Here at Picon Press, we know a thing or two about catching heat for a meme.
On October 6, 2026, we posted a meme created by our “Lord and Savior,” ChatGPT. It was a meme. Not an article. Not an investigative exposé. Not the Pentagon Papers. And yet, the pushback arrived anyway.
So imagine our surprise when Troy Regas’s campaign started receiving its own share of criticism for calling attention to District 3 County Commissioner Marialuz “Mariluz” Garcia’s voting record. Political criticism? In an election? Shocking.
But while everyone is busy clutching their pearls over Troy’s campaign, we do have one observation: his use of AI imagery featuring himself is hardly immune from criticism either. If we are going to let artificial intelligence take creative liberties with reality, we should at least ask it to be kind. Because, Troy, we need to talk about what that AI did to your age.
Apparently, artificial intelligence is not always intelligent. And sometimes, it is downright disrespectful.
But the AI roast is the easy part.
Our readers also brought us posts from ItsAllisxn, who has referred to Troy as a “pedophile” and a “pimp.” Those are serious accusations to throw around on the internet. We would hope that anyone handing out labels that heavy would do a little homework before hitting post. Perhaps a little self-reflection, too.
Because, as it turns out, the internet is a two-way street, and the receipts do not always lead where you expect.
A review of publicly accessible court records revealed a temporary protective order granted against ItsAllisxn this summer. The order was granted without a hearing and involved allegations of harassing text messages and stalking behavior to a former romantic partner. To be clear, a temporary order is not a final adjudication of every allegation, and we are not pretending otherwise. We also will not identify the Applicant, because privacy still matters, even when the internet forgets that it does.
For those interested in reviewing the record themselves, you can always try the Second Judicial District Court Clerk’s Office. Though, if our calendar is right, you might want to hurry. We hear her last day is coming up. Timing is everything, isn’t it?
Now, here at Picon, we are no strangers to the curious world of protective orders. We have seen how these proceedings can become part of a much larger public spectacle, and we have even watched a Nevada court grant an order arising from a meme. Apparently, sometimes the line between internet drama and courtroom drama is thinner than anyone would like to admit.
Which brings us back to Troy Regas.
There has been plenty of attention paid to Troy’s prior conviction and employment history from more than twenty years ago. And while voters are entitled to consider a candidate’s history, we do wonder when accountability stops being a legitimate question and starts becoming an endless sentence.
Twenty years is a long time. Long enough to change careers, grow up, make mistakes, learn from them, and become someone your younger self might not even recognize.
If we are being honest, how many of us would want our entire lives judged by the person we were twenty years ago? How many of us would enjoy having our worst chapter dusted off every election cycle and presented as the complete story?
Growth is not pretending the past never happened. It is what happens after it does.
And if we are going to demand accountability from candidates, commentators, bloggers, and everyone else with a social media account, perhaps we should apply that standard consistently. Nobody gets a permanent pass. Nobody gets a permanent sentence. And nobody gets to throw stones while pretending their own glass house is made of bulletproof glass.
When asked for comment, Troy Regas’s campaign provided the following statement:
As for ItsAllisxn, we would have reached out for comment. But we suspect that, like any self-respecting Gen Z internet sleuth, she will find us first.
So we will leave the door open, the tipline is ready, and the popcorn within reach.
At Picon Press, we like a good story. We like receipts even more. And we have learned that the internet always has another plot twist.
Stay tuned. We have a feeling this one is not over.