July 29, 2025 • 9 mins
National Security and Law Enforcement expert Michael Letts on the Manhattan Shooter and what we know so far, including the growing concern of "Incels" being recruited as terrorists across the U.S.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:09):
This segment of the program is brought to you by Southwest
Florida dreamhome.com. If you're looking for a new
adventure and life, a new chapter, or perhaps even a real
estate investment property, now's the time to look.
Southwest Florida dreamhome.com.America Today continues and we
have on the Newsmaker line our national security expert,
(00:30):
Michael Letts, who joins us. He is the CEO and founder of
Invest USA. We'll talk about that just a
moment. But of course, everybody is
watching with the tragedy unfolding in New York City on
Monday night where a crazed gunman walks into a high rise of
my brother-in-law actually I think works in that building or
next door for an international bank.
(00:54):
And Michael, let's what can you tell us?
What's the latest on the suspect?
Any possible motive? What do you know?
Well, we know on the suspect he is a immigrant.
Now we're checking more that hisstatus is illegal or not from
the standpoint, you know, just because you're an immigrant,
sometimes, you know, you're hereon a visa and you oversee that
(01:14):
visa. That's being researched as we
speak now. He's from Thailand.
And quite frankly, here's what'sinteresting concerning this
situation is he had grievances in the note in his pocket was
that he had grievances with the NFL.
It's kind of scratching my head on that.
And he was a football player. No, he wasn't an NFL player.
(01:37):
He wasn't even a great college player, but he played in high
school and they had diagnosed him, said he'd get some
neurological damage, perhaps from being, you know, hit on the
field more than once or hit hit,you know, head injury, etcetera,
etcetera. So anyways, he chose, he was
(01:57):
residency was in Vegas. He chose to load up his car with
an M4 and plenty of ammo, plentyof other weapons, is a BMWA
black BMW and drove straight through to the location where
the NFLS at. And I've been in that building
many, many times. NFLS have been supporters of
invest in the past. And I will tell you when he got
(02:19):
there, there is a security guardthere and there was an off duty
officer. The officer, the officer lost
her life. But here's one of the ones I
want to stress is here you have somebody double parked getting
out, walking across the Plaza and going to the entrance
carrying M4. You have to be vigilant folks.
You have to can't let your guarddown.
(02:39):
And obviously, those two personnel would have been armed.
Of course, the problem is in NewYork, that's one of the most gun
control areas in the country. This goes to prove time and time
again, Jim, that gives the gun control as we know it just
simply doesn't work. What works best is making sure
(03:00):
people can defend themselves, protect themselves, their
children and their families. But he was able to, of course,
once he got into the lobby, he shot a few there, then went from
floor to floor, not going in andshooting from floor to floor,
going to the owners floor that we don't know if the owner was
one of the victims yet or not. We're still working on that.
(03:21):
But they shot himself after he killed 4.
He was the 5th assailant to theyshot himself with his weapon.
Now here's the other Anderson thing that's frustrating for New
York City. The officers having to respond
do not have active shooter vest.And of course he had a long
range rifle. They were a decisive
disadvantage when they got there, but they were able to
(03:43):
counter that with their SWAT team be responding as well, who
do have the active shooter vestsand able to.
Of course, when they went to take him out, he was already
dead. He'd already finished the job.
So but it gets to an issue. You know, we just two days
before had the stabbing 11 people stabbed in Walmart in
Michigan. Of course, Michigan has very
strong anti gun laws as well. Folks, we're living in some very
(04:06):
different times. People now have a total little
mindset because of our educational system.
We trained generations that there's no right and wrong that
we've posted all over TikTok. If anybody wants to doubt my
word, go to TikTok to be shockedin 30 seconds.
Every fight is posted now. You know, they're encouraging
any knock him out, bang him overthe top of the head.
(04:29):
You know, I think the girls, guys hit girls, etcetera.
We have just really spiraled downhill.
And I was asked on a show this morning, what's the solution to
full? First of all, we have to have
accountability. Of course, in this situation,
accountability was taking a shothimself.
But we have to send a message toAmerica that we will not
(04:50):
tolerate injustice. This is why it's so important
that we accomplish the missions of what we're doing in the
administration now, according people, whether it is the former
President of the United States, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton,
Hillary Clinton, or our heads ofstate, whether it's bureaucratic
heads of departments, form of FBI directors, etcetera.
(05:11):
No one can be held above the lawbecause you create a 2 tiered
justice system. And here's what we need to make
sure we emphasize. When you have a 2 tiered justice
system, you have total disrespect for the law.
Nobody respects it and actually despise it.
If you go and treat people differently for the same crime,
nobody respects it anymore. We've gotten to that point.
Now we have to take measured steps to turn the mindset and
(05:34):
the image back around. And then the second thing we
have to do is folks understand this.
You said it before on this show.We'll say it again, if you want
to make sure that you are able to defend yourself, your spouse,
your children, your grandchildren, you better be
prepared to do so. We cannot, nor do we have the
capability to put one cop or oneperson all across the country.
(05:57):
It simply doesn't work that way.Make sure you can defend
yourself. Make sure you know how to use
it. Make it a family event.
Let's teach respect for the law once again.
Michael Letts, that's the CEO inVest usa.org, which is an
organization that provides bulletproof vest law enforcement
officers. So he knows a thing or two about
that. I thought it was interesting on
(06:18):
a couple of notes, Hakeem Jeffries out there saying that
this is just another example of gun violence disregarding the
person. It's also a new sort of
homegrown terrorist. I guess you could call.
Have you heard of the in cells, the in cell theory these are you
want to elaborate? We talked with a psychiatrist on
the last edition of America Today.
(06:39):
But elaborate on what, what law enforcement is seeing out there
with these in cells. Well.
Here's what we've got with the in cells.
Let's just go back. Let's step back a little bit.
First of all, you had all these foreign entities wanted to
overthrow America, couldn't do it ever get boots on the ground.
So they decided to create sleeper cells or terror cells
with it and they began to recruit.
(07:00):
And how did they recruit? They recruited by taking
American citizens and expressinghaving them have their
frustrations with the government.
The government's lied to you. See how they mis abuse you, they
mistreat you, etcetera, etcetera.
And this is where the young sales began to come from.
So instead of becoming a terrorist, foreign domestic,
(07:22):
foreign terrorist cell full of nothing but illegal immigrants
or foreigners, etcetera, they'vedone a great job of recruiting.
And where did they get the recruiting from?
They go to our campuses, Jim, because of the fact we've
allowed them to be there. We've allowed them to have a
blanket card to be able to influence and to be able to fan
fire and plant ideals and ideology.
(07:44):
Among the most vulnerable are young people coming through with
carte blanche because of the fact that they were smart
enough. They just donated big dollars to
the universities, got their own programs, and we could be
influenced. Now we're beginning to see the
consequences that we have terrorist cells all across the
country, domestic and foreign. And quite frankly, there's not
really a whole lot of distinction between that word
domestic, domestic and foreign anymore.
(08:06):
Most of our terrorist cells havesome foreign influence, but
they've done a great job of recruiting American young
people, American people who are disenchanted.
And where do they get the disenchantment from?
Flip all the news for one evening.
I bet you won't be able to take it very long.
You'll see exactly where the disenchantment comes from.
And the mainstream media is pushing together propaganda,
(08:28):
America's evil, America's bad, and they're helping degenerate
the recruits for these terroristcells that we have all across
the country. We know Jim, we have over 120
carousels all across the countryso far and more growing.
You know, I saw a meme of a woman who said that every time
she sees the American flag, she gets angry.
And that displays, I think, a, agood example of someone who's
(08:50):
been taught to hate their own country because all they're
getting is that we've done this,we do that.
And right now, you know, with the Rage Against the
Palestinians, which we'll save for another day.
You're right. I, I, I think there are a lot of
disenchanted young men out there.
They, it's a different ball gamethat it was when you and I were
growing up. There were more opportunities.
I'm not saying there aren't any opportunities, but certain
(09:13):
segments, certain demographics are being told they don't matter
anymore. And sometimes this can come back
as we saw with Koburger and others like him.
So it's something that makes us,it reminds us to be more
village. And hang on, Michael, let's
we're going to continue our conversation.
We need to get caught up on the Epstein files and that whole
(09:33):
debacle. And then what's the other big
story? Well, of course, the corruption
with Obama and where that's at. So we'll continue in just a
moment. Michael let's he is the CEO and
founder of Invest usa.org. And we'll continue this
conversation in just a moment. You are listening to America
Today. Be right back.
This segment of the program is brought to you by Southwest
Florida dreamhome.com. If you're looking for a new
adventure and life, a new chapter, or perhaps even a real
estate investment property, now's the time to look.
Southwest Florida dreamhome.com.America Today continues and we
have on the Newsmaker line our national security expert,
(00:30):
Michael Letts, who joins us. He is the CEO and founder of
Invest USA. We'll talk about that just a
moment. But of course, everybody is
watching with the tragedy unfolding in New York City on
Monday night where a crazed gunman walks into a high rise of
my brother-in-law actually I think works in that building or
next door for an international bank.
(00:54):
And Michael, let's what can you tell us?
What's the latest on the suspect?
Any possible motive? What do you know?
Well, we know on the suspect he is a immigrant.
Now we're checking more that hisstatus is illegal or not from
the standpoint, you know, just because you're an immigrant,
sometimes, you know, you're hereon a visa and you oversee that
(01:14):
visa. That's being researched as we
speak now. He's from Thailand.
And quite frankly, here's what'sinteresting concerning this
situation is he had grievances in the note in his pocket was
that he had grievances with the NFL.
It's kind of scratching my head on that.
And he was a football player. No, he wasn't an NFL player.
(01:37):
He wasn't even a great college player, but he played in high
school and they had diagnosed him, said he'd get some
neurological damage, perhaps from being, you know, hit on the
field more than once or hit hit,you know, head injury, etcetera,
etcetera. So anyways, he chose, he was
(01:57):
residency was in Vegas. He chose to load up his car with
an M4 and plenty of ammo, plentyof other weapons, is a BMWA
black BMW and drove straight through to the location where
the NFLS at. And I've been in that building
many, many times. NFLS have been supporters of
invest in the past. And I will tell you when he got
(02:19):
there, there is a security guardthere and there was an off duty
officer. The officer, the officer lost
her life. But here's one of the ones I
want to stress is here you have somebody double parked getting
out, walking across the Plaza and going to the entrance
carrying M4. You have to be vigilant folks.
You have to can't let your guarddown.
(02:39):
And obviously, those two personnel would have been armed.
Of course, the problem is in NewYork, that's one of the most gun
control areas in the country. This goes to prove time and time
again, Jim, that gives the gun control as we know it just
simply doesn't work. What works best is making sure
(03:00):
people can defend themselves, protect themselves, their
children and their families. But he was able to, of course,
once he got into the lobby, he shot a few there, then went from
floor to floor, not going in andshooting from floor to floor,
going to the owners floor that we don't know if the owner was
one of the victims yet or not. We're still working on that.
(03:21):
But they shot himself after he killed 4.
He was the 5th assailant to theyshot himself with his weapon.
Now here's the other Anderson thing that's frustrating for New
York City. The officers having to respond
do not have active shooter vest.And of course he had a long
range rifle. They were a decisive
disadvantage when they got there, but they were able to
(03:43):
counter that with their SWAT team be responding as well, who
do have the active shooter vestsand able to.
Of course, when they went to take him out, he was already
dead. He'd already finished the job.
So but it gets to an issue. You know, we just two days
before had the stabbing 11 people stabbed in Walmart in
Michigan. Of course, Michigan has very
strong anti gun laws as well. Folks, we're living in some very
(04:06):
different times. People now have a total little
mindset because of our educational system.
We trained generations that there's no right and wrong that
we've posted all over TikTok. If anybody wants to doubt my
word, go to TikTok to be shockedin 30 seconds.
Every fight is posted now. You know, they're encouraging
any knock him out, bang him overthe top of the head.
(04:29):
You know, I think the girls, guys hit girls, etcetera.
We have just really spiraled downhill.
And I was asked on a show this morning, what's the solution to
full? First of all, we have to have
accountability. Of course, in this situation,
accountability was taking a shothimself.
But we have to send a message toAmerica that we will not
(04:50):
tolerate injustice. This is why it's so important
that we accomplish the missions of what we're doing in the
administration now, according people, whether it is the former
President of the United States, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton,
Hillary Clinton, or our heads ofstate, whether it's bureaucratic
heads of departments, form of FBI directors, etcetera.
(05:11):
No one can be held above the lawbecause you create a 2 tiered
justice system. And here's what we need to make
sure we emphasize. When you have a 2 tiered justice
system, you have total disrespect for the law.
Nobody respects it and actually despise it.
If you go and treat people differently for the same crime,
nobody respects it anymore. We've gotten to that point.
Now we have to take measured steps to turn the mindset and
(05:34):
the image back around. And then the second thing we
have to do is folks understand this.
You said it before on this show.We'll say it again, if you want
to make sure that you are able to defend yourself, your spouse,
your children, your grandchildren, you better be
prepared to do so. We cannot, nor do we have the
capability to put one cop or oneperson all across the country.
(05:57):
It simply doesn't work that way.Make sure you can defend
yourself. Make sure you know how to use
it. Make it a family event.
Let's teach respect for the law once again.
Michael Letts, that's the CEO inVest usa.org, which is an
organization that provides bulletproof vest law enforcement
officers. So he knows a thing or two about
that. I thought it was interesting on
(06:18):
a couple of notes, Hakeem Jeffries out there saying that
this is just another example of gun violence disregarding the
person. It's also a new sort of
homegrown terrorist. I guess you could call.
Have you heard of the in cells, the in cell theory these are you
want to elaborate? We talked with a psychiatrist on
the last edition of America Today.
(06:39):
But elaborate on what, what law enforcement is seeing out there
with these in cells. Well.
Here's what we've got with the in cells.
Let's just go back. Let's step back a little bit.
First of all, you had all these foreign entities wanted to
overthrow America, couldn't do it ever get boots on the ground.
So they decided to create sleeper cells or terror cells
with it and they began to recruit.
(07:00):
And how did they recruit? They recruited by taking
American citizens and expressinghaving them have their
frustrations with the government.
The government's lied to you. See how they mis abuse you, they
mistreat you, etcetera, etcetera.
And this is where the young sales began to come from.
So instead of becoming a terrorist, foreign domestic,
(07:22):
foreign terrorist cell full of nothing but illegal immigrants
or foreigners, etcetera, they'vedone a great job of recruiting.
And where did they get the recruiting from?
They go to our campuses, Jim, because of the fact we've
allowed them to be there. We've allowed them to have a
blanket card to be able to influence and to be able to fan
fire and plant ideals and ideology.
(07:44):
Among the most vulnerable are young people coming through with
carte blanche because of the fact that they were smart
enough. They just donated big dollars to
the universities, got their own programs, and we could be
influenced. Now we're beginning to see the
consequences that we have terrorist cells all across the
country, domestic and foreign. And quite frankly, there's not
really a whole lot of distinction between that word
domestic, domestic and foreign anymore.
(08:06):
Most of our terrorist cells havesome foreign influence, but
they've done a great job of recruiting American young
people, American people who are disenchanted.
And where do they get the disenchantment from?
Flip all the news for one evening.
I bet you won't be able to take it very long.
You'll see exactly where the disenchantment comes from.
And the mainstream media is pushing together propaganda,
(08:28):
America's evil, America's bad, and they're helping degenerate
the recruits for these terroristcells that we have all across
the country. We know Jim, we have over 120
carousels all across the countryso far and more growing.
You know, I saw a meme of a woman who said that every time
she sees the American flag, she gets angry.
And that displays, I think, a, agood example of someone who's
(08:50):
been taught to hate their own country because all they're
getting is that we've done this,we do that.
And right now, you know, with the Rage Against the
Palestinians, which we'll save for another day.
You're right. I, I, I think there are a lot of
disenchanted young men out there.
They, it's a different ball gamethat it was when you and I were
growing up. There were more opportunities.
I'm not saying there aren't any opportunities, but certain
(09:13):
segments, certain demographics are being told they don't matter
anymore. And sometimes this can come back
as we saw with Koburger and others like him.
So it's something that makes us,it reminds us to be more
village. And hang on, Michael, let's
we're going to continue our conversation.
We need to get caught up on the Epstein files and that whole
(09:33):
debacle. And then what's the other big
story? Well, of course, the corruption
with Obama and where that's at. So we'll continue in just a
moment. Michael let's he is the CEO and
founder of Invest usa.org. And we'll continue this
conversation in just a moment. You are listening to America
Today. Be right back.
Host
JIM WATKINS
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