They Ordered Propaganda. Airports Said No.
American airports are holding the line for Democracy against the Trump propaganda machine. 🔥 Let's help by sharing these awesome videos! 🔥
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In this issue:
THE SHOWDOWN DHS didn’t see coming: How America’s airports refused to air propaganda and stood up for democracy.
Shareable GRAPHICS + CLIPS exposing the Hatch Act violations and celebrating the airport officials who drew the line.
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Last week, the Department of Homeland Security under Cosplay Kristi “more plastic than brains” Noem tried to turn America’s airports into propaganda theaters, ordering security checkpoints to play a video blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. But instead of obedience, they met defiance. Nineteen major airports, including JFK, Seattle-Tacoma, Phoenix, Denver, and Boston, refused to comply. They invoked the federal law that guards public service from political abuse—the Hatch Act.
These airports not only upheld neutrality but also safeguarded democracy itself.
The Hatch Act: America’s Legal Firewall
To learn more about what the Hatch Act is, find a free PDF explanation here or watch the video below:
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DHS crossed the line drawn by the Hatch Act when it directed airports to air a political attack video blaming Democrats for TSA workers’ lost paychecks. What occurred was not communication; it was coercion. Forcing airport employees to play partisan content is not only unethical but also unlawful.
When Molly Prescott of the Port of Portland stated, “We did not agree to show the video…the Hatch Act clearly prohibits the use of public resources for political messaging,” she defended the public trust from political capture.
Across agencies, the propaganda campaign spread through banners, auto-filled emails, and shutdown blame games, exposing a government willing to ignore the law to control the story.
Power Demands Obedience. Democracy Says No.
The reality is apparent: the Republican Party caused the shutdown by refusing to reach a compromise. Democrats remain steadfast in opposing GOP demands for significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which would endanger healthcare, lead to hospital closures, and harm children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
The DHS video broke the law, but worse, it tried to shift blame from those responsible and rewrite the truth in real time.
The Propaganda and the Truth
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DHS was testing its power by attempting to weaponize federal platforms against lawful opposition. Every false message blasted through an official channel erodes trust and normalizes authoritarian control. The rebellion by airport officials stopped that slide in its tracks.
Where Courage Holds the Line
From New York to Oregon, airport officials are answering with unwavering courage. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reaffirmed its ban on political messaging. The Port of Seattle denounced the video’s “political nature.” Westchester County’s Ken Jenkins called it “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with our values.” Their defiance was not bureaucratic—it was a stirring display of patriotism, inspiring hope for the resilience of democratic values.
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Resistance on the Runways
Every darkened screen became a stand for the rule of law. Democracy doesn’t survive only in courts or at the ballot box. It lives in the choices of public servants who refuse to betray their oath. Their actions empower us, the public, to be active participants in the defense of our democracy.
When those in power try to turn public spaces into megaphones for lies, the most radical act is refusal. The Hatch Act, a steadfast shield for the republic, remains a beacon of hope. And this week, airport workers and administrators held that shield high, reminding us of the enduring strength of the rule of law.
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They proved that democracy can still rise from the tarmac, that truth still has defenders, and that rebellion in defense of liberty can begin anywhere—even at Gate 32.
Let America Know!
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Message to Noem 7th Commandment