Florida was once the swing state that presidential elections hinged on. But over the last few decades, it has turned redder and redder. This week we’re joined by writer, educator and Progressive South board member Alfred Soto to talk about what has happened to his home state — and what (if anything) he sees that gives him hope.
Also: School vouchers! As they roll out in ever more expansive forms across most of the South, we take a look at the shifting rationale behind them. First sold as a way to give options to low-income families, they are increasingly talked about in hazier terms of freedom for all — including wealthy families who already send their kids to private schools. Who’s really benefiting from them?
And in the arts and culture segment, we look at the desecration by the Trump and DeSantis administrations of a memorial to the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre.
Show Notes:
“School Choice Facts & Statistics” EdChoice
“A Betsy DeVos-backed group helps fuel a rapid expansion of public money for private schools” NBC News
“Kentucky voters rejected proposals to allow tax dollars to go to private schools”
“Tennessee to give more average per-pupil funding to voucher participants than public school students” Chalkbeat
https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2025/08/19/voucher-amoung-public-school-funding-formula-tisa
“Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here’s how they will work.” The Texas Tribune
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/03/texas-school-vouchers-greg-abbott-signs
“Why Florida school vouchers can pay for Disney tickets, TVs while draining billions from public schools” WESH
Private School Review
https://www.privateschoolreview.com/tuition-stats/tennessee
“The Role of Government in Education” Milton Friedman
https://la.utexas.edu/users/hcleaver/330T/350kPEEFriedmanRoleOfGovttable.pdf
“Florida removes rainbow crosswalk honouring Pulse nightclub victims” BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62wjjpxdq0o
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer response X.com
“Only When I’m Dancing Can I Feel This Free” Alfred Soto (MTV News)