Midwest
Dakotas poised for newfound political prominence with Senate, Trump Cabinet leaders picked from heartland
In 2025, the Trump administration and Congress are poised to represent a significant realignment of political power, moving its focus from the East and West coasts to the heartland after decades of coastal dominance.
Republicans chose Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as majority leader of the upper legislative chamber.
President-elect Trump nominated South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead Homeland Security and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as secretary of the interior. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., figures to hold a top cybersecurity subcommittee post.
In that regard, Dakota State University President José-Marie Griffiths, who has advised Noem, Burgum and other regional figures, particularly on cybersecurity issues, said it’s about time the region received attention.
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“These people all have a worldview that’s much larger than just the middle of the country, obviously. But it’s nice to know that the voices of the people in this part of the country will be heard and presumably considered and taken into account on a larger scale,” she said.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (Getty)
During Bill Clinton’s first run for president, his top strategist James Carville called Pennsylvania “Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in the middle,” which led to “Pennsyltucky” becoming part of the national lexicon as a punchline.
Recent legislative leaders also hailed largely from California and New York with Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell being an exception.
In her interview with Fox News Digital, Griffiths added that the idea of bringing more prominence both institutionally and occupationally to the heartland does have a few proponents on the coasts.
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She noted Rep. Ro Khanna’s past comments about expanding his district’s “Silicon Valley” economy to other underserved parts of the country. The Democrat visited rural Kentucky and West Virginia to support emerging tech programs and to study how the private sector and federal funds can enhance such efforts.
“No person should be forced to leave their hometown to get a new economy job,” Khanna previously said.
On Friday, Griffiths added that in the 7,000-person town of Madison, South Dakota, where she lives and works, people are happy with their environs and don’t wish to relocate to Khanna’s California or commercial hubs like New York with its population of 8.3 million.
Doug Burgum and Donald Trump (AP)
“We have a tremendous number of really good young people in this part of the world,” she said. “They want to [stay] here, and we want to make sure that there’s opportunity for them to do the kinds of work that they’re well qualified for.”
Griffiths isn’t the only South Dakotan anxious to see what the new year brings for her region.
Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., who represents the entire state in Congress, spoke briefly on the matter after a meeting with DOGE figureheads Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Thursday.
One proposal from DOGE proponents is to shift bureaucratic power outside of Washington, D.C., to areas where its work is relevant and people can interact better with agencies.
“The U.S. Forest Service should be moved to Rapid City, South Dakota,” Johnson said.
“The Black Hills of South Dakota offer an incredible natural resource, and it is a forest that has faced all of the major challenges facing our forests across this country. I would tell you the people in the Black Hills love that forest, and they want to make sure that it exists for generations.”
Johnson said it would be easier to move the agency, founded by former Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Gifford Pinchot and long anchored in Washington, closer to the areas it affects.
Meanwhile, Griffiths said that with Noem potentially succeeding Alejandro Mayorkas, a South Dakotan will be primed to shift more attention to the issue of cybersecurity in the regionally relevant agriculture sector.
“Not only does she have the borders to protect, but there’s a strong cybersecurity component to her mandate there. And then Doug being in Interior and chairing that Energy Council energy consortium will be very, very interesting because that also goes to support the efforts in terms of having the United States retain its lead role in new and emerging technologies,” Griffiths said, noting DSU is a STEM university.
Ag committee member Dusty Johnson, R-S.D. (Reuters)
To the north, Mark Jorritsma of the North Dakota Family Alliance, which works to “strengthen faith, family and freedom” and works closely with state leaders, said he is also encouraged by the federal leadership shift.
“We are excited that the Dakotas will have an even more significant influence on the path our country takes,” Jorritsma said Friday.
“President-elect Trump continues to show his support for things that have made our country great — an abundance of resources and energy, the importance of the agricultural sector and an emphasis on faith, family and freedom.
“We look forward to strong leadership by these individuals, representing not only the Midwest, but advancing the values that have been foundational to the success of our entire nation.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Burgum, Noem, Rounds and Thune, but did not receive responses by press time.
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A student at a small private college in St. Paul, Minnesota, was caught on video by Turning Point USA members defending conservative titan Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and at times celebrating it.
The student approached the Turning Point members on the campus of Hamline University while they were hosting a tabling event, according to Frontlines TPUSA.
“Why shouldn’t I be glad that [Charlie Kirk] got shot? Like honestly?” the unnamed student asked the Turning Point members.
After a back-and-forth about gun control, the agitator doubled down.
A student at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, standing inside a campus building in late 2025, tells Turning Point USA chapter members that he celebrated founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination. (Courtesy: @FrontlinesTPUSA)
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“I wanna — I’m for the Second Amendment — I’m just glad Charlie Kirk got shot because he said some really stupid s—,” he said.
The student was asked whether he had ever said “stupid s—.”
“Well yeah, but —” he said, before being cut off by a Turning Point member, who asked if he should be shot for stupid things he has said.
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“No, well, because I didn’t call for — I didn’t say that gun violence is necessary,” the student replied.
During his career as a conservative commentator, Kirk argued that, while tragic, school shootings don’t justify infringing on the Second Amendment, and in any case, criminals would still have access to guns.
“I’m just saying, I think it’s good Charlie Kirk got shot because he got what he preached. He said that violence is necessary. He said that empathy is a weakness. Why should I be empathetic to that?” the student argued.
Hamline University hosts the Class AA girls’ pole vault at the 2006 State Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field Meet. (Joey McLeister/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Kirk never said empathy is a “weakness,” but did say on a 2022 episode of his podcast that he disliked the term.
“He got shot because he called for it,” the provocateur continued. “He said bring it on. I watched the video of him getting shot in the neck and I clapped.“
“That’s so sad,” a Turning Point student replied.
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“I don’t think it is yet. I think bad people deserve to die,” the Kirk opponent said.
The students then launched into a brief debate about fascism, with the agitator claiming that President Donald Trump is a fascist.
Nationwide, there have been several instances of people publicly celebrating or mocking Charlie Kirk’s shocking assassination.
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is assassinated during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Less than a week after Kirk’s Sept. 10 killing in broad daylight while holding an event on the Utah Valley University campus, a student on the Clemson University campus was caught on video mocking the commentator, who left behind a wife and two young children.
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Around the same time, a Texas Tech University student disrupted a Kirk vigil on campus, yelling, “”F— y’all homie dead, he got shot in the head.” That student was expelled.
A Chicago public school teacher was also accused of making light of Kirk’s death during a “No Kings” protest in October. She was caught on video making a gun symbol with her fingers, putting it to her neck, and pulling the imaginary trigger.
“Hamline University does not condone violence in any form,” the school said in a brief statement.
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Milwaukee, WI
‘We’re still struggling’: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin has confirmed a new 24-hour rainfall record after more than a foot of rain fell in Milwaukee during historic summer flooding, but for some families like Victoria Kiepert’s, the damage never ended.
The August 9th and 10th storms brought 14-and-a-half inches of rain to northwest Milwaukee in just 24 hours, now officially the most rain ever recorded in a single day in Wisconsin. Behind that historic number are families still trying to rebuild as Christmas approaches.
“We lost all of our stuff in the basement,” Kiepert said.
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Floodwaters damaged Kiepert’s northside home, destroying nearly everything her family owned. She applied for help, but says months later, recovery is still falling on her shoulders.
“Beds, appliances, all that stuff, kids’ clothes, TVs, everything,” Kiepert said.
The Milwaukee mother, who cares for five children, says her family was left homeless for two weeks after the flooding.
Victoria Kiepert
“We had to move, and I couldn’t find a house right away, so we were homeless for two weeks, and then we moved and still don’t have the things we need,” Kiepert said.
Watch: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches
Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches
Climate experts say the storms were unprecedented, with rain falling one to three inches an hour for several hours, overwhelming basements, streets, and sewer systems. Radar estimates show 10 to 12 inches fell across northern Milwaukee and northeast Waukesha counties, confirming the devastation was widespread.
Kiepert says she and her kids have to sleep on air mattresses, and the holidays only add more pressure to an already overwhelming situation.
“People think that after people get FEMA money, it’s just done and over with, and that should be enough, but it’s really not because it takes months, even years, sometimes when you’re starting all over,” Kiepert said.
She’s unsure how she will provide gifts for her kids this Christmas, her family still needs basic necessities months after the flooding.
Victoria Kiepert
“We still need beds, dressers, kids’ clothing, a lot of stuff,” Kiepert said.
As Wisconsin marks a new chapter in climate history, families like Kiepert’s say recovery can’t stop at statistics, especially as Christmas approaches.
“This year’s really hard, because mostly because of the flood, cause all the stuff we lost, I have to buy them new stuff, because that money isn’t available for Christmas,” Kiepert said.
The flooding has made this Christmas particularly challenging for Kiepert’s family, including her youngest daughter experiencing her first Christmas.
“This is my daughter’s first Christmas, it would help for all my kids but mainly for her, to make like a Christmas miracle for them,” Kiepert said.
Despite the hardships, Kiepert maintains perspective on what matters most during the holidays.
“Sometimes it’s not about the gifts, it’s about being stable and having family around,” Kiepert said.
As Victoria’s family continues to rebuild, community support can make a real difference. A GoFundMe is available for those who wish to donate money or provide much-needed household items. If you can donate any of the furniture items she seeks, her email is Victoria.kiepert@icloud.com, or you can reach out to me by email at gideon.verdin@tmj4.com, and I will connect you with Victoria.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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