SCOOP: Why John Rich is working with Kristi Noem to to educate parents and teens about how they can “protect themselves from the monsters that intend to hurt them”

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is teaming up with John Rich, the country music superstar, to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The pair are working together on DHS’s Know2Protect project. Noem told the Washington Reporter the new project fits squarely within her department’s mission “to protect the American people,” including “protecting our children.”

“The Internet has completely changed how we connect, but it has also opened new doors for predators who want to ham our kids,” Noem told the Reporter. “That's why we launched Know2Protect."

"There were over 36 Million tips called in last year from parents reporting their children had been targeted by online predators,” Rich noted to the Reporter. “I’ve joined with the Department of Homeland Security to host a livestream seminar…to educate parents and teens as to how they can protect themselves from the monsters that intend to hurt them.”

The Know2Protect recently hit its first anniversary. In commemoration of the anniversary, DHS and Rich are jointly hosting a Space on X, formerly Twitter, where Rich will be joined by Special Agent Dennis Fetting, from DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations.