The looming Brightline Bankruptcy: Of course we can’t have a rail system, have you SEEN our rail system?

The looming Brightline Bankruptcy: Of course we can’t have a rail system, have you SEEN our rail system?

May 13, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the potential bankruptcy of the Brightline rail system and its implications for public rail in the U.S.

Is public rail designed to fail? We’re revisiting our favorite public-private partnership (aka privatization) and checking in on the Brightline rail system which seems to be teetering on the edge of bankruptcy after burning through billions of dollars and propping. How did they lose so much money? How did the venture fail so stunningly? And what will become of the valuable land where the downtown Miami station sits? Also, a new Miami-Boston rivalry, Ron DeSantis' soft national relaunch, Rick Scott's sneak-disses, Hondurasgate, Venezuela the US state, Aliens (sorry, too late), and Trump's golden pate.

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Host: Why Are We Like This?

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brightline

Places: Miami, Boston, Venezuela, Honduras

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