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TSA Warns Travelers: Airport Chaos Growing as Shutdown Drags On

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Phil Mosley/Unsplash

The TSA shutdown continues to strain America’s air travel system, with officials warning of worsening delays and mounting financial pressure on security staff. As of Thursday afternoon, 4,146 flights within, into, or out of the United States were delayed and 420 flights canceled, according to FlightAware.com. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a plan reducing flight capacity at 40 major airports.

Acting TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News Digital that travelers should prepare for longer lines and significant slowdowns if the government shutdown continues. “While [officers are] incredibly dedicated to the mission, security and the American public at large, we are seeing significant impacts of wait times — and that’s expected to increase,” said Stahl.

Recent wait times at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport have exceeded two hours, a trend Stahl said could spread nationwide. “That’s going to be consistent across the board if this shutdown continues,” he said. The TSA is urging travelers to “arrive early at the checkpoint, consistent with long-standing procedures — two to three hours,” and to remain patient with officers under strain.

Airports in Houston, Los Angeles, and Orlando are reportedly among the hardest hit. Stahl expressed growing concern about upcoming holiday travel, warning, “This is going to get worse, particularly with wait times and significant inconvenience for passengers … particularly with Thanksgiving and the holidays coming right around the corner.”

The TSA is deploying extra personnel to high-traffic hubs such as Atlanta, Houston, and Charlotte, but officials acknowledge the financial hardship many employees face without pay. “I heard a story recently…from a young TSA officer…She had $40 in her bank account. She had to choose between paying for diapers for her child and paying for food,” Stahl said.

Trump Admin Fires Back—Condemns ‘Mockery’ of SNAP Order

(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The Trump administration asked an appeals court to pause an order requiring the federal government to fully fund food snaps for November.

“Congress has failed to appropriate funds to pay for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (‘SNAP’) benefits for this fiscal year,” the motion says. “Even after exhausting the entirety of the SNAP contingency reserve—a step that the Department of Agriculture (‘USDA’) took earlier this week in response to a temporary restraining order issued by the district court— there is only enough money to pay partial November SNAP benefits. This is a crisis, to be sure, but it is a crisis occasioned by congressional failure, and that can only be solved by congressional action.”

Criticizing Judge John McConnell Jr., the Trump administration said the “unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers.”

“Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend,” the filing asserts. “Courts are charged with enforcing the law, but the law is explicit that SNAP benefits are subject to available appropriations.”

The Trump administration’s motion follows McConnell’s order that the government “make full SNAP payments to the States by Friday, November 7, 2025, by utilizing available Section 32 funds in combination with the contingency funds.”

McConnell also complained about President Trump declaring on Truth Social that SNAP benefits will be provided “only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”

The judge previously ruled on November 1 that the “use of those contingency funds has now become required because available funding is necessary to carry out the program operations, i.e., to pay citizens their SNAP benefits.”

Trump’s Crackdown: 80,000 Visas Revoked in Major National Security Push

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(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The State Department confirmed this week that more than 80,000 nonimmigrant visas have been revoked in 2025, including over 8,000 student visas, as part of President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on national security and immigration enforcement. The visa revocations reflect an effort to remove individuals linked to criminal behavior or potential threats to public safety.

According to the State Department, the top reasons for revocation included assault, theft, and driving under the influence. More than 16,000 visas were revoked for DUIs, 12,000 for assault, and 8,000 for theft—together accounting for nearly half of all cancellations this year. In a public statement, the department wrote, “Promises made, promises kept,” adding that President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “will always put the safety and interests of the American people first.”

The agency emphasized that visas can be revoked for various reasons, including indicators of overstays, criminal conduct, or support for terrorist organizations. Since returning to the White House, President Trump has strengthened vetting procedures, directing agencies to monitor online activity and identify visa holders with potential ties to anti-American sentiment or extremist ideologies.

On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order ensuring that visa holders “do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.”

The State Department also announced plans to require visa applicants to disclose social media accounts for government review, a move officials say will help prevent those who pose security risks from entering the country.

Melania Trump Honored as ‘Patriot of the Year’

(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

First Lady Melania Trump accepted the “Patriot of the Year” award during the annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards.

“I applaud American dreamers and innovators who embrace originality,” she said upon accepting the award. “Let’s embrace the spirit of ambition. Let’s celebrate everyone who dares to think differently. For it is these courageous Americans who are the heartbeat of our civilization.”

“Every breakthrough starts with one person daring to imagine what’s never been done. Her friends call it unrealistic, her family declares it’s ‘far-fetched’—but the human spirit moves forward anyway, turning vision into reality. One mind, one idea, one act of courage,” she added, going on to challenge Americans to “[b]e relentless in experimentation. Never stop trying new things. Keep pushing yourself to grow, both intellectually and personally. Embrace different perspectives, even opposing ones.”

“So America, tonight, let’s make a personal pledge to celebrate ambition and scale imagination to create a more advanced and prosperous society. Individual productivity is not selfish,” the first lady said, emphasizing, “It’s the heartbeat of civilization.”

Melania Trump has led several children’s advocacy efforts. In May, the first lady announced an investment from the Trump administration to support youth transitioning out of foster care. Several months later, she announced a nationwide AI challenge for K-12 students, inviting them to participate in an event to “discover, develop, and expand AI’s potential.”

During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, Trump unveiled the Fostering the Future Together initiative, inviting nations to support the well-being of children through education, innovation, and technology.

Georgia Parole Failure: Violent Offender Freed Early Allegedly Murders Teen at Walmart

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Photo by Martin Podsiad, Unsplash

A man with a violent criminal past, released on parole after a lenient plea deal, is accused of fatally stabbing an 18-year-old in Georgia. The case reignites debate over parole policies and public safety. The Georgia parole system is under scrutiny after 48-year-old Delano Middleton allegedly stabbed and killed J.T. Schroeder, 18, at a Savannah Walmart on October 23.

Police said Schroeder was stabbed “during an altercation” after reportedly kicking Middleton’s shopping cart. The Chatham County Police Department confirmed Schroeder died four days later. Middleton now faces a murder charge.

Middleton’s violent history dates back to a 2021 attack on Erica Young, a U-Haul employee in Savannah. Young told WTOC that Middleton walked into the store, stole keys, and then stabbed her multiple times in the stomach and head without provocation. “When I was on the ground, he told me that he wanted to watch me bleed out,” Young recalled. She said she had never met him before the assault.

In December 2023, Middleton reached a plea deal for aggravated assault, serving just two years in prison followed by eight years of probation. Young called the sentence “too lenient,” saying, “He got away with the stabbing of me, so he thought he could get away with it again.”

Schroeder, described in his obituary as someone who “had a smile that could light up any room,” dreamed of becoming a merchant marine and donated his organs to seven families. His death has raised new questions about judicial accountability and the risks posed by early release decisions within the Georgia parole system.

50 Cent Torches NYC Mayor Over Tax Hikes and Police Cuts

(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Music mogul and entrepreneur 50 Cent is blasting newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for pushing extreme socialist policies, warning that the rapper’s hometown is heading for disaster. In a viral Instagram post this week, 50 Cent warned that Mamdani’s plans to hike taxes on high earners and defund the police will drive the wealthy out of the city and lead to chaos.

“I think his intentions are good, but his tax plan is gonna run the big money out of the city, and if he defunds the police, they are gonna purge,” 50 Cent posted, alongside a video of Mamdani defending his agenda on MSNBC.

Mamdani, a self-described socialist and longtime police critic, has proposed massive tax increases targeting New Yorkers making over $1 million annually. He claims the revenue will fund a sweeping government expansion aimed at transforming life for all residents. But critics, including 50 Cent, say the policies threaten to destroy the city’s economy and public safety.

Adding to the criticism, the rapper shared a meme of a tombstone that read “RIP NYC,” listing 2025 as the city’s date of death under Mamdani’s leadership.

Mamdani has also expressed openness to abolishing private property and previously labeled police as “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety.” Despite that, he’s now signaling a possible reappointment of current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who has been credited with cutting crime and reducing shootings to record lows in early 2025. Tisch has yet to respond to the offer.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) called Mamdani’s tax plans “a complete disaster,” echoing concerns that billions in proposed tax hikes will only accelerate the city’s decline.

North Carolina Congressional Map Battle Explodes in Court

(Getty Images/fotoguy22)

A federal court in Winston-Salem will hold a pivotal hearing on November 19 over North Carolina’s newly redrawn congressional maps, which Republicans aim to use in the 2026 midterm elections. The three-judge panel—Chief Judge Richard Myers, along with Judges Allison Rushing and Thomas Schroeder—will consider a request for a preliminary injunction from plaintiffs challenging the map.

The hearing comes just days before North Carolina’s candidate filing period begins on December 1. The State Board of Elections has warned that a final map decision must be in place by that date to proceed with the 2026 election cycle.

Under the map approved in Senate Bill 249, Republicans seek to shift the state’s congressional delegation from its current 10-4 majority to a stronger 11-3 advantage. The changes affect multiple districts, including a major realignment in the northeastern part of the state, where Beaufort, Hyde, Dare, Craven, Pamlico, and Carteret counties move from the 3rd to the 1st Congressional District. Meanwhile, Wilson, Wayne, Greene, and Lenoir counties shift from the 1st to the 3rd.

The changes could end a Democrat stronghold in northeastern North Carolina that has lasted since 1882. GOP lawmakers designed the realignment with an eye toward flipping that seat, previously held by Democrat Don Davis, who won by just 13% in 2024—the closest race among the state’s 14 districts.

Dismissal motions have also been filed by state attorneys. Plaintiffs have until November 21 to respond, and defendants will reply by November 28. A full trial is expected next year, with discovery starting December 1 and pretrial briefs due by May 6.

North Carolina’s congressional maps have been contested in four of the last five election cycles, reflecting ongoing legal and political battles over redistricting power and election outcomes.

Cheney Teacher’s Gender Identity Lesson Sparks Outrage

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Transgender via Canva Pro

Parents in Washington’s Cheney School District are speaking out after a ninth-grade English teacher introduced a gender identity lesson without clear approval from the school board. The controversy centers on Cheney High School teacher Jessie Mattingly, who taught the lesson in September during a unit on “personal identity” in a freshman English class.

Amy King, a local business owner and grandparent of a student in the class, voiced her concerns after her granddaughter described the unexpected content. “This has nothing to do with education,” King said, criticizing what she sees as an attempt to “sneak” controversial content into a class where parents would least expect it.

The syllabus provided at the beginning of the year did not mention any LGBTQ+ content, gender identity, or materials on being an “LGBTQ+ ally.” However, a newsletter uploaded later to Google Classroom included references to those topics. Parents could only access the details by clicking through the newsletter—an email notification was sent, but it did not mention the LGBTQ+ content explicitly.

According to Cheney School District Assistant Superintendent Tom Arlt, students were given a chance to opt out and complete alternative assignments. But no parent complaints had been filed as of his response to The Center Square. He confirmed the materials were considered “supplemental” under Washington’s education policies, which allow teachers discretion to select non-core content.

Critics, including Bo Begalman of Moms for Liberty, argue this discretion is being abused to bypass parental rights. Begalman and King want Policy 2020 amended to require school board approval for all materials related to gender and sexual orientation. Both say parents should not be expected to “research every reading assignment” just to protect their values.

“We’re the boss, not their servant,” Begalman said.

Meta Scam Ad Revenue to Hit Shocking $16 Billion

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Mark Zuckerberg (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Internal Meta documents reviewed by Reuters reveal that Mark Zuckerberg’s company expects to generate a staggering $16 billion—roughly 10 percent of its projected 2024 revenue—from ads promoting scams and banned products. The files, spanning from 2021 through 2025, expose how Meta’s platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—are flooded with fraudulent advertisements targeting billions of users daily.

According to a document dated December 2024, Meta estimates that 15 billion “higher risk” scam ads are shown to users each day. These include fake investment schemes, illegal casinos, and illicit medical products. Meta’s ad review system allegedly allows these ads to run unless it determines with 95 percent certainty that the advertiser is committing fraud. Ads flagged as suspicious—but falling below that threshold—are simply charged higher rates, turning potential crime into a premium product.

Worse, the platform’s ad-personalization algorithm appears to magnify the problem. Users who click on fraudulent ads are more likely to be shown similar scams, putting them at greater risk with each interaction. This feedback loop allows scammers to build profiles of vulnerable users and exploit them repeatedly.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone dismissed the leaked materials, claiming they reflect a selective and misleading view of the company’s anti-fraud efforts. He stated that Meta is constantly evolving its tools to combat scammers, calling them “persistent criminals” working across borders.

However, critics say Meta is profiting from criminal activity while failing to take meaningful action. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) condemned Meta for refusing to address serious concerns over ads for illegal drugs, including cocaine, which have reportedly reached minors. He accused the company of negligence and monetizing illicit content at the expense of user safety.

John Ondrasik Torches Artists Over Hamas Hostage Silence

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Ariel Schalit (2017), Mideast Wars. Associated Press.

Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter John Ondrasik, best known for his work under the name Five for Fighting, is calling out the global arts community for its silence following the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. In a pointed interview with Breitbart News at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), Ondrasik criticized prominent musicians and entertainers for failing to use their platforms to demand the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

“After 9/11, every icon pretty much was on that stage at Madison Square Garden, at the Concert for New York, condemning Osama bin Laden, standing up for America,” Ondrasik said. “But since October 7, crickets.”

He compared today’s silence to the overwhelming unity shown by artists following the September 11 attacks, when stars from across the political spectrum came together to denounce terrorism and support victims. In contrast, Ondrasik says the entertainment world has turned its back on Israeli victims and ignored the plight of hostages.

“So many of these artists that have laid their claim as the human rights leaders—Live Aid, Concert for New York, Sun City, the Springsteens of the world, even Bono—their silence has been deafening,” he said.

Ondrasik believes that had the entertainment industry immediately rallied in unity, it could have pressured Hamas and its sympathizers into releasing the hostages. “If the artists of the world said, ‘Release those hostages’ and did a ‘We Are the World’-style campaign on October 8, 2023, we would not be in this position,” he stated.

He also took aim at institutions like the BBC and U.S. college campuses, accusing them of acting as apologists for terrorist groups. “The collapse of the arts is one reason why the culture has collapsed,” Ondrasik said. “It breaks my heart as an artist.”

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