WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTOS AHEAD, READER DISCRETION ADVISED In the field outside USF’s library on Tuesday, the orange signs read “ABORTION VICTIM PHOTOS AHEAD.” Handing out pamphlets and engaging students in conversation were activists calling for an end to all abortions and what they describe as ‘ageism’. Listen to the full story here: Their organization is… Read more »
Dangerous amendments to Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is the latest trend among the ‘censorship and surveillance’ legislation that’s been passing through the Florida government this session. Nadine Smith of Equality Florida and Florida State Representative Anna Eskamani joined MidPoint host Shelley Reback to discuss what this legislation means for the state.
This week on Surly Voices, hosts Liz, Amina and Donna host an open “Gumbo” session, where callers can voice their concerns and opinions.
Florida’s state legislative redistricting maps are not being opposed. The Senate and House might give Democrats more seats.
The banning of books and the prohibition against teaching real, accurate history used to be the plot of dystopian novels and Nazi policy in Germany in 1933, but now it’s part of our reality. WMNF MidPoint host Shelley Reback spoke with award-winning author Lois Lowry, author of The Giver and other books for middle readers, and Colette Bancroft, book editor of the Tampa Bay Times, on Feb. 9 about this increasing threat in our communities.
Representative Ben Diamond spoke about the Florida Legislature. He is also running for the seat in Congress currently held by Charlie Crist.
Redistricting is underway across Florida. Every ten years, census data is used to redraw boundary lines for all districts in Florida. This week in Tampa, Democratic State Representatives Susan Valdes and Dianne Hart hosted a town hall meeting on upcoming redistricting across the state. Hart is on the State Legislative Redistricting Subcommittee and spoke about the… Read more »
Florida’s controversial HB1 will get its first major legal test next month. A coalition of organizations including the NAACP, Dream Defenders, ACLU and more filed to immediately strike section 15 from the bill. LISTEN: The date is set for August 30. Chief Judge Mark Walker will hear from the coalition of organizations suing Gov. Ron… Read more »
Two state representatives from the Tampa Bay area were dubbed “People’s Champions” by Progress Florida for their voting records during the 2021 Legislative Session. The progressive advocacy group gave most Democrats A grades, while Republicans all received Fs. Listen: Representatives Ben Diamond and Fentrice Driskell received two of the six “People’s Champion” awards. “This is… Read more »
Democratic State Rep. Michele Rayner Monday announced she’s joining the race for Florida’s soon-to-be-vacant District 13 congressional seat. Rayner is entering a growing field to replace outgoing Congressmember Charlie Crist in a contentious district Democrats will need to win if they want to hold onto power in Washington. LISTEN: Rayner made the announcement in front… Read more »
Tampa State Rep. Fentrice Driskell is making history as the first Black woman elected to lead the Florida House Democrats. She will take the reins in the 2024-2026 term. LISTEN: Driskell won Tampa’s District 63 in 2018 by about 5,000 votes. And her current term expires in 2022, which means she’d need to win reelection… Read more »
More than a decade after leaving the governor’s mansion, and the Republican party, Congressmember Charlie Crist Tuesday announced he’s looking to keep Gov. Ron DeSantis from a second term. ‘Florida for All’ Crist made the announcement touting his new campaign slogan, “Florida for All.” “I’m announcing today that I am running for governor to build… Read more »
Here is a link to many coronavirus resources Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday blindsided local governments with an executive order suspending all local emergency orders related to COVID-19. But WMNF’s Daniel Figueroa IV reports county and city governments weren’t aware DeSantis would be issuing the order until it was happening and don’t yet know how it… Read more »
The Daily Beast released a bombshell report Thursday evening saying it had obtained a copy of a confession letter written by Matt Gaetz associate and former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg. The letter alleges the two Florida politicians paid for sex with multiple women, including the statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl. LISTEN: In… Read more »
On Monday morning, Governor Ron DeSantis used debunked rumors and misinformation to justify his HB1 bill. DeSantis signed the bill into law while flanked by a group of law enforcement officials and Republican legislators at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office headquarters. Listen: Depending on who you ask, HB1 is either an anti-riot bill or an… Read more »
With the specter of Florida’s HB1 “anti-riot” bill looming, protestors in St. Pete returned to the streets Friday to demand justice for Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old Black man killed by police in a Minneapolis Suburb, and others. Protestors didn’t know if the bill’s new restrictions on protesting would go into effect as they marched or… Read more »
Gov. Ron DeSantis is lambasting the growing number of major corporations pushing back on Republican-backed legislation. But civic groups want those corporations and more to ramp up the pressure and fight bills targeting voting rights and protests. LISTEN: Will Smith is not filming his $100 million movie, Emancipation, in Georgia. The MLB will not hold… Read more »
HRK holdings spent months warning Manatee commissioners and state officials of impending disaster at Piney Point. Despite the pleas for help, Florida officials said HRK will be on the hook for a narrowly avoided catastrophe at the shuddered phosphate plant that it owns. Florida DEP head Noah Valenstein said a legal team in Tallahassee is… Read more »
A group of civic organizations hopes to avoid a repeat of the 2012 redistricting debacle that led to numerous court battles and uncovered gerrymandering in the drawing of maps. The Fair Districts Coalition is calling on legislators to pledge they will have a fair, transparent and interactive redistricting process. LISTEN: Ellen Freidin helped lead the… Read more »
Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren joined a former Florida Supreme Court Justice and a former Sheriff Thursday in blasting the HB1 protest bill. The group called the bill an unconstitutional affront on democracy. No solutions, just more problems Of the 20 State Attorneys in Florida, Warren is one of the few who’s actually dealt… Read more »
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