Why Are We Like This?

The WAWLT Big Comeback After 4 Months Off

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:15:00 -0400

Florida ain't goin' anywhere! Why Are We Like This is back after an extended break, and we're talking about, well, just a whole slate of goings-on in the Sunshine State during our dark period, picking up with Thomas and David's trip to the Emerge Americas Conference last week and their interaction with some of Miami's new AI hologram ambassadors that will soon be gracing the halls of our finest airport dungeons and half-built soccer stadiums.

From the episode:

Here's the Mother Jones article Thomas mentioned about the death of the Florida Orange.

https://www.motherjones.com/environme...

Here's the weird Florida 529 Plan AI commercials that David mentioned.

Florida Prepaid | Detective

Back with Fresh Internet, Doppelgängers and Other Stories

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We're back with a new season of Why Are We Like This?, and the guys play a round of catch-up on various topics, including the impact of good internet on media professionals, the intersection of sports and politics, the Venezuelan crisis, human rights violations in Alcatraz, conspiracy theories related to high-profile crimes, cultural commentary on nepo babies, crisis communications in politics, the rise of charter schools, Trump's presidential library, and the challenges of regulating artificial intelligence. The conversation highlights the complexities and nuances of these issues, providing insights into the current state of affairs in Florida and beyond.

Time Codes:

00:00 Introduction and Internet Woes

02:49 Political Commentary and Sports Media

05:41 Venezuelan Boat Attacks and Military Intervention

08:24 Alcatraz and Human Rights Concerns

11:09 High-Profile Criminal Cases and Conspiracy Theories

16:37 Cultural Commentary on Nepotism and Celebrity

22:05 Corruption in Politics and Education Reform

26:29 Charter Schools and Privatization in Florida

35:08 The Miami Mayoral Race: Candidates and Predictions

49:21 Artificial Intelligence: Regulation and Implications

It's been a long time, we never shoulda left you... Without some dumb news we did no prep to...

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:30:00 -0400

After an extended work/family/pneumonia-driven hiatus the WAWLT Boys are back and we're getting right into it. Among the topics discussed in our comeback episode:

Open-carrying in Publix
~~Charlie Kirk memorial campus streets~~
Fort Myers' Madison Cawthorne infestation
Miami mayoral race
Eric Adams update
Dominion Voting out, Liberty Voting in
Argentina-Puerto Rico soccer match out in Chicago, in in South Florida

In This House, We Call It "Alligator Auschwitz"

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0400

We intended to talk about the so-called Alligator Auschwitz or Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center that opened last week a mere 45 miles from our WAWLT offices at the Dade-Collier Training & Transition Airport in the Big Cypress Preserve.

The $450 million affront to common decency and humanity was hastily slapped together by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and our old friend Attorney General James Uthmeier.

Already, the reports from the facility are grim. One detainee has shared that there is no no water to bathe, the food is riddled with worms, there is no access to essential medication or religious observation materials.

We're joined by political director for Florida Student Power Network, Laura Muñoz, who helps us peer into the possessed souls of our state and federal leaders. This one goes out to Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

Follow Laura Muñoz by following Florida Student Power Network, or on Twitter @LauraEMunoz.

The Gabela Boatlift, Floridians in Israel, and More

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Joe Carollo's "Not Involved in Weaponizing City Government" shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by the shirt.

On May 30, Thomas and David attended a special City of Miami commission hearing with commissioners Joe Carollo, Miguel Gabela and Damian Pardo aimed at exploring how Carollo has government resources against his political and perceived enemies, including Gabela. During the meeting, Carollo used government resources against Gabela by showing aerial photos of Gabela's fleet of private watercraft stacked behind his home.

Miraculously, Carollo and Gabela would come together just three weeks later to agree on permitting Miami Police to partake in so-called 287(g) agreements, which will allow cops in South Florida's biggest city to coordinate with ICE and DHS.

We also got into the latest news from the Middle East, the specter of war on the horizon, and South Florida's deep roots with the state of Israel.

Means-Tested Kisses

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:45:00 -0400

You've heard WAWLT episodes before, but have you ever heard a cynically-sold-out-to-a-political-party version of a WAWLT episode? To demonstrate our value and in our effort to chase the "Joe Rogan of the Left" title we played a little game where we transplanted our own opinions with those of the Democratic Party. See, we can play nice when we have to!

But first, we discussed the recent town hall with FIU's police chief organized by Thomas, where attendees peppered the chief with questions about how his police force intended to cooperate with ICE as signees to a 287G agreement, empowering them to apprehend undocumented students and got... not great... answers.

Hosts: Gerald Doherty, Thomas Kennedy, David Quiñones

Producer: David Quiñones

Video Production: David Quiñones

Music: David Rosen

Email Us: wawlt@allpointswest.agency

Visit Us: wawlt.com

Watch us on YouTube: @WhyAreWeLikeThisFL

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Miami? DISINCORPORATION. feat. Billy Corben

Thu, 15 May 2025 08:15:00 -0400

Today we're tackling the real problems facing our magical home city, discussing the viability of election and political reforms across Miami like a new election calendar and district map, as laid out in a recent Miami Herald opinion piece. Our conclusion? It's all too far gone, and the entire city is no longer viable. What about... disintegrating Miami? Longtime Magic City raconteur and returning WAWLT guest Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys, The U, God Forbid) joins us to imagine a future where the city of Miami can no longer disenfranchise and shake down its residents -- because it no longer exists.

But before that, a quick check-in with some of Florida's gubernatorial hopefuls and their steps (or missteps) toward the governor's mansion in 2026.

You can follow Billy Corben on Twitter @billycorben.

Honey I Shrunk the Economy

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:15:00 -0400

It's the stupid economy, you stupid idiot. Another week, another spate of economic uncertainty roiling markets and the nerves of our tender tummies. GDP has shrunk (shrank? shrinked?) and while it might SEEM like Florida's favorite president is to blame, it was actually previous president Joe Biden's fault. It just is!

We also hear from Thomas about the end of a legislative session in Tallahassee that wasn't good, but also wasn't as bad as it could have been.

I Hope You Had the Time of Your Wife

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 10:45:00 -0400

Hope Foundation is a Florida nonprofit that was supposed to help struggling Floridians on government assistance get back on their feet. Instead, the organization -- with profound ties to Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis -- is at the center of the first scandal threatening to affect the DeSantis family's waning political prospects.

Today, we had returning guest Jason Garcia (@Jason_Garcia) to talk about the burgeoning Hope Florida scandal, and the involvement of Governor DeSantis and, crucially, his then-chief of staff James Uthmeier.

We also discuss Thomas' work with the family of Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen from Georgia who was detained by FHP and held in the Leon County Jail despite his family showing his documentation in open court. From there, we get into the crush of illegal detentions and deportations, and how the Trump administration finds itself at loggerheads with the Supreme Court and headed for a constitutional crisis.

You can read Jason's Substack, Seeking Rents, here: https://jasongarcia.substack.com/

Canadian Cake Wars & Corruption

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0400

For our main story this week, we're looking at a brewing scandal plaguing Gov. Ron DeSantis and Casey DeSantis. The Governor's Agency for Healthcare Administration is in hot water for allegedly directing a private healthcare company to shift a $10 million penalty to Hope Florida, a nonprofit with direct ties to his wife Casey.

Before that, we look to the north and explore the de-Canadafication of the Sunshine State, as our northern snowbird neighbors swear off Florida en masse. We also talked about SB 7030, another Republican-approved assault on public schools which aims to significant reduce how much funding school districts receive for students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

A Blessed Liberation Day To You

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400

We marked our first Liberation Day with a breakdown of the special election results in Wisconsin and Florida. We also checked in on some of our favorite mayors, NYC's Exonerated Eric Adams and Miami-Dade's belt-tightening Daniella Levine Cava.

The New American Era of Being Food Poisoned by Scammers

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 08:45:00 -0400

We talked about the intersection of scamming, regulation, and public corruption against the backdrop of a recent petty scandal where Miami-Dade health inspectors were caught extorting restaurants for clean reports.

After that, we get into recent news including more tariff chaos, DOGE moves, and the latest from Tallahassee.

The Talla-Nasty Shuffle Legislative Check-In

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 07:30:00 -0400

We check in with our roving reporter Thomas Kennedy on the latest bile pouring from the state capital and try to figure out exactly where the priorities lie. It's a short one folks, enjoy it!

How a 2007 Arrest on Biscayne Blvd. Led to a First Amendment Movement & a Law Enforcement Backlash feat. Carlos Miller

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0400

On January 1, the so-called HALO Law went into effect across Florida, limiting and in many cases criminalizing citizens' ability to record police in public. The law is part-and-parcel with an ever more reactionary and authoritarian drift in a state that purports to support freedom but is, in practice, one of the least free places in the country.

We were joined this week by journalist Carlos Miller, a Godfather of the First Amendment Auditor movement and creator of Photography Is Not A Crime. He shared his story of an almost 20-year fight to record police and the effects its had on his livelihood and health.

Read Carlos' reporting at Atlanta Black Star:

https://atlantablackstar.com/author/cmillerddm24/

And follow him on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/carlosmiller

Miami New Guy Ascendant feat. Andrew Otazo

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:30:00 -0400

He's back, and boy does he have some opinions about how to Make America Great Again. That's right, we're once again talking about our favorite invented demographic cohort, the Miami New Guy, who has spent the past few

Joining us is author, amateur mangrove trash collector, and professional Cuban Andrew Otazo, who shares his own experience growing up among Miami New Guys before they became Miami New Guys.

Also: Thomas brings us on a deep-dive into the struggle in Tallahassee between Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature's proposals to make life miserable for undocumented people, and the petty politics animating the fight.

Javi's Worthless Millions feat. Andres Fidanza

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:45:00 -0400

When's a rug not a rug? When it's pulled right out from under ya, ya dummies. Fans of Javier Milei recently learned that hard lesson when they dropped millions of dollars of (presumably not) hard-earned cash into a meme coin fraud sponsored by the famously sister-curious Argentine president. We invited Andres Fidanza, editor-in-chief of El Observador USA, to talk about the curious case of South America's most prominent Milton Friedman acolyte and discuss how it affects the perception of a cunning, brass-tacks, no-nonsense economist when they out themselves as financially incompetent.

You can read more of Andres' reporting at El Observador and follow him on X/Twitter.

In the back half of the episode, we discuss Ron DeSantis' efforts to abolish property taxes in Florida (official vote count on the pod: 1 yay, 2 nays). Then we briefly catch up with two more of our favorite characters in Miami, Joe Carollo and Francis Suarez, who each have their own scandals firmly parked up their asses.

Nothing Ever Happens (Except For All The Things That Do Happen)

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0400

"Nothing Ever Happens" is a classic shit-poster meme about the phenomenon of crisis-based media hype cycles and how we ingest them as people who might not be on the immediate frontlines of the crisis. It's a useful lens for us to examine the onslaught of this month's top headlines, so that's what we do!

A New Day Dawns On the United States of Florida

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0400

~~Happy MLK Jr. Day!~~

Happy Inauguration-They're-Gonna-Write-About-In-History-Books-But-For-All-The-Wrong-Reasons Day! The WAWLT Boys return from a protracted break to bring you up to date on America's speed-run into full Florida status.

We talked about the spasmodic, seemingly hourly new developments surrounding the TikTok ban and its implications for a Democratic Party left holding the bag and looking like enormous losers. We went in depth on the "Sunshine Cabinet", a cheery phrase we coined to describe one of the most repulsive collections of depraved animals to take executive power in U.S. history. Finally, we got into some Florida Democrat news and notes, including the diaspora of middling politicos like Susan Valdes, Hillary Cassell and Maureen Porras, who are scurrying away from the failing and flailing party, desperately grasping for their bag and sucking up to the modern MAGA movement.

Your hosts are Thomas Kennedy, Gerald Doherty and David Quiñones. This episode was produced by David Quiñones.

The Florida State of Not-In-Play

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:45:00 -0400

So it turns out Florida -- and every swing state -- wasn't in play after all. Following a tectonic collapse that saw Florida Democrats somehow lose even more ground, we discuss the fallout and what it means for the future of our state, our nation, and the world.

The Rent's Slightly Less Damn High

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 11:45:00 -0400

Over the summer, Redfin released a report analyzing rent trends across the country and while the national average ticked up 1%, analysts were surprised to find many major metros across Florida cratering due to increased inventory, slowing migration, and myriad other factors. In this episode, we examine whether this is good news, bad news, or maybe a good news-bad news combo.

We also got into the drama surrounding one of South Florida's weirder State Representative races in Miami Beach and discussed other items on the ballot.

The Education Episode - 2024 Edition

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 07:30:00 -0400

There is a cognitive dissonance when trying to pin down exactly what constitutes a “quality” education in Florida. Is it a critical understanding of the world imparted during your most formative years? Is it technical training and job placement, ensuring your economic well-being into adulthood? Is it a ranking in a defunct magazine that few people actually believe? Or is it the byproduct of a system of patronage designed to reward political allies?

Depending on the day of the week in Florida, it could be any of these.

For this year's deep dive into education, we check up on the organizational health of noted hate group Mom's For Liberty and profile some of the worst actors in the state.

The HOA Hustle

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 07:30:00 -0400

***Here's the Change.org petition we mentioned***

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-great-outdoors-initiative-save-florida-s-state-parks-from-harmful-developments?source_location=tag_

Rising costs associated with so-called special assessments and maintenance have always been a sore spot for Miami homeowners, but add in the recent spate of ill-considered post-Surfside collapse regulations and challenging market trends, and you don't need a named Hurricane to foment a perfect storm.

Fines, evictions, foreclosures, fewer and fewer places for normal people to live. Who will win out in the end? Hedge funds and private equity vultures, feasting on the remains.

***ALERT: Great Outdoors Initiative: At the end of this episode, we talked about this deeply unpopular cash-grab privatization. Seems we weren't the only ones outraged, and with all the negative backlash, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has postponed their scheduled public opinion sessions around the state. We'll let you know when they reschedule.

'Weird' Flex But Ok

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 18:45:00 -0400

Today, the WAWLT fellas get to the bottom of the AI bubble roiling the all-important Dow Jones Industrial Average, what makes a nepo-politico heir endeavor to mistreat a bear cub, and (briefly) discuss the failed disaster that was the season finale of the Dragons and Houses show.

As our main story, we dive into the, well, weird proclivities of GOP VP pick J.D. Vance, and the one weird trick that Democrats are hoping the word "weird" can do for them (win an election).

The Lord of the Cringe

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:30:00 -0400

A lot has happened since last we met, dear listeners. With a maelstrom of political upheaval, a historic Republican National Convention, a Presidential assassination attempt gone awry, and more, we make the choice to devote the lion's share of this episode to JD Vance's fasc-adjacent, off-putting interpretation of JRR Tolkien's classic series, The Lord of the Rings.

Before that, we devote some time to President Joseph Robinette Biden's decision not to run for a second term, his anointed successor Kamala Harris' prospects at winning the big seat, and the Secret Service's role in foiling (??) the attempt on Donald Trump's life.

Here's the Jacobin article we reference, for context: https://jacobin.com/2024/02/giorgia-meloni-tolkien-fascism-fantasy

Semi-Emergency Podcast: The Road to Fascism is Riddled with People Telling You to Calm Down

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:30:00 -0400

The WAWLT Boys reviewed that devastating Biden debate performance and what the seemingly rudderless Democratic Party could or should do faced with a leader who resembles the Benadryl Hat Man. We also dived into the outrageous recent Supreme Court decisions that threaten to undermine democracy as we know it, unleash heretofore unseen environmental degradation, and shield corporations from any liability from bad acts.

Pretty awesome week all around.

The Diner Lobby is Strong feat. Jordan Zakarin

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:45:00 -0400

We’re talking congestion pricing this week and we refuse to kowtow to the powerful, influential diner lobby that has place New York Governor Kathy Hochul firmly in its pocket. To help us clear the congestion, we welcome back our very own antihistamine Jordan Zakarin (@JordanZakarin), publisher of Progress Report (www.progressreport.news).

But before that, we talked about the implications* of Joe Biden’s immigration executive action and how it reflects the worst parts of his predecessor’s ghastly policies.

*Here’s the article Thomas wrote for Truthout that we mentioned: https://truthout.org/articles/biden-opposed-trumps-asylum-ban-in-2018-now-hes-implementing-it/

Note: Satriale’s was in Elizabeth, NJ, so not even in a borough.

It's a Cruel Summer from Florida to Gaza

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:30:00 -0400

In this jam-packed summer spectacular we have two interviews that tell the story of Florida governmental ineffectiveness and evil, first on the state level and then locally.

First, we welcome back McKenna Schueler (@SheCarriesOn), staff writer for the Orlando Weekly, who shares her recent reporting on Florida’s legislation doing away with local municipalities’ ability to make their own rules around wages and labor conditions. We also explore the enormous hole in equity and justice for workers created by Florida’s lack of a state labor department and the danger that presents as outdoor workers face down what promises to be the most brutal summer in state recorded history.

Next, stick around for our illuminating conversation with attorney Zohra Khorashi (@thatlawyermomlife) about how her efforts to engage with the City of Doral to pass a ceasefire resolution resulted in what could be a career-defining controversy for Mayor Christi Fraga, and how powerful forces parachuted into the small Miami-Dade municipality to apply pressure and ultimately kill the resolution before it had time to even breathe. If you’re like us and want to see an end to the violence against Palestinians in Gaza, please get engaged with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Florida Palestine Network.

Florida's Brightline Problem & Why We Can't Have Good Transit

Thu, 09 May 2024 16:00:00 -0400

The guys talked about the recent proposed fair increases on the Brightline train system, which has been the source of much controversy in its brief tenure as Florida's de facto rail transit system. Along with the hefty price tag that taxpayers mostly carried, the private company that began as a patronage project for former-Gov. Rick Scott has been marred by a decade-plus of missed deadlines, diminished , safety concerns, flagging ridership, unanticipated costs, and now dramatically inflated pricing.

But maybe worst of all, Brightline simply doesn't work. Billed as a way to connect the entire state while providing commuter-service rail, Brightline doesn't bring people where they need to be, and the "last mile" problems have only gotten worse as purported solutions like Uber ground travel and shuttle services have fallen through.

We also talked about Robert F. Kennedy's brain worms as well as giving kudos to the City of Doral for becoming the first Florida municipality to call for peace in Israel and Palestine.

Civil War Review - Bring On the Civil War Please

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:15:00 -0400

This week we are reviewing the latest film from Alex Garland, Civil War, and considering what it would take to get this wonderful, fully functional, definitely real country to descend into the kind of madness where violent rural weirdos embrace guns as a cultural identity.

We also touched on friend of the show Billy Corben's brief run to lead the Miami-Dade DEC, among other topics.

Amendment 4 and the Fight for Reproductive Freedom in Florida feat. Dani Martins

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:15:00 -0400

Beginning in May, abortion will be effectively banned in Florida with a strict new law making the six-week mark the limit for those seeking care. However, voters will have the chance to vote on Amendment 4 in November to codify abortion throughout the state, and organizers are amping up to get the vote out.

Dani Martins, a reproductive rights advocate and expert, helps us break down the implications of the ballot amendment from a services and political standpoint.

For those seeking abortion care or support for their procedure ineedana.com.

The "Yes on 4" campaign is active and needs your support. Follow them on social media:

Yes On 4: floridiansprotectingfreedom.com

Twitter: @yes4florida

Insta: @yes4florida

Facebook.com/yes4florida

YouTube: @yes4florida

Also, if you can, please contribute to these local abortion funds:

Women’s Emergency Network: https://www.wenfl.org/

Florida Access Network: https://www.flaccessnetwork.org/

Tampa Bay Abortion Fund: https://tbafund.com/

EMA: https://emawpb.org/

Amendment 4, Immigration & Squatters Rights feat. Jordan Zakarin & Yareliz Mendez Zamora

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:00:00 -0400

In the first half of this episode we catch up with our friend Jordan Zakarin and talk about the media narrative around squatting, the eclipse, Florida's future, and more.

Then, we talked with another friend, Yareliz Mendez Zamor from the Florida Immigrant Coalition about the Florida Supreme Court's ruling that will put abortion on the ballot this year, and how women's health issues intersects with immigration.

Don't forget to subscribe to Jordan's Newsletter at progressreport.substack.com. Also, visit FLIC at floridaimmigrant.org.

Interview: Haiti's Hard Times Equal Opportunity for DeSantis

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:15:00 -0400

It’s a familiar story: Haiti is currently experiencing extreme social strife, and the opportunists are lining up to take advantage. We talked with Florida Immigrant Coalition co-executive director Tessa Petit about her home country’s history as a target for the Western powers and how Florida and Ron DeSantis are using the current conditions as a pretext for even more anti-immigrant legislation.

You can visit Haitians Who Blog to stay updated on the latest, and follow FLIC on Twitter for more updates.

The Attempted Political Assassination of Robert Dempster & Super Tuesday Roundup

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:15:00 -0400

We spent this week talking about the endless supply of disarray that the Florida Dems seem almost preternaturally capable of concocting around their wheezing party, this time in the form of a completely manufactured controversy wherein our state party has suspended the chairmen of three county parties, including Democrat strongholds Miami-Dade and Palm Beach. Among those suspended is friend of the show Robert Dempster. We talked about what a disastrous strategic move this represents for any Democrat prospects in Florida as we stare down an election cycle that looks less and less hopeful for the party.

From there, we talked about the flat circle of time that is Super Tuesday, which left us with the completely shocking Trump-Biden matchup that nobody could have seen coming.

Also... Thomas thought Dune 2 was mid, and Gerald didn't see it.

Conversation: Linda Loves Florida (Tourism Industry) feat. Jason Garcia

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0400

We welcome back Jason Garcia (@jason_garcia), the publisher of Seeking Rents, for a discussion about State Sen. Linda Stewart's recent scandal wherein she was caught advancing industry-written legislation that would prevent Orlando being able to rein in taxpayer spending on Visit Orlando.

Jason stuck around to guide us through the Florida legislative session and we wrapped up talking about the FII Priority Miami conference.

Conversation: Biden's Betrayal on Immigration

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 15:30:00 -0400

The WAWLT Boys analyzed President Biden and Democrats' controversial immigration bill, what it gets wrong, why it's good that it's doomed, and how it represents a negative shift in the Overton Window, acquiescing to the far-right at the expense of real people's lives.

We also touched on Ron DeSantis' (ahem) beef with lab-grown meat and where the Florida abortion ballot amendment stands after a judicial challenge.

EMERGENCY POD: Ron Backs Down

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:15:00 -0400

Folks, they're calling it the Worst Run Campaign in History, and we had a front row seat to its demise. Joined by Ryan Ray (@RyanRay_fla) we joined in with the rest of America in celebrating and ridiculing the death of Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign, discussed what went wrong, and tried to chart a future for Florida's 46th governor.

Interview: Thomas' Own Great Resignation, Miami & Tallahassee Check-In, feat. Ryan Ray & Ida Eskamani

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0400

We're joined for this episode by longtime friend and guest Ryan Ray (@ryanray_Fla) who talked through the latest spates of Miami corruption and local politics, the changes afoot at New College of Florida, and Iowa caucus predictions. Ryan stuck around as we talked with Ida Eskamani (@Ida_v_e) to preview the toxic legislative calendar coming out of Tallahassee and threatening to afflict our state.

Along with his podcast Tropical Depression, Ryan is also starting up the Florida Signal, a news site that will cover the Sunshine State, so stay tuned!

Conversation: Florida Man Jeffrey Epstein, Florida Gov. Flailing in Iowa, & Javier Milei Watch

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:15:00 -0400

The WAWLT Boys begin today's episode sharing their culture by taking the listeners on a tour through history of Santa's Enchanted Forest, a uniquely Miami-Dade working class holiday experience. From there, we dive into the release of the Jeffrey Epstein flight log list and what was really happening there.

We then head to Argentina to check in on how newly minted president Javier Milei's nascent Libertarian project is going (not great) and finally make our predictions for Governor Ron DeSantis ahead of the Iowa caucuses (even worse).

Conversation: It's a complicated city

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0400

The WAWLT boys catch up ahead of the holiday and discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez, who faces the chopping block on January 11th for her and her husband's rampant, blatant, predatory corruption.

Don't worry, of COURSE we talked about Christian and Bridgette Zielger's recent throuple issues and the sexual assault charges they are facing, as well as what it means for the Florida GOP and Moms For Liberty.

Plus: Movie and TV recommendations!

Interview: Reining in the HOAs and Insurers feat. Adrian Madriz

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:00:00 -0400

We talked with Adrian Madriz of Struggle for Miami's Affordable and Sustainable Housing Incorporated (SMASH Miami) about their new campaign to overhaul the unfair and predatory practices of Homeowners Associations and insurance companies in Florida.

Be sure to sign their petition and learn more by visiting SMASH Miami.

Afterwards, the boys get into a pair of recent crypto-focused newly released books, Zeke Faux's "Number Go Up" and Michael Lewis' "Going Infinite". We also talk about whether a Joe Manchin presidential campaign would have any actual, uh, support.

WAWLT Halloween Special: The Great MAGAgration

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Things keep getting spooookier here in Florida, as all the worst people continue moving here for all the wrong reasons. We took a deep-dive into the forces behind the Great MAGA Migration to the Sunshine State and how Florida became the homing beacon for transplants who have irrevocably changed our cultural and political landscape.

Conversations: Argentina's dead-dog medium presidential candidate & a Florida property insurance crisis update

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We've got a two-pack of WAWLT topics today.

First, we talked with Hernan Reyes, a public opinion analyst based in Buenos Aires, about the ascendance of political figure Javier Milei, Argentina's very own Donald Trump, a Libertarian radical running as an outsider promising change, including an economic policy that would pin the Argentine peso to the U.S. dollar.

Then (33:35) we talked with Lawrence Mower, a reporter covering the capitol for the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau, about his recent coverage of the ongoing Florida property insurance crisis. You can read his work here and follow him on Twitter @lmower3.

Case File: "You Got Spon-Con All Over My News Coverage!" the Florida Politics Investigation feat. Miranda Green & Eunic Epstein-Ortiz

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

This week, we focus on a name that not many folks know outside of the hyper-targeted world of lobbyists, consultants, pollsters, and special interest groups in Florida. Florida Politics at first blush looks like a finely tuned news-gathering machine, stepping in to provide deep, often well-reported coverage of the political landscape here during a time of retracting local news operations and outright news deserts. The website has grown from a simple blog to a full-service outlet and platform that doesn't do huge numbers, but has captured the right kinds of eyeballs to be relevant.

But a recent investigative report by NPR and Floodlight uncovered what's been called the "worst secret in Florida politics," that the outlet will run positive coverage for your candidate or cause if you write a nice, fat check.

We spoke with Floodlight's director of investigations, Miranda Green, as well as former State Senate candidate Eunic Epstein-Ortiz, who has direct experience dealing with the site and its publisher, Peter Schorsch.

Conversation: There's Not a Political Duopoly That Can Save Us Now from Governor Matt Gaetz

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Saddest four words in podcasting: It's just the boys!

We've got a lot to say about Florida Man Matt Gaetz's inevitable path to Florida governor, the current governor's qualities that would make him an awful Speaker of the House, and our favorite topic: Miami Mayor Frances Suarez, who's out with a fresh pair of scandals.

We also play a quick round of Canadian Wildfire Smoke Or Toxic Sugar Waste, the crazed conspiracy game sensation that we hope will be sweeping the state like carcinogenic particulate.

Finally, we get into the folly of hoping that simply voting for Democrats will patch the problems plaguing this state. We don't want to be negative... No really, we don't... It's just...

Conversation: The Interconnected Web of Corruption from Miami to New Jersey feat. Billy Corben

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

To celebrate a year of WAWLT, we welcomed back three-time returning guest Billy Corben to talk about the recent arrest of Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla and to help tell the inside story behind our own Thomas Kennedy's ethics complaint against Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

We also talked about New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez's contention that doing crimes and stashing gold bullion is just Cuban intergenerational trauma.

CALL TO ACTION: If you can do anything to support striking autoworkers in Tappan, NY, visit this link to sign up:

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/dsa-for-uaw-picket-shifts/

Conversations: A Farewell to Bros, the So-Long Miami Edition

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

It's Thomas' last podcast recorded from Florida as he makes his way up north, but rest assured, we will still discuss "Florida fuckery."

We empty the ol' Ron DeSantis notebook, catching up with our least favorite soon-to-be also-ran in the GOP presidential primary and his very funny failures in recent weeks.

We also discussed Proud Boys leader and local Miami boy-made-bad Enrique Tarrio, and how much of his 22-year federal prison sentence he'll actually end up serving. Tarrio is a useful entry point into our larger conversation about the degrading humanity and compassion of the actual people of Florida. Nazis in Altamonte Springs, Laura Loomer getting hatecrimed, Proud Boys, Mean Girls for Liberty, and much, much more.

Interview: Manatee County's assault on the environment feat. Craig Pittman

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

About the Intro: Jacksonville was once known as "Stinky City" because of two paper mills that befouled the entire town. The documentary "The Smell of Money" was an expose of how commercial and business interests made the city so smelly, and how it eventually cleaned up its act.

In the episode: We talked with journalist Craig Pittman (@craigtimes) about his recent coverage of the Manatee County Commission's apparent takeover by realtors, developers, and folks whose environmental agendas aren't aligned with the best interests of the environment.

We also widened our lens statewide to discuss Florida's disastrous recent record stripping municipal environmental regulations and how it negatively impacts our lives.

Also... radioactive cancer freeways!

You can learn more about Craig Pittman and buy his books at craigpittman.com.

Conversation: GOP Debate Coverage & Ron's Performance feat. Jordan Zakarin

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We welcome back Jordan Zakarin (@jordanzakarin) from More Perfect Union to discuss the difficult-to-watch uncanniness of the GOP debate on... Fox? Rumble maybe? Come for DeSantis campaign deathwatch and stay for our exploration of Eric Adams and Frances Suarez, two of America's weirdest and slimiest mayors.

Conversation: Catching up after our summer break

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:30:00 -0400

The guys discuss news and notes from things we missed during the summer break, including the Barbenheimer phenomenon, the brutal effects of manmade climate change on our Florida summer, declining tourism and our slumping economy that is also experiencing a skyrocketing cost of living.

We finish up with a check-in on Governor Ron DeSantis' spasming and thrashing presidential campaign as it lets out its death rattle. Meanwhile, things keep getting worse at home, where we've decided to let Dennis Prager teach our kids about slavery. Great stuff, folks.

Interview: Draconian, hateful & dumb - all of these things can be true feat. Carlos Guillermo Smith

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:30:00 -0400

Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) joins us to discuss the bizarre and hateful obsession that Ron DeSantis and Republicans in the Florida Legislature have with the LGBTQ community and their collective efforts to further marginalize these communities.

Our interview with Carlos comes at the 12:40 mark after a quick cold-open where the Gerald and Thomas do their best to convince David to re-join Twitter after quitting cold turkey last week.

Carlos is running for Florida Senate District 17, and you can get involved by visiting carlosguillermosmith.com to volunteer or donate!

News & Notes: Croquetagate: Did Donald Trump visit the Versailles s*x toy room?

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0400

DONATE: You can contribute to Danny Agnew's family's Go Fund Me here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/celebrate-the-life-of-danny-agnew

They're calling it... "The Freakshow at Wilkie Ferguson..."

In this episode we break down Donald Trump's no-good, very bad day in Miami, the media circus that followed it, and how Trump turned lemons into lemonade -- and then forced a bunch of restaurant-goers to pay for those lemonades.

We also covered Miami Mayor Francis Suarez's quixotic, idiotic run for president, the reaction from another reactionary Miami former-mayor, and some of the dirt and scandal that promises to plague his nascent campaign.

Interview: The Economic Bill of Rights feat. Mark Paul

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Professor Mark Paul (@MarkVinPaul) is a former-Florida Man who is now Assistant Professor of Economics at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. His new book, THE ENDS OF FREEDOM, outlines a new economic bill of rights that cuts to the core of many of our nation's problem. We discussed this, and how much a state like Florida would have to gain by this reorientation of American priorities.

It's All Because Miami, Bro (Part Deux) feat. Billy Corben

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Joe Carollo. Francis Suarez. A broken city government. First amendment violations. The same old names.

A lighthearted episode about some dark-hearted stuff today as we're joined by Billy Corben of Rakontur and Because Miami to discuss some of the biggest scandals heading into and coming out of Thursday's commission meeting.

We wrap up the show with a rousing game of Guess The Grifter, so stick around until the end!

Conversation: Green Energy in the Empire State feat. Dharna Noor & Aliya Uteuova

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 14:30:00 -0400

It took years of fighting and organizing, but New York has finally passed Build Public Renewables Act, which is being called one of the most transformational green energy jobs initiatives in the United States. The legislation aims to scale up New York's renewable energy production and is a major step on the path of putting utilities back in public hands. Joining us to explore the implications of this groundbreaking law are Dharna Noor (@dharnanoor) and Aliya Uteuova (@aliyaute) of the Guardian, who have closely followed the bills path to law.

LEAKED! Ron DeSantis Donor Event Audio Commentary Track

Mon, 29 May 2023 15:45:00 -0400

We go Director's Commentary-mode on the 42 minutes of leaked audio from a recent DeSantis 2014 donor dinner, and get under the hood of a campaign that seems to be flailing and failing from all outside (and now inside) appearance.

Credit to Florida Politics for breaking the story of the leaked audio.

Conversation: 10/10 ⭐ Campaign Launch Event, Zero Notes From Us

Thu, 25 May 2023 08:30:00 -0400

Are you wondering how Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' official presidential campaign event went off? Well, we're not saying it was anything like hanging out on-set with Will Smith and Kevin James in 2005, but there were definitely some Hitches.

From an aborted Twitter Spaces launch to the absolute glazing of Elon Musk's entire genitalia by a procession of right-wing freaks, to said freaks lobbing softball after softball at the Gov, it was a dispiriting night for some, pure entertainment for others. And the WAWLT boys have the play-by-play!

While DeSantis' collection of meager bootlicking goons was depressing to behold, Thomas brings us news of a Downtown Miami anti-DeSantis protest he took part in and how it does not augur well for Ron's chances.

Interview: The War on Labor and Renters feat. McKenna Schueler

Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We were joined this week by McKenna Schueler (@SheCarriesOn) about the successful attempts by Florida's GOP to ram anti-labor and anti-renter bills through Tallahassee, and the affects they will have on unions and the cost of living crisis we are experiencing across Florida.

Check out McKenna's reporting at the Orlando Weekly.

Interview: The Miami Creation Myth feat. Andrew Otazo

Tue, 09 May 2023 20:30:00 -0400

As a native Miamian, Andrew Otazo (@AndrewOtazo) has seen the Magic City go through heartache and pain, but its current incarnation -- fueled by a new type of radicalism that feels foreign to many of us -- feels different. He talked with us about that, Miami's future, it's past, and his book/project The Miami Creation Myth (available at a bookseller near you).

Conversation: Mr. Kennedy Goes to Tallahassee (And Gets Arrested) feat. Ryan Ray

Fri, 05 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We caught up with our own Thomas Kennedy after he and a group of other protesters who occupied Governor Ron DeSantis' office were arrested in Tallahassee on Wednesday. Along with serial #WAWLTmafia pod guest Ryan Ray (@ryanray_fla, Tropical Depression Podcast) we talk about how the governor's office has become a well-worn path for lobbyists, special interests, and political climbers -- everyday voters and citizens need not enter.

Conversation: So It's Trump vs. DeSantis, Then? feat. Ryan Ray

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 12:30:00 -0400

Eighteen months out from what promises to be a torturous, awful Presidential election, the race is beginning to take shape and, wouldn't you know it, Florida is at the center of it. We talked with Tallahassee's finest, Ryan Ray, about the role Florida plays and some other news and notes from the past few weeks. This episode started as a grab bag about Twitter, Trump eating pizza, and Heat-Knicks, but ended up being about -- who else -- Ron DeSantis. Yawn.

You can find Ryan on Twitter @RyanRay_FLA and subscribe to his podcast, Tropical Depression, on Patreon.

Interview: Florida's Brutal & Hypocritical Immigration Bill feat. Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC)

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:15:00 -0400

Maybe no state has benefitted from immigration more than Florida. From agriculture to hospitality, tourism and food service, the Sunshine State runs largely on people who either a.) are not from the U.S., or b.) have parents who were not from the U.S.

That hasn't stopped the state from putting a target on the backs of the undocumented with a brand new bill that aims to punish family, friends, social groups and churches that lend them any material aid. The bill before the Florida Legislature is maybe the most punitive in recent memory, and like so many other legislative priorities here the cruelty is the point. We talked with Paula Muñoz and Yareliz Mendez-Zamora from the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) about the bill and the man behind it, Gov. Ron DeSantis. You can learn more about FLIC at https://linktr.ee/weareflorida, and you should join their day of action this Tuesday if you can get to Tallahassee.

Interview: Angie Nixon's Florida

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

With the ripe stench of fascism in the air, we envision a future that could be better with one of the people who can help make it happen. State Rep. Angie Nixon joins us to talk about the potential for the Florida Legislature's rules to be levied against her or fellow legislators. We also got into the rightward lurch happening in the world of online black tabloid media outlets, and why it's happening.

Conversations: Trump, Tennessee, & Abortion Bans Grab-Bag Episode, feat. Anna Eskamani & Jordan Zakarin

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

You'll forgive us if we're a little distracted this week, if our attention is somewhat scattered.

In this super-sized episode, we catch up with returning guest, State Representative Anna Eskamani, to talk about her effort to cut through the media's obsession with indicted ex-presidents and turn focus on the dangerous precedents being set in places like Tallahassee and Nashville.

Later, we talk with Jordan Zakarin about Florida's most famous big-boy resident's made-for-TV arrest, the circus that he witnessed firsthand, and how news coverage could better meet these critical moments by dismissing positions that deserve to be dismissed.

You can follow Jordan on Twitter @JordanZakarin and read his work on More Perfect Union and on his Substack, Progress Report. He's also got a project alongside our own Thomas Kennedy, which is called SWORD. So go follow all that stuff!

Interview: Nice banking system you've got there, sure would be a shame if something happened to it, feat. Doug Henwood

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 10:15:00 -0400

Following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the absolute finessing that its stakeholders ran on the Fed to get all their deposits back, we talked with The Nation contributing editor Doug Henwood about what this failure means for our banking system, and how a SVB's fallout could affect folks 3,000 miles away in Florida.

Doug hosts Behind The News with Doug Henwood, which you can find here. He's also on Twitter @DougHenwood.

Case File: How Florida Missed its Chance to be Hollywood East, plus Oscars Special!

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In 1972, then-unknown actor Burt Reynolds approached Florida Gov. Reubin Askew about bringing director John Boorman's new feature, "Deliverance" to film in Florida. Askew declined, and what happened next changed the course of movie and television history. Today we explore an alternate future where Florida (and specifically Miami) became the de facto home away from home for Hollywood, the economic benefit it could have meant, and whether or not our state is too corrupt and short-sighted to support the industry.

But first, join David, Thomas and Gerald for their assorted takes from Hollywood's big night - The Oscars!

Conversation: Florida's Crushing Authoritarianism, Coming Soon to a City Near You

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Joined by Matt Lech (@MattLech) we take a look forward at the raft of legislation coming online here in Florida and the implications of how it could take hold nationally should the man behind all of it, Gov. Ron DeSantis, find his way to the Oval Office.

But before that, let's talk Twitter files, Matt Taibbi, Glenn Greenwald, and some of our other favorite free speech warriors.

You can follow Matt at Left Reckoning (www.patreon.com/leftreckoning) and also on the Majority Report.

Conversation: The Untold History of Miami Hip-Hop feat. John Cordero

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0400

In the '90s, Miami's hip-hop scene was undergoing a radical transformation that would evolve the then-Booty Bass-obsessed city into a critical outpost for a new MC/lyric-driven iteration of the genre. Names like Pitbull, DJ Khaled, DJ Raw and many more would come to define "Miami Hip-Hop" in the years after 2 Live Crew and Luther Campbell blazed trails.

John Cordero was there, editing the underground Miami rap magazine The Cypher, and this week he recounts some of the stories from his recently released retrospective, The History of Miami Hip Hop: The Story of DJ Khaled, Pitbull, DJ Craze, and Other Contributors to South Florida's Scene, which you can find on Microcosm Publishing or at your local bookseller.

We made a companion Spotify Playlist to go with this episode, which you can find here. You can follow John on Instagram @Omen305, pick up the book at Lucky Records in Wynwood, and meet him on March 18th at Soul Garden in Wynwood where he will be signing copies.

Case File: Hissin' Rick Scott & the biggest Medicare fraud that ever there was

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0400

This week we’ve prepared a comprehensive case file on maybe the highest-profile criminal occupying public office in our state, his role overseeing what has been called the largest Medicare fraud in history, how he’s used his vast fortune to buy three statewide elections despite enjoying very little popular support, and his (maybe just a bit overly ambitious) plan to run for president. Welcome to our extra-super-sized Senator Rick Scott episode, baby.

We also talked about Matt Gaetz being “exonerated” by the Department of Justice for being ick, the Doral Airborne Toxic Event, and the legislation that promises to be the final nail in the coffin of calling racists racist and calling transphobes transphobic.

Case File: Ron DeSantis' "Fix-It" Week

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:00:00 -0400

Thanks to supermajorities in the state legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis has full, unfettered control of Florida's legislative agenda -- and he's using it. Last week, DeSantis' friendly coterie of lawmakers sent him a slate of bills aimed at burnishing his national credentials for an eventual run at the Presidency.

Alongside Jason Garcia (@Jason_Garcia) from Seeking Rents, we explore DeSantis and the legislature's joint efforts to punish asylum seekers, Florida taxpayers, formerly incarcerated voters, and

We also talked with Thomas about his finger-lickin' chicken of a weekend at the expense of wife-beater Joe Carollo.

Interview: The Eric Silagy Syllogism feat. Mario Ariza

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0400

It's been a few months since we talked about the confounding case of Eric Silagy and Florida Power & Light, and while deductive reasoning could lead some folks to the conclusion that the nation's largest public utility engaged in election tampering at the behest of its CEO, we generously extend the benefit of the doubt.

We're joined on this episode by Mario Ariza (@marioarizabaez) whose recent reporting alongside the Floodlight News team presaged the announcement that Silagy will step down from his post in April. We talked about that and more on this super-sized episode.

Follow Floodlight News FloodlightNews.org.

Interview: The Case of the Missing Libraries feat. Judd Legum

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In Manatee County, teachers have their marching orders. Educators and administrators are clearing books from not just school libraries but class libraries. We talked with Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) from Popular Information about his reporting on the pressure teachers are feeling from our censorious government and education department, and the reaction they have gotten for raising red flags.

You can read more of Judd's reporting and subscribe to Popular Information at popular.info.

I Know Everything Sucks Yeah And This Is (Not) Gonna Be The Last Time You Hear Us Complain - Florida Legislative Session Preview feat. Ida Eskamani

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 08:30:00 -0400

Our humble podcast achieves the rare Eskamani Trifecta as we welcome back Ida Eskamani to help us preview what promises to be Florida's most unhinged legislative session in living memory, with GOP supermajorities in both houses and a governor focused on earning national conservative bona fides. We discuss the threats to groups like renters, LGBTQ Floridians, Black communities, and undocumented immigrants and their families.

Super fun stuff, but we wrap up on a high note with our Oscar picks.

CONVERSATION: The Orlando Trip That Nearly Took Down a KFC-Loving Brazilian President

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We’re back for a new season and year, and the Gods have smiled on us with a series of increasingly ridiculous Florida-adjacent stories. We touched on former-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s Florida winter that landed him in a hospital while his supporters in Brasilia stormed the capital. We also caught up on kitchen table issues — literally — talking about the GOP’s new fixation on gas stoves. Also, eggs, wtf.

Our main story is a local one about how members of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s are attempting to coup chairman Robert Dempster over what amounts to little more than trivial bookkeeping errors, and the real history of inter-party animosity in a county that appears to be lurching hard to the right as a hub for global fascism.

INTERVIEW: Baseled in Miami feat. Tess Davis

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0400

The United States is the largest art market in the world, and with its unique combination of rich people and light oversight, Florida is a natural nexus for art-related fraud. This week, Tess Davis, Executive Director of the Antiquities Coalition, guides us through this new and foreign world of art, antiquities, and the fraudsters who bring their chaotic energy to Art Basel Miami each year.

Come for the interview about daring art heists, stay for a rousing game of Baseled in Miami!

You can learn more about the Antiquities Coalition at theantiquitiescoalition.org and across all the social networks.

(Also, while Picasso’s Visage aux Mans has not been recovered according to the Internet, it does appear to be for sale on Sotheby’s website!)

CONVERSATION: Welcome to Shitcoin City feat. Billy Corben

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Billy Corben, director of hit documentaries like Cocaine Cowboys, The U, and most recently HULU’s God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down A Dynasty, joins us to talk about Miami’s undisputed status as the capital of crypto scams and million-dollar ape jpegs.

Come for the crypto convo where we dissect Art Basel’s role in supporting the wheezing, dying collection of scams that we consider the “crypto industry” and stay for a rousing game of Guess The Grifter, the new quiz show that was made just for Miami.

You can follow Billy on Twitter @BillyCorben and you can stream God Forbid now on HULU and Disney+.

CASE FILE: The Thanksgiving Day Merhige Murders & Florida’s Mental Health Crisis

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 01:00:00 -0400

A bit of a palette cleanser from politics and midterm elections this week. It’s Thanksgiving week, and we’ve pulled a story from the annals of Florida’s violent recent past that centers on one family’s tragic holiday, a salacious story that may have retreated from public memory but one that we hope to use as a backdoor to talk about the state of mental healthcare in Florida.

But first, we kick off the week with three big stories from Florida that will make you, too, ask the question, "Why Are We Like This?"

Follow Thomas Kennedy @Tomaskenn. Follow David Quiñones @david_quinones. Follow Gerald Doherty @TostoneSopran.

Music in this episode is by David Rosen.

INTERVIEW: Why Are Florida Democrats Like This? feat. Kartik Krishnaiyer

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0400

(Ok, you'll probably notice that we recorded this shortly after the midterm elections, as various races that are now settled were still up in the air. But we turned out to be right so stick a sock in it.)

With the midterm elections a week in the rearview and a bit of perspective, we talked with Kartik Krishnaiyer (@kkfla) of the Florida Squeeze (@Flasqueeze) about the disastrous failures of the Florida Democratic Party to mount anything resembling a fight in the recent cycle and what that portends for the future. We got into the shambolic Party leadership, weak candidates, corrupt consultant class, and other variables that diminished Democrat outcomes in Florida. Can it be reversed? What would that look like? Listen to find out!

CONVERSATION: Fumbling the Bag & Immigration — How the GOP Locked Up Florida While Underperforming Nationally

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Following yet another crushing defeat for Florida Democrats, we caught up with Danny Rivero (@TooMuchMe), a Miami journalist at NPR affiliate WLRN to figure out exactly why our politics are like this.

One issue that Democrats ceded ground on was immigration, where conservative narratives dominated, centering around crime, demonization, and midnight flights to Martha’s Vineyard. Danny talked with us about the contemporary landscape of immigration as a political football, and about his limited podcast series Detention By Design, exploring the dark history of the US’s use of prisons to detain tens of thousands of immigrants today.

INTERVIEW: Of Mice and Men Who Are Into Men feat. Ida Eskamani

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400

We talked with Ida V. Eskamani (@ida_v_e) about Florida's place in the war on LGBTQ+ rights, and the moving target that is straight-cisgendered hate for nonbinary people. Schools and scholastic sports are the new battlegrounds, and it all comes to a head with the passage of the "Don't Say Gay" bill in 2022.

INTERVIEW: The Deeply Corrupt Status Quo of Tallahassee feat Ryan Ray

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400

There’s machine politics, and there’s micro-machine politics. In Florida’s state capital, you can find both right across the street from each other.

Ryan Ray, Aide to Tallahassee city commissioner Jeremy Matlow, stopped by to discuss his boss’s efforts to address rampant corruption that has seen high-profile prosecutions and indictments. We got into the push to take Tallahassee back from a powerful group of political elites and a class of consultants who see public service as little more than their own personal ATM.

We also veered into the topic of how the City of Tallahassee's proximity to state power can be a toxic pollutant for municipal governance and the culture at city hall.

You can follow Ryan on Twitter @RyanRay_Fla. Ryan is also helping Josh Johnson in Johnson's run for Leon County Commission, so check out voteforjosh.org and lend a hand if you can.

You can follow WAWLT on Twitter @WAWLTShow.

This episode features music by David Rosen, @ByDavidRosen.

CASE FILE: Florida Power & Light’s Corrupt Election Hustle

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:21:52 -0400

“I want you to make his life a living hell. Seriously.”

The quote is from a 2019 email the chief executive of Florida Power & Light, Eric Silagy, about Florida State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, who had been a thorn in the side of the utility monopoly. Rodriguez was pushing policy reforms that would allow Florida consumers to more easily access solar power outside the confines of FPL’s monopoly.

One year later, Rodriguez was out of a job, the victim of an actual election fraud, where dark money operatives funded a ghost candidate with the same last name. In an election that featured more than 200,000 votes, the difference came down to 32 votes.

In this case file, we talk with Alissa Jean Schafer (@alissajean) about how FPL has affected political outcomes via media and elections to further their own interests at the expense of their customers. It goes deeper and gets dirtier than you can imagine.

You can follow WAWLT on Twitter @WAWLTShow.

This episode features music by David Rosen, @ByDavidRosen.

The post CASE FILE: Florida Power & Light’s Corrupt Election Hustle first appeared on Why Are We Like This?.

CONVERSATION: The Ron DeSantis Riddle Feat. Jordan Zakarin

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

With our guest Jordan Zakarin from More Perfect Union, we dive into the enigma that is Florida’s Governor and his myriad scandals, missteps and misadventures.

You can follow Jordan @jordanzakarin and subscribe to Progress Report here.

You can follow WAWLT on Twitter @WAWLTShow.

This episode features music by David Rosen, @ByDavidRosen.

The post CONVERSATION: The Ron DeSantis Riddle Feat. Jordan Zakarin first appeared on Why Are We Like This?.

INTERVIEW: Education Part II feat. Jennifer Berkshire

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Following last week’s conversation and exploration of education, we talked with Jennifer Berkshire, a journalist and podcaster who covers education policy and politics. Along with her co-host Jack Schneider, she co-authored “A Wolf At The Schoolhouse Door” in 2020. Her podcast — Have You Heard — has helped many a parent like me navigate the recent acrimony and decline of public education in a post-COVID world. You can follow her on Twitter @BisForBerkshire, and you can subscribe to her show’s Patreon on patreon.com/haveyouheardpodcast.

You can follow WAWLT on Twitter @WAWLTShow.

This episode features music by David Rosen, @ByDavidRosen.

The post INTERVIEW: Education Part II feat. Jennifer Berkshire first appeared on Why Are We Like This?.

CASE FILE: Proud Boy’ing Our Public Schools

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 21:00:00 -0400

This is the story of a multi-million dollar heist of taxpayer funds into private hands that has played out for more than a decade and shows no sign of slowing down. As the school calendar flips throughout Florida, we look at how Charter Schools and “school choice” have successfully played into the American (and Floridian) dual ethoses of “freedom” and “choice, creating a system where there’s no freedom to fix what’s broken and the only choices are bad.

We explore the powerful, well-funded political project that aims to harness conservative anxiety and grievance into an anti-education movement, molding American secondary schools into a caste system where the kids with means pay for-profit schools for the privilege of attending a decent school, and the rest get the underfunded, neglected leftovers. Sure, they’re undermining the public/community school model that has educated generations of kids, but who’s profiting from it?

Our guest is Jen Cousins (@JenCousinsFL), founding member of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, which can be followed on Twitter @FLFreedomRead, and the Students’ Rights Coalition, @SRCforEd.

You can follow WAWLT on Twitter @WAWLTShow.

This episode features music by David Rosen, @ByDavidRosen.

The post CASE FILE: Proud Boy’ing Our Public Schools first appeared on Why Are We Like This?.

CONVERSATION: A People’s History of the Sunshine State feat. Matt Christman

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:42:00 -0400

Before its bloody and violent present, Florida had a bloody and violent past of colonial brutality, racially motivated terrorism, and politically motivated bombings (oh, the bombings!).

We spent an hour talking with Matt Christman from Chapo Trap House about how Florida became what it is today, and, as a conservative political project, what it portends for the U.S. at-large.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @cushbomb and you can find Chapo Trap House at www.chapotraphouse.com. The Chapo boys are coming to Fort Lauderdale’s REVOLUTION on Oct. 30, their first and probably only live show in Florida, so get tickets here.

You can follow WAWLT on Twitter @WAWLTShow.

This episode features music by David Rosen, @ByDavidRosen.

The post CONVERSATION: A People’s History of the Sunshine State feat. Matt Christman first appeared on Why Are We Like This?.

So, Why Are We Like This, Anyway?

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400

As a coda for this new show, we take a 10k foot view of why Florida is the way it is, the forces conspiring to implement creeping authoritarianism in recent years, the anti-democratic sentiment guiding right-wing “culture”, its status as a laboratory for the American conservative project, and how bulwarks like Miami-Dade, Broward and Central Florida are barely holding on.

And the whole conspiracy starts with one uninsured bungalow in Coral Gables…

This week’s guest is Anna Eskamani. You can follow her @AnnaForFlorida.

You can follow WAWLT on Twitter @WAWLTShow.

This episode features music by David Rosen, @ByDavidRosen.

The post So, Why Are We Like This, Anyway? first appeared on Why Are We Like This?.

Why Are We Like This – Coming September

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 21:14:07 -0400

The true crime podcast where Florida is an active crime scene. Politics, culture, history, crooked cops, scumbag politicians, zombies and more. Join hosts Thomas Kennedy, Gerald Doherty and David Quiñones as we get to the bottom of America’s id and answer the question, “Why Are We Like This?”

Subscribe today and visit www.wawlt.com for more.

The post Why Are We Like This – Coming September first appeared on Why Are We Like This?.