A Holiday Gift Wrapped in Irony

We needed a holiday meme.

The best gift Picon Press received this year didn’t come with a bow — it came courtesy of Bruce Parks, chair of the Washoe County Republican Party and its Central Committee, who publicly declared that Picon “lacks credibility.”

We sincerely appreciate the sentiment.

Screen shot is from Mike’s Reno Report December 24, 2025.

After all, it takes real dedication to spend time reading, posting on, and reacting to a media outlet you claim has no credibility. Why look? Why comment? Why call our publisher Larry Chesney? Why engage at all? Because, apparently, Parks just can’t help himself — and frankly, we find that endlessly amusing.

“Credibility” is an interesting word choice from Mr. Parks, particularly when one takes a casual stroll through the leadership structure of the Washoe County Republican Central Committee. There, overseeing election integrity as of November 2025 (we can’t confirm if he still holds that spot), is Robert Beadles — yes, that Robert Beadles — the man who has openly admitted to placing a tracking device on Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve’s and former Washoe County Commissioner Vaughn Hartung vehicles.

One might reasonably ask: wouldn’t it be prudent for Mr. Parks to suggest Mr. Beadles step aside, at least temporarily, while legal matters are sorted out? Or does keeping him in a leadership role enhance the credibility of the Central Committee — and by extension, Mr. Parks himself?

Just asking.

What we are grateful for this year in Reno — are the journalists who continue to do the heavy lifting: Our Nevada Judges, Our Town Reno, This Is Reno, Mike’s Reno Report, Reno News & Review, The Nevada Independent, The Nevada Current, and even the Reno Gazette Journal. These outlets show up every day trying to make sense of elected officials, would-be elected officials, and whatever exactly is going on at City Hall in Reno, Sparks, and at the Washoe County complex.

It’s not easy. It’s often thankless. And it matters.

So yes, thank you, Bruce Parks, for the unintended holiday chuckle. And thank you to the reporters who still believe credibility is earned through transparency, accountability, and doing the work — even when it makes powerful people uncomfortable.

Happy Holidays, Larry