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This is the first installment of a new weekly feature, where I will profile a California conservative making a difference at the local, state, or national level. It was a no-brainer to start with this particular happy warrior!
Andrew Breitbart wasn’t just a friend—he was a force of nature, a conservative culture warrior who reshaped the battlefield against the radical left. His life was a masterclass in noticing everything, fighting hard, and lifting others while never losing his grin. In the short time I knew him, Andrew’s relentless energy and vision left an indelible mark on me, as well as on conservatism and America.
Andrew was a pioneer, one of the first to weaponize social media against the left’s sacred cows. His takedown of ACORN—exposing their corruption with undercover videos—toppled a progressive giant. He launched Big Hollywood to call out liberal bias in entertainment, giving conservatives a voice in pop culture. He mentored fighters like Ben Shapiro [ [link removed] ] and Dana Loesch [ [link removed] ], ensuring his battle would endure. About Big Hollywood, my friend Joel Pollak [ [link removed] ] said, “The fact that so many Americans now see through the manipulations of Hollywood and the media… is the direct result of Andrew Breitbart’s efforts and his most enduring legacy.” At the heart of it all was the Breitbart News Network [ [link removed] ] (BNN), a platform he built to confront the left with an army of truth-tellers. BNN’s success owes much to his best friend from youth, Larry Solov, who still steers the business side. They turned a vision into a juggernaut that now commands a seat at White House briefings.
I’ll never forget the chaos and brilliance of Andrew’s Westwood basement overlooking the Veterans Cemetery. One day in 2009 stands out: Andrew was on the phone with former Vice President Dick Cheney, eyes glued to multiple baseball games on a wall of TVs, while his kids ran around naked, clutching pizza slices. Then news broke of Senator Ted Kennedy’s passing on August 25, 2009. Andrew hung up mid-call, turned to me, and said, “It’s time to tell the truth about Kennedy on this day when the left in the media will seek to make him an angel.” Into the fire, he went [ [link removed] ], fearless as ever. Oh, and he casually asked me what I thought of double plays happening simultaneously in three games. I hadn’t noticed. Andrew noticed everything.
I spent a week with him at the Claremont Institute’s Lincoln Fellowship [ [link removed] ] that same year. We sat side by side, soaking up lectures on the Founders, federalism, and Lincoln’s speeches. Andrew was prepping his ACORN bombshell, tilting his laptop to show me clips with that signature grin. He was all in—learning, plotting, mentoring—never missing a beat.
Then, I scored luxury box tickets to Dodger Stadium and had a chance to meet Vin Scully. Andrew leaped at it. We got signed baseballs, saw the Dodgers win, and laughed like kids. That was Andrew off the battlefield: pure joy.
Following his untimely passing in 2012, I was honored to join Breitbart California, a project that carried on his legacy. Working with our fearless leader and Editor of Breitbart California at the time, Joel Pollak, Larry O’Conno [ [link removed] ]r (now a talk radio host), the Marlow family (Alex, Editor-in-Chief [ [link removed] ], Wynn, and Robert), Michelle Dawi [ [link removed] ], Jarrett Stepman [ [link removed] ], Daniel Nussbaum [ [link removed] ], Jon Kahn [ [link removed] ], Adele Malka [ [link removed] ], Matt Boyle [ [link removed] ], and Larry Solov was like joining a family of fighters. We kept Andrew’s spirit alive, exposing the left’s overreach in the Golden State and beyond.
When Andrew wasn’t dismantling progressive dogma or mentoring folks like me, he was all about family. His wife, Susie, and their four children—Samson, Mia, Charlie, and William (who were kids back when we hung out but are now young adults)—were his world. He poured as much love into them as he did into his battles.
Up in heaven, I hope Andrew sees the fruit of his labor. Breitbart News is a powerhouse. The Dodgers are World Champions. Susie and the kids are flourishing. His legacy lives in every truth-teller who takes on the left with courage and a smile.
Andrew, my time with you was short, but it changed the trajectory of my life. With every column I write and every fight I take up, I carry your battle cry: #WAR.
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