Noem commits deadly sin of suggesting Trump's accountability and is promptly fired
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Subscribe to MS Now Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content to all of MS Now's original podcasts, including the chart-topping series The Best People with Nicole Wallace, Why Is This Happening?, Maine Justice, and more, plus new episodes of all your favorite MS Now shows ad-free, and ad-free listening to all of Rachel Maddow's original series, including Rachel Maddow Presents Burn Order. Subscribe to MS Now Premium on Apple Podcasts. Okay, so as you all know, because I'm sure you've all been paying attention, we all saw the news alerts this morning. I was walking across the street and got the news alerts. Donald Trump finally fired Kristi Noem. Long, long overdue.
And as I mentioned to Chris, I cannot think, when I saw that news, the first person I wanted to talk to was Governor Tim Walz, because there are a few people who... who've experienced and lived through the absolute terror this woman has wreaked across the country than the governor of Minnesota. He's going to join me here in just a moment live. We also have an incredible group of lawmakers I have been really looking forward to talking with tonight who have nearly three decades of combined military experience between them. To talk about gnomes firing in the context of Donald Trump's wildly unpopular war with Iran— And also, what the hell's happening there? And there was a lot that happened today on that front, too, including Trump saying we should just forget about what comes next with this war.
And by that, I mean he literally told a reporter, forget about next. So we're, I guess, kind of translating that for you. But that's what he was saying. Also tonight, the Justice Department finally posted FBI interviews they had previously admitted related to an unsubstantiated allegation of sexual assault against President Trump himself. And we're going to get some expert help unpacking what's in those documents, which I also just read this evening as well. That's a little bit later. But I just have to start tonight with Kristi Noem because there is so much to say. And more specifically, I just want to start tonight by talking about why Trump reportedly decided to get rid of her. And I hate to say I told you so, but here's how we reported on the scandal at the heart of that reason back in November.
Today, ProPublica published quite a scoop about Trump DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that in any era, any other era, I should say, would be a career-ending scandal. Well, it took a few more months, but it looks like that scandal has finally ended Christine Noem's career, kind of. I mean, she's done a lot of other things. But what scandal, you ask? Which one? Well, last year, the Department of Homeland Security spent $220 million taxpayer dollars to make ads like this one. Why do I love these wide open spaces? They remind me of why our forefathers came here. Not just for its beauty, but for the freedom only America provides. I'm Kristi Noem. I mean, I worked for two presidents. I cannot even express how wild it is that she did this.
Now, on their face, ads like this one were scandalous because their first priority seemed to just be to promote Secretary Noem herself. She basically got to wear cool costumes. She loves a costume and ride horses in front of national monuments and boost her name recognition at the expense of the taxpayer, which, again, is as wildly inappropriate and crazy as it sounds. But back in November, ProPublica managed to unearth a far worse scandal surrounding these ads.
Why was Kristi Noem fired by Donald Trump?
Now, I should note that MSNOW has not independently confirmed this reporting, but according to ProPublica, a firm tied to Kristi Noem herself profited from that massive ad contract. That ad I just showed you of Nome at Mount Rushmore riding around on a course, let's just play it again. There we are. That ad was made by a company called Strategy Group, which it turns out is run by a man who is not only the husband of Kristi Nome's then chief DHS spokesperson, you know the one, Trisha McLaughlin, but who also has personal and business ties to Nome herself.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–3:30
2
Why was Kristi Noem fired by Donald Trump?
3:30–10:03
3
What scandals led to Noem's dismissal from DHS?
10:03–16:25
4
How did Kristi Noem's actions impact her career?
16:25–31:00
5
What are the implications of Trump's new DHS nominee?
31:00–44:23
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