

The South Florida Roundup
WLRN News
Each week, journalists and newsmakers from South Florida analyze and debate some of the most topical issues from across the region.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 1, 2025 • 55min
South Florida's latest boating tragedy, a controversial immigration arrest and the 'Golden Age' of media
On The South Florida Roundup, we examined Monday’s traumatic collision between a barge and a sailboat in Biscayne Bay that left two children dead — and again reminded us how chaotic our local waters seem to be (01:08). We also looked at a controversial immigration arrest in Palm Beach County that mistakenly collared a young U.S. citizen — who was told he “had no rights” (19:24). And we talked with former CBS chairman and Palm Beach resident Gene Jankowski about his new media memoir (36:09).

Jul 25, 2025 • 55min
'Dehumanizing' conditions at immigrant detention facilities, DeSantis' DOGE threats and WLRN's 'History We Call Home' series
On The South Florida Roundup, we examined a scathing new study that calls conditions in South Florida’s migrant detention centers “dehumanizing” — and getting worse as the Trump administration keeps filling them up [01:09]. We also spoke with the mayor of Broward County, whose budget is being targeted by Governor Ron DeSantis’ state version of DOGE [20:04]. And our WLRN reporters mark the centennial anniversaries of South Florida’s cities — and their rich stories, from Pearl City to Al Capone [35:27].

Jul 18, 2025 • 55min
Mayor Levine Cava on Miami-Dade's budget, Brightline's death toll and immigration crackdown hits assisted-living facilities
On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we spoke with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava about her proposed budget for the new fiscal year [1:09]. We also talked to two reporters behind Killer Train, WLRN and the Miami Herald’s new podcast and reporting series on Brightline [22:36]. And we asked how the Trump administration’s immigration agenda is affecting a South Florida assisted-living facility [37:18].

Jul 11, 2025 • 55min
First arrivals at Alligator Alcatraz, end of TPS for Haitians and Key West's ICE partnership
On this week's South Florida Roundup episode, we talked with the reporters who’ve heard from the first inmates at Florida’s controversial new migrant detention center out in the Everglades, Alligator Alcatraz — a place Miami-Dade County’s mayor says “is not who we are” (1:08). We also discussed how Haitians and other migrants here are coping with President Trump’s efforts to strip them of their deportation protections (20:50). And we looked at why Key West did a 180 on partnering with the feds on immigration (35:45).

Jul 4, 2025 • 55min
Encore: Miami author on her Pulitzer-winning Harriet Tubman book, South Florida's new boating laws and Florida's weak patriotism
On The South Florida Roundup for this Fourth of July weekend, we revisited our Memorial Day weekend conversation with Miami native Edda Fields-Black about her Pulitzer Prize-winning history of Harriet Tubman and a pivotal Civil War raid (01:08). We also examined Lucy’s Law, which strengthens the state’s boating codes after Luciana Fernandez’s tragic death (19:34). And we looked at how we measure patriotism — and why Florida keeps finishing near the bottom in one patriotism survey (34:18).

Jun 27, 2025 • 55min
Alligator Alcatraz, development in Fort Lauderdale's Sistrunk and a blow to gender-affirming care
On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at Alligator Alcatraz which has gone from out-there idea to reality in less than a week. Miami-Dade County is pushing back and so are environmental groups as construction begins in the Everglades [01:09]. We also headed to Fort Lauderdale, where Sistrunk Boulevard, a historically Black neighborhood in the city’s downtown, is hailed as a development darling, but is all that new growth hurting the people who live there [19:19]? And, we discussed a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that may have a chilling effect on gender affirming care nationwide. How does that impact the community in South Florida [37:11]?

Jun 20, 2025 • 55min
South Florida's immigration crisis, the last voices of the Holocaust and The Panthers' 2nd Stanley Cup
On the South Florida Roundup, we assessed another week of immigration controversy — from Miami’s vote to partner with the feds to Florida’s plan to build a migrant detention center in the Everglades that’s being called Alligator Alcatraz [1:08]. We also spoke to a South Florida journalist who’s recording what the last surviving witnesses of the Holocaust have to tell us — here, today [20:38]. And we saluted our repeat Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, who’ve made us the hottest thing on ice [35:51].

Jun 14, 2025 • 55min
Protests against Trump's deportation crusade, Miami Beach wants the Metromover and a FIFA Club World Cup preview
On the South Florida Roundup, we unpacked a tumultuous week — and what may be a tumultuous weekend — involving America’s and South Florida’s angry dispute over President Trump’s migrant deportation crusade (0:09). We also examined why a new poll shows the denizens of Miami Beach favor a Metromover connection to Miami — even if their mayor and city commissioners don’t (20:44). And we previewed the soccer Club World Cup kicking off in Miami and around the U.S. Saturday (35:07).

Jun 6, 2025 • 55min
Trump's new travel bans, how federal cuts will hit hurricane forecasting and a mayor's lawsuit to keep ICE out
On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at President Trump’s new travel bans and restrictions — and the impact, if not the insult, it’s registering in our Haitian, Venezuelan and Cuban communities (01:08). We also talked with acclaimed NBC 6 meteorologist John Morales about his concerns that Trump’s budget cuts could have weathermen like him “flying blind” this hurricane season (20:02). And we heard from South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez about his suit to keep his cops out of immigration enforcement(35:40).

May 30, 2025 • 55min
A look ahead at hurricane season: Storm forecast, property insurance and emergency management in the Keys
On The South Florida Roundup, we said hello to another hurricane season. Forecasters — the ones still employed — again expect an above-average roster of named storms, from Andrea to Wendy, including as many as five major hurricanes (01:08). But here are two big questions if one of them hits us: Will your overpriced windstorm policy actually cover the damage anymore (19:05)? And with FEMA funding and staffing on the ropes, what will storm response look like in storm-prone places like the Keys (34:51)?


