Politics

Sarasota's Sydney Gruters Officially Announces Congressional Run

Gruters raised more than $100,000 after announcing her run, according to her campaign.

04/06/2026 By Staff

Taking It to the Streets

Photos: Organizers Say Approximately 9,000 People Showed Up at Downtown Sarasota's 'No Kings Day' Protest

Protestors also gathered at University Town Center, Venice and Englewood.

03/30/2026 Photography by Damon Powers

Politics

Will Sydney Gruters Run for Congress?

Gruters, the executive director and vice president of advancement at the New College of Florida Foundation and wife of Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters, just got a ringing endorsement from Donald Trump.

03/25/2026 By Kendall Southworth

Mr. Nice Guy

Mr. Gruters Goes to Washington

Congenial new RNC chair Joe Gruters juggles Trump, midterms and a fractious Republican Party. How long can he keep smiling?

02/03/2026 By Isaac Eger

Politics

Rep. Vern Buchanan Will Retire After 20 Years in Office

Buchanan is one of a growing number of Republican lawmakers who will not seek re-election this year.

01/28/2026 By Staff

Nip/Tuck

Mar-a-Lago Face? Not in Sarasota.

Locals are eschewing drastic plastic surgery trends in favor of more subtle de-aging procedures.

01/02/2026 By Hannah Wallace

Politics

Sarasota's Joe Gruters Named Chair of Republican National Committee

Gruters is a fourth-generation Sarasotan who's directly tied to Donald Trump's rise to power.

08/25/2025 By Staff

Photos

Photos: 'No Kings' Protest in Downtown Sarasota

Thousands of people gathered on the Sarasota bayfront to protest the Trump administration. Here's a look.

06/16/2025 By Kim Doleatto Photography by Lori Sax

Crown Jewel

The History of Mar-a-Lago

How the mansion of a great Florida philanthropist became ground zero for one of the most consequential elections in American history

09/01/2024 By Robert Plunket

Conspira-Sota

Eight Sarasota-Centric Conspiracy Theories That Range From the Very Absurd to the Very Real

From the Skunk Ape to We Build the Wall, Sarasota has played a role in conspiracies both real and imagined.

09/13/2022 By Isaac Eger

Citizen Hyde

Everyone Hates Martin Hyde, and He Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way

Perpetual candidate Martin Hyde is a lightning rod for controversy. Isaac Eger interviews the self-professed bully who just can’t stay out of trouble.

07/05/2022 By Isaac Eger

Politics

Trump to Hold Rally in Sarasota Next Week

The event will take place on Saturday, July 3, at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

06/24/2021 By Staff

Politics

Local Lawmakers Vote Against Impeaching President Trump

Reps. Vern Buchanan and Greg Steube both opposed the effort to remove Trump from office for inciting violence last week.

01/14/2021 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Politics

After Mob Storms Capitol, Local Officials Split on Challenging Results of the Presidential Election

Rep. Greg Steube voted against certifying the results of the 2020 election, while Rep. Vern Buchanan voted to accept them.

01/07/2021 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Politics

What's It Like to Attend a Trump Rally?

Isaac Eger queued up for Ivanka Trump's event at Nathan Benderson Park this week.

10/28/2020 By Isaac Eger

Crime

Sarasota Man With Ties to Steve Bannon Arrested

Andrew Badolato was arrested Thursday and charged with wire fraud and money laundering, along with Bannon and two others.

08/20/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Pep Talk

Ian Bremmer Closes Out the Ringling College Library Association's 2019 Town Hall Series

Thursday's event also included the announcement of next year's lineup, which includes Annie Leibovitz, Rick Steves and more.

04/11/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Politics

Former Lawmaker to Speak at Republican Club Dinner

Former state Rep. Julio Gonzalez, R-Venice, will discuss the American Constitution and the federal court system on Thursday, March 21.

03/15/2019 By Staff

Politics

Report Estimates Federal Shutdown Cost the Economy $11 Billion

The partial shutdown of the federal government that ended last Friday led to $11 billion in reduced economic activity, according to new estimates published by the Congressional Budget Office.

01/29/2019 By Staff

Politics

Florida No. 14 in Ranking of States Most Affected By Federal Government Shutdown

The ranking is based on the number of federal jobs in each state, the amount of federal contract dollars the states receive and other data points.

01/03/2019 By Staff