Squawkbox – February 26, 2026

This is rich. FBI Director Kash Patel was captured on video/in photos celebrating with Team USA’s men’s hockey team after their gold medal victory against Canada in Milan. What legitimate reason can Patel claim for this on taxpayers’ dime? Exactly.

Exactly zero taxpayers are surprised that our greedy Dougherty County commissioners now want retirement benefits. Their sleazy behavior proves they are just in it for their own wallets. No intention of ever helping anyone. Attention is only given to ridiculous pet projects like building unnecessary things that will quickly fall apart. No discussion of public safety needs, cleaning up streets or changing anything really.

Fellow Squawkers: Take a sec, a reflective deep breath, its Albany, “The Herald is our paper” period. You have to admit Fletcher has done an amazing job, in very professionally challenging times these last few years. Curb the whining on both sides and teach a kid how to swim and fish in 2026. The Patriot

Albany is simply not a conference destination, just like Macon, Tifton and Valdosta are not. That is OK. Instead, it is a good place to raise a family and grow a business. Tax dollars are best used to improve quality of life, public safety and attract jobs, not to begrudgingly lure people here for 48 hours. Not to mention, in-person conferences are a dying concept. These commissioners are completely out of touch.

Please, please give us more stories like the one on The Stifftones. What a fun read about a couple living out their own (weird) rock and roll dream.

I’d like to comment on the work that Albany Herald sports writer Joe Whitfield does. He goes to every event in the community that he can, and he does an excellent job of taking pictures and writing up stories about the games. Just so you know, Mr. Whitfield, a lot of people appreciate what you do.

Forever the master grifter, Trump is at it again: Whether it’s under the guise of making Melania’s Valentine’s Day happy or funding his vendetta with Jimmy Kimmel. People, wake up.

Another billionaire trying to buy a political office. You can’t watch a local news program without being bombarded by commercials from a “Trump-supporting, straight talking billionaire” candidate claiming he feels your pain and he can fix your problems. He is telling you what he is and what he believes just like the other guy. Don’t get fooled again.

When you had a choice between the criminal and airhead, you picked the criminal. If you’d picked the airhead, think (I know it’s hard) where would we be now? Overrun with illegals, more people dying on drugs, China buying houses all over America and gas prices over $5.

Albany Herald sports: There are more players in Albany than that young lady from Monroe. Yes, she’s good, but with her mother building an offense around her, it should be easy to score the majority of the team’s points.

Albany leaders are now talking about a $100 million conference center. For a town our size? And they want it somewhere around the river downtown, no place to walk to eat or have a drink. And before we do that, someone should investigate that $10 million for the new Henderson Gym and Driskell Park. I hope citizens don’t think part of that $10 million didn’t end up in the political pockets of those voting for that venture. The contractors know who was paid; maybe they should be investigated.

We don’t care if someone creates a civil rights tribute; we’d support it … if it wasn’t years behind and the price ($195,000!) coming out of our pockets. Nepotism at its ugliest.