Craig Pittman
@craigtimes.bsky.social
WELCOME TO FLORIDA now available! Other books: NYT bestseller OH, FLORIDA! & CAT TALE. Columnist, Florida Phoenix. Florida man.
A routine appointment to fill an empty council seat in a small #Florida town got politically heated once people caught wind that the top candidate was the mayor’s husband. www.theledger.com/story/news/l...
Lake Hamilton residents object to appointing mayor's husband to council
Lake Hamilton decides to let voters fill an empty seat in April after the mayor's choice, her husband, brought public outcry.
www.theledger.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:23 AM
A routine appointment to fill an empty council seat in a small #Florida town got politically heated once people caught wind that the top candidate was the mayor’s husband. www.theledger.com/story/news/l...
#Florida man who spent 2 years in prison after being convicted of murder is now a free man. Appeals court tossed his interview & now prosecutors say they can't prove his guilt. Cops screwed up: failed to stop questioning him after 3 separate requests for an attorney. www.pnj.com/story/news/c...
a man wearing sunglasses and a jacket with the words you have the right to remain silent
ALT: a man wearing sunglasses and a jacket with the words you have the right to remain silent
media.tenor.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
#Florida man who spent 2 years in prison after being convicted of murder is now a free man. Appeals court tossed his interview & now prosecutors say they can't prove his guilt. Cops screwed up: failed to stop questioning him after 3 separate requests for an attorney. www.pnj.com/story/news/c...
#Florida cops arrest man who allegedly offered inmate $40,000 to murder family member -- and when the inmate said no, he offered $50,000. www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
LCSO arrests man who allegedly offered inmate $40,000 to murder family member
Michael Morichelli, 40, was arrested on Dec. 3 and has been charged with criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder.
www.tallahassee.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:16 PM
#Florida cops arrest man who allegedly offered inmate $40,000 to murder family member -- and when the inmate said no, he offered $50,000. www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
#Florida man & ex-DEA agent charged with conspiring to launder millions of dollars for drug cartel www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/05/e... via @apnews.com
Ex-DEA agent, Boca man charged with conspiring to launder millions of dollars for drug cartel
A former high-level DEA agent and an associate in South Florida have been charged with conspiring to launder millions of dollars and obtain firearms and explosives for a Mexican drug cartel.
www.sun-sentinel.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:51 PM
#Florida man & ex-DEA agent charged with conspiring to launder millions of dollars for drug cartel www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/05/e... via @apnews.com
“Some of the rocks are masterpieces. I see all these little pictures in the rocks." #Florida lake drains, exposes art in the lakebed. www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
Disappearing waters reveal wonders of Tallahassee's Lake Jackson
Lake Jackson in northern Leon County has drained down, or dried up, amid an ongoing drought in the state capital. What wonders are at the bottom?
www.tallahassee.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:42 PM
“Some of the rocks are masterpieces. I see all these little pictures in the rocks." #Florida lake drains, exposes art in the lakebed. www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Craig Pittman
"The governor also could have stopped this after the Legislature acted —if he’d wanted to, of course."
Jason Garcia also looks back at a number of other instances where DeSantis has thrown others under the bus instead of taking responsibility for his mistakes and political miscalculations.
Jason Garcia also looks back at a number of other instances where DeSantis has thrown others under the bus instead of taking responsibility for his mistakes and political miscalculations.
#Florida Gov. Ron DeSastrous may have set a new record last week for passing the buck. He blamed FL lawmakers for forcing him to make an $83 million land deal in Destin — not once, not twice, but SIX times in 3 minutes. jasongarcia.substack.com/p/in-ron-des... via @jasongarcia.bsky.social
In Ron DeSantis' office, the buck stops with someone else
Florida in Five: Five stories to read from the past week in Florida politics.
jasongarcia.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:10 PM
"The governor also could have stopped this after the Legislature acted —if he’d wanted to, of course."
Jason Garcia also looks back at a number of other instances where DeSantis has thrown others under the bus instead of taking responsibility for his mistakes and political miscalculations.
Jason Garcia also looks back at a number of other instances where DeSantis has thrown others under the bus instead of taking responsibility for his mistakes and political miscalculations.
A man in a bulletproof vest with a firearm & dagger was detained after #Florida police said he appeared to be following a congressman along a Christmas parade route. But cops couldn't arrest him because of FL's new open-carry law. www.wpbf.com/article/flor...
Christmas parade scare: Suspicious man detained, found armed with gun and dagger
WPBF 25 News caught up with Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, who explained why the man was detained and why no charges were filed.
www.wpbf.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
A man in a bulletproof vest with a firearm & dagger was detained after #Florida police said he appeared to be following a congressman along a Christmas parade route. But cops couldn't arrest him because of FL's new open-carry law. www.wpbf.com/article/flor...
Editorial: Seminole’s sensible -- and voter-approved -- rural growth controls are under attack by #Florida's idiotic AG's office. www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/07/e... via @orlandosentinel.com
Editorial: Seminole’s sensible growth controls are under attack
Ask almost any politician in Seminole County about the voter-imposed rule that protects open lands from intensive development, and they’ll tell you: Messing with the rural boundary is tantamount to…
www.orlandosentinel.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Editorial: Seminole’s sensible -- and voter-approved -- rural growth controls are under attack by #Florida's idiotic AG's office. www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/07/e... via @orlandosentinel.com
Latest #Florida toll road route targets century-old grove and conservation land www.theledger.com/story/news/l...
Latest Polk toll road route targets century-old grove and conservation land
The preferred route for the southern segment of the Central Polk Parkway East would bisect a Dundee orange grove covered by a recent conservation easement.
www.theledger.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Latest #Florida toll road route targets century-old grove and conservation land www.theledger.com/story/news/l...
Sunday afternoons are a GREAT time to catch up on the Welcome to #Florida podcast. Recent episodes have dug into what the '30s were like here, the amazing sawfish, the trilingual paper La Gaceta, FL in WW2 & the Bone Valley case. Dig in! www.buzzsprout.com/1169570
Welcome to Florida
Best selling author, award winning reporter and Florida native Craig Pittman is joined by radio personality and Florida transplant Chadd Scott to discuss the state's history, people, politics, environ...
www.buzzsprout.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Sunday afternoons are a GREAT time to catch up on the Welcome to #Florida podcast. Recent episodes have dug into what the '30s were like here, the amazing sawfish, the trilingual paper La Gaceta, FL in WW2 & the Bone Valley case. Dig in! www.buzzsprout.com/1169570
The better, more accurate headline here should've been, "How President Convicted Felon normalized racism & ugly slurs." www.axios.com/2025/12/06/t... h/t @edeggans.bsky.social
How Trump flipped America's race conversation
Language that once was disqualifying is now a fixture of national political discourse.
www.axios.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The better, more accurate headline here should've been, "How President Convicted Felon normalized racism & ugly slurs." www.axios.com/2025/12/06/t... h/t @edeggans.bsky.social
30 years after she died while in the negligent care of the Church of Scientology, activists gather in #Florida to remember the tragic story of Lisa McPherson. www.tampabay.com/news/clearwa... via @tampabaytimes.bsky.social
Activists honor Scientologist Lisa McPherson 30 years after her death
McPherson died after spending 17 days in the church’s care.
www.tampabay.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:29 PM
30 years after she died while in the negligent care of the Church of Scientology, activists gather in #Florida to remember the tragic story of Lisa McPherson. www.tampabay.com/news/clearwa... via @tampabaytimes.bsky.social
Reposted by Craig Pittman
Whoa … this is really strange.
Federal law enforcement managed to confiscate almost two tons of cocaine, and arrest 3 suspects, without blowing the boat out of the water or killing anyone.
🎁 link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Federal law enforcement managed to confiscate almost two tons of cocaine, and arrest 3 suspects, without blowing the boat out of the water or killing anyone.
🎁 link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
$28 million of cocaine seized off Miami Beach. Three men charged
Coast Guard and CBP seized about 3,715 pounds of cocaine worth $28 million from a 65-foot vessel near Government Cut off Miami Beach; three men were arrested.
www.miamiherald.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Whoa … this is really strange.
Federal law enforcement managed to confiscate almost two tons of cocaine, and arrest 3 suspects, without blowing the boat out of the water or killing anyone.
🎁 link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Federal law enforcement managed to confiscate almost two tons of cocaine, and arrest 3 suspects, without blowing the boat out of the water or killing anyone.
🎁 link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
#Florida Gov. Ron DeSastrous may have set a new record last week for passing the buck. He blamed FL lawmakers for forcing him to make an $83 million land deal in Destin — not once, not twice, but SIX times in 3 minutes. jasongarcia.substack.com/p/in-ron-des... via @jasongarcia.bsky.social
In Ron DeSantis' office, the buck stops with someone else
Florida in Five: Five stories to read from the past week in Florida politics.
jasongarcia.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
#Florida Gov. Ron DeSastrous may have set a new record last week for passing the buck. He blamed FL lawmakers for forcing him to make an $83 million land deal in Destin — not once, not twice, but SIX times in 3 minutes. jasongarcia.substack.com/p/in-ron-des... via @jasongarcia.bsky.social
President Convicted Felon's escalating military threats against Venezuela have split his biggest boosters in South #Florida — who are eager for regime change — from “America First” Republicans who loathe foreign intervention. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202... via @washingtonpost.com
Why Miami’s Trump backers are clashing with the ‘America First’ wing over Venezuela
As Trump threatens strongman Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan and Cuban American supporters are urging the president to do whatever it takes to oust him.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:52 PM
President Convicted Felon's escalating military threats against Venezuela have split his biggest boosters in South #Florida — who are eager for regime change — from “America First” Republicans who loathe foreign intervention. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202... via @washingtonpost.com
Former interim athletics director of #Florida university is accused of defrauding school of nearly $60,000 www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/05/f... via @sun-sentinel.com
Former NSU interim athletics director accused of defrauding school of nearly $60,000
The former interim athletics director of Nova Southeastern University was booked into the Broward County jail Friday on charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.
www.sun-sentinel.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Former interim athletics director of #Florida university is accused of defrauding school of nearly $60,000 www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/05/f... via @sun-sentinel.com
For our Sunday #gospel brunch today, something a little different -- Johnny Cash with Carl Perkins, the Carter Family and the Statler Brothers singing a Christmas classic all about spreading the news of the little bitty baby born in Bethlehem. Say amen, somebody!
Johnny Cash - Children, Go Where I Send Thee (Live in Denmark)
YouTube video by JohnnyCashVEVO
www.youtube.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:08 PM
For our Sunday #gospel brunch today, something a little different -- Johnny Cash with Carl Perkins, the Carter Family and the Statler Brothers singing a Christmas classic all about spreading the news of the little bitty baby born in Bethlehem. Say amen, somebody!
Reposted by Craig Pittman
👏
I had a grand time today signing books at Barnes & Noble and chatting with customers. One lady recited a poem she'd written about alligators. Another lady saw the words " #Florida Men" on one of my books and said, "Oh, I could tell you some stories about THOSE."
December 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
👏
I had a grand time today signing books at Barnes & Noble and chatting with customers. One lady recited a poem she'd written about alligators. Another lady saw the words " #Florida Men" on one of my books and said, "Oh, I could tell you some stories about THOSE."
December 6, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I had a grand time today signing books at Barnes & Noble and chatting with customers. One lady recited a poem she'd written about alligators. Another lady saw the words " #Florida Men" on one of my books and said, "Oh, I could tell you some stories about THOSE."
#Florida woman turned AG Pam Bondi wants prosecutors to go after groups opposed to fascists like her boss, President Convicted Felon. thehill.com/policy/natio...
a woman speaking into a microphone with the words my job is to deceive inveigle and obfuscate
ALT: a woman speaking into a microphone with the words my job is to deceive inveigle and obfuscate
media.tenor.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
#Florida woman turned AG Pam Bondi wants prosecutors to go after groups opposed to fascists like her boss, President Convicted Felon. thehill.com/policy/natio...
Gulf World Marine Institute, now known as #Florida Panhandle Marine Institute, released the last turtle that was in rehab, a juvenile Kemp's ridley www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-n...
www.mypanhandle.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Gulf World Marine Institute, now known as #Florida Panhandle Marine Institute, released the last turtle that was in rehab, a juvenile Kemp's ridley www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-n...
Onetime #Florida podcaster Dan Bongino admits he was paid for espousing wacky opinions then, but insists as deputy FBI director he doesn't make stuff up anymore. Suuuuure, Dan. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...
As Bongino Celebrates Arrest in Pipe Bomb Case, Others on the Right Remain Skeptical
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Onetime #Florida podcaster Dan Bongino admits he was paid for espousing wacky opinions then, but insists as deputy FBI director he doesn't make stuff up anymore. Suuuuure, Dan. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...
Interim prez of U of #Florida persuades board to clamp down on the free speech rights of UF leaders -- except for him, that is -- in the name of "institutional neutrality." floridaphoenix.com/2025/12/05/u... via @floridaphoenix.com
University of Florida commits to 'neutrality,' institutionally • Florida Phoenix
The University of Florida will not be taken over for ideological purposes, it’s interim president declared Friday. Interim President Donald Landry and UF trustees expressed a commitment during a board...
floridaphoenix.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Interim prez of U of #Florida persuades board to clamp down on the free speech rights of UF leaders -- except for him, that is -- in the name of "institutional neutrality." floridaphoenix.com/2025/12/05/u... via @floridaphoenix.com
TODAY IN ST. PETE! Come see me between noon & 3 pm at the Barnes & Noble at Tyrone Square. I'll be signing copies of WELCOME TO #FLORIDA. You can bring your emotional support gator, but it MUST be on a leash. stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/1986
December 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM
TODAY IN ST. PETE! Come see me between noon & 3 pm at the Barnes & Noble at Tyrone Square. I'll be signing copies of WELCOME TO #FLORIDA. You can bring your emotional support gator, but it MUST be on a leash. stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/1986
#Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who knows a lot about Medicare fraud, praises efforts to hold wrongdoers accountable in Gov. Ron DeSastrous' Hope Florida scandal. Gee, wonder how that's going to affect their relationship...
December 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM
#Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who knows a lot about Medicare fraud, praises efforts to hold wrongdoers accountable in Gov. Ron DeSastrous' Hope Florida scandal. Gee, wonder how that's going to affect their relationship...