Joe Lanier

Professional Retweeter.

[Caleb Wilson @CalebWilson2025]

Thank you for everything Coach Davis, one of the best men and coaches in my life.

[Josh Holmes @HolmesJosh]

For those conservatives tweeting out McConnell’s fall today and mocking him - I’ve got some thoughts: if you just started paying attention to politics in the last 4 years I’ll give you grace because you don’t know what the rest of us do.

[Jake Sherman @JakeSherman]

☀️AM: WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR POLITICS?

The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the hugely popular 31-year-old conservative star, is gutting, shocking and horrific. The close ally of President Donald Trump leaves behind a wife who’ll never see her husband again and two young children who’ll grow up without their father.

We don’t like to tell you what to think and certainly have no business to tell you how you should feel.

But let us tell you what we’re thinking this morning: What are we even doing here?

Kirk’s brutal murder during a college program at Utah Valley University is the latest tragic chapter in the rapidly deteriorating political discourse that’s come to dominate our nation. The failed assassination attempts against Trump in 2024 deeply rattled the country. Yet nearly every pol in either party can recount multiple stories about the violent threats — or even attacks — they face on a regular basis.

Perhaps the scariest part of all is that no matter how much security there is, no matter how thorough the precautions are, more American politicians and political figures will be threatened, hurt or killed in politically-motivated violence in the near future. It’s horrible to say. But this is our reality. ...

Speaker Mike Johnson said last week during a G7 event in Canada that the United States Capitol Police has tracked a stunning 14,000 instances of threats made toward members of Congress this year alone. That’s a 55% increase over last year.

Much of the behavior that we see from national political leaders themselves would be deemed unacceptable for grade-school children.

Many – if not most – members and senators see the other party as their mortal enemies out to destroy the country, not just good-hearted yet wrong-thinking political rivals. That mindset makes each day an existential struggle between good and evil rather than a contest between competing political ideas or policies.

Fundraising emails are often filled with violent rhetoric. Angry, unhinged outbursts on the House floor have become commonplace. All in the pursuit of the next political buck or viral moment.

The rise of social media has fed into growing extremism on both sides of the aisle. Passing legislation or making bipartisan deals is seen as far less valuable than someone who can pound their opponents on TikTok or X. In fact, bipartisanship is a sign you’ve been compromised and fallen prey to the other side’s malevolent machinations.

The media plays a major role in all this too. Cable TV makes stars of those who engage in conflict and confrontation. If it bleeds, it leads – 24 hours per day, 365 days a year across every channel.

Here’s the truth: We all have play a part in creating a political discourse that we’re proud of for a country that most of us deeply love. This is something we should all keep in mind as we deal with the fallout of Kirk’s murder in the days and weeks ahead.

https://t.co/i6xHd0hWh5

[Rob Long @rcbl]

Need some time to collect my thoughts to properly describe this man and his genius, but here's a start: effortlessly funny, utterly professional, brilliantly economical with words and looks and silence. The word "legend" was invented to describe Bob Newhart.

[Gary Winslett 🌐🇺🇸 @GaryWinslett]

The “everything sucks” doomerism of the far left and right is wrong. Worse, it needlessly radicalizes people. Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow is going to be even better. So here’s a list of 50 areas where we're seeing progress. 1/

[Senator Thom Tillis @SenThomTillis]

.@LeaderMcConnell is a true legend of the U.S. Senate. Under his historic leadership, the Senate secured a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, passed historic tax reform, and enacted bipartisan legislation to save our economy from the brink at the start of the pandemic. He has stayed true to President Reagan's principle of peace through strength as a stalwart supporter of NATO and Ukraine's fight for freedom against Russian aggression. I will always be grateful for Mitch's friendship, advice, and steadfast leadership of our conference during unprecedented times. He leaves very big shoes to fill.

[Carolina Basketball @UNC_Basketball]

All smiles yesterday 😁

#SpecialOlympicsNorthCarolina

[Matthew Continetti @continetti]

Michael Sugrue, 1957-2024. I am among the many who have profited from listening to his podcasts and Youtube videos. https://t.co/9BKRmjordA

[NCLifeSci @NCLifeSci]

NCLifeSci President Laura Gunter joined fellow #LifeSciences trade organizations from across the country to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, Jan. 3, and kick off Biotech Month. https://t.co/10w73Mw8wb

[Joe Lanier @JosephHLanier]

@tjohnp @NCADA Congratulations John!

[T. John Policastro @tjohnp]

Honored today in becoming just the 4th @NCADA President & CEO since 1935. Proud to represent NC’s new car, truck, & RV dealers who are second to none in fueling the growth of our State, providing good jobs, & driving the overall prosperity of our communities. #ncga #ncpol

[Dirk Nowitzki @swish41]

Beautiful ceremony for the warrior today. Was an honor to play and get to know him. RIP

[Andrew Sullivan @sullydish]

"What Trump did to the republic has nothing whatever to do with conservatism. It’s the antithesis of conservatism, a revolutionary act to create a constitutional crisis, an assault on tradition, an attack on America itself."

https://t.co/uxoJ95E8oT

[Sonny Bunch @SonnyBunch]

Ray Liotta will always be best remembered for playing Henry Hill in GOODFELLAS, and rightfully so: we should all be so lucky to star in one of the 20 best American movies ever made. https://t.co/Az3ENf3Wb1

[Tate Frazier @tatefrazier]

RIP Ademola Okulaja aka The Warrior, one of the greatest Tar Heels to ever do it 🙏

[AG @AGHamilton29]

Useful idiots have been around for a long time. There were those that asked the same questions about Mao, Stalin, and about every other murderous dictator.

Putin is evil. Good people should stand against evil. That doesn't mean you have to support specific policy responses.

[Rob Long @rcbl]

A hero and an inspiration. A brilliantly funny, sneaky smart writer and the ideal drinking companion. He did the impossible: he made you laugh at the bad news. Except for today. P. J. O’Rourke. Irreplaceable.

[Joe Lanier @JosephHLanier]

Great job by all these young women and especially my favorite swimmer Lily!

[Broughton Swimming & Diving @CAPS_swim_dive]

4A East Regional Women’s Runner-up!! LETS GO CAPS!! 💜💛💜💛 @Broughtonsports @NBroughtonHS @BHSCaps

[NFL Films @NFLFilms]

"Football has been my life, and it's given me so much."

Rest in peace to the legendary John Madden 🙏

[Joe Lanier @JosephHLanier]

So true. My very first one too, in the 1988 GOP primary. A giant and the embodiment of our Greatest Generation. Thank you Senator Dole.