The Florida Roundup

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor about FEMA’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton (01:27). We asked Kelly McBride, NPR Public Editor and Chair of Ethics and Leadership at The Poynter Institute, about how Americans are consuming political news (14:27) and then spoke with Sen. Shevrin Jones about how the Florida Democratic party can reengage apathetic voters (21:59). And later, we turned to Samantha Putterman with our partner PolitiFact for more on what’s next for former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (33:06). Plus, we learned more about the Florida legislature’s new leadership (37:33) and heard a collection of environmental stories from across the state including a tally of agricultral losses from Hurricane Helene (40:45) and an update on La Niña (42:37).

Just over a week after winning a second term, President-elect Donald Trump is moving swiftly to nominate key cabinet positions. He’s named his campaign manager Susie Wiles as his chief of staff. (00:40). And snowbirds have sought refuge in Florida for decades. But could back-to-back hurricanes and the prospect of more extreme weather chill their enthusiasm for our balmy winters? (19:36). The Florida Public Radio Emergency Network talks about the latest tropical disturbance (37:36). And as severe storms bring increasingly more rainfall to Central Florida, flooding remains a top concern (40:36). Also, it’s been a year since the Seminole Tribe slowly started to roll out mobile sports betting in the state (44:25).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we broke down which proposed constitutional amendments passed and which fell short with Central Florida Public Media’s Joe Byrnes and WUSF’s Stephanie Colombini (1:00). Then, we simulcasted with our colleagues at KQED’s Forum for a conversation about how Florida and California are positioned as political opposites and how our states might actually have a lot in common (19:28).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about election anxiety and how to lower the temperature of political rhetoric with former U.S. Reps Carlos Curbelo and Stephanie Murphy (02:15). Then, we heard about how Florida moved away from being a swing state with the New York Times’ Patricia Mazzei (20:24). And later, we checked in with Samantha Putterman with our partner PolitiFact to check some recent claims around early voting (29:34). Then finally, we looked at the health risks brought by Hurricanes Milton and Helene (37:28) and heard from some South Florida voters (42:43).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with WUSF’s Stephanie Colombini about the legal wrangling over Amendment 4 (08:09) and then we heard from former Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court Charles Wells (12:00). We also talked about voter turnout and how to appeal to non-party voters first with DNC Chair Jaime Harrison (19:14) and later the Chair for the Republican Party of Florida Evan Power (26:30). Next, we turned to Samantha Putterman with PolitiFact to check some recent claims around Amendment 4 (31:59). Plus, we took a closer look at Amendments 3, 5, and 2 (37:14) and heard about a unique job posting in one Florida town (47:24).

The tab for Hurricanes Helene and Milton will be in the billions of dollars. Some will be covered by insurance. And some won’t. The storms are just the latest reminders of the high cost of insurance. We speak with Michael Yaworsky, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner (2:36). Plus, early voting starts in just days. What you need to know now to cast your vote (26:15). Hurricane Milton Recovery efforts (33:59). And, how Florida is just inescapable these days in our video and music streams (41:40).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we look at the widespread damage and the loss of life from Hurricane Milton. First, we checked in with NPR’s Greg Allen from Clearwater (02:18), then we heard from WUSF’s Kerry Sheridan about the impact in Sarasota (08:47) before turning to CFPM’s Molly Duerig to look at flooding in Central Florida (10:58). Later, we spoke with WQCS’ Chris Puorro about the deadly tornadoes Milton produced that touched down in Port St. Lucie (17:00) and Rep. Toby Overdorf whose district includes areas of St. Lucie and Martin counties (21:37). Plus, we heard from Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis about filing claims in the wake of Helene and Milton (28:23). We also checked some recent claims related to FEMA funding with PolitiFact’s Katie Sanders (33:23) and heard the story of one St. Petersburg resident as they evacuated ahead of Milton (37:09).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we look at recovery efforts a week after Hurricane Helene's landfall. First, we spoke to Florida Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (3:10), then we spoke with David Jolly, former Republican representative who penned a recent op-ed (10:42). Next we turned to Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections, Christina White, to discuss all the ways to vote in the upcoming Nov. 5 election (20:05). And also University of Florida Professor Michael McDonald, from the UF elections Lab (24:00). We also checked in with our partner PolitiFact for a claims check about social media and Hurricane Helene (33:25). Finally, we look at a few other stories from across the state including a look at how the state's ports are moving forward following a longshoreman strike earlier this week, and peanut farmers (37:22).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in with reporters and officials across the state to begin assessing the impact of Hurricane Helene. First, we heard from Lynn Hatter, news director for WFSU in Tallahassee (02:56), then we spoke with Megan Borowski, meteorologist for Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (07:07). Afterwards, we heard from Stephanie Colombini with WUSF in Tampa (09:17) and Craig Fugate, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (19:56). Next, we turned to Áine Pennello with WUFT in Gainesville (25:44) and later, WUSF’s news director Mary Shedden (33:07). We also checked in with our partner PolitiFact for a claims check about NOAA (28:34). Finally, we look at a few other stories from across the state including a look at how communities are planning for future storms (37:16).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Politico’s Kimberly Leonard about the state’s probe into the apparent assination attempt on former President Trump (01:14). We looked at mosquito control efforts in Lee County (09:11) and spoke with Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory’s Nathan Burkett-Cadena about the public health risk mosquitoes pose (20:31 ). And later, we had Samantha Putterman with our partner PolitiFact join us for the latest claims check (32:12). Plus, we shared some environmental news stories from across the state (37:24) and a listener mailbag (47:16).