Today, Explained: "Sex, lies, and Kristi Noem"
Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Noel King
Guests: Michelle Hackman (WSJ immigration reporter), Berja Severin (Congressional Bureau Chief, Semaphore)
Main Theme:
This episode dives into the rapidly escalating political crisis and personal scandals surrounding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. Fuelled by controversial leadership decisions, a high-profile relationship with Corey Lewandowski, mishandled immigration enforcement, and a subsequent partial government shutdown, the episode explores the consequences for the Biden administration, immigration policy, and Washington’s power dynamics.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Kristi Noem's DHS Leadership and Personal Chaos
- The Viral Blanket Incident
- Kristi Noem allegedly became so upset that her blanket was misplaced during an official trip that Corey Lewandowski, her top adviser and close companion, fired the pilot—only to rehire him when they realized they had no way home.
“The pilot and the crew forgot to move her blanket onto the new plane. That angered Kristi Noem so much that Corey Lewandowski fired the pilot. But after the event, they realized that they had no one to fly them home, so they had to reinstate the pilot.”
— Michelle Hackman [00:24]
- Kristi Noem allegedly became so upset that her blanket was misplaced during an official trip that Corey Lewandowski, her top adviser and close companion, fired the pilot—only to rehire him when they realized they had no way home.
2. Blame and Fallout after Minneapolis Killings
- Kristi Noem faces intense scrutiny for two fatal Border Patrol shootings in Minneapolis. As public and political pressure mounts, the administration scrambles to shift the narrative.
“Kristi Noem is realizing that she is taking the blame for what happened in Minneapolis.”
— Michelle Hackman [02:28] - Internal efforts to save her public image, such as requests for favorable ads, are rebuffed; Trump grows frustrated with Noem but stops short of firing her.
“Her top advisor, Corey Lewandowski, reaches out to Trump's pollster and says, can you cut an ad for us? ... We need to do something. The idea was basically to cut some kind of ad that would make her look good, make her look strong, try to change the narrative away from these two killings in Minneapolis...”
— Michelle Hackman [03:02]
3. The Noem-Lewandowski Relationship and Its Implications
- Lewandowski is officially Noem's chief adviser, though the title is not formal, and their relationship is widely reported as romantic, despite both being married and public denials.
“Corey Lewandowski is Kristi Noem's top advisor... The two have been dating. We've reported in the past that they have been dating since roughly 2019.”
— Michelle Hackman [04:37]
“They both are married, huh? They both publicly deny the fact that they're in a relationship, although sources tell us that inside the department, they do very little to hide it.”
— Michelle Hackman [06:20] - Trump is aware and reportedly uncomfortable but still appointed Noem as a favor to Lewandowski, seeing her role as a political stepping stone.
“He actually convinced Donald Trump to appoint Kristi Noem as DHS secretary as a favor to him.”
— Michelle Hackman [05:34]
4. Noem’s Leadership Style: Flashy & Problematic
- Noem brings a made-for-TV approach to immigration enforcement: public ICE raids, posing in tactical gear, and dramatizing actions for the cameras.
“She has sort of prioritized a style of immigration enforcement that is really flashy, and she's done it herself. She's gone on ICE raids where she herself will wear the flak jacket... She will hold, you know, a really heavy automatic weapon. And some have said, you know, she doesn't hold it in the correct way.”
— Michelle Hackman [06:56], [07:50]
“She’s always also looking very TV ready... and she's brought that style to immigration enforcement where she has pushed agents, you know, always make sure that the arrests you're making are on camera, you know, and if they are resisting you, sort of the more resistance, the better. The flashier, the better.”
— Michelle Hackman [08:05] - Internal backlash grows as her approach is seen as endangering officers and public support.
“People at ICE actually feel like that style is getting in the way, is... turning public opinion against them, but also putting their officers at increased risk.”
— Michelle Hackman [08:47]
5. Flashpoint: Two Minneapolis Shootings and Aftermath
- The first deadly shooting leads to initial support, but after a second, graphic incident, the administration panics as public opinion shifts sharply negative.
“By the time the second shooting happened and people saw that video... there is no way that we can justify this. You know, there wasn't an angle that was flattering to them. And so people started panicking.”
— Michelle Hackman [09:35]
6. Criticism from Within: Rodney Scott and Others
- Criticism comes not just from Democrats, but GOP immigration hardliners and DHS senior staff, especially over Noem’s promotion of aggressive subordinates and bypassing command structures.
“One thing I really wanna emphasize is that this is not left wing criticism of Kristi Noem. These are hardcore Trump supporters inside the administration... Rodney Scott was really upset about a few things. Kristi Noem had elevated a guy in the Border Patrol... supportive of him to the point where she removed him from the normal chain of command... report to me directly.”
— Michelle Hackman [10:33], [11:22] - When confronted by Rodney Scott, Noem retaliates by removing his top staff and installing loyalists.
“She responds basically by retaliating against Rodney Scott, firing or reassigning his closest advisors... And at one point, she told him, you know, I have direct communication with your deputy. He is in charge of the agency. You are not in charge.”
— Michelle Hackman [12:32]
7. Potential Corruption & Bottlenecking DHS Funds
- Noem and Lewandowski personally approve every contract over $100,000, leading to delays and questions about conflicts of interest, especially since Lewandowski is still in the private sector.
“There's a huge concern that Christy and Corey are personally signing off on every contract over $100,000... because Corey Lewandowski is still in the private sector... there may be potential conflicts of interest.”
— Michelle Hackman [13:10] - Their delays have cost taxpayers, notably when bulk steel contracts for the border wall rose by $100 million due to procrastination.
“In the month and a half it took Kristi Noem to sign this contract, the price of bulk steel... went up by more than $100 million.”
— Michelle Hackman [14:34]
8. White House Stuck in a Bind
- Trump, loyal to Lewandowski but frustrated with Noem’s leadership, is reluctant to act, fearing it undermines the narrative of his “perfect cabinet.”
“Trump feels a lot of loyalty to Corey Lewandowski and is not yet ready to fire Kristi Noem, that he has soured on her, he's frustrated with her. But... if he fires one of his cabinet secretaries, it's sort of like an admission that he did not pick the perfect cabinet.”
— Michelle Hackman [14:44] - GOP allies are urging Trump to make a change, believing a new DHS chief could better deliver on tough immigration promises.
Shutdown Showdown
9. Partial Government Shutdown & Political Standoff
- Homeland Security funding lapses, leading to a partial government shutdown. ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are insulated for now due to pre-funded appropriations, but TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard are impacted.
“The Department of Homeland Security, which does a lot more than immigration enforcement, is now shut down and not funded, or at least portions of it are not.”
— Berja Severin [19:57]
“Tax cuts law from 2025 sent billions and billions... So what you actually get is Democrats are depriving ICE and CBP of additional funding... but they still are sitting on a mountain of cash.”
— Berja Severin [22:02]
10. Democratic and Republican Stances
- After the shootings, Democrats refuse to fund DHS without reforms: judicial warrants for enforcement in homes, anti-mask rules, clear IDs for ICE agents, and universal use of body cameras.
“They want judicial warrants for immigration enforcement... change their uniforms, not wear masks, more clearly identify themselves and wear IDs. And they also want nationalized use of body cameras.”
— Berja Severin [22:52] - The White House is publicly flexible but fundamentally resistant to shifting enforcement policies.
“The idea that Trump is going to cave and give Democrats what they want seems very unrealistic right now.”
— Berja Severin [24:32]
11. Political Dynamics: Democratic Voters Harden Positions
- With the 2026 Democratic primaries underway, base voters urge leaders not to compromise. Party discipline is stronger than in past shutdowns, with only a few dissenters.
“Primary voters are generally the people that most lean on Democratic leaders at times like this, and they are saying don't cave... there's evidence that caving is much less popular on this shutdown than it is for the last one.”
— Berja Severin [24:53]
12. What Might End the Stalemate?
- The pain will likely intensify as more DHS employees go unpaid, but no deal is in sight. Backchannel talks continue, suggesting some fragile hope for negotiation.
“I don't see a short term end to this, short of some surprising deal... negotiations are ongoing, but senate’s on recess... So it doesn't look like this problem's going away anytime soon and it's going to get only more and more public attention as it happens.”
— Berja Severin [26:47], [28:10]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Noem’s decision-making:
“This is one of those stories that I think it went viral because it speaks to a lot of the frustration with how Kristi Noem makes personnel decisions and decisions more broadly.”
— Michelle Hackman [00:07] -
On the public’s perception of Noem’s style:
“She's making herself a main character. And initially it seems like maybe it's working... a lot of the reaction I saw was like, hey, this is really cool. Kristi Noem is, like, really doing it. She's a badass. However, this becomes a problem once Minneapolis explodes.”
— Noel King [08:47] -
On administrative paralysis:
“Part of the problem is if he fires one of his cabinet secretaries, it's sort of like an admission that he did not pick the perfect cabinet.”
— Michelle Hackman [14:44] -
On the hardened stance of Democrats:
“Democratic primary voters are generally the people that most lean on Democratic leaders at times like this, and they are saying don't cave.”
— Berja Severin [24:53]
Key Timestamps for Segments
- Kristi Noem’s “blanket” incident: [00:24]
- Origin of political blowback after Minneapolis: [02:28]–[03:02]
- Noem-Lewandowski relationship established: [04:37]–[06:20]
- Signature DHS “flashy” operations: [06:56]–[08:47]
- On-the-ground reactions post-shootings: [09:35]–[10:21]
- Internal Republican pushback, Rodney Scott drama: [10:33]–[12:57]
- Financial/procedural bottlenecks in DHS contracts: [13:10]–[14:34]
- Trump’s reluctance to fire Noem: [14:44]
- Partial government shutdown, agencies affected: [19:57], [22:02]
- What each party is demanding: [22:52]
- Democratic discipline and primary pressure: [24:53]
- Shutdown endgame speculation: [26:47]–[28:10]
Tone and Language
The conversations are brisk, candid, and at times sardonic. The guests and hosts do not mince words, blending hard news explanation with juicy, sometimes incredulous behind-the-scenes details. There’s an undercurrent of exasperation at the dysfunction within DHS and the broader government, as well as bemusement at the personal drama fueling a national crisis.
Summary prepared for listeners who want an in-depth catch-up on the explosive situation at DHS, Kristi Noem’s embattled tenure, the partisan stalemate, and the political and personal entanglements threatening U.S. immigration policy and government function.