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Due to the partial government shutdown.

Spring break airport chaos with travelers waiting hours at security as unpaid TSA agents stop showing up for work
https://www.businessinsider.com/airport-security-w...®i_id=93871742&segment_id=216373&user_id=51b0c9c24bd2dd2f56f41e7a59b7089a

Thousands of travelers in the US are getting stuck in security lines that are taking up to 3 hours, as the ongoing partial government shutdown causes staff shortages at the Transportation Security Administration.
"SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE," the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, said in an X post on Sunday, blaming the staffing shortages on the Democratic Party.
"The Democrats' DHS shutdown has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights," it said.<i/>

Do we expect the Dems to cave, again?

That's OK. Proles will be so broke, from escalating energy prices, and escalating prices for everything else, there will not be any money left for recreational travel.

But the sacrifice is worth it, for the greater glory of Trump the Magnificent, right?

Steve

But the sacrifice is worth it, for the greater glory of Trump the Magnificent, right?

Of course not, but the Dems are screwing up, yet again, in my opinion.

Holding up funding for TSA when the terrorism risk is increased (by Trump's actions, obviously) - it's just mad.
Pick your battles. This is a bad one.
Expect the Dems to cave this week.

Holding up funding for TSA when the terrorism risk is increased (by Trump's actions, obviously) - it's just mad.

Make the Proles stand in line longer, which is what they seem to be doing. TPTB don't care about the ease and comfort of Proles. They don't fly commercial.

Steve

Has TSA improved their rates of detection, or do they continue to fail to detect firearms when tested?

Reinforced cockpit doors probably have done more to stop incidents than increased TSA. Dogs are better bomb detectors than TSA humans. They were using them at the San Juan airport when we were there last year.

“Has TSA improved their rates of detection, or do they continue to fail to detect firearms when tested?”

Don’t know. Not paying them their salary isn’t likely to make them better at it.

Don’t know. Not paying them their salary isn’t likely to make them better at it.

True. But I question the magnitude of their value. I remember a time when they almost didn't exist. I suspect I'm older than you, so you may not remember.

I hate to sound trite, but we should approach security smarter, not harder (i.e. more). For example, the hardening of cockpit doors.

It is a major pita at airports, but given our current dysfunctional agency (ICE), we don't dare give them funding. Even if that affects other agencies. They view themselves as above the law and the Constitution (their new agents are being told that explicitly).

It is a major pita at airports, but given our current dysfunctional agency (ICE), we don't dare give them funding. Even if that affects other agencies. They view themselves as above the law and the Constitution (their new agents are being told that explicitly).

Sure, ICE need to be reined in. But calling for "defunding" is almost as silly as calling for defunding of the police. And will play about as well with political moderates.

I absolutely hate government shutdowns, though. Hated it when Republicans did it over Obamacare. Hate it now Democrats keep doing it. Refusing to pay people's salaries is immoral, in my opinion. Democrats are screwing up, yet again. They'll cave like last time.

Come the elections in May I will finally be able to remove "Democrat" from my voting registration. I'll likely always vote Dem, but I do not want to be publicly associated with this current bunch of gas-lighting clowns.

well done!
it is an absolute secret that fools that call themselves 'independents' swung trump\MAGA into office...twice.
and are permanent threat to side with the next disasters the gop nominates.
wear the change proudly.

Come the elections in May I will finally be able to remove "Democrat" from my voting registration. I'll likely always vote Dem, but I do not want to be publicly associated with this current bunch of gas-lighting clowns.

Adrian...I can understand your frustration, but why you lay all the blame on the Democrats, I don't understand. The Republicans, having the majority in both houses and led by Trump, refuse reasonable compromise. The party out of power has few choices.

Sure, ICE need to be reined in. But calling for "defunding" is almost as silly as calling for defunding of the police.

Yes and no. I'll link a piece from John Oliver below. I agree with the stance that saving ICE is almost impossible at this point. It needs to go, but its proper duties need to continue in another agency. Sort of like the German secret service isn't called the "gestapo" anymore, for obvious reasons. We came to this point, at least in part, because of the creation of DHS. It's our largest agency, and was cobbled together in a haphazard way. ICE can't receive any more funding. Its legitimate tasks need to be folded into another service.

Refusing to pay people's salaries is immoral, in my opinion. Democrats are screwing up, yet again. They'll cave like last time.

People that should be fired anyway, in the case of ICE. Otherwise, I agree with your sentiment. I also don't like shutdowns, and our funding processes shouldn't be set up to allow that. Congress should be required to be in session until they have a proper budget, even if it takes them until the next election (i.e. they don't get to go home until they do it). But that's another thread. Just as the complete reorganization of DHS is another thread.

This was very illuminating:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-KDUOHEZFk

I'll likely always vote Dem, but I do not want to be publicly associated with this current bunch of gas-lighting clowns.

I used to register as "independent", but in AZ that meant I couldn't vote in any of the primaries. So, I had to pick which primary I wanted to vote in. The party of Christian Soldiers was out (later MAGA), so here I am. Neither party really represents me, but Dems are closer, so I vote in their primary.

<<Refusing to pay people's salaries is immoral, in my opinion. Democrats are screwing up, yet again. They'll cave like last time.>>

People that should be fired anyway, in the case of ICE. Otherwise, I agree with your sentiment.

ICE agents are currently getting paid. TSA workers are not. See what I mean? The Democrats, by refusing to fund the DHS, are not hurting the part of the agency that needs to be dismantled. Once again, they are trying to use leverage they don't have. They got some concessions (body cams, some others) - take the damn win!

Expect more of this in the news:
Major delays at airports nationwide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TooY4a14tVs

I used to register as "independent", but in AZ that meant I couldn't vote in any of the primaries. So, I had to pick which primary I wanted to vote in. The party of Christian Soldiers was out (later MAGA), so here I am. Neither party really represents me, but Dems are closer, so I vote in their primary.

Same here, but I'm just done with the lot of them.

Adrian...I can understand your frustration, but why you lay all the blame on the Democrats, I don't understand. The Republicans, having the majority in both houses and led by Trump, refuse reasonable compromise. The party out of power has few choices.

Deporting millions of "illegals" is one of the big issues the Republicans ran on, and they won. From their (wrong-headed) point of view, why should they compromise on their signature issue?

I don't think the Democrats have much leverage here. They should pick fights where they can actually win something.

And, you know, put up appealing candidates with appealing policies to win elections.

The Democrats, by refusing to fund the DHS, are not hurting the part of the agency that needs to be dismantled.

Weird that ICE is getting paid. I was under the impression that TSA was collateral, and that almost no one was getting paid (including ICE). Not that I think that an ideal situation, but if you're in the minority, your options are very limited.

Once again, they are trying to use leverage they don't have.

What choice do they have? If you're a parent, and your baby is in a burning car, you're gonna try to lift it to get the baby out. It almost certainly will end in failure (and burned hands), but you gotta try, right? You're not gonna watch the baby burn and say "oh well".

Same here, but I'm just done with the lot of them.

I get the frustration. But if I want to have a voice in who gets to run in November, I have to choose a side. So I do. Because, in Nov, I have to pick one of two candidates. Like it or not.

I don't think the Democrats have much leverage here. They should pick fights where they can actually win something.

True. I think they have picked a fight that they can win (slim chance, but maybe...). Public opinion is overwhelmingly against ICE and the murdering of people (including US citizens). That is a result of the administration's hammer/nail approach, and so potentially is a fight they could win. They can't win many others because they aren't in power in the House, Senate, or WH. Public opinion is the one lever they can pull.

Same here, but I'm just done with the lot of them.

Ah yes, the great American choice:
On one side, the Democrats: those latte-drinking radicals selling dangerous ideas like not dying from medical bills, earning enough to live indoors, and living by that obscure leftist text called the Constitution.
On the other, MAGA—the patriotic performance artists heroically bailing out Argentina, flirting with World War III, all while maxing out the national credit card and auditioning for Bigotry’s Got Talent: The Insurrection Edition!
Truly, for the modern voter, the decision has never been harder.

"Nazi heaven’: Inside Miami campus Republicans’ racist group chat"
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-governme...

I think they have picked a fight that they can win (slim chance, but maybe...). Public opinion is overwhelmingly against ICE and the murdering of people (including US citizens). That is a result of the administration's hammer/nail approach, and so potentially is a fight they could win. They can't win many others because they aren't in power in the House, Senate, or WH. Public opinion is the one lever they can pull.

I don't. I expect them to cave when the airport chaos reaches fever pitch, just like they did last time.

The base will be happy - at least they tried - and nothing concrete will have been achieved. And moderates will have just that bit more disdain for the current crop of Democrats.

But, whatever. I'll vote for them, what alternative do I have? None.

But, whatever. I'll vote for them, what alternative do I have? None.

In your place I would strongly encourage Mrs C to reconsider moving back to England. But, otherwise, there aren't any good alternatives. It's either the fascistic/authoritarian MAGA, or Democrats. Hopefully we'll get someone running of Obama-caliber in 2 years. It's probably too early to start identifying potential candidates. No one is leaping to my mind.

In your place I would strongly encourage Mrs C to reconsider moving back to England.

Not going to happen. Anyway, look up Reform UK:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_UK

Since 2022, the party has campaigned on a broader platform, pledging to reduce taxation, limit immigration, oppose net-zero emissions policies and substantially reduce public spending.

Sound familiar?

I know I should let this go...but one more:
From December 2025:
Democrats keep 2024 election review under wraps, saying a public rehash won’t help them win in 2026
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-12...

Although the DNC’s report will not be made public, a committee aide said some conclusions will be integrated into the party’s 2026 plans.

For example, the findings reflect a consensus that Democratic candidates did not adequately address voter concerns on public safety and immigration, two topics that Trump hammered in his comeback campaign.

You will say ICE is a danger to public safety, and I agree. However, I'm not convinced that refusing to fund DHS does "adequately address voter concerns on public safety and immigration"...

Probably moot. What will bring an end to the current shutdown are the increasingly long lines at TSA checkpoints, as TSA worker miss their second paycheck, and pull a sickie. I don't blame them. I would quit and find work where I'm not used as a pawn in political games.

We should lock the entire senate in a room and not let them out until they've sorted this out.

In Houston, half the TSA agents quit. They’re quitting in droves across the country.

Great job, dems.

In Houston, half the TSA agents quit. They’re quitting in droves across the country.

The GOP never wanted the government doing that job, or the workers to have collective bargaining rights. Now they win on both scores. We can go back to the renta-a-cops that performed so well on 9/11, so that regime cronies can make a profit off the program.

Steve

The GOP never wanted the government doing that job, or the workers to have collective bargaining rights. Now they win on both scores. We can go back to the renta-a-cops that performed so well on 9/11, so that regime cronies can make a profit off the program.
***8

And Liberals let the Religion of Peace in.


It's bipartisan teamwork.

Silver Linings, you know?

And Liberals let the Religion of Peace in. ~Wilton

Oh, poor Wilton, seething with rage and radiating pure suburban sorrow.
He hasn’t been the same since the Great Target Termination of ’22. He used to be king of the toy dept.
Now he just wanders the parking lot, clutching his resentment the way others clutch their pearls...
SAD.

"And Liberals let the Religion of Peace in." - LOLJedi

Are you so sheltered that you have never met peaceful Muslims? Must be a crappy life. Perhaps you should get out more. Maybe then the liberals you irrationally detest will stop laughing at you.

Umm, my cultural depth and experiences, will forget more than you will never know.

Now run along, White Liberal Paternalistic racist.

The ones that whacked your shitty NYC on 9-11 and costed your shitty country zillions - were not peaceful.

The Freedom Fighters raping and killing Colonizer Europeans in France or Sweden -- - maybe heroic, but not peaceful.

I never said all Muslims were not peaceful.


Laugh at me all you want, but laugh at your shitty Capitol when it got shit on, laugh at your zbil of rights, laugh at carbon emissions, laugh at air, food, water quality :)

Laugh at education.


Laugh at political violence getting normalized:)

Laugh wITH me and AT me - but be fair :)

Oh, poor Wilton, seething with rage and radiating pure suburban sorrow.
He hasn’t been the same since the Great Target Termination of ’22. He used to be king of the toy dept.
Now he just wanders the parking lot, clutching his resentment the way others clutch their pearls...
SAD.
***

Cmon, change the channel.

How about porn?

Footage of one of your Religion of Peace buddies with a Swedish chick in their organic grocery parking lot.

NOT SAD.

Muslims like the peace one finds in a graveyard.

As long as its a graveyard full of infidels.

Sound familiar?

Yeah. I think a lot of 1st world countries have those movements. But isn't Labour in charge right now? A repudiation of such policies? (I don't follow British politics very closely, so I could be out of date.)

We should lock the entire senate in a room and not let them out until they've sorted this out.

Totally agree. They should not be allowed to go on recess until they sort it out. Same for the House.

Re Reform UK: But isn't Labour in charge right now? A repudiation of such policies?

Yes, but not a repudiation. In the last election the right-wing vote was split between conservative and Reform. Reform are also making inroads in local government.

Re US Government shutdown: They [Senate] should not be allowed to go on recess until they sort it out. Same for the House.

Yes. Here's more pressure on our "leaders":

An Open Letter to Congress from U.S. Airline CEOs
https://www.airlines.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/0...®i_id=93871742&segment_id=216734&user_id=51b0c9c24bd2dd2f56f41e7a59b7089a

TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table,
put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.

Now don't say you're the party of the workers when you do this to them.

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