CBS News Miami; host of Facing South Florida on Sundays. New York Times best selling author of The Day The World Came To Town Email:[email protected]

Miami, Florida
Joined September 2008
As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I draw solace from the kindness shown by the people of Gander, Newfoundland. Amid the darkness of that day, they were a flickering light that showed we are better when we come together and care for one another. a.co/d/0hM6RtID
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Jim DeFede retweeted
Florida Republicans are so desperate to stop voters from hearing about Hope Florida that they’re suing TV stations, claiming it's criminal to discuss the grand jury report ... even though James Uthmeier has discussed that very leaked report multiple times. orlandosentinel.com/2026/10/…
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Jim DeFede retweeted
If Byron Donalds is elected governor of Florida, he must appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Hope foundation scandal and the theft of $10M in Medicare funds by Ron and Casey DeSantis and their henchman James Uthmeier
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Jim DeFede retweeted
The appeals court refused to ban publication of the Hope Florida report. The same night, the GOP asked a Highlands County Judge to do it instead. Now the appeals court wants the officials who sought secrecy to explain a second leak. Meanwhile the Highlands County Judge has recused herself from presiding over the case. floridatrident.org/breaking-…
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Jim DeFede retweeted
Senator Ashley Moody’s appearance on @WIOD last week raised more questions than they answered about her role in the plan to divert $10 million to Hope Florida. Moody rarely does interviews and listening to this interview may explain why. @CBSMiami youtu.be/1yhtMNUpqok?is=IbXg…
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Jim DeFede retweeted
BREAKING: The Republican Party of Florida wants a judge to pull a Democratic TV ad about the Hope Florida grand jury report. It says airing the report's "content, gist, or import" is now a crime. The lawsuit, filed at 11:36 p.m. Friday in Highlands County, targets the Florida Democratic Party, its three statewide candidates and 11 TV stations in Orlando and Tampa Bay. The party also referred the stations to FDLE and prosecutors. One copy went to the statewide prosecutor, who works in AG James Uthmeier's office. Uthmeier is the candidate the ad targets. What the lawsuit leaves out: - The grand jury report has been public since Aug. 26. - The appeals court ruling it relies on isn't final until Friday at the earliest. - The U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the same secrecy law in 1990. Early voting starts Monday in many counties. floridatrident.org/florida-g…
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Senator Ashley Moody’s appearance on @WIOD last week raised more questions than they answered about her role in the plan to divert $10 million to Hope Florida. Moody rarely does interviews and listening to this interview may explain why. @CBSMiami youtu.be/1yhtMNUpqok?is=IbXg…
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Jim DeFede retweeted
Facing South Florida with @DeFede will be a full hour tomorrow and every Sunday morning from 8-9am until Election Day! Jim will have you covered on everything you need to know about the local, state & national races @CBSMiami #midterms #politics #florida
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Jim DeFede retweeted
This morning I examine the appeals court striking down the Hope Florida grand jury report, @GovRonDeSantis’s reaction, and why his admin’s decision to take $10 million that could have helped Floridians but instead ended up in his PAC, remains an issue cbsnews.com/miami/news/desan…
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DeSantis often lashes out at the press because his wife’s reputation was hurt by the Hope Florida scandal. But shouldn’t his anger be directed at whoever in his administration decided to use the Foundation for her initiative as the conduit for getting the $10 million to his PAC?
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Since Casey DeSantis had nothing to do with the $10 million, you would think she would be furious that someone in her husband’s administration used the foundation created to support her initiative as a pass through for her husband’s political activities.
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In a stinging rebuke of the grand jury report in the Hope Florida case, the First District Court of Appeals, eviscerates the grand jury's findings and declared there was no misappropriation of the $10 million. Here is a copy of the DCA opinion flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/…
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Here is one key passage. One question left unanswered, is if there was anyone representing the alternative view making the case before the judges for why the $10 million was, in fact, public money. It appears it was only one side was allowed to argue.
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Here is another striking portion of the DCA ruling striking down the grand jury report
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The Day the World Came to Town just made the New York Times Best Seller list at #15 for paperback nonfiction. It took more than 20 years - LOL - but still immensely honored and grateful to the people of Gander for sharing their inspirational story.
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Jim DeFede retweeted
If you want to cast a ballot in November, Monday is the last day you can register to vote in Florida. Decisions get made by the people who show up. It will take just a few minutes to register. Here is the link. 👇 dos.fl.gov/elections/for-vot…
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If you want to cast a ballot in November, Monday is the last day you can register to vote in Florida. Decisions get made by the people who show up. It will take just a few minutes to register. Here is the link. 👇 dos.fl.gov/elections/for-vot…
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As Republicans demonize @AngieNixon, and JD Vance tells her "you don't belong in America," they run the risk of having it backfire. Nixon can be a compelling figure. Here she is getting emotional when I asked her to tell voters something personal about herself. @CBSMiami
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Here is my full interview with @AngieNixon this morning where we discuss Vance’s comments about her, her comments about Israel, and her attacks on Ashley Moody about Hope Florida. @CBSMiami youtu.be/_BH27971D6E?is=vZTw…
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