The Dispatch
· collected 2026-09-11 · by Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, Mike Nelson, David French
The discussion on the Dispatch podcast brings together four guests - Steve Hayes and three experts: Jonah Goldberg, Mike Nelson, and David French - to reflect on the 9/11 attacks and its impact 25 years later. The conversation explores the events of that day, how it changed lives and journalism, and whether the US won the war on terror. There is no specific mention of numbers or statistics in the article, but it discusses the legacy of the 9/11 attacks on American politics and society today. The discussion serves as a reflection and analysis of the events, rather than a straightforward report.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On October 8, 2024, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed, an event that has become a significant marker for young conservatives in America, akin to September 11, 2001 and the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The day of his death is now referred to by some as 9/10, symbolizing its impact on political activism among students. Meanwhile, the small Canadian town of Gander played a pivotal role during the September 11 attacks when U.S. airspace was closed, leading to 38 international flights landing there, doubling the population overnight and necessitating an impromptu humanitarian effort by locals to aid around 7,000 stranded passengers and crew members for several days. This act of kindness inspired the Broadway musical "Come From Away," which highlights Gander's generosity and humanity in times of crisis.
Written for “9/11 Anniversary Reflections” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 167 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.15 for article 7727 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-11
Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Nelson, and David French to discuss former President George W. Bush’s response to the 9/11 attacks, how the tragedy shaped domestic policy today, and whether or not we won the war on terror.
asserted
we → join → terror
The Agenda:
—Remembering the events over the course of the day
—How lives were changed after 9/11
—Journalism’s evolution after the attacks
—Did we win the war on terror?
—The enemy gets a vote
Show notes:
[intro music plays] Welcome to the Dispatch podcast.
asserted
music → remember → podcast
On today's roundtable, we discuss the Al-Qaeda attacks on America on September 11th, 2001, and the twenty-five years of war and recovery since then.
asserted
we → discuss → war
How did the 9/11 attacks change us?
asserted
attacks → change → us
Did the US win the war on terror?
asserted
US → win → terror
How did the attacks and America's response contribute to our politics today?
asserted
attacks → contribute → politics
I'm joined by Dispatch Editor-in-Chief, Jonah Goldberg, retired Special Forces officer and Dispatch contributor, Mike Nelson, and retired JAG officer and New York Times columnist, David French.
asserted
I → join → Goldberg
Let's dive right in.
asserted
's → let → ?
[theme music plays] Good morning, gentlemen.
asserted
music → play → ?
I wanna start with a pretty simple question, and David, I'll start with you.
asserted
I → start → you
Where were you when the attacks occurred, and what were your thoughts that day?
asserted
thoughts → occur → ?
I will remember, I came out of my office, and I saw a couple of secretaries.
asserted
I → remember → secretaries
You know, this is before flat screen TV.
asserted
this → know → TV
I mean, I think this is when people first started getting a plasma, [chuckles] you know?
asserted
you → mean → plasma
Do you remember those things?
asserted
you → remember → things
And there was a couple of TVs in the parts of the firm where the secretaries worked, and they were huddled around looking at something on a very small TV, and I looked over their shoulders, and one of the World Trade Centers was on fire.
asserted
one → be → fire
And it was live television, and I was like, "What happened?"
asserted
What → happen → ?
And they said, "Nobody knows.
asserted
Nobody → say → ?
It's just burning."
asserted
It → burn → ?
And everyone was trying to figure it out, and then I watched the second plane hit just right there.
asserted
plane → try → it
And I could immediately tell that was a commercial airliner.
uncertain
that → tell → ?
Like, everybody who knew anything at all about aviation could tell immediately it was a commercial airliner.
uncertain
it → know → aviation
And, and that moment, just my mind just changed in a completely different mode.
asserted
mind → change → mode
That's what's happening."
asserted
what → happen → ?
And I remember immediately walking upstairs.
asserted
I → remember → ?
