The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Episode: "Noem-zilla: Diva behavior and infidelity rumors cap disastrous week for Trump's DHS secretary"
Date: February 14, 2026
Host: Jen Psaki (MS NOW)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Briefing with Jen Psaki dives into a tumultuous week for Trump's Department of Homeland Security, led by Kristi Noem. Jen, joined by newsmakers and experts, unpacks a series of scandals and managerial chaos bedeviling DHS — from absurd personal controversies to mishandling of taxpayer money, shocking field operations, and the ongoing string of ethical and legal blunders surrounding figures in the Trump administration (particularly Kristi Noem and her close advisor Corey Lewandowski). The episode is punctuated with reactions to blockbuster reporting from the Wall Street Journal and includes sharp analysis, notable quotes, and interviews with Congressman Eric Swalwell, legal experts JP Cooney and Glenn Kirschner, Rep. Suha Subramaniam, and Maricopa election veteran Stephen Richer.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. DHS in Shambles: The Kristi Noem Scandals

[00:59–13:43]

Wall Street Journal Reveals "Blanketgate" and More

• Chaos at DHS: Jen Palmieri (sub-hosting) summarizes the wild week — ICE shootings, botched field ops (including airspace over El Paso closed over a misidentified Valentine’s Day balloon), horrifying bodycam footage contradicting DHS accounts, and multiple lawsuits.
• Wild WSJ Report: Details cited from the new Wall Street Journal article, including:
  • Noem and Corey Lewandowski’s rumored affair (both deny it, but sources are many and “do little to hide” their relationship).
  • Noem's extravagant behavior — “donned flak jackets on ICE raids,” posed with large guns for TV, and heavy focus on her image during official visits.
  • Blanket Controversy: Noem’s blanket allegedly left behind during a plane switch; Lewandowski gets a US Coast Guard pilot fired over the mishap. Pilot eventually reinstated for lack of available personnel. DHS declines direct comment.
  • Lewandowski’s Power Grab: Tried to obtain a law enforcement badge and a firearm without credentials or training; when denied by an ICE lawyer, had the lawyer put on administrative leave. Eventually succeeded through others. DHS denies, but independent reporting corroborates much of this.
  • Misuse of Funds: Noem spent $200M in taxpayer dollars for self-promotional ads urging immigrants to “self deport,” funneling funds to firms tied to her.
  • Luxury Perks: Reports of a luxury 737 Max acquired ostensibly for deportations but now used for cabinet travel, called the “big beautiful jet.”
  • DAMAGING MICROMANAGEMENT: All contracts over $100k require Noem’s signature. Delays led to substantial taxpayer losses — e.g., a steel contract cost $100M more due to her delay.
  • TV Ego Wars: Noem keeps a tally of on-air appearances, berates staff if she’s outdone by colleagues, cementing a “reality show” approach to government.

Notable Quote

“Kristi Noem and her let's just call him companion, Corey Lewandowski, tried to fire a Coast Guard pilot just because the Secretary of Homeland Security left her blankie on the plane.”
— Jen Palmieri, [09:07]

The Scandal’s Fallout

• Mounting pressure on Trump to address Noem’s “never-ending” scandals.
• Despite hopes for a 2028 political launch, even Trump’s pollster ignores pleas from Lewandowski for support.
• Question raised: “Will she even have her job through 2026?”

2. Interview: Rep. Eric Swalwell on DHS (and Trump’s Motives)

[13:44–18:50]

• Outrage over DHS Priorities: Only person “held accountable” at DHS is a pilot who forgot Noem’s blanket, not ICE agents accused of violence and misconduct.

  • Quote:

    “These ICE agents ... they've shot a nurse named Pretty and a mom named Good. And the only person in the world who has been held accountable by the Department of Homeland Security is the pilot who somehow forgot to move Krissy Noem's blankie. I mean, that's bananas.”
    — Rep. Eric Swalwell, [13:55]

• Why Trump Keeps Noem: Suggests Trump's “political and physical decline” leaves a power vacuum for figures like Noem and Stephen Miller.

  • Emphasizes Trump cannot tolerate being unpopular—urges public protest and electoral action.
  • Quote:

    “The Achilles heel for Donald Trump is that he does not like being unpopular. Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, they can tolerate being unpopular. Donald Trump cannot stand when people go to the streets, when there's wall-to-wall coverage against him.”
    — Rep. Eric Swalwell, [15:11]

• ICE Operations Nationwide: Reports of ICE presence during major events (eg. Super Bowl) cause fear and confusion in communities; demand for accountability and reform.

  • Support for halting funding until public accountability measures enacted.

• Outlook on Government Shutdown: Partial shutdown looms over DHS inaction; Democrats’ negotiating power hinges on razor-thin margins in Congress.

3. Weaponization of DOJ: The Don Lemon Indictment

[21:08–27:55]

• DOJ Retaliation Fails Again: Psaki recounts latest DOJ failures — grand jury refuses to indict Democratic lawmakers, attempted prosecution of Don Lemon based on ambiguous livestreamed footage.
• Don Lemon’s Defense: Asserts his presence at a protest was as a journalist; “the process is the punishment.”
  • Quote:

    “The process is the punishment.”
    — Don Lemon (via Jen Palmieri), [21:58] & [23:01]

• Expert Legal Analysis (JP Cooney & Glenn Kirschner):
  • DOJ losing court credibility; prosecutions pursued for political retribution keep collapsing.
  • Grand jury secrecy can be pierced if misuse or fraud is suspected.
  • Lemon’s case expected to be dismissed as First Amendment-protected activity.

4. Epstein Accountability — Elsewhere, But Not in Trump’s Cabinet

[31:28–38:13]

• Global Epstein Fallout: Resignations and charges for high-profile Epstein associates abroad; meanwhile, Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Letnick caught lying about Epstein connections faces no consequences.
  • Quote:

    “You can’t make it up sometimes.”
    — Jen Palmieri, [33:33]

• Interview with Rep. Suha Subramaniam: House Oversight seeks testimony from former British Ambassador Peter Mandelson, among others.
  • Desire for full transparency wherever possible, but notes:

    “Where the accountability stops is when we get to Trump administration officials.”
    — Rep. Suha Subramaniam, [37:27]

5. Election Security and Noem’s Grandstanding in Arizona

[38:14–45:15]

• Noem’s Press Conference in Arizona: Seen as a PR move to echo Trump’s election conspiracy agenda, not a meaningful intervention.
  • Stephen Richer (fmr Maricopa County Recorder) calls it “a waste of a flight.”
  • Worry that Trump admin will continue to undermine confidence and test federal vs. state election authority.
  • Quote:

    “There's never been a worse time to be involved [in election administration], but there's never been a more important time to be involved.”
    — Stephen Richer, [44:39]

  • Encourages people to become “a touchstone for truth” and participate in the process despite threats.

Notable Quotes

• “Kristi Noem ... posed toting a large gun and recorded messages urging immigrants to self deport, stood before a group of imprisoned men with shaved heads packed into tight rows in a notorious El Salvadorian prison. And she's done it all with an eye to her style ... with TV ready hair and makeup, as one does, I suppose, when you're standing there ... in front of a prison in El Salvador.”
  — Jen Palmieri, [05:13]

• “The process is the punishment.”
  — Don Lemon (via Jen Palmieri), [21:58] & [23:01]

• “When I looked at that and thought about my 18 years at the Justice Department ... I felt like I really needed to bring my experience to bear on these grave threats to these important values.”
  — JP Cooney, [28:09]

• “There's never been a worse time to be involved [in election administration], but there's never been a more important time to be involved.”
  — Stephen Richer, [44:39]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:59] – Jen Palmieri’s wild DHS week recap; mass chaos & new Wall Street Journal revelations
• [07:55] – Details of “Blanketgate,” Lewandowski’s power grabs, and wasteful spending at DHS
• [13:44] – Interview: Rep. Eric Swalwell — priorities, ICE violence and lack of accountability
• [15:59] – Swalwell on Trump’s motives and the Achilles heel of unpopularity
• [21:08] – Trump’s DOJ abuses & Don Lemon’s indictment
• [23:50] – Legal analysis (JP Cooney, Glenn Kirschner) on grand juries, the process as punishment
• [31:28] – Epstein saga: international fallout and continued stonewalling in Trump’s cabinet
• [34:29] – Interview: Rep. Suha Subramaniam on Epstein oversight and need for transparency
• [38:14] – Noem’s Arizona press conference and election security with Stephen Richer
• [44:39] – Richer’s advice for election volunteers and defenders of democracy

Final Takeaways

• Jen and her guests paint a damning portrait of Kristi Noem’s DHS: a department awash in egotism, mismanagement, and scandal — more reality show than responsible governance.
• Multiple segments emphasize the Trump administration's habit of lashing out at critics (and internal dissenters) rather than addressing genuine misconduct.
• Across both domestic and international headlines, non-Trump figures have faced consequences for the Epstein scandal, while Trumpworld figures remain protected.
• The episode closes with a call to civic engagement and truth-telling, despite the dangers and dysfunction currently facing American institutions.

Summary prepared as a listener's guide for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of this episode’s main issues and most important commentary.