Holly Baltz, editor and reporter at Stet News and former Palm Beach Post investigative editor, joins Michael Williams and Brian Crowley to examine the possible connection between disappearing local news coverage and the too frequent disappearance of competitive democracy in Florida. With 50 plus unopposed races in Palm Beach County alone the conversation reveals how the absence of accountability journalism leaves voters uninformed and discourages candidates from running.

Holly discusses her transition from decades at the Post to nonprofit journalism, the challenges facing credible reporting in the social media age, and why Stet News represents a sustainable model for community coverage. The discussion covers media business failures, the toxicity driving people from public service, innovative programs like Community Voices training high school students to cover city government, and a sobering reality: hundreds of Florida cities operate with zero news coverage and no one watching how tax dollars are spent.

Essential listening for anyone concerned about informed citizenship, government transparency, and the future of local accountability in Florida.

New episodes every Sunday at 9 AM.

The 2026 Florida Legislative Session is here, and the biggest fight on the table is the future of property taxes. While some leaders push for total elimination, others warn of a massive funding gap for vital local needs. Florida Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman joins Michael Williams and Brian Crowley to explain why "tax relief" might come with a catch.

In this episode:

• Property Tax Reality Check: Why "zeroing out" your bill could end local services.
• Florida DOGE: The push to audit state land buys and voucher programs.
• The 2026 Affordability Agenda: Targeted help for seniors and first-time buyers.
• Foster Care Reform: A personal bill to give kids in the system a sense of dignity.

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Your Taxes Your Money The Florida Fight

Florida House Representative Toby Overdorf, a Treasure Coast Republican joins the podcast to discuss the 2026 legislative session's biggest priorities. We break down the proposed constitutional amendments for property tax relief, the potential for Byron Donalds to succeed Ron DeSantis as Governor, and why Florida might be looking toward small modular nuclear reactors to power its AI future. Plus, a look at the return of cursive writing and the bill to finally eliminate yellow registration stickers on license plates.

🎧 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Subscribe to "Top of Mind Florida" on your favorite platform: ▶️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-of-mind-florida/id1818339119 ▶️ RSS Feed / All Platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/top-of-mind-florida/ 📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TopOfMindFlorida