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Thom Tillis Grills DHS Sec. Kristi Noem Over FEMA Delays and ICE Quotas
In a stunning Senate clash, Thom Tillis dismantles Kristi Noem’s DHS record, citing FEMA delays, deportation quotas, and failures of accountability.
Thom Tillis Grills DHS Sec. Kristi Noem
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A Republican senator stunned the chamber by dismantling the Homeland Security secretary’s record point by point. The hearing exposed…
Thom Tillis Grills DHS Sec. Kristi Noem Over FEMA Delays and ICE Quotas
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DHS shutdown leaves local emergency responders on their own amid extreme weather, expert warns
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EXCLUSIVE: The partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security could have a critical impact on local disaster response without assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a public safety expert warned.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jeffrey Halstead, the director of strategic accounts at Genasys, a communications…
DHS shutdown leaves local emergency responders on their own amid extreme weather, expert warns
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Breaking: Potomac River Officially Declares Itself “Nonpartisan” After Being Used in Federal Funding Fight
While politicians argue about funding leverage, the sewage continues its bipartisan march downstream.
The Potomac River issued a formal statement Tuesday clarifying that it is “nonpartisan, geographically located in Maryland, and deeply tired of being used as a talking point.”
The river’s remarks come amid a growing political battle over federal funding, disaster preparedness, and the small…
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A Pilot Fired Over Kristi Noem’s Missing Blanket and the Constant Chaos Inside DHS
Secretary, with close adviser Corey Lewandowski, faces fire for confrontational immigration crackdown and self-promotional style; White House to wind down Minnesota operations
Within DHS, Noem and Lewandowski have cut employees or put them on administrative leave. The pair have fired or demoted roughly 80% of the career ICE field leadership that was in place when they started.
In the blanket incident, Noem had to switch planes after a maintenance issue was discovered, but her blanket wasn’t moved to the second plane, according to the people familiar with the incident. The Coast Guard pilot was initially fired and told to take a commercial flight home when they reached their destination. They eventually reinstated the pilot because no one else was available to fly them home.
The DHS spokeswoman didn’t address the episode but said the secretary has “made personnel decisions to deliver excellence.”
In an incident last year that rankled some senior staff at the agency, Lewandowski made it known to top ICE officials that he wanted to be issued a law-enforcement badge and a federally issued gun, according to people familiar with his push. Officials are typically only issued a badge and a gun after undergoing law-enforcement training.
The administration was preparing to bring on Tom Feeley, a former top ICE official in New York, as its new director when Lewandowski asked Feeley if he would be willing to issue him and several other political officials badges and guns. Feeley declined, and he was subsequently passed over for the top job at ICE.
Lewandowski next turned to ICE’s legal office for help writing him a legal justification to be issued the badge and gun. A top ICE lawyer, Ken Padilla, also declined to sign off, and days later he was placed on administrative leave. He was later demoted and moved to FEMA, the people said. Padilla declined to comment.
Lewandowski eventually persuaded other lawyers to sign off. The ICE director’s autopen was used to sign the paperwork, the people said.
The DHS spokeswoman denied that Lewandowski made efforts to secure a federal gun or signed paperwork, adding that Lewandowski didn’t talk to Feeley and that Padilla was put on administrative leave for unrelated reasons. The spokeswoman didn’t address any efforts to get a badge.
Efforts to issue Lewandowski a gun stalled after The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations inquired about the incident last year, the people said. Still, Lewandowski has been spotted by DHS staff sporting a badge, emblazoned with the words “Homeland Security.”
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President Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for Tennessee
FEMA has announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Tennessee to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on January 22, 2026, and continuing.
The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local…
President Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for Tennessee
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Don’t say ‘Watch out for ice’: FEMA warned storm announcements could invite memes | CNN Politics
Homeland Security officials have urged disaster response staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency to avoid using the word “ice” in public messaging about the massive winter storm barreling toward much of the United States, according to two sources familiar with the directive.
The concern is that the word could spark confusion or online mockery, given the ongoing controversy surrounding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement — also known as “ICE.”
If you don’t want to be mocked, how about not being such lawless thugs first?
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Winter Storm 2026
I spent the last three weeks in Florida, and it was unusually chilly this time of year. Normally in the 80’s in the past but this year it was lucky to get temperatures into the 70’s, more like the high 60’s during the day with wind blowing 15-20 mph. We had friends come down to Key West who wanted to rent a boat to go out fishing or sightseeing, but most days had wind and squall warnings, so the boat excursions never materialized. Frustrated, they returned to Virginia a day early. We left Key West, drove to the Tampa area to visit friends but reading about the Winter Storm Watch and Warnings decided to head back early.
Left early yesterday morning from Tampa, north on I75 to head back to Helen Georgia to drop off the RV before heading to San Antonio Texas. The idea was to leave Tampa a day or so early to arrive home before the winter storm hit. For several days all the media I saw was sharing how this is a big one, a Major Winter Storm for the ages. Predicted to have freezing rain and snow from Mexico to New York.
On the drive we passed several electric line trucks heading north like we were. After about 30 minutes and passing several more we realized that all these convoys were from power companies from various locations in Florida. These convoys were usually about 10-12 vehicles long with possibly a couple of support vehicles behind them.
We paid closer attention to the fact some were power line crews, others were tree service crews all heading north toward Georgia, South and North Carolina. We stopped for lunch in Cordeal Georgia and there were 8 trucks stopped at the Cracker Barrel eating before continuing their drive to north Georgia.
As we pulled off the interstate in Cornelia there were about 20 trucks staged in a parking area waiting for the storm to hit so they could get to work repairing or replacing fallen power lines. The power might be on now but these folks traveling north are ready to restore power as quickly as possible.
I found out that “Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Public power utilities across the country benefit from the strong network of mutual aid partners through the American Public Power Association. These connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and offer assistance when there’s a need. FMEA is proud to serve as the mutual aid coordinator for Florida’s 33 public power utilities.”
These convoys are part of a broader, well-documented network where Florida utilities frequently send aid to other states during winter storms, while receiving similar assistance during hurricane season. Convoys often travel with volunteer crews supported by trailers containing supplies, including food, water, and tools for multi-day restoration efforts.
“At this time, six FMEA member utilities will head to four different South Carolina public power utilities, while crews from nine Florida public power utilities are scheduled to deploy to eight communities served by public power in Georgia. Florida’s mutual aid crews will assist the South Carolina and Georgia utilities with power restoration efforts in areas impacted by the winter storm.”
As with all severe weather events, “as the path of projected forecast impacts changes, utility crews may be deployed to assist with power restoration in other impacted areas.”
This is Florida’s largest cold-weather mutual aid deployment to neighboring states in recent years, FEMA said.
It is great to see our neighbors from the South heading to these areas that will be affected by this winter storm because it screams the power utilities are preparing and taking proactive measures to help get power back on in the effected areas as quickly as possible.
I am positive that if you were traveling south on any of the interstate highways; I95, I85, I75 or I20 there were convoys heading this way from other parts of the country. I am proud to see that we are working together to solve a problem before it gets out of hand. Great job guys and gals!
This is just some of the companies sending crews to help. There was more than on this list but this is all I could write down while driving north:
TECO – Tampa Electric Co. CEI - Talquin Electric Fort Meyers Forestry
Praxel Line Services Good Ole Boys Electric Line Craft
Davey Tree Service Wright Tree Service Pike Tree Service
And others.
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FEMA Can’t Say “Watch Out for Ice” in Storm Warnings for Fear of Memes
Excerpt:
“A winter storm is set to hit much of the country this weekend, and naturally, the Federal Emergency Management Association is sending out warnings to make sure people are safe.
“But they aren’t allowed to use the word “ice” in any of their messaging because their superiors at the Department of Homeland Security are worried about internet mockery thanks to the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CNN reports.”
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oh oh! and I almost forgot ahh, I’m also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday too, kay. We ahh lost some people this week and ah, we sorta need to play catch up
