WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday he does not think the government needs to bail out low-cost airlines that have sought $2.5 billion in government relief because of high jet fuel prices, following the collapse of Spirit Airlines. “At this point, I don’t think it’s necessary. They do have access to cash. If they want to come to the U.S. government, we would be a lender of last resort. If they can find dollars in the private markets – I think that’s better for them,” Duffy said at a press conference at Newark airport. He said the prospect of a Spirit bailout was seen by some other airlines as an opportunity to get money “not necessarily based on need, but based on opportunity.” On Monday, a group of U.S. budget airlines, including Frontier and Avelo, said it had proposed exchanging warrants that could be converted into equity ​stakes for $2.5 billion in U.S. government assistance. The Association of Value Airlines confirmed it asked President Donald Trump’s ​administration to create a $2.5 billion liquidity pool, used exclusively to offset incremental fuel ​costs, “as a necessary and targeted measure to stabilize operations and keep airfares ⁠affordable during this period of volatility.” They have also asked Congress to suspend the 7.5% federal excise tax ​on airline tickets and the $5.30 per segment tax. Waiving the fees would ​offset about one-third of the incremental cost of higher jet fuel. JET FUEL SURGE DOUBLES COSTS The pitch highlights one of the unintended consequences of the U.S.-Israeli war ​with Iran: a surge in jet fuel prices that has roughly doubled costs, squeezing margins and pushing ‌weaker airlines ⁠closer to the brink. The chief executives of ‌several low-cost carriers met with Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration chief Bryan Bedford in Washington last week to discuss the proposal. The group arrived at the $2.5 billion figure by estimating how much more it expects to spend on jet fuel this year ​compared with earlier forecasts. Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. passenger airlines, opposed a bailout for budget carriers, saying “government intervention on behalf of those airlines would punish other airlines that have engaged in self-help in order to deal with increased costs and reward airlines who haven’t made those tough decisions. That’s not a level playing field.” The group added that in the long term, sustaining businesses unable to earn their cost of capital harmed competition and consumers by making it more difficult for other airlines to compete and attract private-sector capital. The Association of Value Airlines rejected the criticism from Airlines for America, saying government policy had favored major carriers and “the current surge in jet fuel prices is not the result of poor decision-making or a lack of discipline by value airlines. It is an uncontrollable, extraordinary external shock that disproportionately impacts business models built on offering consistently affordable fares to price-sensitive travelers.” (Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by William Maclean, Rod Nickel)

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security resumed after a 75-day shutdown — but Democrats are already threatening to cut funding again in September if their demands are not met. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), a ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said Democrats would “absolutely” shut down DHS again if Republicans do not agree to proposed reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — such as banning law enforcement officers from wearing masks and requiring judicial warrants for immigration-related arrests. “In America, police shouldn’t wear masks while walking the streets,” Thompson said, ignoring the dramatic uptick in threats and violent assaults against immigration enforcement officers and their families. “They need identification, they need cameras, and they need judicial warrants.” NEW: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) says Democrats “absolutely” may shut down DHS again in September if the ICE/CBP reforms they demanded aren’t included in the next DHS approps bill. Dems failed to get any reforms with this shutdown & GOP plans to go around them to fund ICE/CBP. https://t.co/FOjRZcXOvf — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 2, 2026 The House of Representatives ended the record-setting shutdown on Thursday after passing a bill funding most of the DHS — including the Transportation Security Administration and the Secret Service — through the end of September. ICE and Customs and Border Patrol were left out of the measure. Republicans are relying on a reconciliation bill — which would let the Senate bypass the 60-vote procedural threshold and thus the Democrats’ demands — to move ahead with funding for ICE and CBP. The shutdown began in February after Democrats refused to approve DHS funding unless Republicans agreed to include sweeping federal immigration enforcement reforms. Travelers spent hours in TSA security lines at major airports, and the Coast Guard faced utility shutoffs at military installations. Despite the hardships shouldered by everyday Americans during such shutdowns, Thompson was clear that Democrats are willing to trigger another shutdown if they do not get what they want. CNN’s Victor Blackwell pressed Thompson on his answer, asking whether Democrats were willing to force government employees to go without pay again. “When you say ‘absolutely,’ that suggests that there could be another shutdown, and there could be another lapse in pay for those TSA workers, the Coast Guard, if Democrats withhold those votes at the end of September,” Blackwell said. “Absolutely. Victor, look, we have to stand for democracy. If we have to fight for it, there has to be sacrifice,” Thompson added, apparently unconcerned with the fact that it would be average American families making the “sacrifice” he was so quick to offer.

New York City is bracing for impact as more than a million foreign soccer fans are about to descend on the nation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup — and could bring hundreds of infectious diseases with them. Medical professionals and infectious disease experts have been preparing for the major event for weeks, knowing that the large numbers of fans in close proximity will create a perfect breeding ground for contagion — and some of those fans could be carrying diseases that are not common in the United States. A report from The New York Post stated that the medical community was preparing for exposure to everything from the common cold and a resurgence of COVID-19 to Ebola. The list includes, but is not limited to, “viral hemorrhagic fevers, RSV, tuberculosis, measles, varicella, hepatitis A, typhoid, malaria, SARS, hantavirus and even ‘high consequence’ diseases with high mortality rates, like cholera and Ebola.” Bellevue’s critical care chief Dr. Vikramjit Mukherjee told Healthbeat New York that the city was basically planning for something akin to a mass immigration due to the number of foreign nationals who would be traveling to and through the city. “The whole health care system in New York City will be on the alert for ALL of these events,” he explained, noting that officials also had to be prepared for intentional disruptions such as shootings or other attacks. “We’re looking at it like a huge migration event.” “Because of what we’ve seen in the last few years — Ebola, Covid, and mpox — we feel that we will be the ones who will be affected first for the next outbreak, and therefore have an additional responsibility of keeping prepared,” Mukherjee added. One recent training exercise saw some 500 medical professionals from New York and New Jersey acting out a potential emergency transport — from nearby FIFA host city Toronto to New York City — using a mobile bio-containment unit. “That was the biggest drill we’ve done, because that involved local, state, federal, and international partners,” Bellevue spokesman Noel Alicea explained. The White House has also created a FIFA task force — headed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s son Andrew Giuliani — promising “the federal government’s extensive efforts to ensure that the largest World Cup in history will also be the safest.” Training and preparation among medical professionals for major events such as the FIFA World Cup often takes months, if not years.

A massive liberal donor network is planning to spend “ten of millions” of dollars on new media to counter conservatives. Democracy Alliance, founded in 2005 to pool liberal funds, spent most of 2024 trying to flip House seats in New York and California. The group has spent $2 billion on electoral campaigns, media outlets, and think tanks since its creation. But following the new media success of conservatives, the group is shifting its strategy to developing alternative media, Semafor first reported. “It became crystal clear after 2024 that we collectively had relied too much on forms of media that were not reaching people,” Pamela Shifman, president of Democracy Alliance, told Semafor. “Too much focus on paid advertisements, too much focus on broadcast television, and that is simply not where the majority of people consume their news.” The 2024 election cycle – during which President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance made huge gains through appearances on podcasts — convinced liberal donors to change their strategy. “Donors are more fired up, are more clear about the stakes, and more ready to go all in to defeat authoritarianism,” Shifman said. “Because it is more than just about one election, right? It is about defeating authoritarianism.” An internal memo recommended donors invest in Democracy Alliance’s new media fund, which would promote organizations such as More Perfect Union, an advocacy journalism nonprofit. The fund would also help liberals break into predominantly conservative spaces, such as Make America Healthy Again influencing, Semafor reported. In 2024, President Donald Trump went on a variety of podcasts, including those hosted by Joe Rogan and Theo Von, for interviews that got millions of views. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic nominee, attempted to counter by going on podcasts such as Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy,” but her efforts failed to sway voters. “The right has spent decades cultivating and organizing young people,” the memo, which was shared with Semafor, said. “They build relationships through culture and community — and engage in politics after. We can’t cede these voters. It’s time for progressives to invest heavily in our own trusted messengers who can meet young people where they are — both online and in-person.” Shifman told Semafor the problem has been progressives’ messaging strategy. “That is not why we are losing, because the Democrats are too ‘woke,’” Shifman said. “Our strategy really is about meeting people where they are. And we also need to have a vision of what we are going to do to improve people’s lives.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used social media to effectively reach voters, she said. “I live in New York, and I saw the Mamdani campaign use media and tactics that reached people, that spoke to people, that resonated with people, and that was joyful and positive and compelling,” Shifman said. “It doesn’t have to be negative to reach people.” Despite Mamdani’s ability to reach people and sell a message, his administration has stalled as he’s been forced to beg for more money to fund his socialist agenda.

Viral plane freakouts might finally be getting grounded. Airlines have watched passengers turn midair moments into content for years. Now one major carrier is making it clear the camera party is over if it is aimed at crew. British Airways has updated its passenger rules to crack down on people filming staff without permission. The airline warns the behavior could lead to serious consequences, including removal from a flight, long-term travel bans, or even legal trouble. The policy draws a clear line. Recording, photographing, or livestreaming crew members without consent now counts as “unacceptable behavior.” That places it alongside other disruptive conduct that can escalate quickly. It does not take much for a normal moment on a plane to end up online. What starts as a routine interaction can quickly turn into a viral clip without the full context. Passengers who cross the line could be removed mid-journey, barred from continuing their trip, or reported to authorities. If a situation forces a diversion, the airline says the passenger responsible may have to cover the costs, which can add up quickly. On the other hand, do not get it twisted. Passengers can still brag to their social media followers about the trip. So go ahead and snap photos of your meal, the view outside your window, or that first-class seat. Because if you didn’t post it these days, did it even happen? The rule also reflects how quickly technology is changing the cabin. Devices like smart glasses and action cameras make it easier to record interactions without drawing attention, raising new concerns about privacy for crew members doing their jobs. The airline has not pointed to any single incident behind the change. Instead, the update signals a broader effort to get ahead of a growing trend. Here is why it matters. What used to be a forgettable moment can now follow someone forever. Airlines are stepping in before every awkward exchange turns into the next viral clip. British Airways is not alone. Other carriers, including Qantas, KLM, and Virgin Australia, have introduced similar restrictions in recent years. The timing is notable. British Airways is expanding onboard Wi-Fi, including plans for faster satellite-based service, which will make live-streaming more accessible during flights. Airlines appear to be preparing for the risks that come with that shift. The airline also reiterated other behaviors that could lead to consequences. These include ignoring crew instructions, interfering with their duties, or acting in a way that disrupts other passengers. The message is straightforward in the end: just sit back and enjoy the flight.