Despite the famous aphorism that “all politics is local,” it increasingly seems like all local politics are national. Whether it’s the effect of federal ICE enforcement, the president’s push to federalize elections or an audit by Florida “DOGE,” national headlines are dominating First Coast politics. We get expert analysis about how it’s affecting local policy, governance, finances and possibly even the midterm elections with attorney and author Chris Hand. We also discuss why a St. Johns school official partly blames school vouchers for the district's budget deficit.

Guest: Chris Hand, local government expert, attorney and co-author with the late Sen. Bob Graham of America, the Owner's Manual

The Symphony of existence

Fundraising, running a nonprofit and leading an arts organization poses a different kind of triple threat in an era when both public financing and cultural capital are experiencing retrenchment. But it’s just the latest challenge for Steven Libman, who’s spent 40 years running arts organizations, from ballets to regional theaters to, now, the Jacksonville Symphony. We ask him how the organization is adjusting to the current, often challenging reality and what changes may be in store to prepare for the road ahead.

Guest: Steven Libman, president and CEO of the Jacksonville Symphony 

True romance

A hybrid concert marries two passionate art forms: opera and classical sitar. The progeny is “The Sound of Love,” a concert featuring two local musical masters. The special Valentine’s Day performance will be held at the historic Karpeles Grand (the former Jacksonville Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum) in Springfield. The 70-minute concert will be Feb. 12 and offer two distinct experiences: a standard seated ticket, or the "Laydown" version, which promises a DIY "soundbath" for guests who bring their own mats, blankets and pillows.

Guests:

• Mariette Aida Anzueto, soprano, opera singer and subconscious coach
• Arvid Smith, sitarist