Next on Native Bidaské: Sen. Mullin, A Cherokee Citizen at the Helm of Homeland Security?

Join Sean Griswold for a high-stakes roundtable discussion on a political shakeup that has sent shockwaves through Indian Country. Following President Trump’s recent ousting of Kristi Noem, the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) marks a potentially historic, yet deeply polarizing, moment for Indigenous representation.

Is this a victory for representation, or a complex paradox for tribal sovereignty? The Native American reporters dive deep into the nuances.

The Panelists

Inside the Discussion

In this episode, we explore whether Mullin’s identity as a Cherokee citizen will fundamentally change how the federal government interacts with tribal nations. Key topics include:

• The “Irony” of Indigenous-Led Immigration: Levi Rickert discusses the strange reality of a Native American overseeing U.S. immigration policy and whether Mullin will prioritize the President’s agenda over tribal concerns.
• The Crisis at the Border and Beyond: The panel addresses disturbing reports of tribal citizens being detained by ICE and having their tribal IDs—which are DHS-certified “Real IDs”—disregarded or even destroyed.
• Sovereignty vs. Politics: Unlike his predecessor Kristi Noem, who had a notoriously “rocky” relationship with tribes, Mullin understands the “Indian Country 101” basics of sovereignty and treaty rights. But will he use that knowledge to push back against the administration’s more controversial policies?.
• The Economic Tug-of-War: We revisit the recent backlash over million-dollar ICE contracts involving tribal entities and the ongoing struggle for economic development that doesn’t compromise Indigenous values.

Why It Matters

“Representation matters… but I’m not confident that ICE or the administration’s cruelty will change.” — Deb Haaland, former Secretary of the Interior.

The conversation wraps with a look at Mullin’s ability to “toe the party line” while potentially being one of the few people who can tell the President “no”.

Don’t miss this essential breakdown of what a Mullin-led DHS means for the future of tribal relations.

Watch the full episode of Native Bidaské airing March 13th at 12 PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and NativeNewsOnline.net.

Watch past Native Bidaské episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/@NativeNewsOnline/streams

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