Talking Central Florida host Steve Mort gets in-depth analysis from the journalists covering our region's most important issues. The show is a production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.
Talking Central Florida
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Podcast Overview
Talking Central Florida host Steve Mort gets in-depth analysis from the journalists covering our region's most important issues. The show is a production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.
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Publishing Since
2/18/2026
1 verified contact email on file for Talking Central Florida
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Recent Episodes
June 24, 2026
What Could Local Governments Lose if Florida Voters Approve Property Tax Cuts?
<p class="p1">This week on Talking Central Florida, Ryan Gillespie from the Orlando Sentinel and Sam Stockbridge from Central Florida Public Media join host Steve Mort to discuss projections for what cities and counties could lose if voters approve property tax cuts in November.</p> <p class="p1">Plus, the panel looks at the race for Orange County mayor and whether Governor Ron DeSantis may get to appoint a replacement for District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who is one of the candidates running to succeed Jerry Demings.</p> <p class="p1">And Republican State Representative Paula Stark is suing to be placed on the ballot in House District 47 after failing to qualify amid a dispute over paperwork.</p> <p class="p1">Show notes:</p> <p class="p1">Local governments brace for property tax cuts (Central Florida Public Media): <a href= "https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-02/governments-brace-property-cuts"> https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-02/governments-brace-property-cuts</a></p> <p class="p1">Florida economists project cities and counties to lose $12 billion under property tax plan (Orlando Sentinel): <a href= "https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/15/florida-economists-project-cities-and-counties-to-lose-12-billion-under-property-tax-plan/"> https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/15/florida-economists-project-cities-and-counties-to-lose-12-billion-under-property-tax-plan/</a></p> <p class="p1">How much would Florida homeowners save under proposed tax cut? (Orlando Sentinel): <a href= "https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/07/how-much-would-florida-homeowners-save-under-proposed-tax-cut/"> https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/07/how-much-would-florida-homeowners-save-under-proposed-tax-cut/</a></p> <p class="p1">Commissioners hope to educate, not advocate, on property tax measure (Central Florida Public Media): <a href= "https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-09/commissioners-educate-advocate-tax"> https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-09/commissioners-educate-advocate-tax</a></p> <p class="p1">'Concerned is probably an understatement:' Florida cities brace for property tax blow (Orlando Sentinel): <a href="https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/01/concerned-is-probably-an-understatement-florida-cities-brace-for-property-tax-blow/">https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/01/concerned-is-probably-an-understatement-florida-cities-brace-for-property-tax-blow/</a></p> <p class="p1">Florida Makes a Property Tax Mistake (Wall Street Journal Opinion): <a href= "https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ron-desantis-property-tax-ballot-measure-florida-9accc6ef"> https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ron-desantis-property-tax-ballot-measure-florida-9accc6ef</a></p> <p class="p1">Map: Projected Revenue Loss for Florida School Districts and Counties Under Governor's Property Tax Reform Proposal (Florida Policy Institute): <a href= "https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/map-projected-revenue-loss-for-florida-school-districts-and-counties-under-governors-property-tax-reform-proposal"> https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/map-projected-revenue-loss-for-florida-school-districts-and-counties-under-governors-property-tax-reform-proposal</a></p> <p class="p1">***</p> <p class="p1">Orange Democrats fear state's election rules could put Republican in office (Orlando Sentinel): <a href= "https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/18/orange-democrats-fear-states-election-rules-could-put-republican-in-office/"> https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/18/orange-democrats-fear-states-election-rules-could-put-republican-in-office/</a></p> <p class="p1">Lawsuit seeks to force election this year in Orange County District 3 (Orlando Sentinel): <a href= "https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/12/lawsuits-seeks-to-force-election-this-year-in-orange-county-district-3/"> https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/12/lawsuits-seeks-to-force-election-this-year-in-orange-county-district-3/</a></p> <p class="p1">St. Cloud Rep. Stark sues to get on District 47 ballot (Central Florida Public Media): <a href= "https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-23/stark-sues-ballot-qualifying"> https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-23/stark-sues-ballot-qualifying</a></p>
June 17, 2026
A Decade After Pulse, Divisions Remain Over How to Remember the Tragedy
<p class="p1">Joe Mario Pedersen from Central Florida Public Media and Alexa Lorenzo from WFTV Channel 9 join Talking Central Florida to discuss the tenth anniversary of the shooting at Pulse and the lingering divisions over the process toward creating a permanent memorial.</p> <p class="p1">Plus, Alexa talks about her reporting on infrastructure investments at regional airports and the development of electric-powered air travel, and what it might mean for transportation in Central Florida.</p> <p class="p1">Show notes:</p> <p class="p1">Pulse Nightclub artifacts seen for first time since shooting 10 years ago (WFTV): https://www.wftv.com/news/local/pulse-nightclub-artifacts-seen-first-time-since-shooting-10-years-ago/X5QPHXIHIRFKNII7QWVBK6PEGA/</p> <p class="p1">Pulse memorial design concept (City of Orlando): <a href= "https://www.pulseorlando.org/Memorial/Memorial-Process/Design-Concept">https://www.pulseorlando.org/Memorial/Memorial-Process/Design-Concept</a></p> <p class="p1">10 years after Pulse, a community's heartache, grief, and growth (Central Florida Public Media): <a href= "https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-10/10-years-after-pulse-a-communitys-heartache-grief-and-growth">https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-06-10/10-years-after-pulse-a-communitys-heartache-grief-and-growth</a></p> <p class="p1">Pulse survivors gather for their own remembrance, cutting ties with Orlando city officials (Central Florida Public Media): <a href= "https://www.cfpublic.org/2026-06-13/pulse-survivors-gather-for-their-own-remembrance-cutting-ties-with-orlando-city-officials">https://www.cfpublic.org/2026-06-13/pulse-survivors-gather-for-their-own-remembrance-cutting-ties-with-orlando-city-officials</a></p> <p class="p1">Mother of Pulse victim tells her story of life without son for the last 10 years (Central Florida Public Media): <a href= "https://www.cfpublic.org/2026-06-12/mother-of-pulse-victim-tells-her-story-of-life-without-son-for-the-last-10-years">https://www.cfpublic.org/2026-06-12/mother-of-pulse-victim-tells-her-story-of-life-without-son-for-the-last-10-years</a></p> <p class="p1">Orlando marks 10 years since Pulse nightclub tragedy (WFTV): <a href= "https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orlando-marks-10-years-since-pulse-nightclub-tragedy/HH3HH6P65BHOJIIIVABK6MPKME/">https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orlando-marks-10-years-since-pulse-nightclub-tragedy/HH3HH6P65BHOJIIIVABK6MPKME/</a></p> <p class="p1">Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reflects on Pulse memorial handling after 10 years (WFTV): https://www.wftv.com/news/orlando-mayor-buddy-dyer-reflects-pulse-memorial-handling-after-10-years/170a9046-845c-42ed-9996-5bbb513861d5/</p>
June 3, 2026
The Story Behind the Story of the Disney-DeSantis Fight
<p class="p1">Gabrielle Russon from Florida Politics joins Talking Central Florida to discuss her recent piece, "The Untold Story of Ron DeSantis vs. Disney."</p> <p class="p1">Court depositions from a civil lawsuit related to the clash, obtained this year by Florida Politics, reveal the stakes during the political fight over Florida's 2022 Parental Rights in Education law.</p> <p class="p1">Russon discusses the eleventh-hour development agreements approved by the outgoing Reedy Creek board before the new DeSantis-appointed board took over the governing district in 2023.</p> <p class="p1">**</p> <p class="p1">Show notes:</p> <p class="p1">The untold story of Ron DeSantis vs. Disney (Florida Politics): https://floridapolitics.com/archives/792427-the-untold-story-of-ron-desantis-vs-disney-world</p> <p class="p1">In 2024, Disney considered building hotels inside the Magic Kingdom, records show (Florida Politics): https://floridapolitics.com/archives/788037-scoop-in-2024-disney-considered-building-hotels-inside-the-magic-kingdom-records-show/</p>
18 total episodes available
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