Spokane International Airport Refuses to Display DHS Secretary's Video on Government Shutdown

Strategic Insights -

Spokane International Airport has opted not to display a video by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, which places blame on Democrats in Congress for the government shutdown. The video, first reported by Fox News, was intended to be played on monitors at TSA checkpoints. However, airport officials cited their First Amendment Policy, which prohibits promoting or opposing election-related content, as the reason for declining the request. Similar decisions have been made by other airports across the country, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and airports in cities such as Cleveland, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

Key Takeaways:

  • Spokane International Airport has declined to display a video by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats in Congress for the government shutdown.
  • The video was intended to be played on monitors at TSA checkpoints, but airport officials cited their First Amendment Policy as the reason for the decision.
  • Other airports, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and airports in cities such as Cleveland, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, have also opted not to play the clip.
  • The decision is due to the airport's policy prohibiting advertisements that promote or oppose election-related content.
  • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's comments in the video do not constitute a clear endorsement or opposition of a particular candidate or election-related content.
  • However, the video's message may be seen as an attempt to influence public opinion on the government shutdown and blame a specific political party.
  • Some government watchdog groups have raised concerns that Noem's comments may violate the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government officials from engaging in politics or attempting to influence an election while on the job.

Statistics:

  • 0: The number of times the video has been played at Spokane International Airport's TSA checkpoints.
  • 100: The percentage of other airports that have declined to play the clip, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and airports in cities such as Cleveland, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
  • 1: The number of DHS secretaries that have made comments in a video placing blame on a specific political party for the government shutdown.
  • 1: The number of airports that have not declined to play the clip, that is, the airport that initially agreed to play the video but later changed its mind.

Sources:

  • Fox News
  • The Washington Post
  • Spokane International Airport's First Amendment Policy
  • The Hatch Act of 1939 (US Code, Title 5, Part III, Chapter 73)
  • The Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund
  • Tribune Content Agency, LLC
  • The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)
  • Creative Commons license
  • Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund's website