Gubernatorial Candidate Desmond Meade: Never Underestimate the Desire for Change

Gubernatorial Candidate Desmond Meade: Never Underestimate the Desire for Change

Desmond Meade, a nationally recognized advocate and founder of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, is stepping into Florida's gubernatorial race with no party affiliation and a belief that unity is still possible. Known for leading the historic constitutional amendment that restored voting rights to Floridians with felony convictions, Meade has reshaped both policy and language, championing the term "returning citizens" to restore dignity to people reentering society after incarceration. Meade joined the "Between the Lines with Dara Kam" podcast from State Affairs to discuss how he's taking his fight for unity statewide. In a race crowded with well‑funded, high‑profile contenders, Meade insists he's not choosing between elevating issues and winning, he's doing both. And he points to his track record of bringing Floridians together across political divides on one of the state's most contentious issues as proof that overcoming long odds is nothing new for him. Visit pro.stateaffairs.com/florida [http://pro.stateaffairs.com/florida] for more.

A Jolly Good Show with State Sen. Tina Polsky!

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 [http://pro.stateaffairs.com/florida] for more.

Florida Policy Project President Jeff Brandes: The Spirit Airlines‑ification of Government

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 [http://pro.stateaffairs.com/florida] for more.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper: Hits and Misses in Florida's 2026 Budget

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 [http://pro.stateaffairs.com/florida] for more.

Congressman Mario Diaz‑Balart: The Long Road to the Raúl Castro Indictment

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 [http://pro.stateaffairs.com/florida] for more.