Folio Vol. 40, Issue 4

FOLIO STAFF:

TERESA

KERRY

AMBAR RAMIREZ Creative Director

CARMEN

KALEB STOWELL Writer

Will our democracy ever pull out of its current death spiral? If it does, when people in the future study this benighted era of dysfunction and dishonor, they will have lots of tough questions, particularly about the behavior of most congressional Republicans. Unfortunately, our descendants may find it just as hard as we do to crack the impenetrable mysteries of today’s GOP. How do the Republican “lawmakers” who haven’t yet turned on Trump live with themselves, going along with the Trump administration’s raging anti-Constitutionalism in public while so many of them mock Trump in private? How do they explain themselves to their disappointed spouses and children? How were these sorry impersonators of vertebrates ever able to make it to Washington in the first place?

The perfect cipher at the heart of these conundrums is Florida’ s own Rick Scott.

Nothing about this individual adds up. People have been complaining for millennia about style vanquishing substance in politics, but how can we explain the rise of someone who has neither substance nor style—the weird blend of mediocrity, strident Trump-olatry, and moral cowardice that is Rick Scott?

Senator Scott is not exactly known for being photogenic. Derek Zoolander, Ben Stiller’s parody of a male model, had looks such as “Blue Steel,” “Le Tigre,” and the show-stopping “Magnum.” Rick Scott’s go-to look is “Take Me to Your Leader.”

Why would a person with all the charm and magnetism of a bag of sawdust want to spend his retirement years in the public spotlight? How do we account for his strange career path from Navy radar man to doughnut-eur to world-champion health insurance scammer to super-Trumper? How could someone who managed to squander over $180 million on failed Senate campaigns be one of the richest members of Congress?

Biographers of the future, I have a title for you. Rick Scott: The Man Who Made No Sense.

Of course, this also applies to his torturous relationship with the English language. In all fairness, he’s probably more fluent in the language of his home planet. But even if he weren’t so perennially tongue-tied, he wouldn’t have much to say. Be honest. Can you remember a single Rick Scott line other than “Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs…[repeated ad nauseam]” and “I’m not a scientist”? No, you can’t. No-one can.

Sure, he can talk tough—or, rather, clumsily imitate Trump—now and then, as in a 2023 video that came up when I searched under the question “Is Rick Scott human?” on YouTube. (YouTube’s answer to the question would appear to be a giant, algorithmic shrug.) In the video, Scott issues an awkward “Get off my lawn!” to Socialists and Communists, warning them against coming to Florida because “We like freedom, liberty, capitalism, things like that.” Scott does have a penchant for trolling; the video was apparently created to make fun of the NAACP’s Florida travel advisory. But, given that Scott lacks the courage to hold a town hall with his own fellow Floridians, the thought of him going toe-to-toe with an angry Socialist or Communist from another country is laughable…almost as absurd as the idea that he would ever stand up to Donald Trump.

And that’s the real issue here. It wouldn’t be so bad having a senior senator who happened to be inarticulate, uncharismatic, and obscenely, inexplicably rich, as long as they were willing to throw all their power and influence into defending our republic from some of the biggest threats it has ever faced. But as U.S. forces openly murder people on the high seas and federal agents summarily execute citizens on American streets, Rick Scott seems to have surrendered whatever shreds of conscience he had left to the MAGA chatbot that pumps out his speeches and emails. As Donald Trump turns the federal government into his piggy bank and makes the Western Hemisphere his personal Mafia stomping ground, Senator Suck-up has the temerity to promote a “No Relief for Allies of Dictators Act”—knowing full well that he is one of our home-grown dictator’s staunchest allies. As glaciers melt and seas rise, Mr. “I’m Not a Scientist” can only try to distract Floridians, with puerile trolling and mindless propaganda, from the fact that much of this state probably won’t exist a few decades from now.

“I’m not a scientist”? No-one ever asked you to be a scientist, Senator Scott. We’re only asking you to be what you claim to be. Maybe the voters of Florida don’t deserve honest, caring, competent, and brave elected officials. But there’s nothing mysteri ous about why we need them now.

Bart H. Welling

BOUQS & BRICKS

BOUQUETS

Bad Bunny didn’t just perform at the Super Bowl halftime show — he owned it. Fearless style, electric energy and a message that rose above the noise. It was more than a spectacle; it was a celebration of culture, unity and love on the biggest stage in the world.

BRICKBATS

Rent Inflation, Jacksonville Edition:

Recent REVent data shows the median monthly rent in the Jacksonville metro area has climbed to a staggering $1,908. Three-bedroom homes now average $2,227, while four-bedrooms are pushing $2,789. That’s outpacing national consumer price increases — and squeezing residents who are already feeling the pinch. Sunshine is free. Housing? Not so much.

To the thief who stole Fernando:

At the “Folio” Best of Jax Awards Gala on Feb. 6, someone made off with our beloved gold Oscar replica affectionately known as “Fernando.” If you spot a shiny statuette engraved “Best of Jax 2025 Winner,” please let us know at team@folioweekly.com. Fernando is missed, and honestly, he deserves better.

H oroscopes

Aries

February is all about clarity, Aries. Your intentions matter more than ever right now — manifestation is very real, and being direct about what you want is key. The new moon and solar eclipse in Aquarius on Feb. 17 officially kick off the Year of the Horse, bringing fresh momentum and a rush of romantic butterflies.

Taurus

You are a force to be reckoned with this month, Taurus. As the sun moves through Aquarius and lights up your tenth house of career and ambitions, you’re feeling confident and limitless. Set your sights high and shoot past the stars.

Gemini

February is all about flights, not feelings. Which seems a bit backwards, considering it is the love month, after all. But some things are just written in the stars — like the Sun blazing in Aquarius until the 18th, lighting up your ninth house. You have no choice but to pack up and go unless you enjoy the restlessness.

Cancer

Pull the curtains back, Cancer. February brings you into the realm of intimacy, power and transformation as the sun moves through your eighth house. Many areas of your life are about to change and maybe even intensify. Relationships may become more passionate, work may become more fulfilling, and your home life may become more cozy. Embrace this cosmic shift.

Libra

What actually lights you up, Libra? February is your green light to create, flirt and have a little fun as the Sun cruises through Aquarius and your fifth house until the 18th. Where are you ready to take a risk — your art, your heart or both? Do it now. The Leo full moon on the 1st hits your house of community, wrapping up a group project or making it very clear which friendships are evolving (and which ones aren’t).

Where do you need more stability? Or where do you need a softer place to land? February is calling for you to sit down, settle in and relax. Nourish the current relationships around you rather than chasing the next best thing. The grass is rarely ever greener.

Sagittarius

Has there been something on your mind that you have been wanting to voice, Sagittarius? As the sun moves through your third house of communication, you may feel called to be more vocal, either in your personal life or more publicly, like on social media. Don’t get all shy and coy now; what you say may inspire those around you.

It’s always about money and work with you, Capricorn — and there’s a reason for that. February puts your finances and values in the spotlight as the determined Sun moves through Aquarius and your second house until the 18th.

Leo Virgo

Love is in the air, Leo, but it may look a little different than you’re used to. Instead of stoking the flames of romance, February asks you to lean into your friends and chosen family. Surround yourself with people who fill your cup, not drain it. The new moon and solar eclipse on Feb. 17 will have you relying on your inner circle more than ever.

This Aquarius season, you’re feeling quite pragmatic as the sun moves through your sixth house of wellness, work and efficiency, Virgo. Now is the time to take a look at what areas of your life need some TLC. Invest in a journal and incorporate some more rest and reflection into your routine.

It wouldn’t truly be an Aquarius season if a rare solar eclipse didn’t fall on the 17th, the second-to-last day of your season and the first in your sign since 2018. This solar eclipse kicks off the year of the fire horse and brings unexpected opportunities. It’s not just a cosmic reset; for you, it’s a cosmic rebirth.

As Aquarius season comes to a close, the stars want you to tie up any loose ends and start Pisces season fresh. The sun quietly makes its way through your twelfth house of secrets, subconscious and self-undoing through the 18th. Take the time to rest, reflect and reboot before the birthday celebrations take over your calendar.

folio weed

Still Busted: Jacksonville’s Marijuana Arrests in the Age of “Legal-ish”

Words by Teresa Spencer

Jacksonville lives in a strange, skunky limbo.

Medical marijuana has been legal in Florida for years now, dispensaries are as common as smoke shops, and half the state has a laminated card in their wallet that basically says, “Yes, officer, this weed is emotionally necessary.” And yet people are still getting arrested for marijuana in Duval County. Not in theory. Not in some dusty statute book. In real life, in 2025, with handcuffs that still click the same way they always have.

Welcome to Florida’s favorite contradiction.

Before medical marijuana cracked the door open in 2016–2017, weed arrests were a pillar of Florida law enforcement. Not a side hustle. A cornerstone.

Statewide, Florida was racking up tens of thousands of marijuana possession arrests every single year in the early 2010s. Weed wasn’t a footnote — it was a workload. Nationally, marijuana arrests peaked in the late 2000s, and Florida was more than happy to help carry that torch. Possession cases clogged jails, court dockets and criminal records, disproportionately hitting younger people, poorer people and people of color. Same song, different siren.

Jacksonville was no exception. If you had a gram and bad timing, the system had paperwork ready for you.

When voters approved medical marijuana, it didn’t legalize weed so much as complicate it. Suddenly, marijuana existed in two parallel universes: legal if you had permission, illegal if you didn’t. The plant didn’t change — just the paperwork.

Fast forward to 2025 and recreational marijuana is still illegal in Florida after voters rejected broader legalization in 2024. Jacksonville hasn’t decriminalized possession at the local level, either. That means weed remains a misdemeanor, punishable by jail time and fines, even while dispensaries operate in broad daylight.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: There is no clean, publicly released, Jacksonville-only number for marijuana arrests in 2025. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office publishes arrest data, but it doesn’t neatly package marijuana arrests into a headline-friendly annual total. Journalists and researchers have to piece things together from reports, bust announcements and partial datasets.

What those fragments show is telling.

Marijuana arrests in 2025 haven’t vanished, but they’ve clearly fallen out of favor compared to the pre-medical era. In at least one 2025 drug enforcement report from a Jacksonville unit, cannabis arrests accounted for only a tiny fraction of total drug arrests—single digits in a field dominated by cocaine, meth, fentanyl, and opioids.

That doesn’t mean people aren’t getting arrested for weed. They are. But the nature of those arrests has shifted.

Most marijuana arrests making headlines in Jacksonville now are tied to distribution, trafficking or multi-pound seizures, not someone with a joint in their console. When weed pops up in 2025 arrest reports, it’s often alongside scales, cash, guns or enough product to make the charge impossible to laugh off.

This is the new enforcement posture: Weed isn’t the star anymore, but it still gets you in the lineup if it’s riding shotgun with something bigger.

That’s a far cry from the old days, when possession alone could earn you a court date and a permanent explanation for every job interview afterward.

Statewide data backs up what Jacksonville’s patchy numbers suggest. Compared to the pre-medical marijuana era — when Florida logged tens of thousands of possession arrests annually —

recent years show arrest totals in the thousands. That’s not progress to celebrate with confetti, but it is a measurable retreat from full-blown prohibition madness.

Still, thousands of arrests is not nothing. Especially for a substance that is legally sold, medically prescribed, culturally normalized and scientifically less dangerous than half the liquor aisle.

Here’s the part that feels most “High Times”-worthy: In 2025, marijuana enforcement survives largely because legalization stopped halfway.

Florida built a system where weed is legal enough to profit from, illegal enough to punish and confusing enough that enforcement discretion fills in the gaps. Who gets arrested now depends less on the plant and more on circumstances—amounts, location, behavior and sometimes plain old luck.

The law didn’t evolve so much as it selectively relaxed. So where does that leave Jacksonville?

• Marijuana arrests are dramatically lower than before medical legalization.

• They still happen, especially in cases involving larger quantities or other charges.

• There is no transparent, easy-to-access public accounting of how often simple possession still leads to arrest.

• And the law continues to treat marijuana like a problem it no longer believes in — but isn’t ready to forgive.

In other words, weed in Jacksonville is no longer a guaranteed bust, but it’s also not safe. It’s Schrödinger’s contraband.

Until Florida fully decides what it wants marijuana to be — medicine, commodity, crime or relic — Jacksonville residents will keep living in the gray area. And the cuffs will stay polished. Just in case.

STAND YOUR GROUND

How Florida Rewrote the Rules of Killing and Why Justice Now Moves in Slow Motion

Words by Teresa Spencer

In Florida, a killing does not always begin with handcuffs.

Sometimes, it begins with silence.

There is a body on the pavement. A gun is still warm. Sirens, police tape, red-and-blue reflections bouncing off storefront windows and windshields. Officers separate witnesses. Detectives take statements. And then, often, there is no immediate arrest.

Days can stretch into weeks. Weeks into months. Families wait while prosecutors review evidence behind closed doors. Surveillance footage, witness statements, 911 calls focused on a threshold question that now shapes Florida homicide law:

Can this case survive a Stand Your Ground immunity claim?

Passed in 2005 and later replicated, sometimes imperfectly, across the country, Florida’s Stand Your Ground law did more than eliminate the duty to retreat. It quietly rewired the justice system at its earliest and least visible point: the moment prosecutors decide whether a criminal case should move forward at all.

The public sees the outcome. No arrest, no charges, no explanation. What it rarely sees is the clock Florida installed behind the scenes, one that runs slower, colder, and with far less tolerance for uncertainty.

Before Stand Your Ground, claims of self-defense followed a familiar path. Police made arrests. Prosecutors filed charges. Defense attorneys raised self-defense before or during trials. Juries evaluated the evidence. Retreat mattered, but was not always required. Fear was tested publicly. Florida reversed that order.

Under Florida law, a person who uses deadly force in a place they have a legal right to be, and who is not engaged in criminal activity, may seek immunity from prosecution. Not a defense argued at trial, but immunity that, if granted, ends a criminal case before a jury ever hears it.

Based sometimes on mere subjective discretion, charges are dismissed or never filed. No trial occurs. In many cases, civil lawsuits are also barred.

This procedural structure explains much of what the public experiences as delay or silence in modern Florida homicide cases.

In most states, a killing triggers a predictable sequence: arrest, charges, bond hearing, trial. In Florida, prosecutors slow the tape. The first 24 to 72 hours are no longer about guilt or innocence. They are about legal survivability.

Who initiated contact? Who followed whom? Who escalated? Who had an opportunity to disengage?

These questions often matter more than motive. Sometimes more than intent. And occasionally more than the loss of life itself.

If prosecutors file charges too quickly and a judge later grants Stand Your Ground immunity, the case does not simply weaken: it ends permanently. The state cannot retry it. Civil courts are typically barred from reviewing it. The shooter walks away without criminal liability.

To families, the silence feels like abandonment. To prosecutors, it is risk management.

Jordan Davis: When Stand Your Ground Failed

On Black Friday in 2012, 17-year-old Jordan Davis was sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle at a Jacksonville gas station. Music was playing. A verbal confrontation followed. Michael Dunn, a 45-yearold man armed with a handgun, fired ten rounds into the vehicle.

Dunn later argued that he feared for his life and raised a Stand Your Ground-based self-defense theory at trial. That claim was rejected. After two trials, jurors convicted Dunn of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Legally, the Jordan Davis case stands as a reminder that Stand Your Ground is not automatic. When evidence undermines a self-defense narrative, juries still matter.

But the case also represents something increasingly rare in Florida: a killing that the system allowed to reach a jury at all.

Keegan Roberts: When the Case Never Happened

In 2017, 22-year-old Keegan Von Roberts was shot and killed in his driveway in Mandarin. He was seated in his vehicle. His pregnant wife was nearby. The dispute reportedly began over trash or yard debris.

Prosecutors ultimately declined to file criminal charges, concluding that the evidence supported a finding of justifiable use of deadly force under Florida law.

Attorneys representing Roberts’ family have publicly disputed that conclusion, arguing that the shooter initiated and escalated the confrontation and therefore should not have been entitled to self-defense protections.

Because no charges were filed, the case never reached a judge or jury. No Stand Your Ground immunity hearing occurred. The legal process ended before it formally began.

For the Roberts family, justice was not denied by a verdict. It was bypassed entirely.

Why Roadside Cases Break the System

Road rage and roadside shootings sit at the most unstable edge of Stand Your Ground law.

Vehicles function as both weapons and escape routes. Movement is discretionary. Confrontations are often mutual. Judges routinely scrutinize self-defense claims involving pursuit, following another driver, pulling alongside, exiting a vehicle.

These choices can transform fear into action, and Stand Your Ground does not protect voluntary escalation.

That reality explains why prosecutors hesitate longest in these cases. Charge too early and risk losing the case forever. Wait too long and invite public outrage.

This tension defines Florida’s present moment.

Joe Starkey: Justice in Suspension

On December 10, 2025, 62-year-old Joe Starkey, a well-known local musician and sound engineer, was shot and killed in what police have described as a roadside incident on St. Johns Bluff Road South.

According to police statements, the individual who fired the fatal shot identified himself and cooperated with investigators.

As of publication, no arrest has been announced. Law enforcement continues to describe the case as an active homicide investigation.

Attorneys for Starkey’s family have publicly stated that Starkey was unarmed and did not pose an imminent threat. They have argued that Stand Your Ground should not apply, asserting that the shooter was the aggressor.

Law enforcement officials have not publicly endorsed or rejected that characterization, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. Legally, the case remains in Florida’s most precarious holding pattern. Prosecutors are not weighing tragedy. They are evaluating whether they can defeat a potential Stand Your Ground immunity motion by clear and convincing evidence — a higher standard than probable cause — before a jury ever hears the case.

Every frame of video matters. Every witness statement matters. Every movement matters.

This is not apathy. It is arithmetic.

For the Starkey family, each passing day without action feels like another silent decision rendered. Their hope — and the public’s — is that the case will be brought into open court, where facts can be tested and accountability determined transparently.

There is no centralized public database in Duval County or statewide that tracks Stand Your Ground claims. Courts do not catalog immunity rulings in searchable form. If charges are never filed, no criminal case exists to count. As a result, the true scope of Stand Your Ground’s use remains largely opaque.

What can be counted are justifiable homicides as classified by law enforcement investigators. In Jacksonville, those figures show more than 58 civilian killings classified as justifiable between 2022 and 2024—roughly 12 to 15 percent of all homicides during that period.

These classifications are investigative determinations, not judicial rulings. Some cases later face prosecution; others conclude without charges. Still, they illustrate how frequently lethal force is deemed legally justified before a judge or jury reviews the facts.

Florida vs. the Rest of America

Most states recognize self-defense. Few replicate Florida’s procedural structure.

Florida permits pretrial immunity hearings. Florida places the burden on the state early. Florida extends civil immunity alongside criminal protection.

In duty-to-retreat states like New York or Massachusetts, police typically arrest first and litigate later. Juries decide. In Florida, prosecutors stress-test cases before acting.

The result is a justice system that often appears frozen — not because it is broken, but because it is operating as designed.

The Cost of Legal Silence

Stand Your Ground did not simply change how people defend themselves. It changed how the state defends its cases. It made prosecutors cautious. Judges powerful. Juries optional.

And it has left families suspended in long stretches of uncertainty, unsure whether justice is forthcoming or already foreclosed.

In Florida, the most consequential courtroom is often the one the public never sees. And the most significant verdict may be the decision not to charge at all.

When cases end in silence, families are left without answers and without a forum to challenge the state’s conclusions. Whether that outcome represents justice delayed or justice denied is a question Florida’s Stand Your Ground framework increasingly leaves unresolved.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY FIGHT NIGHT FIRST RESPONDERS BOXING FOR CHARITY FEBRUARY 26

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 & 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

WIDESPREAD PANIC MARCH 20-22

PARKER MCCOLLUM

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

MAX M C NOWN & LACI KAYE BOOTH MARCH 27 & 28

BILLY STRINGS

APRIL 2-4

SANTANA ONENESS TOUR 2026

APRIL 7

DWIGHT YOAKAM WITH SPECIAL GUEST FLATLAND CAVALRY & CHAYCE BECKHAM

APRIL 9

MT. JOY

HOPE WE HAVE FUN PART II TOUR APRIL 11

TRACE ADKINS

30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

WITH SPECIAL GUEST CONFEDERATE RAILROAD APRIL 16

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

SATCHVAI BAND

FT JOE SATRIANI & STEVE VAI WITH ANIMALS AS LEADERS

APRIL 25

ALABAMA SHAKES WITH SPECIAL GUEST LAMONT LANDERS

APRIL 26

GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS “THE BADDEST SHOW ON EARTH” WITH SPECIAL GUEST THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND

MAY 7

ETHEL CAIN THE WILLOUGHBY TUCKER FOREVER TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST 9MILLION

MAY 8

LIVE WILDLY PRESENTS JJ GREY'S BLACKWATER SOL REVIEW FEATURING JJ GREY & MOFRO WITH WAR & BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY MAY 16

SAM BARBER THE AMERICAN ROUTE TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST MICHAEL MARCAGI & BEBE STOCKWELL

MAY 23

THE BLACK CROWES SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST SOUTHALL JUNE 2

CLAYPOOL GOLD FEAT: PRIMUS, LES CLAYPOOL’S FROG BRIGADE & THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM

JUNE 19

VINCE GILL 50 YEARS FROM HOME TOUR JUNE 27

MEN AT WORK WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TOAD THE WET SPROCKET & SHONEN KNIFE

JULY 17

DIERKS BENTLEY OFF THE MAP TOUR WITH RICKY SKAGGS & KENTUCKY THUNDER & COLE GOODWIN

JULY 18

LINDSEY STIRLING WITH SPECIAL GUEST PVRIS

JULY 20

THE BLACK KEYS PEACHES ‘N KREAM WORLD TOUR WITH SUPPORT FROM EDDIE 9V

JULY 29

THE FRAY WITH SPECIAL GUEST DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL & COLONY HOUSE AUGUST 8

BUDDY GUY 90 TOUR

AUGUST 22

BLUES TRAVELER & GIN BLOSSOMS WITH SPIN DOCTORS SEPTEMBER 4

JAMES TAYLOR AND HIS ALL-STAR BAND SEPTEMBER 22 & 23

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND FUTURE SOUL TOUR 2026 OCTOBER 9 & 10

O.A.R. THREE DECADES TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST GAVIN DEGRAW & KT TUNSTALL NOVEMBER 14

The Myth of a “Good Guy”

Words by Carson Haines

The term “good guy” is defined as a morally correct person or character, also known as the hero. Some may say that the legendary Superman fits this iconic title, while others favor Batman, or Spider-Man. No matter your preference, a “good guy” can be labeled in various circumstances; some for their bravery, others for their courage, but what happens when society starts to skew the role, or more so, change it completely? Unfortunately, we lose track of ethics and basic human decency. As someone who chooses to keep up with the news and current events, I have started to watch our country shift; we’ve inherited more violence, force-onforce situations, and controversial codes, like the “Stand Your Ground” law, first started in Florida back in 2005. This article will deep-dive into morality, humility, and how one’s upbringing can alter their perceptions of different cases involving murder, or as some may say, self-defense.

As children, many of us are taught the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. But what happens when someone is given the ability to treat someone poorly, knowing there’s a low chance of repercussions? Simply put, some take the opportunity. Personally, I’ve always known the fine line between right versus wrong, but this isn’t the case for everyone. Depending on how your parents raised you, the influence your peers have on you, or where you spend your time, our views heavily differ as individuals. When I was little, I loved to watch “Sleeping Beauty,” or as I used to say, “Stinkin’ Booty.” I always rooted for Princess Aurora, her three fairy godmothers, and her parents, the king and queen. But as I got older, and learned about Maleficent’s painful and saddening backstory, my views shifted. I learned that It’s important to hear both sides of every story because when we don’t, it can cause disagreements, chaos and hatred.

In this day in age, where politics has completely divided our country in two, this message is very prevalent. Since 2020, humanity has slowly entered an era that lacks basic communication skills, overuse of technology and addictive algorithms. I’d be lying if I said I don’t go on my phone for numerous hours a day, or that I’ve never gotten in a heated argument within a comment section. Let’s face it, society is starting to lose basic humility, and with it, the true idea of the “good guy.”

As I mentioned before, Stand Your Ground laws were first introduced to the States a little over two decades ago. Florida statutes 776.012 and 776.013 were the first to allow the use of force against a threat without retreating. If someone breaks into your home and you feel fearful, you as an individual have the right to harm or even kill said threat. Personally, I believe that this code is very loose and can heavily cause misinterpretation. Over the past 20 years, 34 other states have adopted Stand Your Ground laws, permitting individuals to act as long as they are in a space where they have the right to be. Since its first introduction, around 700 homicides per year are ruled Stand Your Ground on a national level (Oxford University). But how many of these homicides are truly warranted? How are they considered ethical or unjust?

When learning about these statutes, I was reminded of Robin Hood: an old tale about a man who stole from the rich but gave to the poor. The debate on if Robin Hood is a “good guy” or not has been circulating since the 1370s. Is taking one’s items OK, if in return, you are helping those in need? The same question can be altered regarding modern-day laws. Is taking someone’s life OK, if you feel threatened enough to do so? This analogy is obviously more serious, but it’s just as controversial. With a spike in death rates since the Stand Your Group initiation, many wonder if all those “fearful,” are truly “fearful.” Others also question racial injustice, avoidable violence and complicated legal prosecutions.

There are quite a few well-known cases that withhold these controversies; I am going to digest the deaths of black men Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin, caused by white gunmen.

Now, it’s up to you to decide if the invoking of Stand Your Ground laws were justified, or not:

Six years ago, in Brunswick, Ga., 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, was shot while on a jog just minutes away from his home. The two gunmen, Gregory and Travis McMichael, aimed at him from a vehicle, while Bryan William filmed everything. Following the shooting, police dishonestly told Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper, that he was involved in a neighborhood burglary. Both shooters invoked the law and claimed that Arbery was linked to the robberies occurring in the area. With absolutely no evidence provided by the defendants, the deeply racist and hate-filled death led to the arrest and charges for murder, aggravated assault and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment amongst the three men.

Due to the high influence of Stand Your Ground clearings, those like the McMichaels’ attempt to immorally condone violence, in hopes of looking like the local heroes, or the “good guys.” Many stories like the death of Arbery are without a doubt, unjust. But some seem to start questioning actions when the details become too blurry.

In Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was murdered by George Zimmerman on the way home from a convenience store. Zimmerman, the neighborhood-watch volunteer, decided to call the authorities about “a real suspicious guy” walking near him. Like the McMichaels, he also claimed that there had been robberies in the neighborhood and described Martin’s appearance to the dispatcher. After following and antagonizing Martin, Zimmerman attacked and then shot him. A nearby witness claimed that Martin was struggling and did not perceive him to be a threat. Due to the state laws, Zimmerman also invoked Stand Your Ground, but this time, he got away with it. Since the murder, he has attempted to auction the weapon online, painted an American flag and sold prints of it in Florida gun shops.

The acquittal of Zimmerman is one of the most debated Stand Your Ground clearings in American history. Martin’s death was without a doubt inhumane and avoidable. Once again, the ideology of being the “hero” crossed the mind of the killer. Cases like this are far from Robin Hood’s burglaries, so why is it that these statutes are invoked so often? It isn’t uncommon for a car, store or home to be broken into; self-defense is a human right, or at least it was. With our country’s newest administration, a lot of questions arise regarding Stand Your Ground,, and if it would be applicable if ICE unlawfully entered your property.

Since President Donald Trump’s second term, the Department of Homeland Security has recruited more than 12,000 ICE agents, leaving American communities fearful and vulnerable.

Why is it that a man who racially targets and murders someone is considered “free,” but U.S. citizens defending themselves against ICE are “threatening law enforcement?” As I mentioned before, it’s important to hear both sides of every story. As a child, I grew up in a country where ICE detained criminals, gang members and true threats to our nation. Like Princess Aurora’s parents, I thought these agents were the “good guys,” and maybe they once were. But since then, I have been exposed to a different side; a side where I see families being ripped apart, immigrants being taken without documentation, U.S. citizens being racially profiled and kidnapped, and far worse. I see my neighbors being tortured for simply living.

It’s quite apparent that injustice is a part of our reality. With the continual releases of the Epstein Files and their unforgivable components, or the uproar of racist hatred about Bad Bunny’s Superbowl halftime show, I think it’s safe to say that times are overwhelming, and laws are continually questionable and controversial.

I once thought that this country was the land of freedom, a place where people could follow their dreams, live in harmony, and just be But like how I was exposed to the wrongdoings of Maleficent, I soon realized that this country isn’t defined by those in power, but by the people who uplift it and choose to unite it. There will always be right versus wrong, and good versus evil. What type of hero do you want to represent you, and which side of history do you want to be on? If you believe in morality, humility and the golden rule, I see you as the “good guy,” not just a myth.

Social Media Cannot Be Silenced

Words by Ariana Alcantara

Past social revolutions looked different because they depended on mass organization and news for information. Now, a vast portion of the population are organizing and sharing news through social media apps like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. This method allows for quick access to real people’s stories and perspectives about current events, rather than larger news networks deciding what gets reported on. A shift occurred in the early 2000s, transferring the power to the people, at least the people with a smartphone.

With power, though, yields the introduction of new boundaries, especially in the workplace. Cancel culture brought on a wave of real-life consequences for activity online; a post or a video could now threaten one’s livelihood.

Take, for example, the case of Yanira “Yaya” Cardona, the Hispanic outreach coordinator for the city. Earlier this year, Cardona was put on administrative leave for posting a social media livestream. The video was made during work hours at City Hall, which violated the office’s social media policy. The video focused on giving advice for potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interactions as their presence grows across the country. In the video, Cardona urges, “If you get pulled over, as much as we want to huff and puff, please comply. If you have lawyers, please have your plan in place with your lawyers. If you have family, if you have kids, businesses, get a power of attorney to somebody you trust and love.”

Cardona returned to her job in late January, and although her actions went against office policy, this event serves as a reminder of the power of social media beyond brainrot memes and morning routine reels; social media equips people with a voice against an unjust system. As a prominent figure in Jacksonville’s Hispanic community, Cardona has the potential to reach more Hispanic citizens in the city than many others, putting her in a position of guidance. Advice and information for precarious situations like being questioned by an ICE officer is not necessarily something one can just Google for advice, so the need for voices like Cardona’s is paramount.

When ICE agents and other government officials refuse to operate within the law, it is the duty of the people to resist the injustice, and social media serves as a platform for such pushback.

A major instance of officials encroaching on the rights of its citizens and their use of social apps occurred earlier this year in South Florida. A video went viral online of an ordinary citizen, Rachel Pacheco, interacting with police who showed up at her door in response to a Facebook comment. “The Miami Herald” reported that Pacheco posted a comment which critiqued the actions of Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. In the video, the police are standing in Pacheco’s entryway questioning her about the post that claimed that Meiner “consistently calls for the death of all Palestinians.” The comment reads more like a critique than a threat, but nonetheless, the mayor emailed a screenshot to Police Chief Wayne Jones. The next day the police arrived at Pacheco’s door claiming her comment could incite violence.

Officials are also watching the posts of people visiting the United States. People traveling to the United States are now required to give access to their social media posts, likes and interactions as a factor for their admission into the country. The U.S. Department of State travel website explains: “As of Dec. 15, the Department will expand the requirement that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents, in addition to the students and exchange visitors already subject to this review. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public.’”

This invasion of privacy points to an ongoing attempt to control the population’s expression of speech on social sites; if one’s views do not align with the current administration’s agenda, will they be turned away at customs? If this exercise in power begins here, then where does it end for U.S. citizens?

Social media serves as an extension of the human voice, offering a place to protect and inform one another, granting access to perspectives and information that might have not been as widespread otherwise. The scope of reach allows for the people to take back some power, whether that be in the case of governments publishing false accounts of protests or citizens attempting to help one another by spreading messages of safety.

LAND OF THE

With Florida increasingly resembling the Wild West, now felt like the right moment for a history refresher —

Marsy’s Law

At its core, Marsy’s Law guarantees crime victims a formal Victims’ Bill of Rights, often embedded directly into a state constitution. Its core idea is that victims should have rights equal in weight to those of the accused — not just protections that depend on prosecutors or judges choosing to enforce them.

At the federal level, there are victims’ rights laws, but Marsy’s Law pushes those protections into state constitutions, which makes them harder to weaken or ignore.

In Florida, Marsy’s Law is intended to give victims and their families meaningful equality under the law by formally granting them standing in court. The amendment lays out a broad set of protections designed to ensure victims are treated with dignity, respect, sensitivity and fairness throughout the justice process. Those protections include the right to privacy; safeguards for personal information that could be used to locate, harass or otherwise harm a victim; and the right to proceedings and case resolutions that are free from unreasonable delay. Victims also have the right to be present at all proceedings related to their case, to receive reasonable protection from the accused, and to confer with the government’s attorney at key stages of the process.

Victims may be heard during proceedings involving release, plea, sentencing, parole, expungement or pardon, and may submit information detailing the economic, physical and psychological impacts of the crime for consideration by the court or relevant authority. The law also ensures timely notice of case outcomes, as well as any release, escape or death of the accused, and establishes the right to full restitution, assistance in collecting it and priority payment of restitution before government fees. Finally, Marsy’s Law guarantees access to compensation as provided by law and requires that victims be promptly informed of all their rights — including how to enforce them.

The History

Breaking down Marsy’s Law

Marsy’s Law further guarantees victims a voice. They have the right to be informed about — and provide input on — any case disposition, including plea deals, deferred prosecution agreements or diversion agreements, before decisions are finalized.

Marsalee “Marsy” Ann Nicholas was born on March 6, 1962, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Marcella and Henry T. Nicholas II. A few years later, Marsy, her mother and her brother Henry moved to California, where she would grow up. Those close to her described Marsy as having a heart of gold; she loved animals, was a talented artist who was studying to become a special education teacher. By all accounts, she was deeply connected to her family and focused on helping others.

On Nov. 30, 1983, just weeks before her graduation, Marsy was stalked and murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Kerry Conley. She was only 21 years old. Conley, a carpenter who lived in a makeshift structure behind his parents’ Malibu home, had been described as manipulative and intimidating. Marsy’s brother, Henry — who would later become the driving force behind Marsy’s Law — has said he knew from the start that Conley was “bad news.”

THE LAWLESS

specifically, a deep dive into Marsy’s Law and Stand Your Ground, down to the last nitty-gritty detail.

Marsy ended the relationship around Thanksgiving. Five days later, Conley persuaded her to come to his shack in the middle of the night, where he shot her in the face with a shotgun. She survived in the hospital for four hours, fighting for her life. During that time, her brother rushed to the hospital to see her, a moment he said haunted him with nightmares for years.

The trauma didn’t end there. One week after Marsy’s murder, while returning home from her funeral, her family stopped at a local grocery store. In the checkout line, Marsy’s mother came face to face with her daughter’s killer. The family had not been notified that Conley had been released on bail just days after the murder. That encounter made painfully clear how little consideration victims’ families were given within the justice system.

Conley was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Every two to three years, Marsy’s parents and brother were required to travel to Soledad to argue against his release before a parole board. The repeated hearings took a heavy toll, especially on Marsy’s mother. On one of those trips, the stress reportedly caused her to suffer a heart attack. Luckily, she survived, but the emotional and physical strain of the process never lifted. Conley later died in prison.

That realization became the foundation of Marsy’s Law. Led and funded by Marsy’s brother, the initiative began in California and was passed by voters in November 2008 as Proposition 9, officially titled The California Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy’s Law. At the time, it was considered the strongest and most comprehensive victims’ rights amendment in the country, placing California at the forefront of the national victims rights movement.

and Stand Your Ground

Since then, Henry has supported efforts to expand equal crime victims’ rights across the United States. Marsy’s Law has been overwhelmingly approved by voters in states including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Additional efforts are currently underway in Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Tennessee.

Stand Your Ground

Marsy’s death — and everything that followed — exposed a glaring gap in the U.S. justice system: while defendants’ rights were constitutionally protected, victims and their families had few enforceable rights of their own.

One of the best-known and most controversial self-defense laws in the United States, Florida’s Stand Your Ground law (F.S. 776.012) removes the duty to retreat, allowing people to use force — including deadly force — if they reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent death, serious injury or the commission of a forcible felony. The law also provides immunity from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits for anyone acting under its protections. While it’s rooted in the Castle Doctrine, which historically allowed individuals to defend themselves in their own homes without retreating, Stand Your Ground extends that principle to any place a person has a legal right to be.

There are limits, though: Immunity doesn’t apply if the person using force is engaged in illegal activity, is the initial aggressor or is acting against a law enforcement officer performing official duties.

The concept of Stand Your Ground has its roots in traditional self-defense law, which for centuries required a “duty to retreat” — meaning that if someone could safely avoid a confrontation, they were expected to do so before using force. The idea was that violence should always be a last resort. The Castle Doctrine was the original exception, recognizing that a person’s home is their castle and they shouldn’t have to flee from an intruder. In Florida, the push to expand that principle beyond the home gained momentum in the early 2000s, fueled by high-profile home invasion cases, lobbying from gun rights groups, and a political climate favoring stronger self-defense protections.

In practice, pretrial hearings are held to determine whether Stand Your Ground immunity applies, with the state required to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the use of force wasn’t justified. Florida’s Castle Doctrine (F.S. 776.013) specifically protects residents using deadly force in their homes, vehicles or other dwellings against unlawful, forceful entry, creating a legal presumption that they reasonably feared death or serious bodily harm and eliminating any duty to retreat. Together, these laws give Floridians broad protections to defend themselves in spaces where they have a legal right to be, while also setting clear boundaries around when those protections do not apply.

Those clear boundaries, however, are becoming increasingly murky — especially when the victim is no longer alive to tell their side. That’s part of why Stand Your Ground remains one of the most controversial laws in Florida’s history. It’s a double-edged sword: On one hand, people deserve the right to defend themselves; on the other, the law can give blanket protection to anyone who gets trigger-happy. All it takes is a claim of Stand Your Ground and immunity can kick in, particularly in cases with no other witnesses and a deceased victim. Florida’s history since the law’s creation is littered with examples, yet no meaningful reforms have been made.

One key change came in 2017. Before that, a person had to prove they were entitled to Stand Your Ground before receiving immunity. The 2017 amendment flipped that burden: now, prosecutors must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was not acting in lawful self-defense. That shift has made it even easier for individuals to claim Stand Your Ground protections, further fueling the controversy.

Stand Your Ground High Profile Cases

Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida, by George Zimmerman while visiting his father’s fiancée at her townhouse in the Retreat at Twin Lakes community. On the evening of Feb. 26, 2012, Martin was walking back from a nearby convenience store when Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, spotted him and reported him to Sanford police as suspicious. Minutes later, an altercation occurred, during which Zimmerman shot Martin once in the chest, killing him.

Zimmerman sustained injuries during the confrontation and claimed he acted in self-defense. At the time, police said there was no evidence to contradict that claim and cited Florida’s Stand Your Ground law as a reason he was not immediately arrested or charged. After the case drew national attention and sparked widespread protests and debate, Zimmerman was eventually charged and went to trial. In July 2013, a jury acquitted him of both second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Joe Starkey was shot and killed in Jacksonville on the night of Dec. 10, 2025, while driving his wife home from running errands. Along the way, an unidentified driver began driving erratically and aggressively, tailing the Starkeys for the entirety of the trip. Hoping to de-escalate the situation, Joe pulled over to let the driver pass — but the other driver pulled over too. Joe got out of his car, unarmed, to confront the driver. Instead, the driver pulled out a gun, shot Joe through the car door, and sped off. When police later became involved, the shooter claimed Stand Your Ground. To date, no arrests have been made and no names have been released.

Ajike “A.J.” Owens was shot and killed by her neighbor, 58-yearold Susan Louise Lorincz, on June 2, 2023 in Ocala after a dispute with Owens’ children and Lorincz. Neighborhood children often played in a grassy field next to Susan Lorincz’s home, which led Lorincz to repeatedly call police to report them for trespassing, frequently singling out Ajike “AJ” Owens’ son. On June 2, after another dispute involving the children, Owens’ kids came home and told her what had happened. Owens then walked to Lorincz’s house to confront her about the situation.

Before Owens could knock on the door a third time, Lorincz shot and killed her through the closed, locked door, later claiming she acted in self-defense.

IF ONLY KIDS COULD BE KIDS

Words by Emily Cannon

In June 2023 Ajike “AJ” Owens was brutally shot and killed in Ocala on the premise of the Stand Your Ground Law. If you don’t know what the stand your ground law is, it basically means that you do not have the duty to retreat if you feel like your life is being threatened by someone. In some cases like the one about this law is becoming out of control. So what really happened here?

This all started because of kids playing at a vacant lot in their neighborhood. (Owens’ children were a part of this group as well.) Susan Lorincz had repeatedly been calling the cops on these kids for quite some time, stating they were trespassing and being too loud. Once again, just doing things kids should be doing like playing outside with friends. (And a better alternative to playing video games inside their houses all day.) Officers had told Lorincz that the children were not breaking any laws but she still would repeatedly call the police on them. This seemed to go on for months, and no long-term resolution was reached.

The confrontation between Owens and Lorincz had been building for months, but it came to a head when Lorincz allegedly threw a pair of roller skates at Owens’ children and took one of the children’s iPad. Owens approached Lorincz’s residence to confront her and hopefully resolve these issues. Investigators state that Owens stood outside of the home trying to speak to her when Lorincz fired a handgun through a closed door, striking Owens — in front of her children. Owens later died at a nearby hospital due to her injuries.

This is where the Stand Your Ground law comes into play. Florida enacted this law in 2005.

Under the law, individuals are permitted to stand their ground anywhere they have a legal right to be, including their homes, vehicles or public spaces. Since its adoption, similar laws have spread to roughly 30 states across the country.

Prosecutors argued that Lorincz was not facing imminent danger as Owens was not armed and the door to her home was locked. They also challenged the thought that Owens was trying to force entry into her home. In 2024, A Marion County Jury rejected Lorincz’s claim of Stand Your Ground and sentenced her to 25 years in prison for manslaughter with a firearm.

Legal experts note that enacting Stand Your Ground does not give blanket immunity on all cases such as Lorincz’s. Research has shown that states with this law have higher rates of homicides compared to those without, and it may encourage individuals to use deadly force when not needed like in the shooting of Owens.

Owens’ case also raised social concerns such as race, bias and community trust influence threats as Owens was Black. Her death prompted demands for justice and supporters arguing that fear should not justify lethal force.

As lawmakers across the country continue to debate the future of Stand Your Ground statutes, cases like this one serve as sobering reminders of the stakes. The death of Ajike Owens was not just the outcome of a single moment, but the peak of unresolved conflict, legal struggles and the deadly consequences of misjudged self-defense.

Lorincz told officers she fired the gun in self-defense stating she feared for her life and thought that Owens posed a threat to her.

APRIL

MARCH

BEST DUMPUARY EVER!

by Chase Yi

January (and to some degree February) is the annual dumping season for Hollywood, where underwhelming offerings can quietly be released, and the inevitable poor box office returns can be blamed on a host of reasons, from festive hangovers to competition from snowstorms and postseason football.

This year saw a string of pleasant surprises find their way into theaters with the brightest of all being “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” The sequel picks up immediately after the events of the last film, with the young Spike (Alfie Williams) finding himself caught amongst a violent gang of hooligans who roam the now dystopian British Isles, inflicting terror as demanded by their charismatic and sadistic leader (Jack O’Connell), elsewhere the empathetic Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) seeks a potential cure for the virus. Director Nia DaCosta ably takes the series’ reins from Danny Boyle and finds new and unexpected paths to explore this world, which has greater depth than expected. Following his performance in “Sinners,” O’Connell gives another villainous turn that demands attention, but it is Fiennes who steals the show with his tender performance as Dr. Kelson, demonstrating once again why he is among the finest performers in the history of cameras.

With several squished heads and a bit of torture, “The Bone Temple” is definitely not for the squeamish, but thanks to Alex Garland’s soulful screenplay, which is anchored by a luminous performance from Fiennes at the center, the film transcends the grimy horror roots it has grown from into a thoughtful and often moving meditation on humanity and our free will.

If you want your horror to be less heavy on the philosophical themes and to feature more monkey attacks, then “Primate” has you covered. The film sees a rabid chimpanzee going ape on a crew of vacationing teens, leading to gory results. “Primate” is the best case scenario for your typical January horror starring people you’ve never seen before, delivering on its B-movie premise in spades.

The-better-than-it-had-any-right-to-be “Anaconda” also took a bite out of the creature feature with Jack Black and Paul Rudd giving a tongue-in-cheek reimagining of the big snake movie. A film that was destined to be watched while half asleep from an airplane Xanax. “No Other Choice,” the latest film from esteemed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, is another impressive work from the director. When he is let go from his job after years of service, a struggling family man makes the desperate decision to eliminate his competition for a highly desired new position. This darkly comic thriller unfolds in unexpected ways and is completely engrossing from first to last shot.

Lastly, BookTok may just have resurrected the erotic thriller thanks to “The Housemaid.” Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried lead this glossy, dumb and fun caper that nimbly straddles the line between Hallmark movie and softcore porn, as this twist-laden domestic drama provides the perfect stage for its stars to show off their talents.

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LOVE WON THE HALFTIME SHOW

Words by Teresa Spencer

America didn’t just watch football on Super Bowl Sunday. It watched a cultural verdict play out in real time, and the score wasn’t close.

On the biggest stage in American entertainment, Bad Bunny delivered a halftime show that was joyful, unapologetically Latin and quietly radical in its message: unity still matters, love still wins, and America is bigger than the boxes it keeps trying to squeeze itself into.

Somewhere off to the side of the national conversation, Kid Rock headlined a Turning Point USA–backed “alternative halftime show,” pitched as a patriotic rebuttal to the official event. It drew a fraction of the audience, a fraction of the attention, and virtually none of the cultural momentum.

This wasn’t a rivalry. It was a reality check.

Bad Bunny didn’t tone it down for middle America — and that’s exactly why it worked.

The performance was drenched in Puerto Rican pride, Spanish lyrics, Caribbean rhythms, and high-gloss production that felt global, modern, and confident. It didn’t beg for approval or translate itself for comfort. It simply existed and millions leaned in.

Then came the moment that turned the show into a lightning rod: a simple message glowing across the stage —

“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

No rant. No sermon. Just a sentence, delivered to the largest television audience of the year.

For many viewers, it felt hopeful. For others, it felt threatening which says more about the moment than the message.

The Super Bowl has always been political. It just used to pretend it wasn’t.

For decades, halftime shows wrapped patriotism in safe nostalgia and familiar faces. Bad Bunny didn’t reject that tradition: he expanded it. He presented an America that looks like the country people actually live in now, not the one preserved in highlight reels and memory.

Critics complained it was “too political,” “too Spanish,” “not for everyone.” But the numbers told a different story.

More than 100 million viewers watched the official halftime show. It dominated social media, streaming platforms and post-game conversation.

The Turning Point USA concert, headlined by Kid Rock, was designed as an answer — a “real America” alternative for viewers who felt alienated by the NFL’s choice.

It drew only a few million viewers, a rounding error next to the main broadcast.

The show leaned heavily on nostalgia, grievance and volume symbols of patriotism without momentum behind them. Online, clips circulated mostly as jokes. Even supporters struggled to frame it as anything more than a reaction.

And reactionary art has a problem: it only exists in opposition. It doesn’t lead. It follows loudly and usually too late.

This wasn’t about left versus right. Or Spanish versus English. Or patriotism versus protest.

It was about confidence versus fear. Bad Bunny showed up knowing exactly who he is and trusted the audience to meet him there. The counter-show defined itself by what it opposed, not what it offered.

America chose the performance that looked forward, not backward.

The one rooted in joy instead of grievance. This Super Bowl crowned more than a champion.

It confirmed that the culture has moved on, and it didn’t bother asking permission.

Jaguars Moving Forward to 2026

Words by Kaleb Stowell

Following a heartbreaking loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wildcard round, the Jaguars’ 2025 campaign ended more prematurely than most fans anticipated.

It was a historic season for the Jaguars: second-best record in team history, sixth-best offense in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, and the best running defense in the NFL.

Despite losing in the first round of the playoffs, Jaguars fans have plenty to look forward to in the upcoming 2026 season, as head coach Liam Coen, offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile will all be returning to the J aguars, despite numerous offers from other teams around the league.

Let’s take some time to reflect on some of the key components behind what elevated the Jaguars to such an incredible season:

Head Coach Liam Coen

When you are able to take a team that was 4-13 the year prior and completely flip the record the following season to 13-4, it’s impossible to ignore that you are a key component of why the team found so much success. This is exactly what happened for first-year Head Coach Liam Coen.

Coen has been heralded as an offensive mastermind over the past few years. He worked with Sean McVay in Los Angeles as the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2022, the year they won the Super Bowl, and most recently worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator as well, another team that found immense success offensively during his time there.

It seems to be the same story here in Jacksonville as well. Liam Coen has completely transformed this Jaguars team. In 2024, the Jaguars averaged 18.8 points per game, placing them in the bottom six teams in the NFL for offense. In 2025, Coen elevated the Jaguars’ offense to 27.9 points per game, placing them in the top six teams in the NFL for offense. A complete 180.

Coen uses a complex offensive scheme with a lot of moving parts, specifically pre-snap, which led to a lot of confusion at the beginning of the season, as was evidenced by the amount of pre-snap penalties the Jaguars were accruing early on. However, in the latter half of the season, the offense seemed to hum in rhythm with the genius offensive mind of Coen, with the lowest scoring game in that period being 23 points.

Coen also completely flipped the narrative surrounding quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence was under a lot of scrutiny at the beginning of this season. His numbers weren’t where analysts expected them to be, and the dollar amount the Jaguars are paying him didn’t seem to constitute the level of play he was at. But suddenly, after the bye week, a switch seemed to flip for Lawrence. The ball seemed to find its target more easily, he looked more comfortable in the pocket and he was more willing to use his legs and get yards on his own. A lot of this success comes from Lawrence himself, but there’s no denying that Coen has played an important role in getting his superstar quarterback back to his superstar self.

RUN IT BACK

General Manager James Gladstone

In much the same way as Coen, first-time general manager James Gladstone was an essential part of why the Jaguars found so much success this season.

Gladstone was also a product of the Los Angeles Rams, where he worked as the director of scouting strategy during the Rams’ Super Bowl run in 2022, just like Coen.

He pushed the organization to trade up for Travis Hunter in the draft, a move that may not have panned out the way that he imagined, but given the outcome of this season without Hunter, losing a late first-round pick for a two-way generational talent doesn’t seem like a bad trade at all.

Gladstone was also responsible for the signing of breakout wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who was the glue that held the passing offense together. Gladstone knew that when Hunter went down with a non-contact injury, the passing game would be hurting, but using what he learned during his time with the Rams, he knew exactly the guy to grab who would fill the shoes of Hunter — and then some.

In a surprising move after the Monday night victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, Gladstone would trade away cornerback Tyson Campbell to the Cleveland Browns for cornerback Greg Newsome II. This move shocked a lot of fans, as Campbell had been the team’s CB1 for the past few seasons.

Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile

Offense isn’t the only component in a winning team; this was especially true for the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars. Anthony Campanile transformed the Jaguars’ defense in the same way Coen transformed the offense, bringing in a new scheme and philosophy that more accurately represents the play-style of key players on the team.

Campanile’s new scheme would begin to make fans understand why Gladstone decided to part ways with Tyson Campbell. Campanile runs primarily zone defensive coverage, usually blending man and zone to keep offenses on their toes. Campbell excels in man coverage, but was never great in zone, so what made more sense for the team was to get rid of the cap space Campbell was eating up, acquire a more dual-threat cornerback like Newsome, and move Monteric Brown up the depth chart to CB1, which is exactly what they did.

This philosophy changed the defense completely. The Jags’ defense in the past primarily relied on sacking the quarterback. If you can’t get to the quarterback in time, then make a quick tackle and stop them wherever they are. Campanile didn’t necessarily shy away from pursuing the quarterback, but put more emphasis on keeping the quarterback on edge. Anxious quarterbacks make mistakes, and mistakes lead to turnovers and turnovers lead to wins. So that’s what the Jaguars’ defense did: they generated 22 interceptions and 9 fumbles for a total of 31 total takeaways this year, the second highest in the NFL this season and a franchise record.

Trevor Lawrence

It’s impossible to talk about the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars season without bringing up Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence has been one of the most controversial players in the league since he was drafted in 2021. He was absolutely electric in college but faced some early career struggles when he came into the NFL.

The negative press about Lawrence followed him into this season as well: Through Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals, Lawrence had thrown 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on the season.

However, Lawrence was quick to silence anyone who had doubts about his ability as a passer. Through the last 7 weeks of the season, Lawrence threw 15 touchdowns and 1 interception, the 2nd-most by a quarterback within that span. In this 7-week span, Lawrence increased his totals to 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on the year with a total of 4007 passing yards.

Lawrence would have had a great resume this season with just his passing totals, but we haven’t discussed his rushing numbers yet. Lawrence had 359 yards rushing and 9 rushing touchdowns on the year as well, increasing his total yards to 4,366, and his total touchdowns to 38, a career high for Lawrence in a season.

He ended the year with the third most touchdowns by a quarterback, falling just behind Matthew Stafford (who won MVP) and Josh Allen (who had the second-most votes for MVP).

It’s hard not to be optimistic about Lawrence after the performances he put up toward the end of the season. Even in the game against the Bills, Lawrence really only made one crucial mistake, and given that this was only his third ever NFL playoff game, it’s hard to fault him for making one real mistake.

The Defense

A number of Jaguars’ defensive players stepped up this year in order to elevate this team to the heights that it reached.

Devin Lloyd had one of the greatest seasons a Jaguars defensive player has ever had, with 81 total tackles, 5 interceptions, a pick six and 1.5 sacks.

Josh Hines-Allen broke the franchise sack record when he reached 56 career sacks in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Montaric Brown moved to a starter for the first time in his career and had an impressive season with 51 total tackles, 12 pass breakups and 2 interceptions.

Antonio Johnson also found himself as a starter for the first time in his career and put up some good numbers with 56 total tackles, 9 pass breakups, 5 interceptions and a pick 6.

Up in the Air

Despite the NFL salary cap increasing by about $20 million this coming season, the Jaguars are still looking at being over the cap limit by about $13 million, leaving a number of high-profile signings up in the air, such as Travis Etienne, Montaric Brown, Andrew Wingard, Greg Newsome and most notably, Devin Lloyd.

Given this information, it’s difficult to say who will be able to stay in Jacksonville. However, the Jags have a number of large contracts that could potentially be restructured in order to keep some of these guys in black and teal.

Moving Forward

For the first time in a long time, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a solid foundation beneath them to build on. They have a great coaching staff and a lot of talent all around the board, meaning that fans have every reason to get their hopes up for next year. The Jags will be back to roaring “DUUVAL” in September, so be prepared.

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BOP CITY

Saturdays | 9PM

Tune in for Bop City with Daniel Stark. Acclaimed jazz saxophonist and director of Jacksonville’s historic Friday Musicale, Stark celebrates the revolutionary legacy of bebop—the bold, improvisational style born in 1940s Harlem and carried forward by artists like Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie.

ELECTRO LOUNGE

Saturdays | 10PM

WJCT Public Media’s station manager David Luckin returns with Electro Lounge, carrying listeners into the late night with eclectic, downtempo sounds.

BLUES HORIZON

Sundays | 12AM

On Blues Horizon, WJCT Public Media’s Andrew Wiechman celebrates the best in classic and modern blues and showcases the musical genre that has inspired and influenced many other genres, including rock 'n' roll, jazz and modern popular music.

CARMEN: We recently had someone send us an email asking for advice, which was awesome— albeit a little worrisome because we’re not exactly filled to the brim with wisdom. Nonetheless, we decided to turn this month’s Combined Minds into an advice column. You’re welcome. Anyway, let’s get right into it, shall we?

AMBAR: What’s even better is that they were asking for relationship advice. As if we are so knowledgeable on the subject. I mean, did we write a column on dating in Jacksonville? Yes. And are we going to help our Jane Doe, who is dating a much too nonchalant man that she wishes was just a little more … chalant? Also, yes. Are we doing this because it’s almost Valentine’s Day? Maybe.

CARMEN : At least you have a relationship to show for your knowledge on the subject. I have been very openly and begrudgingly single for the last two years, going on ridiculous and horrifying dates. But anyway, if there is something I know how to do, it’s make a nonchalant man lose his mind.

AMBAR: I think that’s what makes us perfect for the task. I’m in a relationship, and you’re not. And in this case, I fear I am the nonchalant man in the relationship.

CARMEN: And honestly, there’s your answer. Fight fire with fire — or in this case, fight nonchalance with nonchalance. Odds are, if a guy is acting like he couldn’t care less about you, it’s because he couldn’t care less about you. Men are very simple creatures with very simple minds, so Jane Doe, if, for some reason, this man is someone you truly want to pursue, you have to stop being readily available to him.

AMBAR: I would focus very heavily on whether or not this is someone you want to pursue. Like Carmen said, if they don’t seem interested, it’s because they usually aren’t.

Or, to play devil’s advocate, there are the rare cases where it may be hard for someone to show they care and be non-nonchalant. If this is the case, you could try being very upfront and honest about your expectations of someone you are going to be in a relationship with. Then there is no confusion.

CARMEN: Can attest to this! I could have the biggest, fattest crush on someone but act like I don’t care if they live or die. It’s called being avoidant, and it is so great. So, if we are assuming that’s the case here, clinginess and attentiveness are the worst things you could possibly do. It’ll send them running in the opposite direction. If they text you, wait a bit to respond. If they ask to hang out at 11 p.m. on a Thursday … oh, would you look at that, you have very vague plans with someone else. Try to be less available to them. It’s so incredibly toxic, but it works.

AMBAR: Are you regretting asking us for advice yet? In all seriousness, to circle back to my point about being honest and upfront, if this is someone you truly want to pursue and see an actual relationship with, the best thing you can do is tell them how you feel. Then you will have your answer and can stop playing the ’ol cat and mouse game. When people say that communication is key in a relationship, they don’t mean it’s a key that’s lost in your junk drawer.

CARMEN: And this is why one of us is in a relationship, and one of us isn’t! Happy Valentine’s Day.

“___ the ramparts...”

Deegan or DeSantis, briefly

Wears 46 Dictionary abbr.

Encryption

Israeli weapon

Gentlemen callers

Comic DeGeneres

Deed holder 56 Basketball’s Thurmond and Archibald 57 Seth’s son 59 Third degrees at FSU

“My bad!” 62 ___ King Cole 63 Crunch targets

WJAX schedule abbr. 65 UFO crew

Y T

this puzzle like a regular sudoku, but instead of using numbers, use the letters V-Y-S-T-A-R (for the locally based credit union) to fill each row, column and box.