Between the Lines with Dara Kam

In this episode of "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs, Florida State Senator Tina Polsky joins the show for her first in-depth chat since joining Democrat David Jolly's gubernatorial campaign in a major leadership role. Polsky, serving as the chair of public policy and government affairs, discusses her transition from the Florida Legislature and her work shaping the campaign's objective of "governance on day one." The campaign surrogate also provides insight into Jolly's selection of former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate, examining the duo's bipartisan legislative experience influences the ticket's approach to state government.  Dara and the senator also explore David Jolly's political trajectory from a Republican member of Congress to a Democratic candidate for governor and how this evolution informs the policy blueprint being developed for the campaign.  Sen. Polsky also reveals why she decided to step away from the Legislature and join Jolly in the quest to send a Democrat to the governor's mansion for the first time in three decades. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Jeff Brandes, a Pinellas County Republican who served for 12 years in the Florida Senate, isn't holding back on his analysis of a proposed property tax overhaul going before voters in November.  Brandes, the founder and president of the nonprofit Florida Policy Project, joins the "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" podcast from State Affairs this week with his take on what he calls one of the most consequential measures headed to the ballot in modern history. Brandes argues the measure championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis was pushed through during a special legislative session at "warp speed," with lawmakers "under threat" that their priority projects could be vetoed if they didn't vote for it. He says the process lacked the data and deliberation needed to understand its real-world impact, especially the risk that cities and counties could be squeezed into consolidation as local tax revenues shrink. Brandes tells Dara that the Legislature effectively abdicated its responsibility to act as the gatekeeper for what belongs on the ballot, leaving former legislative leaders "spinning in their graves" over how the bill was handled. Tune in to hear Brandes contend that, if approved by voters, the plan could significantly change who wields power over local government spending. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Crafting a budget for a state of more than 23 million people means working with a dizzying number of stakeholders and trying to please some of Florida's most powerful political leaders. An even-tempered onetime fireman with nearly two decades of legislative experience, Senate Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper might be the perfect person for the job. The senator joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs this week to discuss the hits and misses of the $114.5 billion state spending plan finalized just days ago. Hooper reflects on his time in the Legislature and digs into a perennially thorny issue that will bring lawmakers back for a sixth special session this year: property taxes. The senator and Dara give listeners a primer on the dramatic reduction in property taxes proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and dig into the plan's potential economic and political fallout. Plus, the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas! Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

The recent indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro on murder charges was more than 30 years in the making. Prosecutors allege that Castro ordered the killing of members of the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue during their missions to aid Cubans fleeing to the United States. Republican Congressman Mario Diaz‑Balart joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs this week to discuss what the indictment means for the victims' families and, more broadly, for Cuban‑American communities in South Florida. Diaz‑Balart reflects on the significance of the Brothers to the Rescue missions for Cubans escaping what he describes as "dire" human rights conditions on the island, and he walks listeners through the decades‑long effort to hold Castro accountable. The congressman also discusses what comes next, and what could happen if tensions escalate between Washington and Havana. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

The Everglades is woven into the fabric of Florida as the state's defining ecological treasure. This week on "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs, Elise Bennett, Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, joins the show to unpack her organization's legal challenge to the Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz." Bennett explains why the Center argues that state and federal agencies violated multiple laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, in approving and constructing the sprawling facility. She walks listeners through how Alligator Alcatraz effectively "evicted" critically endangered Florida panthers from 2,000 acres of habitat and details the ripple effects on countless other species that call the Everglades home. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Could Gov. Ron DeSantis' new congressional maps, passed by the Legislature and now being challenged in court, topple Florida's Fair Districts Amendments? Democratic Senator Shevrin Jones, who voted against the maps, believes they could pave the way for courts to undo the constitutional amendments aimed in part at preventing partisan gerrymandering. On this week's "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" podcast from State Affairs, Jones argues that so‑called "race‑neutral" map‑drawing undermines meaningful representation for minority communities. He also discusses a generational shift in how Black voters are represented following a seminal U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Louisiana redistricting case. Plus, Jones gives listeners a preview of the special legislative session on the state budget that kicks off this week. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Hot off the presses! Senate Ethics and Elections Committee Chairman Don Gaetz joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs for a deep dive into a congressional map that could significantly change Florida's political landscape.  Gaetz, a former Senate president, explores how Gov. Ron DeSantis's congressional map and the redistricting process differed dramatically from previous years. Plus, the senator offers a frank take on his fellow Republicans in this week's freewheeling discussion. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Defending death row inmates in Florida amid the state's "conveyor belt" of executions puts Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel for the ACLU's Capital Punishment Project, on the front lines of the fight against the death penalty. Maria joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs to take listeners through Gov. Ron DeSantis's record-breaking number of death warrants. The capital punishment expert also examines the impact numerous lethal injections have on the state's judicial resources, the emotional toll taken on the people involved in the process, and how the Florida governor's authority to order executions differs from other states. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

With major election law changes set to take effect next year, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs this week to dive into the new law's ID requirements and other impacts on voters. Saying that no one is turned away from voting in Florida, Byrd explains why he believes people have "ample time" to prepare for the new proof-of-ID law. The state's chief elections official also digs into the complex mix of federal and state laws that shape the state's voting processes. Plus, Byrd shares "Florida Fun Facts" with "Between the Lines" listeners in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and helps with the pronunciation of America's semiquincentennial! Fireworks, too! Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Recent upsets in Republican‑held state Senate districts have some political pundits speculating that Democrats' victories signal shifting headwinds in Florida. But Florida Atlantic University political science professor Kevin Wagner says not so fast — the data doesn't back that up. Wagner joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs this week to explain why he believes meaningful success for Democrats would require a much longer‑term strategy than the boost provided by Florida's recent special elections. Plus, Wagner digs into different types of "independent" voters and explains why having no party affiliation doesn't necessarily mean they're undecided. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Brian Nathan, the Tampa Democrat who just pulled off a surprise flip of a key Florida Senate seat, joins our host for this week's "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs. The senator breaks down how he won the Hillsborough County special election, the issues that resonated most with voters, and the strategy behind his upset victory. Looking ahead, the duo also discusses what Dems' twin victories in the SD 14 race and a House district that includes President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate reveal about the political landscape heading into the November midterm elections. Tune in for the full conversation. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Barbara Petersen, founder of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, is the tip of the spear in defending the public's right to access government records. The doyenne of open government joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs this week to discuss a landscape where citizens and reporters are met with government officials' "total refusal" to turn over records. We dive into the erosion of Floridians' right to information, high-profile public-records litigation, and a comparison of how Florida governors have complied with what was once the nation's model for government-in-the-sunshine. Plus, hear Petersen recount her tangles with the powerful in Tallahassee over access. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

AFL‑CIO Director of Politics and Public Policy Rich Templin joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs to reflect on a quarter‑century of advocacy for unions in Florida. Templin breaks down legislation from the 2025 session that he says complicates union members' ability to exercise their rights — and what those changes could mean for teachers, bus drivers, and others. A longtime fixture in the Florida Capitol, the labor-union leader also tells Dara why he believes "rebellions are built on hope."

Is there a lane for centrists in today's political climate? Florida U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs this week to dig into the fate of centrism in the era of social media-fueled political pugilism. Wasserman Schultz also gives listeners an inside line into the effect of the Department of Homeland Security's shutdown, ICE "running through cities, brutalizing communities," and changes Democrats are seeking to reign in immigration enforcement. Plus, the congresswoman breaks down the "new Democratic Coalition," shares a clean-eating recipe and so much more!   Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

University of West Florida President Manny Diaz Jr. joins "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs this week for a candid discussion about leadership in Florida's higher-ed system and debate on campus. A former Florida education commissioner who was one of the architects of the state's school voucher system during his tenure in the state House and Senate, the Hialeah native also delves into controversy over his selection as president of the Panhandle university.  Plus, tune in to hear why President Diaz says athletics are "the front door" to universities. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Incoming House Minority Leader Christine Hunschofsky dives into Democrats' fight for Florida on this week's "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs. Rep. Hunschofsky outlines how Democrats, despite holding superminorities in both chambers, can impact policies to help Floridians.    The former mayor of Parkland also talks with Dara about how the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shaped her as a leader and lawmaker.    Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier breaks news about euphoria-inducing hemp products during this week's "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" from State Affairs. The attorney general also addresses reports about his six-figure salary as an adjunct law professor.  Dara and the AG dig into redistricting, racism, the Federalist Society, and much, much more. Plus, a "rapid-fire foodie" round! Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.  

Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner joins Between the Lines this week to discuss his candidacy in the red-hot governor's race, what he calls a "Grand Canyon gap" in leadership between himself and his leading primary opponent, and how social media shapes personalities in politics.   Plus, Renner gives us a window into his routine on the road as he travels the Sunshine State. Spoiler: It involves country music and beef jerky.   Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.  

Veteran reporter Dara Kam is back with Between the Lines, the podcast from State Affairs that cuts through the clutter and gives you the clarity on the policy decisions that impact Floridians and the politics behind them. Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is our inaugural guest. A former Florida governor, Senator Scott doesn't hold back about critical Florida issues such as property taxes, the cost of living, an ongoing jobs crunch and so much more. Plus, former governor Scott makes it clear: It never snowed in Tallahassee under his watch! Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida for more.