President Trump has ousted Kirsti Noem, the Department of Homeland Security secretary. The man tapped to replace her is Republican U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin. 

Mullin has established himself as the most influential business owner in Trump’s Washington.  

On this bonus episode of 1 Smart Business Story, our guest is journalist Issie Lapowsky. She’s been tracking Mullin’s ascent and just happened to be finishing up a feature on the senator when this news broke.  

Lapowsky joined Inc. senior editor Rob Verger to explain how Mullin went from blue-collar businessman to nominee to inherit the most divisive and politically explosive federal agency.