Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 14 minutes ago
As Americans reel from another shocking act of violence, we ask: what has the next generation forgotten about 9/11? John Tierney, Nicole Gelinas, Park MacDougald, and Isabella Redjai pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, assassinated as he gave a talk on a college campus. Kirk was murdered the day before the nation marked the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The panelists share personal memories of that day, examine the city’s response, and discuss how the attacks reshaped American politics and culture. The conversation ends with a look at the day’s enduring lessons and prospects for American unity.
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city-journal.org/email-alerts
John Tierney: https://x.com/JohnTierneyNYC
Nicole Gelinas: https://x.com/nicolegelinas
Park MacDougald: https://x.com/hpmcd1
Isabella Redjai: https://x.com/IsabellaRedjai
00:00 Introduction and Remembering Charlie Kirk
02:35 Reflections on 9/11: Personal Experiences
05:45 The Mood in New York City Before and After 9/11
08:43 Community Response and Resilience Post-9/11
11:48 Media Coverage and Public Sentiment
14:41 Bureaucratic Responses and Their Consequences
17:47 Unity and Courage in Crisis
20:35 Comparing Past and Present Responses to Tragedy
23:25 Generational Perspectives on Terrorism
26:25 Cultural Impact of Rhetoric on Younger Generations
30:27 Understanding the Misunderstood: Osama Bin Laden's Narrative
32:34 The Evolving Perception of Terrorism and Patriotism
34:22 Reflections on First Responders and Changing Attitudes
36:41 The Rise of Anti-Police Sentiment and Its Roots
37:31 The Impact of Academia on Gen Z Perspectives
41:45 Victimhood as a Political Tool
45:00 Reviving Unity in a Polarized America
As Americans reel from another shocking act of violence, we ask: what has the next generation forgotten about 9/11? John Tierney, Nicole Gelinas, Park MacDougald, and Isabella Redjai pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, assassinated as he gave a talk on a college campus. Kirk was murdered the day before the nation marked the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The panelists share personal memories of that day, examine the city’s response, and discuss how the attacks reshaped American politics and culture. The conversation ends with a look at the day’s enduring lessons and prospects for American unity.
Get the best of City Journal, delivered weekly:
city-journal.org/email-alerts
John Tierney: https://x.com/JohnTierneyNYC
Nicole Gelinas: https://x.com/nicolegelinas
Park MacDougald: https://x.com/hpmcd1
Isabella Redjai: https://x.com/IsabellaRedjai
00:00 Introduction and Remembering Charlie Kirk
02:35 Reflections on 9/11: Personal Experiences
05:45 The Mood in New York City Before and After 9/11
08:43 Community Response and Resilience Post-9/11
11:48 Media Coverage and Public Sentiment
14:41 Bureaucratic Responses and Their Consequences
17:47 Unity and Courage in Crisis
20:35 Comparing Past and Present Responses to Tragedy
23:25 Generational Perspectives on Terrorism
26:25 Cultural Impact of Rhetoric on Younger Generations
30:27 Understanding the Misunderstood: Osama Bin Laden's Narrative
32:34 The Evolving Perception of Terrorism and Patriotism
34:22 Reflections on First Responders and Changing Attitudes
36:41 The Rise of Anti-Police Sentiment and Its Roots
37:31 The Impact of Academia on Gen Z Perspectives
41:45 Victimhood as a Political Tool
45:00 Reviving Unity in a Polarized America
