Daily Briefing

Margaret Chase Smith’s Declaration of Conscience, ICE shootings, The Rainbow Bridge Dedication at Holland Park, ‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,’ the Billie Holiday Story, at City Rep Theatre.

‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,’ the Billie Holiday Story, at City Rep Theatre, Ken Belshe, the Veranda Bay and Summertown developer, on Free For All Friday, the Flagler County Cultural Council meets, Peter Arnett.

The Cold-Weather Shelter known as the Sheltering Tree will open tonight, Marineland Town Commission meeting, Model Yacht Club Races, Israel’s continuing demolition of houses in Gaza.

The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets, Randy Fine’s eyes on Iceland, the Svalbard Islands, Nunavut and Madagascar, Louis Jordan wonders what’s the use of getting sober, Separation Chat, Open Discussion.

The Palm Coast City Council meets for a lengthy in workshop, the Community Traffic Safety Team meets, as does the School Board, on things concluding themselves, John Cleese on religion, Gide on a lost note.

Clay Jones on Steven Miller’s Goebbels gene. A Flagler County Commission Workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. with a slew of topics. The commission meets again at 5 p.m. The Bunnell City Commission meets, Socrates and Meno discuss Texas A&M’s decision to ban Plato.

Opening reception for “Turtle Trail Artists of Flagler County,” at Expressions Art Gallery, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, back with Hans and Franz and when cigarettes were a front-page crisis.

“Lady Day” at City Repertory Theatre, the Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, American Association of University Women (AAUW) Monthly Meeting, and a few words about Mehmet Oz’s new booze guidance.

Free For All Friday’s media editors’ roundtable looks back on 2025, Rick Belhumeur’s moon shot, Sasha Baron Cohen encourages Americans to embrace dictatorship, a few words about poetry’s lost place in society.

The Flagler Beach City Commission takes up the possible annexation of Summertown/Veranda Bay, Model Yacht Club Races, the annual “52 Places to Go” feature that makes you feel like a poor worm, a few lines from Oran.

From Tennessee Williams to Greenland’s Icy Mountains and Clay Jones correcting the record on what liberals want for Venezuela, the Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board meets, as does the Republican Club, plus a Voltaire pick-me-up on bad health.

Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review Board meets, the Palm Coast City Council meets, the zoning board meets, a tally of America’s imperialism in Central and Latin America, remembering, not fondly, Henry Kissinger.

The Beverly Beach Town Commission is first to get back into the swing of things with a meeting this evening, the Chief Justice, like Herbert Hoover after the Great Crash, thinks America is dandy, an observation from the Thousand and One Nights.

Florida: A History in Pictures, a Palm Coast Historical Society Speaker Series, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market, the beauty and romance of Teresa Carreno, the Venezuelan composer and pianist you’ve not yet heard, but should.

Kuper on price inflation, the Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market in front of City Hall, the Flagler Beach All Stars hold their monthly beach clean-up, Johnny Cash on what is truth.

The year’s first First Friday in Flagler Beach this evening from 6 to 9, with Madam for entertainment, memories of the Aral Sea, and where the Dead Sea is headed next, with a Palestinian Walk.

The Cold-Weather Shelter known as the Sheltering Tree opens yet again tonight as the temperatures scrape the 30s, reflections on the new year, a Mozart piano concerto and a few words from Edward Abbey.

The Cold-Weather Shelter known as the Sheltering Tree will open tonight, the last day of BachFest, hurrying home “before the usual manifestations of insanity had begin in the streets,” and how we were the world.

The Cold Weather Shelter is open tonight, it’s the last night for the Rotary’s Fantasy Lights Festival in Palm Coast’s Town Center, next-to-last-day of BachFest 2025, Tennessee Williams’s “Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore.”

Next-to-last night for Rotary’s Fantasy Lights Festival in Palm Coast’s Town Center, what Charlie Sheen and Casanova have in common, and a few lines from The Book of Sheen and Reggie Jackson.

Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, WKCR’s BachFest continues, Grace Community Food Pantry, the wonders of and slanders against Wikipedia and the end of the physical dictionary, a few words from Philip Roth on Wikipedia and “The Human Stain.”

Clay Jones on the reactionary fondness for the Great Replacement Theory, Kwanzaa Celebration at AACS, Gamble Jam, Rajah Shehadeh, author of “Palestinian Walks,” in a great interview with the Times’s David Marchese.

Acoustic Jam Circle At The Community Center In The Hammock, Rotary’s Fantasy Lights, BachFest 2025, the disappointment of Edith Wharton’s “Angel at the Grave,” a little Bach, how to bring the gods into a musical instrument.

“Living in the Promised Land” on Christmas Day, a profile of Willie Nelson, who’s still writing songs, still recording, still performing, still smoking weed.

WKCR’s universally accessible BachFest 2025 kicks off at midnight, a cool nigh in Palm Coast for Fantasy Lights, and “Together For Palestine,” the fundraising lullaby by Peter Gabriel and Mahmoud Darwish for the people of Gaza.

Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry, one last session in felony court, a Scarlet Letter time warp reaction to Mike Chitwood’s latest performative excess, why being poor is not a matter of personal responsibility.

Bunnell considers adopting a resolution opting the city out of the property tax exemption afforded rental properties under the Live Local Act, Clay Jones takes stock of Donald Trump’s cultish takeover of anything with his name on it.

Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, ‘Annie,’ at Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, remembering the Swingle Singers from John Updike’s adulterous post-coital bliss to Beirut to a department store.

Gamble Jam, the Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market, Democratic Women’s Club of Flagler County meeting, ‘Annie,’ at Limelight Theatre, when shaving and bathing on Sunday became a matter for court.

Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri and County Commission Chair Leann Pennington on Free For All, the Flagler County Cultural Council meets, George Carlin does Hamlet, so does King Charles.

Town of Marineland Commission meeting, Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry, the Palm Coast Democratic Club holds its “After Dark” Recap, Texas feels up women at rest room doors, Mo Amer on Houston, Molly Ivins on Texas.

The Flagler County Contractor Review Board meets, Fantasy Lights Festival in Palm Coast’s Town Center, Paul Duginski on the president’s reaction to Rob Reiner’s death, the impressive response by the president and lawmakers to the week’s catastrophes.

Christopher Weyant on the GOP’s non-existent health care plan, the Palm Coast City Council meets for the last time this year, Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry, the dismal state of press freedom in the United States and elsewhere.

Jermaine Williams and Kristopher Henriqson in court, the East Flagler Mosquito Control District Board meets without Jules Kwiatkowski, The Flagler County Commission meets, how the Trump administration is deploying a Sedition Act against visitors to the United States.

Marco Rubio’s fount of distractions, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, ‘Greetings,’ A Christmas Comedy, Daytona Playhouse, Phillis Wheatley and the risks of presentism.

Santa in Bunnell, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens, Peps Art Walk in Flagler Beach, American Association of University Women meeting, ‘Annie,’ at Limelight Theatre, Gamble Jam, the Scissors Silhouette.

The Bronx Wanderers at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, Paul Renner on Free for All Fridays, the imagined Byzantine genesis of Alexander Calder’s sculptures.

The Flagler Beach City Commission meets, Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series, ‘Greetings,’ A Christmas Comedy at Daytona Playhouse, chorales and Van Loon on the human voice.

Clay Jones on the latest Kennedy Center medal recipients, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, at Athens Theatre, Tig Notaro, a pair of opera glasses tumble, journalists’ arrogance.

The Flagler County School Board, with newly selected Chair Christy Chong and Supreme Vice Chair Will Furry, meets, the Flagler County Planning Board meets, Ex-Firefighter James Melady in the second day of trial, David Rousset.

The Bunnell commission is set to approve, on second reading, one of the largest-ever rezoning of agricultural land to industrial in Florida–a 1,259-acre switch, the groundbreaking for Flagler County Fire Station 51, a message to Augie March.

Handel’s Messiah at Palm Coast United Methodist Church, ‘Greetings,’ A Christmas Comedy, Daytona Playhouse, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, at Athens Theatre, Sophocles’s Ajax and Andrew Dice Clay.

Flagler Beach’s Holiday at the Beach Parade, Palm Coast’s Starlight Parade in Town Center, John’s Towing Celebrates 35 Years in Bunnell, ‘Annie,’ at Limelight Theatre, Holiday Sale to Benefit Area Homeless, Roger’s Version and AI.

Incoming Palm Coast City Manager Michael McGlothlin on Free For All, Santa in Bunnel, the Florida Ethics Commission meets, First Friday Garden Walks at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, First Friday in Flagler Beach, “Alice Doane’s Appeal.”

Nexus Center Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting and Gala, Model Yacht Club Races, ‘Annie,’ at Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, the similarities between a Trump cabinet meeting and an SS’s self-esteem.

Ex-Firefighter James Melady is scheduled for docket sounding, so is Kristopher Henriqson, the Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board meets, Elio Vittorini and Robert Antelme on the human race, Lee Greenwood.

The Palm Coast City Council meets this evening, the Bunnell Planning board meets, Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry holds evening hours, Nixon, Kissinger, Trump, Cambodia and Venezuela.

The Palm Coast Charter Review Committee meets, the Beverly Beach Town Commission meets, the Flagler County Commission meets, Holiday Plant Class Series at UF/IFAS Extension Flagler County at the county fairgrounds, Peter Taylor’s “Allegiance.”

Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, at Athens Theatre, books that try to predict the future, Philip Roth’s “Plot Against America,” the Knights of Liberty vigilantes.

Tree-lighting ceremony in Palm Coast’s Central Park, Rotary’s Fantasy Lights Festival, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, artificial intelligence in a 1940 tank, Richard Powers, Don DeLillo.