The Florida Roundup Encore: Winter reading special
Jan 2, 2026
Join Carl Hiaasen, a celebrated journalist and novelist known for his witty take on Florida's quirks, as he delves into his latest thriller, "Fever Beach," exploring themes of extremism and environmental greed. Michael Grunwald shares insights on the climate crisis connected to agriculture, urging a shift in our diets to lessen emissions. Meanwhile, Danny Rivero discusses the complex landscape of voting rights in Florida post-Amendment 4, unpacking the nuances that shape who gets to vote. It's an engaging look at literature, politics, and environmental challenges.
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Driveway Hate Inspires Fiction
- Carl Hiaasen found an antisemitic Ziploc bag on his driveway that inspired part of Fever Beach.
- He imagined two idiots stuffing rice-filled slurs into mailboxes and turned them into novel characters.
Florida's Fertile Ground For Extremism
- Hiaasen links Florida's role in extremist movements to local cells and high January 6th participation.
- He argues shallow, reflexive hate keeps shifting targets and fuels ongoing political violence.
Staying To Fight For Florida
- Hiaasen writes Florida because he cares uniquely about the place and its people.
- He stays to fight local abuses and believes leaving would abandon the struggle to protect Florida.