On Saturday, February 17th, State Senator and Congressional candidate Jose Javier Rodriguez sat down with Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Juan Cuba and Florida Action Cast host Matt Mawhinney for a discussion about his values, his vision, and why he thinks he's the best candidate in District 27. 

We talk about Jose's personal story, the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school and legislative responses, climate change, inequality, healthcare, and more. 

As part of Drinks with Politicians, Juan and Matt are interviewing all the Democratic candidates vying to replace Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

Drinks with Politicians: Jose Javier Rodriguez

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On Saturday, April 28th we shared gin & tonic with Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee and a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to be the next governor of Florida. The Democratic primary is on August 28th. The show was recorded live at Villain Theater. We covered topics including Mayor Gillum’s professional career, his policy vision for the state, and his first experience of political engagement—trying to get nacho cheese Doritos in his school’s vending machine. On this episode we cited a few data points that we are linking to here in the show notes:Economic Policy Institute Data on Income of 99% vs. 1%Average Teacher Pay in Florida as of 2016-2017 is $49,407/yearState Representative Jared Moskowitz’s speech on the floor of the Florida House on gun reform legislation

Andrew Gillum: Mayor of Tallahassee & Democratic Candidate for Governor of Florida


            
          

          

        
      
      
    

  






On Saturday, April 21st we shared a margarita with Eileen Higgins, candidate for Miami-Dade County Commission in District 5. (District 5 Map) in a special election on May 22nd. The show was recorded live at Gramps. We covered topics including Eileen’s professional career, her civic engagement including her work on breaking the school to prison pipeline through civil citations, and why she’s running for Miami Dade County Commission.

Drinks with Politicians: Eileen Higgins, Candidate, Miami-Dade County Commission, District 5


            
          

          

        
      
      
    

  






On Saturday, April 14th we sat down with Steven Machat, Democratic candidate for US House of Representatives in District 26. The show was recorded live at the Bar at 1306. We covered topics including Steven's career as a record producer and music industry lawyer and  his policy vision on a range of issues affecting South Florida and the nation. Oh yeah, there was a Swedish TV crew filming us for a documentary they are making about Steven's son who tragically passed way two years ago.

Steven Machat: Democratic Candidate, US House, District 26


            
          

          

        
      
      
    

  






On Saturday, April 7th we shared an old fashioned with Javier Fernandez, Democratic candidate for Florida House of Representatives in District 114. The show was recorded live at Villain Theater. We covered topics including portions of Javier's career working for the City of Miami and his career as a land use attorney, his policy vision on education and affordable housing, and where he goes for the best old fashioned in South Florida.

Drinks with Politicians: Javier Fernandez: Democratic Candidate, FL House, District 114


            
          

          

        
      
      
    

  






On this episode we discuss some of the transit and growth challenges facing us in Miami Dade County--specifically a plan to extend the 836 expressway into the Southwest suburbs of Miami Dade and to build parts of the extended expressway outside the current Urban Development Boundary or UDB.  The show was recorded live at Villain Theater  on Wednesday, April 4th, and our guest for this episode were Laura Reynolds, a consultant who works with Friends of the Everglades and other environmentally focused organizations, Venny Torre, a real estate developer focused on smart growth and infill development, and Marta Viciedo, co-founder of Miami Transit Alliance and Urban Impact Lab. 

Drinks with Politicians: Jose Javier Rodriguez

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