The Florida Supreme Court — sometimes derided as a highly partisan jurisprudential backwater — deserves immense credit for keeping our much-mocked home state mostly decent of late. In December it issued a thoughtful opinion establishing  a proper balance between constitutional principle and the popular will when it took up a pair of redistricting cases known […]

Let me state it up front. I have stopped watching MSNBC in the last six months almost entirely, though I consider myself a strong liberal. I have typically gotten my news from sources like NPR, the PBS News Hour, the Guardian, the BBC, etc while reading magazines like the New Republic and the Nation. MSNBC […]

On Thursday TFS will launch a  six-part weekly audio series as part of our  podcast that will be released each Thursday afternoon between January 9th and February 13th.  The series will preview State Legislative and Congressional races throughout the state. We will begin this Thursday with a look at North Florida races and a look […]

Yesterday we took a look at Governor Charlie Crist’s record on issues of environmental protection. However this record is contradicted by his  record on growth management. Much like Crist’s other positions, a web of conflicts dots his public record and the zig zags are easily explained by what election was upcoming and the political climate […]

Today’s Google Doodle is dedicated to a great Floridian Zora Neale Hurston who was born on this day in 1891. She moved to Florida at three and spent the bulk of her life afterwards in the Sunshine State. As one of the great African-American authors of all-time she made an invaluable contribution to African-American literature […]

Two hundred years ago this November an important battle in American History, which held ensure the success of General Andrew Jackson’s campaign against the British on the Gulf Coast took place in Florida. This campaign culminated in the Battle of New Orleans, arguably the greatest victory in American military history. In 1814, Pensacola and Florida […]

During Charlie Crist’s previous tenure as Governor he irked many of his fellow Republicans with his advocacy of environmental protection. Time and again Crist defied his party on the environment , though I still feel he could have been stronger particularly on water issues which have the potential to overwhelm Florida’s politicians in the next […]

In recent days the controversy about Edward Snowden has reached a fever pitch with media outlets such as the New York Times weighing in on the case for clemency.  While it can certainly be argued that Mr. Snowden provided a valuable service to the American public by serving as a whistle-blower it can also be […]

Exactly a year ago on December 31st when running for Chairwoman, Allison Tant released her blueprint for that she would do as Chair of the party. Let’s take a look at each point and how the Chairwoman and the party has fared.  My commentary is in bold italics. Please keep in mind Tant’s blueprint was […]

Great piece from All Things Considered on NPR about the potentially bleak future of Florida Citrus industry.