ProPublica and The Texas Tribune have announced that Alexandra Glorioso will be joining their investigative team as a reporter, starting on May 26 and based in Austin.
Previously a state government reporter at the Miami Herald, Glorioso was instrumental in revealing that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration had funneled $10 million in public funds to the Hope Florida Foundation, an initiative touted by the governor and his wife, Casey, as an alternative to welfare aimed at assisting struggling Floridians. However, the investigation unveiled that the foundation was misused to redirect Medicaid settlement funds into a political committee’s account, which was managed by the governor’s former chief of staff. This committee focused on defeating a proposed measure to legalize recreational marijuana.
The reporting team, which included Tampa Bay Times journalists Lawrence Mower and Justin Garcia, uncovered that over $35 million had been siphoned from state resources into political campaigns that successfully opposed not only the marijuana initiative but also an effort to repeal Florida’s six-week abortion ban.
These findings triggered a criminal grand jury inquiry by local prosecutors, leading to legislative changes that now prohibit future administrations from using public funds for political purposes. Additionally, state lawmakers declined to allocate further funding to the Hope Florida Foundation.
Glorioso, Mower, and Garcia were recognized as finalists for the 2026 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting due to their impactful work.
Before her time at the Herald, Glorioso contributed to various local and national media outlets, including the Naples Daily News and Politico, and she has freelanced for The New York Times and The Guardian.
While at Politico, Glorioso uncovered allegations of sexual harassment made by six women against Jack Latvala, a Republican senator and budget chairman in Florida who had aspirations to run for governor. Subsequent independent investigations validated much of her reporting, resulting in Latvala’s resignation despite his claims of innocence.
Glorioso holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
“We are thrilled to have Alexandra on our team,” stated Zahira Torres, editor of the ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigative unit. “Her work reflects a deep commitment to accountability journalism and covers critical issues relevant to Texas, such as healthcare, politics, and governance.”
Torres further emphasized Glorioso’s personal experience as a cancer survivor, highlighting her understanding of the challenges many Texans face in accessing quality healthcare. “Her colleagues describe her as compassionate, collaborative, fearless, and relentless. We can’t wait to get started,” Torres added.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Glorioso remarked, “Joining ProPublica’s Texas team feels like a dream come true. I am eager to engage in statewide political and healthcare investigations.” She acknowledged the vibrant atmosphere surrounding Texas politics and is excited to collaborate with her new colleagues to illuminate the complexities of political dealings.
In 2020, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune launched a groundbreaking partnership to deliver investigative journalism focused on Texas issues. This collaborative investigative unit allows both organizations to share the team’s findings, which are freely distributed to news outlets across Texas and beyond.
In other news, the first round of speakers has been announced for The Texas Tribune Festival, taking place from September 24 to 26 in downtown Austin. Tickets are available now.
