Talking Central Florida

Talking Central Florida 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.

05/20/2026

Elections officials in Central Florida are working to implement the new congressional map passed by the legislature. Sam Stockbridge of Central Florida Public Media discusses how county elections supervisors are working to meet tight deadlines to ensure everything is ready in time for voting this year.

Talking Central Florida airs Wednesday evenings at 6:30 on Central Florida Public Media - find it on podcast platforms and YouTube. A production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-central-florida/id1875365101

05/20/2026

Seminole County Public Schools officials are facing a budget shortfall, resulting in the loss of hundreds of positions. Seminole County reporters Abe Aboraya of the Oviedo Community News and Catherine Silver of News 6 WKMG / ClickOrlando discuss the reasons behind the crunch and the pressure to balance finances amid uncertainty over state funding.

Talking Central Florida airs Wednesday evenings at 6:30 on Central Florida Public Media - find it on podcast platforms and YouTube. A production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-central-florida/id1875365101

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05/20/2026

Sam Stockbridge from Central Florida Public Media discusses how elections supervisors are working to meet tight deadlines following the recent redrawing of the state’s congressional map, along with concerns over security at the polls.

Then, Catherine Silver from News 6 WKMG / ClickOrlando and Abe Aboraya from the Oviedo Community News break down staffing cuts at Seminole County Public Schools, and the contentious debate over a toll road to Sanford Airport.

Show notes:

Florida Division of Elections - Vote-by-Mail information: https://dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/vote-by-mail/

Election leaders scrambling to inform voters on new congressional map amid lawsuits (Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-05-07/leaders-scrambling-redistricting-lawsuits

Three county elections supervisors get real about safety and security ahead of 2026 midterm elections (VoxPopuli): https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/three-county-elections-supervisors-get-real-about-safety-and-security-ahead-of-2026-midterm-elections

Requests for vote-by-mail ballots lag ahead of August primary (Orlando Sentinel): https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/07/requests-for-vote-by-mail-ballots-lag-ahead-of-august-primary/

Judge to hear challenge to new congressional districts (Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-05-14/judge-redistricting-2026-preview

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Final tally: Seminole County Public Schools cuts 314 jobs while facing a looming deficit (Oviedo Community News): https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2026/05/14/final-tally-seminole-county-public-schools-cuts-314-jobs-while-facing-a-looming-deficit/

All three Seminole County school board election races contested in 2026 (Oviedo Community News): https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2026/04/22/all-three-seminole-county-school-board-election-races-contested-in-2026/

Seminole County Public Schools bans out-of-state and overnight field trips, or did they? (Oviedo Community News): https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2026/04/15/seminole-county-public-schools-bans-out-of-state-and-overnight-field-trips-or-did-they/

Seminole County parents speak out as Teacher of the Year, veteran teachers lose contracts (WKMG News 6): https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/05/13/seminole-county-parents-speak-out-as-teacher-of-the-year-veteran-teachers-lose-contracts/

**

Seminole County earmarks $25M for SR-417 extension to Sanford airport (WKMG News 6): https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic/2026/02/24/seminole-county-earmarks-25m-for-sr-417-extension-to-sanford-airport/

Winter Springs Commission declines airport road funding – for now (Oviedo Community News): https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2026/05/13/winter-springs-commission-declines-airport-road-funding-for-now/

Oviedo declines to offer gas tax money for 417 connector to airport (Oviedo Community News): https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2026/04/29/oviedo-declines-to-offer-gas-tax-money-for-417-connector-to-airport/

05/13/2026

As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission temporarily halts sloth imports to Florida amid calls for changes to permitting rules, Molly Duerig from Central Florida Public Media joins Steve Mort to discuss the existing regulations surrounding exotic animals brought into the state. Plus, the latest on the condition of the sloths being treated at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, and the next steps in their care.

Then, Cristóbal Reyes from the Orlando Sentinel discusses the legal showdown over the detention of migrant detainees without bond hearings, and how the issue is likely headed to the US Supreme Court.

05/13/2026

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is temporarily prohibiting the importation of sloths into the state following the deaths of dozens of the animals that were intended to be part of a tourist attraction in Orlando. Molly Duerig from Central Florida Public Media discusses the care of the surviving sloths at the Central Florida Zoo and their potential future placement.

Talking Central Florida airs tonight [Wednesday] at 6:30 on Central Florida Public Media - find it on podcast platforms and YouTube. A production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-central-florida/id1875365101

05/13/2026

Cristóbal Reyes from the Orlando Sentinel discusses the legal showdown over the detention of migrant detainees without bond hearings, and how the issue is likely headed to the US Supreme Court.

Talking Central Florida airs tonight [Wednesday] at 6:30 on Central Florida Public Media - find it on podcast platforms and YouTube. A production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-central-florida/id1875365101

05/06/2026

Tristan Wood from WFSU Public Media in Tallahassee joins Talking Central Florida to discuss the legal fight ahead over Florida’s new congressional map passed last week by the legislature.

Then, Skyler Swisher from the Orlando Sentinel and Norine Dworkin join host Steve Mort to look at the impact of redistricting on Central Florida and other key congressional races in the region.

Plus, why two judicial races in Orange County now won’t appear on the ballot this year following a last-minute series of appointments by the governor.

Show notes:

Florida lawmakers pass a voting map that could help Republicans flip 4 House seats (WFSU/NPR): https://news.wfsu.org/npr-news/2026-04-29/florida-lawmakers-pass-a-voting-map-that-could-help-republicans-flip-4-house-seats

Tristan Wood’s reporting for WFSU: https://news.wfsu.org/tristan-wood

U.S. Rep. Soto will run for reelection, even in new GOP-friendly district (Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-05-01/soto-decides-new-district

Legal issues around new districts leave map and voters in limbo (Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-04-30/legal-issues-new-districts

The story behind the Stop Sabatini SuperPAC (VoxPopuli): https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/the-story-behind-the-stop-sabatini-superpac

Politicos sound off on Florida’s new district map (VoxPopuli): https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/politicos-sound-off-on-floridas-new-district-map

Rep. Daniel Webster will not seek re-election (VoxPopuli):
https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/rep-daniel-webster-will-not-stand-for-re-election

Two Orange County Court elections canceled days before qualifying period began (VoxPopuli):
https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/two-orange-county-court-elections-canceled-days-before-qualifying-period-began




05/06/2026

Skyler Swisher from the Orlando Sentinel joins host Steve Mort to discuss President Trump’s support in The Villages, key congressional races in Central Florida, and the potential impact of redistricting in the region.

Talking Central Florida airs tonight [Wednesday] at 6:30 on Central Florida Public Media - find it on podcast platforms and YouTube. A production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-central-florida/id1875365101

05/06/2026

Two local judicial races in Orange County won’t appear on the ballot this year after a last-minute series of appointments by the governor shook up the field. Norine Dworkin, Editor-in-Chief of VoxPopuli, says the elevation of two sitting county judges to the Ninth Circuit - both of whom were running for reelection - triggered a constitutional process that shifts those county court vacancies to gubernatorial control, removing them from voter consideration this election cycle. Tonight on Talking Central Florida, Dworkin explains why the timing matters.

Talking Central Florida airs tonight [Wednesday] at 6:30 on Central Florida Public Media - find it on podcast platforms and YouTube. A production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-central-florida/id1875365101

05/06/2026

WFSU's Tristan Wood in Tallahassee joins Talking Central Florida to discuss the legal fight ahead over Florida’s new congressional map passed last week by the legislature.

Talking Central Florida airs tonight [Wednesday] at 6:30 on Central Florida Public Media - find it on podcast platforms and YouTube. A production of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-central-florida/id1875365101

04/29/2026

Kimberly Leonard, author of Politico’s Florida Playbook, joins Talking Central Florida to outline the DeSantis administration’s defense of a redrawn congressional map that could net Republicans four more seats, and how opponents argue it runs afoul of Florida’s “Fair Districts” amendments. Plus, the Florida House kills the governor’s hopes of passing an AI “bill of rights” and expanding vaccine exemptions.

Then, Ryan Gillespie from the Orlando Sentinel and Massiel Leyva from Spectrum News 13 join host Steve Mort to discuss Orange County’s moves to change its agreement with the federal government on ICE detainees at the county jail, and plans for a new facility in east Orange County to support a growing homeless population in the area.

SHOW NOTES:

2026 Congressional Redistricting Map: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Redistricting/Congressional

Bill: SB 8-D: Establishing the Congressional Districts of the State:
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026D/8D

Orange County further restricts ICE’s use of its jail (Orlando Sentinel):
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/21/orange-county-further-restricts-ices-use-of-its-jail/

Commissioners vote to terminate section of IGSA pertaining to ICE immigrant detainees (Spectrum News 13): https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/04/22/orange-county-commissioners-vote-to-terminate-section-of-igsa-pertaining-to-ice-immigrant-detainees

Orange County commissioners OK resolution opposing use of warehouses for ICE detention facilities (Spectrum News 13):
https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/03/11/orange-county-commissioners-approve-resolution-opposing-the-use-of-warehouses-for-ice-detention-facilities-in-the-county

Activists want Orlando to take tougher stance against rumored ICE ‘warehouse (Orlando Sentinel):
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/06/activists-want-orlando-to-take-tougher-stance-against-ice-detention-center/

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