Throughout Tuesday morning’s cable information morning reveals on MS NOW and CNN, blame was positioned on Republicans for the lasting DHS shutdown brought on by Democrat protests of immigration enforcement and ICE funding. The hosts of CNN This Morning, CNN Information Central, and, after all, MS NOW’s Morning Joe ignored the Democrats’ impression on the shutdown, a rising media pattern.
In a tease for the Information Central phase, CNN This Morning host Audie Cornish teed up the story as a Republican assault on Democrats:
Okay, you guys, we wish to discuss slightly bit extra concerning the partial authorities shutdown affecting the Division of Homeland Safety enters one other week and as we talked about earlier, very lengthy traces on the airport in consequence. So, Republicans need voters responsible Democrats. We will discuss how that is going to play out.
In a tease for CNN Information Central, CNN This Morning host Audie Cornish minimized the Democrats impression on the DHS shutdown and impacts to the TSA.
As an alternative, she acknowledged “Republicans need voters responsible Democrats” for the shutdown. pic.twitter.com/UWdcdOu6s9
— Nick (@nspin310) March 17, 2026
An hour later in CNN programming, throughout the precursor to an interview with Republican Congressman Pete Classes of Texas, Bolduan started to border the phase as Democrats being the saviors who would finish the shutdown similar to they launched the Epstein information:
And now Democrats, in the present day, are pushing forward with a brand new transfer to attempt to drive a vote that might finish the shutdown. Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries is now telling fellow Democrats he is launching a discharge petition tomorrow. It might fund most of DHS, together with TSA, whereas not approving new funding for ICE and Customs and Border Patrol.
This tactic has labored for Democrats lately, a discharge petition, like in efficiently forcing the vote to launch the Epstein information.
Within the phase Cornish alluded to, Information Central host Kate Bolduan handled Congressional Democrats because the saviors that may fund DHS, apart from CBP and ICE, by way of a discharge petition, similar to they did with the Epstein Information. pic.twitter.com/r5YzLafBNx
— Nick (@nspin310) March 17, 2026
Bolduan was powerful within the interview with Session, with questions on if he can be “open to funding TSA, FEMA, CISA after which debating funding for ICE afterward?”
Her query ignored the fact that ICE was already funded. The shutdown proper now was a tactic for reforms that has simply ended up placing nationwide safety in danger.
Bolduan ended the DHS shutdown a part of the interview with: “It seems like we’re nowhere close to breaking the stalemate, is what I take from this.”
Subsequent, on the premiere liberal morning discuss present, Morning Joe, Katty Kay and Jonathan Lemire positioned blame on Republicans, particularly Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, for not agreeing with Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) invoice that might nonetheless haven’t absolutely funded DHS.
Kay learn, “Final week, Senate Republicans blocked 5 separate payments proposed by Democrats to fund TSA and different non-immigration companies. One of many proposals, from Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington, was killed by a Republican senator, Katie Britt of Alabama.”
Kay’s introduction to the phase blamed Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) for blocking a funding invoice. She ignored the precise reasoning for the shutdown, which was Democrat protests of immigration coverage. pic.twitter.com/STxQEVT4AL
— Nick (@nspin310) March 17, 2026
Kay and Lemire targeted on Democratic Congressman Greg Casar’s (TX) confrontation at an airport in Texas with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). The hosts made enjoyable of Cornyn’s try to provide the TSA employees Whataburger meals.
Kay related the burgers to how the shutdown is definitely working for Democrats:
Yeah, John. Burgers, paychecks, I believe most TSA brokers know which one they might quite have.
This has been fascinating politically as a result of I believe initially some Democrats had been anxious concerning the framing of this. However in the previous few days, as these queues and people traces have gotten longer throughout spring break journey, I believe they’ve seen one thing shift they usually suppose, nicely, look, if we will single out funding for the TSA brokers and separate that from funding for ICE, this might truly work politically in Democrats favor. What are you seeing?
MS NOW’s Morning Joe, unsurprisingly, continued to position blame on Republicans, as Katty Kay and Jonathan Lemire acknowledged that the Democrats are successful the shutdown struggle. https://t.co/Z98G9B2ptn pic.twitter.com/uY0eguMuJf
— Nick (@nspin310) March 17, 2026
Lemire additionally parroted the speaking level of republicans being answerable for the Senate, whereas ignoring the existence of the filibuster vote threshold:
However you are proper. I believe Democrats do really feel like simply, just like the final funding struggle, that they are on the fitting aspect of this.
That the Republicans are in management. They’ve each homes of congress. They’ve the white home. They’re taking a lot of the blame. One wonders, although, how for much longer this may final.
The liberal cable networks refusal responsible Democrats for the shutdown is alike to the massive three broadcast networks virtually fully ignoring the Democrat’s impression on the shutdown, as seen in a latest MRC Newsbusters research.
The transcript is under. Click on “broaden”:
CNN This Morning
March 17, 2026
6:48:52 AM
AUDIE CORNISH: Okay, you guys, we wish to discuss slightly bit extra concerning the partial authorities shutdown affecting the Division of Homeland Safety enters one other week and as we talked about earlier, very lengthy traces on the airport in consequence. So, Republicans need voters responsible Democrats. We will discuss how that is going to play out.
(…)
CNN Information Central
March 17, 2026
7:48:02 AM Jap
KATE BOLDUAN: The partial authorities shutdown of DHS has led to brutal and rising wait instances at airports and led to lots of of TSA brokers now quitting. That shutdown now enters its second month.
On the heart of the political stalemate is the longer term, and funding of ICE. And as with each shutdown, as we now have seen of latest, Democrats and Republicans are at present and nonetheless blaming one another for not coming to the desk to convey an finish to this.
And now Democrats, in the present day, are pushing forward with a brand new transfer to attempt to drive a vote that might finish the shutdown. Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries is now telling fellow Democrats he is launching a discharge petition tomorrow. It might fund most of DHS, together with TSA, whereas not approving new funding for ICE and Customs and Border Patrol.
This tactic has labored for Democrats lately, a discharge petition, like in efficiently forcing the vote to launch the Epstein information.
However this transfer this time, like others, would require Democrats to win over plenty of Republicans to get this to the ground. Becoming a member of me proper now’s Republican Congressman Pete Classes of Texas. Congressman thanks for coming in.
Texas has seen some loopy wait instances at airports. In Austin, although I do know not in your district, the safety traces we have seen video reached outdoors the terminal. Dealing with that and the fact that TSA employees are quitting now, are you open to funding TSA, FEMA, CISA after which debating funding for ICE afterward?
REP. PETE SESSIONS (R-TX): I believe all of us acknowledge that there is a political distinction right here. Our buddies that had been Democrats years in the past wished to defund ICE. This isn’t a brand new situation. This isn’t a brand new situation as a result of these identical sorts of preparations have occurred for years. I’m not open to that. We should perceive that ICE has a job and a perform.
And I believe that the negotiation that passed off a number of weeks in the past concerning the adjustments that might be made ought to have been vital sufficient to get my fellow Democrats, my buddies, again on with some little bit of reliability.
They’ve additionally seen a change – a change on the high. Kristi Noem got here and testified. It was a listening to that basically ended up, I believe, exhibiting the American folks among the frailties of the insurance policies. I believe these might be corrected. I believe that efficient with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who will turn out to be the director, that there might be a special viewpoint maybe as is seen by the American folks of their hometown.
However no, I imagine we’d like ICE. We have got to have them. There needs to be somebody who will go and be on the entrance line to take criminals out of this nation.
BOLDUAN: Why is shopping for extra time to have that debate, on the identical time getting folks paid and again to work at America’s airports, not an okay compromise although?
SESSIONS: Nicely, I voted sure. Typically talking, you have a look at the individuals who vote sure after which query why folks vote no. The those that vote no are these those that didn’t need the compromise.
I believe that the struggle ought to now happen over who’s going to be the secretary, and that might be Markwayne Mullin. And he’s a United States senator who is aware of every of those folks. He’ll converse with readability concerning the points.
I spoke with Mr. Markwayne Mullin yesterday about my concepts concerning the job and efficiency that he might be doing. He was very open to listening to from me. I believe I made sense to him.
I need to have the ability to clarify to my constituents what ICE has as not only a coverage however how they will play these items out, and I wish to know the place they will go and what order they will do them in.
So, I believe that that is actually the crux of the matter. That is merely a political battle that must be one that might be finished professionally and in – and searching on the secretary. I believe the president made the change. That must be the opening that might be crucial politically for the Democrats to grab upon. Okay, now let’s renegotiate. And I believe that is what must happen; not holding up federal employees.
BOLDUAN: It seems like we’re nowhere close to breaking the stalemate, is what I take from this.
(…)
MS NOW’s Morning Joe
March 17, 2026
7:42:21 AM Jap
KATTY KAY: Chicago Halfway Airport, although, with a aircraft coming in to land. And extra US airports are seeing extraordinarily lengthy safety traces amid the partial authorities shutdown that is now in its fifth week.
Final week, Senate Republicans blocked 5 separate payments proposed by Democrats to fund TSA and different non-immigration companies. One of many proposals, from Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington, was killed by a Republican senator, Katie Britt of Alabama.
It comes because the New York Occasions experiences, a rising variety of TSA workers have picked up second jobs, typically calling out sick simply to take action, after lacking their first full paycheck. That was final Friday. Up to now, greater than 300 officers have give up.
This was the scene on the airport in Fort Lauderdale yesterday. Superb traces. Different massive hubs are additionally reporting painfully lengthy queues like Houston, Atlanta, Newark, Laguardia in New York.
In the meantime, a tense backwards and forwards erupted yesterday outdoors the airport in Austin between two Texas lawmakers, Democratic Congressman Greg Casar and Republican Senator John Cornyn bought into it after Cornyn arrived to ship burgers to TSA brokers working with out pay resulting from that partial authorities shutdown. Cornyn has blamed Democrats for blocking the DHS funding invoice.
Casar, a Democrat who represents Austin, arrived on the airport first and was speaking to reporters when Cornyn confirmed up. Take a watch.
(…)
7:44:50 AM
KAY: Yeah, John. Burgers, paychecks, I believe most TSA brokers know which one they might quite have.
This has been fascinating politically as a result of I believe initially some Democrats had been anxious concerning the framing of this. However in the previous few days, as these queues and people traces have gotten longer throughout spring break journey, I believe they’ve seen one thing shift they usually suppose, nicely, look, if we will single out funding for the TSA brokers and separate that from funding for ICE, this might truly work politically in Democrats favor. What are you seeing?
JONATHAM LEMIRE: Yeah. To begin with, Cornyn within the political struggle for his life proper now –
KAY: Sure.
LEMIRE: – Not shocked. He most likely welcomes some form of confrontation. However you are proper. I believe Democrats do really feel like simply, just like the final funding struggle, that they are on the fitting aspect of this.
That the Republicans are in management. They’ve each homes of congress. They’ve the white home. They’re taking a lot of the blame. One wonders, although, how for much longer this may final.
We had been speaking – a theme in the present day has been about political ache, proper? These traces at airports are gigantic and getting worse. And there is – at a sure level, the frustration from the general public could push some form of motion. We’ll, after all, keep on it.
