Seeking Rents – The Podcast

Jason Garcia
  • 4.9 (56)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

"Rent-seeking" is a term in economics that describes when a corporation uses its political influence to twist tax laws and other public policy in its favor. Seeking Rents – The Podcast brings you the stories of how that's happening in Florida, where corporate interests like Florida Power & Light, Big Sugar, and Walt Disney World wield enormous influence everywhere from local city halls to the state Capitol. Hosted by award-winning journalist Jason Garcia, Florida's leading corporate-accountability reporter. jasongarcia.substack.com

  1. 1d ago

    Billionaires for Byron

    In this episode: A billionaire hedge fund executive gave $10 million last week to Byron Donalds, the Republican Congressman from Naples who is the favorite to win the GOP nomination for Florida governor in next month’s primary elections. His gift came after a billionaire TikTok investor gave Donalds at least $7.5 million. Other billionaires are pouring money into the Donalds campaign, too. Their cash comes with strings. Plus: Attorney General James Uthmeier helps the billionaire-owned Fontainebleau Hotel steamroll residents of Miami Beach who are fighting a proposed expansion project; the companies that sell electricity to AI data centers love Florida’s new data center law; and a key provision in the state constitution is, it turns out, meaningless. Show notes To make a donation in support of Seeking Rents, click here. To reserve a ticket to our discussion about data centers in Venice with Alice Herman and Christian Casale of Suncoast Searchlight and Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times, click here. Stories discussed in today’s show: The DeSantis decisions: Quiet wins for homebuilders and car dealers Billionaire Ken Griffin pours money into Byron Donalds’ campaign for governor Meet the billionaire pushing taxpayer-funded school vouchers The billionaire trying to reinvent Florida schools has a $7.5 million bet on Byron Donalds The Scale of Billionaires’ Campaign Donations is Overwhelming U.S. Politics Lobbyist for a billionaire-run hedge fund wrote a bill allowing longer non-competes, records show Lobbyists for a billionaire and a charter network pushed Florida lawmakers to expand a school privatization program, records show A billionaire-backed think tank keeps sabotaging Florida workers. More attacks are coming. Untraceable: Who sends all those political mailers? Fewer Florida residents are receiving federal food benefits The Fontainebleau wanted another favor from the Florida Legislature New law has Florida ‘open for business’ for AI data centers, utility execs say Florida judge refuses to boot Fishback from the ballot, won’t ‘decide the race’ Bills discussed in today’s show: Senate Bill 686 – Agricultural Enclaves Senate Bill 484 – Data Centers House Bill 399 – Land Use and Development Regulations Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    Billionaires for Byron

  2. Jul 23

    Chink in the armor

    In this episode: Data center interests have spent more than $5 million supporting Byron Donalds, the Trump-endorsed Congressman from Naples who is the heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination for Florida governor in next month’s primary election. But all that industry money is morphing from a strength to a liability amid a rising bipartisan backlash to data center development around the state. Meanwhile, James Uthmeier, Florida’s never-elected attorney general, is using his office to help Elon Musk’s Tesla try to get out of paying $243 million to victims of a fatal car crash involving Tesla’s Autopilot technology. Plus: Updates on big battles over property insurance, growth management and home rule. Show notes To make a donation in support of Seeking Rents, click here. Stories discussed in today’s show: Data center donors have spent more than $20 million in Florida ahead of the 2026 elections Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push to Advance A.I. Agenda Florida’s attorney general is trying to help Elon Musk’s Tesla get out of a $243 million verdict An insurance company led by a billionaire megadonor wrote a law pushing Florida condo owners into higher-priced property insurance Group tied to influential Ruane Cunniff sues Reinhold Corporation over Clay County land sale dispute A New York investment firm with vast land holdings across north Florida wants state lawmakers to greenlight giant developments Ron DeSantis is helping real estate developers exploit a hurricane relief law The Florida Legislature made a mess. The Florida House refused to clean it up. Bills discussed in today’s show: Senate Bill 484 — Data Centers Senate Bill 1616 — Liability of Advanced Driving System Manufacturers and Developers Senate Bill 1028 — Citizens Property Insurance Corp. House Bill 299 / Senate Bill 354 — Blue Ribbon Projects Senate Bill 840 — Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters Senate Bill 180 (2025) — Emergencies Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    Chink in the armor

  3. Jul 17

    The good, the bad and the bought

    In this episode: Led by a Donald Trump-appointed judge, a federal appeals court struck down Florida’s infamous “Stop WOKE Act,” a Ron DeSantis-championed law meant to censor university professors on subjects like racism and sexism. But Florida and other GOP-controlled Southern states are working on another way to control what can be said, taught or studied on college campuses. Meanwhile, rural and suburban towns across the state face an existential threat from a property tax cut that will appear on the November ballot. And new records reveal how a billionaire-led insurance broker wrote a law that could drive up property insurance prices for condo owners— and then puppeteered the plan through the Florida Legislature Show notes: To make a donation in support of Seeking Rents, click here. Stories discussed in today’s show: ‘Breathtaking assertion of power’: Appeals court slams door on Florida ‘Stop Woke’ law championed by DeSantis Scott Maxwell: Courts confirm Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE’ law is un-American garbage A lawyer for Ron DeSantis revealed the real motive behind one of Florida’s most controversial laws Next in Florida's war on 'woke': Becoming its own higher ed watchdog Florida leaders hid money for controversial higher education project City-by-city estimates of property tax impacts from Amendment 3 What Florida’s tax rollback looks like through the eyes of one small town An insurance company led by a billionaire megadonor wrote a law pushing Florida condo owners into higher-priced property insurance Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    The good, the bad and the bought

  4. Jul 8

    Two of a kind

    In this episode: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has been using his office to help donors, intervening in at least three civil disputes on behalf of special interests who gave $25,000 gifts to his fundraising committee. Meanwhile, Florida state House Speaker Danny Perez has been using his powers to help secret clients of his private legal practice, including Airbnb and Newsmax. For a pair of politicians who have spent much of the last two years fighting with each other, the two of them seem to have quite a bit in common. Show notes Stories discussed on today’s show: They gave Uthmeier’s campaign $25,000. Then his office stepped in to help. Filing reveals FL House Speaker’s private client list, including Airbnb, Newsmax Florida’s top cop uses his power to prop up car dealers A favor for a billionaire car dealer and Republican megadonor, tucked inside a transportation law Ron DeSantis' top aide punished bank lobbyists for being disloyal Records show Big Sugar lobbyists are working on plans for an Everglades-area mine A right-wing news network lobbied Florida lawmakers to defund fact-checkers, records show A new tax break for Trump appointees Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    Two of a kind

  5. Jul 2

    Season change

    In this episode: Following a last-minute blitz of vetoes by the governor — including half a dozen bills and more than $800 million in spending — the 2026 legislative season has finally come to an end in Florida. Which means election season is here. But before campaign coverage crowds everything else out, we take a closer look at some of the bills Gov. Ron DeSantis decided to stop from becoming law. The doctors’ lobby is pleased with his choices. MAHA activists are not. Correction: During the podcast, I incorrectly referred to a bill dealing with e-bike regulations by the wrong bill number. The correct bill number is below. Show notes The bills discussed in today’s show: Senate Bill 688 — Naturopathic Medicine Passed the House of Representatives by an 85-22 vote (vote sheet) and the Senate by a 33-3 vote (vote sheet). See the governor’s veto letter here. House Bill 893 — Trust Fund Interest for Purposes Approved by Supreme Court Passed the House of Representatives by a 112-0 vote (vote sheet) and the Senate by a 38-0 vote (vote sheet). Read the governor’s veto letter here. House Bill 461 — Volunteering at Polling Locations Passed the House of Representatives by a 108-0 vote (vote sheet) and the Florida Senate by a 37-0 vote (vote sheet). Read the governor’s veto letter here. Senate Bill 382 — Micromobility Devices Passed the House of Representatives by a 112-0 vote (vote sheet) and the Senate by a 37-0 vote (vote sheet). Read the governor’s veto letter here. The stories discussed in today’s show: DeSantis cuts free tax prep for working families but approves money for Mike Huckabee A tour of Florida’s new state budget, from money for Mike Huckabee to tax cuts for casinos Banks lobbyists want to slash funding for legal support programs Amid a growing national witch hunt for abortion medication, Florida may fund testing for ‘contaminants’ in toilet water An Attorney General-backed vendor pitched wastewater surveillance program Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    Season change

  6. Jun 27

    Wasting billions but pleasing billionaires

    In this episode: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed this week that the state is closing “Alligator Alcatraz” after one year — but not before paying out millions in “demobilization fees” to vendors who have already banked hundreds of millions building and operating the infamous immigrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades. Plus: A closer look at some recent favors Florida’s governor and Legislature have done for a few billionaire megadonors — including a car dealer, an insurance magnate, and a luxury hotel owner. Show notes The stories discussed in today’s show: Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” shutting down permanently, sources say Good Riddance to ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ a Cruel, Expensive, and Pointless Authoritarian Stunt Scrutiny mounts over DeSantis’s use of state funds for migrant flights Hidden consultants and hurried payments: Records reveal details of DeSantis’ campaign against abortion and marijuana amendments Ron DeSantis proposed delaying a tax break for Florida drivers until it was most helpful to his re-election campaign A favor for a billionaire car dealer and Republican megadonor, tucked inside a transportation law State lawmakers gave another gift to car dealers Industry leaders urge DeSantis to veto billionaire-backed insurance bill Florida tax package delivers gambling breaks to Soffer’s Big Easy The bills discussed in today’s show: Senate Bill 488 — Transportation House Bill 291 and Senate Bill 352 — Common Entities of Motor Vehicle Distributors and Manufacturers Senate Bill 1028 — Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    Wasting billions but pleasing billionaires

  7. Jun 16

    The other side of the equation

    In this episode: A new nonpartisan analysis of a proposed constitutional amendment to cut and cap property taxes across Florida finds that it could wipe out nearly a quarter of all local government property tax collections. It could also fuel further privatization around the state — of everything from electric utilities to animal shelters. Plus: How lobbyists for a national pet retailer weakened a new state law meant to end abusive sales practices in pet stores. And Florida says no to Donald Trump-backed tax cuts for corporations. Show notes The stories discussed in today’s show: State-backed ballot measure could wipe out a quarter of local property tax collections A national chain selling puppies for profit lobbied to weaken new rules for pet stores, records show A Koch-connected school choice contractor could get $2 million from Florida taxpayers Corporations could get a $3.5 billion tax break in Florida unless state lawmakers step in to stop it The bills discussed in today’s show: Senate Bill 1004 — Domestic Animals Senate Bill 1356 — Handling of Animals (note: the animal shelter privatization language is in section 2 of the original text) House Bill 1451 — Utility Services House Bill 655 — Pub. Rec. and Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims House Bill 7031 — Internal Revenue Code Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    The other side of the equation

  8. Jun 3

    Same circus, different clowns

    In this episode: Twenty years ago, Republican leaders in Florida raced to get a radical property tax plan onto the statewide ballot — a plan that was negotiated largely in secret, sprung on the public at the last minute, and approved during a lighting-quick special session in June. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that is, beat for beat, what just happened again in Tallahassee, where Ron DeSantis and GOP lawmakers just rushed a giant property tax cut onto the November ballot that they don’t even fully understand. The irresponsible legislating blew up in their faces two decades ago. Will this time be any different? Show notes The bills discussed in today’s show: House Joint Resolution 1F — Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes Senate Bill 4F — Property Tax Administration The stories discussed in in today’s show: A new tax break for Trump appointees Perez defends tax break for diplomats after Brazil ambassador nod from Trump Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify Watch the show: YouTube Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

    Same circus, different clowns
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About

"Rent-seeking" is a term in economics that describes when a corporation uses its political influence to twist tax laws and other public policy in its favor. Seeking Rents – The Podcast brings you the stories of how that's happening in Florida, where corporate interests like Florida Power & Light, Big Sugar, and Walt Disney World wield enormous influence everywhere from local city halls to the state Capitol. Hosted by award-winning journalist Jason Garcia, Florida's leading corporate-accountability reporter. jasongarcia.substack.com

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