Podcast Summary: "DHS Dysfunction"

What A Day — February 20, 2026
Host: Jane Coaston
Notable Guest: Michelle Hackman (Wall Street Journal immigration reporter)

Overview

This episode delves into the ongoing dysfunction within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), exploring the persistent shutdown, the management controversies surrounding DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and the broader political and public fallout. Host Jane Coaston is joined by Michelle Hackman, who provides insider reporting on agency turmoil, funding holdups, and the personal dynamics driving agency chaos. The episode also covers side-stories on Trump’s peculiar concerns about DC’s sewage crisis, developments in the Epstein-Prince Andrew scandal, and a controversial executive order on glyphosate.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DHS Shutdown and Immigration Funding

• Partial DHS Shutdown: The agency is in its second week of partial shutdown due to Democrats refusing to fund DHS without changes to federal immigration policy ([00:53]).
• Impact on Agencies: Core immigration enforcement functions—like ICE and Border Patrol—continue, as they are funded via a separate $170 billion appropriation from Trump’s “big Republican spending law,” so only non-immigration-related units (FEMA, TSA) are hit hardest ([03:36], [04:11]).
• Political Blame Game: White House press secretary Caroline Levitt publicly blames Democrats for the shutdown’s effects on FEMA, TSA, and Coast Guard workers ([01:51]).
  • QUOTE: “We hope [Democrats] get serious very soon because Americans are going to be impacted by this.” — Caroline Levitt ([02:13])

2. What Is and Isn’t Being Shut Down?

• FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund still functions: Disaster response funding continues, but normal staff operations are slow, and public-facing disaster response is purposefully restricted to increase political pain ([04:29]).
• TSA Agents Impacted: If the shutdown drags on, unpaid TSA workers could lead to under-staffing and major air travel disruptions—these are the shutdown consequences Americans are most likely to notice ([05:11]).
  • QUOTE: “I think DHS has an incentive not to try to move around money to pay TSA agents because they want it to hurt.” — Michelle Hackman ([05:47])

3. Kristi Noem’s Controversial Leadership

• Management Culture: Kristi Noem and advisor Corey Lewandowski are seen as running DHS as a “personal fiefdom”—firing and yelling at staff, creating widespread internal dissatisfaction ([06:18]).
  • QUOTE: “[They] fire people seemingly at random. They yell at people constantly. Their management style...is all but driving people to sort of mass quit.” — Michelle Hackman ([06:23])
• Unpopularity: Not just a “left-wing” critique; even Trump loyalists want Noem out because she undermines the administration’s deportation agenda ([06:54]).
• Trump’s Reluctance to Fire: Trump’s hands-off stance is attributed to his loyalty to Lewandowski (a close friend), desire to not contradict his previous claim he had chosen the “perfect cabinet,” and resistance to admitting a misjudgment ([07:41]).
  • QUOTE: “Trump...appointed [Noem] partially as a favor to Corey Lewandowski...he considers him a loyal soldier.” — Michelle Hackman ([07:41])

4. Scandalous Anecdotes & Leadership Style

• The “Blanket Incident”: Lewandowski apparently fired a Coast Guard pilot mid-trip because a favorite blanket of Noem’s was left behind. When they realized no one could fly them back, the pilot was rehired ([08:33]).
  • QUOTE: “Noem was so upset that Corey Lewandowski fired the pilot. But once they landed...they realized they didn’t have anyone to fly them home, so they had to reinstate the pilot.” — Michelle Hackman ([08:44])
• Obsessive Photo Ops: Noem is more focused on being photographed at flashy immigration raids or with dramatic visuals than delivering substantive policy outcomes. This has caused tensions with those seeking quieter, strategic approaches ([09:17]).

5. DHS Enforcement Trends and Future Outlook

• Operation Style Shifts: Despite perceptions, the administration remains aggressively committed to high deportation numbers (a “million people” goal), but strategy may shift to less-public, more methodical workplace and home raids ([10:01]).
• Potential for Leadership Change: The White House is frustrated with Noem’s insubordination and public image issues; tensions may rise if Trump feels her press is hurting him, but her replacement could mean even harsher enforcement ([10:47]).
• Michelle Hackman’s Watch Points: Will Trump eventually turn on Noem? If a more competent hardliner takes over, could actual enforcement ramp up even higher? ([10:51])

Extended Headlines & Notable Moments

6. Trump and the Potomac Stench / 250th Anniversary

• Trump worries summer events for America’s 250th birthday (and his 80th) will be ruined by a sewage spill in the Potomac—prompting federal-local finger-pointing ([11:33], [19:25]).
  • QUOTE: “The president wants people from all over to come to the nation's capital. Is he worried...the Potomac river will still smell like poop?” — Peter Doocy ([19:25])
  • QUOTE: “He is worried about that, which is why the federal government wants to fix it.” — Caroline Levitt ([19:37])

7. Prince Andrew Arrested, Global Reaction

• Britain’s former Prince Andrew arrested over Epstein ties; unprecedented royal accountability ([15:50]).
  • Noteworthy fact: First royal family arrest since 1649.
  • Trump’s reaction: Focuses on his own “exoneration”—“I’m the expert...because I’ve been totally exonerated” ([16:46]).

8. Roundup Executive Order

• Trump issues order defending glyphosate/phosphorus (Roundup) as vital “for national defense”—directly contradicting health concerns and prior anti-pesticide activism from officials like RFK Jr. ([17:10]).

Notable Quotes

• “You can always bet on Trump being weird as hell.” — Jane Coaston ([00:53])
• “Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski...have basically been running DHS as, like, their personal fiefdom.” — Michelle Hackman ([06:18])
• “It’s not like a left wing criticism of Kristi Noem. These are people who really want to see President Trump’s mass deportation happen and succeed...” — Michelle Hackman ([06:54])
• “Trump...appointed [Noem] partially as a favor to Corey Lewandowski.” — Michelle Hackman ([07:41])
• “They claim they want to arrest a million people in a year.” — Michelle Hackman ([10:01])
• “What a weird way to answer this question.” — Jane Coaston, on Trump’s Epstein/Prince Andrew comments ([16:58])
• “If it makes you feel any better...FBI Director Kash Patel took the FBI plane to Milan on Thursday to watch the US Men's hockey team play. At least one member of the Trump administration is focused on the real issues.” — Jane Coaston ([22:37])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump's Take on Aliens: [00:20]
• Shutdown Situation Explained: [00:53]–[03:36]
• Michelle Hackman Interview: [03:17]–[11:36]
  • Shutdown impacts: [03:17]–[05:51]
  • Noem/Lewandowski’s management: [06:18]–[08:33]
  • “Blanket incident”: [08:33]
  • Photo ops and enforcement strategy: [09:17]–[10:47]
• Potomac Stench & Birthday Concerns: [11:33], [19:25]
• Prince Andrew/Epstein Developments: [15:50]–[16:58]
• Trump’s Roundup Executive Order: [17:10]
• FBI Director Kash Patel’s Hockey Trip: [22:37]

Tone and Takeaways

The episode blends serious reporting (DHS policy, governance, public safety) with Jane Coaston’s signature sardonic, irreverent tone—often highlighting the absurdity of political theater (see: Trump’s obsession with sewage, Lewandowski’s “blanket” tantrum, and performative cabinet hiring/firing). The central message: while flashy headlines and personalities dominate, real governance (or lack of it) impacts everyday agency workers and public safety—often for all the wrong reasons.

This summary covers major content up to [22:47], skipping sponsor ads, intros/outros, and non-content segments as requested.