Cody Allen Wells

#LSU

[Enezator @Enezator]

Meeting the right person at the perfect time can be one of life’s most beautiful miracles

[JD Vance @JDVance]

A while ago, probably in 2017, I appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox show to talk about God knows what. Afterwards a name I barely knew sent me a DM on twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today.

Charlie was fascinated by ideas and always willing to learn and change his mind. Like me, he was skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016. Like me, he came to see President Trump as the only figure capable of moving American politics away from the globalism that had dominated for our entire lives. When others were right, he learned from them. When he was right--as he usually was--he was generous. With Charlie, the attitude was never, "I told you so." But: "welcome."

Charlie was one of the first people I called when I thought about running for senate in early 2021. I was interested but skeptical there was a pathway. We talked through everything, from the strategy to the fundraising to the grassroots of the movement he knew so well. He introduced me to some of the people who would run my campaign and also to Donald Trump Jr. "Like his dad, he's misunderstood. He's extremely smart, and very much on our wavelength." Don took a call from me because Charlie asked him too.

Long before I ever committed (even in my mind) to running, Charlie had me speak to his donors at a TPUSA event. He walked me around the room and introduced me. He gave me honest feedback on my remarks. He had no reason to do this, no expectation that I'd go anywhere. I was polling, at that point, well below 5 percent. He did it because we were friends, and because he was a good man.

When I became the VP nominee--something Charlie advocated for both in public and private--Charlie was there for me. I was so glad to be part of the president's team, but candidly surprised by the effect it had on our family. Our kids, especially our oldest, struggled with the attention and the constant presence of the protective detail. I felt this acute sense of guilt, that I had conscripted my kids into this life without getting their permission. And Charlie was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers. Some of our most successful events were organized not by the campaign, but by TPUSA. He wasn't just a thinker, he was a doer, turning big ideas into bigger events with thousands of activists. And after every event, he would give me a big hug, tell me he was praying for me, and ask me what he could do. "You focus on Wisconsin," he'd tell me. "Arizona is in the bag." And it was.

Charlie genuinely believed in and loved Jesus Christ. He had a profound faith. We used to argue about Catholicism and Protestantism and who was right about minor doctrinal questions. Because he loved God, he wanted to understand him.

Someone else pointed out that Charlie died doing what he loved: discussing ideas. He would go into these hostile crowds and answer their questions. If it was a friendly crowd, and a progressive asked a question to jeers from the audience, he'd encourage his fans to calm down and let everyone speak. He exemplified a foundational virtue of our Republic: the willingness to speak openly and debate ideas.

Charlie had an uncanny ability to know when to push the envelope and when to be more conventional. I've seen people attack him for years for being wrong on this or that issue publicly, never realizing that privately he was working to broaden the scope of acceptable debate.

He was a great family man. I was talking to President Trump in the Oval Office today, and he said, "I know he was a very good friend of yours." I nodded silently, and President Trump observed that Charlie really loved his family. The president was right. Charlie was so proud of Erika and the two kids. He was so happy to be a father. And he felt such gratitude for having found a woman of God with whom he could build a family.

Charlie Kirk was a true friend. The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him. I am on more than a few group chats with Charlie and people he introduced me to over the years. We celebrate weddings and babies, bust each other's chops, and mourn the loss of loved ones. We talk about politics and policy and sports and life. These group chats include people at the very highest level of our government. They trusted him, loved him, and knew he'd always have their backs. And because he was a true friend ,you could instinctively trust the people Charlie introduced you to. So much of the success we've had in this administration traces directly to Charlie's ability to organize and convene. He didn't just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.

I was in a meeting in the West Wing when those group chats started lighting up with people telling Charlie they were praying for him. And that's how I learned the news that my friend had been shot. I prayed a lot over the next hour, as first good news and then bad trickled in.

God didn't answer those prayers, and that's OK. He had other plans. And now that Charlie is in heaven, I'll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly.

You ran a good race, my friend.

We've got it from here.

[Mitch Rabalais @MitchRabalais]

On days like today, I’m reminded of a quote from U.S. Senator Russell Long, who was just 16 when his father was assassinated.

“It is the ballot rather than the bullet which should determine America’s destiny.”

[Western Lensman @WesternLensman]

🚨NEW: Kevin O’Leary wants to “release the hounds” on government waste — backs idea of @elonmusk to identify trillions to be cut:

"Elon Musk is 100% signal."

"When he says you can find 2 trillion, I think you should let him go look for it. We've never really looked at the federal government this way, and if anybody could do it and has the track record to do such, it would be him."

"We've got to go find $2 trillion. We've got to go find $5 trillion. We've got to figure out how to solve this problem. We need every idea. And I love the concept of taking somebody from the outside in."

"The concept is release the hounds. Let them in there and then come back with a shopping list of ideas."

O’Leary is officially a fan of the D.O.G.E. approach to take on an out of control, bloated federal government.

[Zack Fradella @ZackFradellaWx]

The sun setting on the Crescent City. 📸 Melissa Louise #lawx

[Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig]

A decade ago Joan Rivers told you what you need to hear today.

[LSU Football @LSUfootball]

Almost time to open up the 100th year of Tiger Stadium

[Benny Johnson @bennyjohnson]

A random mosquito flies into President Trump’s face, and he gives the most hilarious reaction:

"I hate mosquitos... we want nothing to do with them — and we want nothing to do with bad politicians that hate our country, too."�

[Fix New Orleans @FixNOLA]

Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue: "What triggered this particular review was the insanely disproportionate number coming out of Orleans Parish." #lalege

Aubry Killion to DA Williams: "Any message to families?"

DA Williams: [continues to walk away]

[Barstool NOLA @BarstoolNOLA]

They’re playing the LSU fight song at MSY before flights to Vegas for this weekend

College football is so back.

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Sounds like a First Amendment violation

[Collin Rugg @CollinRugg]

NEW: Crowd cracks up after Trump shuts up race-baiting reporter who tried linking him to white supremacy.

Reporter: "Kamala's campaign attacked you for being in this town because it's associated with white supremacy"

Trump: "Who was here in 2021?"

Reporter: "Biden"

Trump: "Thank you everyone."

The comment came after the Harris campaign slammed Trump for visiting Howell, Michigan.

Joe Biden visited Howell, Michigan in October of 2021.

[Cody Allen Wells @CodyAllenWells]

🧐

[End Wokeness @EndWokeness]

MSNBC host: JD Vance wishing to join his family plot (6 generations) in Kentucky is WHITE MALE SUPREMACY

[Joseph Cranney @joey_cranney]

Potholes everywhere. Blinking traffic signals. Routine flooding.

The dysfunction in New Orleans is often blamed on the city's swampy terrain or a lack of money.

A closer examination debunks many of those excuses.

[Cody Allen Wells @CodyAllenWells]

🤣🤣

[Melinda Deslatte @MelindaDeslatte]

Senate votes 37-0 for Democratic Rep. Marcus Bryant bill prohibiting public schools & private schools that receive state money from serving imported seafood to students. Also would apply to Louisiana Capitol cafeteria. HB429 back to House for review of Senate changes. #lalege

[RedCupOleMiss @RedCupOleMiss]

Ole Miss students sing the Star Spangled Banner🇺🇸

[Maxwell Meyer @mualphaxi]

One of the best photos of 2024 so far:

Fraternity brothers are pelted by anti-Israel protesters at UNC Chapel Hill while protecting the United States flag as it is re-hoisted following its removal by protesters.

Well done, gentleman. 🫡🇺🇸

[Collin Rugg @CollinRugg]

NEW: Migrants discovered in a "hidden room" at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International airport, guarded by a U.S. service member.

The footage was taken by Republican state Sen. Colton Moore who received a tip that migrants were flowing through the facility.

"We’re all getting them flights to where they need to be," said a volunteer.

"These are just recently documented travelers getting released from ICE getting to where they need to be."

Chaos broke out according to Moore, who spoke with the @DailyCaller, after he raised his phone up to get a better view of what was going on.

"When I took my phone and reached it up above the guy to get a better view of all the illegals in the room, that’s when chaos broke out," he said.

Video: @realColtonMoore

[Melinda Deslatte @MelindaDeslatte]

State budget czar Jay Dardenne will end 35-year political career in January via ⁦@tegbridges⁩ #lalege #lagov https://t.co/YS5AFCMzNe

[Cody Allen Wells @CodyAllenWells]

RT @LSU: BREAKING: Two-time LSU alumnus Mike Johnson is the first person from Louisiana and first LSU grad in history to be elected Speaker…