Episode Overview

Theme:
In this episode, Jennifer Welch and Angie "Pumps" Sullivan dive deep into the swirling rumors that Kristi Noem, currently serving as Secretary of Homeland Security under Trump, is about to be fired—ostensibly due to a long-running extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski. The hosts discuss hypocrisy in the Trump administration, Kristi Noem's increasingly bizarre and controversial behavior, and the wider implications for American politics. With their characteristic irreverence and sharp wit, they tear into the cast of characters shaping today's right-wing political landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kristi Noem Rumored to be Fired for Affair (00:35–01:25)

• Insider Reports:
  The episode opens with the hosts laughing at Buzz about Noem’s potential firing due to her affair:

  “Are you kidding me with the hypocrisy that Trump is going to fire somebody for an extramarital affair?”
  —Angie (00:44)

• Everyone Knew:
  The affair with Corey Lewandowski has been an “open secret” for years according to the hosts, further highlighting the ironic rationale for her dismissal (01:09).

2. The Real Reasons: Political Maneuvering (01:25–01:51)

• Other Motives:
  The hosts suspect the rumored firing has more to do with Trump wanting to install Glenn Youngkin and Stephen Miller’s reported dislike of Noem than any moral outrage.
• Noem's "Family Values":
  Angie points out Noem’s reflexive Twitter defense:

  “…she always goes to we’re a godly family. Give me a break.”
  —Angie (01:38)

3. Costumes, Narcissism, and Absurdity (01:51–05:22)

• Dress-Up Critique:
  The hosts mock Noem’s penchant for photo-ops in various costumes—firefighter, sheriff, dental hygienist—which they find unserious and bizarre for a cabinet member.

  “This woman spends more time and money in costume than anything I’ve ever seen in my life.”
  —Angie (01:57)

• Running Joke:
  References to prior episodes and emails from listeners highlight that this has been a long-standing, widely noticed behavior (02:34).
• Psychology:
  Jennifer asks if there’s a deeper psychological explanation for an elected official dressing up as a “realtor and a hygienist,” joking,

  “Every single one of these images … looks like the COVID of a porn”
  —Jennifer (02:49)

4. The “Puppy Killer” Reputation & Lying Streak (03:39–05:22)

• Infamous Anecdotes:
  The hosts rehash Noem's notorious confessions, from killing her child’s dog (“puppy killer, goat killer”) to falsely claiming she “stared down Kim Jong Un”:

  “This is a woman that lies about a dictator of a foreign country and brags about killing her dog.”
  —Angie (04:13)

• Enabling Trump:
  Jennifer argues that, in MAGA-world, “the more morally collapsed you are, the easier it will be for you to worship a convicted felon,” tying the bad behavior of Trump’s orbit back to his own need to be surrounded by “worse people” (05:22).

5. Culture of Corruption & Trump’s Cabinet (05:22–07:01)

• Lowest of the Low:
  Angie lists off other notorious Trump loyalists and disparages the lack of conviction and pervasive corruption.

  “These are the worst people in the United States of America. … You have to be a really bad person to want to go work for him.”
  —Jennifer (06:22)

6. Noem’s “Greatest Hits”: Ethics, Spending, and Propaganda (07:01–11:54)

• Self-Aggrandizement:
  Angie recounts Noem’s $200 million propaganda spend, excessive recruitment of ICE agents, and self-promoting ads across airports.
• ICE Agent Factoid:
  Citing a recent stat, Angie notes:

  “An ICE agent is something like 10 times more likely to have a criminal record than a detainee.”
  —Jennifer (10:27)

• Media Thirst Trap:
  Noem accused of “thirst trapping” with government propaganda; the hosts decry the “reality TV show government” vibe and its impact on American seriousness (10:12).
• Political Indictment:
  Jennifer, exasperated, claims it’s an indictment of Democrats that someone like Noem could even compete:

  “After all of that, the Democrats still couldn’t beat these people.”
  —Jennifer (11:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Hypocrisy:

  “Are you kidding me with the hypocrisy that Trump is going to fire somebody for an extramarital affair?” —Angie (00:44)

• On Noem’s Strange Photo-Ops:

  “This woman spends more time and money in costume than anything I’ve ever seen in my life.” —Angie (01:57)

• On the “COVID of a Porn” Visuals:

  “Every single one of these images … looks like the COVID of a porn. … ‘I’m going to have to take you into custody, you bad, bad boy.’ It’s really weird.” —Jennifer (02:49)

• MAGS-world ‘Values’:

  “The more morally collapsed you are…the easier it will be for you to worship a convicted felon… These are people without conviction, without conviction at all.” —Jennifer (05:38)

• On Noem’s Outlandishness:

  “She brags about killing shit. It’s so offensive. … The killing a puppy was just the tip of the iceberg.” —Angie (09:06)

• Indictment of U.S. Politics:

  “It’s not just that she did these things, it’s that she thought she should write about them in her autobiography.” —Jennifer (11:18)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Initial Affair Rumor & Hypocrisy: 00:35–01:25
• Political Calculus (Youngkin, Miller Dislike): 01:25–01:51
• Costume Ridicule & Narcissism: 01:51–05:22
• Noem’s Morality & the Trump Cabinet Culture: 05:22–07:01
• Reviewing Noem’s Record/Spending/Propaganda: 07:01–11:54

Tone & Style

• Comedic, biting, and unapologetically progressive. The hosts regularly use sarcasm and dark humor to criticize their subjects:
  • Frequent use of colorful language
  • Personal asides and callbacks to earlier episodes
  • Irreverent analogies (“COVID of a porn”, “Ice Barbie”, “Puppy killer, goat killer”)
  • Blunt moral judgments and emotional reactions

Final Thoughts

This episode uses the Kristi Noem firing rumor as a springboard to dissect the culture of hypocrisy, self-promotion, and lack of ethics in Trump’s world. The hosts’ comedic, sometimes incredulous tone keeps the discussion entertaining, but their core point—that the rot extends beyond Noem to the whole system—lands with force. It’s a lively listen for anyone wanting a progressive, no-holds-barred take on Republican politics' latest scandals.