Meet The Team

Donald Francis has been covering the Florida legislature since the days of dial-up internet and flip phones, and he swears he’s seen it all—from the Great Paperclip Scandal of ’98 to the annual budget tantrums. A staunch Republican, Donald has an eye for the GOP's ins and outs, giving him an uncanny ability to predict party feuds before they make it to Twitter. He describes his writing style as “C-SPAN meets TMZ,” which is exactly as weird as it sounds. When he’s not unearthing new tax proposals, Donald is likely crocheting a cozy for his pocket Constitution.

Ashley Jones is a self-proclaimed political moderate and Florida’s only known expert in “neutrality with flair.” She covers both parties with equal amounts of skepticism and sarcasm, following the executive branch like it’s a daytime soap opera. Ashley has a soft spot for political flip-floppers and loves catching them in action. Known around the office as “the Switzerland of The Juice,” she claims her greatest skill is balancing on the fence without ever tipping over. Her cat, Filibuster, is the only thing she trusts completely.

Tess Brown, The Juice’s resident Democrat and champion of all things progressive, has a passion for environmental policy and the solar industry that borders on obsession. Tess can name every bill related to renewable energy from the last 20 years and considers her greatest life achievement her Tesla bumper sticker collection. She keeps a copy of “The Green New Deal” on her nightstand and believes the only acceptable shade of lipstick is “Solar Power Red.” Tess also covers the occasional Republican rally “for contrast,” but she insists she’s allergic to conservative policies.

Lisa Rose covers the chaotic and colorful world of Florida’s county governments, which she affectionately calls “The Real Housewives of Local Politics.” Known for her love of small-town scandals and inter-county rivalries, Lisa has a knack for turning mundane city council meetings into Shakespearean dramas. An independent, she has voted for candidates from nearly every party and collects bumper stickers from failed campaigns. When she’s not chasing down county clerks, Lisa moonlights as an amateur bingo champion and Florida cracker connoisseur.

Kevin Nye is a libertarian at heart and the undisputed king of insurance industry reporting. Armed with a thick stack of legal jargon and a collection of “Down with Regulations” T-shirts, Kevin’s deep dives into health and homeowner’s insurance would put a corporate lawyer to sleep. He has successfully infiltrated more insurance seminars than anyone else on staff, and he insists that every article he writes is a “policy masterpiece.” Outside of insurance, Kevin enjoys heated debates about the Constitution and claims his spirit animal is “the free market.”

Alex Young knows his way around the special interest groups like a tour guide in a lobbyist jungle. Covering the medical marijuana, gaming, and oil and gas industries, Alex has a Rolodex of sources ranging from cannabis advocates to casino magnates. A former poker dealer turned political writer, Alex brings a “high-stakes” energy to his reporting. His dream is to witness a committee meeting where Big Oil and the hemp industry find common ground (and he’s holding his breath). Alex’s writing style is “Vegas glitz meets Florida grit.”

Andrew Cole is The Juice’s go-to guy for all things finance, though he’s somehow managed to make the stock market sound fun. Covering the finance industry and its political influence, Andrew has been known to throw around phrases like “quantitative easing” and “inflationary risks” in casual conversation. A lifelong fiscal conservative, he insists he’s on a mission to make Floridians “financially literate, one tax deduction at a time.” In his free time, Andrew enjoys counting his savings and reminding everyone that “compound interest is the real American dream.”

Debbie Green, our progressive voice on Florida’s education system, local healthcare, and all things government-related, brings a compassionate yet spicy tone to her reporting. A staunch advocate for teachers and healthcare workers, Debbie once chained herself to a school desk in protest (and claims it was “totally worth it”). Known for her editorial “Devy’s Dispatches,” she’s relentless in her pursuit of exposing budget cuts and lobbyist loopholes. She describes her political stance as “Bernie Sanders meets Beyoncé,” and her writing as “a bullhorn in print form.”

Alissa Rose, affectionately known as “The Cynic in Chief,” is a satirical writer who covers the gaming industry, political theatrics, and occasionally, the entire state of Florida’s absurdity. Alissa claims to be politically agnostic, declaring all parties equally worthy of ridicule. She's known for his searing one-liners and doesn’t shy away from calling out lobbyists and officials alike. Her recent piece, “How to Lose an Election in 10 Days,” is now required reading for new political candidates. Alissa's motto: “In Florida politics, truth is stranger than fiction—and far more entertaining.”