Daily Update - January 12, 2026

Senator Tillis Demands DHS Secretary Appear Before Committee

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About Reuel Sample

This is the Wilmington Standard Daily Update for Monday January 12th, 2026.

On Friday, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis announced he would block all future nominees for the Department of Homeland Security until Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Secretary has been asked to speak before the committee twice – once in June and the other in September. She was unable to make either one – and did not give a reason.

Public Congressional committee hearings are rarely productive. Very few questions are actually asked, but they do result in a whole lot speeches for sound clips. Quite frankly, anything would be more important. Secretary Noem has a lot to do, and she knows taking a day or two out of her schedule to hear United States Senators bloviate will not advance the security of our country.

Nevertheless, Senator Tillis is holding his ground. Since he is not running again, he has nothing to lose, and so is free to pursue his agenda of Congressional oversight of DHS and other agencies.

There is a simple way out. Secretary Noem just needs to appear before the committee – and very, very soon. Yes, it will give the Democrats yet another platform to proclaim the evils of ICE, Orange Man Bad, and how all of this is being manufactured by Russia. But, it will also give the Secretary a chance to present to the American people and go on record concerning the truth about what happened in Minnesota, as well as give a full run down as to how her agency is trying to reverse years of an illegal immigration invasion that has been pushed and supported by Democrats for decades. Afterall, the Senate Judiciary Committee is chaired by a Republican – so it is relatively friendly ground.

Will her testimony change any minds? Nope – these things never do. Is it a waste of her time and everyone else’s? Yes. Is Senator Tillis completely out line – especially since the chair of the committee – Senator Grassley of Iowa – has not joined Senator Tillis in his ultimatum. Of course.

But all things considered – and knowing that we need a full Department of Homeland Security to get things done – it is the right thing to do.

For the Wilmington Standard, I’m Reuel Sample. Thanks for listening.

Reuel Sample is the Editor-in-Chief of The Wilmington Standard. A graduate of Grove City College and Princeton Theological Seminary, he has served as both a Presbyterian Pastor and a Navy Chaplain. He is the product of a classical liberal arts education combined with real world experience in politics and business and conservative Christian worldview firmly rooted in the Reformed tradition. He is the host of several podcasts including the NHC GOP Podcast, the Pastor's Voice, and co-hosts the Nikki and Reuel Podcast Experience. An avid sailor, he has sailed around the world as a youth and to the Azores as a teen as well as extensive trips up and down the east coast of the United States. He is honored to be married to his wife Pam and makes his home in Wilmington, NC.