VINCE – Episode 254 Is the TSA on the Brink of Collapse?
March 26, 2026
Host: Vince Coglianese | Cumulus Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This high-energy episode of VINCE, hosted by Vince Coglianese, takes on the mounting crisis at America's airports due to the continued shutdown and defunding of the TSA and DHS, as well as the broader political context causing chaos—namely the ongoing partisan battles in Congress. With characteristic sharpness, Vince dissects the dysfunction in the Senate, the real-world impacts on TSA workers and air travelers, the strategic use of chaos by Democrats, and the tragic human toll—as illustrated by recent high-profile crimes involving illegal immigrants. The episode also highlights administrative maneuvers such as deploying ICE agents to airports, public relations battles, and the potential for deploying the National Guard to address the crisis.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Political Stalemate and the TSA Crisis

(09:00 – 18:30)

• Vince describes increasing chaos at US airports as the TSA is defunded, with up to half the workforce at some airports calling out due to not being paid, resulting in record-high security wait times (over 4 hours at some airports).
• The DHS funding stalemate is framed as a shell game between Republicans and Democrats, primarily over ICE enforcement and reforms.
• Vince argues that Democrats are fostering chaos intentionally, with the aim of pinning blame on President Trump and swaying midterms—"Democrats love chaos ahead of any election." (10:52)
• He accuses Senate Republicans of lacking “testicular fortitude,” urging them to end the filibuster and pass funding, echoing President Trump’s public statements.

Notable Quote:

"We've got TSA defunded. We have TSA agents not showing up to work... madness at the airports and no deal in sight to fund DHS." — Vince (16:20)

2. Testimony from TSA Leadership: The Human Cost

(17:00 – 19:00)

• Acting TSA Administrator Ha Win McNeil testifies before Congress:
  • 480+ TSOs have quit
  • Call out rates ballooned from 4% to as high as 50% at some airports
  • Agents forced to sleep in cars, miss rent, or deal with eviction notices
  • TSA has been unfunded for almost 50% of fiscal year 2026

Notable Quote:

"This has led to the highest wait times in TSA history with some wait times greater than four and a half hours. We are being forced to consolidate lanes and may have to close smaller airports." — TSA Administrator McNeil (17:00)

• Vince notes, "If TSA is fully funded, sometimes it's a nightmare… Now they have no funding." (17:40)

3. Political Theater and Failed Solutions

(24:23 – 25:32)

• Representative Sri Thanedar is called out as an example of congressional incompetence during questioning of TSA leadership; his attempt to criticize ICE deployment at airports is refuted by the acting administrator, who praises ICE's help.
• The “March Sadness Tournament” for dumbest member of Congress is promoted, with Thanedar featured as a top seed.

Notable Quote:

“SRI is so stupid that he created opportunities for her [administrator McNeil] to speak and to posterize him like she was Michael Jordan in the 90s.” — Vince (25:32)

4. Administration Response: ICE at Airports and Possible National Guard Deployment

(28:53 – 29:43)

• President Trump’s move to send ICE agents to airports is lauded as a “PR coup,” both practically (reducing wait times) and in rehabilitating ICE’s public image.
• However, Vince points out the opportunity cost: “If ICE agents are at the airport, they’re not out on the streets... and we desperately need that.”
• Trump, in a televised statement, hints at sending in the National Guard if conditions remain dire.

Notable Quote:

“I sent ICE to the airports yesterday, and they have been so great... If we have to, we’re going to send in the National Guard if we need to.” — President Trump (28:53)

• Vince celebrates the dual effect: “How can we relieve the pressure at the airports? And how can we give American people confidence in their ICE agents? Nailing it in both cases.” (29:43)

5. The Real-World Consequences: Illegal Alien Crimes

(35:27 – 47:28)

• Vince covers the murder of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old student in Chicago, by a Venezuelan illegal alien. The accused was previously released at the border and again after a shoplifting arrest in Chicago’s sanctuary city environment.
• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt is quoted enumerating the series of failures that allowed the crime to occur.
• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is blasted for publicizing an “Abolish ICE” snowplow name right after Sheridan’s murder and for refusing to apologize or alter his stance on sanctuary policies.

Notable Quotes:

“How many more Americans have to die before the Democrats end this madness?” — Press Secretary Levitt (37:15) “He thinks the murder of Sheridan Gorman is an invitation for him to protect more illegal aliens like her murderer. What a Scumbag.” — Vince, on Mayor Johnson (41:12) “You know, we’re going to double down… They’re doubling down on making Chicago a hellhole. That’s what they’re doubling down on.” — Vince (42:49) “The answer to that is eject them. But Democrats don’t want to.” — Vince, referencing Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez’s comments (47:28)

6. Elite Complicity and Media Obfuscation

(46:24 – 56:00)

• Chicago Democratic leadership, including Governor Pritzker and former Governor Blagojevich (now a Trump ally), are implicated in abetting illegal immigration for political gain—“Illegal immigrants have become a voting block for the Democratic Party.” — Rod Blagojevich (47:53)
• Vince also highlights the moral cowardice of academic and media institutions:
  • Loyola’s student newspaper apologizes for calling Sheridan’s killer an “illegal immigrant,” instead preferring “resident.”
  • Vince denounces the “struggle session” language and the broader trend in higher education toward leftist ideological conformity.

Notable Quote:

"Their classmate just got murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien... And yet the school newspaper is bowing down before those very same left wing forces and apologizing for using language like illegal immigrant. We’ve got a massive problem in higher education." — Vince (52:30)

7. National vs. Local: From Policy to Personal Tragedy

(56:47 – 57:39)

• Flashback to President Biden apologizing for referring to a criminal as “illegal” instead of “undocumented,” signaling the party’s sensitivity over terminology even after brutal crimes.
• Vince insists, “Illegal alien murderers are vermin. There’s no question about that.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Terminating the filibuster… is a window of opportunity, a chance to do something good for your country. And yet they're still sitting on their hands, they're still dragging ass.” — Vince (10:45)
• “We are being forced to consolidate lanes and may have to close smaller airports if we do not have enough officers.” — TSA Administrator McNeil (17:00)
• “She was murdered in cold blood. She was assassinated. And now the country’s reeling again. Another Lake and Riley.” — Vince, on Sheridan Gorman (37:15)
• “What is Sheridan Gorman’s family think about all this?... They actually do have some thoughts about that Mayor. And they're being a little diplomatic about it. They're just trying to get justice for their daughter.” — Vince (39:39)
• “What happens is they're never getting Sherrod Gorman back. That family is not able to get their daughter back. But what they can do is they can try and be advocates coming out of a tragedy like this to prevent it from happening to any other family.” — Vince (44:00)
• "Illegal immigrants have become a voting block for the Democratic Party." — Rod Blagojevich, cited by Vince (47:53)
• “It’s meant to be moral blackmail to get you to open your borders to invasion. That’s what this is.” — Vince, on leftist language games (52:00)

Important Timestamps

• 09:00 – Vince begins main discussion on the Senate, filibuster, Save America Act, and airport chaos
• 17:00 – Testimony from TSA acting administrator Ha Win McNeil on the human toll of the shutdown
• 18:30 – Fox summarizing more of McNeil’s statements on TSA agents’ personal hardships
• 24:23 – Sri Thanedar’s line of questioning and Vince's assessment of congressional incompetence
• 28:53 – President Trump says he may send National Guard to airports
• 35:27 – Caroline Levitt on the murder of Sheridan Gorman
• 38:58 – Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils “Abolish ICE” snowplow
• 40:31 – Johnson is questioned over his stance after recent murder
• 46:24 – Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez and Rod Blagojevich comment on Democrat use of illegal immigrants as political bloc
• 52:00 – Loyola student newspaper controversy over “illegal immigrant” terminology
• 56:47 – Flashback to Biden apologizing for calling Laken Riley’s murderer “illegal”

Tone & Style

True to the show’s reputation, Vince’s delivery is brisk, unsparing, and unapologetically partisan. He mixes dark humor with outrage, moves rapidly between breaking news, analysis, and cultural critique, and freely attributes nefarious motives to political adversaries. The tone is direct, energetic, and often incredulous at perceived hypocrisy or incompetence.

Summary

VINCE Episode 254 pulls no punches in tying the breakdown at America’s airports to broader failures of Democratic leadership and congressional gridlock. Vince Coglianese attacks what he sees as a deliberate embrace of chaos by Democrats, using TSA and illegal immigration crises to further a political agenda—while highlighting the suffering of ordinary workers and citizens. With vivid anecdotes, pointed critique, and notable guest statements, he calls for ending the filibuster, restoring order, and blaming Democrats for both bureaucratic dysfunction and the tragic human costs swirling in contemporary headlines.