Hello — I’m Nikole Killion, filling in for Major Garrett. Welcome to The Takeout.
Airport slowdowns and TSA staffing
Airport delays have surged as absences and resignations among TSA officers rise amid the partial government shutdown. At Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, travelers reported waits as long as four hours; in Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson nearly 37% of TSA staff called out on a recent day. Nationwide, more than 450 officers have resigned since the shutdown began and over 3,200 were absent on one peak day. Because TSA training takes months, officials warn repeated shutdowns risk long‑term staffing gaps.
At Houston, reporter Nicole Sganga described long queues, limited air conditioning and passengers rebooking flights while crowded in subway corridors. Many travelers blamed lawmakers; one passenger urged members of Congress to “come out here and get in line.” ICE personnel and other airport staff have been assisting with logistics and handing out water, but officials caution that ICE cannot replace trained TSA officers one‑for‑one.
On Capitol Hill, Republican senators floated a plan to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security while separating funding for ICE’s enforcement and removal operations — an attempt to break the impasse. Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Tim Kaine, said the proposal fell short of their demands for broader immigration reforms. Senate negotiators suggested funding Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) while moving Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) through reconciliation, but the House would still need to act if the Senate reaches agreement.
Politics and the border
House Republicans backing full DHS funding accused Democrats of “moving the goalposts.” Some conservatives worry pairing immigration changes with other measures, such as voting‑integrity provisions. Democrats want ICE removed from the funding bill entirely and want Customs and Border Protection (CBP) funding addressed as well. With leverage and recess deadlines driving urgency, the negotiations remain fluid.
Trump, Iran and possible talks
President Trump said several members of his team — including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — were already engaged in contacts with Iran, and hinted private envoys were involved too. Iran confirmed receiving a mediated message and called it a precursor to negotiations; Pakistan offered to host talks.
The president also said Iran had “given us a present” related to oil and the Strait of Hormuz. That timing drew scrutiny after a striking surge in oil futures trading minutes before Trump announced a pause on strikes against Iranian power plants. Market watchers flagged the sudden spike in crude futures volume as suspicious and raised concerns about potential insider trading; regulators have not commented. Business analyst Jill Schlesinger called the sequence “highly suspicious,” noting such volume jumps typically prompt probes by agencies like the CFTC or SEC.
National security perspective
Former CIA counterterrorism deputy Joe Zacks welcomed the diplomatic opening but cautioned negotiators with Iran are tough and any agreement would take time. He recommended maintaining military pressure while avoiding strikes on Iranian infrastructure that could destabilize Gulf partners. Officials are also watching which Iranian figures are involved in the contacts; some reporting suggests hardline intermediaries or parliamentary leaders may be part of the exchanges.
Rubio testifies in Rivera trial
Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in Miami federal court in the criminal trial of former Representative David Rivera, accused of illegal lobbying for Venezuela. Rubio, once Rivera’s roommate and longtime friend, told prosecutors he was unaware Rivera had allegedly worked for the Venezuelan regime. Rivera faces money‑laundering charges and allegations of failing to register as a foreign agent; he denies wrongdoing. Rubio’s testimony was notable as the first appearance by a sitting cabinet member in a criminal trial in decades.
Odd trading and betting patterns
On Monday, oil futures trading volume spiked nearly tenfold shortly before the White House announced a pause on strikes, then prices plunged. Analysts, including Jill Schlesinger, said the sequence resembled insider trading, and they criticized regulators’ silence as “deafening.” Similar flows appeared in betting markets. Observers pointed to reduced regulatory emphasis and budget cuts to oversight agencies as possible reasons probes haven’t advanced quickly.
Anthropic and the Pentagon
AI company Anthropic sued the Pentagon after being labeled a national security supply‑chain risk. The Justice Department and former officials argued the Defense Department followed legal procedures; Anthropic says the designation violated its rights and represented overreach. The dispute has practical consequences: the Pentagon made a deal with a rival AI firm, yet Anthropic’s models remain embedded in some military systems and can’t be swapped overnight. The court will consider whether proper procedures were followed and whether Anthropic is entitled to relief. Public downloads of Anthropic’s Claude reportedly rose after the dispute surfaced.
ICE at airports and political rhetoric
Steve Bannon suggested deploying ICE agents at airports could act as a “test run” before political campaigns and proposed ICE presence at polling places to ensure only citizens vote. Democrats raised alarms about the implications; supporters and some airport officials said ICE staff were assisting with logistics and passenger services, not performing TSA functions. Critics warned against “weaponizing” immigration enforcement in travel hubs while proponents argued the move could relieve TSA so screening continues.
Other brief items
– The Taliban released Dennis Coyle, who had been detained in Afghanistan for more than a year; his family thanked the president for securing his release.
– CBS reporting found a deported Venezuelan who says he was abused in El Salvador’s CECOT prison is suing the U.S., seeking $1.3 million in damages.
– The Takeout’s political panel discussed the shutdown, DHS funding proposals and whether splitting ICE funding could gain Senate approval.
That’s The Takeout for March 24.