The Skinny

Jeff Brandes is a self-proclaimed policy addict, and the former Florida senator and current leader of the nonprofit Florida Policy Project was at WMNF’s Tampa studio today to talk about homeowners insurance, Florida’s $115 billion budget, outdated housing policy, Hope Florida, and more. To kick off the show, Marcelo Balladares, an organizing representative at the Sierra…

St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard has thoughts about the Tampa Bay Rays, but there’s so much more going on in the Sunshine City. Gabbard, a Managing Broker for Suncoast Realty Solutions who represents District 2, joined The Skinny to discuss a proposed “clean and safe program,” whether or not there are enough police downtown,…

Florida’s legislative session is in overtime and coming up on 100 days as the House and Senate are back in Tallahassee to try and hammer out a budget. Orlando’s state senator Carlos Guillermo Smith—who was inspired to get into politics after watching President Obama’s rise to the White House—joined The Skinny today to talk about…

For three sessions now, Carlos Hermida, who owns two hemp shops in the Tampa Bay area, has watched the Florida legislature attempt to pass different regulations that directly affect his industry. Legislation from 2023 didn’t go anywhere, but Gov. Ron DeSantis had to veto a bill that might have killed Hermida’s business after the 2024…

Florida’s 2025 legislative session is going to overtime, but as of Friday morning, even legislators didn’t know when they’re actually going to get to work. “There has been no internal communication to lawmakers,” Eskamani told WMNF Tampa public affairs program The Skinny. “It’s incredibly frustrating as it pertains to the state budget.” Her comments came…

Everyone now knows that—despite his popularity and presence in local politics since 2016—Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera will not run to be the next mayor of Tampa. “It’s not my time right now,” Viera, who is terming out of his District 7 seat, told The Skinny last Friday. He did not rule out runs for…

You probably don’t know five people who’ve set foot on Egmont Key, a roughly 250-acre island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The rapidly-disappearing land mass is visible from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, but only accessible by boat (or a long swim). To discuss Egmont Key’s fascinating past, present, future and relationship with the humans…

There are 721 days left until 2027. That’s when Tampeños will vote on a successor to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who won re-election in 2023 and is term-limited. Alan Henderson would like a shot. Last week, the soon-to-be-24-year-old filed his statement of candidacy to run for that very office, and held a press conference outside…