Hysteria Kristi Noem’s Mile High Club
Feb 19, 2026
They dig into a Wall Street Journal takedown of a high-profile politician and bizarre stories about luxury federal travel. They unpack a trial about social media addiction and what a win could mean for tech accountability. They explain a voting overhaul that could reshape voter access. Lighter moments cover Elon’s religious turn, Taylor Swift backing Olympic skaters, and reality TV drama.
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Blanket-Fired Pilot Drama
- Erin and Alyssa recount Corey Lewandowski firing a Coast Guard pilot over Kristi Noem's missing blanket and then reinstating him when no one could fly them home.
- They use the story to illustrate chaos and petty behavior inside DHS under Noem.
SGE Status Enables Shadow Influence
- Alyssa explains special government employees (SGEs) can be brought into agencies without the same full-time rules, allowing outside jobs to continue.
- They argue this status enabled Lewandowski to exert influence inside DHS without standard accountability.
DHS Luxury Jet Story
- They describe a luxury 737 Max leased by DHS used for cabinet travel and deportations, with the department acquiring it for $70 million.
- Both hosts express disbelief that a luxury jet could be justified as cheaper for deportations than military aircraft.