Mark Young is an Army veteran and conservative Journalist with decades of experience as a reporter in multiple markets. Most recently, he worked as an opinion columnist for The Manatee Herald, until he was fired for being unwilling to refrain from criticisms of local Republican officials. He joins TBT's Mitch Maley and Dawn Kitterman for a conversation about that experience and the ways that partisanship is being weaponized for the benefit of special interests.

This week, former chair of the Manatee County Republican Liberty Caucus Kevin Wright joins TBT's Mitch Maley and Dawn Kitterman to discuss his experience of being made a pariah by the development cartel for the sin of attempting to hold the Republicans he supported for the Manatee County Commission accountable to their campaign promises.

TBT editor Mitch Maley and investigative reporter Dawn Kitterman discuss the "Real Manatee County Conservatives" attack on "old guard" Republican State Attorney Ed Brodsky. They also discuss a recent appearance by Ron DeSantis on a conservative podcast that has reignited the media's fascination with whether or not the governor is taking extreme measures to obscure his height (or lack thereof) and whether or not this is the final nail in the coffin of his faltering presidential bid.

TBT editor Mitch Maley and investigative reporter Dawn Kitterman discuss the all-new Ron DeSantis Park and how ideology, groupthink, and the casting out of dissenters are impeding progress on local issues.

TBT Editor Mitch Maley and investigative reporter Dawn Kitterman discuss an increasingly top-heavy Manatee County administration, a viral cartoon lampooning your county commissioners, the New College/USF land deal, and the raucous state of Republican politics in Manatee County.

TBT editor Mitch Maley and investigative reporter Dawn Kitterman discuss recent reporting on the veteran housing project, as well as Mrs. Kitterman's recent investigation into the county's red-flag-ridden effort to outsource its human resources services.

TBT Editor Mitch Maley and investigative reporter Dawn Kitterman discuss a circular firing squad in GOP politics that rippled from Washington to Manatee County this week, as Republicans argue over who is a "real conservative" and who is a RINO.

This week, TBT Editor Mitch Maley and investigative reporter Dawn Kitterman discuss Lee Washington's recently reported whistleblower complaint, Charlie Bishop's county administrator contract, and candidates in the 2024 District 3 BOCC race.

TBT Editor Mitch Maley and investigative reporter Dawn Kitterman discuss the Manatee County Commission's decision to remove historical resources from the clerk of the court, hire Charlie Bishop as the permanent county administrator, and enact a policy that would punish any non-profit that is "affiliated" with Planned Parenthood.

Brice Claypoole is a 15-year-old Manatee County environmental activist and author of the blog The Kid Who Cares. Brice joins TBT's Mitch Maley this week to discuss local environmental issues, including the recent decision by the Manatee County Commission to gut our wetland protection policies. Brice's blog can be found at www.thekidwhocares.com.