The Commentary Magazine Podcast: "Noemland Security"

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: John Podhoretz
Panel: Abe Greenwald, Seth Mandel, Christine Rosen

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the explosive Wall Street Journal exposé of Kristi Noem’s tumultuous tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security, her partnership with Corey Lewandowski, and the Trump administration’s management style in its second term. The panel dives into internal power struggles, scandals, policy impacts, and the broader state of the Republican Party and American governance, interspersed with comparisons to previous administrations and cultural observations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Noem-Lewandowski" Scandal

(Starting ~03:00)

• Background: A Wall Street Journal story details extreme dysfunction, abuse of privilege, and scandalous behavior in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Secretary Kristi Noem, heavily influenced by aide Corey Lewandowski.
• Comparison to Past Scandals: John Podhoretz notes, “In 40 years of paying attention to hit jobs on leading figures in Washington, this one beats them all…maybe it's close to the notorious Sally Quinn piece from the 1970s.” (04:17)
• Salacious Details: Notable stories include the firing of a pilot for forgetting Noem’s blanket and Lewandowski trying to obtain law enforcement badges and weapons for himself, despite having no relevant authority or training (see [17:42] and [22:42]).

“She wants that jet bought for her personal use when she's a cabinet secretary... That is something that in a democracy, the people will not accept.” — Christine Rosen [17:42]

2. Dysfunctional Leadership and Image Management

(07:48, 10:15, 13:24)

• Policy vs. Posture: The panel discusses Noem’s focus on “Instagram-ready content” over substantive policy, nicknaming her “Ice Barbie.”
• Infighting: Senior career officials (Homan and Lyons) are at odds with Noem/Lewandowski, frustrated at being sidelined and blamed for PR disasters related to ICE raids and immigration enforcement ([07:48]–[10:15]).
• Trump’s Cabinet Choices: The hosts point out Trump’s preference for “camera-ready” personalities in key positions, leading to officials who “overplay their hands because they are performers, which is why Trump is drawn to them.” — Abe Greenwald [12:37]

3. Lewandowski’s Dubious Role

(22:49, 23:04, 25:09)

• Not an Employee: Lewandowski’s status as a “special advisor” allows him to exert near-constant influence without the legal responsibilities or accountability of a federal employee. Panelists highlight that he often oversteps his legal authority, causing operational and legal confusion inside DHS.
• Abuse of Process: “They've figured out a way here for Lewandowski to be a kind of permanent fixture and a shadow chief of staff in a way that complicates what other people in the department are actually being paid to do.” — Seth Mandel [23:29]
• Nepotism & Loyalty: Lewandowski’s “power comes from his association with Donald Trump. The only reason he's allowed that much leeway… is that Trump likes him and has trusted him for a long time. Long past the point where he should have been questioning his character and judgment.” — Christine Rosen [25:46]

4. Broader Political and Cultural Satire

(27:04, 28:22)

• Decadence and Bread & Circuses: The current moment feels “like bread and circuses…the greatest work of history ever written.” — John Podhoretz [28:22]
• Performance Culture: Reference to Trump selling watches on TV, RFK Jr. making wild claims, and the “gold leaf dripping by the day…in the Oval Office.” The administration is described as a kind of “saturnalia.” — Abe Greenwald [27:04]
• Loss of Discipline: Trump’s style has shifted from eliminating competitors for the spotlight to tolerating their self-promotion, a radical change from his 2017 approach ([13:24], [28:46]).

5. Weakening Republican Unity & Congressional Pushback

(34:26, 42:01)

• Polling & Internal Weakness: “The public does not think [Trump] is doing a good job on the economy...on immigration...polling this week that has him in the 30s.” — John Podhoretz [28:46]
• Dissent in Congress: Both the House and Senate show signs of rebellion against Trump’s appointments and policies, with detailed references to Thom Tillis and Utah Senator Curtis refusing to support controversial nominations ([34:26], [43:44]).
• Redistribution of Power: “There are a number of data points...showing a thankful and welcome redistribution of our well designed 250 year old system of government—that means the executive is going to be reined in...” — Christine Rosen [42:01]
• Significance of House Defections: Even a handful of Republican defections on a finger-wagging resolution were enough to rebuke Trump, demonstrating weakened party discipline ([42:54]).

6. Policy: Executive Power and Deregulation

(43:44–49:38)

• Reversal of Obama-Era Climate Rules: Trump rescinds the EPA’s “endangerment finding,” which regulated CO2 and methane emissions. The panel criticizes “sky is falling” climate hysteria in media and points out the precarious nature of changeable executive orders.
• On Projections: They mock future climate and health projections (“37 million more asthma attacks,” [53:04]), arguing such forecasts ignore technological progress and the market’s tendency to lower emissions over time ([51:42]–[55:52]).

“They are acting as if the entire fate of humanity hangs on the EPA’s ability to rein in methane and CO2.” — Abe Greenwald [63:02]

7. Technology, Media, and Climate Panic

(57:47, 59:31)

• Information Overload & Apocalyptic Framing: 24/7 information cycles require every issue to reach the level of civilizational crisis to get attention; thus, climate change is presented apocalyptically ([58:11]).
• Disconnect from Reality: The panel observes that many climate reporters have personal and cultural disconnects from how most Americans live and work, skewing coverage ([59:31]).
• Industrial Progress: They discuss the irony that contemporary Americans believe themselves more at risk from environmental harms than pre-industrial societies, despite vastly safer conditions ([59:35]).

8. Critique of Anti-Science and “Luddite” Factions

(64:01–66:49)

• Anti-Vaccine Sentiment: The group decries rising skepticism about vaccines in the administration (with RFK Jr. in a senior health position), seeing it as a return to anti-Enlightenment values and a trend that cuts across both political left and right.

“It’s a kind of weird counterbalance to what’s happened here at EPA that these medical Luddites have been put…in authority.” — John Podhoretz [64:01]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Noem’s Performative Politics:
  “She did earn her nickname of ICE Barbie…and she loves the vamping, really, but doesn’t understand the policy.” — Christine Rosen [10:15]
• On the ‘Blanket’ Scandal:
  “Somebody forgot Kristi Noem’s blanket as they moved from one plane to the other. And the pilot was fired…then had to be rehired because there was no one who could fly the second plane back to D.C.”— John Podhoretz [16:21]
• On Loyalty and Patronage:
  “He [Trump] has developed a kind of what you might call a conventional political circle…and does seem to feel a connection to the people who were there in the old days, just like every politician always ever has.”— John Podhoretz [28:46]
• On Congressional Rebellion:
  “If Trump’s numbers don’t improve…individual Republicans [may] feel the bloom is off the rose and…the normal balance of power between the Hill and the executive branch could start reasserting itself.”— John Podhoretz [39:52]
• On Apocalyptic Environmentalism:
  “You keep saying it’s the end of the world, which is what they’re saying. And that makes that fixes in people’s minds.”— Christine Rosen [58:11]
• On Technological Progress:
  “...the market happens to be really good at getting energy in slightly cleaner ways over time. …It’s not a law, it’s not a directive…mostly it’s just progress.”— Seth Mandel [51:41]

Segment Timestamps

• 03:00: Introduction to Kristi Noem scandal
• 07:48: DHS dysfunction, ICE raids, ‘ICE Barbie’ persona
• 13:24: Trump’s management style; contrast with 2017
• 17:42: Abuse of privilege: Blankets, planes, and perks
• 22:49: Lewandowski’s background and questionable authority
• 25:09: Real-world policy implications of Noem-Lewandowski
• 27:04: Comparing Trump era to saturnalia, circus/decadence
• 34:26: Signs of weakening Republican Party loyalty
• 42:01: Growing Congressional pushback
• 43:44: Policy: Executive orders, EPA, climate regulation
• 51:42: Market approach vs. regulatory state in climate change
• 57:47: Environmental progress, risk perception, and historical amnesia
• 64:01: Vaccination, science skepticism, and anti-Enlightenment sentiment
• 66:52: Book recommendation: The Fawn by Magda Szabo

Closing & Recommendation

• Christine Rosen recommends: The Fawn by Magda Szabo, a psychological Hungarian novel.

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, sarcastic, occasionally exasperated, and rich in Washington-insider knowledge. Panelists blend serious analysis with memorable anecdotes and biting wit.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode offers an illuminating—and often scathing—look at internal chaos and performative leadership in the DHS under Kristi Noem, the evolving style and fortunes of Trump’s administration, and how Republican infighting and executive overreach intersect with culture, media, and science policy. As always, Commentary’s panel brings sharp criticism, historical context, and plenty of dry humor to bear on the news of the week.