It is sad but true that the 9/11 attacks may be achieving their purpose of harming American culture. We give up our freedoms in order to feel safer from terrorism. Meanwhile we tolerate decreasing feelings of safety within our own public spaces in order to hang on to our right to be armed. I think these two things are very contradictory. I think "Freedom to" has been the American way and "Freedom from" has been the false promise of dictatorships.
Biden directs TSA to double fines on travelers who won't mask up on flights. A new executive order from President Joe Biden directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to double the fines faced by travelers who refuse to mask up in airports and "On certain modes of public transportation." The fines take effect Friday would be $500 to $1,000 for first offenders and $1,000 to $3,000 for repeat offenders. Children under 2 and those with certain disabilities are exempt. "If you break the rules, be prepared to pay," Biden said Thursday. During his speech, the president laid out a "Six-pronged strategy" focused on sweeping vaccination requirements for federal workers and companies with more than 100 employees, increasing school safety protocols and making coronavirus testing more accessible. Source 6h.
Masks still required on planes, trains and buses for at least one more month as TSA extends mask mandate. This is the fourth extension of the federal travel mask mandate that has been in place since early 2021. It covers the busy spring break travel season. Source 1a.
TSA to offer gender-neutral screening at airports
TSA is establishing new standards for transgender, gender-noncomforming and nonbinary air travelers in an effort to be more inclusive. Source 2x.