Pod Force One – Episode Summary

Podcast: Pod Force One
Host: Miranda Devine (New York Post)
Guest: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
Episode Date: September 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid, wide-ranging interview, Miranda Devine sits down with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in Chicago after a morning spent on a law enforcement immigration raid. Noem discusses her robust efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens, reforms in agencies like FEMA and TSA, challenges posed by political weaponization and internal corruption within government, and the personal tragedies that have shaped her political resolve. The conversation also touches on the murder of Charlie Kirk, left-wing extremism, changes in national security, and Noem’s controversial decision to shoot her own dog. The episode reveals Noem’s drive, her leadership philosophy, and the complexities of managing national security in today’s America.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Immigration Enforcement and Law Enforcement Raids

• Details of Recent Raids: Noem describes a targeted raid in suburban Chicago (00:57), emphasizing the focus on violent offenders, including one individual with an assault background and others with histories of felony stalking and DUI.
  • Quote: "When we got to the home this morning, we did confirm that he was there. And there was other individuals in the home as well that had committed crimes, and we're thankful to get them off the streets here in Chicago." (01:20)
• Risk and Scale: Noem underscores the risk to officers, the militarized nature of such raids, and the lack of local political support.
  • Quote: "Here in Chicago in particular, the mayor doesn't and the governor doesn't [have their back]. ... We have to make sure that we're sending our officers out with someone who will make sure that they can do these types of operations safely." (03:41)
• Impact on Communities: She points out that violence and crime have especially impacted Chicago’s minority communities, and that law enforcement presence and deportations are necessary for public safety (05:04).

2. The Biden Administration and Border Policy Legacy

• Critique of Predecessors: Noem is blunt about what she sees as the failures of Secretary Mayorkas and the Biden administration in addressing border security (07:46).
  • Quote: "They didn't do much for the border. He didn't do anything. ... He opened the doors and said, come on in. If you are from an evil foreign government or a terrorist organization or a gang, you're more than welcome, and we're going to ignore our laws." (07:47)
• Covering Up Immigration Crimes Data: She alleges manipulation, including the shutdown of ICE’s victims office to obscure data on criminal activity by illegal aliens (09:46).
  • Quote: "If you don't have any data, there's no problem. If you don't have victims reporting things. ... They chose to close down offices that were there to serve people so that the data couldn't be collected to show what a disaster they were." (09:46)

3. Restoring Morale in Border Agencies

• Border Patrol Perceptions: Noem describes a demoralized border force under Biden, countering the "whipping" scandal and affirming her support (11:14).
  • Quote: "I just wanted them to know that their previous leadership had ridden over them. But I was going to ride with them and I was going to be a part of helping them do their jobs again." (11:14)
• Human Impact: She stresses the local roots of Border Patrol agents and the transformation of their communities by crime (12:25).

4. TSA Quiet Skies Program and Political Targeting

• Abuse of Security Programs: Noem details how TSA’s “Quiet Skies” program—nominally created to stop terrorists—was allegedly weaponized for political purposes under the Biden administration (14:26).
  • Quote: "Just meant something. Yes, it was meant for terrorists, but instead it was used politically against people that maybe those in leadership disagreed with." (14:26)
• "Do Not Touch" List: She reveals the existence of a list conferring immunity from screening to favored individuals, including lobbyists and celebrities (15:33).
• Reform: Noem states she eliminated the program and is cooperating with the Department of Justice (16:01).

5. FEMA Scandals and Reforms

• Partisan Disaster Relief: Noem alleges FEMA staff intentionally withheld services from Trump supporters and funneled disaster aid to illegal immigrants instead of citizens. (17:20, 18:56)
  • Quote: "We saw that in North Carolina, we saw it in Florida that people would walk right by Trump supporters homes and not give them help with case management during a disaster situation and help them recover." (17:20)
• Pornography Scandal: She discloses that several FEMA employees were fired for consuming porn at work (19:35, 20:25).
  • Quote: "Even just the other day, we had to fire a bunch of FEMA employees for being on porn sites at work, on their government computers many times a day." (19:35)

6. The Murder of Charlie Kirk and Political Violence

• Personal Grief: Noem reflects on the shock of Kirk’s murder and shares his last message to her—urging accountability for political leaders failing on crime (21:12).
  • Quote (Kirk’s last message): "We have to hold these mayors and local officials accountable for what they're doing." (21:12)
• Rising Right-Wing Targeting: Discussion about left-wing and transgender extremist violence, including attacks on ICE and Border Patrol officers (26:19 – 29:20).
• Surge in Attacks: Noem states that attacks on ICE officers have increased by 1000% in the current administration (27:11).

7. National Security, Protesters, and Secret Service

• Professionalized Protests: Noem warns of the increased organization and funding behind radical protests disrupting public order and endangering leaders (31:43).
  • Quote: "These protesters are not just average protesters we would have seen 10 years ago. They've become professional, they're funded, that they have been trained, that they know how to operate in ways of sophistication that five, six years ago they didn't." (31:43)
• Secret Service Reform Post-Assassination Attempt: She outlines training and transparency measures being implemented to adapt to the higher threat environment faced by President Trump (30:30, 31:36).

8. Personal Roots, Family Tragedy, and Leadership Philosophy

• Early Life and Tragedy: Noem recounts her upbringing as a farm girl and the pivotal death of her father, which propelled her into leadership and politics (34:01 – 37:42).
  • Finding Her Father’s Tapes: A poignant story of discovering audio tapes her father had recorded, offering advice from beyond the grave (38:06 – 40:33).
• Political Genesis: Noem’s first steps into politics driven by issues like estate taxes impacting farmers (36:47).
• Career Progression: She details her path from state legislature (43:41) to Congress (43:09 – 44:15) to Governor (44:45), emphasizing her preference for decision-making executive roles.

9. COVID-19 Decisions and National Profile

• COVID Policy: Noem highlights her controversial choice not to lock down South Dakota, trusting "personal responsibility."
  • Quote: "I did not believe that I had the right to tell people mandate that they had to stay in their homes, that they had to close their businesses, and took a very firm stand on that. ... Our kids continued to go to school and people went to work. ... South Dakota just thrived under that event." (46:23 – 48:27)
• National Criticism and Justification: She describes the intense criticism from media and other politicians, but her sense of personal conviction (48:39).

10. The Dog Controversy and Lessons on Toughness

• Why She Shot Her Dog: Noem explains the incident: after her hunting dog became aggressive and killed animals, she took responsibility rather than asking others to do it (50:42 – 51:59).
  • Quote: "I absolutely love animals. ... but I also don't ask anybody else to take on my responsibilities for me." (50:42)
• Trump’s Assessment: She links this story to her reputation for toughness, which she says made her the right pick for DHS (53:13).

11. Secrets of Success and Final Reflections

• Success in Leadership: Noem emphasizes preparation, work ethic, and genuine service as keys to resilience and achievement (56:01).
  • Quote: "The secrets that I know of people that are successful are always prepared. They do their homework ... work hard and try to be prepared for everything." (56:01)
• A Final Note on Optimism: Despite the risks and polarization facing the U.S., Noem expresses gratitude for America and resolve to protect its freedoms for future generations (54:47).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We're going to keep coming with a hammer at these criminals." – Kristi Noem (05:04)
• "They opened the doors and said, come on in." – Kristi Noem on Biden-era border policy (07:47)
• "If you don't have any data, there's no problem." – Kristi Noem on the shutdown of ICE’s victims office (09:46)
• "Just meant something. Yes, it was meant for terrorists, but instead it was used politically against people that maybe those in leadership disagreed with." – Kristi Noem on the Quiet Skies program (14:26)
• "Attacks against [ICE officers] have gone up 1000% in just the since this administration started." – Kristi Noem (27:11)
• "Every day you can be teachable and you can always learn something from your greatest critic." – Kristi Noem (24:20)
• The story of her father's tapes – a moving illustration of resilience and faith after family tragedy. (38:06–40:33)
• "I want to make sure that my grandkids get that same chance to live the American dream." – Kristi Noem (54:33)
• "You need to love people in order to sustain a world in politics." – Kristi Noem (56:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:57 – Details of the Chicago law enforcement immigration raid
• 03:41 – Risks and resource requirements of ICE operations in Chicago
• 05:04 – On the scale and purpose of deportation efforts
• 07:47 – Noem’s critique of Mayorkas and the Biden administration’s border legacy
• 11:14 – Addressing the Border Patrol “whipping” controversy and officer morale
• 14:26 – Uncovering and dismantling TSA’s Quiet Skies program
• 17:20, 19:35 – FEMA politicization and firing employees for misconduct
• 21:12 – Remembering Charlie Kirk and the message he left
• 26:19 – 29:20 – Political violence, attacks on ICE, and left-wing extremism
• 30:30, 31:43 – Secret Service reforms and the evolution of protest tactics
• 34:01 – Childhood on the farm and the death of her father
• 38:06 – Discovery of her father's tapes
• 43:41 – Start of her political career
• 46:23 – COVID-19 decisions in South Dakota
• 50:42 – The dog shooting controversy and leadership philosophy
• 54:33 – Grandchildren and legacy
• 56:01 – Secrets of success

Tone and Language

The conversation is candid, bold, and unapologetically conservative. Both Devine and Noem speak with a tone of urgency, resolve, and moral clarity—highlighting obstacles and personal stories with emotion and assertiveness. Noem is especially direct when discussing political adversaries but shows vulnerability regarding personal losses and family values.

This summary provides a comprehensive, structured overview of the episode, highlighting its key themes, important segments, and notable quotes—ideal for anyone seeking insight without listening to the full conversation.