DeProgram with John Kiriakou and Ted Rall Unfriendly Skies | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou
Mar 24, 2026
They unpack ICE agents showing up at airport checkpoints and the panic it causes among travelers and TSA workers. They cover rising tensions with Iran, missile strikes and shaky diplomacy in the region. They flag alarming new research showing global warming is accelerating and extreme weather is worsening worldwide.
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ICE Airport Presence Is Intimidation Not Security
- ICE at airports is primarily an intimidation tactic rather than an operational efficiency move.
- Ted and John note ICE agents stood around at checkpoints, scaring travelers and TSA workers without improving security or screening processes.
CBP Officer Told Me Who's Getting Paid During Shutdown
- John describes a friendly CBP officer who said immigration officers are considered law enforcement and get paid while TSA ID screeners are unpaid during shutdown.
- He used the exchange to reveal morale and pay disparities at airports during the shutdown.
Shutdown Fueled By White House 'No Deals With Democrats'
- The White House refused bipartisan continuing resolutions, instructing Republicans not to deal with Democrats, which prolonged the shutdown.
- John cites Senator John Kennedy saying this political directive blocked routine funding fixes for TSA.
