Airports say they won't play Kristi Noem shutdown video at TSA checkpoints

[highplainsdem]

Source: Washington Post

Airports in Seattle, Phoenix and Westchester, New York, said they won’t display a video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem blames Democrats for the government shutdown and related travel delays, citing the “political nature of its content.”

“We continue to urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown and are working to find ways to support federal employees working without pay at SEA during the shutdown,” a Port of Seattle spokesperson said in an email Monday. Nor will airports in Portland, Oregon, and Buffalo, according to local news reports.

The Port of Portland, which operates Portland International Airport, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the video could violate state and federal laws that prohibit the use of public assets and employees to disseminate partisan messages.

The Transportation Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security, which runs TSA, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday morning.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/10/13/kristi-noem-shutdown-video/

[flamingdem]

1. Such a creepy video

Good for a Halloween maybe

[DBoon]

2. so which airports ARE playing this partisan video?

[underpants]

3. That's some serious 1984 crap

[Beartracks]

16. The GOP, and the Trump regime in particular, are the totalitarian govt Republican voters have long feared.

But they -- laughably -- thought it would come from the left, because of course that's what rightwing media told them for years.

==============

[Initech]

4. I was at DEN yesterday, they didn't play it.

Fuck Kristi Noem.

[OMGWTF]

7. I was at the Denver airport when it was announced that $arah Palin was going to be McCain's VP.

Republicans need to go the way of their predecessor the Whigs. Evolve or go extinct.

[Initech]

11. I'd be all right with this!

[popsdenver]

13. The director of DIA

was just tagged for renting the "suite" cabin on an Emirates? plane for himself to travel on a political junket, for a cost of 18,000 dollars round trip...
And, all of his other execs got to fly First Class for an outrageous price for tickets......

[BidenRocks]

5. Multiple times a day I rush to mute Noem.

The last time I was so quick was the idiot intro to ST DS-9.
Can't stand to hear either of them.

Good on those taxpayer funded airports!

[tinrobot]

6. Newark played it last week.

I mostly ignored it.

[Grokenstein]

8. The Use of Horror Film Scoring in trumpaganda Videos

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rrb7_e7NQGY

[Gimpyknee]

9. Since when has this administration cared about breaking federal laws?

[BurnDoubt]

10. Lock Her Up!!!!!

[questionseverything]

12. Is the hatch act a law or a suggestion?

[littlemissmartypants]

17. It's the law. Not that these criminals give a damn.

The Hatch Act of 1939, An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is a United States federal law that prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch of the federal government,[2] except the president and vice president,[3] from engaging in some forms of political activity. It became law on August 2, 1939. The law was named for Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico.[4] It was most recently amended in 2012.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hatch-Act-United-States-1939
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Act

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hatch-Act-United-States-1939/additional-info

Hatch Act: Related Content
Last Updated: Oct 12, 2025
News • Green group files Hatch Act complaints against HHS, Forest Service over ‘partisan’ shutdown messaging • Oct. 11, 2025, 5:35 AM ET (The Hill)
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Hatch-Act-United-States-1939

[onenote]

23. It's a law, but not one with criminal penalties. So no one gets "locked up" for a Hatch Act violation.

The penalties, as set out in the statute are as follows:

An employee or individual who violates section 7323 or 7324 shall be subject to—
(1) disciplinary action consisting of removal, reduction in grade, debarment from Federal employment for a period not to exceed 5 years, suspension, or reprimand;
(2) an assessment of a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000; or
(3) any combination of the penalties described in paragraph (1) or (2).

[littlemissmartypants]

25. No need to tell me. I didn't ask. Sorry. ❤️

[travelingthrulife]

38. So many toothless laws for our overlords.

[markodochartaigh]

22. ". ..a law or a suggestion?"

An easy way to figure out which are laws and which are suggestions is to remember:
Laws apply to Democratic politicians and suggestions apply to Republican politicians.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

14. She is so creepy.

"Dog murderer" should be tattooed on her forehead. Her stupid, made up to the max, face appears in the video that showed up on a YouTube video I watched last night.

"Get yer bony ass off my algorithm!!!" Says me.

[DBoon]

30. she has a face that terrifies small children

Is there a Noem mask available for Halloween?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

33. A hat, a wig, and a bullet proof vest.... ought to do it

Apply all the makeup you can get your hands on... et voila!

[progressoid]

35. Lets not forget some botox and filler.

Before and after:

[SleeplessinSoCal]

37. So sad.

Still, go for plastic lips for trick or treating. Makes for a spot on costume.

[littlemissmartypants]

15. Propaganda! AKA Dis-information 'D' ...

Which differs from misinformation, 'M' because it constitutes the deliberate spreading of misinformation. That's straight up Propaganda, my friends.

The comments thankfully reflect that according to WAPO:

Conversations
422
Comments
What are your thoughts on airports refusing to display Kristi Noem's video due to its political content?

Highlights
The comments overwhelmingly support the decision of airports to refuse displaying Kristi Noem's video, criticizing it as partisan propaganda and a potential violation of the Hatch Act. Many commenters express relief that such political content is not being shown in airports, fearing it could incite conflict among travelers. There is a strong sentiment against the use of taxpayer money for what is perceived as government propaganda, with some commenters drawing parallels to authoritarian regimes. The decision is seen as a small but significant act of resistance against the current administration's practices.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/10/13/kristi-noem-shutdown-video/
AI generated

❤️ RESIST!! ✊️

[Cha]

19. Wow... That makes me feel better... It's

Huge.... Mahalo, pants!

[littlemissmartypants]

20. It certainly is, Cha. You're welcome! ❤️

RESIST!! ✊️

[Cha]

18. Fuck That Goebbels Shitler Propagandist.

Dog Killing Big fucking *****.

[calimary]

21. NONE of them should!

She’s best put on “Ignore”, and KEPT there.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

24. MaddowBlog-Kristi Noem stars in partisan video about the shutdown, to be shown in airports

Remember when the DHS secretary starred in taxpayer-financed ads, which resembled political propaganda, earlier this year? Now, there’s a sequel.

Attention Whore Krusti Noone needs more attention!

Kristi Noem stars in partisan video about the shutdown, to be shown in airports www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Tabby (@tabbys-corner.bsky.social) 2025-10-13T19:11:55.487Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/kristi-noem-stars-partisan-video-shutdown-shown-airports-rcna237369

With this in mind, few were surprised when the DHS started airing taxpayer-financed ads earlier this year, starring Noem, and thanking Donald Trump for his administration’s anti-immigration crackdown. (There’s little to suggest that the $200 million campaign was an effective use of resources.)

Several months later, the video appears to have a sequel. The Hill reported:

A new video featuring Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem will reportedly play at airports across the U.S. as the Trump administration seeks to cast blame for the lapse in government funding on Democrats. The short video, first reported by Fox News, shows Noem warning viewers about possible changes to airport operations due to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers not receiving pay since the shutdown entered its second week.

A spokesperson for the Cabinet agency confirmed that the video was poised to begin airing in American airports.

A new Noem video is being played at airports trashing Democrats.

— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) 2025-10-11T00:45:09.954Z

.....In practice, however, Noem used the opportunity to push an overtly partisan message, blaming congressional Democrats for “refusing to fund the federal government.” She concluded: “Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”

Or put another way, after releasing one Noem ad that looked an awful lot like taxpayer-financed propaganda, the homeland security secretary did it again — with the latter including even more brazen partisanship.

I suspect that Rachel may mention this tonight

[Skittles]

32. how much is this Noem whoring garbage costing the taxpayers?

where the fuck is DOGE on this bullshit???

[usonian]

26. Just look at the agents instead.

[Callie1979]

27. Hartsfield-ATL is owned by the City; they shouldn't show it either.

[kacekwl]

28. Resist the fascist

regime. Good on them.

[wackadoo wabbit]

29. Thank you, Sky Harbor (in Phoenix)!

It really does live up to the slogan "America's Friendliest Airport."

[summer_in_TX]

31. When a Propaganda Stunt Collides with People Who Still Have a Spine

The story of how and why airports are not playing Kristi Noem's propaganda piece is encouraging.

https://substack.com/@thejackhopkins/note/c-166094104

Why This Moment Matters More Than It Looks

On the surface…it’s a minor bureaucratic tussle. One political stunt grounded by red tape.
But scratch deeper and you see something worth celebrating: institutional antibodies kicking in.

For years, we’ve watched norms erode…laws bent…agencies politicized…truth treated like a negotiable item.
So when an entire layer of civil servants…airport authorities…and legal officers refused to cross a line…that was democracy’s immune system at work.

They didn’t riot.
They didn’t grandstand.
They just enforced the rules that keep public infrastructure from becoming campaign machinery.

That’s not resistance theater. That’s professional integrity.

[highplainsdem]

34. Good read! Thanks!

[gfarber]

36. Airports

At Sea-Tac, they made it quite clear,
No partisan vids will play here.
Though flights may be late,
They won't take the bait—
They'd rather stay neutral than smear.

In Phoenix, they gave it a pass,
Noem's blame-game just wouldn’t amass.
They said with a frown,
"Let's cool the shutdown—
Our concourse won't echo that sass."

New York’s Westchester won’t play the tape,
Though travelers may need escape.
“Too hot,” they all said,
“To pump through our thread—
We're keeping things fair in this scape.”

Now Portland, as cool as they come,
Said “Politics? No, we want none.”
They cited the laws,
And partisan flaws—
And shut off the screen with aplomb.

In Buffalo, calm in the storm,
They’ve chosen to break from the norm.
No messages skewed,
No DHS feud—
Just keeping the peace is their form.

TSA and Homeland stayed mum,
As questions from pressrooms did come.
No answers, no spin,
Just silence within—
While airports said, “We won’t play dumb.”