TSA offers advice on traveling with Thanksgiving leftovers

NEWS AND OPINION:

The Transportation Security Administration is ready for the fast-approaching holiday season.

“TSA is prepared for the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record and is projected to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2, representing a volume increase of approximately 6% from this time in 2023,” the agency said in a statement released Tuesday.

The agency also offered helpful hints for airline passengers who may be toting a little more in the near future.

“Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving leftovers? Nothing beats that meal again the next day all condensed into sandwich form. So what food is allowed in your carry-on?” the federal agency said in a handy online guide to this concern.

“Solid foods are allowed with no quantity limitations. Liquid, creamy or spreadable food items must be in containers that are 3.4 oz. or less. The containers must be placed in your quart-sized bag with other travel-sized liquids, gels and aerosols,” it explained.

“Need to keep everything cool? Any ice or ice packs must be completely frozen solid when presented for screening. If they’re slightly melted, slushy or there’s liquid in the bottom of the container, they must also be 3.4 oz. or less and placed in your quart-sized bag with other travel-sized liquids, gels and aerosols,” the guide said.

“Now to help answer a common question. Can you bring alcohol in your carry-on bag? Well, you may carry on as many small bottles of alcohol (3.4 ounces or less) as will fit in your single quart-sized liquids bag along with your other travel-sized liquids,” it said.

“What about your checked bags? Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content, such as beer and wine, are allowed in checked bags with no quantity limitations. You may also take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70%. Those containers must be in their unopened retail packaging,” the guide said.

THE TRUMP DANCE PERSISTS

Let us recall that then-President Donald Trump took to dancing onstage to the Village People tune “YMCA” at his rallies during the 2020 campaign.

Those good-humored moves attracted much media coverage and eager audiences on a global scale. The appeal of this political phenomenon persists.

One video clip of Mr. Trump dancing posted on YouTube by Sky News Australia on Monday, for example, drew 180,000 views in 24 hours. A similar clip released Monday by the New York Post accumulated 29,139 views in 17 hours.

“Make America fun again,” Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Republican, posted Sunday on X.

“The NFL went from kneeling during the anthem to doing the #TrumpDance. The culture has definitely shifted,” said Gregory John, who hosts a show for the Milwaukee news-and-talk radio station WISN.

FOXIFIED

In the week of Nov. 11-17, Fox News drew an average daily prime-time audience of 2.97 million, according to Nielsen Media Research. Meanwhile, during those important evening hours, MSNBC had an average daily audience of 684,000 viewers and CNN 464,000.

Here are the standout programs on Fox News for the week: “The Five” averaged 4.4 million daily viewers, “Jesse Watters Primetime” delivered 4.1 million viewers, and “The Ingraham Angle” saw 3.4 million viewers.

Funnyman Greg Gutfeld also conquered the network competition, with his late-night show, “Gutfeld,” also garnering a 3.4 million average viewership. By comparison, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” had an average audience of 1.8 million, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” drew 1.5 million viewers, NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” 1.3 million, and “Late Night With Seth Meyers” 823,000.

Over the weekend, Maria Bartiromo’s “Sunday Morning Futures” had 1.9 million viewers, while “Life, Liberty & Levin” drew an audience of 1.8 million.

A LAWMAKER’S FOCUS

Rep. Rich McCormick, Georgia Republican, has been elected to serve on the Republican Policy Committee and will join the sophomore class leadership team as one of four members for the 119th Congress.

The emergency room doctor, who served as a pilot in the Marine Corps, has three priorities in mind — and here they are, verbatim from the source:

• Driving effective, results-oriented policies: Creating bold, practical solutions that address national security, economic prosperity, and the future of American innovation.

• Fostering unity within the conference: Enhancing collaboration across committees and regions to ensure a unified Republican agenda.

• Expanding access to policy resources: Equipping members with the tools and information necessary to lead on critical issues for their districts.

“I am committed to ensuring the Republican Policy Committee remains a cornerstone of innovation and effectiveness,” Mr. McCormick said in a written statement. “This is a critical moment for our nation, and I am eager to bring my experience and vision to this leadership role.”

ON THE RADAR, LITERALLY

AccuWeather’s long-range prediction experts say back-to-back storms could complicate Thanksgiving travel plans, with more Americans expected on the highways and at the airports this year than last year.  

“Buckle up, we’re looking at a stormy pattern for Thanksgiving week. Some wet and wintry weather could slow down families traveling ahead of Thanksgiving,” Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s lead long-range expert, said in a written statement.

“We expect some rain in the center of the country and thunderstorms along the Gulf coast on Thanksgiving Day. Cold rain and snow showers are in the forecast for parts of the interior Northwest and Four Corners region. Black Friday shoppers and families driving home after Thanksgiving could be dealing with rain and showers from the Gulf Coast and throughout much of the East Coast,” he added.

AAA expects holiday travel records to be shattered this Thanksgiving, with an estimated 79.9 million Americans traveling over the holiday weekend.

POLL DU JOUR

• 56% of U.S adults think gun laws in the U.S. should be “more strict.”

• 33% think gun laws should be “kept as they are now.”

• 10% think gun laws should be “less strict.”

• 1% don’t have an opinion on the issue.

SOURCE: A Gallup Poll of 1,023 U.S. adults conducted by telephone Oct. 1-12 and released Tuesday.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.