The Florida Roundup

Hosted by WLRN News & WUSF

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Each week, The Florida Roundup brings us up to speed on all things Florida — be it politics, the environment, the economy, culture and more. Join host Carlton Gillespie for lively discussion with newsmakers, journalists and you! Email the program radio@TheFloridaRoundup.org

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60 recent

October 16, 202649 min

Undecided voters, Isaias recovery, ICE spending and weekly news briefing

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at Florida’s undecided voters with Sean Freeder with UNF’s Public Opinion Research Lab (00:00). Then, we checked in on early recovery efforts from Hurricane Isaias with our partner station WUWF in Pensacola (19:42). Plus, Your Florida state government reporter Meghan Bowman joined us from our partner station WUSF to talk about a recent federal accountability report looking at ICE spending and Florida (24:40). And later, news from the week including a court ruling upholding Florida’s social media ban for minors (37:20), how a Governor-appointed commission impacts energy costs (39:08), and the induction of Florida’s newest Tuskegee Airmen chapter (47:38).

October 9, 202649 min

Breaking down Amendment 3, court orders Hope Florida report expunged, weekly news

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the pros and cons of Florida’s property tax amendment. First, we heard about spending around the amendment with Jackie Mitchell, researcher at OpenSecrets (00:00), then we spoke with the CEO of Florida Realtors about why that group is supporting the amendment (08:34). And we heard from Ava Habif with Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library and Sarah Burris with Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries about their concerns over the measure (20:00). Plus, a look at the latest in the Hope Florida scandal with the Orlando Sentinel’s Jeffrey Schweers (31:10). And later, news from the week including an update on Hurricane Isaias (37:20), the dengue outbreak in Hillsborough County (39:04) and a debate between fossil fuels and solar power (41:50).

October 2, 202649 min

Changes to Medicaid and SNAP eligibility, Florida’s minimum wage and weekly news

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about changes to eligibility for Medicaid and concerns over the state’s handling of Medicaid eligibility notices with the Florida Trib’s Sharmila Venkatasubban (00:00). Then, we looked at changes in eligibility and funding for SNAP in Florida with Cindy Huddleston of the Florida Policy Institute (09:34). And later, USF economics professor Michael Snipes joined us to talk about Florida’s latest minimum wage increase (27:42). Plus, we heard the first in a three-part series exploring why energy costs are increasing for Floridians (37:20) and a celebration of art and science in the Everglades (46:38).

September 25, 202649 min

Florida’s gubernatorial candidates debate issues, not each other & other weekly news

This week on The Florida Roundup, we heard from Florida’s gubernatorial candidates on the top issues in this election including the property tax amendment (00:00). Then, we checked their claims with PolitiFact’s Samantha Putterman (13:22). Plus, longtime political analyst Susan MacManus weighed on the lack of state candidate debates in this election cycle (20:30) and looked at how Florida’s Live Local Act has been implemented with Ashon Nesbitt, CEO of the Florida Housing Coalition (26:20). And later, some health news including an update on Florida’s rise in dengue cases (37:20) and a look at what might happen when we find life beyond Earth (46:52).

September 18, 202649 min

New report details abuses at ‘Alligator Alcatraz,' Florida rolls back Flock and more

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Your Florida state government team reporter Meghan Bowman about a new report detailing the state’s spending on immigration efforts and another highlighted abuses at the now defunct migrant detention center in the Everglades (00:00). Then, Sen. Shevrin Jones joined us to talk about what he saw when he visited the center (12:10). Plus, as Florida rolls back its use of Flock cameras and other Automated License Plate Readers, we spoke with Juan Caro, senior fellow for Law & Justice at the America First Policy Institute, about how the technology could better be employed (20:02 ) and then checked in with the Franklin County Sheriff about his efforts to remove the cameras there (28:14). And later, some news around education (37:16) and artificial intelligence, and a look at how a nonprofit is using group board game sessions to improve the mental health of its participants (42:58).

September 11, 202649 min

Florida bans undocumented students from public universities, remembering 9/11, PACs pour money into midterms

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with the statewide president of the United Faculty of Florida about the Board of Governors' decision to ban undocumented students from enrollment at the state’s public universities (00:00). Then, we remember the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and how Florida remains deeply connected to the events of that day (20:00). Plus, a look at how PACs are spending money in Florida’s midterm elections (37:12) and we bid farewell to longtime host Tom Hudson (45:16).

September 4, 202649 min

Florida summer reading encore: 'No Ordinary Bird' and 'The Purple Ribbon'

This week a rebroadcast of The Florida Roundup from May 22, we revisit conversations with two Florida-based authors. We spoke first with Artis Henderson about her novel No Ordinary Bird (01:18) and then Kip Lyman about her novel The Purple Ribbon. (29:30).

August 28, 202649 min

Hope Florida report revealed, State pushes to change school vaccine rules, and more

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Jim DeFede, investigative reporter for CBS News Miami, who first broke news of the grand jury’s report into the Hope Florida Foundation (00:00). Then, we looked at the state’s plan to rollback school entry requirements for 4 vaccines (10:46) with WUSF’s Kerry Sheridan and Dr. Rana Alissa, president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FCAAP). Plus, a look at the new era of high school athletics in Florida Daniel Cornely, director of sports management programs at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) (27:16). And later, a new investigation by WUSF and the Hechinger Report into how Florida is quietly removing climate change from its science textbooks (37:14) and two stories about tax dollars, tourism, and economic growth (44:26).

August 21, 202649 min

Florida’s primary results, NASA's Roman Space Telescope, and weekly news briefing

This week on The Florida Roundup, we broke down the results from Florida’s primary elections with Politico’s Kimberly Leonard (00:00). Then, we were joined by PolitiFact’s Samantha Putterman for some fact-checking (14:14). Plus, NASA scientist Jeremy Perkins spoke with us about a new space telescope that’s set to launch from Kennedy Space Center at the end of the month (19:48). And later, we looked at how the state is investing in speech and debate programs this school year (37:14) and more educational news.

August 14, 202649 min

New property tax ballot language, funding for children’s safety net services and more

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the revised ballot language for Florida’s property tax amendment with one of the lawyers representing the group that sued over the original wording (00:00). Then, we spoke about how the property tax measure would impact funding for Florida’s network of children’s trust services (07:32). Plus, we looked at a lawsuit involving free speech at Florida International University (25:30). And later, some education news including a drop in enrollment at Broward County Public Schools (37:18) and a look at how student historians are helping to preserve the past at one Tampa Bay cemetery (40:14).

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