Local soccer journalist Franco Panizo covered every Inter Miami home match for the past six seasons — until last month, when the club denied his credentials without explanation, he says.

Why it matters: The independent journalist is one of the most critical and polarizing reporters covering the club.

• His biting comments — often signed off with a #Messi hashtag — spark criticism and debate on social media.
• He says he believes his reporting style is playing a role in his being denied access to matches.

The other side: Inter did not respond to requests for comment from Axios.

What they're saying: "I'm critical, I'm opinionated, I'm loud, I'm probably annoying, but I am a journalist," Panizo, founder of the "Miami Total Futbol" podcast, tells Axios.

Catch up quick: Thirteen matches into the season, Panizo says he has been denied access to every home game with no explanation.

• His absence from the press box was condemned by the North American Soccer Reporters. (His detractors have gleefully mocked his exclusion.)

Inter has allowed Panizo to cover training sessions near the club's old Fort Lauderdale stadium, but he hasn't been credentialed for Nu Stadium, the team's new arena.

• Regardless, he has attended every home match this season, either by purchasing his own tickets or receiving them from a podcast listener.
• "They can take the access; they can't take the audience," he says.

The intrigue: Panizo says he's always been critical of the club, but Inter never took issue with it before. He and other reporters received a "top attendance" plaque from Inter in 2025 for their coverage.

• He wonders whether the introduction of a public relations firm aligned with Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has played a role in his exclusion.
• Unique FC, which has worked with Messi and other soccer stars, began collaborating with Inter Miami's communications team last season, Panizo recently reported for "Miami Total Futbol."
• "I've been critical and I've been outspoken since Messi got here [in 2023]," he tells Axios. "Why would Inter just now deny me?"
• Unique FC did not respond to a request for comment.

What's next

Miami-Dade's school district resolved its monthslong legal battle with the management company that oversees WLRN.

Why it matters: The agreement, approved by the School Board on Wednesday, ensures that WLRN can broadcast for another seven years, with a possible three-year extension.

• It also replaces the leadership of South Florida Public Media Group, which oversees the station, ousting former CEO John LaBonia and naming longtime WLRN journalist Tom Hudson as interim CEO.

Between the lines: The school district holds WLRN's broadcast license, which was set to expire in June 2027.

Zoom in: The agreement allows SFPMG to acquire West Palm Beach radio station "The Flame" 104.7, despite initially opposing the move.

• The license of that station and its assets will then be transferred to the district.

Catch up quick: After SFPMG announced the acquisition plans in June, the school district sued, alleging the purchase would draw from funds that were required to be spent to benefit Miami-Dade. (The station disputed this.)

• Then-SFPMG chair Richard Rampell fired back, referring to a district official as "small-minded" and a school board member as "a two-faced shamelessly ambitious politician."
• In February, most of WLRN's employees signed a letter to the board that detailed their lack of trust in senior leadership and argued Rampell's behavior threatened the station's future.
• In April, Rampell claimed the district was attempting "a hostile takeover" after it proposed an agreement that would grant it more control over the station.
• A week later, Rampell resigned.

The bottom line: While SFPMG will "manage, operate and fundraise" for the stations, per the agreement signed this week, the school board will have "ultimate supervision and control."

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Jewish Voice for Peace South Florida is alleging in a new lawsuit that Miami Beach Commissioner David Suarez paid $4,000 for mobile billboards to target two Jewish constituents during Art Basel in December. (Local 10)

• The ads featured their photos and names with the words "Jew hater."

🤑 The Miami City Commission delayed a vote on Mayor Eileen Higgins' $450 million public safety bond to replace the city's deteriorating public safety infrastructure. (Miami Herald)

🍕 Pizza Queen is set to open in Fort Lauderdale later this year, offering New York-style pizza slices, whole pies and grab-and-go slices. (Miami New Times)

Another weekend, another opportunity to get outside and enjoy what the 305 has to offer.

🎨 Oolite Arts On the Move: The inaugural event by the local art organization will celebrate Haitian Heritage Month with an all-ages hands-on art experience.

• Saturday, Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 5pm-7pm. Free, materials provided.

🚣 Paddletopia: Surfside's two-day wellness event featuring complimentary paddleboarding, fitness classes, live music and more.

• Paddle for Plastic is also part of this year's event, encouraging folks to "set out through the canals" to pick up any floating plastics.
• Saturday, Sunday, 96th Street Park, 10am-2pm.

🎶 Global Vinyl Sundays: Presented by Miami Is An Island, this once-monthly event brings together a vinyl market, Haitian food and cocktails, and live music at Lakou Miami.

• Sunday, 8pm-11pm.

More events

👋 Axios New Orleans' Carlie Kollath Wells here, to tell you that Netflix has a new scary movie just in time for hurricane season.

The big picture: In "Thrash," a Category 5 storm slams a South Carolina town, trapping residents in the floodwaters.

• Plot twist: Ravenous sharks are in the water. Yeah, I rolled my eyes, too.

Zoom in: The movie opens with a warning that storm surge is the deadliest part of a storm, something the National Hurricane Center warns about every year.

• Then comes the mandatory evacuation order for a fast-moving storm. Some people leave. Others stay because they don't have a car, they have to work or they think the storm won't be that bad.
• All painfully believable reasons.

What happens: The flood walls break, trapping people in homes and cars as the water rises.

💭 Carlie's thought bubble: Honestly, that was already terrifying enough for this coastal resident.

• I didn't need the sharks to up the ante, though maybe Netflix added those for viewers who have never lived through hurricane season.
• I wound up turning the movie off halfway through because it stressed me out.

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