The TSA 'poop bomb' scandal
A photo of an 8-month-old getting a thorough patdown goes viral, and enrages America's frustrated air travelers
![TSA agent](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jpmSohHnBAtb7HASKr2wDC-415-80.jpg)
The image: A picture of an 8-month-old baby getting a patdown by TSA agents at the Kansas City International Airport has ignited yet another controversy about the tradeoff of airport security versus personal privacy. The image was snapped by Rev. Jacob Jester, a pastor who whipped out his cell phone when he saw a still-unidentified family getting thoroughly screened. (See the image below.) Jester shared the snapshot on Twitter, and it took off from there, garnering hundreds of thousands of views, and gaining the dubious title of the "poop bomb" photo, because the TSA agents appear to be searching within the baby's diaper. "Pretty sure that's extreme," Jester said in his tweet. (Watch a local news report about the uproar.)
The reaction: "Something really stinks about the attention this photo is getting," says Blogger Bob at The TSA Blog. TSA agents were simply following "proper current screening procedures" after the child's stroller set off an explosives alarm. It doesn't look so proper to me, says Sierra at Babble. They "were rummaging around the baby's diaper." TSA agents need to focus their "efforts where they'll count, which isn't on the unlikely infantile supervillians." See for yourself:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published