Your Taxes Your Money The Florida Fight

Florida House Representative Toby Overdorf, a Treasure Coast Republican joins the podcast to discuss the 2026 legislative session's biggest priorities. We break down the proposed constitutional amendments for property tax relief, the potential for Byron Donalds to succeed Ron DeSantis as Governor, and why Florida might be looking toward small modular nuclear reactors to power its AI future. Plus, a look at the return of cursive writing and the bill to finally eliminate yellow registration stickers on license plates.

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Immigration Attorney Reveals Florida's Deportation Reality

Immigration attorney Richard Hujber spent his first years working for the federal government before shifting to private practice defending clients facing deportation.

In this revealing conversation with Brian Crowley and Michael Williams, Hujber discusses the current state of immigration enforcement in Florida, the impact of workplace raids and detention quotas, and the human stories behind the headlines.

He explains why some long-term residents with American children face removal while recent arrivals received work permits, the controversy surrounding facilities like "Alligator Alcatraz," and how the system affects Florida's economy.

Hujber offers a unique perspective from both sides of the immigration debate, arguing for case-by-case evaluation rather than sweeping enforcement actions. Brian and Michael provide analysis on the political implications heading into the 2026 midterms.

Keywords: Florida immigration enforcement, immigration attorney perspective, deportation policy, Alligator Alcatraz detention, immigration reform solutions, Florida workforce impact

🎧 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

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Pocketbooks and Predictions 2026 shape Florida's political landscape as Brian Crowley and Michael Williams analyze the governor's race, Trump's influence, property tax reform battles, and economic challenges facing voters. Byron Donalds leads with Trump's backing and $30 million, but will it hold. Democrats face a million-voter registration gap while younger generations worry about AI replacing jobs and student loan debt. From redistricting fights to the mockingbird versus flamingo debate, this episode covers the serious and the silly in Florida politics.

00:00 - Happy New Year and Brian's Birthday Celebration

0:50 - New 9 AM Sunday Time Slot Announcement

1:57 - Byron Donalds: The $30M Front-Runner with Trump's Endorsement

2:38 - Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins: Struggling for DeSantis Support

3:16 - Paul Renner: The "Issues Guy" Takes Aim at Affordability

4:05 - James Fishback: 31-Year-Old Provocateur Enters Race

5:32 - Front-Runners Who Faded: The Jeb Bush Warning

7:42 - Where is Ron DeSantis? Silent on Succession

8:16 - The DeSantis-Trump War and Susie Wiles Factor

10:57 - Democratic Challengers: Dave Jolly and Jerry Demings

12:31 - The Million-Voter Registration Deficit Problem

14:29 - Building From the Bottom Up: Democratic Party Challenges

16:45 - Why Podcasts Matter More Than Traditional Media

18:11 - Affordability Crisis: The Driving Issue of 2026

20:04 - AI and the Future Economy: Who Gets It?

22:21 - Property Tax Battle: DeSantis vs. Legislature

24:40 - Redistricting 2026: Florida's Crown Jewel Status

27:07 - Flamingo vs. Mockingbird: The Legislature's "Hot" Issue

28:26 - Wrapping Up: Major to Mundane in Florida Politics

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TopOfMindFlorida

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Ken Kennerly joins Top of Mind Florida to discuss the explosive growth of sports in Palm Beach County and South Florida.

From running the Honda Classic for 19 years to now leading the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, Ken shares insights on how the region is becoming a sports powerhouse beyond traditional major leagues.

He reveals the innovative fusion of PGA TOUR Champions with NFL Hall of Famers, the evolution of professional golf under new PGA Tour leadership, and why Florida's sports scene keeps attracting younger generations back home. Plus: the future of golf, gambling concerns, pickleball's rise, and making sports accessible to underprivileged youth.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TopOfMindFlorida

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Chapters

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction

00:43 - Ken Kennerly's Career Overview

1:50 - Working with Jack Nicklaus at Golden Bear

3:45 - Evolution of Palm Beach County Sports Scene

5:32 - Youth Returning to South Florida

6:42 - Sports Capital Strategy & Future Growth

8:30 - Honda Classic Legacy & Event Management

10:26 - Creating the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational

12:30 - Innovation in Sports Events

13:11 - Virtual Sports, TGL & Engaging Younger Generations

16:06 - Gambling in Sports: Concerns & Protections

18:21 - Making Sports Accessible to Underprivileged Youth

19:21 - Future of Golf & Junior Golf Growth

20:35 - Ken's Origin Story: From Manhattan to Sports Marketing

23:00 - PGA Tour's Future Under New Leadership

25:03 - Impact of Reduced Tournament Schedule

26:13 - Top of Mind: Major League Pickleball & TGL Growth

27:35 - Palm Beach County's PGA Tour Future

29:47 - Closing & Final Thoughts

Meet the Florida man who turned a childhood obsession into a real-life treasure chest.

Irving Santiago is the ultimate kid at heart, but his collection is serious business. In this special holiday episode of Top of Mind Florida, Michael and Brian take a break from politics to explore a massive world of nostalgia right here in our backyard.

Irving is the President of UltraCon of South Florida and the owner of over 30,000 comic books, 23,000 Funko Pops, and 14,000 G.I. Joes. From the first appearance of the Green Goblin to original 1930s memorabilia, we dive into the joy of collecting and the incredible story of how he bought three properties with cash... just by selling toys.

Grab a cup of coffee (or eggnog) and enjoy this trip down memory lane. It’s a reminder that keeping your imagination alive is the best gift of all.

WE ARE BACK ON SUNDAY MORNINGS! ☀️ "Top of Mind Florida" has officially moved. Join us every Sunday at 9:00 AM EST for the honest, deep-dive analysis you’ve been missing since our broadcast TV days.

#Comics #Collecting #Florida

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:28 What is UltraCon?

01:45 The First Green Goblin (1960s)

02:54 Why We Love Comic Cons

04:17 Buying Real Estate with Toys

06:58 The Psychology of Superheroes

09:03 The Super Toy Show Days

11:27 The Great Debate: Best Batman?

14:16 Worst Comic Book Movie?

16:36 Inside the 30,000 Item Collection

20:25 Future Events & Charity Work

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TopOfMindFlorida

🎧 PREFER TO LISTEN ON THE GO? Don't miss an episode while you drive or workout. Subscribe to the audio-only version of "Top of Mind Florida" on your favorite platform:

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▶️ RSS Feed / All Platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/top-of-mind-florida/

"Who do I trust for my news?" It is a big question Floridians are asking in 2025.

In this inaugural Sunday morning episode of Top of Mind Florida, hosts Michael Williams and Brian Crowley review the massive political shifts of the year. We cut through the media echo chamber to analyze the consolidation of power in Tallahassee, the erosion of the "Sunshine Law," and the new federal immigration policies causing anxiety across South Florida.

Topics Discussed:

• The "Alligator Alcatraz" Mystery: Why are inmate records disappearing from public view?
• Immigration Anxiety: How federal "pauses" and deportation rhetoric are hitting Florida communities.
• The Power Grab: Has the "Red State" monopoly killed local control?
• The Democratic Bench: Why the opposition party can't seem to recruit a winning team (explained with a Gators football analogy).
• Media Distrust: Navigating the "Information Chaos" to find the truth.

📺 WATCH THIS EPISODE See the full discussion in our new studio setting on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TopOfMindFlorida

#FloridaPolitics #DeSantis #MediaBias #TruthInMedia #SundayMorning #TopOfMindFlorida #2025Review #SunshineLaw #ImmigrationNews

Chapters:

0:00 - Sunday Morning is Back

2:39 - 2025 Review: The Decline of Florida Openness

5:20 - "Alligator Alcatraz": Where are the Prisoners?

7:10 - Immigrant Anxiety: Deportation Fears in South Florida

10:55 - The Tallahassee Power Grab vs. Local Control

13:25 - How COVID Solidified the "Red State" Reality

17:40 - Why Democrats Can’t Build a Bench

24:10 - The Vanishing Casey DeSantis?

27:00 - Media Distrust: Finding Truth in 2025

34:55 - The Great Bird Debate: Flamingo vs. Mockingbird

Connect with Us:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TopOfMindFlorida
• Website: https://rss.com/podcasts/top-of-mind-florida/

On December 14, we return to our 14-year tradition of Florida Sunday morning news analysis.

We are moving Top of Mind Florida back to the time slot where we spent over a decade with you. In a media landscape often defined by shouting matches, we are recommitting to the quiet work of civil analysis and storytelling.

From the 2026 Governor’s race to conversations with civic leaders, environmentalists, rocket engineers, authors, sports gurus, musicians, comedians and more...our goal remains the same: Headlines, Hard Questions, and Humor.

#FloridaNews #SundayMorning #TopOfMindFlorida #RealJournalism

The New Schedule:

• When: Sundays at 9:00 AM EST (Starting Dec 14).
• Where: Right here in your podcast feed.

Action Item: Please ensure you are following the show so the new Sunday episodes automatically appear in your library.

Watch the Announcement: See us back in the studio on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TopOfMindFlorida

The have nots keep growing in the Sunshine State, and the 'Florida Dream' is becoming a nightmare for working families. Are we pricing the middle class out of the Sunshine State?

In this episode, Michael Williams and Brian Crowley sit down with Paige Shortsleeves (Executive Director, PEACE) to discuss the hidden economic crisis in Palm Beach County. They explore why some families are working three jobs and sleeping in cars, and how new laws criminalizing homelessness are impacting the most vulnerable.

Plus, Brian Crowley breaks down the political reality: With cost of living skyrocketing, is the "Red State" label hiding a massive block of dissatisfied Independent voters?

#FloridaLife #HousingCrisis #FloridaPolitics #PalmBeachCounty #CostOfLiving #Homelessness #PoliticalAnalysis #TopOfMindFlorida

In this episode on Florida sea turtle conservation, we look in on the Loggerhead Marinelife Center Pres/CEO to see how Florida wildlife is surviving the condo boom. Andy Dehart discusses sea turtle nesting season, the 1-in-1,000 survival rate, and the fight to save our oceans. Despite rising ocean temperatures and booming coastal development, Florida is pulling off a conservation miracle. The Green Sea Turtle was recently de-listed from "endangered" to "least concern"—but the fight isn't over. Michael Williams and Brian Crowley hear Andy Dehart, CEO of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (USA Today's "Best Free Attraction") discuss how this "Center of Hope" is rehabilitating injured turtles, using $7,500 satellite tags to track their "reverse snowbird" migrations to Canada, and proving that humans and nature can coexist—even on the "Serengeti" of the Florida coast.

#FloridaSeaTurtles #OceanConservation #JunoBeach #SaveTheTurtles

Florida’s affordability crisis collides with the 2026 governor’s race as Michael Williams and Brian Crowley unpack the rising push to reduce—or even eliminate—property taxes in Florida.

What’s real policy and what’s political theater? What happens to essential services if the cuts happen?

The discussion broadens to the fast-shifting governor’s race field, pocketbook pressures across Florida, storm devastation in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, and rising U.S.–Venezuela tensions affecting South Florida families.

Plus, Brian reflects on the 2000 election recount 25 years later, and the hosts dig into America’s growing struggle with misinformation and trustworthy news in the AI era.

Includes full chapter list for easy navigation.

#FloridaPolitics #PropertyTaxes #FloridaElection #TopOfMindFlorida