Kristi Noem fired. Replaced by Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). And yes, somehow MORE of a whack job.
Why Noem got fired:
1. $220M self-promotional ad campaign - Spent massive taxpayer money on ads featuring herself urging illegal immigrants to self-deport. Contract went to husband of former DHS spokesperson. Trump furious she said under oath he approved it.
2. Minneapolis killings - DHS agents killed Alex Pretti (nurse) and Renee Nicole Good (mother) during immigration operations. Noem called them “domestic terrorists,” blocked state investigators from crime scenes, coverup allegations.
3. Disastrous congressional testimony - Both Senate and House committees, including Republicans, called her leadership a “disaster.” Sen. Thom Tillis: “You have demonstrated anything but exceptional leadership.”
4. Alleged affair with chief adviser Corey Lewandowski - Asked about it under oath during hearings.
5. FEMA bottleneck - Required personal approval on expenses over $100K, cycled through 3 acting administrators, mass workforce cuts.
Who’s replacing her: Markwayne Mullin
Yes, MORE of a whack job:
Oklahoma Senator known for being a Trump loyalist/sycophant
Former MMA fighter turned plumber turned congressman turned senator
Known for aggressive, combative style
Will need Senate confirmation but Trump says he starts March 31 anyway
The farce: Noem got fired not for the killings, not for the coverup, not for militarized immigration operations but for making Trump look bad by saying he approved her vanity ad campaign.
Grift is the new governance. Just don’t embarrass the boss while doing it.
And just think: if she had not killed a 14 month old puppy, she might have been picked to be his VP (at least, that was a rumor at the time), one heartbeat away from the presidency. Noem, Patel, Bondi, Hegseth: "All the best people."
Trump criteria: “ Are you a whackjob willing to do anything I require?” (In Krispy’s case, sway dance to Trump music, her loyalty test thinking ‘God I feel so stupid’)
Steve, I wouldn't call Mullin anything but a jerk. Calling him "Sitting Bull" is an insult to the memory of a great Dakota chief; Mullin is a great nothing and will remain that no matter whether he gets approved or not. I keep wondering if there was fraud that got him elected or if the people of Oklahoma are stupid. I don't think the people of OK are stupid, so it's fraud!
Yes, and I have to wonder why Mullin would leave the United States Senate, where he might hold the seat for decades, to become (sooner or later) one of Trump’s castoffs. Is there a brewing scandal there?
Why give up a job he's got four more years in for one that's not likely to last beyond two years at the most. By the November mid terms an even shakier outcome.
Pam, when one of my sisters was in high school, she and her friends came up with their own names for the astrological signs. The only two I remember are Reclinus the Ly-On, and Fulla the Bull. Unfortunately, I fall under that latter category. Astrologically speaking.
I suspect one of the reason Mullin was selected as the fact that the governor of OK has to select someone from the same party as Mullin. Did not want to rock the balance of votes in the Senate. Plus DJT is running out of incompents.
Darn, I was hoping for a special in OK... Decided to look at his biography and I'm offended that so many of the search hits identify him as Native American, given 1/128 blood descent, only because the Cherokee tribe that has no limit on the fraction of blood descent. Just what we need in charge of DHS: a former MMA fighter.
Thank you, Joyce, for the reminders of all of the horrific, immoral, racist and totally corrupt actions and decisions, by Noem, Trump and Miller. I'm very grateful that you are keeping receipts-- we need them for the accountability mission.
My friend and neighbor has on many occasions derided me for using a word that rhymes with "rich." I finally had to tell her that there are women when there is no better word applicable...and Noem is one of them. And Blondi is another....
The best part of this ‘ad campaign’ was that they ran ads in English, telling Hispanics to self-deport. At a minimum, shouldn’t the ads have been recorded in Spanish?
I have a miniature Dachshund named Ruthie who would do a fine job as the Secretary of Homeland Security. She's an alpha female who graduated from obedience school with a D-, but she has common sense and knows not to bark at people with treats. Better than a porn star or a guy named Markwayne, who, like Trump, speaks at a 4th-grade level.
Yeah David, our Baby Donnie can't stand anyone getting more attention than he gets, not even for a few days. When a person never has to grow up, as Baby Donnie has not, we get all the worst aspects of toddlerhood with bad parenting all without the cute, curious, interesting, funny that are why we love 3-year-olds. That's our Baby Donnie
If it hasn’t happened yet, someone should point out to the Great Menace’s crew that he has immunity, apparently, from prosecution (thank you, John Robert’s)
Here are the Senators on the Homeland Security Committee. Do any of the Republicans on the committee have the courage to just say no to Markwayne Mullin? All the Democrats will say NO. Will Rand Paul be able to offset Fetterman?
Paul is of course the chair of the committee who has already said he has "questions." There is also quite a bit of bad blood between the two per Mullin's last comments about Paul ---among them saying he supported Paul's neighbor who assaulted him in 2017 causing serious injuries.
Yes but OK's Republican governor will likely replace him, appointing another MAGA Republican Senator until there can be a special election-- of course depending on how OK election rules work. And I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that a DEM could win a Senate seat in OK. T likely picked MarkWayne b/c it was a safe seat for MAGA's.
From what I just read, Oklahoma’s governor must select another Republican to fill the seat, and that person cannot run for re-election in November, according to The Hill. The governor said he would choose a Trump supporter.
So, from listening to the testimony - the total no-bid contract award for the ad campaign was $220M, with 2 awardees 'chosen' from among 4 on Noem's short list. The Safe America award was $143M, the other awardee got $77M.
The Safe America company was created from nothing slightly over a week prior - it was a shell company, with NO record of prior government contracts or work. Not even a web site. Only 'company' address was in the filing papers - the Virginia home address of 'a political operative'.
Safe American subcontracted with a company run by Noem's friends and former staff.
When I took the required Federal Gov't contracts FAR class for CDC project officers in 2013, I was one of two in a class of 40 with a perfect score on the exam, but I'm not a lawyer, just an OCD doc.
However, off the top of my head, a decade after retirement, several elements of her conduct seem illegal:
1) testifying that it was a competitive contract on the first day of testimony, before being corrected that it was no-bid (sole-source) on the second day of testimony (perjury?),
2) selection of an unqualified vendor (does not meet FAR for a contract), and
3) using a shell company to disguise that the contract was going to friends (self-dealing / nepotism).
And all of this is without questioning her justification that this contract had to be 'sole-source' - which is the first thing I would question, since sole source contracts have so much abuse potential.
If I've got some of these details wrong, I'm happy to be corrected, but just wanted to explain the variety of numbers floated.
Kristi Noem fired. Replaced by Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). And yes, somehow MORE of a whack job.
Why Noem got fired:
1. $220M self-promotional ad campaign - Spent massive taxpayer money on ads featuring herself urging illegal immigrants to self-deport. Contract went to husband of former DHS spokesperson. Trump furious she said under oath he approved it.
2. Minneapolis killings - DHS agents killed Alex Pretti (nurse) and Renee Nicole Good (mother) during immigration operations. Noem called them “domestic terrorists,” blocked state investigators from crime scenes, coverup allegations.
3. Disastrous congressional testimony - Both Senate and House committees, including Republicans, called her leadership a “disaster.” Sen. Thom Tillis: “You have demonstrated anything but exceptional leadership.”
4. Alleged affair with chief adviser Corey Lewandowski - Asked about it under oath during hearings.
5. FEMA bottleneck - Required personal approval on expenses over $100K, cycled through 3 acting administrators, mass workforce cuts.
Who’s replacing her: Markwayne Mullin
Yes, MORE of a whack job:
Oklahoma Senator known for being a Trump loyalist/sycophant
Former MMA fighter turned plumber turned congressman turned senator
Known for aggressive, combative style
Will need Senate confirmation but Trump says he starts March 31 anyway
The farce: Noem got fired not for the killings, not for the coverup, not for militarized immigration operations but for making Trump look bad by saying he approved her vanity ad campaign.
Grift is the new governance. Just don’t embarrass the boss while doing it.
And just think: if she had not killed a 14 month old puppy, she might have been picked to be his VP (at least, that was a rumor at the time), one heartbeat away from the presidency. Noem, Patel, Bondi, Hegseth: "All the best people."
Trump criteria: “ Are you a whackjob willing to do anything I require?” (In Krispy’s case, sway dance to Trump music, her loyalty test thinking ‘God I feel so stupid’)
Two: “Never ever upstage me”
That’s it
Had she dyed her hair blonde he wouldn’t have fired her. Other than that she’s his type.
Hah! No, she's not. She's way too old.
Exactly. Everything else she did that was gross and unlawfully greatly pleased the Orange Gelatinous Blob that on occasion occupies the Oval Office.
..ah: they might've been brewing for a bit but now the blood-sucking scenes of Dune are surfacing (1982?)
It’s the trump mantra: “You were garbage when I picked you up, and you’ll be garbage when I throw you back, but wasn’t the in-berween time glorious?”
Won’t marco be surprised when it comes for him. I can hear his cry “But I didn’t eat the salmon mousse!”
Let’s not EVER forget Senator Padilla’s encounter with utterly disgusting Noem - & know all dogs are celebrating tonight!:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BwXjVRv9s/?mibextid=wwXIfr
DJT is naming Senator Markwayne Mullin the new head of DHS, stating that he is "the only Native American in the Senate".
Markwayne appears to be 1/128 Cherokee by blood. Although, he is a citizen of Cherokee Nation as that tribe has no blood quantum requirements.
If DJT can call Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas", can we start calling Mullin "Sitting Bull"?
Okay but I would add an extra word at the end of "Bull"
“Shitting Bull”
...man, you make it hard for me to stay high and mighty...
And maybe an 'h' after the 'S'.
Steve, I wouldn't call Mullin anything but a jerk. Calling him "Sitting Bull" is an insult to the memory of a great Dakota chief; Mullin is a great nothing and will remain that no matter whether he gets approved or not. I keep wondering if there was fraud that got him elected or if the people of Oklahoma are stupid. I don't think the people of OK are stupid, so it's fraud!
Thank you for expressing my feelings, Ruth. Sitting Bull was indeed a great chief.
Little Big Man!
Yes, and I have to wonder why Mullin would leave the United States Senate, where he might hold the seat for decades, to become (sooner or later) one of Trump’s castoffs. Is there a brewing scandal there?
Why give up a job he's got four more years in for one that's not likely to last beyond two years at the most. By the November mid terms an even shakier outcome.
No, he’s Fulla Bull.
Pam, when one of my sisters was in high school, she and her friends came up with their own names for the astrological signs. The only two I remember are Reclinus the Ly-On, and Fulla the Bull. Unfortunately, I fall under that latter category. Astrologically speaking.
I think I would like your sister!
She and her friends were fun in high school, but I don't think you would like her now. You and she are on opposite ends of the spectrum of humanity.
It’s sad when family takes off in irreconcilable directions.
So I guess he is unlikely to release Native Americans in ICE custody?
Based on his heritage, he'll release 1 out of every 128 Native Americans.
Excellent analysis!
I suspect one of the reason Mullin was selected as the fact that the governor of OK has to select someone from the same party as Mullin. Did not want to rock the balance of votes in the Senate. Plus DJT is running out of incompents.
Oh, I believe that he has a LOT more imcompetents hiding in plain sight. <g>
Darn, I was hoping for a special in OK... Decided to look at his biography and I'm offended that so many of the search hits identify him as Native American, given 1/128 blood descent, only because the Cherokee tribe that has no limit on the fraction of blood descent. Just what we need in charge of DHS: a former MMA fighter.
It's rumored the governor will self select himself, since he's term limited as governor. AND he's even nastier following Trump.
Maybe, maybe not. I knew nothing about him so searched and found this interesting and quite recent article. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/19/politics/kevin-stitt-donald-trump-national-governors-association
How about "spewing bull"?
I think you need to add an "h" between the "s" and "i" in your suggested name.
Yes, we could, but it's THEIR game to slap a name
onto someone, not ours. Leave them to their own joy.
A more appropriate name for that man would be Sitting Bullshit. The great Sitting Bull doesn’t need to be associated with the likes of Mullen.
This is the best, most informative article I’ve read today. Thank you, Joyce!
I think it's the most interesting and clear explanation!
Thank you, Joyce, for the reminders of all of the horrific, immoral, racist and totally corrupt actions and decisions, by Noem, Trump and Miller. I'm very grateful that you are keeping receipts-- we need them for the accountability mission.
Trump has a knack for finding and hiring the criminally incompetent.
He does as he is.
a method
he looks for people he believes (for whatever reason, dirt...) he won't have trouble controlling, and who lack scruples …but I repeat myself
Because…kompromat, threats of many colors, etc…?
She's an affront to human decency.
My friend and neighbor has on many occasions derided me for using a word that rhymes with "rich." I finally had to tell her that there are women when there is no better word applicable...and Noem is one of them. And Blondi is another....
Sophia Please don’t use ‘bitch’ without including bastard, of which there are much more in the Trump Mafioso.
The word you are referring to describes a female canine, not a human being. Out of curiosity, what do you call men whom you wish denigrate?
Makes the "Wicked Witch of the West" look downright honorable.
Excellent summary of Noem’s failings.
Try reading today's Borowitz report. He did a good job, too.
They needed to spend $100M++ to announce that they're recruiting for ICE?
Wouldn't a "Truth Social" post "NOW HIRING THUGS for ICE - Call 1-800-xxx-xxxx!" work as well or better & a whole lot cheaper?
Yes, but where is the grift in that???
Plus, simply sending an email blast to the J6 criminals Cheetolini pardoned would have done the trick . . .
Many of them are probably already on board!
But maybe they could do a better job at spreading-the-word amongst their like-minded-friends back home that there's a good gig going.
The best part of this ‘ad campaign’ was that they ran ads in English, telling Hispanics to self-deport. At a minimum, shouldn’t the ads have been recorded in Spanish?
I have a miniature Dachshund named Ruthie who would do a fine job as the Secretary of Homeland Security. She's an alpha female who graduated from obedience school with a D-, but she has common sense and knows not to bark at people with treats. Better than a porn star or a guy named Markwayne, who, like Trump, speaks at a 4th-grade level.
Votes for Ruthie!
Mini-dox are the best! She will do a hell of a job!
I vote for Ruthie!!! Maybe she could handle a gun and threaten Noem!
Her breath is a deadly weapon
To the Donald, the only sin of Kristi Noem was that she hogged the spotlight. Ignorance, unlawfulness—feh! Too many costumes.
Yeah David, our Baby Donnie can't stand anyone getting more attention than he gets, not even for a few days. When a person never has to grow up, as Baby Donnie has not, we get all the worst aspects of toddlerhood with bad parenting all without the cute, curious, interesting, funny that are why we love 3-year-olds. That's our Baby Donnie
And, regrettably, the bully who is running this country … into the ground.
Nah, it was the boyfriend that brought out the green-eyed monster in T.
😉
Noem? Forty years too old for ever-young Donnie.
"It wasn't the airplanes, it was the Beast that killed Beauty"...
(...as if either of them rates said titles...)
If it hasn’t happened yet, someone should point out to the Great Menace’s crew that he has immunity, apparently, from prosecution (thank you, John Robert’s)
but his crew chiefs don’t.
He will pardon them if indicted on federal charges. The states need to step up and charge them.
Right, so might be good timing to convict them AFTER T is removed.
Again, I suspect that MAGA knows it needs a new façade - the gold brocade is wearing.
Here are the Senators on the Homeland Security Committee. Do any of the Republicans on the committee have the courage to just say no to Markwayne Mullin? All the Democrats will say NO. Will Rand Paul be able to offset Fetterman?
https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/about/committee-members/
Fetterman is a traitor.
(one way or another, he's disabled; but suspect stroke changed his character)
Paul is of course the chair of the committee who has already said he has "questions." There is also quite a bit of bad blood between the two per Mullin's last comments about Paul ---among them saying he supported Paul's neighbor who assaulted him in 2017 causing serious injuries.
I remember that!
Could Mullin remain as Senator even if he runs DHS? Otherwise the R’s lose another member of the Senate after March 31.
Yes but OK's Republican governor will likely replace him, appointing another MAGA Republican Senator until there can be a special election-- of course depending on how OK election rules work. And I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that a DEM could win a Senate seat in OK. T likely picked MarkWayne b/c it was a safe seat for MAGA's.
Thanks to all! I think you’re right about the governor running. These guys can’t get enough power!
From what I just read, Oklahoma’s governor must select another Republican to fill the seat, and that person cannot run for re-election in November, according to The Hill. The governor said he would choose a Trump supporter.
Perhaps the Governor is eyeing that Senate seat since he is term limited in November.
I didn't mean that I liked what you said, just that I really appreciated the information. Was my first question actually....
Another toad...
So, from listening to the testimony - the total no-bid contract award for the ad campaign was $220M, with 2 awardees 'chosen' from among 4 on Noem's short list. The Safe America award was $143M, the other awardee got $77M.
The Safe America company was created from nothing slightly over a week prior - it was a shell company, with NO record of prior government contracts or work. Not even a web site. Only 'company' address was in the filing papers - the Virginia home address of 'a political operative'.
Safe American subcontracted with a company run by Noem's friends and former staff.
When I took the required Federal Gov't contracts FAR class for CDC project officers in 2013, I was one of two in a class of 40 with a perfect score on the exam, but I'm not a lawyer, just an OCD doc.
However, off the top of my head, a decade after retirement, several elements of her conduct seem illegal:
1) testifying that it was a competitive contract on the first day of testimony, before being corrected that it was no-bid (sole-source) on the second day of testimony (perjury?),
2) selection of an unqualified vendor (does not meet FAR for a contract), and
3) using a shell company to disguise that the contract was going to friends (self-dealing / nepotism).
And all of this is without questioning her justification that this contract had to be 'sole-source' - which is the first thing I would question, since sole source contracts have so much abuse potential.
If I've got some of these details wrong, I'm happy to be corrected, but just wanted to explain the variety of numbers floated.
Thanks Joyce. Mullin is whack job and she get rewarded for doing a poor job.