Bulwark Takes – "Jake Tapper Fact-Checked Kristi Noem in Real Time" (w/ Jack Cocchiarella)

Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Jack Cocchiarella
Guest: Tim Miller
Main Topic: The fallout from Kristi Noem’s contentious responses to Jake Tapper and Fox News regarding the ICE shooting of Renee Good, media coverage, and broader implications for law enforcement accountability and political rhetoric.

Episode Overview

This episode dissects South Dakota Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s appearance with Jake Tapper, where she defended an ICE agent’s fatal shooting of protester Renee Good. Jack Cocchiarella and Tim Miller unpack Noem’s reactions, factually disputed justifications, and the right-wing media response. They reflect on the implications for policing, the political strategy on the right, and what Democrats should do in response.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kristi Noem's Smirking and Demeanor During Tapper Interview

• [01:00-03:26]
  • Jack remarks on Noem’s "smarminess" and inappropriate smirking while discussing a woman’s death.
    • "There were some very inappropriately timed smirking from Kristi Noem, talking about a woman being murdered in cold blood." – Jack Cocchiarella [01:39]
  • Tim is astounded by the lack of humanity: "There’s no sense of even… regret. Not that it would make it any better… but there’s no sense of even..." – Tim Miller [02:49]

2. Breakdown of the Shooting, Video Evidence, and the Government's Narrative

• [03:26-07:47]
  • The video evidence contradicted the administration’s claims that the ICE agent was in danger.
  • Tim recounts his initial disbelief at the official version:
    • "There's no reasonable way you could spin this as this man being fearful for his life." – Tim Miller [03:40]
    • "Why would they put it out and include the part where he calls her a fucking bitch?" – Tim Miller [04:35]
  • Discussion about the administration and media (Jesse Watters) characterizing the victim, Renee Good, as dangerous primarily based on her identity as a poet/activist.

3. Jake Tapper’s On-Air Fact-Check of Kristi Noem

• [05:43-07:47]
  • Jake Tapper directly confronts Noem with the falsehood that Good tried to "ram" officers:
    • Tapper: "That's not what happened. We all saw what happened." – [06:53]
    • Noem doubles down: "It absolutely is." – [07:14]
  • Argument centers on the administration’s rapid accusation of "domestic terrorism" before any investigation.
  • Miller: "The penalty for that [impeding ICE] still isn't execution, right? And that's something these guys just will not deal with." – Tim Miller [09:00]

4. Law Enforcement Accountability, Escalation, and Political Implications

• [08:07-12:03]
  • The hosts highlight the absurdity of law enforcement’s overreaction:
    • "If you're that scared... you're in the wrong line of work." – Tim Miller [11:24]
    • Critique of right-wing figures jumping to defend or excuse excessive force.

5. Kristi Noem's Fox Appearance and the New "Vehicle as a Weapon" Rhetoric

• [15:51-17:26]
  • Noem claims "over 100 vehicle rammings" recently, using this to justify harsh law enforcement response. [16:03]
  • Jack mocks the idea of "training roadblock aids" as the new liberal menace and notes that the loudest complaints come from being honked at by middle-aged women:
    • "I really do believe that the biggest problems these guys have are just the fact that they don't like middle-aged women honking at them and that that is driving our policy and that is leading to people getting shot." – Jack Cocchiarella [17:05]

6. Pattern of Police "Justification" and Historical Context

• [17:26-19:21]
  • Tim references a 2014 LA Times story of Border Patrol agents stepping in front of cars to justify shootings, suggesting the tactic is not new and the rhetoric is simply the latest pretext.
  • "Now she’s basically laying the predicate for that." – Tim Miller [19:21]

7. Political Strategy: Why the Right Pushes These Narratives

• [13:03-14:49]
  • Noem and conservative media frame the victim as a dangerous "foe" to energize their base, a pattern reminiscent of Trumpism.
  • Tim: "They continue to kind of look for people they can blame for stuff because that’s really their bread and butter..." [13:40]

8. Democratic Response: Abolish ICE or Reform?

• [20:31-22:47]
  • Discussion on the left’s messaging: Should Democrats call to abolish ICE or push for targeted reforms?
    • Tim cautions against rigid slogans but supports aggressive reform and authentic communication: "I think candidates should think about ways where they feel comfortable talking about it. I’m for abolishing ICE. That’s fine with me…" – Tim Miller [20:31]
    • Jacob Frey (Minneapolis Mayor) cited as a good example of balancing police reform with the case for having some law enforcement presence.

9. Broader Critique of the Surveillance/Police State

• [15:22-15:46]
  • Jack suggests Democrats connect policing overreach to concerns about surveillance and citizens’ rights for broader appeal:
    • "If you’re a Democrat…connect everything ICE does to, you know, Larry Ellison saying that he wants citizens on their best behavior." – Jack Cocchiarella [15:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Police Use of Force:

  • "The penalty for that still isn’t execution." – Tim Miller [09:00]

• On Political Hypocrisy:

  • "Could you be more pathetic that you are begging...you want absolute immunity for people to gun you down for, I guess, existing in your car, because that’s the new argument." – Jack Cocchiarella [10:54]

• On Democratic Strategy:

  • "I think Democrats should be extremely aggressive on this...you want to make that case to people in a way that people understand that this doesn't mean that you’re for open borders or that you’re not for arresting criminal immigrants..." – Tim Miller [20:31]

• On the State of Political Rhetoric:

  • "They continue to kind of look for people they can blame for stuff because that's really their bread and butter." – Tim Miller [13:40]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:00-03:26] – Noem’s demeanor during Tapper interview; lack of empathy.
• [05:43-07:47] – Tapper’s real-time fact check; dispute over the shooting narrative.
• [09:00] – Discussion of due process and law enforcement overreach.
• [13:03-14:49] – The right’s political strategy: using conflict to energize their base.
• [15:22-15:46] – Advice to Democrats: tie ICE abuses to surveillance state concerns.
• [15:51-17:26] – Noem’s Fox appearance; "vehicle as a weapon" rhetoric.
• [17:26-19:21] – Pattern of police justifications; historical context.
• [20:31-22:47] – How Democrats should message reform versus abolition.

Conclusion

The episode delivers a thorough media critique of Kristi Noem's justifications following the ICE shooting and explores the political utility of such events for the right. Jack and Tim advocate for Democratic messaging that balances demands for accountability and reform with a pragmatic approach to public safety, while never losing sight of the human cost of state violence.