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Today, Explained

Should we privatize TSA?

Today, Explained

Vox

Politics, Daily News, News

4.310.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2026

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The US government shutdown has left TSA workers unpaid, airports a hot mess, and a lot of people wondering if it's time to privatize airport security. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A TSA agent looks on passengers at New York's LaGuardia airport. Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

By this point, you've surely heard that we're living through the longest government shutdown in the United States history. It's the reason for all the chaos at our airports. Democrats don't want to give ICE any more money. The president has shown little to no interest in negotiating. But then ahead of the Easter recess, the president said he'd find a way to pay TSA agents. So all of a sudden, maybe the shutdown was sort of bunk. Early Friday morning, the Senate was also busy. They unanimously pass a funding deal. then they take off for their two-week recess,

0:24.0

but then far-right Republicans was sort of bunk. Early Friday morning, the Senate was also busy. They unanimously pass a funding

0:21.6

deal, then they take off for their two-week recess, but then far-right Republicans in the House

0:25.6

hated it because it still didn't fund ICE, so they reject it, pass a version that funds ICE,

0:30.5

and then they take off for their two-week recess, fixes nothing. Around this time, TMZ enters the

0:35.3

chat, posts a call-out for photos of lawmakers vacationing at our expense while we have to suffer through airport chaos.

0:41.3

Pretty quickly they get a shot of Lindsey Graham and Disney World. You might remember Lindsay from helping kick off the war in Iran.

0:46.3

The latest news is that TSA agents got their back pay at some point today, but we're still not sure if they're going to get regular paychecks moving forward, so we're going to check in with a TSA agent on today, Explain from Vox.

0:58.0

Now, are all the traitors present?

1:02.0

Let's get started, shall we?

1:04.0

From rags to riches.

1:05.0

I'm so sick of this.

1:07.0

Working like a dog and being treated worse.

1:09.0

Yorkshire to New York.

1:10.0

Or climbers, you and me.

1:12.2

A life dedicated to revenge.

1:14.2

Let's make this an occasion to remember.

1:16.8

A Woman of Substance on Channel 4.

1:19.0

Stream now.

1:19.9

Ready to launch your business?

1:21.5

Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.

1:24.7

Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business

...

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