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First of All with Victor Blackwell

U.S. Embassy Compound Struck In Missile Attack; Trump: U.S. Bombed "Iran's Crown Jewel" Kharg Island; U.S. Hits Military Assets On Iran's Critical Oil Export Hub As War Enters Third Week. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired March 14, 2026 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[08:00:40]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Well, first of all, despite President Trump saying the U.S. already won the war with Iran, the war is escalating. New video this morning shows smoke and fire from a building inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad. Iran is also threatening more attacks on oil infrastructure in neighboring countries in the Gulf. That's a response to an attack on a place called Kharg Island.

This is video that President Trump posted of the strikes there. You've probably never heard of Kharg Island, that's fine. But it is a big deal that it was attacked.

This island handles about 90 percent of Iran's crude oil exports. And the president says the U.S. totally obliterated every military target. The military says 90 Iranian military targets were hit, including mine and missile storage facilities. But oil infrastructure was not hit. For now, the President says that's still on the table if Iran keeps blocking ships from taking oil through the Strait of Hormuz. So, what now?

Here for the conversation. Retired Major General John F. King served in the U.S. Army National Guard with deployments around the world, including Afghanistan and Iraq. He's a current Georgia insurance commissioner and first Hispanic statewide official in Georgia history. Ed Anderson is a U.S. Air Force veteran and organizer for the progressive veterans group Common Defense. Charles Carithers is a former intelligence official and national security adviser on Capitol Hill in principle with Cornerstone Government Affairs. Gentlemen, welcome to you all. Excuse me.

General, let me start with you and the significance of this Kharg attack and the President saying, "Let these ships through, or we're going after your oil infrastructure."

MAJ. GEN. JOHN F. KING (RET.), U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: It's a pretty logical target is the largest oil facility that Iran uses to export their products that their economy is based on what comes out of that island. And going after the military targets an additional component of putting pressure on the regime to change their strategy. It makes perfect sense.

BLACKWELL: Now the President also is, the Pentagon is deploying now these Marine Expeditionary Unit one of them to the region. 2,500 Marines and sailors. They are equipped to have large scale evacuation ship to shore movements, grounded aviation combat components. If the U.S. has won war, why send thousands more Americans to the region?

KING: It makes also perfect sense. I mean, we brought in the air component first because that was the principal method of attack. And now we just bring in a contingency force in case evacuations reinforcing our embassies. This, this Marine task force, it's, it's a, what I call the Swiss army knife of type of, you know, units that can do a little bit of everything. They're very capable, and the Marines are always afloat waiting for these kind of 911 missions. It makes a lot of sense.

ED ANDERSON, U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN: I disagree with that. The Marines do a great job at what they do, but we are all familiar with the term mission creep, and that's what we're seeing here. Just like we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, the parameters keep changing. Every day, they keep changing. And granted, our military is performing well.

We have the best military in the world. But we are not in a position where there is logic and thoughtfulness that has gone into this war, or excursion, as Trump wants to call it.

CHARLES CARITHERS, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ON CAPITOL HILL: I really want to underscore the message that President Trump sent with the bombing of the military sites on Kharg Island. That is the economic lifeblood, the engine of Iran. It tells the Iranian regime that, hey, if you do not open up the Strait of Hormuz, if you do not scale back the attacks on commercial infrastructure traversing the strait of Hormuz, 20 percent of oil, petroleum going through the Strait of Hormuz. Then we're going to attack your energy and oil installations, which will severely, economically cripple the entire nation.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Let me ask you, Ed. I want you to listen to what the president was asked about when he will know this is over.

The president had said it many times, the U.S. has won. The U.S. is winning. The U.S. will win. But the question is, when will these attacks? And here's what he said.

[08:05:05]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: When it's over, and I don't think it's going to be long. When it's over, this is going to bounce right back so fast.

BRIAN KILMEADE, FOX NEWS RADIO, THE BRIAN KILMEADE SHOW: When are you going to know when it's over?

TRUMP: When I feel it. KILMEADE: Okay.

TRUMP: I feel it in my bones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: He'll fill it in his bones, Ed.

ANDERSON: You know, this is a man that has never served anyone but himself. He doesn't know the sacrifice that military members put in, that our families put in when we send our troops into these zones of conflict. If this had been at the end of World War II and Harry Truman made the decision to drop the nuclear bombs, and if he based it on the feelings in his bones, I think a lot of history would have been written a little differently.

It's obvious that this man does not know what he's doing, and he's endangering not only the lives of the troops we have over there, but I'm concerned about the threats that might be happening right here in our country. We've seen recent attacks on synagogues and other things, and it just, it makes no sense.

BLACKWELL: John?

KING: I would disagree completely with that premise because the Iranian regime has been screaming death to America for 47 years. I am -- I am personally biased. I had soldiers that were injured and killed in Iraq as a result of the Iranians bringing in explosive form materials into -- into southern Baghdad. And so how long will we -- will it take the United States to start, you know, understanding that this regime wants death to America? We ought to believe what they say when they say death to America.

BLACKWELL: That wasn't the question. The question is, when will he know it's over? It's not set on, at least from that answer. Right? No metric, no objective, no specific check mark of a list of accomplishments.

KING: I will tell you, there is a check mark. They're just not disclosing it. I mean, did we have a -- nobody -- nobody was screaming about timelines when we were pounding Libya and we were -- and we did a regime change. Nobody whispered anything about timelines to the Obama administration, but we're applying that standard this time.

ANDERSON: So it's -- that's different. I mean that --

KING: No, it is not different. It is absolutely not different.

ANDERSON: It sure is. I mean --

KING: We have troops on the ground. Nobody whispered a claim. A thing about our U.S. troops on the ground in Libya. And we did absolutely a regime change because the Europeans couldn't do it.

ANDERSON: When you have leadership that constantly lies to the public, that deceives us at every turn, there's no way I can believe that any thoughtfulness has gone into some of the things that had happened. I understand, you know, that there are professionals that deal with targeting and things of that nature. But you have a man that didn't even know when the dug on war started, then refused to call it a war, and now is calling in an excursion. He has no idea what he's doing.

BLACKWELL: Let me get Charles in here.

CARITHERS: The reality on the ground is this. This conflict originally had three actors. It's now been 14 days. And there are at least 14 different countries involved in this conflict. So, in scope, this conflict has expanded.

We've seen attacks throughout the entire Gulf. We're seeing attacks in Israel. And now we have this real and pervasive threat that we have to consider in the homeland. You know, Iran has been a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984. And that should not be taken lightly.

Now, again, we've seen the unfortunate attack on Old Dominion University, Temple Israel in Michigan. Now, those two separate attacks, while, you know, investigation is ongoing. The timing of such of attacks should be taken very seriously.

BLACKWELL: And we're going to have a conversation. I want to bring you all back later in the show to talk about the threat to the homeland, especially in this moment where DHS is not fully funded. But one more on the war here.

The president's PAC, Never Surrender is fundraising. And they're using an image. I want to put it up on the screen. They're using an image from the dignified transfer of those six fallen soldiers last week. You see in the background President Trump. But in the foreground is the flag-draped casket of one of those dead service persons.

Ed, as a representative of a veteran's organization, your thoughts on this fundraising appeal and using this image?

ANDERSON: You know, I was immediately disturbed by that. Not only is it an opportunity for Trump to sell merch, it dishonors the sacrifice that these troops made. It just blows my mind. We have watched over the years caskets come back with the sons and daughters who have made the ultimate sacrifice. And General King, I appreciate your service and your time in a combat zone. And I know it's been difficult for you to write those letters to the families of fallen soldiers.

[08:10:22]

But for this man to take the opportunity to minimize, in my opinion, the sacrifice these troops made just so he can sell a damn hat is beyond belief.

BLACKWELL: This is actually an appeal to get people to join his national private club, where he says, "You'll receive my private national security briefings, unfiltered updates on threats facing America." Now, that can, of course, be the presidential daily briefing. But this is the photo that the president is using to, or not the president, I should say that the PACK that supports the president is using for fundraising.

I want all of you to stay with us. We'll talk about Michigan. We'll talk about Virginia. We'll talk about DHS later in the show.

This week, the country was rattled by, as I said, that pair of terror attacks within two hours of one another at the Michigan synagogue at Old Dominion University, taking the life of an ROTC instructor. I'll speak with an army veteran who knew and trained with Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah. Next.

Plus, as fear of terror attacks in the U.S. ramps up, so does the Islamophobic rhetoric, even among members of Congress. I'll get reaction to that from the first Muslim member of the House Intelligence Committee. Next.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RABBI ARIANNA GORDON, TEMPLE ISRAEL: Tonight, in this setting, what I am feeling is overwhelming gratitude for our Temple Israel community, for our Metro Detroit community, for everyone who has stood up and supported us in the last 36 hours. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: The Metro Detroit community is coming together in support of their Jewish neighbors and the synagogue targeted in an anti- Semitic terror attack this week. Last night, Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, hosted a Shabbat service.

On Thursday, a man named Ayman Mohammad Ghazali drove a vehicle packed with explosives into that synagogue. Law enforcement sources now tell CNN the attacker was not believed to be a member of Hezbollah, but had been flagged in U.S. government databases for connections with suspected members of that militant group. The mayor of Dearborn Heights, where Ghazali lived, says the attacker recently lost his niece and a nephew in an Israeli attack in Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MO BAYDOUN, DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN: We do know that the individual had recently suffered devastating and personal losses overseas due to an Israeli airstrike on his family's home in Lebanon, leaving two children dead. That grief is real, and it's heartbreaking. But let me be clear, that is not an excuse.

These actions do not reflect our values as a city. This is not who we are. There is never an excuse for violence, especially violence directed at a sacred space.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Dearborn Heights has now increased law enforcement presence around houses of worship, schools and community gathering spaces. And this morning, we're also learning more about the man who attacked a ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University.

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was a former Virginia National Guard member. He was a convicted ISIS supporter and served prison time. He was released from federal custody in December 2024, but was still on court-mandated probation. It was the ROTC members in the room who killed their attacker.

But Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah lost his life. Shah was a professor of military science at the university's Army Reserves Officers Training Corps. He joined the army in 2003 and had more than 600 combat flight hours. Shah won awards for his service, including two Bronze Stars.

Carlos Ortiz trained with Brandon as a cadet. He went on to serve in the army, including a deployment to Iraq, but stayed in touch with Brandon.

Carlos, thank you for being with me. And I am -- I am sorry about the loss of your friend. And I want you to -- I want you to tell me about the two parts of Brandon shot. The Lieutenant Colonel and then the man. Start with -- with the service member first.

CARLOS ORTIZ, BRANDON SHAH'S FRIEND AND FELLOW CADET: Okay, thanks for having me, Victor. Yes. So, starting with the service, I mean, Brandon was an Apache pilot. And, you know, were in ROTC together. I was a class ahead of him, so he was a class below me. And we trained every day. And he loved the military, loved the Army. And when he joined the army, we kept in touch because we all obviously go separate ways.

So, I went to Fort Stewart and then went to Iraq, and he went to his assignment, and we stayed in touch via Facebook. But he was just -- he was all about serving his country and all about military service. He was well decorated. He went to all the schools. He was selected. He was, you know, all honors, just an amazing officer.

[08:20:07]

And yes, so as far as his military service, I mean, you couldn't ask for a better career. You couldn't ask for a soldier to be, you know, of better service than Brandon. Brandon put his heart and put all his effort into serving the United States army in the U.S. so.

BLACKWELL: He earned it. You're in the Senior Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge. As you said, highly decorated. Now talk to me about Brandon the man.

ORTIZ: Yes, that's actually, I enjoy that question better because that's when I really got to know him as a cadet. You know, you're a civilian, you're a student, you're in college, you're there to learn and get a degree. And so, of course, we ate breakfast, lunch, dinner sometimes, and we PT together. And then, you know, you're a college kid.

I was 17 years old. He was, I think he was actually a little older than me, but he was a great behind. But he was, I think, a year older than me. So, yeah, he was just so funny. He was always smiling. He had a great smile. Very, very handsome man, you know, just well-liked.

And he had a sister that also went to Old Dominion, Mimi. And he was very much a family man. He was just always there for his family.

I always remember him talking about his family all the time. I know his family is very close-knit, and he was raised that way. I mean, I -- I just can't imagine what his family is going through. But he was just a beautiful soul. And when you say really was, he was --

BLACKWELL: And when you say -- when you talk about his family, you told my producer that this is, he loved his job at Old Dominion, but this was the job you take right before retirement and then you focus on your family. And as a father of young children, he now does not have that.

ORTIZ: Correct. And that's -- I was just saying that to a friend of mine is, you know, you put in 20 years, you retire at 40, and you're -- it's -- 40s young. You know, he's in his 40s. He has a wife and kids. And he was -- he was supposed to be retiring and start spending time with family because when you're in the military, you don't always get a chance to spend time with family. You're deployed, you know, many deployments and stuff.

So this is -- that's -- this was the time for him to really start living this next chapter of his life. So, it's very, very sad. And it's, yes, it's not supposed to happen this way. And I'm devastated. I feel for his family.

BLACKWELL: Carlos Ortiz, you feel it for his family, as do we all. I thank you for spending a few minutes to tell us about the man who was there in that classroom. And as he taught his students, they then took down their attacker. Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah.

What's the biggest concern now as the war with Iran seems to be escalating? I'll ask Congressman Andre Carson, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, which deals really closely with these issues. That's next.

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[08:27:36]

BLACKWELL: Now, the war with Iran is happening far from the U.S. but we are all feeling the impact here. Oil and gas prices are spiking because of the battle over an area known as the Strait of Hormuz. The area is such an important global economic lifeline, and yet Iran has been able to disrupt it, nearly freeze it.

The president now says, "U.S. Navy ships will start escorting oil tankers soon." But did the U.S. not see this coming?

Sources tell CNN, the Pentagon and the National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz and failed to fully account for the potential consequences of what some officials have described as a worst-case scenario now facing the administration. Aseparate intelligence concern is whether the U.S. is doing enough to counter how Russia may be helping the Iranians.

Congressman Andre Carson with the U.S. is with us now. He is a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Sir, thank you for being with me. Intel sources tell CNN that the Russians are sharing specific drone information with Iran. Others say Iran is providing -- Russia is providing Iran with locations and movements of American troops and ship aircraft. Here's what the president said yesterday when asked if he believed that Russia was helping Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think he might be helping him a little bit. Yes, I guess. And he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine. Right.

KILMEADE: And you are right.

TRUMP: Yes, we help him also. And so, he says that. And China would say the same thing. You know, it's like, hey, they do it, and we do it. In all fairness, they do it and we do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: He seems to equate the two. Are they the same in all fairness?

REP. ANDRE CARSON, (D) INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Well, listen, both nations have been security partners for quite some time. When you look at Syria, they've coordinated to really counter Israeli and U.S. influence in the region. They have very strong economic ties.

We both know that both countries are. They have a banking agreement, they've developed trade, especially the gas and oil cooperation. And so, this should not be a surprise.

They signed an agreement that would strengthen their economic ties and defense ties. But so, I think we always have to be aware of this. And you know, the U.S. is helping Ukraine. That's no secret.

[08:30:06]

So, there's a sentiment there with Vladimir Putin that we should not ignore, even though President Trump has temporarily removed sanctions on Russia regarding oil. But we always have to be mindful, Vladimir Putin is a very masterful strategist. Former KGB.

BLACKWELL: Let me ask you about the new supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. It's been a week since he was named the new leader. We still have not seen him. We have not heard from him except for a written statement read by someone else in Iranian media. I want you to listen to the vice president here about what he believes the condition is of the supreme leader.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JD VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: Well, it's not totally clear, actually. I mean, it's obviously a very chaotic environment over there. And you have the Israelis striking. You have a -- obviously the United States striking a number of targets. So we know that he's hurt. We don't know exactly how bad, but we know that he's hurt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: And so, again, member of the Intel Committee, what do you know about the condition of Mojtaba Khamenei?

CARSON: Well, what I will say is it is clear that the Iranian people are demanding change. There's division within the community, but I'm still deeply concerned about the United States being brought into a forever war.

The American people don't want this war. This is another example of how Trump has gotten us into another foreign war that has not received congressional approval. And, you know, we don't want to see our brave military service members impacted. We don't want to see our economy continue to plummet and gas prices have skyrocketed. Americans simply don't want this war.

BLACKWELL: You are one of four Muslim members serving in Congress. And there is increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric. That's coming from Republican members of Congress. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville shared a post of a photo of the 9/11 attacks. And New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani added the caption, the enemy is inside the gates. When he was called out on this, he replied, Democrats are calling me a racist for speaking the truth about radical Islam. But it isn't a race. It's a death cult that teaches its followers to kill Americans.

Congressman Andy Ogles of Tennessee posted this week, Muslims don't belong in American society. Congressman Randy Fine posted. We need more Islamophobia, not less. Fear of Islam is rational.

Here's the House Speaker, Mike Johnson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-KY) HOUSE SPEAKER: I've spoken to those members and all members, as I always do, about our tone and our message and what we say. There's a look -- there's a lot of energy in the country and a lot of popular sentiment that the demand to impose Sharia law on America is a serious problem. That's what animates this. And that's the, you know, the language that people use. It's different language than I would use.

But I think that there's that's a serious issue. It is not about people as Muslims. It's about those who seek to impose a different belief system that is not -- that is in direct conflict with the Constitution. That's where I think that comes from.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: What's your reaction to the rhetoric from those members and from the defense from the speaker?

CARSON: Well, the rhetoric is absolutely unacceptable. First it's DEI, next is black women, then it's black men, then it's members of the Latino community, then it's members of the Arab American community, now it's Muslims.

And each week it shifts. Speaker Johnson has had a chance to show that bigotry has no place not only in his caucus but in American politics. Political violence is rising. Hate crimes are rising. Republican leadership has had a chance to calm tensions, and they failed to do so.

I serve as a senior member of the House Intel Committee. One of the biggest threats to our country is coming from within our country, domestic terrorism, mainly from white supremacist organizations. And let's face it, this country has a history we cannot ignore, going back to Oklahoma City bombing, to the Mother Emanuel Church attack in Charlottesville, Tree of Life, antisemitism has no place in this country. Islamophobia, anti-blackness, none of these isms, homophobia, none of these isms and phobias have a place in our society.

But they're very real and racist tropes and rhetoric that are being promoted by city members of Congress with no repercussions is simply unacceptable.

BLACKWELL: Congressman Andre Carson, thank you so much for your time this morning.

Our guests here in studio will react to that interview and the threat of terrorism here in the United States.

[08:35:00]

We'll continue the conversation, next.

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BLACKWELL: The threat of terror attacks on U.S. soil. They are a real concern and that's leading to a rise in precautions at places of worship and sensitive sites. Our guests are back. Retired Major General John F. King, U.S. Air Force veteran Ed Anderson, and national security expert Charles Carithers. Charles, let me start with you.

[08:40:02]

Charles, let me start with you. Of course, we've already seen attacks in Michigan, in Virginia, in New York and other places as well. Detail for us the vulnerability that we are facing domestically because of what's happening in the Middle East.

CHARLES CARITHERS, NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, PROFESSOR: Yes. So what should be of concern is that the conflict over taking place in Iran could galvanize, could radicalize individuals to go after soft targets here in the homeland.

What I mean by that, I mean schools, movie theaters, malls, places where people congregate, where the security posture is not robust. And we've seen this for the past 10 years with mass shootings, synagogues, churches, parking lots even. Right.

And so what's really concerning is Iran has terrorist proxies throughout the world. Right. And the concern is that if there are in fact Iran sleeper cells, could they in our homeland or could people who are radicalized, they see in the media, social media, or direct channels from terrorists across the seas, not just Iran.

The tragedy in Virginia, you know, that individual, that attacker, as heinous as it was, did provide material support to ISIS some years ago. Right. So we have to unpackage this that, OK, that ISIS focused some years ago, but was this individual galvanized by what has taken place overseas right now?

BLACKWELL: Ed, let me ask you this because your organization is a progressive veterans organization, supports many Democratic candidates. Democrats in Congress are withholding their votes to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. We're in a month into a shutdown department because they want changes to ICE protocol.

In this moment, all you've heard from Charles, should they continue to withhold that money from DHS, considering the threat to the homeland?

ED ANDERSON, U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN: Well, I feel the pain of my fellow union members that are at DHS, but I think there's a broader picture. When we look at the overall expenditures that the government is making, DHS is funded. The inordinate amount of money that was allocated to DHS is still there. The strings are only on certain portions of that, from what I understand. More importantly, if we can spend $2 billion a day on a war that will buy -- that will build 3,500 affordable houses.

BLACKWELL: Sure. But you've got to have Democrats vote to fund DHS. I've got a TSA worker in the next block who probably doesn't believe when you say DHS is funded because he didn't get a dollar in his paycheck.

ANDERSON: Yes, and I understand that. And the fault goes to both parties. I think that there has become such a divide in our country that the ability to work across the aisles has hindered any progress along those lines.

BLACKWELL: So let me go back to my initial question. Should Democrats continue to withhold their votes to fully fund DHS in this moment?

ANDERSON: Offhand, I'd say yes.

BLACKWELL: John.

MAJ. GEN. JOHN F. KING (RET.) U.S. ARMY: Absolutely not. You put -- how many Americans are going to have to die before the both, you know, the parties, definitely the Democratic Party gets. We are in conflict. You don't play games with America's, you know, with American lives. I mean, I've gone and spent time with our TSA agents at the Atlanta airport. Those kids, those people are trying to raise families and they're not

getting paid and they're, you know, the Democratic Party is playing games with American lives. And so to me, it's -- this gamemanship in the middle of a conflict is unjustified.

I mean, you, they can -- they have all kinds of other levers to get the administration to comply with their policy positions, but what they're doing with America's security is unconscionable.

BLACKWELL: Well, there was an opportunity this week that Democrats put forward for DHS to be funded and Republicans held back from that as well. Let me ask for about something that the White House posted on social media about one of the attacks, this one in Virginia, I believe, in which they say in this post the Old Dominion University shooting was carried out by an individual previously arrested for providing material support to Islamic State terrorist group. Correct. And it was released early from federal prison under the Biden administration.

Is there some suggestion here that the Biden administration is partly at first fault for this attack, John?

KING: I think so. I think is justifiable in this particular case.

[08:45:02]

And the challenge is we have -- we have so many people that came into this country during the Biden administration without any screening. It would -- we have no idea who's in this country. And now our Homeland Security Department, who is the primary agency to go and track down these individuals who are a threat to our nation, is not funded. Well, you don't play the game.

BLACKWELL: They say that he was released early by the Biden administration. Is then -- is President Trump then partly responsible for the alleged crimes committed by the people he pardoned after January 6th?

KING: If they went and committed crimes, I would say yes. I mean, there's responsibility cannot just be, you know, this incident supersedes this other incident. To me, that just does not hold water. Today that the question to be answered is the Democratic Party is holding Americans hostage by not funding the Department of Total.

ANDERSON: I disagree.

BLACKWELL: 10 seconds. Because we got to go.

ANDERSON: I just don't see it. It's a bipartisan effort that's holding that funding. It's become a political issue.

BLACKWELL: Ed Anderson, John King, Charles Carithers, thank you all.

This is the first weekend TSA employees are getting $0 in those paychecks because of the ongoing shutdown. This time, they missed two full paychecks last year. I'll speak to the leader of the union for TSA workers at the world's busiest airport next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:51]

BLACKWELL: TSA employees at airports this weekend have just missed their first full paycheck of this shutdown. This government shutdown has impacted the Department of Homeland Security and it has no end in sight. The timing could not be worse.

Look at this video. The lines will only get longer with spring break coming up. Airports are doing what they can to help. Airports in Seattle and Denver, Orlando, New York, New Jersey, collecting donations for TSA staff. The people who work for us.

Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas is reopening a pantry that it helped employees with during the shutdown in 2025.

Aaron Barker is a TSA employee and leader of the American Federation of Government Employees Union here in Atlanta. Hartsville Jackson International is considered the world's busiest airport. Aaron, good to see you again.

When you were here with me in November, after you all had missed your second full paycheck of that shutdown, you were talking about what was happening and the straits that your members were in is this time, how does it compare to the last?

AARON BARKER, TSA EMPLOYEE: It's worse. It's worse because with that shutdown that happened back in November or October, going into November, officers had resources that they could tap into and things like that. With the proximity so close to this shutdown, those resources are not there anymore.

So they don't have the ability to go and say, can I get more? They were working on paying back what they've already taken out. So it's absolutely worse than it was the first time.

BLACKWELL: Are you seeing TSOs leave the job?

BARKER: I haven't seen that happen yet in Atlanta, but I do suspect that will happen. I mean, right now officers are being faced with really life or death situations or am I going to survive or not? So they will at some point have to make a decision whether to stay on or, you know, go and find other ways to make ends meet for the families.

BLACKWELL: I've read stories of people sleeping in their cars trying to figure out how do you Afford childcare.

BARKER: It's really tough. And officers are facing so much right now. It's really tough. The fact is they can't afford it. Most TSA workers, as most Americans, are living paycheck to paycheck. So to be going through this again so close to the last shutdown is detrimental to a lot officers.

BLACKWELL: We were talking during the break about the requirements if a TSO takes off a single day because of, you know, having not been able to afford child care with no income. And there's a potential for consequence if you don't bring in a doctor's note.

BARKER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: Tell me about that.

BARKER: So that is one of the stances that the agency has taken. Unfortunately, I don't agree with that policy. I mean, it is what it is. But to put that amount of stress on someone who's already working with no pay and to have maybe face disciplinary action because they're unable to pay the $50 to go to a doctor or, I don't even know what you expect an officer to provide. If I can't afford to pay a child care bill, like, what am I supposed to provide? How? You know, I don't. That's a question that a lot officers have across the country. Like, what documentation do you really want us to provide?

BLACKWELL: Let's look at some of these lines. We've been seeing the hours long waits increasingly at airports. I don't even know if there's a projection for this. But how bad do you expect it will.

BARKER: Get if this continues to go on? It's going to get worse. I mean, officers, and I just want to set the record straight with one thing. We're saying that we're -- this is the first full missed paycheck. The first paycheck that was missed was February. February 28th through March 4th. That's usually when officers get paid.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

BARKER: That paycheck was less than 10 percent of what officers received. So some officers got paychecks as little as $1.

BLACKWELL: Oh, wow.

BARKER: So to a partial paycheck, I wouldn't even consider it. A partial paycheck. Everything.

BLACKWELL: $1 paycheck is nothing.

BARKER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

BARKER: So this will be the -- today will be the, I'm sorry, will be the second missed paycheck. So if officers continue to not receive pay, they're going to have to make the decision. And if that gas prices are going up, who has the money?

[08:55:03]

Where's the money coming from to put the gas in the car or to put food in the refrigerator or to pay that daycare bill? The money is not there.

BLACKWELL: What do you want from us, the traveling public? BARKER: I want you to reach out to our congressional members, let them

know how they are affecting, you know, Homeland Security, TSA workers. They need their funds. And the conversation that's happening right now with officers is, you know, with this going on, I don't know who I'm going to support with this election.

That's a big flag that our politicians need to listen to and look at if they're voting one way or the other and this situation is causing that, they need to get on the ball and figure out what's going on to be able to get these officers paid.

BLACKWELL: Aaron Barker, thank you for coming in.

BARKER: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right. If you see something or someone that I should see, tell me. I'm on Instagram, TikTok, X, Bluesky. You can also listen to our show as a podcast. As always, I thank you for joining me here today. I'll see you back here next Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Smerconish is up after the break,

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