Capital Report

WFSU Public Media · wfsu.org

WFSU Public Media reporters, as well as reporters from public radio stations across the state, bring you timely news and information from around Florida. Whether it's legislative maneuvers between sessions, the economy, environmental issues, tourism, business, or the arts, Capital Report provides information on issues that affect the lives of everyday Floridians.

20 episodes

8d ago latest

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Episodes 20

Capital Report: August 28, 2026
yesterday · 28:58
On tonight’s program: We deconstruct the results of this month’s Florida Primary Election, including some fascinating figures; It may be early days, but some Florida Democrats say the primary results give them hope for big gains in November; U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, Florida’s Republican nominee for governor, this week tapped Miami Senator Bryan Avila as his running mate; Despite a grand jury finding about ten million dollars of misplaced money, the DeSantis administration insists “there’s nothing to see here”; The federal government cancels a school food program, but the country’s to
Capital Report: August 21, 2026
8d ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Florida’s secretary of state says this Tuesday’s primary election went very well; A proud Democratic/Socialist stuns the political world in Florida and beyond by attacking establishment politicians and their wealthy donors; One of Florida’s sharpest political analysts shares her take on Angie Nixon’s election victory; For many voters in Florida’s largest congressional district, the potential threat of power and water hungry AI data centers is a big issue that helped push one candidate to a primary win; The State of Florida demanded some changes in the science textbooks it
Capital Report: August 14, 2026
15d ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: It’s election season! Primary election day in Florida is this Tuesday. We’ll talk about which candidates are leading the pack; We’ll also talk about how Florida’s closed primary system is causing frustration for some NPA voters; A new rule about secondary locks on classroom doors is raising questions; As Florida communities look for ways to be more resilient, many are turning their attention to concerns about flooding—and not just those who live along the coast; And a new law lets high school students earn a PE credit for participating in Marching band.
Capital Report: August 7, 2026
22d ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Everybody says they hate, loathe and despise negative political ads. The only problem is, they work!; Since almost forever, the term “socialist” has been a political insult.But suddenly certain groups are embracing the word; For some Florida school districts, the relationship with AI is a complicated thing; a potentially powerful tool that can also cripple the students it’s supposed to help; Police in the capital city have launched an initiative to get officers more autism training; And while picking up the kids’ notebooks and a protractor for the new school year, make su
Capital Report: July 31, 2026
29d ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Although some of Florida’s Republican leaders seem to be backing off their support, a referendum on property taxes will still be on the November ballot; If you’re running for governor in Florida, you have to be a full-time Florida resident. And there’s controversy about one candidate’s residency; Water is Florida’s most precious commodity. We explore how that might be impacted by proposed AI data centers; And if you think it seems there are more sharks around nowadays, you’re not wrong.
Capital Report: July 24, 2026
1mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: We visit a rural Florida school district and find that the big issues there aren’t so much different from education debates in the state’s biggest cities; If you choose to take a state voucher to send your child to private school, choosing the school itself might be more difficult than it seems at first; A Florida school board that’s being sued for banning books is deposing students, but not board members; A Florida community group is helping families when ICE comes calling; If Florida were a separate country, it would have the world’s 14th largest economy; And a trip to
Capital Report: July 17, 2026
1mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Despite bad poll numbers and unforced errors on the part of the GOP, Florida Democrats are still struggling to find their groove between the center and the progressive left; We hear from the attorney who successfully argued the case for professors fighting Florida’s Stop WOKE Act; A congressional challenger in Florida sued the incumbent in an attempt to get him kicked off the Aug. 18 primary ballot. It didn’t work; Florida tops the nation…..in the number of executions; And after the United States has been immersed in FIFA-style football, will the popularity of soccer real
Capital Report: July 10, 2026
1mo ago · 28:58
On tonight's program: Florida’s leading GOP gubernatorial candidate visits the state’s panhandle and finds a responsive audience for his message; The line item vetoes fly as Governor DeSantis works his way through the new state budget; It seems not all of Florida’s local enforcement agencies are following their agreement with the feds to help out with immigration enforcement; Not all of those connected with Florida’s higher education system are excited about the prospect of the state’s institutions adopting a new accrediting body; As more and more people opt for fun on the water, the incidence
Capital Report: July 3, 2026
1mo ago · 29:02
On tonight’s program: Governor Ron DeSantis signed the budget for the new fiscal year that started this week he also exercised his line-item veto power; More than 100 new laws went into effect at the start of July, including one to protect residents from footing the bill for AI data centers’ energy needs; Candidates, elected officials and activists are gearing up for the August Primary elections. They met this past weekend at the Sunshine Showdown; A new transportation law could change how people buy cars in Florida; And smelly brown seaweed called sargassum is washing up on shores. Forecaster
Capital Report: June 26, 2026
2mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Florida’s much-maligned Alligator Alcatraz is shutting down. Now what?; A Republican candidate for Florida governor announces his pick for lieutenant governor pick. And faces immediate pushback over what some say is that pick’s anti-Black bias; Florida has always had a special relationship with its Caribbean neighbors. As that region suffers natural and man-made problems, that relationship now seems more important than ever; Are you worried about your kids losing academic ground during the summer break? You may have less to worry about than you think; If you own a home in
Capital Report: June 19, 2026
2mo ago · 29:02
On tonight’s program: Florida Republicans are at odds this year over whether to hold a debate for the governors race; Several Florida Counties are pausing, or even blocking, plans for AI data centers, but some worry that won’t stop the effects; A former legislator says a proposed property tax break could mean the end of home rule; Officials say one way the proposed property tax cut could really bite—is more mosquitoes; And this weekend, across Florida, communities are celebrating Juneteenth.
Capital Report: June 12, 2026
2mo ago · 29:00
On tonight's program: Election season is underway and the race for Florida’s governor is filling up, leading to questions about who has whose endorsement: We remember the tragic shooting that took place 10 years ago at Pulse Nightclub: A new law is bringing cursive writing back to the classroom and some experts say it’s needed; And we hear about efforts to bring a gangly pink bird back from what was once the brink of extinction.
Capital Report: June 5, 2026
2mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Lawmakers are sending a proposal to drastically reduce property taxes to the ballot in November. Opponents are worried about what it means for local services; Despite forecasts for a slightly less active hurricane season, experts say it’s important not to get complacent; Immigrants who were held in Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz are part of a lawsuit after many say they didn’t receive proper medical care while detained; Florida is leading the country when it comes to the number of executions carried out. That’s raising concerns for some; And for teen mothers, finding a way
Capital Report: May 29, 2026
3mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: At long last, eleven weeks after the regular lawmaking session ended, Florida lawmakers have passed a state budget! Among the items that did not make it into the new spending plan, Florida Forever funding; Lawmakers will be back in Tallahassee next week for a special session to reduce property taxes. Although some worry the impact on rural, poorer communities may be severe; Congressional Candidates are weighing in as a potential data center project could be heading to North Florida’s Jackson County; Florida public school educators are feeling a bit under attack nowadays;
Capital Report: May 22, 2026
3mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: The special session to pass a Florida budget goes on. And on. And on; The matter of Florida’s new congressional maps, passed by lawmakers and signed by Governor DeSantis, is by no means a fully done deal; There’s no official word yet, but there are many signs that Florida’s notorious Alligator Alcatraz detention facility may be on the verge of closure; And we see what it takes to bring a critical coastal area back to a cleaner and more natural state.
Capital Report: May 15, 2026
3mo ago · 29:00
As lawmakers iron out the state budget, wrinkles are deepening among Florida’s top government leaders; Florida has announced a criminal investigation into a major AI company for alleged involvement in violent crimes; A recent article from the New York Times says Florida’s immigrant detention center in the Everglades could close earlier than expected; Gas Prices are becoming a significant pocketbook issue for many Floridiana—especially those in rural communities who face longer commutes; Florida’s public-school students don’t need to go hungry during the school year; They can access free lunch
Capital Report: May 8, 2026
3mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: The first of what could be several special sessions of the Florida Legislature is over. This one focused on redistricting. Another, to pass a state budget, is next; A powerful member of the Florida Senate reacts to the speed with which the congressional redistricting took place; Governor DeSantis signs two education bills, although many teachers wish he hadn’t; Despite some state ordered pay increases for starting teachers, the bulk of Florida’s public school educators continue to lag behind most other states; Despite all of our connective technology, more people are now
Capital Report: May 1, 2026
4mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers approve a new congressional district map for the state. Not everyone is convinced this is a good thing; And Florida, especially the state’s northern region, remains in the grip of a near historic drought. Even though some rain may be sweeping through the state this weekend, experts in the field warn that far more rainfall will be needed to mitigate the threat of wildfires that are already ravaging parts of the state. We have two pieces. The first describes the current wildfire situation and the second delves into the climactic circumstances that are maki
Capital Report: April 24, 2026
4mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers will be back in Tallahassee for a special session to draw up new congressional districts. Even though the state constitution specifically bans partisan purposes; Governor DeSantis signs more measures that opponents say further restrict the authority of local governments; Florida’s new SAVE Act is the law and is already drawing criticism; People who vote “NPA” or “No Party Affiliation” in Florida are more than a little tough to figure out when it comes to predicting how they’ll vote. It appears money from some foreign sources to U.S. universities are defi
Capital Report: April 17, 2026
4mo ago · 28:58
On tonight’s program: The Florida Legislature originally planned to be back in Tallahassee around this time to work on a new state budget. But so far, NOTHING seems to be working; There still may be a chance that lawmakers may be back at the Capitol to redraw the state’s congressional districts to favor the GOP; One year after the mass shooting at Florida State University, we check in with a student who was barricaded as the situation unfolded; The campus shooting tragedy also led to state lawmakers trying to increase security without impinging freedom; Memorials to the shooting victims remain