MidPoint

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.

Former Chair of the Florida ACLU Legal Panel James Shaw Jr. joined Shelley for an open discussion to share some of the interesting legal issues in the news.

The All 4 Transportation ballot initiative team discussed the new referendum that will appear on the Nov. 2022 ballot seeking approval for a 1% sales tax for 30 years to fund transportation improvements in Hillsborough County. They are urging citizens to pass this referendum and to make this investment in improved roads, safer roads, more and better bus service, bicycle infrastructure, and more transportation options throughout the county.

Libertarian Sen. Jeff Brandes, the most interesting Republican in Florida politics, is leaving the Florida Senate due to term limits. He joined us to discuss his passion for policy over politics, and his post-office plans for a policy "Do-Tank," The Florida Policy Project to focus on criminal justice reform, property insurance, transportation, and housing affordability.

Gov. DeSantis announced a new "Stop Woke" policy to bar investments of State funds in companies or funds that adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Florida will no longer consider using issues like climate change or racial justice awareness to influence investments by rating a company's values. Adam Hattersley, candidate for Florida Chief Financial Officer, and State Rep. Andrew Learned discussed this new policy and Florida's refusal to divest from Russian investments, and how this may impact Florida's finances and pensioners' retirements.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer and Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley both provide a Primary election day recap. Who won, who lost, who is in a recount, and where were all the registered voters? Turnout was less than 25%!

Local businesses have sued to have DeSantis' "Stop Woke" law declared unconstitutional under the First Amendment because it purports to censor what their private businesses can say to their employees, especially in diversity, equity & inclusion training. They claim that it is unconstitutional for a government to insist that they can't talk to their employees about race or gender issues as they see fit.

New federal criminal charges against Alexandr Ionov, a fugitive Russian national, allege a malign foreign influence operation in St. Petersburg, FL elections. Noted national security journalist Marcy Wheeler, aka @emptywheel, and Prof. Golfo Alexopoulos, Dir. of the Russia Institute at the University of South Florida discuss the larger geopolitical implications of these criminal charges and their historical precedents.

Chris Witowski of Psilera Inc. is discussing the development of drugs from natural psychedelics to treat mental health illnesses.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.