Former House Speaker Paul Renner joins Dara this week in the Speakeasy to break down his bid to be Florida's next governor. Speaker Renner tells Divas (and the rest of the Sunshine State!) why he's the best candidate to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis in next year's gubernatorial race, saying he's "delivered on results" for Floridians and has the "steady leadership experience" to lead the state. Candidate Renner also shares how his lengthy military career, faith and family positioned him for the race as well as his thoughts on competing against Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. Plus, Paul Renner tells Dara that successful leaders need to "check their egos at the door" and speaks frankly about what he WON'T do if elected governor! (Spoiler alert: He won't be picking fights on the socials!) Plus, separation of powers, Halloween candy and more!

The dynamic duo is back! Capitol reporters Jason Delgado of Spectrum News and E.W. Scripps' Forrest Saunders are back in The Speakeasy with Dara to round up this week's news. The trio parse Gov. Ron DeSantis' flex about a potential special session on property taxes -- smack dab in the middle of the GOP primary season? Government shutdown, immigration, presidential library? We've got ya covered, divas. Plus, the trio peer into their crystal balls to make predictions about the Legislature's response to a recent ruling making open-carry the law of the land. Dara and the guys share deep insights on First Amendment rights, the 2026 elections and Halloween. Plus, Fresca!

Divas, it's a show you've all been waiting for! Peter Schorsch, the president of Extensive Enterprises Media, and NBC News National Political Reporter Matt Dixon bring their double act to the Speakeasy this week for a rollicking episode. Peter, the man behind the "Florida Politics" website and the daily must-read "Sunburn," prognosticates about next year's mid-term elections (spoiler alert: he has ideas!), as Matt & Dara join in. Matt, the author of "Swamp Monsters: Trump vs. DeSantis — The Greatest Show on Earth (Or At Least in Florida)," gives an inside peek into the ongoing schism between the two GOP leaders & their posses. Tune in as the Peter & Dara dig into all-things-Florida-politics with Matt as he exits the Sunshine State and heads to D.C. Hilarity ensues. Plus, guns, pumpkin spice, & Halloween! Divas, you do NOT want to miss this episode.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly visited Dara in the Speakeasy this week as he travels throughout the state in the run-up to next year's election! Join Deeper Dive to hear David reveal how Charlie Kirk's assassination prompted him to assess whether he wanted to remain in the race for governor. David, a former Republican congressman who spent the past eight years as a political consultant for MSNBC, shares his concerns about GOP leaders' crackdown on speech. Can a Democrat win statewide in Florida next year? David tells Dara why he believes voters are looking for a change in 2026. The pair also discuss the candidate's plans to address the state's property-insurance crisis and alleviate property-tax burdens for homeowners. Plus, crocs, pumpkin spice, and a Halloween surprise!

Dave Aronberg's book tour brought him to the Speakeasy this week, where he visited with Dara to discuss the recently released "Fighting the Florida Shuffle." The former Palm Beach County state attorney gives the inside scoop on corruption in the drug treatment industry and offers some congressional tweaks to boost patient protection. AND ... Deeper Dive zags into true crime this week with Dave! The duo dig into Donna Adelson's guilty verdict and Dave makes predictions about what to expect next in the hunt for justice for his late friend, Dan Markel. Plus, Jeffrey Epstein, the Killer Clown, and Halloween candy!

Craig Fugate earned his chops in Florida as the state's Division of Emergency Management Director before heading to D.C. to take over as the administrator of FEMA. The disaster prep & recovery guru joins Dara this week as we mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina to share how the state helped Mississippi respond to a massive storm surge and widespread destruction in 2005. Craig, who developed the "Waffle House" index, also discusses lessons learned from Hurricane Andrew and the state's historic 2004-2005 hurricane seasons. Join the duo to find out what keeps the disaster specialist up at night. Craig talks about climate "adaptation," terrorist threats and so much more. Plus, Crocs and ham radio!

Attorney General James Uthmeier hasn't slowed down since joining the Florida Cabinet in February. AG Uthmeier joined Dara this week for an in-depth discussion about immigration, his drive to protect the state's kids, and so much more. The AG tells the Divas how he is transitioning from Gov. Ron DeSantis' right-hand-man to Florida's top legal eagle. As one of the state's youngest attorney generals ever, the AG also shares some insight about the fresh perspective he and other 30-somethings bring to leadership and governing. The AG also opens up about his faith and how it informs his approach to policy-making. Plus, the Federalist Papers, Hope Florida, and the AG takes a parting shot as the duo bid adieu!

In this week's episode, Archbishop Thomas Wenski joins Dara to discuss state and federal efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. The Archbishop recently hopped on his Harley-Davidson to lead members of the Archdiocese of Miami's "Knights on Bikes" to a remote immigrant-detention center in the Everglades. Find out what happened after the "Biker Bishop" and his posse prayed the rosary outside the remote facility, as part of his effort to bring Mass to people detained at the complex dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" by state officials. The Archbishop shares his thoughts on immigration and detention, and says you don't have to be mean to make America great. The pair also discuss the Archbishop's take on the death penalty. Tune in for all that and more! Plus, music and ring tones!

We're back in Part 2 with outtakes from this year's Florida Media Conference. This week, Dara chats with Politifact Editor-in-Chief Katie Sanders, and Michael Kelly, owner/publisher of The Herald-Advocate. Katie talks about the Truth-o-Meter and tells Dara how she and her team decide which claims to fact-check in their pursuit of keeping 'em honest online and IRL. Michael wowed Divas last year with the donkey story, and don't worry if you haven't heard it - we get an abbreviated version this time around! Michael discusses how the Herald Advocate serves members of the Peace River Valley and the challenges covering at-times hard-to-hear news in a small community. Loads more in this week's episode with two of our fave return guests, plus haiku!

Divas! Dara took Deeper Dive on the road to the 2025 Florida Media Conference for a special two-part episode to hear from editors and publishers about the state-of-the-state in journalism. In the first segment in this week's episode, Sergio Bustos, WLRN's Vice President for News, discusses how state and federal funding cuts are affecting public radio & TV stations around Florida. Sergio tells Dara how WLRN highlights the experiences of people living in South Florida. The pair also discuss challenges and bright spots in the media landscape. Dara was lucky enough to snag a visit with Kat Wingert, Executive Editor/COO of Observer Media Group. Kat offers insight into the powerful impact her group's "hyper-local" news coverage brings to communities on the Gulf Coast. AND (drumroll, please!) Thanks to the Florida Society of News Editors for making Deeper Dive the state's top podcast in our category! 😎😎😎