First Coast Connect

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

• President Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, decries a widely read Vanity Fair profile as a “hit piece.”
• Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes for rules on chatbots and data centers, even as the president works to snuff out state-level AI guardrails.
• The largest Muslim civil rights organization sues the governor after he declares their group a “foreign terrorist organization.”
• A grim holiday tradition continues as law enforcement sees an increase in domestic violence reports.

Guests:

• John Daigle, political consultant, former reporter, owner of Daigle Creative
• Jack Webb, attorney and former City Council president
• Sylvia Perry, editor of the Jacksonville Free Press
• Christina Burgess, reporter at First Coast News

And, a team with a 10-4 record deserves some flowers, and the Jacksonville Jags got theirs before the team’s takedown of the New York Jets last Sunday. The pregame fun included a debut performance of a new original song, Like a Jaguar, performed on the field by The ROAR. We talk to the song’s producer and the cheer team’s captain about the process of creating the original track and how it felt to perform it live for the first time.

Guests:

• Danny Lobo, owner and producer at Vibe Music Productions
• Lauren Prater, former captain of the Jags ROAR

After a tumultuous year in politics, what does 2026 hold? We get the political prognostications of attorney and analyst Chris Hand. From the housing affordability crisis to the regulation of AI, legislative infighting and a possible Florida redistricting battle that could reshape the midterm elections — and national politics for years to come — we explore the pitstops and potholes on the road ahead. We also ask the former chief of staff for his take on the bombshell profile of Presidential Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in Vanity Fair.

Guest: Chris Hand, attorney, local government expert and author of America, the Owner's Manual

Then, legendary jazz trumpeter, composer and Jacksonville native Charles Tolliver prepares to play his first ever concert in his hometown. We ask what took him so long — and explore the lasting impact of his work on the city’s jazz scene.

Guests:

• Charles Tolliver, jazz trumpeter and composer 
• John Lumpkin, jazz artist, educator and leader of the JL Institute Big Band

And, celebrating the spirit of the season in one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. We preview LaVilla in Lights, which features live music, local vendors and an outdoor screening of the film This Christmas. The evening kicks off at 4 p.m. with live jazz performed by Akia Uwanda at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park at 120 Lee St. in LaVilla.

Guests:

• Carla Mechele Jones, Vibrant Places Collective facilitator
• Trey Ford, Vibrant Places Collective activator, founder of Florida Fish Pepper Co.
• Charmion Thrasher, Vibrant Places Collective member, operations

With $115 million headed to the city’s historic Eastside as part of the Community Benefits Agreement portion of the Jaguars stadium deal, tensions over who should control the money and how it should be managed have surfaced. The sometimes acrimonious dispute has been complicated by the fact that the two sides have nearly identical names, and it’s been amplified by criticism of some Eastside renovation projects, including an affordable apartment complex, and questions about who really qualifies as an Eastsider. We talk to both sides about their differences and the path ahead.

Guests:

• Travis Williams, president and CEO, LIFT JAX; supporter of the Together Eastside Coalition
• Leslie Jean-Bart, attorney representing the Together Eastside Coalition Inc.

And, how useful are night sky apps and when should you reach for them? We ask our resident spaceman whether he uses sky apps or prefers old-fashioned stargazing. We also discuss how to catch a glimpse of the sky-dazzling Geminid meteor shower before it’s gone.

Guest: Eddie Whisler, director of planetarium and outreach, Museum of Science & History

Less than a year after furious residents defeated the DeSantis’ administration’s Great Outdoors Initiative, which would have allowed golf courses, pickleball courts and hotels in state parks, state officials were prepared to sign off on another stinker. With less than a week’s notice, news leaked about a proposed land swap in St. Johns County — supported by the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of State Lands — that would have traded 600 acres in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area for a patchwork of conservation lands across four counties. The backlash included President Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, who called the proposal “outrageous.” The uproar prompted St. Augustine Republican Rep. Kim Kendall to draft legislation to prevent similar attempts in the future. We ask her about that and the upcoming legislative session, along with St. Johns County beat reporter Noah Hertz.

Guests:

• State Rep. Kim Kendall, R-St. Augustine
• Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter at Jacksonville Today

Then, remembering the lives lost to homelessness. Each year, around the Winter Solstice, communities commemorate unhoused individuals who've died that year. Jacksonville’s service is held at the City Rescue Mission. According to Dawn Gilman of Changing Homelessness: “The annual memorial is a moment to reflect, grieve and to recommit ourselves to the work of creating a community where no one is left behind. Every name we read represents a life of inherent value, and we are steadfast in our mission to provide hope, stability and dignity to our neighbors experiencing homelessness." We talk to two organizers about the event and why remembering is most important for the least of us.

Guests:

• Ywana Allen, chief public affairs officer, Changing Homelessness
• Paul Stasi, executive director, City Rescue Mission

And, the annual How the Big Band Stole Christmas returns to the stage in Amelia Island for its 11th year. Featuring more than 30 dancers, singers and professional musicians, the lively event has become a holiday classic for those living in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The six-show performance is presented by Crescendo Amelia & The Florida Music Academy for Amelia Community Theatre.

Guests:  

• Dennis Negrin, bandleader and trumpeter, Crescendo Amelia, and co-producer, How the Big Band Stole Christmas
• Theo Canty, featured vocalist, How the Big Band Stole Christmas

“You can’t just be all nicey-nicey about everything,” Marjory Stoneman Douglas says in the new documentary, River of Grass. “This is a fight. This is a real battle.” Filmmaker Sasha Wortzel picks up the struggle in her new film, which takes the title of the late author’s seminal 1947 book, as she pushes the story into the present day. Sparked by a dreamlike visitation from Douglas, Wortzel’s film dives into the Everglades’ ongoing environmental challenges, historic spiritual significance and perpetually dazzling (if greatly diminished) landscape. We talk to the filmmaker about telling the story in the age of climate crisis.

Guest: Sasha Wortzel, artist, filmmaker and director of River of Grass

Then, helping young songwriters find their voice. For a third year, the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts offers a songwriting track for vocal majors. The immersive program teaches students the process of songwriting, recording and performing original songs, and connects them with experienced national touring artists and industry experts. With auditions underway, we discuss the songwriting track with a program instructor and a student, and hear the student’s original composition.

Guests:

• John Citrone, songwriter instructor, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
• Avriana Lundy, songwriting student, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

And, the Jacksonville Jaguars secured the team's fifth win in a row after dominating the New York Jets at EverBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne Jr. both had career games — Lawrence with a career-best five passing touchdowns and Etienne Jr. with three receiving touchdowns. Now, the 10-4 Jags face the ultimate test in the upcoming matchup against one of the best teams in the league, the 10-2 Denver Broncos.

Guest: Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at News4Jax

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

• A Jacksonville City Council member pushes to keep a new jail out of traditionally redlined neighborhoods.
• Teachers removed from their classrooms over social media comments sue the school district. 
• A state lawmaker takes an interest in Duval Schools' seemingly vanishing $100 million “shortfall.” 
• Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes back on concerns about the Schools of Hope expansion, suggesting it won't affect more affluent communities.

Guests:

• Jim Piggott, former City Hall reporter at News4Jax
• Jake Stofan, state and local government reporter, Action News Jax
• Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today
• Brenda Priestly Jackson, attorney, former Jacksonville City Council member and Duval County School Board member
  

And, a father's tribute to the magic of toddlerhood — written when his daughter was just 4 days old. We ask attorney and football official Zach Roth about postnatal inspiration, his path to publication, the joys of bedtime stories and … soup!

Guest: Zach Roth, attorney and author of The Air is Soup

Why do some lawmakers believe in “old school” vaccines but fear modern ones? We preview a state meeting where health officials will consider abolishing four mandatory school vaccinations — chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib and pneumococcal vaccines. The Department of Health workshop is being held Friday in a remote part of the state but is expected to be well attended by doctors, educators and child health advocates who oppose the move. The DeSantis administration has moved aggressively to roll back vaccine mandates in the state, with the state surgeon general comparing school immunization requirements to slavery. That comes even as state lawmakers like Senate President Ben Albritton express support for “old school vaccines” like measles, mumps, polio, rubella, tetanus and others mandated in state statutes. We talk to three state experts about what the Health Department changes could mean and how you can get involved.

Guests:

• Dr. Ali Kasraeian, immediate past president of the Duval County Medical Society
• Dr. Nancy Staats, anesthesiologist and vaccine advocate
• Dr. Frederick Southwick, hospitalist and infectious disease specialist

Then, searching for the strange and supernatural. The practice of “Legend Tripping” gains new acolytes on social media and has prompted renewed interest in places infused with spooky lore. We get a local guide to the strange but (mostly) true narrative of Northeast Florida’s hallowed and haunted spaces by the author of Secret Jacksonville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.

Guest: Bill Delaney, author, co-founder of The Jaxson, Jacksonville City Council liaison

And, the largest Christmas tree in the region is part of a holiday venue featuring Santa, ice skating and all the trimmings. We meet the organizers behind the Ancient City Christmas Experience, now celebrating its second year in the county’s northwest region.

Guest: Brooke Edmondson, director of events and venue operations, Ancient City Farmstead

The NAVI is not "a failure," Mayor Donna Deegan insists. In our monthly Ask the Mayor segment, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan takes calls and questions on any topic. Today she tackled her contentious past year with the City Council, local infrastructure concerns and how she’s preparing for the next election season as potential candidates begin to test the waters.

Guest: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan

Then, the city’s new fire chief delivers an important holiday reminder about battery safety — particularly buying, storing and disposing of lithium-ion batteries. In addition to posing a fire risk if handled incorrectly, batteries can leach dangerous chemicals and toxic materials into soil and groundwater if disposed of improperly. We discuss how battery safety increasingly affects the work of first responders and how often the agency responds to fires sparked by the electrochemical devices.

Guest: Chief Percy Golden, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department

And, when it comes to keeping Florida wild, “it’s now or never.” The words of North Florida Land Trust President and CEO Allison DeFoor echo through the pages of a new book chronicling the group's 25-year mission and accomplishments. The nonprofit land conservation group has acquired nearly 44,000 acres of natural land throughout the region since 1999, protecting ecosystems and wildlife from future development. Keeping North Florida Wild details the group’s history of conservation through essays and photographs highlighting the places, people and priorities pivotal to the group’s success. We talk to the book’s principal author about the importance of land preservation and how the future of protecting North Florida’s most vulnerable natural spaces hinges on civic engagement. The book's release party is tonight at Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture.

Guest: Sarah Hande, North Florida Land Trust, principal author of Keeping North Florida Wild

It’s a lawsuit that “has it all,” according to an astonishing order from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which goes on to list alleged “corporate malfeasance, bribery, off-the-books recordkeeping, surveilling journalists, creating ‘ghost’ candidates, corrupting independent media outlets, and a failed acquisition that spiraled into two federal indictments.” If the litany of purported misdeeds sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the narrative that followed NextEra and Florida Power & Light Co. during and after the city of Jacksonville’s corrupt and ultimately unsuccessful effort to sell JEA. The story has been reported over a period of years by Florida investigative journalists, including our guest, whose work exposing the JEA scandal ultimately helped scuttle it. He explains what it means that a seemingly-dead lawsuit filed against FPL by utility investors was resurrected by the three-judge appeals court panel in their opinion late last month.

Guest: Nate Monroe, executive editor, The Tributary

Then, a book published posthumously with the help of family and friends represents a local hospice nurse’s third exploration of life on the verge of death. Three years after her death in 2022, Trudy Harris’ book was released after her unfinished manuscript was carried over the finish line by allies who thought her message of hope and peace too valuable to expire without notice. Harris worked as a hospice and palliative care nurse for four decades and was instrumental in helping raise money for the Community Hospice Hadlow Center for Caring, which serves the kind of patients she once cared for.

Guests:

• Dottie Dorion, triathlete, philanthropist, friend and former colleague of Trudy Harris
• Melody Simmons, journalist and editor of Whispers From Heaven

And, the Jacksonville Symphony unspools a mix of holiday classics and beloved classical compositions in two upcoming performances. On Dec. 13 and 14, Music Director Courtney Lewis conducts Handel’s Messiah featuring the full Symphony Chorus. On Dec. 19 and 20, he conducts a mix of seasonal and symphonic favorites, including Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, (featured in the iconic 1940 Disney film Fantasia), Ravel’s Shéhérazade and selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. (Note: the Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker ballet is performed separately on Dec. 12-14.)

Guests:  

• Avery Amereau, mezzo-soprano opera singer
• Courtney Lewis, music director of the Jacksonville Symphony

Plus, a Dickensian event without the gloom. For the 11th year, downtown Fernandina Beach will be the Victorian center of the annual Dickens on Centre festival, which includes an illuminated parade, pics with St. Nick, a Christmas market, trolley tours, a fun run and Dickens After Dark, a 21+ costume party featuring stilt walkers, live music and dancing at The Pavillion, the city’s new open air facility on North 2nd Street.

Guest: Madison Jozsa, Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau

The mighty St. Johns faces myriad microscopic challenges, from pollution inputs to algal outputs, as well as impacts from stormwater runoff, sewage overflows, agricultural pesticides and dying sea grasses. For the past 18 years, the annual State of the River report has tracked the condition of the lower St. Johns River and the evolving threats to its health. We discuss what the latest report shows and how it will inform ongoing efforts to restore Florida’s longest waterway.

Guests:

• Dr. Gerry Pinto, associate research scientist, Marine Science Research Institute and adjunct professor for the Department of Biology and Marine Science at Jacksonville University
• Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper

Then, snakes, spies and efforts to save an iconic Five Points castle. We talk to Jacksonville’s most prolific and eclectic history writer, Tim Gilmore, about his latest book, When We Tried to Save the Castle. With a forward by equally passionate local historian Dr. Wayne Wood, the new book explores the life and eventual death of Lomax Castle, including the "immigrants and spies … herpetologists and hippies” that helped shape its story. The book release is Thursday at Happy Medium Book Cafe.

Guest: Tim Gilmore, author, educator and historian at JaxPsychoGeo

And, a pivotal showdown between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts came to a head at EverBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. That Jaguars defeated the Colts 36-19, moving to the top spot in the AFC South standings. The teams will face off again Dec. 28 in Indianapolis. We recap Sunday’s game and look ahead to the Jags’ next matchup against the 3-9 New York Jets.

Guest: Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at News4Jax