A Hit Dog’ll Holler

This is a FAKE NEWS LIE from CNN. This reporting is an unapparelled display of activist journalism and distracts from the robust, coordinated federal response led by Secretary Noem that has saved over 900+ lives. While these “journalists” slept comfortably in D.C., Secretary Noem… pic.twitter.com/S4zIZwp8T2

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 9, 2025

This is a FAKE NEWS LIE from CNN. This reporting is an unapparelled display of activist journalism and distracts from the robust, coordinated federal response led by Secretary Noem that has saved over 900+ lives. While these “journalists” slept comfortably in D.C., Secretary Noem deployed to Texas, working day and night to approve every possible need that search and rescue workers had. Within moments of the flooding in Texas, DHS assets, including the U.S. Coast Guard, tactical Border Patrol units and FEMA personnel surged into unprecedented action alongside Texas first responders. The U.S. Coast Guard alone rescued over 230 Americans.

@Sec_Noem is leading a historic, first-of-its-kind approach to disaster funding: putting states first by providing upfront recovery support — moving money faster than ever and jump starting recovery. This is a breakthrough in how FEMA supports state-led disaster recovery.

President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration, hours after Governor Greg Abbott’s request. By Tuesday, FEMA had deployed 311 staffers, providing support and shelter for hundreds of people. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is reforming FEMA to prioritize state-led, locally executed disaster response, as Texas has exemplified.

The Coast Guard was instrumental in rescuing children from Camp Mystic.

The Coast Guard and a unified command responded to the affected areas after it received a report on Friday, July 4, at around 5:57 a.m. from the Texas A&M Task Force, according to a press release published on the Coast Guard's website.

That doesn’t exactly blunt the criticism that FEMA wasn’t there until Monday. We knew that already, but Noem didn’t care until it hit CNN.  Got on TeeVee, IOW. Cable TeeVee, which is worse. That’s what all the old people still watch; like her boss.

And the Border Patrol jumped in immediately:

On Friday, July 4, CBP emergency response crews from across the agency were dispatched to assist with search, rescue, and recovery efforts in the wake of flash flooding caused by heavy rains. The CBP team includes personnel from BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue), the Office of Field Operations, and helicopter air crews from Air and Marine Operations.

All of this is laudable and what government should be doing. But it has bugger all to do with FEMA’s response, sending 86 people over the weekend, to help out in 6 counties. Hell, H-E-B was there sooner and doing more (the food shown in those pictures are brands from the store chain, donated for relief efforts as soon as the waters receded).

Nothing in that tweet screed refutes anything in the CNN, or the earlier, reports. Including the fact Noem has to personally approve every $1000,000 of FEMA expenditures. And it doesn’t do a goddamned thing to help people in Central Texas.

Noem is a goddamned disgrace. But then, so is the President she works for.