Day: January 27, 2025

Have you ever noticed the phrases on your favorite NFL players’ helmets? For example, the back of Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s helmet reads “BE LOVE.”
This is part of the NFL’s social justice initiative, Inspire Change, which aims to reduce barriers to opportunity, especially in communities of color, and demonstrate how the league works to create positive change.
The social justice helmet decal program allows players to choose from a curated list of slogans to display on the back of their helmets.
Here are some slogans from past years:
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
“Choose Love” is a slogan that Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, displayed on his helmet after suffering cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
During the highly anticipated matchup, Hamlin collapsed on the field, prompting immediate medical intervention. CPR and oxygen were administered before he was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The NFL subsequently canceled the game.
Despite the traumatic event, Hamlin’s doctors reported encouraging signs, noting that his neurological function remained intact. However, further tests were required to determine the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest.
As Hamlin continued to recover, the Buffalo Bills placed him on injured reserve, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Still, his helmet’s “Choose Love” slogan resonated far beyond the field, symbolizing resilience, compassion, and unity during a challenging time.
— As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard — the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester’s 19th Ward. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marbury and by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.

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Bucharest will send a “firm message” to the Dutch authorities, PM says.
Romania’s government is furious after national treasures on loan to a Dutch museum were stolen in a brazen theft over the weekend.
A group of thieves used explosives to break into the Drents Museum in Assen in the early hours of Saturday morning and stole four ancient Romanian artefacts, including the Helmet of Cotofenesti, an almost 2,500-year-old gold helmet, which were on loan from the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest.
The Drents Museum’s director called the heist a “black day” for the institution. “In its 170-year existence, such a major incident has never occurred,” he said, adding the police were investigating.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said Sunday the government had set up a “crisis team” to recover the artefacts with representatives from the interior ministry, justice ministry, culture ministry, foreign ministry and the Romanian police.
Ciolacu added that Culture Minister Natalia Intotero would raise the theft during a meeting with the Dutch prime minister and the Dutch royal family on the sidelines of an event in Poland on Monday commemorating the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.
Intotero “will convey the firm message of the Romanian government that these priceless pieces of heritage be recovered as quickly as possible,” Ciolacu said.
Ciolacu also said Monday that the government had not authorized the transport of the four stolen artefacts — the helmet and three gold bracelets — to the Netherlands, a legal requirement for such priceless objects, according to Romanian media.
Victory “demonstrates your high political authority,” the Kremlin chief gushes about his counterpart in Minsk.
It’s safe to say Donald Trump won’t be pleased by one entry on the list.
A spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutor’s office says the death did not appear suspicious.
Yuval Raphael, who survived Oct. 7 by hiding under dead bodies in a bomb shelter, will compete in Basel in May.

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. addressed reporters outside the team’s locker room for the final time this season Jan. 6, he did so just moments removed from perhaps his last in-person, in-facility interaction with Kirk Cousins.
Penix spent the first 15 weeks of his rookie season learning under the guidance of Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler who ultimately struggled to the tune of one touchdown and nine interceptions over his final five starts.
Now, Cousins’s future in Atlanta is dim. He’s expected to be cut or traded in March, bringing an abrupt, premature end to his time with the Falcons after signing a four-year contract worth up to $180 million. Depending on the time of his departure, he’ll earn either $90 million or $100 million guaranteed for 14 starts.
But Cousins proved to be a valuable mentor to Penix. The two live in the same suburban Atlanta neighborhood — and Penix, less than 24 hours after his rookie season ended with a 44-38 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, wanted to enjoy the present with his veteran teammate.
“I just seen Kirk. I was just talking to Kirk,” Penix said. “So I’m enjoying that right now, and he’s still here right now. So I’m enjoying that. So that’s all I can do right now.”
But now, Cousins isn’t there. When he left after the season, he told Falcons head coach Raheem Morris they’d speak soon this offseason. Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot have expressed confidence in Cousins’s ability to be the team’s backup moving forward, but Fontenot didn’t disclose whether Cousins wanted that role.
Yet regardless of what the Falcons do with Cousins, his first season in Atlanta went far different than most expected. He completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, which led the NFL at the time of his benching.
Cousins won a pair of NFC Offensive Player of the Week awards, and he led the Falcons to a 6-3 start at the season’s halfway point. Then, it came crashing down.
But Penix’s admiration for Cousins remains unaffected.
“Obviously, Kirk, just finishing his 13th year, he’s amazing, man,” Penix said. “He’s been nothing but a great support — always helping me throughout this whole process, since Day 1, so much appreciation to him.”
Before becoming the starter, Penix was Atlanta’s backup, meaning he faced the Falcons’ starting defense in practice each day while running the scout team offense.
On gamedays, he held the figurative clip board, absorbing all he could from Cousins and his teammates about the inner workings of games.
It culminated in a promising three-game string of starts at season’s end, as the 24-year-old went 58-for-100 passing for 737 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and one rushing score. He threw for 312 yards and scored three times against Carolina to close the campaign.
And for Penix, the various roles and rollercoaster of a season team-wise culminated in a growth-filled — but enjoyable — rookie year.
“It was fun,” Penix said. “The whole time was fun — I enjoyed it. Out there working with scout team, doing my best to get the defense a great look so they can play good on Sundays. But, man, it was special.”
Daniel Flick is an accredited NFL writer for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation. Daniel has provided boots-on-ground coverage at the NFL Combine and from the Atlanta Falcons’ headquarters, among other destinations, and contributed to the annual Lindy’s Sports Magazine ahead of the 2023 offseason. Daniel is a co-host on the 404TheFalcon podcast and previously wrote for the Around the Block Network and Georgia Sports Hospitality Media.
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DJ Unk attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Unk died Jan. 24 after suffering a heart attack during his sleep, his wife, Sherkita Long-Platt, told TMZ on Sunday. He was 43. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)Getty Images for BET
ATLANTA — The cause of death for DJ Unk, the Atlanta rapper known for 2000s hit songs “Walk It Out” and “2 Step,” has been revealed days after his death on Jan. 24 at age 43.
Unk died after suffering a heart attack in his sleep, his wife, Sherkita Long-Platt told TMZ. She refuted speculation that Unk’s death was substance abuse-related, saying he didn’t do drugs.
Long-Platt first revealed the news of her husband’s death in a Facebook post on Friday.
“Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father. Our life will never be the same. I LOVE YOU ANTHONY FOREVER,” she wrote.
A candlelight vigil for DJ Unk was held in Atlanta’s Central Park on Sunday.
Unk’s record label, Big Oomp Records, also issued a statement remembering the late rapper.
“DJ Unk was not just a legendary DJ, rapper and producer, but a true cornerstone of our label and the imprint that he left globally will be cherished forever,” Big Oomp Records wrote in a Facebook post. “Hit songs such as “Walk It Out” and “2 Step” have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his legacy will continue to inspire artists, DJs, and fans alike for years to come. His energy, creativity, and commitment to the craft will never be forgotten.
“We ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We also want to thank everyone who has supported DJ Unk and the Oomp Camp over the years. Rest in peace, Unk. You will forever be missed,” the post added.
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AlmapBBDO veteran Luiz Sanches joins the CPG giant, which no longer has a traditional CMO role and recently reorganized its agency roster.
Kimberly-Clark has named Luiz Sanches as its first global chief creative and design officer, per details shared with Marketing Dive. A 30-year veteran of Omnicom agency AlmapBBDO, Sanches will be responsible for the global creative quality of the marketer’s brands, which include Huggies, Kleenex and Kotex.
Sanches will report to and work directly with Patrícia Corsi, who joined Kimberly-Clark last year as global chief growth officer. As part of a global transformation strategy, the company has developed a new marketing model that prioritizes putting investment and talent behind storytelling and design.
“We are building a new model centered on market-leading creative as a force-multiplier for delivering cultural and emotional impact and exceptional consumer experiences. This will be a significant driver of our categories and brands, which are essential to the daily lives of one in four people around the world,” said Corsi in a statement around Sanches’ appointment.
As part of the new model, Kimberly-Clark no longer has a traditional CMO role: Corsi’s CGO role oversees the company’s marketing functions, while Sanches, as global chief creative officer, will work alongside agency chief creative officers and Kimberly-Clark’s segment- and market-based creative teams on marketing creative.
“As an agency, we often lack the visibility or access needed to address the real challenges our clients face. Many changes align with the agency’s business goals but aren’t necessarily the best solution for the client. Now, I have a unique opportunity to leverage creativity to tackle these challenges directly,” Sanches said in a statement.
During his three decades at AlmapBBDO, Sanches began as as art director before becoming creative director in 2002 and then general creative director. He became a partner at the agency in 2013.
Kimberly-Clark earlier this month concluded a global review its creative and media agencies. For creative, IPG will handle feminine care and family care brands, while WPP will take on baby and child care and adult care brand. Publicis will continue as partner for the company’s U.S. media business and picked up the assignment in Canada, as well. Omnicom Group consolidated media for all marketers outside of North America, excluding South Korea.  
Kimberly-Clark reported Q3 2024 sales of $5 billion, which was down 4% compared to the prior-year period. The company will announce its Q4 2024 earnings on Jan. 28. The company last year oversaw a brand refresh and new campaign for Kleenex as well as a marketing relaunch for Pull-Ups.
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Corey LaJoie officially announced his plans for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season on Monday morning. Among the things the 33-year-old driver will be doing include serving as a part-time driver for Rick Ware Racing as well as being featured as an analyst for Prime Video during its five-race stretch this season.
As for his driving plans with Rick Ware Racing, LaJoie will pilot the No. 01 Ford Mustang Dark Horse beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500. LaJoie will have primary sponsorship from DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change to support the effort at Daytona, where LaJoie will have to battle his way to a starting spot in The Great American Race as the No. 01 car will be an “Open” entry.
Rick Ware Racing revealed the No. 01 Take 5 Oil Change / DuraMAX paint scheme that LaJoie will utilize in the season-opening Daytona 500.
“DuraMAX is thrilled to partner with Take 5 Oil Change and bring our combined passion for performance and speed to the iconic Daytona 500,” said Dan Oehler, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for RelaDyne, parent company of DuraMAX. “Having Corey LaJoie behind the wheel as both the driver of our branded car and a proud ambassador for DuraMAX strengthens our connection to the racing community. Corey’s dedication and skill truly embody the values of our brand, and we’re excited to work with him in representing our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction on and off the track.”
LaJoie ran for Rick Ware Racing over the last seven races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season after RWR and Spire Motorsports conducted a rare driver trade, which sent Justin Haley to the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. While he was hopeful for a full-time opportunity with the team in 2025, LaJoie is thankful to Ware, who found a way to carve out a role for him in the upcoming season.
“Rick Ware is someone who makes things happen. He’s a great guy who has been a generous friend in helping me get this vision of Stacking Pennies Performance off the ground,” LaJoie explained. “He’s allowed me to put the No. 01 on his Ford Mustangs building off the brand fans have related to, supported, and cheered for over the past several years. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for what’s ahead beginning at Daytona with DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change.”
The remainder of LaJoie’s 2025 driving schedule for Rick Ware Racing was not revealed in a press release from the team.
As far as his on-air analyst role with Prime Video goes, LaJoie will be teamed with the new NASCAR broadcaster, which joins the NASCAR broadcasting space as part of a new seven-year Media Rights Agreement that kicks off in 2025. The Prime Video schedule begins with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25, and will continue at Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway, Mexico City, and will conclude with Pocono Raceway on June 22.
While LaJoie’s move to a part-time driving schedule in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025 is a step back from previous seasons, where he has raced full-time, the racer is thankful for all he has achieved and continues to achieve in his racing career, and he takes no starts for granted.
“In many ways, my driving career has been more successful than I ever could’ve dreamed, yet I lose sleep feeling I never reached my full potential behind the wheel,” LaJoie explained. “The pursuit of bettering myself and others around me has never been more important than it is right now. My presence on the track will look different than it has in previous years, and it’s going to bring a new host of challenges, but my heart is set on making a lasting impact in the sport and the communities NASCAR reaches. Between Rick Ware, Prime Video, and the support of partners DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change, I’m about to follow my heart.”
LaJoie’s path to making the Daytona 500 field will be two-fold. He’ll either have to be one of the two fastest “Open” drivers in Daytona 500 qualifying on Wednesday, February 12. If not, he’ll have to attempt to race his way into the Daytona 500 through one of the two Duel Qualifying races. One “Open” entry will lock its spot in the Daytona 500 field in each of the Duel Qualifiers.
Heading into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, LaJoie has recorded a total of four top-five finishes and 11 top-10s over the course of 272 starts in the series. LaJoie matched a career-high with three top-10s in 2024, a number he also achieved in 2023.
Toby Christie is the Editor-in-Chief of Racing America. He has 15 years of experience as a motorsports journalist and has been with Racing America since 2023.
© 2025 ABG-SI LLC – SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. – All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates, licensees and related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Super Bowl LIX programming showcases Toyota Trucks Family, including the All-New 4Runner, Live Content and Fan Experiences
PLANO, Texas, Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today announced a series of experiences as part of its activations at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando and Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
From the talent and entertainment on display in Orlando, to the bright lights of the NFL Honors stage and uplifting New Orleans’ most overlooked neighborhoods, the “Official Automotive Partner of the NFL” will celebrate all levels of stardom including spotlighting youth destined for future greatness in their community.

“Our partnership with the NFL demonstrates our focus on supporting the next generation of football players, from youth leagues, high schools, HBCUs, to current NFL players,” said Michael Tripp, group vice president, Toyota division marketing. “Our collaboration with the NFL builds on Toyota’s 68-year grassroots legacy in football, aiming to make a positive impact on communities through our involvement with NFL FLAG.”
Here are the moments that Toyota will engineer to engage fans and strengthen community connections:
NFL FLAG HBCU Tournament Presented by Toyota
Toyota extends its long-standing support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and celebrates their role in growing the sport by powering the first-ever HBCU flag football tournament at this year’s Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. The tournament from January 30 to February 1 will see teams take the field with over 250 athletes from HBCU flag football programs from across the country. Participants will receive NFL star treatment given to the world’s best football players who will be in-market for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.
“Our support of NFL FLAG offers opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy football’s countless emotional and physical benefits. We saw this as a way to connect our long-standing support for HBCUs with our wider commitment to all flag players nationwide,” said Tripp.
Toyota’s “Glow Up Classic” Benefiting New Orleans’ 18th Ward
Toyota will host three epic, first-of-their-kind flag football exhibition games on February 4 in which New Orleans youth players will play in darkness using black light that illuminates UV-reactive jerseys and equipment to emulate a “glow-in-the-dark” feel.
The “Toyota Glow Up Classic” spotlights a problem: less than 20% of kids in Orleans Parish are active in sports due to financial constraints (sources: The 18th Ward.org, The Aspen Institute). Following the event, Toyota will leave a lasting impact in the community by unveiling the installation of permanent lights at New Orleans’ 18th Ward Field, transforming it into a lasting beacon for community sports long after Super Bowl LIX. Supporting the effort are surprise appearances by NFL stars.
“NFL FLAG empowers athletes of all ages and abilities to experience football’s lasting benefits. But building the next generation of stars requires community support. This game spotlights the incredible players who can thrive when given the chance,” said Dedra DeLilli, vice president, marketing communications, Toyota Motor North America.
Toyota “Ride Shotgun” at Super Bowl Experience
Toyota will enable fans of all ages to have NFL’s superstars “ride shotgun” with them at Super Bowl Experience (February 5-8), placing fans and their families in thrilling and humorous augmented reality (AR) scenes that simulate driving alongside NFL players.
The AR capabilities will be featured inside Toyota’s 2025 Sequoia and Land Cruiser, providing fans the chance to co-star in fun, gameday-inspired vignettes alongside their favorite Team Toyota athletes. Fans will have their choice of “riding shotgun” with Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers), Christian Gonzalez (New England Patriots), Kyle Hamilton (Baltimore Ravens), Michael Pittman Jr. (Indianapolis Colts) or longtime Toyota spokesperson Eli Manning.
“We designed this experience to allow fans to imagine themselves arriving at the peak of stardom, using technology to place them riding shotgun with our Team Toyota NFL stars on a simulated drive,” said DeLilli.
Celebrating NFL FLAG Stars at NFL Honors
The “NFL FLAG Players of the Year Award Presented by Toyota” spotlights a pair of standout athletes whose incredible skill and dedication to their teams and communities personifies the values of NFL FLAG both on and off the field.
The female and male players of the year will be honored at NFL Honors on February 6, 2025 and will later attend Super Bowl LIX on behalf of Toyota.
Toyota serves as a presenting sponsor for NFL FLAG, supporting 1,800 local leagues and empowering 750,000 youth athletes nationwide to experience the joy of non-contact football through the support of its 1,200 U.S. dealers.
Organically embedded into each activation is a new member of the Toyota vehicle family including the 2025 Tacoma TRD Pro Hybrid, 2025 Sequoia Capstone, 2025 Tailgate Tundra, and 2025 4Runner TRD Pro.
At a regional level, Toyota also currently sponsors eleven NFL teams through its network of dealer associations. Local activations will be driven by Toyota’s 1,200+ dealers across the U.S. Together, these partnerships will bring the shared mission of Toyota and the NFL boosting the next generation of superstars in communities everywhere with football as a unifying force.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About NFL FLAG
NFL Flag is the official flag football program of the NFL, operated in partnership with RCX Sports. NFL Flag programming boasts a network of 750,000 youth athletes across the United States and Canada and extends to more than 13 markets around the world. Fast-paced and accessible for all, flag football is one of the fastest growing sports globally with women and girls leading some of the largest growth and increased participation. Learn more online at nflflag.com.
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Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) informó hoy que las ventas en Estados Unidos a finales de 2024 fueron de 2,332,623 vehículos, lo que supone un…
Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today reported year-end 2024 U.S. sales of 2,332,623 vehicles, an increase of 3.7 percent on a volume basis and an…
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WASHINGTON — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will be the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the third of President Donald Trump’s nominees to be confirmed.
Noem earned the requisite number of votes from senators Saturday, winning confirmation with a vote of 59-34. Former U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was confirmed to be secretary of state in a unanimous vote Monday and former Fox News Host Pete Hegseth was confirmed as secretary of defense 51-50 Friday night, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
The confirmation votes came on the heels of Trump’s second oath of office and less than a week after the nominees’ respective committee hearings.
More:South Dakota leaders praise Gov. Kristi Noem’s confirmation as Homeland Security secretary
Unlike the controversial Hesgeth, Noem, a Republican, won the support of several Democrats in the otherwise party-line vote. Among them were Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and both of Michigan’s senators, Gary Peters and Elise Slotkin.
As the department’s new head, Noem is expected to play a central role in enacting Trump’s campaign promise to deport unauthorized immigrants en masse.
Noem was in her second term as governor of South Dakota when Trump selected her for the cabinet position.
Who is Kristi Noem?Dog controversy and what else to know about new homeland security head
She first entered state politics in 2006, when she was elected to the 6th District seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. She represented parts of Beadle, Clark, Codington, Hamlin, and Kingsbury counties in the Legislature from 2007 to 2010, and she worked on agricultural, property tax and gun legislation.
It was during this period that Noem befriended then-state Sen. Larry Rhoden, who was majority leader at the time. Noem would later select Rhoden as her running mate for lieutenant governor, and he stepped up to the governorship Saturday as she resigned to assume her new post.
After her legislative terms, Noem successfully challenged U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for South Dakota’s single House seat in 2010, which the Democrat had held since 2004. Noem served four terms in Washington.
In 2016, Noem launched her first campaign for governor. She beat Attorney General Marty Jackley in the state’s 2018 Republican primary before narrowly defeating then-Senate Minority Leader Billie Sutton to become the state’s first female governor on Jan. 5, 2019.
Noem was reelected in November 2022 to a second term, beating South Dakota House Minority Leader Jamie Smith with 61.9% of the vote.
Throughout her campaign for and tenure as governor, she’s been a strong ally of Trump, casting doubt on the validity of his loss to Biden in the 2020 election. He endorsed her reelection and she gave him an early endorsement in his 2024 presidential run. She also was rumored to be on his list of potential 2024 running mates.
Noem claims a number of accomplishments as governor. They include:
Noem also has been no stranger to controversy throughout her six years as the chief executive of South Dakota.
The COVID-19 pandemic took off partway into her first term, and she largely took a hands-off approach, eschewing statewide lockdowns, business closures and mask mandates. She also allowed the widely attended Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to continue in 2020 when many large annual gatherings were canceled; a 2021 Oxford University Press study for the Infectious Diseases Society of America directly connected more than 463 cases of COVID-19 to the event, which it said caused “widespread transmission” of the virus across the U.S.
Amid backlash to alleged government overreach during the pandemic, Noem has since touted her response, but she did take some restrictive measures as governor despite her rhetoric. After she declared a state of emergency on March 13, 2020, she recommended in early April that the state’s public schools close for the rest of the academic year and issued an executive order directing people older than age 65 in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties to stay at home.
Noem’s approach to COVID boosted her national image with conservatives and tightened her relationship with COVID-skeptical Trump, who joined the governor at an Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore in 2020.
She has had a testy relationship with South Dakota’s indigenous population, and was banned from the state’s Native American reservations on multiple occasions.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe, located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation near Rapid City, banned Noem in 2019 for supporting “riot boosting” legislation related to the Keystone XL pipeline protests — bills that would have allowed the state to sue people for “riot boosting” and create a fund to pay for extraordinary law enforcement costs.
And in May 2024, all nine South Dakota tribes banished Noem from their lands after she made statements suggesting that tribal leaders were “personally benefiting” from Mexican drug cartels, as well as ill-received comments she made regarding the education of Native children. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe later became the first tribe to lift Noem’s banishment on Jan. 15.
In another issue, Noem made a campaign promise during her first run as governor to bolster government transparency, but that platform had mostly dissolved toward the end of her time as the head of state. She scaled back on regular news conferences in her second term while prioritizing national outlets over interviews with South Dakota media.
Turnover within state government also became an issue for Noem. She ran through five chiefs of staff, with Mark Miller being the latest to resign in June 2023, according to the Associated Press. Noem did not hire a replacement for that specific position, but Darin Seeley, state Bureau of Human Resources and Administration commissioner, was promoted to chief operations officer, a similar function, in June, according to the Dakota Scout.
Noem’s time as governor included an investigation into whether her daughter, Kassidy Peters, received preferential treatment as she tried to get a real estate appraiser’s license. A legislative panel determined that Peters had, though Noem has pushed back on the panel’s ruling.
She deployed the South Dakota National Guard on several occasions response to natural disasters in the state, including to help residents of Castlewood — her hometown — recover from a tornado in May 2022. And in December 2022, she sent Guard units to haul firewood to communities on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Native American reservations impacted by deadly winter storms.
In a more controversial use of the Guard, she sent South Dakota troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist Texas during an influx of undocumented migrants that leaders there blamed on Biden administration policies. Those deployments were scrutinized after she refused to send state National Guard members to aid in the state’s recovery from historic flooding last June, citing “extremely expensive” deployment costs.
She also was on the campaign trail for Trump amid the recovery effort, flying out of state to several conservative speaking engagements on June 22. She returned to hold a midday news conference on June 23 but left that evening for a Republican fundraising event in Memphis, Tennessee, as the worst of the floodwaters were about to hit southeast South Dakota.
More:From photo op to out-of-state flights, Gov. Noem jets around nation as South Dakota floods
But the then-governor worked to secure aid for flood victims from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which she now will oversee as Homeland Security secretary.
In addition to FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security oversees agencies including Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Noem and her workforce of hundreds of thousands is expected to focus heavily on securing the southern border, where Trump has declared a national emergency. She will be working with the president’s border czar, Tom Homan.
And ICE will play a leading role in fulfilling Trump’s pledge to track down and deport millions of immigrants in the country illegally.

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By Steve Benen
On the first full day of his second term as president, Donald Trump attended a national prayer service in Washington, where he sat and listened to the bishop of the local Episcopal Diocese. It quickly became quite memorable: The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde spoke truth to power, urging the newly inaugurated president to reconsider his attacks on marginalized communities.
Trump reacted furiously, and among Republicans, he was hardly alone. House Speaker Mike Johnson and the new White House press secretary condemned the bishop’s sermon, and Fox News personalities repeatedly lashed out at Budde on the air. One GOP lawmaker went so far as to introduce a congressional resolution to formally condemn her remarks — and it quickly picked up 20 Republican co-sponsors.
It served as a timely reminder that too often in GOP circles, religion is treated as something that must be celebrated, protected and respected — just so long as the faith community is telling the party what it wants to hear.
In fact, the first week of the Trump era ended on a similar note to the way in which it began.
JD Vance sat down with CBS’s Margaret Brennan for his first on-air interview as vice president, and the “Face the Nation” host reminded her guest that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last week condemned some of Trump’s executive orders, most notably the administration’s new policy on allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to enter houses of worship.
“Do you personally support the idea of conducting a raid or enforcement action in a church service, at a school?” the host asked. The Ohio Republican, who is himself a Roman Catholic, replied:
Of course, if you have a person who is convicted of a violent crime, whether they’re an illegal immigrant or a non-illegal immigrant, you have to go and get that person to protect the public safety. That’s not unique to immigration. But let me just address this particular issue, Margaret. Because as a practicing Catholic, I was actually heartbroken by that statement. And I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?

So, a few things.
Right off the bat, it was curious to hear Vance say that officials have a responsibility to “get” those convicted of violent crimes “to protect the public safety.” Trump’s pardons for violent Jan. 6 felons suggest the Republican White House has already rejected the vice president’s assertion.
What’s more, it’s unusual, to put it mildly, to see a prominent American political leader use such pointed language in reference to Catholic leaders. “Are they actually worried about their bottom line?” is the kind of question that, I suspect, will not be well received by the USCCB.
But let’s also not brush past the larger context. In recent years, in instances in which the Biden administration disagreed with the Roman Catholic Church, Trump and other Republicans were quick to accuse the former Democratic president of being “against God,” “against the Bible” and “essentially against religion.” At the Republican National Convention, one speaker condemned Biden — by all accounts, a devout Catholic — as a “Catholic in name only.”
What are the chances Republicans will hear similar talk after a week in which party leaders launched a hysterical offensive against Budde and publicly questioned whether Catholic bishops are principally concerned with “their bottom line”?
Steve Benen is a producer for “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. He’s also the bestselling author of “Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans’ War on the Recent Past.”
© 2025 MSNBC Cable, L.L.C.

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The Sundance Film Festival competition award winners won’t be announced until next week, and judging is still underway. While The Ballad of Wallis Island is playing out of official competition, the fact remains that, judging by the audience reaction to the film’s premiere on Saturday, it was hard not to leave the premiere feeling like Sundance 2025 just may have found its next audience favorite. 
Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden), once half of the iconic folk-rock duo McGwyer and Mortimer, is deeply focused on his solo career and his upcoming album when an unexpected offer arrives: a private gig on a remote island. The request comes from Charles (Tim Key), and when Herb arrives on the island, he learns that he’s not staying in a hotel, but at Charles’ house, and that the intimate venue gig for an audience of “under a hundred people” is 99 short of a hundred, as Charles will be the entire audience. The reclusive two-time lottery winner is obsessed with McGwyer and Mortimer, and Herb is stunned when his former musical partner and ex-lover Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman) arrives, along with her new husband Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen, Leonardo, Famalam) to play the gig with him. The two haven’t seen each other in nearly a decade, and tensions between them resurface quickly — as do other feelings. Caught between nostalgia and discomfort, Herb’s incredulous frustrations with this strange man who has brought them together under false pretenses start to soften, and soon lead Herb to uncover the real reason for Charles’ extravagant gesture — a deeply personal yearning to relive a time indelibly connected to the former duo’s music.
Lead actors and co-writers Key and Basden, half of the four-man comedy troupe Cowards, along with director James Griffiths, have adapted their 2007 short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Pays Wallis Island, and this is a rare case of a short film that was crying out for expansion. This bittersweet exploration of nostalgia, connection and the healing power of music is riotously and joyously funny, with marvelously written (and frequently improvised) dialogue that ranges from brilliantly inane to stupidly profound. The Ballad of Wallis Island is a beautifully touching film that comes to vibrant life through richly drawn characters, inspired comedy, quirky charm and great music. The film has had an 18-year gestation period, and the creative team’s heartfelt commitment to the story and its themes come through in every frame. What sounds like it may well be a crazy and contrived variation on The Parent Trap with musicians becomes so much more. It’s a deep exploration of loneliness, regret, self discovery and the healing power of music, and it’s a refreshingly sweet, innocent and delightfully nutty comedy that serves as a much-needed antidote to the biting cynicism and in-your-face shock value that forms the basis for too much of the modern approach to humor.
Key and Basden are the soul of the film, and the chemistry in their performances is sublime. Key’s Charles is indefatigably chipper and seemingly incapable of shutting his mouth for even 20 seconds, contrasting with the pretentious and serious Herb in the most amusing ways. Basden also proves to be a phenomenal singer and guitarist, and the songs, which he co-wrote with Key, are simply terrific. Mulligan is one of our finest working actors, and her talent is an immeasurable addition, though audiences coming into the film simply to see the new Carey Mulligan vehicle will find themselves surprised yet anything but disappointed by  what they get. Ndifornyen, a great comic in his own right, is stuck in something of a straight man role, but he plays it with such unselfish aplomb that he makes a big impression. Sian Clifford (Fleabag, Young Woman and the Sea) rounds out the ensemble as the local shop owner Amanda, a goodhearted and endlessly friendly woman who is hilariously clueless about everything from music to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Clifford brings an endearing earnestness to the role.
The Ballad of Wallis Island was met by a thunderous and overpowering standing ovation when the lights came up at the Eccles Center, and it’s a crowd pleaser that has all the markings of a beloved classic, destined to be embraced as a sentimental favorite by anyone lucky enough to fall under its sweet spell. —Patrick Gibbs
Read more of SLUG’s coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

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