Teen Dies in ICE Custody, Youngest Person Yet of Trump’s Term

Safe America Media, which was created just eight days before receiving a massive $220 million advertising contract, received at least $15.2 million from a 12 percent commission, according to an internal DHS memo and three people familiar with the contracts. The second company, People Who Think, received at least $7.7 million through its 10% commission on part of the $220 million, according to the memo. The memo said there was only “limited competition” for contracts, due to an “urgent and compelling need,” and that commission rates were below industry standards.

Safe America Media LLC then subcontracted Strategy Group, a media company run by Tricia McLaughlin’s husband, who was a DHS spokesperson. The outgoing secretary was reportedly put in touch with the agency by Corey Lewandowski, a former adviser to Donald Trump and Noem’s alleged boyfriend.

McLaughlin said Safe America Media would have been selected for the contract because of the men who ran it: Republican media veteran Mike McElwain and its chief ad creator, Patrick McCarthy. The duo has ties to a company that made numerous media buys for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. People Who Think was co-founded by Jay Connaughton, who worked for the 2016 Trump campaign. The company worked on a campaign for Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who also hired Lewandowski and Strategy Group.