The Elitist Media appear to have an issue on their arms. Their non-coverage of an ongoing DHS shutdown, compelled by Democrats wanting to vary ICE coverage, has been severely difficult by advantage of present occasions.
Watch as ABC World Information Tonight manages a full report on the continuing shutdown-induced journey delays, with out ever mentioning the rationale behind the shutdown:
WATCH: @ABCWorldNews manages a report on the continuing journey delays and DHS shutdown as in the event that they spontaneously occurred, with out ever mentioning WHY there’s a shutdown within the first place. pic.twitter.com/bV3ogtzHDV
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) March 10, 2026
DAVID MUIR: Now to the journey chaos at many American airports, TSA checkpoints, the lengthy lines- this partial authorities shutdown dragging on and TSA brokers haven’tt had a full paycheck in weeks. Here is Gio Benitez with the images.
GIO BENITEZ: Tonight, missed flights and ruined holidays as TSA staffing shortages throw Spring Break journey into chaos. Airports packed from Miami to Phoenix to Houston’s Pastime Airport, the place even seasoned vacationers like Claire Lee have been shocked by the crowds this morning.
CLAIRE LEE: First time ever, and I journey the world. I’ve by no means seen something like this.
BENITEZ: Officers telling passengers to reach 5 hours early.
TRAVELER: Normally I witness this on TV, watching it. Now I am a part of it.
BENITEZ: At Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans, passengers began lining proper up by their vehicles within the parking storage. The TSA, brief staffed amid a authorities shutdown affecting the Division of Homeland Safety. And due to that shutdown, roughly 60,000 TSA officers, who get you thru safety, haven’t gotten a full paycheck in nearly a month and plenty of aren’t exhibiting as much as work.
AARON BARKER: To not have your full total paycheck come by way of, that places a pressure on funds on your family so they’re having to make very robust choices.
BENITEZ: And David, to this point airports like Newark have been faring higher however there’s an actual concern right here about traces the longer this shutdown goes on. David.
MUIR: Gio Benitez reporting tonight. Gio, thanks.
Unreal however ABC appears hell-bent on taking part in Conceal-the-Shutdown right here. Whereas acknowledging the existence of a shutdown, there is no such thing as a point out of a purpose why it occurred, who instigated it, or what it might take from Congress to carry the shutdown to an finish. Viewers are left to imagine that this shutdown simply occurred spontaneously.
The CBS Night Information cleared ABC’s ultra-low bar, citing a rationale for the shutdown. The reasoning, although, lays blame squarely on the ft of The White Home:
KRIS VAN CLEAVE: Now some airports are telling flyers to get right here three hours earlier than their flight. This surge in wait instances comes because the airways are getting ready to fly 171 million folks for Spring Break. And as a partial authorities shutdown over the Trump administration’s immigration insurance policies enters its fourth week.
The second extended authorities shutdown since October is taking a toll on a few of the authorities’s lowest paid staff. The greater than 50,000 TSA officers on the job will miss a full paycheck this week and don’t know when the following one will come, driving the spike in sick calls.
TSA EMPLOYEE: We do not want a promise of a paycheck. We’d like a paycheck. We won’t go to the financial institution with a promise.
VAN CLEAVE: With a political stalemate persevering with in Washington, a visit to the airport means a flight of uncertainty at airports nationwide.
Assigning shutdown blame to the administration’s immigration insurance policies, and to not the Democrats who opposed funding DHS, appears to be a significant cop-out. The report additional cites a stalemate however doesn’t make clear what the stalemate is over, or who’s even stalemating. One supposes that CBS’s viewers are anticipated to leap on the web in the event that they wish to know extra concerning the shutdown.
Over at NBC Nightly Information, viewers get extra of the identical:
TOM COSTELLO: The rationale for the lengthy traces, the DHS shutdown over ICE insurance policies. Caught within the center, TSA officers and passengers.
CHRIS SUNUNU: They’re simply political footballs, principally, which might be used as leverage factors for political battles that they don’t have anything to do with.
On this case, NBC presents a point out of the shutdown, and an incomplete quote from former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu decrying that TSA staff are caught in a political battle. We don’t know extra as a result of the quote obtained clipped, denying it any seen context.
There’s a shutdown occurring on the Division of Homeland Safety, within the midst of a warfare, off the heels of a terrorist assault and a number of contingencies. And from watching the networks’ protection, plainly they know this protection is inconvenient.
Had the partisan roles been reversed? Protection would most assuredly be (D)ifferent.
Click on “develop” to view the total transcripts of the aforementioned reviews as aired on their respective community newscasts on Monday, March ninth, 2026:
CBS EVENING NEWS:
TONY DOKOUPIL: We’re going to show now to the opposite main journey story tonight, the main delays at America’s airports as safety traces in some circumstances snaked by way of concourses, downstairs, even within the baggage areas at instances. What’s gone incorrect, what‘s wanted to repair it. Right here’s Senior Transportation Correspondent Kris van Cleave.
KRIS VAN CLEAVE: This isn’t what flyers hope to see arriving on the New Orleans airport Monday morning. Just some TSA traces open because of staffing shortages stemming from hovering sick calls. The road, snaking its manner by way of the terminal for the second straight day. Sunday, folks have been in line for hours stretching out into the parking storage.
TRAVELER: I used to be right here three weeks in the past throughout Mardi Gras, and it was no downside. That is insane.
TRAVELER: I needed to change my flight, so reasonably than a 3:00 P.M. flight, it’s now an 8:00 P.M. flight.
VAN CLEAVE: At Houston’s Pastime airport, wait instances topped three hours Sunday, and by Monday the road was no less than two hours lengthy simply to get to safety.
TRAVELER: We’ve got missed each our flights.
VAN CLEAVE: Now some airports are telling flyers to get right here three hours earlier than their flight. This surge in wait instances comes because the airways are getting ready to fly 171 million folks for Spring Break. And as a partial authorities shutdown over the Trump administration’s immigration insurance policies enters its fourth week.
The second extended authorities shutdown since October is taking a toll on a few of the authorities’s lowest paid staff. The greater than 50,000 TSA officers on the job will miss a full paycheck this week and don’t know when the following one will come, driving the spike in sick calls.
TSA EMPLOYEE: We do not want a promise of a paycheck. We’d like a paycheck. We won’t go to the financial institution with a promise.
VAN CLEAVE: With a political stalemate persevering with in Washington, a visit to the airport means a flight of uncertainty at airports nationwide. Kris van Cleave, CBS Information, Phoenix.
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS:
TOM LLAMAS: It was a surprising scene at airports nationwide at this time. Safety traces stretching two, even three hours lengthy. TSA brokers aren’t being paid throughout a partial authorities shutdown, and now some aren’t even exhibiting up. Here is NBC’s Tom Costello.
TOM COSTELLO: The beginning of a record-breaking spring break season and, once more, lengthy traces at some large airports. In Atlanta, the world’s busiest, in Philly, time lapse captured the lengthy traces. In New Orleans, a packed terminal with traces prolonged to the parking storage, and hours-long traces but once more in Houston.
POLICE OFFICER: TSA line begins downstairs in baggage.
TRAVELER: I’ve been ready in line for about two hours now.
TRAVELER: Once we have been exterior, manner far-off from the door, that was somewhat horrifying. We’re nonetheless hopeful as a result of we’re shifting at this level.
COSTELLO: NBC’s Priscilla Thompson is there.
PRISCILLA THOMPSON: That is the scene at Pastime Airport in Houston. Safety traces stretch throughout the complete high ground, by way of baggage declare and snaking out on to the curb.
COSTELLO: The rationale for the lengthy traces, the DHS shutdown over ICE insurance policies. Caught within the center, TSA officers and passengers.
CHRIS SUNUNU: They’re simply political footballs, principally, which might be used as leverage factors for political battles that they don’t have anything to do with.
COSTELLO: After receiving half a paycheck two weeks in the past, TSA officers will miss a full verify this week with most working paycheck to paycheck, and now some taking part-time work.
JOHNNY JONES: They’ve their gasoline tanks and must replenish their stomachs. They’ve little youngsters that must go to day care.
COSTELLO: The TSA ready time app is presently down so in case you’re touring, watch your native airport’s web site for the TSA ready instances and get there early. Tom.
LLAMAS: All proper. Thanks for the ideas, Tom.
