Noem to Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee (Connecting the Dots: Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Minnesota, CNN, The American Federation of Teachers, The SEIU, The AFL-CIO, America Votes, The Nation of Islam, Keith Ellison, The Economic Policy Institute & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Noem to Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee (Connecting the Dots: Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Minnesota, CNN, The American Federation of Teachers, The SEIU, The AFL-CIO, America Votes, The Nation of Islam, Keith Ellison, The Economic Policy Institute & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Newsmax.com

By Sam Barron    |   Monday, 26 January 2026 09:11 PM EST

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/kristi-noem-testify-senate/2026/01/26/id/1243659/

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early March, a spokesperson for committee Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told The Hill on Monday.

Noem is to testify on March 3, Grassley's office said.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., ranking Democrat on the committee, bashed Noem in a statement after she agreed to testify.

"Secretary Noem refused to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee last year and now tells us that she will be available in five weeks — should she still be DHS Secretary at that time," Durbin said.

"With all of the violence and deaths involving DHS, the Secretary is apparently in no hurry to account for her mismanagement of this national crisis. And she expects us to rubber stamp her record-breaking budget in the meantime," Durbin added.

A White House official pushed back Monday on speculation about leadership changes at the Department of Homeland Security, stressing that Noem continues to have the full backing of President Donald Trump.

Noem has come under fire for her response to the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents, with many Democrats calling for her impeachment and Senate Democrats vowing not to fund DHS.

The clarification followed Trump's announcement that border czar Tom Homan would take charge of immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.

"Secretary Noem will continue to lead the Department of Homeland Security with the full trust and confidence of the president," a White House official told CNN.

The official emphasized that Homan's deployment was driven by operational urgency, not internal disagreement.

"Tom Homan is uniquely positioned to drop everything and focus solely on Minnesota to solve the problems that have been created by a lack of cooperation from state and local officials," the official added.

The Coalition Behind the Strike: Labor, Faith, and Community Power

Museum of Protest

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

https://museumofprotest.org/news/general-strikes-in-america-why-theyre-rare-and-when-they-work/

The January 2026 Minneapolis general strike encompasses traditional labor unions, faith-based organizations, community advocacy groups, and student organizations in an unprecedented alignment around immigration enforcement as a primary labor and civil rights concern.

At the core of the organizing effort were several major labor unions. SEIU Local 26, representing property services workers including janitors, building maintenance personnel, and service workers across the Twin Cities, emerged as a primary organizing force. The union’s membership includes substantial immigrant populations and workers who had directly experienced ICE enforcement, with members reporting colleagues detained or living in fear of enforcement action. UNITE HERE Local 17, representing hospitality workers including those employed in hotels, restaurants, and food service venues, likewise became a central organizing node. The union’s leadership decision to shut down hundreds of hospitality businesses sent a powerful economic signal, as the hospitality sector represents a major revenue generator for the Twin Cities economy and employer of thousands of immigrant workers.

The Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59 of the American Federation of Teachers, represented an unusual participant in labor strike action, as teachers and school employees traditionally face significant legal restrictions on work stoppages and industrial action. The Minnesota Nurses Association likewise participated, representing a healthcare workforce sector that has traditionally maintained greater distance from disruptive labor tactics.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO, the statewide federation of more than 1,000 affiliated local unions representing over 80,000 workers, provided official coordination and strategic guidance for the action. The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, representing the umbrella organization of Minneapolis-area unions, provided direct coordination of the downtown march, rally logistics, and strike discipline.

Beyond labor unions, the organizing coalition included significant participation from faith-based organizations and leaders. The participation of approximately 100 clergy members in civil disobedience at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport represented an important signal of moral authority. Multiple Christian congregations, Jewish synagogues, Islamic mosques, and other faith communities participated in planning and execution of the strike action, drawing on theological traditions of sanctuary and hospitality toward immigrants.

Community advocacy organizations and grassroots groups constituted the third major component of the organizing coalition. Indivisible Twin Cities, a local chapter of the national Indivisible organization dedicated to grassroots progressive activism, played a central role in amplifying the call for general strike participation through social media, public meetings, and community organizing. Defend Immigrant Families Campaign, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and numerous other immigrant rights and social justice organizations provided both organizational capacity and direct mobilization of their constituencies.

The organizational structure of the 2026 Minneapolis strike notably differed from traditional American labor actions. Rather than a centralized command structure with clear hierarchical decision-making, the strike was characterized as decentralized and consensus-oriented among participating organizations, with decisions made through coalition meetings and consensus-building processes. This reflected contemporary social movement practice influenced by Occupy Wall Street and other horizontal organizing traditions, though it also created challenges for message discipline and strategic coordination, as different organizations sometimes advanced different tactical approaches or demands.

Connecting the Dots:

(Chuck) Charles E. Schumer is the Senate Minority leader and Richard J. Durbin’s Washington Housemate.

(Dick) Richard J. Durbin is Charles E. Schumer’s Washington housemate, a U.S. Senate senator and a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations. 

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

Alexis M. Herman is a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Ray Marshall is a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Robert B. Reich is a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

T. Michael Kerr is an assistant secretary for administration for the U.S. Department of Labor and was a legislative aide for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Gerald W. McEntee was the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and is a director at the Economic Policy Institute.

Richard L. Trumka was a director at the Economic Policy Institute and the president for the AFL-CIO.

Rhonda Weingarten is a director at the Economic Policy Institute, the president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a director at the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and was the president of the United Federation of Teachers.

Keith Ellison is a director at the Economic Policy Institute, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and has an affiliation with the Nation of Islam.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy and the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations. 

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Cecile Richards was the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, the founder & president of America Votes and married to Kirk Adams.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a national partner with America Votes.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a national partner with America Votes.

AFL-CIO is a national partner with America Votes.

Kirk Adams is the international EVP for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), married to Cecile Richards and an organizing director for the AFL-CIO.

Cecile Richards is married to Kirk Adams, was the founder & president of America Votes, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation.

Ted Turner is the chairman for the Turner Foundation, the founder of CNN and a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Tina Smith was a VP for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Mark Dayton’s chief of staff.

Mark Dayton’s chief of staff was Tina Smith, the Minnesota state government governor and a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Walter Isaacson is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation and was the chairman & CEO for CNN.

Jeb Bush was a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a board member for the American Action Forum, and is a member of the Alfalfa Club.

Frederic V. Malek is the chairman for the American Action Forum, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a member of the Alfalfa Club.

Norm Coleman is a board member for the American Action Forum and was a solicitor general for the Minnesota state government.

Mark Dayton was the Minnesota state government governor, Tina Smith was his chief of staff and was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations

Tina Smith was a VP for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Mark Dayton’s chief of staff.

Cecile Richards was the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the founder & president of America Votes, a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation and is married to Kirk Adams.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.

Kirk Adams is married to Cecile Richards, the international EVP for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and an organizing director for the AFL-CIO.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a national partner with America Votes.

AFL-CIO is a national partner with America Votes.

Richard L. Trumka was the president for the AFL-CIO and a director at the Economic Policy Institute.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a national partner with America Votes.

Rhonda Weingarten is the president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and a director at the Economic Policy Institute.

Keith Ellison is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has an affiliation with the Nation of Islam and a director at the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations. 

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

Alexis M. Herman is a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Ray Marshall is a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Robert B. Reich is a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

(Dick) Richard J. Durbin is a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, a U.S. Senate senator and Charles E. Schumer’s Washington housemate.

(Chuck) Charles E. Schumer is Richard J. Durbin’s Washington Housemate and the Senate Minority leader. 

Resources: Past Research

Senate Democrats Seek 3-Year Extension of Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits (Connecting the Dots: Chuck Schumer, Richard J. Durbin, Hakeem Jeffries, The Economic Policy Institute, The Affordable Care Act “AKA” Obamacare & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Richard (Dick) Durbin)

Thursday, December 4, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/12/senate-democrats-seek-3-year-extension.html

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Saturday, June 11, 2022

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2022/06/appeals-court-unanimously-dismisses.html

Minnesota Gov Appoints Former Planned Parenthood VP to Franken’s Seat (Past Research on Mark Dayton & Minnesota state government)

Thursday, December 14, 2017

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/12/minnesota-gov-appoints-former-planned.html

Minneapolis CEOs Urge De-escalation After Fatal Shooting by Border Patrol Agent (Connecting the Dots: Target, 3M, UnitedHealth Group, Keith Ellison, Chuck Schumer, The Nation of Islam, Minnesota, Elaine Chao, The American Action Forum & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Nation of Islam & Keith Ellison)

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/01/minneapolis-ceos-urge-de-escalation.html

Charleston: CNN’s Sick Pattern of Using the Dead as Political Weapons Against the Right (Past Research on CNN)

Saturday, June 20, 2015

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/06/charleston-cnns-sick-pattern-of-using.html

Apple Agrees to Pay $95 Million to Settle Siri Privacy Lawsuit (Connecting the Dots: Apple & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Walter Isaacson, Bloomberg Family Foundation & CNN)

Thursday, January 2, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/01/apple-agrees-to-pay-95-million-to.html