Yes or no. No surprise, Kristi Noem chose neither. And that told us everything we needed to know.
In this podcast segment, Molly McPherson reacts to a congressional hearing where a California congresswoman asks Secretary Kristi Noem whether she had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski. Noem evades the direct yes/no question, prompting McPherson to dissect the non‑answer. She argues that the act of dodging itself is a confession, revealing that the respondent has something to hide. McPherson introduces the term “the gnome” (or “the dodge”) to label this evasive tactic, explains how it functions—deflecting the question, shifting blame, and framing the inquiry as tabloid garbage—and offers listeners a framework for spotting such maneuvers and responding to them in professional contexts. The segment blends political commentary with practical communication advice.
