Topic: Passport Law

A host recounts being denied entry to the Schengen area in Brussels due to a 2013 law requiring passports to be valid for six months beyond the departure date. Despite having a valid passport for three months, the host was barred from boarding a flight. The story includes a complaint about Airbnb's refund policy following the forced cancellation of the trip.

The Canadian ISIL fighter interviewed by Vice News claimed that thousands of foreign recruits are mobilizing for a "brilliant attack" in New York. The fighter was shown ripping up his passport, an act described by analysts as a "phony" propaganda trope since real terrorists value Western travel documents. The messaging emphasizes a desire for Sharia law and warns the West to "leave us alone" or face martyrdom operations.

Texas Congressman Ted Poe introduced the "FTO Passport Revocation Act" to strip the passports of Americans fighting for ISIS. The hosts discuss the constitutionality of this move, noting that the Yale Law Journal previously argued there is no current legal authority to revoke passports for such reasons, including in the case of Edward Snowden.

The hosts discuss the legality of the State Department revoking Edward Snowden's passport. They cite a Yale Law Journal article arguing that a U.S. citizen has a constitutional right to a means of identification while abroad and that the government lacks the legal precedence to cancel a passport without contesting citizenship in court.

The legal implications of passport revocation are examined following the State Department's action against Edward Snowden. According to official guidelines, a revoked passport remains physically valid for travel until seized by an officer, and revocation is generally not processed if the bearer's whereabouts are unknown. The move is characterized as "messaging" rather than a functional barrier to international movement.

Further analysis of State Department regulations reveals that a passport will not be revoked if the bearer's whereabouts are unknown. This contradicts media narratives regarding Edward Snowden's inability to travel due to his revoked status. The hosts argue that mainstream journalists fail to question these inconsistencies because they are "reading the memo from the Ministry of Truth."

Adam Curry recounts his wife's frustration when California retailers refused to accept her Dutch passport as valid identification for purchasing alcohol and tobacco. Although state law does not strictly mandate a California ID, many stores enforce it as policy to avoid liability for underage sales. The hosts discuss the inconsistency of these requirements and the difficulties of dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).