Mullin breaks with Noem, signals changes at DHS

It’s Wednesday. Have you made your March Madness brackets yet? You have until noon tomorrow! 🏀 My toddler made a blue team-themed bracket this year and seeing his final bracket actually makes me think it’s not a bad strategy.

Fiery Mullin, Gabbard hearings

Fiery Mullin, Gabbard hearings

Mullin distances himself from Noem

Mullin distances himself from Noem

GOP dives into SAVE Act debate

GOP dives into SAVE Act debate

Behind the scenes of Trump’s Iran attack

Behind the scenes of Trump’s Iran attack

Bombshell NYT Cesar Chavez probe

Bombshell NYT Cesar Chavez probe

A fiery morning of hearings:

This is a big day for hearings on Capitol Hill. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is facing her first public questioning on the war in Iran since President Trump joined Israel in striking the Middle Eastern country. This is awkward timing for Gabbard — her top deputy Joe Kent dramatically quit yesterday in protest of the war in Iran. Her statement following his resignation notably made no mention of Kent but rebutted his claims. 💻         Livestream

And one Senate office building over, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) moved to the other side of the dais to face questions from his colleagues about taking over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from Kristi Noem while it is both shut down and in crisis mode. Keep in mind: Mullin is widely expected to be confirmed. 💻 Livestream

💬 Follow today’s live blog

🔷 First, let’s start with Mullin — the newsiest moments of the hearing🔷

Mullin has distanced himself from Noem several times: First, Mullin says he would use “judicial warrants to enter homes, businesses unless we are pursuing a subject who ran into that home.” (Remember: Noem recently argued for warrants that are not signed by a judge.)

He also has a different vision for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) asked Mullin whether he would eliminate the agency, like Noem has said. Mullin noted he would like for FEMA “to be restructured, not eliminated.”

Oh, and Mullin says he would revoke Noem’s policy of personally reviewing any expenditure of more than $100,000.

Mullin says he regrets comments he made about Good and Pretti: Mullin told senators he regrets comments he made about Renee Good and Alex Pretti, arguing his words “probably should have been retracted.” (Reminder: Mullin called Pretti a “deranged individual” and also defended the officer who killed Good, saying he “didn’t have an option” and had to “engage.”)

Omg, Rand Paul played the clip of Mullin challenging a witness to a fight: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) rolled the 2023 video........

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