The "conspiracy theory" take is that the failed shoe bomber was just an excuse to ratchet down the controls and normalize it. Boiling the frog. I've also heard

The "conspiracy theory" take is that the failed shoe bomber was just an excuse to ratchet down the controls and normalize it. Boiling the frog. I've also heard the even more plausible theory that TSA is just a jobs program anyway so that's another reason to "sell" its existence.