FOLIO STAFF:
TERESA
KERRY
AMBAR
CARMEN
KAILI COCHRAN Writer/Designer
KALEB
AARON
ARIANA
HARRY
Free Speech Under Fire: How the First Amendment Is Being Tested in Today’s America Liberty and Flag (2025)
x 48” mixed media on birch by Chip Southworth
BOUQS & BRICKS BOUQUETS
To Feeding Northeast Florida for facilitating a fall food drive called Give A Bag, Get A Beer. November 17-21 drop off your donations at Kaika Teppanyaki, Shanty Town, Dart Bar, Keg & Coin, Perfect Rack Billiards, Tradewinds, The Garage or the Silver Cow. For more info feedingnefl.org
To Congress and the White House for turning the government into a hostage situation (again). You had one job: keep the country running. Instead, you delivered the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
More than a million Americans went unpaid. We endured thousands of grounded flights, disrupting business dealings all over the world. Then there’s the 40 million Americans not receiving SNAP benefits.
Unbelievable that the party in power has the audacity to penalize working families just so the rich can get richer. Disgusting. Want a bouquet instead next time? Try doing your damned jobs.
TREATY OAK REVIVAL WITH SPECIAL GUEST GANNON FREMIN & CCREV
NOVEMBER 20
HUDSON WESTBROOK
TEXAS FOREVER TOUR! WITH SPECIAL GUEST SOLON HOLT NOVEMBER 21
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
DECEMBER 3
FOSAA 3 RD ANNUAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
FEATURING MOVIE “THE POLAR EXPRESS”, ACTIVITIES & FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT ST. JOHNS ECUMENICAL COUNCIL FOOD PANTRY DECEMBER 6
WINTER NIGHT MARKET
DECEMBER 9
JON PARDI THE CHRISTMAS SHOW DECEMBER 12 & 13
ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES
LIVE FROM THE BACKYARD STAGE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE POINT FEBRUARY 27
STYX WITH SPECIAL GUEST CHEAP TRICK FEBRUARY 28
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE AND JUVENILE MARCH 1
AN EVENING WITH TOTO MARCH 2
ROD STEWART MARCH 5
BRET MICHAELS
LIVE AND AMPLIFIED TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST TESLA MARCH 8
MERCYME
THE WONDER + AWE TOUR WITH BIG DADDY WEAVE, TIM TIMMONS & SAM WESLEY MARCH 15
107.3 PLANET RADIO PRESENTS PLANET BAND CAMP FEATURING THREE DAYS GRACE WITH SLEEP THEORY & THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT MARCH 18
PARKER M CCOLLUM WITH SPECIAL GUESTS MAX M C NOWN & LACI KAYE BOOTH MARCH 27 & 28
MT. JOY HOPE WE HAVE FUN PART II TOUR APRIL 11
FOREIGNER
SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY LOU GRAMM WITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST NIGHT RANGER APRIL 17
AN EVENING WITH GOOSE APRIL 18 & 19
RUSSELL DICKERSON THE RUSSELLMANIA TOUR SUPPORTED BY DASHA APRIL 24
ETHEL CAIN THE WILLOUGHBY TUCKER FOREVER TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST 9MILLION MAY 8
SAM BARBER
THE AMERICAN ROUTE TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS MICHAEL MARCAGI & BEBE STOCKWELL MAY 23
O.A.R. THREE DECADES TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS GAVIN DEGRAW & KT TUNSTALL NOVEMBER 14
Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri
Aries
H oroscopes
Let’s talk about sex, baby. With the Sun sizzling in Scorpio until the 21st and Venus turning up the heat until the 30th, the stars are setting the mood. If things have been a little dry lately, don’t sweat it — your drought’s about to end.
Taurus
Since Jupiter began its yearlong visit to Cancer, Taurus, your connections have been shifting — some blooming, others fading. It’s not about quantity but quality. As Sagittarius season begins on Nov. 21, expect your relationships to come under the microscope. Reflect on how they serve you and where you belong in all of it.
Gemini
Your relationships are under the micro scope this month, Gemini. With the Sun and Venus both stirring things up in Scorpio, your connections are on the chopping block. It’s time to get real about what you truly need. Surface-level won’t cut it anymore — you’re craving something deeper, something that actually feeds your soul. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Cancer
This month, Cancer, you’re not just finding silver linings, you’re seeking pure pleasure. With the Scorpio sun heating up your fifth house of romance until the 21st, sparks and stolen glances are in the air. Enjoy the magnetism, Cancer.
Leo
Libra
This month will have you craving security and stability, Libra. Prioritize the practical during the remainder of Scorpio season, because come the end of the month, you’ll need all the stability you can get. Once Mercury enters retrograde (again) mid-November, your typical organized self will be in a frenzy of accidental missed calls and flat tires.
Scorpio
You’re still the main character this month, Scorpio. November’s your cue to go after what you want — and refuse to take no for an answer. Whether it’s a raise, a new flame or both, your magnetism is undeniable. Just be selective — your glow attracts plenty, but not everyone deserves a spot in your
Feather your nest and nurture deeper connections this month as the Scorpio sun warms your home and family zone. Once Venus slips into sultry Scorpio from Nov. 6–30, your place could become dinner party central — or a full-on love den. Just be warned: your guests might get a little too comfortable.
Virgo
Some relationships may feel stuck in the planning phase right now, Virgo, but that’s about to change. When the sun enters Sagittarius on Nov. 21, it illuminates your fourth house of home, family and emotional roots, urging you to lead with your heart, not your head. Real connection is on its way.
Sagittarius
Desire takes many forms, Sagittarius, and this month it’s your imagination that’s ablaze. As Venus moves through Scorpio from Nov. 6 to 30, creative and romantic energy intertwine. Channel that passion however it calls to you, but with your boundaries softened, move with care.
Capricorn
November is all about community, Capricorn. This month, there’s no need to shoulder everything alone — you have a network of friends and allies ready to help carry the load, and that’s exactly what they’re there for. With the Scorpio sun illuminating your social sphere, your connections are deepening and strengthening. Don’t shy away from leaning on others or opening up; vulnerability is in.
Aquarius
Who needs lighting when you’re the one brightening every room, Aquarius? With charming Venus in Scorpio from Nov. 6-30, you’re drawing in people who can help you rise higher, because even you can’t do it all alone. Don’t shy away from community; lead one. Still, leadership brings its own challenges, so be mindful of how you show up.
Your motto this month, Pisces, is simple: anywhere but home. Scorpio season stirs your wanderlust, urging you to chase new horizons. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or an overseas escape, indulge yourself fully. With Venus in Scorpio from Nov. 6-30, you might just find a little romance — or your own “Mamma Mia” moment — along the way.
folio weed
1787: The Founding Fathers, Hemp and a Very Different Kind of Liberty
Words by Teresa Spencer
Before Starbucks, before craft beer festivals, and long before anyone thought about legalization debates, the American colonies were obsessed with hemp. Yes, hemp — not just the “winkwink” variety that makes today’s headlines — but the same plant, legally grown and celebrated across the young states.
Here’s the kicker: in 1787, while Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and their compatriots were drafting the Constitution, they weren’t just dreaming about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in some lofty philosophical sense—they were thinking about fiber. Ropes, sails, and clothing fiber, to be exact. Some colonies even required farmers to grow hemp. So if you think your HOA’s lawn rules are strict, imagine being legally obligated to plant weed.
And yes, some of that hemp made its way into tinctures and remedies. Early Americans were no strangers to cannabis’s medicinal uses — pain relief, inflammation, even homemade “pickme-ups” for those long colonial nights.
Recreational highs? Not exactly on the agenda — though it’s fair to imagine a tired George Washington appreciating a relaxing evening with a hemp-based salve or tincture after a long day of surveying Mount Vernon.
So while the Founders weren’t sparking joints in Independence Hall, they were laying the groundwork for a country where hemp and cannabis would become both a backbone of the economy and eventually a forbidden pleasure. In 1787, the true American liberty included the right — or rather, the legal obligation — to grow your own hemp. That’s a kind of freedom worth toasting.
Fast forward 238 years, and hemp has gone from ropes and sails to vape pens and brownies. If Franklin could see us now, he’d probably be scrolling Twitter, retweeting memes about “founding fathers who got high on hemp” and wondering how we turned mandatory fiber crops into recreational gold. Liberty never smelled so… herbal.
© 2025 Seiko Watch of America. SPB519
JUSTICE FOR Justice Coalition’s Victims’ Advocate
Words by Kaili Cochran
Thirty years after first giving a voice to those silenced by violent crimes, the Justice Coalition’s Victims’ Advocate paper returns in print.
Founded in 1995 by Ted Hires, a Jacksonville business owner and crime victim, the Justice Coalition was created to provide support and advocacy for others navigating the legal system.
As a restaurant owner, Hires found himself a victim of crime eight times. All were nonviolent, but the eighth one, which was an attack on Hires and a coworker.
“It was then that Hires discovered, to his dismay, that the justice system was weighted heavily in favor of the perpetrators of violent crime instead of their victims,” according the the Justice Coalition biographical profile of Hires.
Since its founding, the nonprofit has taken on the role of trained advocates who accompany victims through the legal process. It also provides crisis intervention, education about victims’ rights, assistance in applying for victim compensation, and grief counseling.
Almost two decades later was the launch of Justice Coalition’s “Victims’ Advocate” in print and digital — a 16-page paper with over 100 distribution locations throughout Northeast Florida. Its purpose was to share the stories of victims, highlight law enforcement and citizens who played crucial roles in justice efforts, and promote community involvement and unity.
The nonprofit and paper also played a role in the passing of Marsy’s Law in 2018, which ensures that victims of crime have equal constitutional rights on the same level as those accused and convicted of crimes.
However, that same year, the Justice Coalition’s funding was cut in half, making printing costs increasingly difficult to sustain. Then, COVID-19 hit, making it impossible to continue the publication. The board decided to cut the paper, and the final issue of the Victims’ Advocate was released in 2020.
Robert Bracewell became the executive director in 2023 and said that one of his main objectives was to revive the paper. But funding was continuing to be an obstacle to getting it back on the streets.
es, to make room for the relaunch of the paper.
“I’ve always wondered if it was the right decision. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that everything’s online, you don’t need to print,” Bracewell said. “But I still believe in print because even if it’s found lying somewhere a year later, it’s still telling the story. Whereas online, once you’ve read it, it’s gone, you don’t see it again.”
The relaunched “Victims’ Advocate” was published this August as an eight-page paper with plans to expand back to 16 pages in the future. The design and structure of the paper remain true to the original for easy recognition by readers. Although there are plans to gradually update as it continues to grow.
Future editions are expected to include recurring sections like “Outstanding Citizens,” “Champions for Justice” and a law enforcement feature recognizing monthly heroes, such as Officer of the Month.
Since the paper’s return, Bracewell said the community response has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
“What’s backed me up on my theory of relaunching this paper is all the compliments we’ve had with people telling us how happy they are that it’s back and where they’ve seen it,” he said.
As the Justice Coalition marks its 30th anniversary, the organization and its publication continue to reflect its founding vision of advocacy and accountability for victims of crime.
For more information, visit justicecoalition.org.
WHEN POWER TRUMPS PRINCIPLE:
HOW AMERICA’S RULEBOOK IS BEING REWRITTEN IN REAL TIME
Words by Teresa Spencer
The Constitution isn’t just a dusty museum piece — it’s the operating manual for this country. It tells the government what it can do, what it must do, and just as importantly… what it cannot do. When any administration starts coloring outside the lines, that’s what gets the American people fired up.
Here’s the quick refresher on the essentials, then we’ll talk about the friction we’re seeing today:
The Founders’ whole goal:
Create a government strong enough to function but too limited to become a tyrant. They just escaped one king — they weren’t about to sign up for a new one.
The foundation is built on:
Limited Government – The federal government only has the powers listed (enumerated). Everything else stays with the states or the people.
Separation of Powers – Three branches so no one gets to play dictator:
• Congress makes laws
• The President enforces laws
• Courts interpret laws
Checks and Balances – Each branch is supposed to say, “Whoa there, cowboy,” when another branch oversteps.
Bill of Rights – Guardrails protecting individual freedoms the government cannot trample, including speech, religion, guns and due process.
Let’s get one thing straight: The United States Constitution is not a “vibe,” a “living suggestion” or some dusty antique we keep around for school field trips and campaign photo-ops. It’s the rulebook. The blueprint. The non-negotiable operating system this country runs on. And lately, the folks steering the ship in D.C. are acting like they clicked “I Agree to Terms & Conditions” without reading a single sentence — then proceeded to break half of them anyway.
Both parties have played fast and loose with the Constitution over the years, but the current administration is taking a joyride across the guardrails with the confidence of a teenager who just stole Dad’s Corvette and thinks the speed limit is a personal attack.
Let’s break down the biggest ways our current leaders are treating the Constitution like a malleable piece of Play-Doh instead of the highest law in the land.
Executive power is now seeming like a magic wand lately. The President’s job is to enforce the law — not create it with a Sharpie and a press conference. But thanks to a blizzard of executive orders, policies are being rolled out without Congress (you know, the branch that’s actually supposed to write the laws) lifting a finger.
Instead of doing the boring grown-up work of debate, compromise and legislation, we get sweeping national changes with the mighty stroke of a pen. Immigration law, environmental regulations— major national policy is now made faster than a TikTok trend and with about as much seriousness.
The Founding Fathers didn’t fight off a monarchy so we could replace it with a president who rules like a monarch.
The 10th Amendment says the feds only get powers explicitly given to them. Everything else goes to the states or the people. Simple.
Yet Washington keeps sticking its nose into state business — education, election procedures, mandates, social policies — and strong-arming states into compliance. It’s like the federal government showed up at a neighborhood block party with a clipboard and told everyone how to grill their burgers.
The Founders intended a balance. What we have now feels more like a takeover.
The First Amendment isn’t optional. Freedom of speech, religion and the press are supposed to be untouchable — cornerstone freedoms, not bargaining chips.
But when government agencies pressure media companies to censor information or viewpoints, that becomes a First Amendment violation wearing a costume. Anytime the government has influence over what Americans are “allowed” to say, hear or believe, it’s a five-alarm constitutional fire. Free speech doesn’t need protection when it’s popular. It especially needs protection when the government doesn’t like it.
Weaponization of federal agencies is happening every single day it seems.
CONSTITUTION REFRESHER
The Founders didn’t invent the IRS, FBI, CIA, DHS, etc. — but they did warn about government power being used to target political opponents. If agencies act like a ruling party’s personal enforcement squad, that’s the thing that collapses republics.
The Constitution works only if everyone respects their lane. Once one branch tramples the boundaries, every future administration will follow the new “expanded” blueprint. That’s how nations slide from a republic run by law into a government run by whoever holds the reins today.
The Founders’ intention was simple: Government exists to protect rights, not grant them — and certainly not take them away.
Today, more Americans — across both sides — believe federal agencies are being used to target ideological opponents rather than enforce laws blindly and fairly. That’s banana republic territory. And once a nation crosses that line, history shows it rarely crosses back without a crisis.
My conclusion: America is playing a dangerous game. The Founders built a system designed to outlast kings, tyrants and political fads. But it cannot outlast a government — or a public — that stops caring whether leaders obey the rules.
Article I – Congress makes laws.
Article II – The President enforces them. Article III – Courts interpret them. Bill of Rights – Protects individual freedoms the government can’t touch. Tenth Amendment – Anything not listed stays with the states or the people.
This isn’t about left or right. It’s about whether the Constitution still means something … or if we’re all just pretending it does while politicians treat it like a suggestion menu. If the Constitution becomes optional for the people in charge, every freedom on that parchment becomes optional for the rest of us too. You don’t need a law degree or a crystal ball to know how that story ends.
Executive orders replacing actual legislation, federal agencies acting like personal security squads, and the First Amendment being treated like a privilege instead of a right. It’s a mess.
If the government can tell you what to say, what not to say, what to believe, and then use federal muscle to punish dissent, congratulations — you’re not living in a constitutional republic anymore. You’re living in a government experiment.
Bottom line: The Constitution isn’t optional just because those in charge find it “inconvenient.” If leaders can ignore it, your rights aren’t rights; they’re temporary coupons that expire when the next politician decides they should.
Wake up, America. This ship doesn’t sink overnight — it leaks slowly because people shrug and say, “Well, maybe this one tiny violation is fine.”
It’s not fine. It never was. And history has receipts.
What Happens When the Music Stops?
Words by Ariana Alcantara
If one were to listen to broadcast radio stations like 95.1 WAPE on their morning commute, music censorship is a commonplace experience for them. Radio stations censor music under the scope of decency, often changing lyrics deemed unfit for public consumption. These modifications include changing foul language, sexual or violent lyrics, and explicit sounds. Though this poses an issue of artistic expression by reworking the original art intended by the musician, a more complex issue arises when music is censored for other reasons such as religious or political.
Music is protected under the First Amendment as a freedom of expression. Since creating music is an individual’s right of expression, it allows someone to reflect on their waking experiences or attempt to create change in their social sphere. Many artists create their music as an extension of themselves, but the transformative aspect of this art form is the way it resonates with the listener. As people live under similar social constraints of political influences and economic challenges, their struggles and values are often shared with members of their community. Music unites these voices into one, allowing for the expression of one person to transmute expression for the masses.
Hozier, a popular folk-indie artist, performed at the Reading Festival in August. During his performance, he gave a speech that many fans condemned the BBC for not airing as part of their broadcast. In his comments, he spoke about the power of free speech, the power of people, and notably made comments about tolerance. Some concert-goers took it upon themselves to post the broadcast to their social media pages, in which he is captured saying, “I think people want to see human beings live in peace and safety and security. I think that people would want to see that for their neighbors. They would want to see that for members of their community. I believe that people would want to see people they don’t know live with peace and safety, and security. Am I right?”
He continued, “They wouldn’t want to see their neighbors live in fear of hatred or racism, wouldn’t want to see their Jewish friends live in the fear of anti-Semitism, and Muslim brothers and sisters live in the fear of Islamophobia. They want to see their members of the LGBTQ community treated with respect and dignity, and peace” to much applause from the audience.
Though the crowd reveled in his speech, BBC’s iPlayer airing it did not include this part of his performance, leading to speculation that the producers were censoring Hozier for his
political remarks. BBC stated, “As mutually agreed ahead of Reading Festival, Hozier chose not to be included in the BBC’s coverage,” though some fans wonder about the validity of these claims. Hozier also performed at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in 2024, giving a similar enticing lecture about the state of the world and the need for community.
Hozier’s speeches are not the only politically charged aspects of his expression as an artist though. His music is fraught with criticisms of class structure, inequality and injustice. Modern popular artists like him hold a mirror to the society that we function within and pose the question of morality and ethics which uphold it. To have voices like this dissent from the herd of assimilation into a sick culture, encourages listeners to reflect on their own values.
To censor music means admitting to perpetuating a culture of control. It undermines citizens’ ability to not only express their intolerance of social issues but also halts any chance for resonance with the community. Music leads to conversation; this can be disagreement with the art or unity from the message. Either way, it moves the community forward through the common experience of being alive.
Ultimately, music censorship is often a smaller reflection of a broader social issue. Historically, some occurrences of music censorship happened during widespread attempts to control a population. For example, in the mid-90’s when the Taliban took over Afghanistan, all forms of music were banned. Similarly, during the Cambodian genocide, Khmer Rouge’s regime banned all music with an exception for party propaganda. Furthermore, in the United Kingdom in 1977, “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols was banned for its criticism of the government.
Modern music censorship deserves push-back, especially given the historical implications.
American Flag No. 1 (2025) 72x72’ oil enamel on birch by Chip Sputhworth
THE ART OF RESISTANCE
Words & photos by Ambar Ramirez
I’d been here before, back in my early days with “Folio.” Back when freedom of speech and the press still felt untouchable. Before a sitting president called the Smithsonian — the world’s largest museum and research complex — “out of control.” Before federal cuts left more than half the nation’s schools without the means to teach art, silencing brushes and instruments in classrooms that once buzzed with creation. And before our democracy wasn’t being questioned.
The last time I was in this studio, Chip Southworth was working on his collection of bridges. Bold blue beams stretched across his canvases, their edges sharp and sure. Now, those bridges rest against the walls, their work seemingly done, while Radiohead’s familiar melancholy drifts through the space. On the easel stands something new, something heavier — a piece from Southworth’s latest series. This one confronts the quiet unraveling of a right so many take for granted, a right that artists like him refuse to let disappear without a fight. One that speaks to a growing unease shared by artists and citizens alike.
“When I was in the Navy, one of my duties to make a little extra money was to work at the Navy Museum at a Navy Yard. And so nobody was ever there. I would just walk around basically the entire time and look at stuff, you know? But there were a lot of ships with this print on it, and it’s called dazzle camouflage. And this is basically what it looks like but without the stars,” Soutworth said, pointing to the painting on the easel.
Dazzle camouflage first appeared near the end of World War I, but it was during World War II that it truly took shape, designed not by soldiers, but by abstract expressionists. As Southworth explained, the purpose wasn’t concealment but confusion. The jagged, intersecting lines and abrupt shifts in direction created the illusion that a ship could be moving any which way, disorienting enemy forces trying to track its path.
Southworth draws on that history — ours and his own — to create work that mirrors today’s political turbulence. One of his mentors once told him, “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
So he didn’t. He made it his own.
“Usually it’s grays and light blues and stuff like that,” Southworth said. “And I thought, maybe attack the flag with it. Because if this stuff beat fascism once, maybe it can do it again.”
Southworth has never been one to back down from a challenge. His work has long served as a response to the world around him. Local tensions, national reckonings, the uncomfortable truths many would rather ignore. In 2014, he quietly emerged as “Keith Haring’s Ghost,” painting symbolic figures on utility boxes across Jacksonville in response to the senseless killings of Black teens like Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis. What some — particularly law enforcement — saw as vandalism, Southworth saw as protest. Art as a message.
That message was received, though not in the way he first intended. His arrest made headlines, but it also cracked open a conversation about public art and expression in Jacksonville. What began as an act of defiance ultimately helped change the system itself — Southworth, along with other artists, succeeded in reforming 18 local laws, opening the door for murals and street art in neighborhoods that had long been overlooked.
“I consider myself kind of equal parts artist and activist, you know, I don’t like, shy away from, the title or anything like that,” Southworth shared. “And I try to be pretty upfront about it.”
Looking back, not much has changed about Southworth. Now he just fights a different challenge along with many artists around the nation. That same spirit of rebellion and renewal threads through his latest work. The piece, layered with the sharp geometry of dazzle camouflage and the familiar imagery of the American flag, blurs the line between patriotism and protest. It’s a visual contradiction — bold yet fractured, loud yet uncertain. It demands to be seen, to make viewers question not just what they’re looking at, but what’s being lost in the noise of censorship and control.
This time, though, the work wasn’t meant for a street corner or the side of a utility box, it was created to live within the walls of a museum. But as Southworth and many artists are realizing, the same institutions that display their art are often funded by the very powers that their work seeks to challenge.
About a year ago, Southworth found himself at odds with that tension. A show in Chicago censored several of his pieces, and when he returned home, even local universities expressed hesitation, warning him they had to “be careful” about what art was displayed in their public spaces. Back then, his pieces were more direct, charged with political imagery, sharp-edged quotes and the occasional profanity.
“A year ago, I was kind of focusing on George Washington and some of his quotes just because they’re so on point; they’re so good,” Southworth said. “My newest one I just found is, ‘No punishment is too great for the man who can build his greatness upon his country’s ruin.’”
So when Southworth got the deal with MOCA, he took a different approach. He turned to dazzle camouflage, not just for its history, but for its ability to conceal meaning in plain sight. It became a way to outsmart censorship while still delivering the message he needed to share.
“So many of these institutions receive money from the city, from the state, from the government, and a lot of that money is dried up. A lot of that money has been just chopped, I mean, like over $100 million is cut out of arts for the whole state of Florida. That was kind of the whole impetus behind changing [the work],” Southworth explained. “Basically, I was just told, you know, like these word pieces aren’t going to cut it, you gotta figure out something different. Another way to get the same message across. So I mean it’s not as in your face or as hard and in some ways, it may even be more patriotic and stuff, but it’s real.”
When Southworth later hosted a panel about the exhibition, he noticed something striking — the quiet moments when viewers began to get it , when the layers of color and confusion gave way to understanding. Those moments, he said, felt more powerful than any bold slogan could have been.
Southworth’s newest work stands as both a continuation and an evolution of his activism. Where his earlier art fought city ordinances, this one faces a broader, quieter battle. The slow erosion of artistic freedom in America. It’s an erosion that creeps in subtly, under the guise of “protection” or “morality,” and yet it reaches into every corner of expression.
Today, even the most peaceful symbols — rainbow crosswalks painted in support of LGBTQ+ pride, murals celebrating diversity, books that simply tell the truth about history or identity — have become targets of censorship. School boards pull novels from shelves, public art is defaced or banned, and the very spaces meant to foster creativity now carry an unspoken sense of caution.
“I live by this quote, and I always have as an artist.It was one of the earliest quotes I ever read where I was like, man, this is what I want to do. Picasso was talking about his “Guernica” piece and he said, look, paintings aren’t meant to decorate apartments. They’re instruments of war against the establishment,”
Southworth said. “That’s one I try to stay true to, you know, and just stay true to myself. Always be pushing and fighting for essentially democracy. Before, I felt like it was civil rights all the time, and at this point, it’s just democracy.”
VENETIAN PRINCESS
INVESTING IN CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS
Celebrating the completion of the City of Jacksonville’s history-making milestone, the first-ever piloted Individual Artist Grant Program. This strategic allocation of operating dollars demonstrated the undeniable value of supporting creative entrepreneurs directly, fueling the Northeast Florida workforce, strengthening Jacksonville’s ability to retain and attract top talent , and enhancing small creative businesses
This pilot program demonstrates real impact into the City of Jacksonville’s economic bottom line and real incentive for private funders to partner in elevating the creative workforce through ongoing professional development opportunities, optimizing financial literacy, and matchmaking innovation with destination builders.
60 ARTISTS
$10,000 EACH
The land of the free just put freedom on lockdown.
Words
& photo by
Carmen Macri
The First Amendment isn’t just a line in a history book — it’s the backbone of every question ever asked in a press briefing, every story that holds power accountable, and every uncomfortable truth the public deserves to know. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press aren’t luxuries; they’re the safeguards that keep democracy from running on autopilot. Without them, the government controls the story.
That’s why journalists across the country raised alarm bells — and why some literally packed up their desks — when the Pentagon and White House rolled out new policies that tighten access to information.
At the Pentagon, reporters were told they’d need to sign a new agreement acknowledging restrictions on what they could report and where they could go within the building. The deal sounded simple … until you read the fine print. It required journalists to agree to limits on independent reporting, essentially allowing the government to revoke credentials if coverage wasn’t “approved.” Rather than sign away their integrity, many reporters turned in their badges and walked out.
Then, the White House followed suit. A new National Security Council memo now restricts access to “Upper Press,” the area near the Oval Office where correspondents have long been able to speak directly with communications staff. Under the new rule, reporters can’t enter without a pre-scheduled appointment. On paper, it’s about “security.” In practice, it’s about control — limiting spontaneous questions, hallway conversations, and the kind of informal access that often leads to real accountability.
The White House Correspondents’ Association has already called the move “a serious step backward for transparency.” And they’re right. When the government starts deciding when and how the press can ask questions, it’s not just an inconvenience for reporters — it’s a warning sign for the public.
Freedom of the press isn’t about protecting journalists’ egos. It’s about protecting the public’s right to know what their government is doing — without filters, without rehearsed talking points, and without permission slips. Because the moment access becomes conditional, so does the truth, which, frankly, seems to be the point.
It makes you wonder … why? Beyond the online chatter about authoritarian ambitions, what’s the real motive for limiting press access? What’s happening behind closed doors that needs to stay there?
Because let’s be honest, the First Amendment’s been wobbling for a while now. Ever since the Trump administration took office, both freedom of the press and freedom of speech have been walking a political tightrope, one policy change at a time.
This became especially clear after the assassination of rightwing political speaker Charlie Kirk. In the wake of that horrific act of political violence, the country has never felt more divided. Love him or hate him, Kirk died exercising his First Amendment rights. What followed? It’s been nothing short of a scene ripped from a Hollywood dystopian thriller.
Teachers, students, employees and employers have all faced the chopping block for their reactions to the event. Even something as small as an emoji under a Facebook post has cost people their livelihoods. While hate speech is never acceptable, what we’re seeing now is a narrowing of freedom of speech to only those who align with the majority. Speaking freely, online or offline, has become a minefield. Free speech only feels free if your views match the prevailing political winds.
One of the more subtle ways the Trump administration has limited free speech — beyond press access or public statements — has been through federal funding. Essentially, the government has tried to use money as leverage to influence how colleges and universities handle speech, protests and campus policy.
For example, in 2019, Trump signed an executive order requiring schools to certify they support free speech if they wanted federal research and education funding. That might sound harmless, but in practice, it puts universities in a position where they could lose billions if the administration decided they weren’t “compliant,” even in cases where the school was simply trying to manage student protests or campus demonstrations.
Some schools were hit directly. Columbia University, for instance, had $400 million in funding frozen after the administration claimed it didn’t do enough to address “antisemitism” following pro-Palestinian protests. Under pressure, Columbia agreed to policy changes: revising protest rules, hiring new safety staff and restructuring its Middle East studies program. Critics saw this as the government forcing the school to bend to political pressure — a clear threat to free inquiry and speech.
Harvard faced a similar situation. The administration reviewed roughly $9 billion in federal grants, questioning whether the university’s policies aligned with the government’s interpretation of free speech. Legal battles followed, and a federal judge eventually sided with Harvard, noting the government had overstepped constitutional boundaries.
It’s a clear example of how freedom of speech can be conditioned on alignment with the majority or those in power. If your speech doesn’t match the government’s preferences, the consequences are real — not just fines or reprimands, but cuts to massive funding streams that schools rely on for research, programs and salaries.
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH COMEDY?
Most people would agree that comedy is a subjective matter. A lot of comedians may object to that on the grounds of the thousands of hack jokes spouted into microphones across the country on a nightly basis. But still, there is no one true style of humor that appeals to all, which is reflected in the heavily bifurcated current comedy landscape, where every kind of funny bone can be tickled by an array of niche stylings catered to by an endless supply of comedy podcasters, content creators and stand-ups all playing to a dedicated but select audience.
The new siloed comedy scene has allowed audiences to seek out their preferred flavor and form of humor — if you like multihour-long podcasts where improv comic hosts giddily discuss the details of gruesome murders, you have plenty of options. If you prefer to watch a YouTube series where a guy dresses up like Watto from “Phantom Menace” and interviews anyone even tangentially connected to George Lucas, it’s out there. And if you want stand-up specials where a well-paid comedian can go on stage and talk about how you can’t say anything anymore, and then go on to say the same things that all those guys say, then baby, I have some great news for you.
Although the fractured scene has diversified comedy styles and allowed audiences to find their preferred brand of humor, it has undoubtedly had an impact on the shared experience of comedy, hindering the ability for a ubiquitous comedy star to emerge in the past decade or so, with few comedy movies breaking into the broader cultural consciousness and no Seinfeldian watercooler sitcoms driving conversations. Gone are the days when men could bond over yelled Will Ferrell quotes, only to be replaced by watching endless conversations of Joe Rogan listening to some sociopath with his entire forehead. Niche comedy
circles have grown in place of the broad-reaching, mainstream fare of the past. Rogan’s comedy cult based in Austin, Texas has seized a large corner of the comedy world, thanks to their endless churning of lowbrow content to be thrown out to their small sycophantic army of braying hyenas. Undoubtedly, the biggest name to have climbed out of this chuckle pit is roast comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, whose show “Kill Tony” is a huge hit consistently on the podcast charts. Hinchcliffe, who has a face for radio and a voice for enhanced interrogation, has managed to carve out a devoted audience thanks to his brand of middle school bully shock comedy, while Hollywood hasn’t successfully launched a comedy movie star since at least Melissa McCarthy, and even her hits didn’t land as strongly as those that came before.
The vacuum at the top of the comedy pyramid has paved the way for bad-faith arguments that comedy is now outlawed and a thing of the past, which couldn’t be further from reality. While it is true that comedians using contextual blackface to make social commentaries is no longer palatable and making homophobic jokes will get the hosting job at an awards show taken away, there is a wider range of comic stylings to be accessed than ever before, despite, of course, the woke mafia trying to suck all the fun out of everything. Funny enough, that even with comedy being recently declared “legal” again, this year has seen an uptick in comedy censorship. Following the murder of white supremacist troll righteous spreader of Christian values Charlie Kirk, a wave of firings hit workers who made anything less than adoring comments eulogizing the slain podcaster, whose, anecdotally, second-to-last episode of his show (released on Sept. 9 of this year) sought to reveal “the truth about George Floyd.” This moment of infringement on the First Amendment reached
Words by Harry Straussman
a boiling point when the ABC network’s late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was unceremoniously taken off the air following the host’s comments on the fallout of the shooting. With Kimmel long being a thorn in President Donald Trump’s side, it was an easy conclusion for many people to make that the show’s sudden hiatus was a vindictive act of collusion spearheaded by Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed head of the FCC, who has control over approving a looming merger being negotiated to take place amongst the network’s affiliates. But after an extensive public boycott of ABC’s parent company Disney, Kimmel was swiftly returned to air and received the ratings of a lifetime on his return, as millions gathered around in protest to see the milquetoast comments from the corporate spokesperson, only to leave more scandalized that the great rotting pumpkin continues to be offended by these very tame barbs.
This year, the laughs finally arrived on the shores of another despotic regime on the other side of the world. Over the summer, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince invited and hosted a fleet of international A-list comedians for the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Fest. The Saudi Public Investment Fund continued its ongoing quest to culture wash the country into acceptance amongst Western culture, and after making some strong inroads in global sports, the regime has moved to hijacking popular culture by writing checks big enough to turn truth to power speakers into hypocrites before their fans’ very eyes. It remains to be seen whether Bill Burr will recover his reputation for thumbing the eye of America’s oligarchs that he had become so beloved to his fans for, yet he seemed all too willing to throw away for a big payday from the guys who planned 9/11. But still, the meme where Pete Davidson’s head was edited into “The Princess Bride” with the caption: “My name is Pete Davidson. You killed my father, prepare to laugh,” may well be the funniest thing the SNL alum has ever contributed to.
However, the future of comedy isn’t all doom and gloom. Following the phenomenal success that was the “Barbie” movie, film studios have shown that they are more willing now to try putting their toes back into the comedy water. This year has seen the successful release of more comedy than can be recalled in recent history. The Keke Palmer and SZA-led comedy “One of Them Days” was a sleeper hit at the beginning of the year, catering to an often-ignored demographic. “The Naked Gun” reboot was a silly throwback to the gag-a-minute spoof movies that delivered more than enough laughs to live up to the original. While the new “it” boy for comedy nerds, Tim Robinson, made his leading man debut opposite Paul Rudd in the deranged cringe comedy “Friendship,” in which Robinson’s singular voice skewers the male loneliness epidemic for one of the most painfully funny films released in years, that has practically already achieved cult classic status in some circles. While it is unlikely we’ll ever see a star of the stature of Jim Carrey talk out his ass to a delighted, united nation again, comedy has resettled into a groove of distinctive pockets and niches with space for everyone.
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
Campus Crackdown on the First Amendment
Words by Carmen Macri
College campuses have long been the beating heart of social change — hotbeds of activism, dissent and revolutionary ideas that have shaped national conversations for generations. From the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter, from Vietnam to Gaza, students have consistently used their voices (and their campuses) to demand accountability, progress and justice.
The roots of campus activism in the U.S. go deep. In the 1960s, universities became ground zero for the Free Speech Movement — Berkeley being the most famous example — where students fought for the right to engage in political speech and advocacy on school grounds. What started as a pushback against administrative control quickly evolved into a full-blown cultural revolution. By the mid-’60s and ’70s, campuses across the country were staging anti-war protests, sit-ins and walkouts against the Vietnam War. Kent State became an infamous turning point in 1970, when the National Guard opened fire on unarmed student protesters, killing four — a moment that seared student activism into the American conscience.
As decades rolled on, campus movements continued to mirror the pulse of society. The 1980s saw students protesting apartheid in South Africa, pressuring universities to divest from companies doing business with the apartheid regime. In the 1990s and early 2000s, activism took on global and environmental dimensions — think anti-sweatshop campaigns, sustainability pushes and the rise of student-led climate action.
The 2010s reignited campus activism around race, gender and identity. The rise of social media amplified movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo and protests against police brutality, sexual assault and systemic inequality. Students once again were at the forefront — organizing walkouts, teach-ins and demonstrations that spilled far beyond university gates.
Today, college campuses remain both a stage and a symbol for free expression — but also a battleground for it. With heightened political polarization, administrative crackdowns and social media scrutiny, the question of how far free speech extends in academic spaces is, once again, under fire. Yet one thing hasn’t changed: When it comes to challenging power and pushing society forward, students have always been — and continue to be — the spark.
Just last year, UNF students staged an encampment on the University Green to protest the war in Gaza — about as peaceful as it gets. The three-day protest followed every rule and protocol set by the university. Students dismantled tents and umbrellas when asked, and left by 10 p.m. on the first two nights. It wasn’t until the third night that members of the Students for Democratic Society in Jacksonville (SDS) chose to stay past the newly imposed “curfew.”
That decision led to the arrest of 16 people, eight of whom are students, all charged with time, place and manner restrictions for a verbal curfew that, allegedly, did not exist prior to the encampment.
Lately, Jacksonville universities have found themselves in the spotlight over campus censorship.
The issue hit home when John White, a professor in UNF’s Teaching, Learning and Curriculum department, spoke out through the student paper, the “UNF Spinnaker,” calling for a stand against censorship on campus. This came after the Florida Board of Education (FL DOE) and the Board of Governors (BOG) — the political appointees in charge of the state university system — ordered administrators in the teacher education programs to submit every course descriptor and objective for review. Then they told UNF administrators to remove any mention of “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion” and “culture” — and any variations of those words — no matter the context. The BOG made it clear: The courses wouldn’t be approved unless the materials fully complied with these so-called “new rules.”
Within his letter, White states, “I filed my grievance and have been reaching out to the press not to shame the UNF administration; rather, I’ve done so to fight censorship in the academy and to uphold the contract that UNF’s Board of Trustees (also state-appointed) signed with our faculty. I know my colleagues in the administration and believe that they, too, abhor such censorship.
However, they feel powerless to resist it. For UNF administrators to question or say ‘no’ to the BOG (regardless of the merits behind such pushback) is to invite their potential removal and replacement by ‘yes men.’ We only need to look at what happened at New College to see what can happen when a university administrator finds themselves afoul of the BOG. But at some point, we must collectively do something; the stakes are too high not to resist ideological hegemony and forms of authoritarianism.”
And while local professors are doing everything they can to push back against DeSantis’s war on the so-called “woke mind virus,” there’s something else happening on campus.
Jacob McElroy, a professor for Writing for Audience and Purpose — known for his theatrical, often ironic style when tackling rhetoric and controversial topics — was fired for hosting an open discussion with his students after the Charlie Kirk assassination.
On Sept. 11, McElroy dedicated class time to talk about the events from the day before. He used what he described as a “theatrical and ironic approach” to show what a bad teacher might say in a moment like that, leaning on humor and swearing as “pedagogical tools to make his point.”
During the class discussion, McElroy reportedly said, “We’re all going to start shooting each other. It’s gonna be great. We’re all gonna f***n’ John Nuke this joint up.” Obviously, not the most tactful thing to say right after such a serious event — but according to McElroy and two of his students, it was clearly meant to be ironic.
One student who spoke with the “Spinnaker,” Emma Prestano, also made it clear that she believed McElroy was joking.
“He was completely joking,” Prestano said. “He told us multiple times that he was joking… In our class, we deeply discuss rhetoric. That’s why we do all the debates and discussions like this.”
According to the “Spinnaker,” McElroy echoed her sentiment, explaining that he often uses in-class theatrics to show students what not to do in an argument or how not to respond to differing opinions.
The UNF board did not take lightly to the verbiage used during his discussion and found those words to be grounds for immediate termination.
What’s happening on college campuses in Florida, and across the country, is bigger than one classroom, one professor or one protest. From professors being censored for the way they teach, to students being arrested for not following every arbitrary rule to national conversations erupting over political violence, universities are still the frontlines in a cultural and ideological battle. The question is no longer just what students are learning, but who gets to decide what counts as acceptable thought, speech and debate. And until that question is answered, the tension — and the protests — aren’t going anywhere.
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Bad Bunny, Football and the Culture War
No One Asked For
Photo by Ksama on Unsplash
Words by Teresa Spencer
America treats the Super Bowl like our national potluck — everyone brings their opinions, even if nobody asked for them. So naturally, the second the NFL announced Bad Bunny as the 2026 halftime headliner, half the country reacted like someone spiked Grandma’s church lemonade with tequila.
Because nothing says “America’s most sacred unofficial holiday” like a battalion of arm-crossed Facebook warriors spiraling over a halftime show they could simply… not watch. But here we are, queso dip in hand, watching people lose their collective minds.
Let’s break down why some folks are clutching their pearls like they’re auditioning for a “Real Housewives of Mayberry” reboot. Every year, a particular crowd crosses their fingers for AC/DC, Garth Brooks or a hologram of someone who peaked before dial-up internet. Instead, they got a global reggaeton phenomenon with stadium numbers that make most legacy acts look like they’re playing a county fair. Translation: some fans want the halftime show permanently frozen somewhere between 1986 and “we just discovered MTV.”
The audacity… to sing in Spanish! Yes, I said it. SMH??? A portion of the population still can’t fathom that America is no longer a one-language jukebox. Bad Bunny performing in Spanish during the most-watched live event in the nation rattles the crowd that treats English like it’s the country’s last line of defense against chaos, right up there with gas-station beef jerky and bald eagles. Fun fact for those shouting “go back to your country”: Bad Bunny is American. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898. Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. By 1952, they had a constitution approved by Congress. Geography: it’s not just a rumor.
He isn’t manly enough? Yep, that’s what some are saying. Again… SMH??? Yes, Bad Bunny paints his nails (like Billy Idol), wears skirts (like Harry Styles), calls out toxic masculinity and doesn’t perform like he’s auditioning for a Jeep Wrangler commercial. Meanwhile, anyone under 40 is like, “Finally—some art between the Doritos ads.”
Some viewers cling to the idea that halftime acts must look like they can shotgun a beer, gut a fish and replace a carburetor during a guitar solo. Bad Bunny? He’s giving “international showman with range,” not “guy holding a spatula at a tailgate wearing a 49ers jersey from 1995.”
This entire meltdown isn’t really about Bad Bunny. It’s about a country shifting under the feet of people who desperately want the cultural clock turned back to whatever “good old days” they’ve romanticized into folklore.
The NFL has finally realized that football fans look a little more like the actual population—aka, not just “Bud Light, barstool and Toby Keith on loop.”
Bringing in the most streamed artist on the planet is a signal flare: Football isn’t a one-flavor casserole anymore. Cue outrage. Cue pearl-clutching. Cue the “NOT MY HALFTIME SHOW” rants typed aggressively in all caps.
Meanwhile… “You Can’t Make This Shit UP” Conservative group Turning Point USA quickly announced plans for an “All-American Halftime Show” alternative to the Super Bowl’s halftime show, presumably featuring performers selected from the Mount Rushmore of Dad Rock Spotify playlists. Bless their predictable little hearts.
At least 14 non-American artists have performed halftime before including U2, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Rihanna, Paul McCartney, Shakira and J Balvin. But sure, now we’re mad … because this time the artist is from a U.S. territory and sings in Spanish? Tell me you didn’t pay attention in school without telling me.
Enter Donald Trump, stage far right. Trump called the NFL’s decision “absolutely ridiculous,” adding, “I’ve never heard of him.” Which, honestly, says more about his playlist than the NFL’s booking.
Members of Trump’s orbit doubled down, implying ICE agents would be “all over the Super Bowl” to check immigration status — because nothing says “family sporting event” like threats of federal raids aimed at Latino fans. Subtlety? Never met her.
Bad Bunny’s response? While hosting SNL, he joked: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn Spanish.” Elite trolling. Michelin-star level.
The NFL isn’t budging. Commissioner Roger Goodell all but shrugged, saying Bad Bunny is one of the most popular entertainers in the world and will put on a great show.
Before you flee to the Puppy Bowl…by the way, yes, the Puppy Bowl returns for anyone whose patriotism can’t withstand bilingual lyrics but love adorable puppies in kerchiefs.
This isn’t an outrage over a halftime show. It’s a tantrum over America’s evolution being broadcast on the world’s biggest stage. If you’re that offended, there’s always the option to refill your queso during the performance and call it a day. Just don’t pretend this is about “football tradition.” It’s about comfort, control and a culture that isn’t going back in the attic for storage.
The only thing truly un-American here is the Americans bitching about it.
Trouble in Paradise? Jaguars Mid-Season Struggles
Through Week 10, the Jacksonville Jaguars are currently sitting at a record of 5-4, despite being 4-1 when they entered Week 6. While 5-4 is by no means a terrible record, many Jaguars fans are frustrated with the mid-season slump the team seems to be in.
Many of these frustrations have been felt throughout the year, even when the team was doing well, but now that the Jags have lost a few, fans and analysts alike are questioning if the Jaguars are really the team everyone believed they were after their Primetime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence has always been a touchy topic among Jaguars fans for the past few years. He was drafted to the Jaguars with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and was marketed to the city as the man who would end the mediocrity Jacksonville football fans have known for so long.
It’s unfair to put the entire weight of a season on one player, even if that player is the face of your franchise. Lawrence hasn’t necessarily had a superstar season in his career, but that doesn’t mean he can’t. He has had three different head coaches, three different offensive coordinators and four different quarterback (QB) coaches since he entered
Words by Kaleb Stowell
the league in 2021. Each one of these coaches had a different playbook for Lawrence and had a different vision of how to properly utilize him.
All things considered, Lawrence has done his job more than serviceably in comparison to other Jaguars QBs. Mark Brunell obviously leads the franchise in playoff appearances with four in his 7-year career with the Jags. Then there is Byron Leftwich, who made it once in four years, then David Garrard, who did it once in five years.
It doesn’t seem like a far stretch to say that Lawrence’s seasons with the Jaguars have been some of the most promising that Jaguars fans have seen in a long time. Yet that’s not to say that there aren’t valid criticisms of him; he’s definitely still a young player who makes questionable decisions sometimes, but he has shown time and time again that if he digs us into a hole, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to pull us out of it.
Brian Thomas Jr.
The most controversial Jaguar this season by far has been Brian Thomas Jr. (BTJ).
BTJ has had a lot of mishaps over the course of the first half of the season, namely in the realm of dropping the football when it is thrown to him.
Blaine Gabbert never made the playoffs in his two years as a starter. Blake Bortles made it once in five years. Nick Foles barely played one game for the Jaguars and Gardner Minshew barely counted as a starter, but neither of them made the playoffs with the Jags either. And finally, we arrive at Trevor Lawrence, who has made it to the playoffs one time in his four years (not including this season, since it’s not over yet) in the NFL so far. That means that he’s on the same pace or better than every single previous Jags QB besides Brunell.
The media has been all over BTJ about the drops, questioning if something is wrong with him physically or mentally, or if it’s simply a case of a sophomore slump. BTJ has had a good number of injuries already this season. He’s been playing through the majority of them, but it would make a lot of sense if these missteps are stemming from pre-existing injuries, such as his wrist, shoulder and most recently his ankle.
Photo by Aaron Berkshire
against the Raiders and the Texans, he was the best receiver Lawrence had on the field.
Washington currently has 330 yards on 28 receptions and two touchdowns, as well as two punt return touchdowns and a third against the Rams that was called back due to a penalty.
In Week 10 against the Texans, Washington hauled in a very impressive touchdown in the back of the endzone for the offense’s first touchdown of the game.
Cam Little
Before the bye week, Cam Little had rough performances against the Seahawks and the Rams, missing two field goals and an extra point between the two games.
Despite all of this, however, BTJ still leads the Jaguars’ offense in receiving yards through Week 11 with 420 yards.
After the first few weeks, the number of drops has gone down significantly, and it seems like once he’s fully healthy again, he’ll get back up to the form he was in last season.
Travis Hunter
One of the biggest developing stories in the NFL right now is how Travis Hunter’s career will pan out.
So far, Hunter has shown that he’s not only capable of playing both positions, but he’s able to play them both at an incredibly high level. After suffering a season-ending injury, Hunter will end his rookie season with 26 receptions for just shy of 300 yards and a touchdown on offense, as well as 15 tackles and three pass-break-ups.
On Nov. 11, it was announced that Hunter had damaged his LCL and would have to undergo surgery that would keep him out for the rest of the season.
Without Hunter, the Jags’ defense has been allowing significantly more receiving yards per game, and the offense has looked much less smooth. It would appear that his presence is definitely missed on the field.
Parker Washington
Due to Hunter being out, as well as BTJ being sidelined in Week 10 against the Houston Texans, there has been a bit of a receiver shortage on the Jaguars roster.
But in their absence, WR Parker Washington has absolutely stepped up. He’s been Lawrence’s most consistent target this season:
However, in the game against the Raiders in Week 9, Little once again showed off his incredible kicking power with an NFL record-breaking 68-yard field goal right at the end of the first half. While this kick was still two yards shy of the 70-yarder he drilled in the preseason, he’s now shown that it wasn’t just a fluke and he’s really “like that.”
Trouble in the Bank — Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Seattle Seahawks:
The Jacksonville Jaguars vs. the Seattle Seahawks was the first game where these mid-season missteps seemed to occur.
A Blowout Across the Pond: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Rams
After the frustrating loss to the Seahawks in Week 6, the Jags were looking to get back on track when they flew out to Wembley Stadium in London for their “home” game against the Rams.
The Jags had shown that they could beat good teams this season, and it seemed like this game was going to be a real test of who the 2025 Jaguars are.
However, the missteps from Week 6 would continue to plague the Jaguars in a big way with the Jaguars leaving London with their tails tucked between their legs after a 35-7 loss to the Rams.
Going All In in Vegas: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Jaguars headed to Vegas in search of their first win in the past three weeks (including the bye). At first glance, this matchup should’ve been a no-brainer: the 4-3 Jags against the 2-5 Raiders. The Jaguars were favorites to win by over 10% odds, so it wasn’t shocking when the Jaguars came out on top in the end with a score of 30-29, but what was shocking was how the game got to that point.
Trade Deadline
Following the victory over the Raiders, the Jags made a relatively big-time trade with the very team they had just beaten, the Raiders.
The Jaguars sent the Raiders a 2026 4th-round pick and a 2026 6th-round pick for WR Jakobi Meyers.
It seems as though the Jaguars’ front office wanted to give BTJ and Travis Hunter some breathing room by grabbing another formidable WR to strengthen the passing game while they’re gone and be a serious threat as a third option once they’re both back and healthy.
A Complete Breakdown: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
The Jaguars entered Week 10 feeling confident. They had just pulled off an overtime win and were feeling good about their chances against the Texans after already having beaten them this season. And from the beginning, everything was going as perfectly as it could for the Jaguars. They intercepted Davis Mills on the first drive of the game, forced a fumble on special teams a few minutes later, and scored a punt return a few minutes after that.
It looked like the game was sealed before it had even really started, and maybe that’s what the Jaguars believed as well, because the rest of the game couldn’t have been worse for them.
Moving Forward
The season still looks bright for the Jaguars, despite the frustrating losses the team has faced recently. Coen and the rest of the coaching staff have been very open and honest about their mistakes, which has made the fans feel confident that the team is at least moving in the right direction.
There are lots of mistakes that are made on the field that still need to be cleaned up, but this Jaguars team is still experiencing some growing pains, so the best advice is to just grit your teeth until the Jags bear their fangs again.
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JUDGE, JURY… AND
A STRIP CLUB
Words by Ambar Ramirez
We often imagine judges as the ultimate beacons of justice, above reproach. But, surprise, surprise, judges are human too. Well… most of them, anyway. Not Georgia Judge Robert “Bert” Guy. This guy (they just write themselves) just wanted a casual night out: dinner, drinks, maybe a show. The only problem? His “show of choice” was at none other than Wacko’s, Jacksonville’s popular burger joint and strip club.
Now, to be clear, there’s nothing inherently illegal about a judge hitting up a strip club. But, of course, things went sideways. After a few too many happy hour drinks, he got behind the wheel of his Mercedes. The result? A 2 a.m. collision … with a parked truck. Yes, a parked car. Unsurprisingly, Guy was arrested. So a Georgia circuit judge walks into a strip club, gets drunk, and crashes his car. Punchline? He resigned a week later.
YO HO HO AND A JAR OF… CREMAINS?
Words by Carmen Macri
What better place to stash someone’s cremains than inside a local, one-legged pirate statue? Personally, I can’t think of a more fitting final resting place.
Earlier this month, Fernandina Beach’s mayor launched a fundraiser to bring home “Peg-Leg Pete” after the beloved pirate was booted from downtown and relocated to the Amelia Island Museum of History for being “unsafe for public interaction.”
On Saturday, the city announced that Mayor James Antun had kicked off a “Peg-Leg Pete Restoration Fund,” aiming to raise $23,000 to restore the iconic statue and return him to his rightful post downtown.
All was smooth sailing—just a wholesome hometown effort to rescue a local legend—until someone dropped the ultimate plot twist. An alleged credible source came forward claiming, “There are cremains that have been interred in Peg-Leg Pete.”
I’m sorry— what?
For now, officials haven’t confirmed whether there are, in fact, human remains lurking inside ol’ Pete. But if true, Fernandina Beach might just have the most metal public statue in Florida.
CARMEN: I’ve been itching to talk freely about this one. As the “Folio” social media manager, I’m usually the poor soul people are yelling at in the comment section. Don’t worry — I’ve been given the green light to clap back (respectfully, of course). By now, I can predict exactly which posts will summon the drama. Anything even remotely political? Boom — instant “F*** yous” and “you plastic Marxists!” (literally whatever that means) That said, we never delete the hate. Who are we to silence the people? Freedom of speech is a thing — and we’re all for it.
Hashtag Hot Takes and Free Speech in Jacksonville’s Comment Section
AMBAR: More often than not, we see a local news story and think, “Oh no, they didn’t,” or maybe we just flat-out disagree with what someone’s saying and roll our eyes. But the real magic? That happens in the comment sections. It’s where people figure no one’s watching … so why not be brutally honest, hilariously sarcastic or just plain outrageous? Unfortunately for you keyboard warriors, Carmen and I are looking.
CARMEN: A perfect example? Our beloved Jacksonville Jaguars post after a brutal loss. The moment that “FINAL” graphic goes up with the wrong score, all sense of camaraderie flies straight out the window. Suddenly, the comment section turns into an open letter to Shad Khan, the coaches, Trevor Lawrence — basically anyone who’ll listen — to fix it. And let’s just say… they don’t exactly sugarcoat their feelings. Jacksonville fans have a very colorful vocabulary, and they’re not afraid to show it when the team lets them down. Some of our favorite (and recent) examples of this after our devastating loss against the Texans: “I believe in Hell because I am a Jaguars fan” or “Trash-vor Lawrence.”
AMBAR: Scrolled through JSO’s Facebook lately? “Folio” is used to criticism, but the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office might just take the crown. Case in point: Oct. 25, JSO shared a heartwarming story about a missing warthog, safely reunited with the Jacksonville Zoo thanks to a drone. The top comment? Two words: “The Irony.” Yikes. Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom — plenty of folks chimed in to thank JSO for their efforts. Like we always say at “Folio,” there’s no such thing as bad press.
AMBAR: Please do.
CARMEN: No one’s safe! Case in point: we posted our latest Bricks and Bouqs column and instantly got hit with a “F*** you” on Facebook—for daring to give Ronnie DeSantis a brickbat for, well… being himself. Another personal favorite: “Once again your agenda in the bouquet/brickbats column amounts to a heaping pile of bull hockey. That stands for crap. You jump on the Big Beautiful Bill for it having hidden agendas. Are oblivious to the way things are handled in Washington? This is standard procedure. Now did you pick apart the Biden Build Back America Bill. I doubt you did, if you can’t do journalism down the middle then my best suggestion would be to get another job. Your news pieces are horrible at best. Thank you” And no, I will not be fixing his poor grammar. We had to suffer through it, so do
I love this game. When one of our digital issues went live, we were greeted with a true masterpiece: “The magazine of 20% of the people — crawl back into your drug-infested Classic. And then there are the folks who just type “unsubscribe” in the comments… bless them, clearly social media is still a mystery.
Hate’s part of the gig — and we welcome it. When I first started, my boss told me, “Once you start getting hate mail, that’s how you know you’re doing something right.” So by that metric, I must be absolutely killing it. #plasticmarxist
CARMEN: Should I just list some of my personal favorite hate comments we’ve received?
AMBAR: Here’s the thing, behind every meme, emoji-laden rant and passive-aggressive thread, there’s a snapshot of local democracy in action. People are engaging, questioning, and yes, occasionally yelling in all caps. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. And my favorite way to have a guaranteed laugh. Free speech isn’t just a constitutional right; it’s a pastime. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Words by Ambar Ramirez and Carmen Macri
Solve this puzzle like a regular sudoku, but instead of using numbers, use the letters G-L-A-D-ST-O-N-E (for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ General Manager James Gladstone) to fill each row, column and box.
