ORLANDO, Fla. – Keeping up with Florida politics can feel overwhelming, especially during a fast-moving legislative session packed with bills, budget battles and behind-the-scenes negotiations.
Politically Motivated, News 6’s new weekly podcast takes the guessing and headline-chasing out of the mix.
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Confusing political jargon? Not here.
Controversial or polarizing topics? Bring them on.
A fresh, objective take on the laws that impact you? Always!
Politically Motivated brings listeners inside the Capitol each week, explaining what lawmakers are debating, which bills are gaining momentum and how proposed policies could impact Floridians across the state.
From education and housing to insurance, healthcare and culture-war issues, Politically Motivated cuts through legalese to highlight what actually matters.
So, are we ever going to tell you who hosts it?
Look no further: Christopher Heath and Lauren Melendez.
Heath, a decorated investigative and political journalist, brings more than two decades of reporting experience and legislative knowledge, having covered the Florida Legislature since 2013. He’s since translated all of it into a station management role, overseeing News 6 Content & Coverage.
Lauren Melendez, our newest morning anchor, brings nearly a decade of award-winning reporting experience and her own political savvy, including a weekly political segment with Kristen Welker, Moderator of Meet The Press. Melendez also embraces her “newbie” Floridian status as an opportunity to interpret and analyze the state’s political climate through a fresh lens.
If you made it this far in the article, you’ve hit the jackpot!
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Every episode won’t be the same. There’s no formulaic template or stuffy rules.
Instead, each week the duo will recap the biggest developments from the House and Senate, highlight key votes and committee hearings, and offer context on why certain bills are moving — or stalling (expect some puns and metaphors).
Their conversations could tackle a major poll, a bombshell comment from a lawmaker or even a fact-check of what’s been circulating in legislative news.
Whatever the week brings, expect a mix of the political dynamics shaping the session, including power struggles between leaders, partisan priorities and certainly the influence of the governor’s agenda.
Politically Motivated is designed for both political junkies and casual news consumers, so we hope you’ll give it a listen, then decide for yourself.
In the meantime, jump in the driver’s seat with the hosts.
New episodes drop weekly each Wednesday at 8:30 a.m/ on News 6+.