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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem faces lawsuit after viral endorsement of Texas dentists

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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was hit with a lawsuit accusing her of “misleading and deceptive advertising” after she posted a viral dental endorsement video on social media earlier this week. 

Travelers United, a consumer advocacy group, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Washington, D.C. 

“Travelers United sued South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem for failing to properly disclose a medical tourism advertisement that she posted on all of her personal social media platforms,” reads a description of the suit shared to the advocacy group’s website, which grouped it under legal claims related to “travel influencers.”

Noem — a Republican who for a time seemed poised to enter the 2024 presidential race and has billed herself as a potential vice presidential pick for former President Donald Trump as he campaigns for his own reelection — faced backlash as well as widespread scrutiny after initially sharing the video on Monday night. The governor herself starred in the promotional clip, which was styled like a typical infomercial and saw her giving praise to “the team at Smile Texas,” a cosmetic dental office, for performing a procedure that Noem praised for fixing her teeth and giving her a smile that she said she “can be proud of.” 

“I love my new family at Smile Texas!” Noem captioned the video clip on X, formerly Twitter. “The video says it all, and I am so grateful for their help fixing my smile for me.”

An Instagram post by Smile Texas, which included the video of Noem, referred to her as a “gracious leading lady” who “just received an executive, feminine, beautiful smile here at Smile Texas.” Noem said she sought the dental procedure because of a biking accident several years ago that knocked out some of her teeth.

The lawsuit alleges that Noem, in sharing the Smile Texas plug to her personal social accounts without any sort of label, “advertised a product or service without disclosing that she has a financial relationship with that company.” It also accuses the governor of violating a Federal Trade Commission requirement that social posts disclose whether they are advertisements or not with a marker that says, “Ad.”

“Governor Kristi Noem is the Governor of South Dakota for a living but seems to have taken up work as a social media influencer as of March 12, 2024,” the lawsuit says. 

CBS News contacted Noem’s office for comment but did not receive an immediate reply. 

The lawsuit came as North Dakota State Sen. Reynold Nesiba, a Democrat, called for an investigation into Noem’s viral dental video, the Associated Press reported. Nesiba asked the co-chairs of the state legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee to add the issue of Noem’s alleged advertisement to the agenda for their next meeting in July, according to the outlet.

“This informercial raises a number of questions,” Nesiba wrote Wednesday in a post on social media.





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The Uplift: Steve Gleason and more

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The Uplift: Steve Gleason and more – CBS News


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NFL legend Steve Gleason shares his experience with ALS in a heartfelt conversation with David Begnaud. A man whose life changed drastically in a split second is using the life-changing event to inspire others. Plus, more heartwarming stories.

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Eye on America: Inside an extreme sports camp, and a look at how libraries are innovating

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Eye on America: Inside an extreme sports camp, and a look at how libraries are innovating – CBS News


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In Pennsylvania, we visit a sleepaway camp that’s training the next generation of extreme sports stars. And in South Carolina, we see how public libraries are evolving to better serve the growing and diverse needs of its community members. Watch these stories and more on “Eye on America” with host Michelle Miller.

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Former New York Gov. David Paterson, stepson attacked while walking in New York City

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NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked in New York City on Friday night, authorities said.

The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Second Avenue near East 96th Street on the Upper East Side, according to the New York City Police Department.

Police said officers were sent to the scene after an assault was reported. When officers arrived, police say they found a 20-year-old man suffering from facial injuries and a 70-year-old man who had head pain. Both victims were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the former governor said the two were attacked while “taking a walk around the block near their home by some individuals that had a previous interaction with his stepson.” 

The spokesperson said that they were injured “but were able to fight off their attackers.” 

Both were taken to Cornell Hospital “as a precaution,” he added. 

Police said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

The 70-year-old Paterson, a Democrat, served as governor from 2008 to 2010, stepping into the post after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer following his prostitution scandal. He made history at the time as the state’s first-ever Black and legally blind governor. 



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