Public Enemy Number 1

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The De-shittification Society, pt. 1: birth of a PE1 community
My friend and long-time local reporter Rick Rousos died a net de-shittifier. And that's becoming my #1 life goal. How about you? Want to fight…
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Billy Townsend
9
Orange County State Attorney should convene Leo Schofield/Jeremy Scott grand jury
Polk State Attorney Brian Haas, and probably Sheriff Grady Judd, are using grand jury lawfare to help DeSantis tell Orange and Osceola county voters…
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Billy Townsend
3
I take your civil war seriously, MAGAs, even if you don't
Climate change or foolish development or God inflicts hurricane and fire disaster alike, on lib and MAGA alike. But only MAGA sends civil war, too…
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Billy Townsend
14
Happy belated National Lynch Mob Day
I especially send greetings to the MAGA Fluids pretending not to celebrate. I'll definitely help them commemorate it every year.
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Billy Townsend
Pedicini v. the People: time for Polk clients to dump their litigious, puppet-loathing sore loser
What if a mythical Manatee County puppet creature destroyed your rep as a political mastermind with satirical animated rap videos that include probably…
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Billy Townsend
3

December 2024

Correction: Billy made stupid copyedit error on Gaetz/Franklin piece
Fixed online. Correcting for email here.
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Billy Townsend
1
Always remember: Matt Gaetz is Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland's "Wingman"
Fast special bonus Christmas Eve flashback to the ghost of happier, sexier elections past. LOL.
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Billy Townsend
7
Scenes from a good night for Leo Schofield, Voctave, and Lakeland, Florida
Leo Schofield makes a surprise return to the Polk Theatre, awash in the community's warm assumption of innocence. Voctave and fans also find a warm…
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Billy Townsend
2
In praise of un-canceled Christmas singers, Gilbert King, and institutions actually making good trouble
When Victory Church cancelled its Christmas concert over gay singers; First United Methodist stepped up. Lakeland Now is taking a risk to bring Bone…
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Billy Townsend
3
Detective who wrongly accused heroic incest rape survivor deserves "death letter" from prosecutors
Failed Det. Melissa Turnage owns Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, which means she owns State Attorney Brian Haas. That's likely why Haas hasn't written a "death…
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Billy Townsend
2
Come see Gilbert King tell the story Polk County's powerful don't want you to hear
I'm offering two free (good) tickets to see the Pulitzer-winning journalist who has convinced everybody -- except the people for whom justice is just a…
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Billy Townsend
1
Peter Schorsch must have ghost-written Corcoran's "book," right?
Five takeaways from Schorsch's 16 takeaways from a "book" no human being will ever read -- but that will likely shower somebody in cultural welfare…
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Billy Townsend
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