Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Kentucky, Anda, Welcome in Kentucky and this morning
news Coffee and company with you here on News Radio
eight forty whas we've got the full crew in the
house today, Nick Coffee. That's me Scott Fitzgerald alongside John
Shannon and John Olden there with us as well as
we look back on twenty four years ago to the
day that is when really everything changed, and I feel
(00:26):
like it's safe to say that what happened on September
eleventh in two thousand and one was is something that
will be remembered until the end of time just because
of what it was. And of course we'll talk a
lot about that today looking back to that awful day
and how much it changed a lot of things in
America and yesterday. There's no way to I mean, I
(00:48):
don't think it needs to be said, but I'll probably
overdo it when it comes to just making it clear
that in no way would I ever compare nine to
eleven to what happened yesterday with Charlie Kirk being a sassinated.
But I do think that it just felt like a
day that really just if you had head in the
sand as far as just how divided we are as
(01:11):
a country, if you were someone that really tried your
best to just block out that kind of stuff because
you just want to not think about it, You want
to get lost in your hobbies and your interests that
are outside of that. If you were somebody trying to
do that, I feel like yesterday was a day that
that would have been really hard if that's the case,
just because yes, and I wish I could, and I
(01:34):
tried my best, promise you, I tried my best to
think of how to to to really describe why yesterday
just kind of felt like a day that we're all
going to remember. And I think it's it's it's more
so because it was building where you could just tell
right now we're not well. We are broken as a country.
We are divided more than we probably have ever been,
(01:55):
at least from from my perspective in my life, this
seems to be the most that we have been. And
I don't know where we go from here, but obviously
just a tragic situation all the way around, and so
that that, of course will be a big part of
today's Today Show, of course, discussing what happened yesterday, the
reaction to the reaction that's what I've got some thoughts on.
(02:17):
But we'll also, of course spend a lot of time
looking back to twenty four years ago on September eleventh.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So that's where that's.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Where we are today and going to be a busy,
busy four hours with you and hope you guys will
stick with us, and I will let you know that
today will be a day that if you have if
you want to share some thoughts on a lot of things.
Clearly there's there's a lot of people I'm sure that
would love to share their thoughts on what happened yesterday,
maybe looking back to nine to eleven, those kind of things.
You have the platform to do that with a talkback feature.
So if you listen on the Ihet Radio app, or
(02:45):
maybe if you listen on your radio, if you listen
on your Roku device, whatever may be, you listen online
at whas dot com, just know that at any moment you
can pop out your phone and still utilize that feature
clicking the microphone that is on the iHeart Radio app
when you're listening to the station, and that gives you
the ability to share some thoughts. So I feel like
today mister Scott Fitzgerald, will be a day that maybe
(03:06):
you and I remember looking back just because of this
show will be hopefully similar to what you typically get
as far as just what we can bring to the table,
but obviously we'll be pretty We directed pretty pretty clearly
to two specific things today.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well, and I think you did a great job in
your open their neck of encapsulating really what we're up
against as we wake up this morning.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And that is just sort of the juxtaposition of Charlie
Kirk up against nine to eleven, two very significant events
in American history. And for most people who didn't know
who Charlie Kirk was prior to this, they will know now.
And then you come to appreciate the impact he had
on politics. You don't have to be someone who sits
right of center to kind of, and I use this
(03:47):
term in a generic way, appreciate Charlie Kirk and his
impact he had on politics. And that kind of talks
about to your point, the division that we are waking
up to this morning is so why that we still
haven't learned we came together after nine to eleven we did,
and how quickly and just as you mentioned, twenty four
(04:09):
years we have lost that yet again, and where do
we go from here? And I've said for the longest time,
having two kids who are now voting age and now
young adults, that their generation is going to be one
of the next greatest generations.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And I think the generation.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Coming in behind them, because as my daughter reminds me,
they were the ones that grew up. She was just
in preschool over at Holy Family when this happened. I
had to go down and get her. I was working
at the archdiocese at the time. They grew up with
nine to eleven. They grew up with the pandemic. They
were the first generation that grew up with parents who
couldn't parent them the way they were parented. So this generation,
(04:44):
now in their mid to twenties, I guess is what
it is are really going to We need to listen
to them if we want to heal this divide. And
that's kind of what I think about when I hear
nine to eleven.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, I think that if you were to go back
to the way in which the country came together the
days following September eleventh, it would be unrecognizable compared to
the current climate with things now again. Nine eleven's a
once in a lifetime kind of thing to where maybe
it takes something like that. And again, what happened yesterday
is not nine to eleven, just to be clear, but
(05:16):
yes we are. I mean, look this young man who's
now dead. His entire thing, Charlie Kirk's entire thing was
to speak to the other side, resolve political disputes with
free speech and open debate. And that is something that
regardless of which which way you lean, how you feel,
he would always I mean, in fact, he embraced healthy dialogue.
(05:37):
I actually found it very refreshing at times when hearing
him in debate, realized this is somebody that is not.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Going to lose.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Its mean, he's going to you know, he embraces healthy debate,
and it was clear that's what made him, I think,
so popular, not just because the people who really did
strongly believe believe in him, but he was different than
a lot of people when it comes to just how
they go about. Hey, I'm going to go where I
know people don't agree with me, don't like me, wish
ill will upon me and I will have a respectful,
healthy conversation. And that is just the opposite of what
(06:10):
anybody seems to be wanting to do anymore. I mean,
it's a guy who's thirty one years old, father or
to and I mean it's only crime, I guess, and
again it's not really a crime, was to go to
university campuses and engage in good faith with people who
did not like him. And if this isn't sort of
a wake up call that we need to wake up
and just get back to understanding that we can live together,
(06:31):
be happy, love one another, knowing that we don't see
out to eye on things. And it's just, you know, politics.
I think it's become at times an instrument of evil.
I mean it, and I hate saying that, but it
just is. And there's a lot of folks that are
really deeply into it that it's not productive for them,
(06:54):
and it brings out the worst in a lot of
these people.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And that's just a sad reality.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
It is.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
It was so sad that even when I was in
high school, ironically my favorite class was government and I
somewhat consider myself a political atheist just because to your point,
it's become such an evil cesspool.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
But grade ready to work.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
I was a senior in high school.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
That's to me, that's such an impressive Like it becomes
so interesting at that age because I think you've finally
gotten old enough to kind of at least not have
everything figured out clearly, but it'll interest you.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, And it was a lot of people, right, And
it was because of my government teacher, who reminded me a.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Lot of Charlie Kirk.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Because the cool part about it was I didn't know
where my government teacher stood politically, and that's how it
should be. And I thought about that long and hard
after I saw the news about Charlie Kirk yesterday, and
I'm like, I love government class. And I think DC's
one of the coolest cities in the country. We used
to vacation there and there's so much history and if
you explore American politics, it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
We've just polluted it.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
It's a history, yeah, and we've just polluted.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
It so much on so many levels, and it seems
to be yes polluted.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
And I try not to go there because, you know,
let's believe in the power of positivity. But man, sometimes
it seems like I don't know if we're ever getting
out of this. And I hope I'm wrong.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I don't I'm not predicting the future by any means.
It's just at times it does it does seem that way.
So again we'll talk a lot about that throughout the morning.
Obviously we're gonna have a lot of guests. I'll set
the table when we come back. A little long first
segment here, as you could, as you could understand, for
good reason. But again we've got traffic and weather updates
coming your way and a lot to get you on
a busy September eleventh edition of Coffee and Company on
News Radio eight forty whas.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Thank you very much, John Shannon. It is five thirty.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Five here at news Radio eight forty whas Coffee and
Company with you as we continue to look back on
twenty four years ago today, September eleventh, the day that
of course changed America from from then until really the
end of time, something that we remembered as long as
as long as we've got people here on this planet,
(08:58):
in this country. And of course I'll also reacting to
just a tragic situation yesterday with Charlie Kirk being assassinated,
and really, to me, it feels like this will be
a day that people look back on and again in
no way will anybody try to compare nine to eleven
to this, And I feel foolish reiterating that, but I
also I guess I'm a little paranoid that somebody might
think I'm trying to compare the two. But it just
(09:21):
it felt like a day that really, when we look back,
it'll stand out as a real reminder of just how
divided we are, how broken we seem to be. And
maybe it sparked some change. I don't know, but seeing
some of the reaction, and I try my best to
(09:42):
remind myself, so I remind you too that what you see,
as far as just the disgusting, vile reaction from some,
it doesn't represent any type of majority in any way.
I can't prove that, but I don't believe that. Now again,
maybe I'm wrong, but seeing one or two, three people,
(10:06):
and clearly there's way more than that that are that
are in a way celebrating or finding their own way
to act like it was it was Charlie Kirk's fault,
I mean, that's it gets vile. But then again, I
mean to remind myself, let's let's not assume that just
everybody who may may disagree with Charlie Kirk on on
on his beliefs and whatnot, that they're there.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It's a day, a celebration, but.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Just I think it's it's it's such just an inhumane
reaction that it's hard to not get taken aback by
that to where maybe you're just like the fact that
even one person could believe it might make you think that, wow, wait,
wait a second, what am I missing here? How could
anybody have that mindset in reaction to that? All right, again,
(10:53):
we will have a busy morning with you here. Roy
O'Neal set to join us coming up at five forty
five NBC News. We'll see what he can say tell
us as far as the pursuit for this suspect that,
of course killed Charlie Kirk and yesterday there were two
different suspects that they interviewed, only to then later release
because they realized that they did not have the right
(11:15):
the right guy. All right, So this is a clip
that I want to thank Scot Fitzgerald who dug this up.
This was twenty four years ago today as nine to
eleven happened, meeting as the planes struck the towers. This
is the live broadcast of News Radio eight forty WHAS
at that time, as Paul Rodgers was in the middle
(11:37):
of a sports update and he was interrupted by I
believe Bob Sikohler, who stepped in too, of course discuss
the breaking news.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
So did rod Smith, who had nine receptions for one
hundred and fifteen yards and win for Denver over the Giants.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Well, I want to interrupt us for a quick second.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
We're getting word and we're seeing pictures of a plane
possibly of hitting the World Trade Center in New York.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
More on that come up at the top of the hour.
Speaker 7 (12:01):
But just moments ago getting word a plane having hit
and done severe damage to the towards the very top
of the World Trade Center.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
More coming up at the top of the hour. Pull
back to you.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
The NFL will continue to use replacement officials this libreers
cut more than any other racetrack already with five times
hosting the event. Paul Rogers Sports eighty four WHA and Paul,
let me.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Just once again bring everybody up to date.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
We're getting more information now a major fire at the
World Trade Center. There is one report that a plane
hit the tower of the World Trade Center. Smoke coming
out of several sides of the World Trade Center black
and white smoke indicating burning. There's more information we're getting
as though we speak. We'll get it to you as
soon as we've got it available and confirmed. It is
(12:46):
now a fifty three spoke just kind of Oto Center SKYTCH
eighty four traffick every ten minutes.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Mark Travis with another update now.
Speaker 8 (12:51):
I'm checking it out here on TV as well. The
whole top of the building is smoking. One sign as
a large hole in it, another sign as another hole.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
So it's about twenty years oh stories from the very
top maybe the rough ye, it's pretty close to the
top there.
Speaker 8 (13:03):
What is that one hundred and ten stories? I think?
Speaker 7 (13:05):
Yeah, Now, there wasn't one time a plane hit the
Empire State Building.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
Yeah, that was back in the forties.
Speaker 7 (13:11):
Yeah, and that was the That was the only one
I remember in tower history in terms of large buildings.
But this one, you'll see pictures of it on the
news and hear all about it throughout the day.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
But you're hearing about it first time.
Speaker 8 (13:21):
You want to see pictures of it, you can put
it on eleven right now. It's on their lives. So
we got accidents working locally. A brooke and Magnolia Armory Broadway.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
I mean just it's one of those, and it's probably
the ultimate moment in my lifetime. I know it is
up to this point, and I don't imagine, let's say
I live many many years, which I hope is the case.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
But it's.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Everybody who, of course was old enough, will remember where
they were, what they were doing, maybe even what they
had for breakfast that day, wouldn't shock me. People remember
what song they were listening to on the radio whenever
they probably were preempted because of this breaking news, because
again that's just that's what that event was. So we'll
(14:04):
continue to talk about that day twenty four years ago
throughout the morning here. Coming up next, after traffic and
weather updates, we will talk to Rory and Neil NBC
News on his radio eight forty whas it is five
forty six here News Radio eight forty whas Coffee and
Company with you Kentucky and his morning News.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Let's bring in Rory O'Neil of NBC News.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Rory, the shooter who killed prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk,
remains at large. What can you tell us as far
as the latest It sounds like there were a couple
of different suspects. Yes, through they were taken in but
then later released after they were able to determine that
they were not the shooter exactly.
Speaker 9 (14:38):
So there's sort of a ground zero or square one,
I think is a better way to put it. Square
one when it comes to this investigation. They're trying to
go through some of the video. Obviously lots of people
had their phones out and were recording what happened at
the time. Obviously they were focused on mister Kirk at
the moment, but they're hoping that somewhere on the side
(14:58):
of an image there might be something that is a
clue that could help identify the shooter. They think he
was operating from about two hundred yards away on the
top of a building there on the campus. But how
he got to that location where he went after, you know,
what kind of evidence may have been left behind.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
All that is still part of the ongoing investigation.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Do we know what led to the two I guess
potential suspects that have later been released that led to
them being believed to be involved.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Yeah, no, we really don't.
Speaker 9 (15:28):
We know one was taken into custody instantly, really an
older gentleman. We didn't get really much of a description
on the second suspect, but the FBI director says both
were questioned and then cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting.
But still so many questions remained about how this was
allowed to happen. There were about six police officers, we
(15:49):
think from the police department on campus there at the
event where about three thousand people may have been attending.
Add to that private security team that traveled with mister Kirk.
They I think were more prepared for someone who would
have been rushing the event, rather than the kind of
long distance shooting we saw yesterday.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Roy On Neil of NBC News is our guest joining
us here on News Radio eight forty. Whas leading up
to Kirk's appearance at Utah Valley University do we know
much about sort of, I guess the temperature of that
community in that area. Obviously, he oftentimes embraces being able
to speak to those who he knows disagree with him,
maybe have certain feelings about him and his beliefs. Was
(16:31):
there much coverage about a potential situation nothing like this,
of course, but just that it was going to be
something to be alert about.
Speaker 9 (16:40):
Yeah, well, look, this is probably one of the more
conservative campuses in the country for a school of this size.
I think it's forty six thousand students there, so big school.
But it's also in Utah, among the most conservative states
in the country. Right, so this really is his home turf,
as it were. But you know, look, he likes or
he liked that these events would happen. He liked the confrontation,
(17:03):
he liked the public debate and then putting those debates
on social media.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
That was a big part of this operation.
Speaker 9 (17:09):
It was the first stop in a fourteen city tour
that was coming up. So you know, this really should
have been a kickoff to a big, high profile event
for him and for turning point.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
So when it comes to I believe it was.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
It might have somebody, it might have been with the
Uttah Department of Public Safety that had said this, but
they said they believed that there was just one individual.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
What they mean is just one shooter.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Correct, It's not as if they're aware of I mean
to say that this person completely operated alone. It sounds
like they wouldn't be able to determine that yet, right, Yeah.
Speaker 9 (17:43):
I think that they're just going from that theory that
there was only one gunman who was at the scene.
Now whether or not, look, there's been lots of speculation.
I don't necessarily want to go down rabbit holes, but
you know, because the shooting happened at the instant Charlie
Kirk was also talking about mass shootings. Was there some
connection between the and the timing of the gunfire? Don't know,
And exactly what motivated the shooter, It's unclear. You know,
(18:06):
obviously we all think that this may have been politically motivated.
The governor has called it a political assassination, but this
may have been personal. I'm not saying, well, you know
that this was someone who had a grievance with Kirk. Now,
I don't know that, but this is something that the
investigators have to check out.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
They can't just assume this is political.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
And I may be asking your questions for answers that
that really nobody would have unless they were directly there
and involved. But as far as the process of the
shooting taking place, him being rushed out of there to
of course they were attempting to save his life.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Do we know much about sort.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Of how close the hospital was, and I guess maybe
the condition prior to them, confirming that he did in
fact pass away.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (18:47):
Well, look, I think if you've seen the graphic video,
and I hope you haven't and I did, it once
was enough, but it was pretty clear that it would
have taken a miracle in order to save him just
because of the blood loss. But I think there is criticism,
and rightly so, that there was no ambulance that was
stationed there. Look, you go to a high school football game,
(19:08):
and I don't mean one of those Texas ones, but
you go to a high school football game and there's
an ambulance or two on standby.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
You're right, you know, just because of there's a crowd of.
Speaker 9 (19:15):
Three thousand people, someone could have had eat stroke, a
heart attack, you don't know.
Speaker 5 (19:19):
So typically when there's an event.
Speaker 9 (19:20):
Of that modest size, they prepared by having an ambulance
that is stationed right there, and that was not the case. Instead,
his security detail had to carry his body to a
waiting SUV and then he was driven to the hospital.
So you know, whether or not more rapid medical intervention
could have helped seems doubtful, but obviously you would have
(19:42):
wanted that option.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Rory, thank you for your Tom really appreciate it, Enjoy
the rest of your day. We'll talk soon, my friend.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Thanks Nick.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
That's Rory on EALEVI NBC News. Let's get a check
of traffic and weather. We'll continue our September eleventh edition
here of Kentucky and his Morning News, Coffee and Company,
looking back to twenty.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Four years ago.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
And I'll do what everybody has done for many years
now and go back to sort of where they were
when it happened. And if you like to share your
I guess your memory of that day, that of course
will be remembered until the end of time.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Here in America. You've got the talkback feature.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Just open up the out radio app, go to eight
forty whas, click the microphone button and you are good
to go. All right again, tracking weather updates on the
way right here, right now, And there's Radio eight forty
whas
Good morning, Kentucky, Anda, Welcome in Kentucky and this morning
news Coffee and company with you here on News Radio
eight forty whas we've got the full crew in the
house today, Nick Coffee. That's me Scott Fitzgerald alongside John
Shannon and John Olden there with us as well as
we look back on twenty four years ago to the
day that is when really everything changed, and I feel
(00:26):
like it's safe to say that what happened on September
eleventh in two thousand and one was is something that
will be remembered until the end of time just because
of what it was. And of course we'll talk a
lot about that today looking back to that awful day
and how much it changed a lot of things in
America and yesterday. There's no way to I mean, I
(00:48):
don't think it needs to be said, but I'll probably
overdo it when it comes to just making it clear
that in no way would I ever compare nine to
eleven to what happened yesterday with Charlie Kirk being a sassinated.
But I do think that it just felt like a
day that really just if you had head in the
sand as far as just how divided we are as
(01:11):
a country, if you were someone that really tried your
best to just block out that kind of stuff because
you just want to not think about it, You want
to get lost in your hobbies and your interests that
are outside of that. If you were somebody trying to
do that, I feel like yesterday was a day that
that would have been really hard if that's the case,
just because yes, and I wish I could, and I
(01:34):
tried my best, promise you, I tried my best to
think of how to to to really describe why yesterday
just kind of felt like a day that we're all
going to remember. And I think it's it's it's more
so because it was building where you could just tell
right now we're not well. We are broken as a country.
We are divided more than we probably have ever been,
(01:55):
at least from from my perspective in my life, this
seems to be the most that we have been. And
I don't know where we go from here, but obviously
just a tragic situation all the way around, and so
that that, of course will be a big part of
today's Today Show, of course, discussing what happened yesterday, the
reaction to the reaction that's what I've got some thoughts on.
(02:17):
But we'll also, of course spend a lot of time
looking back to twenty four years ago on September eleventh.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So that's where that's.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Where we are today and going to be a busy,
busy four hours with you and hope you guys will
stick with us, and I will let you know that
today will be a day that if you have if
you want to share some thoughts on a lot of things.
Clearly there's there's a lot of people I'm sure that
would love to share their thoughts on what happened yesterday,
maybe looking back to nine to eleven, those kind of things.
You have the platform to do that with a talkback feature.
So if you listen on the Ihet Radio app, or
(02:45):
maybe if you listen on your radio, if you listen
on your Roku device, whatever may be, you listen online
at whas dot com, just know that at any moment you
can pop out your phone and still utilize that feature
clicking the microphone that is on the iHeart Radio app
when you're listening to the station, and that gives you
the ability to share some thoughts. So I feel like
today mister Scott Fitzgerald, will be a day that maybe
(03:06):
you and I remember looking back just because of this
show will be hopefully similar to what you typically get
as far as just what we can bring to the table,
but obviously we'll be pretty We directed pretty pretty clearly
to two specific things today.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well, and I think you did a great job in
your open their neck of encapsulating really what we're up
against as we wake up this morning.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And that is just sort of the juxtaposition of Charlie
Kirk up against nine to eleven, two very significant events
in American history. And for most people who didn't know
who Charlie Kirk was prior to this, they will know now.
And then you come to appreciate the impact he had
on politics. You don't have to be someone who sits
right of center to kind of, and I use this
(03:47):
term in a generic way, appreciate Charlie Kirk and his
impact he had on politics. And that kind of talks
about to your point, the division that we are waking
up to this morning is so why that we still
haven't learned we came together after nine to eleven we did,
and how quickly and just as you mentioned, twenty four
(04:09):
years we have lost that yet again, and where do
we go from here? And I've said for the longest time,
having two kids who are now voting age and now
young adults, that their generation is going to be one
of the next greatest generations.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And I think the generation.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Coming in behind them, because as my daughter reminds me,
they were the ones that grew up. She was just
in preschool over at Holy Family when this happened. I
had to go down and get her. I was working
at the archdiocese at the time. They grew up with
nine to eleven. They grew up with the pandemic. They
were the first generation that grew up with parents who
couldn't parent them the way they were parented. So this generation,
(04:44):
now in their mid to twenties, I guess is what
it is are really going to We need to listen
to them if we want to heal this divide. And
that's kind of what I think about when I hear
nine to eleven.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, I think that if you were to go back
to the way in which the country came together the
days following September eleventh, it would be unrecognizable compared to
the current climate with things now again. Nine eleven's a
once in a lifetime kind of thing to where maybe
it takes something like that. And again, what happened yesterday
is not nine to eleven, just to be clear, but
(05:16):
yes we are. I mean, look this young man who's
now dead. His entire thing, Charlie Kirk's entire thing was
to speak to the other side, resolve political disputes with
free speech and open debate. And that is something that
regardless of which which way you lean, how you feel,
he would always I mean, in fact, he embraced healthy dialogue.
(05:37):
I actually found it very refreshing at times when hearing
him in debate, realized this is somebody that is not.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Going to lose.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Its mean, he's going to you know, he embraces healthy debate,
and it was clear that's what made him, I think,
so popular, not just because the people who really did
strongly believe believe in him, but he was different than
a lot of people when it comes to just how
they go about. Hey, I'm going to go where I
know people don't agree with me, don't like me, wish
ill will upon me and I will have a respectful,
healthy conversation. And that is just the opposite of what
(06:10):
anybody seems to be wanting to do anymore. I mean,
it's a guy who's thirty one years old, father or
to and I mean it's only crime, I guess, and
again it's not really a crime, was to go to
university campuses and engage in good faith with people who
did not like him. And if this isn't sort of
a wake up call that we need to wake up
and just get back to understanding that we can live together,
(06:31):
be happy, love one another, knowing that we don't see
out to eye on things. And it's just, you know, politics.
I think it's become at times an instrument of evil.
I mean it, and I hate saying that, but it
just is. And there's a lot of folks that are
really deeply into it that it's not productive for them,
(06:54):
and it brings out the worst in a lot of
these people.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And that's just a sad reality.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
It is.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
It was so sad that even when I was in
high school, ironically my favorite class was government and I
somewhat consider myself a political atheist just because to your point,
it's become such an evil cesspool.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
But grade ready to work.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
I was a senior in high school.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
That's to me, that's such an impressive Like it becomes
so interesting at that age because I think you've finally
gotten old enough to kind of at least not have
everything figured out clearly, but it'll interest you.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, And it was a lot of people, right, And
it was because of my government teacher, who reminded me a.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Lot of Charlie Kirk.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Because the cool part about it was I didn't know
where my government teacher stood politically, and that's how it
should be. And I thought about that long and hard
after I saw the news about Charlie Kirk yesterday, and
I'm like, I love government class. And I think DC's
one of the coolest cities in the country. We used
to vacation there and there's so much history and if
you explore American politics, it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
We've just polluted it.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
It's a history, yeah, and we've just polluted.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
It so much on so many levels, and it seems
to be yes polluted.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
And I try not to go there because, you know,
let's believe in the power of positivity. But man, sometimes
it seems like I don't know if we're ever getting
out of this. And I hope I'm wrong.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I don't I'm not predicting the future by any means.
It's just at times it does it does seem that way.
So again we'll talk a lot about that throughout the morning.
Obviously we're gonna have a lot of guests. I'll set
the table when we come back. A little long first
segment here, as you could, as you could understand, for
good reason. But again we've got traffic and weather updates
coming your way and a lot to get you on
a busy September eleventh edition of Coffee and Company on
News Radio eight forty whas.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Thank you very much, John Shannon. It is five thirty.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Five here at news Radio eight forty whas Coffee and
Company with you as we continue to look back on
twenty four years ago today, September eleventh, the day that
of course changed America from from then until really the
end of time, something that we remembered as long as
as long as we've got people here on this planet,
(08:58):
in this country. And of course I'll also reacting to
just a tragic situation yesterday with Charlie Kirk being assassinated,
and really, to me, it feels like this will be
a day that people look back on and again in
no way will anybody try to compare nine to eleven
to this, And I feel foolish reiterating that, but I
also I guess I'm a little paranoid that somebody might
think I'm trying to compare the two. But it just
(09:21):
it felt like a day that really, when we look back,
it'll stand out as a real reminder of just how
divided we are, how broken we seem to be. And
maybe it sparked some change. I don't know, but seeing
some of the reaction, and I try my best to
(09:42):
remind myself, so I remind you too that what you see,
as far as just the disgusting, vile reaction from some,
it doesn't represent any type of majority in any way.
I can't prove that, but I don't believe that. Now again,
maybe I'm wrong, but seeing one or two, three people,
(10:06):
and clearly there's way more than that that are that
are in a way celebrating or finding their own way
to act like it was it was Charlie Kirk's fault,
I mean, that's it gets vile. But then again, I
mean to remind myself, let's let's not assume that just
everybody who may may disagree with Charlie Kirk on on
on his beliefs and whatnot, that they're there.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It's a day, a celebration, but.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Just I think it's it's it's such just an inhumane
reaction that it's hard to not get taken aback by
that to where maybe you're just like the fact that
even one person could believe it might make you think that, wow, wait,
wait a second, what am I missing here? How could
anybody have that mindset in reaction to that? All right, again,
(10:53):
we will have a busy morning with you here. Roy
O'Neal set to join us coming up at five forty
five NBC News. We'll see what he can say tell
us as far as the pursuit for this suspect that,
of course killed Charlie Kirk and yesterday there were two
different suspects that they interviewed, only to then later release
because they realized that they did not have the right
(11:15):
the right guy. All right, So this is a clip
that I want to thank Scot Fitzgerald who dug this up.
This was twenty four years ago today as nine to
eleven happened, meeting as the planes struck the towers. This
is the live broadcast of News Radio eight forty WHAS
at that time, as Paul Rodgers was in the middle
(11:37):
of a sports update and he was interrupted by I
believe Bob Sikohler, who stepped in too, of course discuss
the breaking news.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
So did rod Smith, who had nine receptions for one
hundred and fifteen yards and win for Denver over the Giants.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Well, I want to interrupt us for a quick second.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
We're getting word and we're seeing pictures of a plane
possibly of hitting the World Trade Center in New York.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
More on that come up at the top of the hour.
Speaker 7 (12:01):
But just moments ago getting word a plane having hit
and done severe damage to the towards the very top
of the World Trade Center.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
More coming up at the top of the hour. Pull
back to you.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
The NFL will continue to use replacement officials this libreers
cut more than any other racetrack already with five times
hosting the event. Paul Rogers Sports eighty four WHA and Paul,
let me.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Just once again bring everybody up to date.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
We're getting more information now a major fire at the
World Trade Center. There is one report that a plane
hit the tower of the World Trade Center. Smoke coming
out of several sides of the World Trade Center black
and white smoke indicating burning. There's more information we're getting
as though we speak. We'll get it to you as
soon as we've got it available and confirmed. It is
(12:46):
now a fifty three spoke just kind of Oto Center SKYTCH
eighty four traffick every ten minutes.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Mark Travis with another update now.
Speaker 8 (12:51):
I'm checking it out here on TV as well. The
whole top of the building is smoking. One sign as
a large hole in it, another sign as another hole.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
So it's about twenty years oh stories from the very
top maybe the rough ye, it's pretty close to the
top there.
Speaker 8 (13:03):
What is that one hundred and ten stories? I think?
Speaker 7 (13:05):
Yeah, Now, there wasn't one time a plane hit the
Empire State Building.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
Yeah, that was back in the forties.
Speaker 7 (13:11):
Yeah, and that was the That was the only one
I remember in tower history in terms of large buildings.
But this one, you'll see pictures of it on the
news and hear all about it throughout the day.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
But you're hearing about it first time.
Speaker 8 (13:21):
You want to see pictures of it, you can put
it on eleven right now. It's on their lives. So
we got accidents working locally. A brooke and Magnolia Armory Broadway.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
I mean just it's one of those, and it's probably
the ultimate moment in my lifetime. I know it is
up to this point, and I don't imagine, let's say
I live many many years, which I hope is the case.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
But it's.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Everybody who, of course was old enough, will remember where
they were, what they were doing, maybe even what they
had for breakfast that day, wouldn't shock me. People remember
what song they were listening to on the radio whenever
they probably were preempted because of this breaking news, because
again that's just that's what that event was. So we'll
(14:04):
continue to talk about that day twenty four years ago
throughout the morning here. Coming up next, after traffic and
weather updates, we will talk to Rory and Neil NBC
News on his radio eight forty whas it is five
forty six here News Radio eight forty whas Coffee and
Company with you Kentucky and his morning News.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Let's bring in Rory O'Neil of NBC News.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Rory, the shooter who killed prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk,
remains at large. What can you tell us as far
as the latest It sounds like there were a couple
of different suspects. Yes, through they were taken in but
then later released after they were able to determine that
they were not the shooter exactly.
Speaker 9 (14:38):
So there's sort of a ground zero or square one,
I think is a better way to put it. Square
one when it comes to this investigation. They're trying to
go through some of the video. Obviously lots of people
had their phones out and were recording what happened at
the time. Obviously they were focused on mister Kirk at
the moment, but they're hoping that somewhere on the side
(14:58):
of an image there might be something that is a
clue that could help identify the shooter. They think he
was operating from about two hundred yards away on the
top of a building there on the campus. But how
he got to that location where he went after, you know,
what kind of evidence may have been left behind.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
All that is still part of the ongoing investigation.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Do we know what led to the two I guess
potential suspects that have later been released that led to
them being believed to be involved.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Yeah, no, we really don't.
Speaker 9 (15:28):
We know one was taken into custody instantly, really an
older gentleman. We didn't get really much of a description
on the second suspect, but the FBI director says both
were questioned and then cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting.
But still so many questions remained about how this was
allowed to happen. There were about six police officers, we
(15:49):
think from the police department on campus there at the
event where about three thousand people may have been attending.
Add to that private security team that traveled with mister Kirk.
They I think were more prepared for someone who would
have been rushing the event, rather than the kind of
long distance shooting we saw yesterday.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Roy On Neil of NBC News is our guest joining
us here on News Radio eight forty. Whas leading up
to Kirk's appearance at Utah Valley University do we know
much about sort of, I guess the temperature of that
community in that area. Obviously, he oftentimes embraces being able
to speak to those who he knows disagree with him,
maybe have certain feelings about him and his beliefs. Was
(16:31):
there much coverage about a potential situation nothing like this,
of course, but just that it was going to be
something to be alert about.
Speaker 9 (16:40):
Yeah, well, look, this is probably one of the more
conservative campuses in the country for a school of this size.
I think it's forty six thousand students there, so big school.
But it's also in Utah, among the most conservative states
in the country. Right, so this really is his home turf,
as it were. But you know, look, he likes or
he liked that these events would happen. He liked the confrontation,
(17:03):
he liked the public debate and then putting those debates
on social media.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
That was a big part of this operation.
Speaker 9 (17:09):
It was the first stop in a fourteen city tour
that was coming up. So you know, this really should
have been a kickoff to a big, high profile event
for him and for turning point.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
So when it comes to I believe it was.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
It might have somebody, it might have been with the
Uttah Department of Public Safety that had said this, but
they said they believed that there was just one individual.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
What they mean is just one shooter.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Correct, It's not as if they're aware of I mean
to say that this person completely operated alone. It sounds
like they wouldn't be able to determine that yet, right, Yeah.
Speaker 9 (17:43):
I think that they're just going from that theory that
there was only one gunman who was at the scene.
Now whether or not, look, there's been lots of speculation.
I don't necessarily want to go down rabbit holes, but
you know, because the shooting happened at the instant Charlie
Kirk was also talking about mass shootings. Was there some
connection between the and the timing of the gunfire? Don't know,
And exactly what motivated the shooter, It's unclear. You know,
(18:06):
obviously we all think that this may have been politically motivated.
The governor has called it a political assassination, but this
may have been personal. I'm not saying, well, you know
that this was someone who had a grievance with Kirk. Now,
I don't know that, but this is something that the
investigators have to check out.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
They can't just assume this is political.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
And I may be asking your questions for answers that
that really nobody would have unless they were directly there
and involved. But as far as the process of the
shooting taking place, him being rushed out of there to
of course they were attempting to save his life.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Do we know much about sort.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Of how close the hospital was, and I guess maybe
the condition prior to them, confirming that he did in
fact pass away.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (18:47):
Well, look, I think if you've seen the graphic video,
and I hope you haven't and I did, it once
was enough, but it was pretty clear that it would
have taken a miracle in order to save him just
because of the blood loss. But I think there is criticism,
and rightly so, that there was no ambulance that was
stationed there. Look, you go to a high school football game,
(19:08):
and I don't mean one of those Texas ones, but
you go to a high school football game and there's
an ambulance or two on standby.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
You're right, you know, just because of there's a crowd of.
Speaker 9 (19:15):
Three thousand people, someone could have had eat stroke, a
heart attack, you don't know.
Speaker 5 (19:19):
So typically when there's an event.
Speaker 9 (19:20):
Of that modest size, they prepared by having an ambulance
that is stationed right there, and that was not the case. Instead,
his security detail had to carry his body to a
waiting SUV and then he was driven to the hospital.
So you know, whether or not more rapid medical intervention
could have helped seems doubtful, but obviously you would have
(19:42):
wanted that option.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Rory, thank you for your Tom really appreciate it, Enjoy
the rest of your day. We'll talk soon, my friend.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Thanks Nick.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
That's Rory on EALEVI NBC News. Let's get a check
of traffic and weather. We'll continue our September eleventh edition
here of Kentucky and his Morning News, Coffee and Company,
looking back to twenty.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Four years ago.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
And I'll do what everybody has done for many years
now and go back to sort of where they were
when it happened. And if you like to share your
I guess your memory of that day, that of course
will be remembered until the end of time.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Here in America. You've got the talkback feature.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Just open up the out radio app, go to eight
forty whas, click the microphone button and you are good
to go. All right again, tracking weather updates on the
way right here, right now, And there's Radio eight forty
whas
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