-Dade College’s gift of valuable downtown property for Trump’s presidential…

1
Miami politics, FIU's Turning Point chapter and West Palm Beach's new high-tech coup 50:54

1M ago50:54

50:54

On the latest episode of The South Florida Roundup, we reviewed Tuesday night’s nasty Miami mayoral debate — and asked whether this crowded and cacophonous race can improve before the Nov. 4 election. (We’re not counting on it.) (1:09) We also spoke to a Florida International University alum about the late activist Charlie Kirk and how his Turning …

1
Florida and the government shutdown, a new book on voting rights in the state and PolitiFact 53:12

1M ago53:12

53:12

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…

1
DOGE audits Orange County, property tax reform, open carry, tropics update, and remembering El Faro 53:15

1M ago53:15

53:15

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 reporte…

1
Making ends meet in South Florida, Trump's presidential library and South Miami's lawsuit on ICE agreements 50:53

2M ago50:53

50:53

On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we discussed United Way’s discouraging new revelation that half or most residents in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are living paycheck to paycheck [01:11]. We also looked at the vote Miami Dade College's Board made this week to transfer a downtown lot to the state, which Gov. Ron DeSantis says …

1
Aftermath of Charlie Kirk's death in Palmetto Bay, Miami-Dade's budget and the stand-your-ground statue 37:08

2M ago37:08

37:08

On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we looked at the free-speech debate raging after Charlie Kirk’s death — specifically in Palmetto Bay, whose mayor, Karyn Cunningham, talked about ousting Councilman Steve Cody after a social media post he made on the matter (01:20). We also talked with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava about …

1
Free speech after Charlie Kirk’s death, Florida and California on immigration 53:15

2M ago53:15

53:15

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 Californ…

1
The Epstein Files, Freedom Tower and Miami's punk scene 37:17

2M ago37:17

37:17

On this episode of The South Florida Roundup — whether or not that really is Donald Trump’s signature — we examined all the still unanswered questions in the Epstein sex-trafficking atrocity that still traumatizes South Florida [01:20]. We also looked at next week’s centennial re-opening of Miami’s Freedom Tower — but also at why Miami’s Cubans may…

1
Trump's mega spending bill, Florida’s school voucher program, Donna Adelson guilty verdict and mailbag 53:13

2M ago53:13

53:13

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 Flo…

1
Out-of-network in Broward, Conch Republic controversies and U.S military strike on a Venezuela drug boat 50:51

2M ago50:51

50:51

On this episode of The South Florida Roundup, we examined the standoff between Broward County’s major hospital systems, Memorial Healthcare and Broward Health, and its largest healthcare insurer, Florida Blue — which has stranded some 50,000 patients (01:09). We also looked at more Conch Republic controversy after Key West’s planning director resig…

1
Paul Renner enters governor's race, street art removals, weekly news briefing, PolitiFact and Carl Hiaasen on ‘Fever Beach’ 53:11

2M ago53:11

53:11

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 Christin…

1
Is mass deportation the answer to Florida's labor situation? 50:55

2M ago50:55

50:55

On the latest episode of the South Florida Roundup, we devoted the whole show to the realities — and myths — of our undocumented migrant workers. President Trump is out to demonize them and expel them for good. It’s not likely he can do that — but even if he could, what then? Especially in Florida, a state where today there are only 53 available wo…

1
Summer reading encore: Pythons, mangos and a Florida vegetarian 53:10

2M ago53:10

53:10

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, au…

1
A conversation with Florida’s CFO, judge orders halt of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, food and climate change, and weekly news briefing 53:11

3M ago53:11

53:11

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 (1…

1
Alligator Alcatraz ordered to shut down, Florida's gay pride crosswalks and Trump's fight against Latin America's drug cartels 50:55

3M ago50:55

50:55

On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we discussed why a federal judge Thursday night gave the controversial migrant detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz 60 days to close down and allow no new detainees (01:10). We also asked why Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis seem obsessed with eradicating any public tribute to the LGBTQ comm…

1
Tri-Rail funding crisis, pill mill resurgence and the Gen Z-driven salsa revival 46:55

3M ago46:55

46:55

On the latest episode of the South Florida Roundup, we discuss why the state legislature yanked two-thirds of funding from one of South Florida’s most popular transit services, Tri-Rail (0:10). We also looked at a new federal investigation into a possible pill mill resurgence in Florida and questions surrounding the state laws that were supposed to…

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