Air travel is stressful enough–and then there are people who can pay to jump the queue. How do some people get ushered straight to the front of the airport security line, while others find themselves waiting? The answer lies in the rise of a private company, CLEAR. Today on The Sunday Story , we look at how CLEAR inched its way into airport security. What actually happens when public and private interests try to coexist?

This episode of The Sunday Story was reported and produced by Kim Nederveen Pieterse. It was edited by Jenny Schmidt. Fact-checking by Greta Pittenger. Mastering by Robert Rodriguez.

 We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at TheSundayStory@npr.org.

airport security

TSA

privatization

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