The aggressive drive to carry out mass deportations of people without legal status already has led to U.S. citizens being swept up in raids and detained, according to news reports from around the country as well as immigration experts. Such detainments now will increase, experts predict. Once in detention, it can take time to verify citizenship. A passport is considered the gold standard for proof that an individual is a citizen, but fewer than half of Americans hold passports, according to the State Department’s most recent data from 2024. Even fewer are likely to carry the bulky document around.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, September 26, 2025
“Avenue Q,” at City Repertory Theatre, Harold Bloom on how to read a book, ‘Nunsense,’ at St. Augustine’s Limelight Theatre, the origin of wokism on a Paris street.
The Extremist Federalist Society’s Lock on the Supreme Court
Justices affiliated with the Federalist Society will advance the conservative legal agenda decades into the future. The Federalist Society’s educational mission is pursued chiefly in law schools. That’s where it trains the next generation of lawyers in the approaches and goals of the conservative legal movement. This includes promoting the judicial philosophy of originalism – the idea that the best way to interpret the U.S. Constitution is according to how it was understood at the time of its adoption.
Florida CFO Ingoglia Targets Blue Alachua County with Unspecified Claim of ‘Wasteful Spending’
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia traveled to Alachua County Thursday, where he said his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team of auditors had determined that the local government had indulged in more than $84 million in “wasteful spending” over the past five years. As has been the case with the other local government budgets that Ingoglia’s team has reviewed this year, he did not mention any specific programs that constituted what he defined as wasteful spending.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, September 25, 2025
Palm Coast Concert Series brings SoulFire to The Stage at Town Center, Connecting to Palm Coast Expo at the Palm Coast Community Center, the Flagler Beach City Commission meets, AI compares Captain nemo and Ahab.
Trump’s ‘Your Countries Are Going to Hell’ Speech
Trump congratulated himself, for turning the US into the “hottest country anywhere in the world” for repelling a “colossal invasion” of migrants at America’s southern border and for ending seven wars – for which he repeated his line that he should have been given the Nobel peace prize.
Advocate for Hands-Free Driving Law in Florida Blasts Lawmaker Who Blocked It
An advocate for legislation that would have banned drivers from operating a motor vehicle while using a cellphone lashed out at a state legislator on Wednesday, claiming that she prevented the measure from advancing in the Florida House of Representatives and potentially becoming state law earlier this year.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Ex-Firefighter James Melady is scheduled for a pre-trial, the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization meets, Weekly Chess Club for Teens, Israel’s genocide and a few lines from Philip Roth’s Operation Shylock.
The Problem with Auschwitz-Birkenau’s New Digital Camp Replica
Use of digital technology to safeguard Holocaust memories for future generations is symptomatic of a global shift towards digitising the Holocaust as the survivor generation passes on and heritage sites decay over time. While the virtual site digitally preserves and encourages historically rooted depictions of the camp, it cannot ensure ethical engagement with the Holocaust. In fact, its creation only raises further issues about the extent to which the Holocaust’s digitisation goes hand-in-hand with ethical modes of remembrance and representation.
County and City Leaders Push Back Against DeSantis Claims of ‘Waste, Fraud and Abuse’ in Property Tax
After months of financial abuse allegations lobbed by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration against local governments, city leaders pushed back Tuesday in a Florida House meeting focused on cutting property taxes. “Waste is in the eye of the beholder,” said Casey Cook, the Florida League of Cities’ chief of legislative affairs. “Nobody likes paying taxes, but safe isn’t free. Clean isn’t free.”
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Palm Coast City Council meets in workshop, the School Board has a pair of meetings, including Derek Barrs’s last, Budgeting by Values: A Free, Virtual Class to Learn Budgeting Skills, on accommodating an uninvited guest.
Florida Is Misleadingly Invoking Slavery as It Readies to Kill All Vaccine Mandates in Schools
On Sept. 3, 2025, Florida announced its plans to be the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates for its citizens, including those for children to attend school. Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general and a professor of medicine at the University of Florida, has stated that “every last one” of these decades-old vaccine requirements “is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery.” He is wrong.
30 New Laws Go In Effect Next Week, Including Steeper Penalties for Several Crimes and End of Business Rent Tax
The elimination of the business rent tax is projected to collectively save businesses–and cost the state–nearly $1.15 billion during the current fiscal year, which will run through June 30. That amount is projected to increase to $1.53 billion next fiscal year. Other laws include harsher penalties for people who flee police, harass utility workers and kill someone while driving drunk.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, September 22, 2025
Flagler County Government’s second and last tax and budget hearing, the Bunnell City Commission meets, Ernest Gaines’s new volume in the Library of America and a thought from “A Lesson Before Dying.”
Teaching Fact-Checking to College Students Blasted By Misinformation
For Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, social media – especially YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat – has become their source of information about the world, eclipsing traditional news outlets. In a survey of more than 1,000 young people ages 13 to 18, 8 in 10 said they encounter conspiracy theories in their social media feeds each week, yet only 39% reported receiving instruction in evaluating the claims they saw there. The Civic Online Reasoning program was built to address this gap.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, September 21, 2025
‘Avenue Q,’ at City Repertory Theatre, ‘Nunsense,’ at St. Augustine’s Limelight Theatre, ‘All Shook Up,’ at Daytona Playhouse, a few thoughts on Philippe Lançon’s memoir of the Charlie Hebdo massacre and its current echoes.
Donald Trump’s New McCarthyism
A modern-day political inquisition is unfolding in “digital town squares” across the United States. The slain far-right activist Charlie Kirk has become a focal point for a coordinated campaign of silencing critics that chillingly echoes one of the darkest chapters in American history. This is far-right “cancel culture”, the likes of which the US hasn’t seen since the McCarthy era in the 1950s.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Flagler Beach Centennial Cardboard Regatta, Florida Highwaymen Art and Sale Show, ‘Avenue Q,’ at City Repertory Theatre, what Trump’s cabinet meetings have in common with Stalin’s ovations.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, September 19, 2025
Clay Jones revisits immigration phobia, the Flagler County Cultural Council meets, ‘Avenue Q,’ at Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre, ‘Nunsense,’ at St. Augustine’s Limelight Theatre, inflation ahead, Mehdi Hasan against 20 far-rightists.
State Department Layoffs Could Hurt American Companies’ Competitiveness
When more than 1,300 people at the U.S. State Department lost their jobs in a mass firing this summer, most headlines focused on what it meant for American diplomacy. But the layoffs are about more than embassies and foreign policy – they could also make it harder for U.S. companies to compete in global markets.
David Jolly, Democratic Candidate for Governor, Supports ‘School Choice’ But With More Accountability
The main Democratic candidate for governor — former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly — called Thursday for changes to Florida’s universal school voucher program, which helps pay to send students to private school, but not repeal.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Jay Scherr gets Dave Freeman talking Appalachian Trail, Marineland Commission meeting, Town Halls with Council member Charles Gambaro, a few performance reviews for America’s citizens, model yacht races in Central Park.
Fact: Right-Wing Violence More Frequent and Deadly Than Left-Wing Violence
Most domestic terrorists in the U.S. are politically on the right, and right-wing attacks account for the vast majority of fatalities from domestic terrorism. During the 2024 election cycle, nearly half of all states reported threats against election workers, including social media death threats, intimidation and doxing. Domestic violent extremism is defined by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security as violence or credible threats of violence intended to influence government policy or intimidate civilians for political or ideological purposes.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Peter Kuper on erasing American history, the Palm Coast Planning Board talks concrete plant on Hargrove Grade again, Flagler Tiger Bay Club Guest Speaker Roger B. Handberg, an appreciation of Edmund Wilson,
Fox’s Murdoch to Public Interest Journalism: Drop Dead
Rupert Murdoch has succeeded in securing his vision for the future of News Corporation, the global media empire he has always thought of as his family business. To achieve this, he has torn apart his family. He has also ensured his media outlets, especially Fox News, remain committed to his hard right-wing views. Rupert’s chosen successor and elder son Lachlan has headed News Corporation and Fox Corporation since Murdoch stepped aside in 2023, and will inherit the empire.
Majority of Florida’s Republican Voters Back Clean Energy Initiatives
An overwhelming number of Floridians report that their utility costs are rising, according to a statewide poll of voters showing that nearly 80% back alternative, clean energy sources that could mitigate those rising prices. The survey of 1,000 likely 2026 voters commissioned by Conservatives for Clean Energy Florida shows that 78% support clean energy initiatives, including 63% of Republicans.
Tech Industry Groups Want Appeals Court to Uphold Ruling that Blocked Florida’s Restrictive Social Media Law
Pointing to what they called “draconian restrictions,” tech industry groups are urging a federal appeals court to uphold a decision that blocked a Florida law aimed at preventing children from having access to certain social-media platforms. Attorneys for the groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association filed a 78-page brief Friday at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, contending the 2024 law violates First Amendment rights.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Kiwanis Community Open House, Food Truck Tuesdays, The Palm Coast City Council meets, the suffocating atmosphere of a country’s propaganda, leaving our heart in San Francisco, John Darkow on the Department of War.
Charlie Kirk Wanted American Education Wrested from Liberals
A large part of Kirk’s political activism centered on what education should look like. Conservatives, well before Kirk’s time, have been trying to reclaim education from liberals whom they view as valuing equity and belonging instead of timeless values of order and traditional values in society. This philosophy overall focuses on reclaiming education from liberals.
State Regulators Reject Counter-Proposal by Customer Representative to Limit FPL Rate Increases
As they consider a proposed settlement that would increase Florida Power & Light’s base electric rates, state regulators will not take up a “counter proposal” offered by opponents. FPL wants base-rate increases of $945 million in 2026 and $766 million in 2027. The counter proposal would have resulted in increases of $867 million in 2026 and $403 million in 2027.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, September 15, 2025
Canadian Michael De Adder’s take on American outrage, the East Flagler Mosquito Control District Board meets, the County Commission meets, traveling the rest rooms of I-4 in “free Florida,” Tom Hanks goes maga, changing place names.
As the Colorado River Dies, A New Battle Over Water Rights
The seven Colorado Basin states have been grappling with how to deal with declining Colorado River supplies for a quarter century, revising usage guidelines and taking additional measures as drought has persisted and reservoir levels have continued to decline. The current guidelines will expire in late 2026, and talks on new guidelines have been stalled because the states can’t agree on how to avoid a future crisis.
In Florida, We Want Guns in Our Streets, Not Rainbows
No doubt Gov. Ron DeSantis expects Floridians to be grateful for saving us from yet another woke attack on decency, probity, and speeding motorists. Meaning colorful crosswalks. Just as he has fought to expel books by Black and gay authors from our schools, the governor has ordered FDOT to paint over the flowers, the sunbursts, the fish, the musical notes, and the rainbows — especially the rainbows. At least a dozen schools in Tampa will see their “Crosswalks to Classrooms” school crossings destroyed, including one painted to look like a shelf of books. Florida’s government is particularly scared of books.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, September 14, 2025
Musicians of all ages can bring instruments and chairs and join in the jam session at Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, why your personal parcels from abroad are not reaching your door anymore.
How to Avoid Seeing Disturbing Content on Social Media
Social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement, not protect your peace of mind. The major platforms have also reduced their content moderation efforts over the past year or so. That means upsetting content can reach you even when you never chose to watch it. You do not have to watch every piece of content that crosses your screen, however. Protecting your own mental state is not avoidance or denial. It’s a way of safeguarding the bandwidth you need to stay engaged, compassionate and effective.
14th of the Year: DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Samuel Smithers, 72, Who Murdered 2 Women in 1996
In what could be Florida’s 14th execution this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a death warrant for a man convicted of murdering two women in 1996 in Hillsborough County and dumping them in a pond. Samuel Smithers, 72, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection Oct. 14 at Florida State Prison for the murders of Denise Roach and Christy Cowan at a secluded property where he worked as a caretaker.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Peps Art Walk near Beachfront Grille in Flagler Beach, American Association of University Women meeting, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, the connection between Seal Team 6’s killing of innocent Koreans and a Jules Verne pearl diver.
America’s 250 Years of Political Violence: It’s Very Much Who We Are
The day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University, commentators repeated a familiar refrain: “This isn’t who we are as Americans.” But it is. American politics has long personalized its violence. the U.S. was founded upon – and has long been sustained by – this very form of political violence.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, September 12, 2025
John Darkow and a few other voices on on Florida’s anti-vaccine reversion, the Florida Ethics Commission meets and presumably resolves the Lauren Ramirez questions, the Friday Blue Forum meets.
83% of Palestinians Killed in Gaza Have Been Civilians
Figures from a classified Israeli military intelligence database, reported recently by the Guardian, indicate that 83% of the Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza as of May have been civilians. Israel’s own military data also now shows that Israeli officials have both overstated the number of militants they say have been killed and, by implication, the ratio of civilian to militant deaths.
Paul Renner Banks on ‘Looming Civil War’ Between DeSantis Supporters and Trump Loyalists to Win
Paul Renner expects to win the GOP nomination by taking advantage of a deepening rift between DeSantis supporters and Trump loyalists ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial race and legislative session. Renner believes he may have the “unifying” message conservative voters are looking for.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, September 11, 2025
9/11 Tribute Climb at Hammock Beach Resort, Flagler County government tax and budget hearing, Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series return tonight, the Flagler Beach City Commission meets, Model Yacht Club Races in Central Park, replaying the Gulf of Tonkin hoax in Venezuela.
Canadians, Like Others, Are Snubbing Travel to The U.S. This Summer
Global attitudes towards the United States as a tourism destination are plunging. Travel pressures, exchange rate shifts and increasing economic uncertainty have all damaged the reputation of the American travel sector. Canadian travellers are increasingly turning to domestic destinations instead of heading south. In July, Canada recorded its seventh consecutive month of declining travel by Canadians to the U.S..
Appeals Court Ruling Against Transgender Deputy May Buttress Florida’s Restrictions on Pronouns Use
Florida’s defense of a 2023 law restricting pronouns that transgender teachers can use to identify themselves could be aided by an appeals-court ruling Tuesday in a Georgia case. A transgender Houston County, Ga., sheriff’s deputy filed that lawsuit after she was denied coverage under a county health-insurance policy for surgery related to gender dysphoria. The sharply divided appeals court ruled against the Georgia deputy, Anna Lange. Judge Nancy Abudu, in a dissenting opinion, pointed to potentially far-reaching effects of the majority ruling, calling it discrimination against transgender people.”
“The majority opinion effectively sanctions employment discrimination against transgender people,” Abudu’s dissent said.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Peter Kuper on Trump’s optical allusions, River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization’s bike and pedestrian committee meets, Weekly Chess Club for Teens at the library, remembering Charles Aznavour.
Netanyahu’s ‘Cowardly’ Attack on Qatar and His Rage for Decapitation
Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike on the Qatari capital of Doha on September 9, the first time it has directly attacked a Gulf state. The Qatari government said it “strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack”, which it described as “a blatant violation of international law”. The Netanyahu government has now decided that its regional objectives will be pursued through “decapitation”.
Ft. Lauderdale Joins Miami in Challenging Transportation Department’s Erasing of Street Art and Memorials
Days after the city of Miami Beach filed a similar case, Fort Lauderdale has challenged the legality of directives by the Florida Department of Transportation to remove art and markings on streets. Fort Lauderdale filed its challenge Monday at the state Division of Administrative Hearings, arguing that the department did not go through a legally required rule-making process. Such directives went to local governments across the state and have drawn heavy attention, in part, because they required removing LGBTQ-themed rainbow crosswalks.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The Palm Coast City Council meets in an evening workshop, the Community Traffic Safety Team meets, so does the Flagler County Planning Board, a Bulgarian view of the tariffs, on the mythology of progress.
Duke Energy Wants Florida to Prepare for Power-Hungry Data Centers
With artificial intelligence and other technology driving massive increases in demand for electricity, Duke Energy Florida on Friday filed a proposal aimed at preparing for the possibility of data centers being built in the state. The proposal, filed at the Florida Public Service Commission, came as the issue is also part of a broad Florida Power & Light rate case.
Why FEMA Is Essential in Disasters
To better understand FEMA’s value, let’s take a look back at how the nation responded to disasters before the agency existed–it wasn’t pretty– and what history reveals about when FEMA was most effective.





















































