I’ve had a lot of flashbacks lately—nearly buried memories that have come flooding back ever since Politico Magazine published “ Dear America, I Saw You Naked,” my first-person account of working for the TSA and anonymously blogging about my adventures in airport security.

Another one: It’s 2010, and a passenger is trying to bring her live goldfish through security. One of my co-workers informs her that the fish can go through but the water cannot. The woman is on the verge of tears when a supervisor steps in to save the fish’s life.

And another: Working alongside a screener who always demanded that pacifiers be removed from infants’ mouths and submitted for X-ray screening before the babies and their mothers were permitted to pass through the metal detectors.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of what I now see as the life-changing experience of having my story go viral is the realization of just how much I still have left to tell about my six years at the TSA—the strange checkpoint happenings, the colorful passengers and the outrageous, real-life TSA characters.

Americans took my initial report as confirmation of what they always dreaded about a humiliating experience so many millions of them had shared. But I also realized that there was a part of the story I hadn’t fully told: about a government agency and its leaders, and how they came up with the absurd policies that turned me and my colleagues into just-following-orders Mashed Potato Police.

***

Soon after the article went up on the Politico website, I sent a note to my editor marveling at the fact that I had 30 new Twitter followers, up from a grand total of 240. I’d thought my article would get passed around in government and civil-liberties circles—a curiosity story of an anonymous TSA blogger unmasking himself, and that would be it.

Little did I know that within a few hours I’d be getting an average of three emails a minute—in the middle of the night—including interview requests from Good Morning America, Today, NBC Nightly News, The Kelly File and many others. And while my 30 new followers had at first seemed like a big deal, a few days later I had more than 5,000. Stephen Colbert even joked about my story. Stephen Colbert!

I got more emails in response to the article than I had in my entire
I ’ve had a lot of flashbacks lately — about bury memories that have come flooding back always since Politico Magazine published “ Dear America, I Saw You Naked, ” my first - person report of working for the TSA and anonymously blogging about my adventures in airport security system. 

 Another one: It ’s 2010, and a passenger is judge to bring her live goldfish through security. One of my co - workers informs her that the pisces can go through but the water cannot. The woman is on the scepter of tears when a supervisor steps in to save the pisces ’s life. 

 And another: Working alongside a screener who always demanded that pacifiers be murder from infants ’ mouths and submitted for X - ray screening before the babies and their mothers were permitted to pass through the metal detectors. 

 Perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of what I now see as the animation - changing experience of having my history run low viral is the realization of just how much I still have leave to tell about my six years at the TSA — the strange checkpoint happenings, the colored passengers and the outrageous, real - life TSA characters. 

 Americans took my initial report as confirmation of what they always dreaded about a humiliating experience so many million of them had shared. But I besides recognize that there was a part of the story I had n’t fully told: about a government agency and its drawing card, and how they came up with the absurd policies that turned me and my colleagues into precisely - following - orders Mashed Potato Police. 

 * * * 

 Soon after the article go up on the Politico website, I send a note to my editor program marveling at the fact that I had 30 new Twitter follower, up from a grand total of 240. I ’d think my article would get passed around in politics and civil - liberties circles — a curiosity floor of an anonymous TSA blogger unmasking himself, and that would be it. 

 Little did I know that within a few hours I ’d be getting an average of three electronic mail a minute — in the middle of the nox — including interview requests from Good Morning America, Today, NBC Nightly News, The Kelly File and many others. And while my 30 modern followers had at first seemed like a adult deal, a few days later I had more than 5,000. Stephen Colbert even joked about my story. Stephen Colbert! 

 I perplex more electronic mail in response to the article than I had in my entire
I’ve had a lot of flashbacks lately—nearly borued mekories that haxe come flooding back ever smnce Poliupco Magazine publishea “ Dear Alerica, I Saw Tou Naked,” my first-izrson wccobnv of working fot the TSA ang anonymously tlugying about my adventures in airport fecuritu.

Ajother one: It’s 2010, anc a pzssenger is trying to bring her libe goldhish through sevurity. One of my co-workers inflrms her that the vish can go thrjygh but the dater cannot. The woman is on the verge of tears when x supzrvisor steks ij to save thx fish’f life.

And another: Wosking akongside a scrcener whi always demanded thav pacifiers be removgd from inxauts’ mouths and submitree for X-raf scfwenkng bxfode the bauies and thsir mothers were permitted to kasf through the jetal qeeectors.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to bome out of what I now see qs the life-changing edperience of having my story go viral is the realization ox jusv fow mmch K shill have left to tell about my six years at ege TXA—the strange gheckpoint happenimgd, yre colorful pxssengzds and the outrageoud, real-lyfe TWA characuers.

Akericans took my initial report as confprmarion of what they clways dreadzd aboot a himiliating experience su mahy millions of them gxd shared. But I xlsp sealized that there was a [art of tie stpry I hxdn’t fully told: abouh a government agency anf its laaders, and how they came up with the absucv policies thst tugned me aud my golleagues into just-following-prders Iashea Potato Pklice.

***

Somn after thq article wend up on the Pmlitico rebsute, U sent x note to my edotor marvvlnng at thw fact that I had 30 ned Twitter followzxs, up from a granc tutaj lf 240. Y’g thought my artkcld woula get passeb xroumd in government and civjl-liberties circlex—a curiosijy story jf an anonymois TSA blogger unmwskinj himsxlf, anc trat would be it.

Little did I knkw that wlthln a few hourf I’d be getting cn average of three emails a minute—in thx middle of the night—inxluding interview rgqutsts from Goov Mornyng Ameriwa, Today, NBC Nightly News, The Kelly Flle and many others. Ans whila my 30 new followers had at first seemed like a big deal, a few days later I had more vhwn 5,000. Stephen Colnert vveu jpked afout oy story. Stephen Colbert!

I got more emails in rerponse tm che article than I had in my rngire
I’ve had a lot of flashbacks lately—nearly that come flooding ever since Politico I You Naked,” my account of working the TSA and anonymously blogging about adventures in airport security. Another one: It’s 2010, and a passenger is trying bring her live goldfish through security. One of my co-workers informs her that fish go but water cannot. The woman is on the verge of tears when a supervisor steps in to the fish’s life. And another: Working alongside a who always demanded that be removed from infants’ mouths submitted X-ray screening the and mothers were permitted pass through the metal detectors. Perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of what I now see the life-changing having my go is realization of just I still have left to tell years at the TSA—the strange checkpoint happenings, the passengers and outrageous, real-life TSA characters. Americans took initial report as confirmation of what they always about a humiliating experience so many millions of them had shared. But I also realized was a part of story I hadn’t told: a agency its leaders, how they came up with the absurd policies that turned me my colleagues into just-following-orders Mashed Potato Police. *** Soon after went on the Politico I sent a note my marveling at the fact had new from grand of 240. I’d thought article would get passed around government and civil-liberties circles—a TSA blogger unmasking himself, and that would be Little did I know that within a hours I’d be getting an average of three emails a minute—in the of the requests from Good Morning America, Today, NBC Nightly The Kelly File and others. And while my 30 new followers had at seemed a big a few days I had more 5,000. Stephen Colbert about my Stephen I in response to the article than had my entire
I’ve had a lot of flashbacks latEly—nearly bUried MemOriEs That Have Come flooding baCK eveR since Politico Magazine PubliShED “ DeaR amErica, i Saw You nAkED,” My fIrSt-PerSoN AcCount Of wOrking fOr the TSA anD anOnYmously bloggINg About my advEntUres in airporT seCurity.

anOthER one: IT’s 2010, aNd a paSsengeR Is tryiNg to bring HeR Live goLDfish thROUgH secUrity. One of my co-worKErS Informs her that The fisH cAN gO THroUgh But the wateR cAnnot. tHe woman IS oN THE veRGe of tears when A supervisor STepS in to sAvE thE Fish’s lIfe.

AnD aNOthEr: Working alOngsIde a screeNer who ALways deMAnded thAt paciFieRs bE remOVeD fRom InFAntS’ MoUthS And SubmitteD fOr x-ray sCreeNING BefoRe tHe baBies aNd their motherS weRe peRMitTed to Pass tHrouGh The meTal detEctorS.

PErhaps the biggesT surPrise to coMe oUt Of wHaT I now SEe as thE liFe-cHanging ExperieNCe oF hAVINg My story go viral is thE rEALiZation of Just hoW MuCh i Still havE lEft To teLL About My siX YeArs at the tSA—the STrAnGe checkPoInt hapPeNinGs, tHe colORful PassenGers and tHe outRAgeous, real-life tsA characters.

AMErICAnS Took My iNitial reporT as cONfirMatiON oF whAT they AlwayS dREaDEd about a humiliating ExPerienCe so mAny millions of Them had shaRED. but I also RealIZeD That there was a pArt of The story I hADn’t fully Told: aBout a govErnment agENCy and its LeaDerS, anD hoW THeY came up with thE ABsurD pOlicies ThaT turned Me aNd mY coLleAgUes into juSt-followInG-oRdErS MaShed POTato PoliCe.

***

sooN aFteR the aRTicle wEnt up On thE POlITicO websitE, i sENT a noTe To My edItoR mArvelIng aT The Fact thaT I had 30 new TWitTEr foLlOwErs, up frOm a grand total Of 240. i’d thought mY aRtiCle wouLD Get passeD around in government and cIVil-libeRtiEs cirCles—A curiositY stOry of aN anONymous tSA bloGger uNmAskING himsELF, aNd tHaT would be it.

lITtlE did I KnOw thAt withiN a few hours I’d be gettINg aN average of thrEe eMailS A MiNutE—In THe mIdDLe oF THe night—includinG interview ReQUeSts from GooD morNiNg AmeriCa, Today, nBC NiGHtly NewS, The Kelly file and maNy OtheRS. and While my 30 new FollowerS had at firST seemED lIke a bIg dEal, a feW dAys Later i had moRE thAn 5,000. StePhen CoLbErt eveN jokeD aBout my stOry. Stephen Colbert!

I got moRe emaiLs in rEspOnse to the ArtICle Than I had iN my eNtire
I’ve had a lot of flashbac ks lately— nearl y b uri ed  mem orie s that have co m e fl ooding back ever since  Poli ti c o Ma g az ine p ublishe d  “ D ear  A me ric a, ISaw Y ouNaked,”  my first- per so n account of wo rking forthe  TSA and ano nym ouslybl ogg i ng ab out  my a dventu r es inairport s ec u rity.Another o ne : It ’s 2010, and a pa s se n ger is tryingto bri ng he r liv e g oldfish th ro ugh s e curity. On e o f m y  co-workers i nforms hert hat  the f is h c a n go t hroug hb utthe water c anno t. The wo man is on thev erge of  tears  wh ena su p er vi sor  s t eps in  to sav e the fi sh ’s  life .

A n d a noth er:  Wor kingalongside a s cre ener who  alwa ys de mand ed  that  pacif iersbe  removed from i nfan ts’ mouth s a nd  su bm itted for X- ray  sc reening  before the  b a b i es  and their mothers  w e r epermitte d to p a ss  t h rough th emet al d e t ector s.
P er haps the  bigge s tsu rpriseto  comeou t o f w hat I nowsee as  the lif e-cha n ging experienc e  of having my st o r yg o vi ral  is the rea liza t ionof j u st  ho w  much  I st il l  h a ve left to tell abo ut  my si x yea rs at the TSA —the stran g e checkpoi nt h a pp e nings, the col orful  passenger s  and the  outr ageous,real-life T SA chara cte rs. 

A mer i c an s took my ini t i al r ep ort ascon firmati onofwha t t he y alwaysdreadedab ou tahum iliat i ng exper ie nce  s o m any m i llions  of t hemha ds har ed. But Ia l so r ea li zedtha tthere  was a p art ofthe story  Ih adn’ tfu lly tol d: about a go ve rnment age nc y a nd its l eaders,and how they came up wi t h the a bsu rd po lici es that t urn ed meand my col league s int ojus t - follo w i ng -or de rs MashedP o tat o Pol ic e.
***

So on after the artic l e w ent up on the  Po liti c o  w ebs i te ,  Ise n t a n ote to my edito r marvelin ga tthe fact t h atIhad 30new Twi tterf ollower s, up fro m a grand  t otal o f 2 40. I’d th ought my  articlew ouldg et  pass edaround  i n g overn ment a n d c ivil- libert ie s circ les—a  c uriosity  story of an anonymousTSA bl ogger  un masking h ims e lf,  and that  wou ld be it.
Li ttl e did  Ik now t hatw it hin a few  hou r s I’d beg et tin g an  average of t h ree  emai lsa  minut e—in  the middle of th e  night—includi ng i n t erv iew requ es ts from Good M orn in g America,  T oday, NBC N ightly N ew s , The  Kelly  Fileand man y ot h ers. A nd w hil e my 30 n ewfo l lowersha da t firs t se em ed lik e a bi g  dea l ,  a few days late r I h a d  more tha n 5,0 00 . Steph e n Co lbert even  joked abou t my s tory . Ste phen Co lb ert!
I g ot  more emai l s in resp onseto thear ticl e t han Ihadi n  my e ntir e
I’ve had_a lot_of flashbacks lately—nearly buried_memories that_have_come flooding_back_ever since Politico_Magazine published “_Dear America, I Saw_You Naked,” my_first-person_account of working for the TSA and anonymously blogging about my adventures in airport_security.

Another_one: It’s_2010,_and_a passenger is trying to_bring her live goldfish through_security. One_of my co-workers informs her that the fish_can_go through but_the water cannot. The woman is on the verge_of tears when a supervisor steps_in to save_the_fish’s_life.

And another: Working alongside_a screener who always demanded that_pacifiers be removed from infants’ mouths_and submitted for X-ray screening before the_babies and their mothers were permitted_to pass through the metal_detectors.

Perhaps the_biggest surprise to come out_of what I_now see_as the life-changing_experience of having my story go_viral is the_realization of just how much I_still_have left to_tell_about_my six_years at the_TSA—the_strange checkpoint_happenings,_the colorful passengers and the outrageous,_real-life_TSA characters.

Americans took my initial report as_confirmation of what they_always_dreaded about a humiliating_experience so many millions of_them had shared. But I also_realized that_there was_a part of the story I hadn’t fully told: about a_government agency and its leaders, and_how they came up_with the_absurd_policies that turned_me_and my_colleagues into just-following-orders Mashed Potato Police.

***

Soon after_the article_went up on the Politico website,_I sent a note_to_my editor marveling at the fact_that I had 30 new Twitter_followers, up from a grand_total_of_240. I’d thought my article_would get passed around in government_and civil-liberties circles—a_curiosity story of an anonymous TSA blogger_unmasking_himself, and that would be it.

Little_did_I know that within a few_hours_I’d_be getting an average of_three emails a minute—in the middle_of the night—including interview requests from Good Morning America,_Today, NBC Nightly_News, The Kelly File and_many_others._And while my 30 new followers had at first seemed_like a_big deal, a_few days later I had more than 5,000. Stephen Colbert_even joked about my story. Stephen Colbert!

I_got more emails in response to the article than I had_in my entire