Inside Florida’s Political Firestorm with Nikki Fried

What happens when you’re the only one in the room willing to say what no one else will? Nikki Fried knows the feeling all too well.As Florida’s former Agriculture Commissioner and now Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Nikki has spent her career challenging power from the inside out. She’s been arrested protesting abortion bans, turned a low-profile government role into a platform for progress, and refused to stay silent in the face of growing extremism in her home state.In this powerful conversation, Nikki opens up about the political battles most people never see—the clashes with Ron DeSantis, the controversy around Alligator Alcatraz, and why the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” isn’t what it seems. She also shares her strategy for rebuilding the Florida Democratic Party, why local elections matter more than most realize, and what she wants young women to know about power, protest, and persistence.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Nikki turned down a 2026 gubernatorial run—and what she’s building insteadThe truth behind her arrest during Florida’s abortion protestsWhat’s really happening at Alligator AlcatrazWhy she says the “Big Beautiful Bill” is dangerous for FloridiansHow women in politics are labeled—and why she wears it all as armorHer personal “Misunderstood” moment—and the sentence she wants to finishFollow Nikki Fried:Instagram/Twitter: @NikkiFried | @FlaDems--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!:  ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://mumerch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Do you have show ideas, media requests or sponsorship opportunities? Email the show at: [email protected] on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw13NrSKD-nD_8E0vBHt5hARumble: ⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/RachelUchitel⁠⁠Website: https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy