PlatPhorm Podcasts

PlatPhorm Podcasts

Florida Matters Live & Local

Florida Matters tackles tough issues, highlights little-known stories from our part of the world, and provides a greater perspective of what it means to live in the Sunshine State. Join us each week as we journey across the state to explore the issues important to Floridians and cover the challenges facing our community and our state. Listen to the show on WUSF 89.7 Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

17 indexed itemsLanguage not specifiedSource activeFormat not declaredLast published 10/22/2026

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How the World Series-bound Tampa Bay Rays play ball on and off the field artwork

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How the World Series-bound Tampa Bay Rays play ball on and off the field

Florida Matters Live & Local

Perhaps lost amid the fervor of the team reaching the World Series is the reality that professional sports are built on big finance and politics.

Angie Nixon makes her case for a U.S. Senate seat, and remembering the late Joe Redner artwork

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Angie Nixon makes her case for a U.S. Senate seat, and remembering the late Joe Redner

Florida Matters Live & Local

State Rep. Angie Nixon is running for U.S. Senate and pulling enthusiastic crowds as she campaigns. Still, it’s a tough battle as a Democrat from the left wing of her party in a deep red state. She talks about her plans.

Why the Seminole Tribe and DraftKings are at odds, and the psychology of a good scare artwork

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Why the Seminole Tribe and DraftKings are at odds, and the psychology of a good scare

Florida Matters Live & Local

In a lawsuit, the Seminole Tribe is accusing DraftKings of operating in violation of the Tribe’s longstanding gambling compact with the state. The app disagrees. We’re wagering you’ll learn a lot from this segment.

Florida's Black vote is more complex than polls show, and roller coaster safety artwork

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Florida's Black vote is more complex than polls show, and roller coaster safety

Florida Matters Live & Local

Byron Donalds could be the first Black governor of Florida, but polls are showing that it may not matter to most Black voters when they fill in their ballots.

Factors that affect a food pantry's goal, and businesses opposing the SoHo flood project artwork

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Factors that affect a food pantry's goal, and businesses opposing the SoHo flood project

Florida Matters Live & Local

What are the challenges to running a food bank, particularly when there are high fuel prices and high grocery prices to contend with? The shelves of a local pantry ran dry multiple times last month.

Foreclosure pressures grow on homeowners, and the big debate over four vaccines artwork

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Foreclosure pressures grow on homeowners, and the big debate over four vaccines

Florida Matters Live & Local

For some people, the math of a mortgage doesn’t add up the way it used to. We were curious about the financial pressures homeowners are currently facing in Florida.

A historical motto or painful reminder on driver's licenses? Also, razing Tampa's past artwork

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A historical motto or painful reminder on driver's licenses? Also, razing Tampa's past

Florida Matters Live & Local

The licenses now feature an orange, a manatee and a phrase that’s drawing some criticism: “Let Us Alone,” from the 1845 Florida flag. Why are those words getting pushback?

SNAP changes and the impact of food banks, plus a media merger with warning flags artwork

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SNAP changes and the impact of food banks, plus a media merger with warning flags

Florida Matters Live & Local

There are changes to eligibility which could make it more challenging for SNAP recipients. In turn, local food banks are feeling the pressure of increased demand.

Trop site's future awaits winner of St. Petersburg's mayoral race, and Brightline’s bankruptcy artwork

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Trop site's future awaits winner of St. Petersburg's mayoral race, and Brightline’s bankruptcy

Florida Matters Live & Local

In a few weeks, the city will decide between Ken Welch or Charlie Crist. Among the winner's bigger challenges: redevelopment of the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant Site after the Tampa Bay Rays jump to Tampa.

In search of accountability in the Hope Florida saga, and SpaceX launches artwork

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In search of accountability in the Hope Florida saga, and SpaceX launches

Florida Matters Live & Local

A grand jury investigation into Hope Florida and a $10 million Medicaid misappropriation left Floridians with plenty of questions. Many remained unanswered. One of the reporters who broke the story does his best.

Insight from the WUSF reporters behind ‘The Cost of Power’ series, and taking charge of AI artwork

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Insight from the WUSF reporters behind ‘The Cost of Power’ series, and taking charge of AI

Florida Matters Live & Local

If you compare your electric bill from last month to one from a few years ago, you’d probably see a jump. Our three-part investigation digs into why. The reporters tell us how they dug.

Kathy Castor converses on cost of housing, and how student-athletes can play it safe artwork

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Kathy Castor converses on cost of housing, and how student-athletes can play it safe

Florida Matters Live & Local

The congresswoman talks about a bipartisan bill to bring about more affordable housing and lower mortgage rates. Also, how do student-athletes focus on sports and academics while staying healthy?

The debate over debates in Florida elections, and learning campaign finance loopholes artwork

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The debate over debates in Florida elections, and learning campaign finance loopholes

Florida Matters Live & Local

For the first time in 50 years, there may be no debate between the leading candidates in the race for Florida governor.

Parents trapped in a temporary foster care 'side door,' and Florida hunting prep artwork

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Parents trapped in a temporary foster care 'side door,' and Florida hunting prep

Florida Matters Live & Local

We learn more about a Tampa Bay Times investigation that found a "side door" in the foster care system that can leave parents struggling to reunite with their children.

Poring over the Amendment 3 property tax measure, and a dengue update artwork

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Poring over the Amendment 3 property tax measure, and a dengue update

Florida Matters Live & Local

One thing all Florida voters will get to decide on Nov. 3: Whether to reduce property taxes. On this episode, we examine the possible effect on fire rescue services and community growth planning.

A good day to walk or bike (and not drive), and Florida’s fascinating role in film artwork

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A good day to walk or bike (and not drive), and Florida’s fascinating role in film

Florida Matters Live & Local

Biking and walking advocates in Tampa are gathering this weekend to spread the word about going car-free. And before L.A. became America’s movie-making hub, our state was "Hollywood East."

Pinellas County School District weighs closures and mergers, more on FWC surveillance artwork

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Pinellas County School District weighs closures and mergers, more on FWC surveillance

Florida Matters Live & Local

The school district may have to close a number of campuses and merge others. District officials have difficult choices confronting them amid concerns for students, staff and teachers.