Backlash to Noem and Hegseth’s outrageous demands shows the simple power of saying no: Pushback on Noem’s TSA video and Hegseth’s Pentagon press policy proves the administration isn’t as all-powerful as it would like you to believe.
Source: Silent-Resort-3076
11 Comments
1. By [Jen Psaki](https://www.msnbc.com/author/jen-psaki-ncpn1300286) and Seamus O’Toole
* Since the start of the government shutdown, [Donald Trump ](https://www.msnbc.com/donald-trump)and his administration have taken a wildly inappropriate (and probably illegal) approach to the [blame game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEXMeeNs9tI), using government websites and email to try to pin the shutdown on Democrats.
* Some federal workers have even received suggested templates for [out-of-office emails ](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democrats-investigation-shutdown-office-email-replies/story?id=126311656)that say they were furloughed because “Democrat Senators are blocking passage” of a funding bill. Multiple government websites, like that of the [Department of Housing and Urban Development,](https://www.npr.org/2025/09/30/nx-s1-5558393/government-shutdown-trump-ethics-hatch-act) now have messages pinned to them, claiming that “the radical left in Congress shut down the government.”
* Department of Homeland Security Secretary [Kristi Noem,](https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/kristi-noem-to-reporter-don-t-you-dare-say-ice-targets-latinos-243529285784) who never passes up the opportunity to get in front of a camera, has even gone so far as to tape a video to be played at TSA checkpoints at airports across the country. In the video, Noem blames Democrats for the shutdown and any delays.
* But unfortunately for Noem, that video is *not* going to be seen by as many air travelers as she had hoped, and that’s because airports across the country are [refusing to air it.](https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/kristi-noem-video-airports-government-shutdown-democrats-rcna237419) Officials in Buffalo, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Cleveland; Los Angeles; Phoenix and Seattle have all said that the video violates internal policies, as well as state and local laws.
* As for having to hear the word “no” recently, Noem may be able to commiserate with her buddy over at the Defense Department, [Pete Hegseth](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pete-hegseth-speech-generals-admirals-rcna234674), because he is hearing the word *a lot* lately, too.
The trouble is finding people and institutions with the backbone to say no.
Now we just need a state AG to press criminal state charges on an ICE agent that committed a crime while Noem is already probably upset about airports
Now we need to get 77m voters some glasses and a civics book.
Watch the FAA try to ground all flights at these airports now. Retribution is one of the few things this administration genuinely cares about.
They are going to use force at some point, but standing up to them ensures that they HAVE to make that choice. I’m pretty sure not everyone under either of them is fully onboard and sometimes, it takes a small act of courage to inspire others to do the same.
Yeah, sometimes that cost is great, but the cost of doing nothing and rolling over for fascists is MUCH greater.
Asking journalists to sign a pledge should be a fire-able offense at the very least. I guess he just gets to decide what his employer (the people) know about the job he is doing.
Emperor’s new clothes
Don’t obey in advance
I assure you they absolutely are as all powerful as they think they are. They just aren’t pushing too hard *yet* because they haven’t laid the groundwork for the complete and utter takeover of the country. But they’re getting there, and nothing seems to be stopping them.
This is the problem, the lack of pushback and questioning all of their bullshit lies.