A political cartoon by Bob Whitmore.
Rays hell. By Bob Whitmore.
Bob Whitmore produces a weekly political cartoon and shares it with WMNF.
This week’s cartoon is “Rays hell.”
He also created a design for a WMNF t-shirt and poster. You can find out more about that here, where it also says:
“Bob brings a sharp eye, quick wit, and unmistakable style to the issues shaping our city. His work blends humor and commentary, often shining a light on local politics, culture, and the wonderfully quirky personalities that make Tampa, well… Tampa.
“And while his weekly cartoons lean into political commentary, Bob also knows how to celebrate community. For the 2026 Spring Fund Drive (Feb. 18–25), he created a lively illustration featuring WMNF volunteers, staff, and programmers, past and present, capturing the energy, diversity, and heart of the station in his signature playful style.”
Bob’s cartoons were the subject of controversy in 2025, which you can read more about here. Here’s part of the story:
A political cartoonist at Creative Loafing is out of a job because of criticisms the paper got after it published his cartoon of a starving child in Gaza.
Bob Whitmore tells WMNF that even though the cartoon seems to be a political statement about the famine and war in Gaza, the corporate parent company of CL considers it to be antisemitic.
“The cartoon was in reference to the starvation that is happening to children in Gaza at the moment. It depicted a small child standing at one of the walls of Gaza. There’s barbed wire at the top, strung across the top. And in the distance, the Israeli flag is fluttering. And then the caption says, ”Wailing wall.’ The child is crying out, ‘Please give me food.’ And that is it in a nutshell,” Whitmore said.
Whitmore continued, “Dissent against Israel’s actions in Gaza should not be considered antisemitism.”