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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    A new restriction on travel to the United States

    If travelers from 10 Middle-East and North-African airports are confused, they're not the only ones. The Department of Homeland Security has issued a new ban on electronic devices to protect against what it calls a "long time threat."

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    By Warren Olney • Mar 23, 2017 • 1 min read

    If travelers from 10 Middle-East and North-African airports are confused, they're not the only ones. The Department of Homeland Security has issued a new ban on electronic devices to protect against what it calls a "long time threat." For nine foreign airlines flying from the Middle-East and North Africa direct to the US It's cellphones only: no laptops, tablets or other devices for passengers on their planes. But if the airlines have several days to put it into effect, how urgent is it? Travelers needing electronic devices will likely switch to alternate routes on US-based airlines — even though their service isn't as good. Is the ban really about terror or trade?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The airline electronics ban and what it means
    1. 1:24Dem threat of Gorsuch filibuster could force nuclear option
    2. 8:00A new restriction on travel to the United StatesYou’re reading this
    3. 40:54Is the House Intel Committee's Russia probe dead?
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Yael Even Or

      Producer, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sáša Woodruff

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Luke Vander Ploeg

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jon Ostrower

      CNN

    • KCRW placeholder

      John Cohen

      Rutgers University / ABC News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Molly Crabapple

      Vice

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The airline electronics ban and what it means
    1. 1:24Dem threat of Gorsuch filibuster could force nuclear option
    2. 8:00A new restriction on travel to the United StatesYou’re reading this
    3. 40:54Is the House Intel Committee's Russia probe dead?
    Back to To the Point