Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – #BecauseMiami: Miami Mamdani
Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Billy Corben, Roy Ramos
Featured Guests: (References to) Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Emilio Gonzalez, Ken Russell, Eileen Higgins, Joe Carollo, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Blaze Angolia

Overview

This episode of #BecauseMiami comes live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami—true to its tradition, the show blends sharp critiques, biting satire, and local political commentary. The main theme centers on the chaos of the Miami mayoral race, the fallout from city corruption scandals, political hypocrisy (especially regarding socialism vs. capitalism), and ongoing social welfare issues impacting Miami’s elderly. There’s also ample ridicule of the city’s eccentric political figures and a pointed discussion about government waste, hurricane fears, and the persistent contradictions of Miami’s political identity.

Key Discussion Points

1. Alex Diaz de la Portilla: Indictment, Exoneration, and Election Absenteeism

• Scandal Recap & Charges Dropped
  • Diaz de la Portilla (DLP), former Miami commissioner charged with bribery and corruption, had all charges dropped after the state determined there was "no reasonable likelihood of conviction."
  • “He was accused of accepting money from the owners of a private school in Edgewater…$245,000 in exchange for voting to approve the construction of a local sports facility.” (Billy Corben, 01:36)
• Personal Anecdotes and Frustration
  • Billy recounts DLP’s past racism toward him and the irony of DLP avoiding accountability but now running for mayor.
  • “A man who 25 years ago screamed racial slurs at me in a drunken tirade… now he’s going to jail and I’m in national TV talking about you.” (Billy Corben, 00:35)
• No-Show Mayoral Candidate
  • DLP repeatedly cancels his planned appearance, to nobody’s actual surprise.

2. Miami’s Crowded and Confusing Mayoral Race

• A Circus of Candidates
  • 13 candidates, 40% of voters undecided.
  • Early voting underway; likely outcome is a December runoff between the top two finishers.
• False Endorsements and Party Lines
  • Joe Carollo circulates misleading mailers implying Trump endorsement (denied by the White House).
  • The campaign is described as a battle to "out-MAGA" each other.
  • “He sent out a flyer, a mailer entirely in Spanish… shows a litany of pictures… It is absolutely not the case.” (Billy Corben, 04:24)
• Best Choices for Miami?
  • “If you want what’s best for Miami… Emilio Gonzalez and Ken Russell.” (Billy Corben, 06:59)
  • Both praised for fighting local corruption. Eileen Higgins criticized as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” and Ken Russell called “more of a good faith actor.”
  • Races are nonpartisan but increasingly hijacked by party politics.

3. Socialism, Political Hypocrisy, and Miami’s Identity Crisis

• Francis Suarez’s Fox News Rhetoric
  • Suarez likens Zoran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral candidacy to “a young Fidel Castro,” blending concepts of communism and socialism.
    • “You just tell people that are down on their luck, I have the answer… and who wouldn’t vote for that? …The only problem is it never works.” (Francis Suarez, 15:23)
  • Billy and Roy mock Suarez’s ignorance and the right-wing tactic of demonizing socialism, despite Miami’s deep reliance on actual socialist policies like public housing, Medicare, SNAP, etc.
    • “They’re all getting food stamps. You know what that is, Roy? Socialism.” (Billy Corben, 18:24)
• Self-Reflection and Values
  • Billy advocates for voting to help those most in need, defending social programs as a crucial part of civilized society.
    • “A society should be judged on how we treat our most vulnerable… not socialism. That is capitalism creating opportunity.” (Billy Corben, 19:16, 20:05)

4. Food Assistance Crisis Facing Miami’s Elderly

• Government Shutdown Threatens SNAP Benefits
  • Nearly 3 million Floridians, including 700,000 seniors in Miami-Dade, could lose food aid if the shutdown persists.
    • “Three out of five have one or more elderly member over 60… nearly 3 million Floridians may lose access to SNAP…” (Billy Corben, 22:23)
  • Local food banks and Catholic charities struggling to meet demand.
• Absurd Contrasts in Spending
  • Sharp criticism of public funds spent on luxury projects (like ““the Epstein Ballroom””) while essentials like nutrition for the elderly are threatened.
    • “We are spending $350 million… to build the Epstein Ballroom, while a very serious conversation about Americans… going starving.” (Billy Corben, 23:53)

5. Miami’s Ongoing Problem with Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

• Florida State Audit: City Overspending
  • State CFO Blaze Angolia accuses Miami of blowing its budget by $94 million—part of a political effort to undermine property taxes.
    • “The city of Miami blew past that number by $94 million…” (Billy Corben quoting Angolia, 25:47)
    • “This feels like the meme with Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man… you have to immediately question why people are saying and doing what they’re saying and doing, even when you agree with it…” (Billy Corben, 26:25)
  • The panel explores the risk to essential services if property taxes are gutted, noting that even the state government is guilty of massive budget increases.

6. Weather Update & Reflection on Miami’s Vulnerability

• Hurricane Upgraded Live On-Air
  • Shoutout to weatherman John Morales as he reacts to a hurricane being upgraded to Category 5, coinciding with memories of Hurricane Andrew and the anxiety this causes Miamians.
    • “Pressure is now down to 896.” (Dan Le Batard, 31:26)
    • “Jesus Christ. Okay.” (Billy Corben, 31:33)
  • Sincere thoughts and well-wishes for Jamaica and those in the hurricane’s path; a rare earnest moment amid the usual satire.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Billy Corben on DLP’s exoneration:
  “He is now running for mayor of the city of Miami in this clown car of a race…” (02:14)
• Roy Ramos on crowded ballots:
  “It’s too many people. It’s like a Cheesecake Factory menu.” (06:56)
• Billy Corben on Eileen Higgins:
  “She is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. If you follow the money, you can predict her votes and how she will act.” (08:23)
• Francis Suarez on socialism:
  “He effectuated equality of misery, equality of repression, equality of poverty.” (16:00)
• Billy Corben on hypocrisy:
  “Socialism. They’re all getting food stamps… And then I gotta hear from these people that Mamdani is a communist and a socialist all at the same time.” (18:24)
• Billy Corben on society:
  “The richest country in the history of the world should be judged on how we treat our most vulnerable…” (19:16)
• On Miami’s financial chaos:
  “If this was a business, the city of Miami would go bankrupt.” (Billy Corben, 25:28)
• Weather anxiety:
  “Pressure is now down to 896.” / “Jesus Christ. Okay.” (Dan Le Batard & Billy Corben, 31:26-31:33)

Important Timestamps

• [00:35] — Billy recounts past racist outburst by DLP
• [01:04] — Recap of legal charges being dropped for DLP
• [02:11] — DLP is a no-show for the show
• [04:24] — False Trump endorsement mailer discussion
• [06:44] — Breakdown of Miami mayoral race (candidates, process)
• [08:23] — Critique of Eileen Higgins and insight into Miami’s political landscape
• [15:23] — Francis Suarez compares Mamdani to Fidel Castro
• [18:24] — Satirical exchange on socialism in Miami
• [22:23] — Miami’s elderly at risk due to SNAP benefits crisis
• [25:47] — State-level criticism of Miami’s overspending
• [31:26] — Hurricane update, Category 5 pressure revealed

Tone & Style

The episode is unapologetically irreverent, blending gallows humor, sarcasm, and occasional earnestness. Billy Corben’s exasperation and biting wit drive much of the show, with Roy Ramos providing deadpan one-liners and Dan occasionally steering the conversation, especially during serious weather moments. The recurring themes are skepticism, civic engagement, and calling out Miami’s endless political contradictions.

Final Thoughts

This episode dives into the heart of Miami’s dysfunction—political circus, systemic hypocrisy about socialism, the struggle of the city’s elderly and poor, and government waste. If you care about Miami, politics, or the cultural collisions of capitalism and social welfare, this episode delivers both incisive commentary and the kind of absurd local color that only Miami can offer.