90.7 WMFE

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

A federal judge ruled that Florida’s system for restoring the voting rights of some felons who have served their time is unconstitutional. US district Judge Mark Walker made the ruling in a lawsuit brought by 9 people who served prison sentences but were deemed ineligible to vote. He wrote that quote “partisan officials have extraordinary authority to grant or withhold the right to vote from hundreds of thousands of people without any constraints, guidelines or standards.”

Is automatic rights restoration the way to go? Is there a downside? What are the political implications of one point five million Floridians getting back the right to vote? And what does the ruling from judge Walker mean for a ballot initiative set to go before voters in November?

Then, hazing is back in the headlines after the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments from lawyers for one of the band members sentenced in the death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion. And UCF suspended a fraternity after a pledge’s mother complained that he was forced to drink. We revisit a conversation with John Hechinger, author of True Gentlemen, The Broken Pledge of America’s Fraternities.

And Orlando based Handmade Amigo join us in the studio to perform songs from their new album.