There should be a "Radio Free Florida"

[Tom Rinaldo]

Yeah I know that there are far easier and more effective ways to combat censorship and get real information to people when it is being suppressed, but the tag line "Radio Free _____" is deeply ingrained in people, especially in a place like Florida with a long history of supporting efforts to broadcast "the truth" into communist Cuba.

The wattage of the station can be tiny, it's the symbolism that counts. The free publicity Radio Free Florida could generate would dwarf any actual listener numbers. Feature readings from books banned in Florida school and public libraries, and the actual history of race in America.

There also could be informational booklets stuffed into corked bottles released off shore to float onto Florida beaches. Anything to put a spotlight on DeSantis.

There are probably at least a dozen reasons why this may not make any sense, but I can't get the phrase Radio Free Florida out of my mind, lol.

[cachukis]

1. We have one. WMNF 88.5 in Tampa.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Sounds lke a great station

"WMNF 88.5 FM provides music, arts, and cultural programs. They offer a listening community with eclectic music as well as non-mainstream news, views, and public affairs programs. They also provide equality, peace, social, and economic justice."
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/wmnf-88-5-fm

[cachukis]

6. One of the best. They sponsor musicians at various sites

and are bringing back Tropical Heat Wave, a festival showcasing musicians, often on their way to stardom.
Chuck Prophet, just played. Sat next to Dean Johansen on plane to Austin one time. Casey Chambers before she became well known.
Great local news. Shows specific to genre. Cater to the Jewish community, Muslim community, Black community with music and talk.
Musicians come to Tampa knowing there is a following because of WMNF. They have a live music showplace that often has performers playing later that night. Chuck Prophet, for example. There is an archive to visit older shows. Well run radio station that is as cool as there is.

[2naSalit]

3. Aside from...

"Radio Free _____" is deeply ingrained in people, especially in a place like Florida with a long history of supporting efforts to broadcast "the truth" into communist Cuba.

Also resonates with the retirement crowd as radio was a main news source for many and the RF moniker as well. I'm not that old but I grew up with radio and still rely on it, haven't had a teevee since 1980.

[doc03]

4. We need a 'Radio Free America" nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. We still have Rachel, part time anyway

The "Radio Free ____" concept is primarily associated with breaking through state sponsored censorship. I get that corporate media etc. manages the news narrative most Americans receive, and that alternative news sources are needed nation wide.

But DeSantis increasingly fits the classic stereotype for an authoritarian leader who uses the power of the state to suppress viewpoints that he does not approve of. Hence "Radio Free Florida" resonates, and turns his avowed "Pro-Freedom" script around against him.

[GreenWave]

7. Sounds like a great idea.

Maybe Free Speech TV has something?

[brooklynite]

8. Actually, its not ingrained...

The Cuban broadcasts were named "Radio Marti". Radio Free Europe was broadcast to Eastern Europe, and I'm guessing almost nobody in Florida really remembers what it was.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. The concept is ingrained even if the literal words are not necessarily familiar

Starting with the fact that the name used starts with Radio and that the station is hailed as a beacon of freedom breaking through a wall of totalitarian censorship. "Radio Marti" was framed that way. I think many have also heard of Radio Free Europe etc. but those who haven't would probably learn about it from any coverage something like "Radio Free Florida" received.

[brooklynite]

10. But your point seems to be the "Radio Free" name...

FWIW - I would argue that the seniors in Florida who might remember the name aren't the voters we're looking to reach out to.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. That name triggered my association with the concept, but it's the concept that's more relevant

If anything along these lines ever went forward it would be a relatively low cost political messaging tool, not a full fledged information dissemination campaign. My image is of a low wattage broadcast station set up just outside of Florida's border, only operating several hours a day. It would be a political prop to frame DeSantis isna totalitarian light. But the use of a name like Radio Free Florida would be a hook to attract larger media attention to it more so than designed to attract listeners based on name familiarity. Media types know the Radio Free Europe concept and it's cold war anti-totalitarian roots. Radio Marti updated the historical context for many current Floridians, but a freedom beacon radio station infiltrating the "DeSantis censorship curtain" could be picked up as a political story anywhere in the country.

[Sympthsical]

11. "'Radio Free _____' is deeply ingrained in people"

If your target demographic is 70+, sure.

Then there's other things like radio, which no one listens to. In a world of music and podcasts on demand, I'm not sure who the audience for this would be.

And it isn't like Florida isn't connected to the rest of the United States, world, and internet in general. Information cannot be controlled or blockaded unless Florida suddenly went full China and started internet and television monitoring.

I get that DeSantis is shitty and employing shitty policies, but it is not actually behind an Iron Curtain.

People are perfectly aware of what asshole is up to - they voted for it. Overwhelmingly.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. At best it would be low cost poltical framing, not an effort to supply truth to brainwashed masses

Of course radio transmissions are antiquated as a means to defeat censorship. The primary audience would be other media outlets (and their audiences), not direct listeners. It would be a low cost ploy to cast a national spotlight, not only inside Florida, on what DeSantis is up to, painting him as being anti-freedom. I don't know actual costs but I suspect it could be done for a low 5 figure budget.

P.S. Of course it's broadcasts could also be issued as podcasts and accessed over the internet. If it got free publicity off of the initial concept that is probably how some actual information could be shared via it.

[Sympthsical]

14. I just dont see the benefit

Because it's, no offense, really goofy looking on the surface. It casts Florida as some besieged Soviet satellite instead of simply a state that voted for an asshole.

The choir would like it, but no one really outside the church.

Imagine if the Right started treating California like 1960s Romania. "We'll send radio and drop pamphlets, etc.!"

We'd mock them mercilessly. We'd go to absolute town on them. "Look at what these crazy people are doing."

I don't see how this isn't any less kind of goofy and untethered.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. The difference is overt censorship, not left vs right policy debates. Plus you are being too literal

It's essentially just branding for an anti-DeSantis podcast with book banning and the literal whitewashing of history as a theme - focused on his efforts to stifle public education. Opening up a single low wattage radio station would serve as an overt intentional gimmick to call attention to DeSantis using his power as governor to stifle the free discussion of ideas.

I'm not exactly deeply invested in the idea, just was thinking a bit outside the box on how Democrats could frame DeSantis as an anti-freedom politician, since he so loves to proclaim Florida as the land of the free.