“The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it” — P. J. O’Rourke
On Sunday morning, Dana Bash had newly enthroned DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem on CNN’s State of their Union. Bash asked Noem about her new responsibility, specifically one agency under the DHS umbrella, FEMA.
Exhibit #1 was a WaPo piece: “Elon Musk’s agents have gained access to FEMA’s sensitive disaster data” (CLICK HERE the paywall should be down).
Note: FEMA has personal information about tens of thousands of disaster victims — the majority of whom may well be Republicans (consider where hurricanes and tornados strike).
Noem showed she was nowt but a tool of the administration by agreeing that FEMA was a cesspit — and should be shut down. She also stretched credulity by saying that Trump would “work with Congress” to determine FEMA’s fate. Trump’s idea of comity with the legislative branch is to demand they do as he commands. It seems to be working.
The conversation then turned to Musk and his assault on privacy. Noem showed zero regard for Americans — regardless of their political philosophy — in her thinking:
“We’re working with [DOGE} at the President’s direction to find what we can do to make our department much more efficient. This is essentially an audit of the federal government, which is which is very powerful and needs to have happen, that agency. And one of the things I’ve been very clear to the appropriators in the Senate and the House is please give me the authority to reprogram funds.”
This abnegation of her responsibilities raises a question. If Noem cannot figure out how to “make our department much more efficient” why does she have the Secretary’s position? You don’t hire CEOs to twiddle their thumbs while someone else does their job. By all means, hire experts. But the boss is supposed to be the boss.
It’s also sweet that Noem thinks she has the “authority to reprogram funds”. Under the current regime, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has to get permission from some Trump functionary to go to the bathroom.
In response, Bash pointed out the flaw in Noem’s reasoning:
“But that’s different from him having access to personal data that is housed—”
Noem was not about to lose control of the narrative. She cut Bash short and said:
“The president has authorized him to have access.”
Bash then asked what every awake American is asking:
“And you feel comfortable?”
Noem replied as the Party bosses had told her to:
“Absolutely.”
Bash brought up an inconsistency in conservative thinking vis-à-vis government:
“I remember a time when Republicans were very careful about, and worried about the government, particularly unelected people, having access to our personal data.”
Noem offered an ill-considered response:
“We can’t trust the government anymore,”
Bash pointed out why Noem should have thought her answer through before running her mouth:
“You are the government,”
I wonder if Noem wished she could solve this problem as she has dealt with a previous “aggressive personality”. To wit, treat Bash like her pet dog Cricket — and take Dana to a gravel pit and shoot her in the head.
However, the canicidal Kristi stuck to the script, and the conversation unfolded thus:
Noem: “Yes, that’s what I’m saying, is that the American people now are saying that we have had our personal information shared and and out there ... “
Bash: “But now Elon Musk has access to it.”
Noem: “Yeah, but Elon Musk is part of the administration that is helping us identify where we can find savings and what we can do. And he has gone through the processes to make sure that he has the authority.”
Sadly, Bash did not ask what these “processes” were. DOGE’s legal authority is unclear. Musk was not investigated, interviewed, or confirmed by the Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson shut down Democratic attempts to subpoena him to appear in the House. (Note: It is likely a Democratic pal of Elon, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) assisted the GOP in keeping Musk’s assault on privacy sub rosa). Neither Musk nor anyone on his team appears to have security clearances. Nor does he seem to report to anyone. And his employment status is opaque.
The conversation ended with another Kabuki-like performance, as the actors played their stylized roles and offered pap.
Bash: “You’re totally comfortable with him [Musk]?”
Noem “I am today. By the work that he is doing, by identifying waste, fraud and abuse.”
Not only did Bash let Noem off the hook with no question about the “proceses”, but Dana also didn’t ask Kristi how she would react if a Democratic President had let a multi-hundredfold billionaire wander little-checked through Americans’ sensitive personal data. Nor did she ask Noem her opinion on the various federal judges who told Musk to stop rummaging and worse.
I suppose there is some value in getting Trump’s cabal of bad personnel choices on record. But it is safe to say that the vaunted “American People” gained nothing in the short term from this time-wasting exercise.
