The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1754 - The Real Reason Your Airport Is Now A DISASTER ZONE
Date: March 23, 2026
Host: Matt Walsh, The Daily Wire

Episode Overview

In this episode, Matt Walsh dives into the ongoing airport chaos across the United States, tying massive TSA wait times to what he claims is the Democratic Party’s open borders agenda and their attempts to leverage shutdowns for immigration policy concessions. Walsh also critiques the insanity defense in criminal law with the example of a recent Seattle shooting, comments on the return of historical statues, reviews the new family film Project Hail Mary, and takes a shot at legacy media’s floundering attempts to stay relevant. The tone is direct, combative, and heavily critical of Democratic leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Airport Chaos: Shutdowns and the "Open Borders Agenda"

Massive TSA lines (four to five-hour waits) at airports are being attributed to the government shutdown, but Walsh says this is different from prior shutdowns in severity and cause.
Blames Democrats: Walsh claims Democrats are intentionally causing the dysfunction to push for immigration-related concessions.
Unauthorized TSA Absences: Lists strikingly high callout rates (Houston Hobby Airport: 47%, Atlanta: 33%, New Orleans: 34%, etc.) and claims agents in urban centers are skipping work “pretending to be sick.”
Walsh’s Argument:

"Democrats are once again making American citizens suffer for the sake of protecting foreign invaders." (02:20)
Real Motive, per Walsh: Democrats hope to hold up TSA to negotiate ICE policy (wanting judicial warrants for home raids, restricting ICE at polling places, etc.), believing illegal immigrants are a key Democratic constituency.
Notable Quote:

"The whole point of the shutdown is to lock in Democrat votes from illegal aliens. That’s the whole point." (08:50)

Timestamps

[02:20]–[08:28]: Description of TSA breakdown and blame on Democratic policies.
[09:36]–[10:30]: Hakeem Jeffries’s demand: "explicit prohibition that ICE can go nowhere near any polling sites".

2. Immigration Policy and Political Leverage

Democrats, via quotes from Peter Wells and Hakeem Jeffries, want to prevent ICE from enforcing at “sensitive locations” like schools, hospitals, churches, and polling sites.
Walsh reads between the lines:

“Who exactly would be intimidated by the presence of a federal immigration officer at a polling station? ... Well, Jeffries is just simply too dumb to realize how transparent he’s being here.” (10:35)
Adds that TSA chaos is wielded as leverage:

Katherine Clark: “It is one of the few leverage times we have.” (20:56)
Walsh's summary: shutdowns are a deliberate tactic to extract policy changes favoring non-citizens.

Timestamps

[09:36] Hakeem Jeffries on ICE at polling sites
[20:38] Katherine Clark on using shutdowns for leverage

3. ICE at Airports: Democrats’ Fears

Democrats paint ICE agents as "untrained" and dangerous, foreseeing violence and chaos if ICE fills in for TSA.
Notable Quotes:

Hakeem Jeffries: “These are untrained individuals ... potentially to brutalize or in some instances, kill [Americans].” (13:47)

Walsh: “Thank God it wasn’t an ICE agent doing that, because if they saw the water bottle... they’d just shoot me in the head.” (14:28) (Sarcastic imitation)
Walsh dismisses claims, referencing DHS studies that found TSA screeners routinely fail to catch most weapons.

Timestamps

[13:47]: Jeffries warning about ICE agents at TSA checkpoints
[14:28]: Walsh’s sarcastic retort

4. Underlying Motives in Immigration Politics

Emphasizes that Democrats’ true goal is amnesty and electoral advantage via illegal immigrants.
“At every turn, they want to protect illegal aliens... so that they can vote for Democrats in November, period.” (18:09)

Timestamps

[18:09]: Summing up Democratic goals

5. Criticism of the Insanity Defense in Criminal Law

Case: Cordell Goosby acquitted of killing a pregnant woman in Seattle by reason of insanity.
Walsh’s Argument:

“Not guilty by reason of insanity. What does that even mean? You are guilty, right? ... How can a person be not guilty of doing something that they did?” (27:50)
Claims the defense is “arbitrary, abused, and should be abolished.”
Notes four states have abolished it; urges more to follow.

Timestamps

[27:50]: Critique of the insanity defense, with the Seattle case as an example

6. Statues and Historical Memory: Columbus and Robert E. Lee

Applauds the installation of a new Columbus statue at the White House.
Urges not just Columbus but Robert E. Lee statues to be re-erected:

“It’s time to move past objecting and start building, start actively doing, because this really does matter.” (39:15)
Teases the new “Real History” episode focusing on Robert E. Lee as a complicated, honorable figure.
Quotes letters and writings to show Lee’s love for the Union, but allegiance to Virginia.
Argues both sides in the Civil War were “men of great dignity and courage.”

Timestamps

[36:31]: Columbus statues and the greatness of explorers
[39:15]: On Robert E. Lee and nuanced Civil War history

7. Media Critique: Legacy News Cosplaying as Podcasts

Mocks CNN for trying to boost ratings by adopting a “podcast vibe”—informal, at-desk broadcasts.
Plays Jake Tapper’s segment about his office decor:

“How perfect is it that a CNN anchor has a hobby of studying the great losers of history? I cannot think of a more appropriate hobby for a CNN employee.” (48:39)
Argues news should be formal, not copy new media trends.

Timestamps

[47:22]: Jake Tapper’s office tour
[48:39]: Walsh’s roast

8. Hollywood Review: Project Hail Mary

Praises Project Hail Mary as a rare, successful family movie.
“A solid, fun film... [that’s] a family movie and we all really enjoyed it. It’s a solid, fun film.”
Critiques the trend of needlessly adding inappropriate content to otherwise family-appropriate films and the tendency for movies to be too self-aware or detached.
Positive note on the film’s treatment of non-humanoid alien intelligence.

Timestamps

[55:34]: Introduction of Project Hail Mary review
[56:30]–[end]: Extended detailed review and musings on the film industry

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Airport Dysfunction:

“The TSA catastrophe is the Democrat Party in a nutshell. This is their foreigners-first ideology, perfectly illustrated.” (05:40)
On ICE at Polling Places:

“Who would choose to stay at home in hiding rather than, you know, go vote if they knew that ICE was going to be there? Well, Jeffries is just simply too dumb to realize how transparent he’s being here.” (10:35)
On the Insanity Defense:

“Not guilty by reason of insanity. What does that even mean? ... Even if the person is crazy. But are they even crazy? What does crazy mean? Nobody can tell you that.” (27:50)
On Statues and Heroes:

“It's time to move past objecting and start building, start actively doing, because this really does matter.” (39:15)
On Media Trends:

“How perfect is it that a CNN anchor has a hobby of studying the great losers of history? I cannot think of a more appropriate hobby for a CNN employee.” (48:39)
On Hollywood’s Failures and Family Films:

“Hollywood makes children's movies that are really hard to sit through if you do take your kids to them, but you do because you love them ... but they don't really make movies that are actually intended to be enjoyed by the entire family. Project Hail Mary is that kind of movie, which to me is its greatest achievement.” (55:34)

Segment Timestamps

Airport Chaos & Shutdown Explained: 02:20–14:28
Political Leverage and ICE Focus: 14:28–20:56
Insanity Defense Critique: 27:50–36:30
Statues & Civil War Memory: 36:31–47:22
Media Satire – CNN as Podcasts: 47:22–55:34
Project Hail Mary Movie Review: 55:34–end

Overall Tone and Takeaways

Matt Walsh delivers his signature direct, provocative perspective—blaming Democrats for systemic disruptions, accusing them of prioritizing non-citizens, and skewering cultural, political, and media trends he sees as damaging. The episode is replete with sarcasm, robust polemic, and calls to action, especially to conservatives, whether on criminal justice reform, public memory, or media consumption.

For Listeners Short on Time:

If you want the essence of Walsh’s airport/government shutdown argument, listen between [02:20] and [14:28].
For the full takedown of the insanity defense and why he believes it’s harmful, catch [27:50]–[36:30].
For cultural topics (statues and “real history” debate), go to [36:31]–[47:22].
The movie review and commentary on Hollywood trends start at [55:34].

Summary prepared for those seeking the substance and flavor of the episode, without having to hear the commercials or opening/closing formalities.

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1754 - The Real Reason Your Airport Is Now A DISASTER ZONE
Date: March 23, 2026
Host: Matt Walsh, The Daily Wire

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Airport Chaos: Shutdowns and the "Open Borders Agenda"

Massive TSA lines (four to five-hour waits) at airports are being attributed to the government shutdown, but Walsh says this is different from prior shutdowns in severity and cause.
Blames Democrats: Walsh claims Democrats are intentionally causing the dysfunction to push for immigration-related concessions.
Unauthorized TSA Absences: Lists strikingly high callout rates (Houston Hobby Airport: 47%, Atlanta: 33%, New Orleans: 34%, etc.) and claims agents in urban centers are skipping work “pretending to be sick.”
Walsh’s Argument:

"Democrats are once again making American citizens suffer for the sake of protecting foreign invaders." (02:20)
Real Motive, per Walsh: Democrats hope to hold up TSA to negotiate ICE policy (wanting judicial warrants for home raids, restricting ICE at polling places, etc.), believing illegal immigrants are a key Democratic constituency.
Notable Quote:

"The whole point of the shutdown is to lock in Democrat votes from illegal aliens. That’s the whole point." (08:50)

Timestamps

[02:20]–[08:28]: Description of TSA breakdown and blame on Democratic policies.
[09:36]–[10:30]: Hakeem Jeffries’s demand: "explicit prohibition that ICE can go nowhere near any polling sites".

2. Immigration Policy and Political Leverage

Democrats, via quotes from Peter Wells and Hakeem Jeffries, want to prevent ICE from enforcing at “sensitive locations” like schools, hospitals, churches, and polling sites.
Walsh reads between the lines:

“Who exactly would be intimidated by the presence of a federal immigration officer at a polling station? ... Well, Jeffries is just simply too dumb to realize how transparent he’s being here.” (10:35)
Adds that TSA chaos is wielded as leverage:

Katherine Clark: “It is one of the few leverage times we have.” (20:56)
Walsh's summary: shutdowns are a deliberate tactic to extract policy changes favoring non-citizens.

Timestamps

[09:36] Hakeem Jeffries on ICE at polling sites
[20:38] Katherine Clark on using shutdowns for leverage

3. ICE at Airports: Democrats’ Fears

Democrats paint ICE agents as "untrained" and dangerous, foreseeing violence and chaos if ICE fills in for TSA.
Notable Quotes:

Hakeem Jeffries: “These are untrained individuals ... potentially to brutalize or in some instances, kill [Americans].” (13:47)

Walsh: “Thank God it wasn’t an ICE agent doing that, because if they saw the water bottle... they’d just shoot me in the head.” (14:28) (Sarcastic imitation)
Walsh dismisses claims, referencing DHS studies that found TSA screeners routinely fail to catch most weapons.

Timestamps

[13:47]: Jeffries warning about ICE agents at TSA checkpoints
[14:28]: Walsh’s sarcastic retort

4. Underlying Motives in Immigration Politics

Emphasizes that Democrats’ true goal is amnesty and electoral advantage via illegal immigrants.
“At every turn, they want to protect illegal aliens... so that they can vote for Democrats in November, period.” (18:09)

Timestamps

[18:09]: Summing up Democratic goals

5. Criticism of the Insanity Defense in Criminal Law

Case: Cordell Goosby acquitted of killing a pregnant woman in Seattle by reason of insanity.
Walsh’s Argument:

“Not guilty by reason of insanity. What does that even mean? You are guilty, right? ... How can a person be not guilty of doing something that they did?” (27:50)
Claims the defense is “arbitrary, abused, and should be abolished.”
Notes four states have abolished it; urges more to follow.

Timestamps

[27:50]: Critique of the insanity defense, with the Seattle case as an example

6. Statues and Historical Memory: Columbus and Robert E. Lee

Applauds the installation of a new Columbus statue at the White House.
Urges not just Columbus but Robert E. Lee statues to be re-erected:

“It’s time to move past objecting and start building, start actively doing, because this really does matter.” (39:15)
Teases the new “Real History” episode focusing on Robert E. Lee as a complicated, honorable figure.
Quotes letters and writings to show Lee’s love for the Union, but allegiance to Virginia.
Argues both sides in the Civil War were “men of great dignity and courage.”

Timestamps

[36:31]: Columbus statues and the greatness of explorers
[39:15]: On Robert E. Lee and nuanced Civil War history

7. Media Critique: Legacy News Cosplaying as Podcasts

Mocks CNN for trying to boost ratings by adopting a “podcast vibe”—informal, at-desk broadcasts.
Plays Jake Tapper’s segment about his office decor:

“How perfect is it that a CNN anchor has a hobby of studying the great losers of history? I cannot think of a more appropriate hobby for a CNN employee.” (48:39)
Argues news should be formal, not copy new media trends.

Timestamps

[47:22]: Jake Tapper’s office tour
[48:39]: Walsh’s roast

8. Hollywood Review: Project Hail Mary

Praises Project Hail Mary as a rare, successful family movie.
“A solid, fun film... [that’s] a family movie and we all really enjoyed it. It’s a solid, fun film.”
Critiques the trend of needlessly adding inappropriate content to otherwise family-appropriate films and the tendency for movies to be too self-aware or detached.
Positive note on the film’s treatment of non-humanoid alien intelligence.

Timestamps

[55:34]: Introduction of Project Hail Mary review
[56:30]–[end]: Extended detailed review and musings on the film industry

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Airport Dysfunction:

“The TSA catastrophe is the Democrat Party in a nutshell. This is their foreigners-first ideology, perfectly illustrated.” (05:40)
On ICE at Polling Places:

“Who would choose to stay at home in hiding rather than, you know, go vote if they knew that ICE was going to be there? Well, Jeffries is just simply too dumb to realize how transparent he’s being here.” (10:35)
On the Insanity Defense:

“Not guilty by reason of insanity. What does that even mean? ... Even if the person is crazy. But are they even crazy? What does crazy mean? Nobody can tell you that.” (27:50)
On Statues and Heroes:

“It's time to move past objecting and start building, start actively doing, because this really does matter.” (39:15)
On Media Trends:

“How perfect is it that a CNN anchor has a hobby of studying the great losers of history? I cannot think of a more appropriate hobby for a CNN employee.” (48:39)
On Hollywood’s Failures and Family Films:

“Hollywood makes children's movies that are really hard to sit through if you do take your kids to them, but you do because you love them ... but they don't really make movies that are actually intended to be enjoyed by the entire family. Project Hail Mary is that kind of movie, which to me is its greatest achievement.” (55:34)

Segment Timestamps

Airport Chaos & Shutdown Explained: 02:20–14:28
Political Leverage and ICE Focus: 14:28–20:56
Insanity Defense Critique: 27:50–36:30
Statues & Civil War Memory: 36:31–47:22
Media Satire – CNN as Podcasts: 47:22–55:34
Project Hail Mary Movie Review: 55:34–end

Overall Tone and Takeaways

For Listeners Short on Time:

If you want the essence of Walsh’s airport/government shutdown argument, listen between [02:20] and [14:28].
For the full takedown of the insanity defense and why he believes it’s harmful, catch [27:50]–[36:30].
For cultural topics (statues and “real history” debate), go to [36:31]–[47:22].
The movie review and commentary on Hollywood trends start at [55:34].

Summary prepared for those seeking the substance and flavor of the episode, without having to hear the commercials or opening/closing formalities.