The Journal. · The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios
Kristi Noem’s $200 Million Mistake
March 9, 2026·22 min·2 clips
Kristi Noem spent $200 million on TV ads featuring herself to warn immigrants, but did it lead to her downfall?
As heard by us
A sharp look at how a costly DHS ad campaign became a story about spending, power, and Noem's fall.
A $200 million immigration warning campaign becomes a revealing look at Kristi Noem's troubled tenure at Homeland Security. The episode starts with the glossy TV spots, Noem on horseback near Mount Rushmore, then follows the money and authority behind them: costly ads, unusual…
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