Tropical Depression

With democratic norms and institutions weathering a storm at the federal level, Ryan catches up with Amy Keith, executive director of Common Cause Florida. Amy had a lot to say about the latest attack from gerrymandered politicians on citizen-led amendments and how to ensure that every eligible voter can vote after a disaster. After all was said and done, this fan of the show – yes, a bona fide Depressionista – did leave us with so...

Ryan sits down with author Kent Wascom to discuss his novel, “The Great State of West Florida.” The story is a beautiful tribute to what makes Florida unique and features a villainous far-right politician who leads a movement to turn the panhandle into a white Christian ethnostate. Too soon? Raised in Pensacola, Kent takes us through the plights and gripes of a mystical figure called simply the Governor and a fictitious West Florid...

Fresh off the heels of being published in The Paris Review, Alec Niedenthal returns to the show with a deep dive into the themes of “Schändung (Desecration)” and how the act of writing can help process memories and experiences. 

Read Alec’s story, Schändung (Desecration) in The Paris Review: https://www.theparisreview.org/fiction/8363/schandung-desecration-alec-niedenthal 

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This week, Ryan met with Kaitlynn Black & Dean Fraser of the newly-formed Florida Keepers, a nonpartisan group dedicated to ethics and environmental conservation. We talked about how the Keepers came to be, as developers and real estate interests destroy Florida’s wetlands and wild places. 

We also delved into Florida’s newest law HB 1205 – the state government’s attack on the last way for everyday Floridians to have a say in th...

Florida Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith breaks down the Legislature’s dysfunctional relationship with Gov. Ron DeSantis, as their political divorce takes an ugly turn through three Special Sessions in a fortnight and rhetoric hotter than a motel Jacuzzi.

The People’s Champ in the Florida Senate discusses his current work on expanding mass transit and the arts in the world’s largest tourist destination, plus the ultimate goal of polit...

This week we sat down with Tampa Bay transit advocate Dayna Lazarus, founder of Transit Now Tampa Bay, about recent struggles and progress for public transportation in one of America’s fastest-growing cities. 

DAYNA LAZARUS has over a decade of experience in community organizing and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from University of South Florida. At USF, she won several professional and academic fellowships and scholarsh...

This week Ryan sat down with returning guest Jason Garcia, who discussed his brand new reporting on just how much money the Free State of Florida may have spent politically opposing abortion rights — despite the 57% of voters who want the exact opposite.

Plus, reasons for optimism in Orlando & Orange county local elections with and more expert analysis from the author & publisher of Seeking Rents.

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In the first episode of...

Our first year in review episode looks back at guests and highlights from the most Florida-pilled year in Florida history. 

As Trump’s new administration lights a candle in broad Palm Beach daylight, Florida took on a new importance yet again. The villain of national politics and its new hometown saw federal intrigue, two major hurricanes, Matt Gaetz, and a sprinkling of taxpayer boondoggles — plus some successes and progress towar...

This week we spoke with Rodney Jacobs, director of the City of Miami's Civilian Investigative Panel, about more heavy-handed state government intrusion into local affairs in Florida.

Just as Miami City Hall cries out for more accountability, the long arm of backwater Tallahassee state politics has destroyed the ability for millions of Florida citizens to weigh in on local community issues yet again.

Read Rodney's column in ...

It’s Halloween in June as we talk ghost candidates with award-winning independent journalist Valerie Crowder, founder of The Panhandle Press.

Valerie is investigating a possible special interest-backed "ghost" effort to affect the outcome of a City Commission race here in the state capital. She takes us through the recent use of this shady political tactic, and what it means for our democracy if unchecked.

Please conside...

This week we mourned the loss Florida Governor & U.S. Senator Bob Graham, who passed away last week at age 87.

Kartik Krishnaiyer, publisher of the The Florida Squeeze, joined host Ryan Ray to celebrate Gov. Graham's legendary life and career as Florida's crusading reformer within the highest corridors of power in American government.

Thanks to The Florida History Podcast for co-producing this week's show.

Rest in...

We sat down with Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, just days after a racist vandal launched two bricks through the windows of his office along with a hate-filled note. Mayor Ward talks us through what brought us to this point, and how the city plans to double down on equity and justice going forward.

We also chat about state politicians in Tallahassee attacking local government, exurban secessionist movements in Alachua County, and ab...

This week we speak with famed Florida politico Rick Wilson about Republicans' chaotic orgy of shame in an age when nothing matters. 

With voters revolting against Ron DeSantis' "Free State of Florida" regime in national polls, an opportunity for progress emerges as Christian and Bridget Ziegler's sordid Sarasota sex scandal puts a little swing back into our purple state. 

Plus, how transactional local governme...

It's a Thanksgiving miracle! A new episode of Tropo featuring a sparkling conversation about bleak topics with literary writer and New College of Florida alum Alec Niedenthal. 

We discuss what Florida means in the wider world, the far-right takeover of a public liberal arts school and how to do letters in an unlettered world. Plus a first-ever Tropical Depression exclusive as Alec reads from his novel in progress, "The Gri...