9/11 - 25 Years Later with Rob Serra. The Air Was Never Safe. Mamdani Docs Reveal What They Knew And When. Why Trump and All Politicians Should Stay Away.

0:00This is Belie, one network, every topic, everywhere. The kids in Styrus and high school eating lunch in what was a more three days earlier, covered in dust, they didn't clean anything. And all those people were told it was safe. You know, you're talking hundreds of thousands of people, you know, maybe 50, 50,000 were first responders from New York City and National Guard and where Rose came in. But most of the people in the program, why? Those people should have had a choice, right? Should have been their choice whether or not they went home. Welcome to Independent Americans. Welcome to episode 620. And welcome back. We are finally back after Labor Day. We've been in and out this summer, but now we are leaning in hard and at exactly the

1:03right time. I am your host, Paul Reikoff. I am coming to you from New York City, USA, where the weather is nice. Very nice, almost as nice as 9-11, which we're going to get into a lot in this special episode. But first, we always have an artist that I introduce my boys to and today's artist is Buster Rhymes. Why? Because I met him in the green room yesterday at MS now and he was really, really nice. I bumped into him in the hallway as he was coming in and I was going out. I almost lost my shit because I grew up listening to him, but he is as New York as it gets. He's an icon. He's a voice. He's a powerful source of inspiration. And I think he's really as New York as it gets in this episode is going to be about New York. It's going to be about DC. It's about Pennsylvania and America. It's about all of us. And we're going to continue to bring you the five eyes. We bring you in every single show. If you're new here, it's Independence Integrity Information, Inspiration and Impact, especially

2:06on this show. And our guest today especially brings that. It is our returning champion, our dear friend, FDNY firefighter advocate for all things good and true. Rob Sarah is coming up in just a second on this special 9-11 episode to help us all stay vigilant. All right. We especially want to stay vigilant on this day around this time of year. And there's no better guest to help us do it than our friend Rob Sarah. DCNY firefighter advocate for first responders for everyone impacted by 9-11, Patriot, voice of reason and conscience for America in all times. There are some silver linings from the tragedy of 9-11.

3:06And one of them is that voices like Rob Sarah have emerged to meet the moment and confront so much more than just what happened in that time. He is a returning champion. I think he's been on the show more than everybody. But that's because we love him. We appreciate him. And every year I get to have a really important inspiring grounded no bullshit conversation. He's back. He's in the layer now in New Jersey. The great and powerful Rob Sarah, back on Independent Americans. Welcome back, man. Thanks for having me. Great to be back. We had some technical issues, but now we're here. Folks need to watch on YouTube so they can see your layer in New Jersey, man. I mean, this is, you got Don Mattingley. You got a Sanoco gas pump. You got an actual gas pump, right? Yeah, I mean, it's not pumping anything, but it looks cool. It does look cool. Got my field of dreams, Jersey there. I love it. You had a picture of the dude up on the side. It's a little out of the way. Got some dudes, some Johnny Cash. We got some cool stuff. A hockey rink. And you have an actual mini hockey rink on the other side.

4:08Yeah, that's where my son does his work. So. Because you're a dad of the year. In addition to everything else, you're a dad of the year. You got great kids, a great family. It's part of why I love talking to you. Look, man, every 9-11 is different, but every 9-11, I get to talk to you. We're going to be, I'll be downtown tomorrow. You'll be around everywhere doing all the good stuff that you do. I want to ask you what I ask everybody, but where are you? And how are you? I'm in my basement in New Jersey, as you said, acclimating to our new house. I'm doing all right, man. You know, dealing with back issues and just getting older and 9-11 issues. But I'm okay. I'm here. I'm talking. So we're all good. Did you think you'd be alive 25 years later? If you asked me 10 years ago, I'd say no. But you know, listen, the program's working for me.

5:09I had an Oscar be this week. I had a colonoscopy last month. I'm getting my checkups. And if you've seen the reports, we actually have a better chance of survival for these cancers than the general population because of those screenings and testings. And you know, we won't behold, you know, when you actually monitor people who are exposed to such things, you find things and you treat them. So here, here, I did my 9-11 annual physical last month. And it runs like clockwork. Now, I remember the old days when you had to plan for like a full day of like 11 hours waiting in a hallway. And they didn't know if they were going to get funded. But now the program works really well. I just want to take a minute to encourage anybody who was exposed on any level to get checked. The program is working. It's an example of good policy after so much bad. You know, having you in New Jersey is kind of weird. I said this before we had a technical issue. It's like you're so New York, but now you're in New Jersey. You're kind of like the New York Giants. It took my kids to the Ed Sheeran show and met life.

6:10And they said, is he going to call it New York? Is he going to call it New Jersey? And he kept just calling it met life. So I feel like that I call you New York and New Jersey. I was going to call you Rob Sarah because you're bigger than any geographic restriction, man. Yeah. I mean, we still spend a fair amount of time in Staten Island. You know, we actually lived there for the last six months before we moved into this new house. So we're still there. We're still there every week. You know, I'm surrounded by New Yorkers here anyway. So it's not much different. And it's actually a quicker train ride into Manhattan than it is doing the train ferry train from Staten Island. So we got a lot to cover every year. We got a lot to cover. But this year I want to cover a lot. We're going to talk about the report. I want to talk about the controversies every year. There's like a different controversy. And for folks who have been away a while, we're bringing back football Friday. People 9-11 edition of football Friday. So stick around for that.

7:11But I think, you know, the top topic is undoubtedly 9-11. Every year is different. This one feels like the biggest one since maybe the second one. I don't know. It feels like everybody is expanding and paying attention in new ways. But I feel like every 25th anniversary is like that. I don't know if it was that way for D-Day or Pearl Harbor, 25th reunions are like that, 25th wedding anniversary is because by 50, a lot of people are dead, right? So it feels like it might be the high point before it takes a dive down. But 25 years later, man, like what are your top line thoughts on this 9-11? I don't know. I think I've put off actually thinking about the day itself.

8:14I don't know why, you know, I just think. Usually in the past, I would, you know, when the weather starts changing and your mood starts changing without realizing it, I would spend some time at least reflecting on it. But I think so much has happened in the last 15 years. 9-11 itself has changed in my mind so much because of all the nonsense and all the trips to Washington and all the, what it turned into, it actually changed the way I feel about the day itself, which is weird. But, you know, like those memories as you know, they're just like at this point, they're little snapshots. We even know as if I'm remembering it the way it was because that's how trauma works, right? So I just, you know, I have the little bits and pieces that replay in my mind. But, you know, as far as the way I feel about the day itself, it's changed so much because it's not really about what happened that day anymore. You know, to me, it's more about what's happened since. And we've seen it this week, you know, and that's the frustrating part for me is that, you know, instead of reflecting on what actually happened that day, the undeniable facts,

9:19those buildings fell down and people died. Like, all the other stuff is nonsense to me. Like, all these other theories and stuff. That happened. We witnessed it. You know, the air was bad. We breathed it in. We got sick. So then the last 20 years, you know, having to constantly tell that story and, I don't know, force the government to recognize what we were going through. Certainly changed me, changed my feelings on 9-11. So, I don't know. It's tough. This year's been tough where I think because of all the nonsense that's gone on. You know, I didn't think it was appropriate. I understand why the mayor did what he did. But, to do with three days before 9-11 and make it the story, to release those papers now, I guess he was taking a shot at Giuliani. I mean, I wouldn't blame him. But, look what it's done. You know, what it's everyone talking about?

10:20What's the media talking about? It's talking about that. Why is it about Mamdani and Giuliani and not about the 3,000 people? And you could pick a name out of a hat and there will be a Hollywood story about that person. There's so many great stories that we should be telling. So many great memories that we could be highlighting. Instead, we're letting them hijack for lack of a better word. 9-11, which is ridiculous. You know. Now, I'm so glad you, you and I always have very real talks about this. And these are like the talks we have over too many beers in O'Hara's when it's all over, right? Like, I told my wife, it's one of those days where I feel like I need to get the fuck out of New York. And at the same time, if I'm not here, I feel like I need to be in New York. It's like my relationship with New York. I love it. And it's hard to live here sometimes. But when you're not here, you feel like you should be here. But this year, especially, I kind of want it over with, right? Because it's especially I live downtown.

11:21It's so consuming. It's everywhere. It's all these things. But this year, especially, I kind of just want it to be over with. And I want to get to my kids football game on Saturday. And I'm doing less and less stuff every year. Like, we got a Friday night walk through with the kids before a game, our first football game on Saturday. And that's kind of like the perfect place for me to be, right? Like with a bunch of, you know, junior high kids who are getting ready for a football game. But the lights are going to be up behind us. You know, and I'm going to have to explain to those kids what it's all about. And I feel like that's where my role has shifted. Is now I have to tell them the truth, right, about what happened. Because they don't know anybody else. Even the adults, a lot of adults in my neighborhood didn't live here. We're in here. Like, we're the capers of the flame now, right? Yeah. And like I said earlier, they're getting all different stories. You know, I'll tell you this story, which was, I found quite disturbing. I'm helping out coach Vinnie's hockey team.

12:23You know, I'm the assistant to the assisted coach. You know, I'm the old man in the room. You know, which I love. I love teaching hockey. I love, I love being around the kids. But I walk in the locker room and the other coach wasn't there. So it was just me and two of the kids are going at it, like screaming at each other. And I look at my son and he's got tears in his eyes. And he's like shaking and trembling. And one of the kids was yelling at the other kid. Nobody died on 9-11. Nobody died on 9-11. And I'm like, I'm trying to piece together what's going on because the other kid was Arab. So somehow it was sort of, yeah, I don't think he's Muslim. But I don't know why the kid was saying this. But Vinnie was crying and screaming. And I was like, I think calm down. I was like, what happened? I tried to tell him my grandfather died. No one wants to live. And I just told everyone to shut up. But like, these kids, I don't know if he really believed what he was saying. But that's what's going on with kids these days. It's like they use it as a way to break each other's jobs, which I found disturbing.

13:28So yeah, you're right. I mean, it is our job to set them straight. And I kind of regret not setting them straight in the moment. But they're 13-year-old boys. And I really just wanted them to shut up and get dressed. But that's the kind of stuff that happens. It's real. You and I have talked about this. And I mentioned this to somebody before I did an interview this week. Unless I'm mistaken, there is still no formal curriculum on how to teach 9-11 in New York State or anywhere else. Like every year, I have a conversation with the principal at our school. And I know the museum has like teaching modules for teachers. And our museum does a lot with downtown teachers who were uniquely affected. These are the schools that were affected. Stuyveson High School and the Illinois. The kids aren't being taught 9-11. They're not being taught the history. In the same way, we kind of weren't taught about Vietnam either. But I think eventually we got a baseline of Vietnam. And it's become debatable. The facts have become debatable. And I think that's made me one of the most egregious failures of leadership in this country.

14:31Is they can't even figure out how to fucking teach it to kids? Well, yeah. And they get older information from TikTok and Reels. And so they're just seeing some idiot in his basement yelling at the screen, all these stupid ideas. And these kids, how are they supposed to know what really happened? I mean, my kids know, but other kids don't know. You know, they don't have me as a father. So I don't know what other people are teaching their kids. You know, I think it's more important that it starts at home than at school, because you should be hearing stuff like that from your parents. But I don't know. I don't know what the, I know in our area, even though we're not in New York, as you pointed out. But our school system teaches about 9-11. We had dozens of people from our town killed on 9-11. So they actually do. They actually teach about us in class, which was great. They, you know, John Stewart. And one day my daughter came home and asked me if I knew someone named Laila Nordstrom. I'm like, yeah, you know, you know Laila Nordstrom.

15:32You've met her. Well, she, oh, she didn't even realize. I'm like, you were learning about me. So they actually teach that part of 9-11 too, which is cool. Like not just the day, but the bullshit since, you know. So at least around here, it's good. The rest of the country. I don't know. I don't know what they're teaching about anything. It comes down to that. It comes down to like local teachers, principals, community people saying, hey, we want to make sure this happens. Independent Americans. This episode is brought to you by our friends at CalShi. Do you think you know what's going to happen next? Can you predict the future? Can you project the future? I've often said I want to be the Tony Romo of politics, but without the bad stuff. But you can trade now on anything in politics news, sports, culture, at CalShi. From the biggest political and news stories in the world to the wildest questions in pop culture and movies, CalShi, America's number one prediction market platform, lets you trade your predictions in a live market.

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17:38as you know from this show, you can buy in and out of your position. So download the CalShi app and use the code independent to get $25 bucks off when you trade 25. That's K-A-L-S-H-I CalShi trade on anything. 18 and older restrictions and eligibility reply, event contract trading, it does involve risk and may not be suitable for all investors. CalShi products are not available in all jurisdictions, price and values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned for more information, see CalShi.com, backslash regulatory. There is a lot happening in news, politics, culture, and sports, and it's all happening at CalShi. Independent Americans, check it out at CalShi. But I think there was a Senate bill in New York. I'll have to look it up and report back. But there was a Senate bill going forward to create a curriculum, at least in New York state, in New York City. There's no formal recognition that happens in New York City schools. I don't think. It's crazy because the first tower was hit, I think, at what, like 845, it's like a round when

18:43drop-offs happening in New York City. So there's this split screen in my mind and so many other people's minds. It's the second day of school in New York City for public schools. We all remember on 9-11 it was election day. So there's this split screen going on in your mind. And one thing that I want to give you credit for that I don't think people understand. And I see this with a lot of veterans too. It's a burden to be the only guy on the hockey team who was there, or in the town or in the community, because you got to explain it to everybody. And they looked to you and they kind of want to ask and you want to talk about it, but it hurts to talk about it. I mean, veterans have this every time on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. But 9-11, you know, you're like the man from Planet 9-11. Everybody wants to understand it through your eyes, but that's a huge, that's a weight on you and on all of us who are there. You know, it really is. And people, I feel obligated to answer them because someone has to talk about it, but you're right. Anytime someone finds out that I was a New York City fireman,

19:45it's the first question that they ask. I was at the dentist, 8am first appointment here in New Jersey, and the guy saw my 9-11 tattoo on my arm. So the first question he says at 8am, he goes, oh, you have a 9-11 tattoo? That means he has his words. That means I'm okay to ask you this. And then starts asking me to describe my day on 9-11 at 8am while I'm getting my teeth. I'm like, no, I'm not obligated to talk to you about this because I have a tattoo. But it is. And sometimes I just want to go hang out with people at a party. It literally just happened the other day. I picked my son up from a birthday party. Dad finds me bellowing over to me. And his first question is, what do you think about my mom down me in all this 9-11 stuff? I'm like, I don't know, bro. I just want to drink a beer. You know, hang out. But then I got to give my opinions, you know. And it's really important. I remember Paul Bucco, a Medal of Honor recipient, and was the president of Medal of Honor Society.

20:46And he told me once, every time you ask a Medal of Honor recipient to tell their story, you're asking them to describe the worst experience of their life. It's like ripping it out of them. So, I mean, I've had, you know, you were there. And my wife knows, like, don't mention it. Like, when she's talking to somebody, they'll start talking about 9-11. And I'll just kind of go like this. I'm like, honey, just don't bring it up. Like, don't tell them I was anywhere. Tell them I was a fucking park ranger in Utah. Like, I don't want them to know. I was there. I don't want to talk about it. Because it just, you know, you were in 9-11. How was that? Oh, it was fucking awesome. Yeah, how was that? It was like, you were in Iraq. How was that? Oh, it was fucking awesome. And then it's like, I had a friend who was in Iraq. I was in Utah on 9-11. Everybody has their own 9-11 experience. And I respect that. But you also remind me how toned-of so many things can be. Every time I walk by the site, they're still a fucking beer garden there. Yeah. Right. Now they're putting up the Amics building. Finally, 25 years later, they're going to, people should know. They haven't finished the construction. 25 years later, they still have one more building to go.

21:49And it's going to take till 2031. But the good news is, it's going to be where the beer garden was. Right, Rob? Perfect. Perfect. All right. So let me ask you to break down something that's really important. We did get this information. I think it's important for you to, you know, I just kind of said, of course, he's going to release it now. But I think your point is an important one. Because it does hijack the conversation. And I think this one feels like more than anything. It's been hijacked by so many different things and causes. But what do folks need to know about the release of this new information that confirms what we already know? They lied while our friends died. You know, I've been, I usually don't read the comments. But I've been reading some of the comments, you know, on my latest interview. And a lot of, you know, a lot of it is first responders saying, you know, we were to win anyway, what's the difference?

22:49And I'm like, okay. But there is a difference. Like, would you have sent your six-year-old to kindergarten in that? I mean, it's not about us. I mean, we had a job to do. But also, maybe after a week when it went from rescue to recovery, we could have taken a step back and took a better approach and had the proper equipment put messy. You know, we could have slowed things down. Because, you know, as you see in the report, as the days went on, the toxins did decrease. So, you know, not that it was still much better, but it was better. But I think it's more, that report is more about the civilians to me. I mean, we knew it. I knew it on 9-11 when I was grabbing chunks of air that, you know, 400 tons of asbestos just doesn't disappear. You know, all that glass, I mean, those buildings were glass and cement and asbestos. I mean, I knew it was bad. I didn't know it was bad. You could smell it from Staten Island. So we knew it was bad. But those people, man, they got, the other ones who really got the raw deal. They got, you know, sent back to their apartments straight to kids in

23:51Styrus and high school eating lunch in what was a more three days earlier, covered in dust. They didn't clean anything. And all those people were told of it safe. You know, you're talking hundreds of thousands of people, you know, that maybe 50, 50,000 were first responders from New York City or in National Garden where Rose came in. But most of the people in the program, why? Those people should have had a choice, right? Should have been their choice whether or not they went home. So if I was those people, I mean, I'd really be pissed off right now. Nothing I'm not. But again, we knew it, right? As I said the other day, it'd be like Jose Al Tuve going on TV and saying, yeah, I was wearing a buzzer. Yeah, we know, dude, we saw it. We watched it, right? We're not getting the road series trophy. So what's the point of even, you know, that's the life feel. I mean, it would have been useful 10 years ago when we were going to Washington. It would have been useful 20 years ago when we were going to Washington to just say, here, here's all the information, you know, but

24:52yeah, and it would have been changed. I mean, I think that, you know, I said they prioritize Wall Street over kids because people, you know, Lila has been such a great champion. She's been on this show. She's been, you know, done events with her, you know, she was in high school and they sent them back in the middle of that, right? They sent all these kids back in the middle of that. And the bottom line is they lied. They were not transparent. They were truthful. And then some of them went on to run for president and do other shit like that. So there needs to be accountability. And I think, Mom Donnie pulled a, pulled a wimp move. I mean, like name names. If you're going to drop it, name names, or give us a formal investigation into who lied, hold them accountable. And if they broke the law, send them to prison. I don't care if it's Giuliani. I don't care if it's Bloomberg. I don't care if it's, whoever it is. We don't know. But we should know who lied. And there should be accountability for lying. And jail time, if appropriate, just at least to send the message. Next time a trailer park, you know, a trailer,

25:53track the trailer blows up for this. Some other kind of battery factory, toxin exposure. Those people need to know, tell the truth. Start with the truth and then move forward from there. But I mean, what do you think about will we ever see accountability for the people who lied? No. And I think we need to pump the brakes on the phrase being thrown at Montgomery about this. Because these boxes were found a while ago. And we had to take them to court to get them released. There wasn't like he just one day said, yeah, give them, no, we. And the situation was like, friends of mine are the attorneys who spent, you know, the last year working on that case together. So it wasn't like he did it out of the kindness of his heart. They were getting sued. So let's pump the brakes on that. You know, granted he released it. But look when he released it, right? As an FU to Giuliani, you know, which, by the way, to go back to what that dad was asking me at the cocktail party when he was upset about Montgomery being there. I said, well, are you upset about Giuliani being there? And he looked at me.

26:53I said, he's the one who told us the air was safe to breathe. So what's worse, the guy who was who was in great school at the time or the guy who was supposed to be the adult in the room who likes everybody and got a six. But now you pissed off at this guy because you don't like his politics. So he shouldn't be there. You know, like, you can't pick and choose. But I don't know. What do you think about this? I mean, I say this every year. I say this about so many things. And I guess you can't go back in time. But I would like it if no politicians can. That's exactly what I said. Right? He knew it and I've talked with him over the years. Because there's some drama every year. Like, is Trump going to come? Is he not going to come? Is Vance going to come? Is I wasn't happy that Adams was there. And nobody was like, oh, yay, Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio are here. I mean, like, I would have been okay if they all stayed away. They paid their respects. And they let it be about the families and the stories and the heroism. Right? But I feel like they've made it about them. And that's the story almost every year.

27:55And the only solution is just keep them all away. I don't know. Everybody. I mean, look. And that's what any great leader would tell you. Right? Look at her Brooks. He pulled off the greatest miracle in the history of sports. And what he do, he walked out the back door and let his team celebrate. Yep. Because that's what a leader does. Right? I don't think we have a leader. And if you think about how far back these lies go to a week after 9-11, think about all the mayors since. Think about how Mike Bloomberg treated James Zedrogah. If you're watching at home, Google it. He was, he was, he was a detective. If he was the one, he's the, the, he was basically the first public battle for 9-11 health. He died maybe in 2005, 2006 when Bloomberg was mayor. And he had stage four cancer. And they said he didn't want to pay for his pain meds. So Bloomberg went on record calling him a drug addict and said he was just pretending to be sick to get drugs. And that was the front page of the newspaper. This guy died of died 11 cancer.

28:57It was proven. And the retraction and the apology was on page 80. But you painted this guy out to be a drug addict. While you knew what he was exposed to and what caused this cancer, you knew that. And you still tried to make it look like he was scamming. Like, come on, dude. And then all the, all, I wouldn't even get into all the, all the firefighters who were fired during the Bloomberg administration with the zero tolerance policy. You know, after, if you want to go way back after Oklahoma City, you know, the FDNY was heavily involved in that because of chief Downey and, you know, his association with FEMA. Anyway, all those doctors said, in the first year, you're going to see lots of drinking, lots of drug use, divorce rates are going to go up. What happened after 9-11? Lots of drinking, some drug use, divorce rates went up. And they used firing guys to smoke and adjoin on their vacation who just went through the greatest trauma buried 50 friends. With that, that's what you were concerned about.

29:57Instead of getting that guy the healthy needed, you were firing them. Guys with 25 years on the job losing their pensions over that. You know, so, when I see all this stuff, that's what it brings up in me. I just think about all the nonsense that it happened since. You're right, none of them should be there. So I got to ask you this one because it's, because I got to ask you. Very good. Trump lies and says he was carried out of the site by two firefighters. I talked about this on TV, I said, I'm sure I'm going to be talking about it again. I mean, I just want to start by saying, if he didn't fucking lie, I wouldn't have to talk about him. And we could talk about Wells' brothers, or we could talk about Beaman, or we could talk about somebody else. But because he wants to fucking lie again, and he's the president, he's the commander in chief, we have to talk about it. But I think it's just, it's beyond a new low. It's just kind of par for the course with him. Nothing sacred, nothing's worthy of above dishonoring it. It makes me fucking furious.

30:57He's also not going to come. He's sending vans, who knows why. It's all this fucking drama. But I mean, it's another example of why I wish he, they would all just shut the fuck up. And we could have like a national poet laureate or somebody do messaging for America on 9-11. But what's your reaction to Trump's latest big lie? I mean, I feel like he doesn't even, he doesn't even think about this stuff. I think it just comes out. It's odd that it always seems to include men with big muscles every time he tells a story. That's a different podcast, I guess. But I don't know. He said the same thing when we were in the Rose Garden, the day he signed a bill. He gave up his speech and said how he was there with us. And I was like, you were? Because every time they show a video of him, he looks like he was standing in the media pen by Stavis in high school, right? As you as I know, that wasn't a pit. That was a couple blocks away. But I mean, you're telling me that this guy who brags about every single thing he's ever done

31:59in his life waited 25 years to say he was pulled from the rubble of ground zero. Like had that not happened in 2001, you don't think he would have used that way earlier, right? That's that's, but whatever, man. All right, look, I think I almost look at this more often because it's kind of a real talk that we don't get to have in public, but you know, there's so much to unpack. And maybe that's one thing that I just want to reiterate to people. It's like it doesn't get easier because it was so big. The magnitude of the emotion of the moment of the trauma of all of it. It's just like, I remember somebody told me once, you can't fully appreciate the Grand Canyon until you're standing on the edge. That's what I felt like at ground zero. Like that was the Grand Canyon. It was so fucking big, right? It was just so much that now we try to capture it and communicate it. Let me ask you to end with something good.

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34:03Because it's hard to do, but I'll start and maybe then go to you. And I just want to tell people that something I think is good. That I was, it's just always been good, but I have to admit that it's good. It's the lights. You know, I've said every 9-11 in New York City is like New York City for me because I want to get the hell out of it and avoid it. But at the same time, I can't imagine being anywhere else. And I posted something last night because you can see the lights from my kids' bedrooms. And now they're 11 and 7. They're getting bigger. But it's like behind the lighting, McQueen stickers, above the stuff he's on the windowsill. It was the first night, it was before the first night of school, the day of school. And every year for a week, it happens every year for them. And my boys love the lights. Like they think they're beautiful. And they look forward to them every year. It's like Halloween decorations, the first snowfall, Christmas trees. The lights are now part of our annual family tradition in life downtown. I think, you know, it also, this is a part I want to share with people, especially when they were little. They're still little. But it's followed by the most awesome display

35:06of fire trucks that always comes afterward. My boys think it's like fire truck day. And so every year they learn about a little more about what it all means and they teach others and they keep me hopeful. And they remind me that there's always life light after dark. And that's why I think the lights are something good. Rob, what do you got that's something good? Something good from 9-11. Or anything. Don't have to be 9-11. All right, because I'm going to say I'm not really feeling the I know. I know that's why you got free reign, man. In this country. I was going to ask you about Barry Melrose. I don't know. Yeah, that, you know, that that's tragic. I mean, Aaron Judge coming back is pretty good for me. Yes. But besides that, that, I don't know, it's tough. Tough week to ask me that question.

36:07I gotta say. Can I, can I, can I open you to say? 10 years ago, when, you know, you're on my show six, seven years ago, I didn't think you, you think you're going to be around to watch Vinnie play hockey and watch your kids grow like, yeah, I know. Yeah, yeah, I'd say that. I'd say that, that, that for me, that's probably the best thing is that my kids are, are at that age, they're all teenagers now and got one driving, but, you know, yeah, I think that for me, that is something good. Is that I get to watch my son play hockey and coach him and, you know, feel young again a little bit, but it's tough, man. You know, and if, if I would say something good about 9-11, I would say that, you know, I went to the doctor this week and it was covered and I got the treatment that I needed. Because I don't even think people realize like, up until six months ago, we were still going to Washington monthly, like it never ended. Like I spent another two years in Elon Musk pulled that bill,

37:08so we had to spend a whole another year getting to be like, like, I think back about it like, what? Like I spent so much time in my life, sleeping in shitty hotels and meeting with with with 22 year old and like, it's just that's why it's hard for me to find some good, but at least the the program is still functioning and people are getting help. But well, you are something good and your advocacy and I think I think it's important for us to talk about how this work beats you down, you know, because it is like leaders are sacrificing themselves every time they do a press conference, they go to DC, they're banging on doors or just telling the stories, it's hard. I mean, I do think it's worth it, but at the same time, like we're not getting any younger. And I think people have to understand it takes a little chunk out of you doing this kind of work more and more every year, but that's why it's leadership and sacrifice. I'm going to end with something building on the air and judging thing. We got to end it's Friday football.

38:11Okay, but special 9-11 edition. I'm going to throw three at you. Okay, Friday football is back. Rob Sarah's here. Football is something good. It brings us together. There's always an interesting sports 9-11 related thing. Friday night, this night 9-11 special game Rutgers at Boston College. It's the Red Bandana game. Wells, Crothers just received the Medal of Freedom post-hime post-humansly. His mother got it from Trump. I think this game is very special. I don't know if it's ever been actually on the day of 9-11, but it's Rutgers who just lost to UMass, holy shit. Again, Austin College at home. Who are you picking, Rob? Rutgers. The first thing I was going to say is at least Boston College is going to get a win on that special day because Rutgers, man. Did you see after they lost that game, they set off the fireworks anyway? I was going to go. My boy's got practice. If we didn't have practice, we were going to go to the game. I was like, oh, it'd be great to kill UMass. Hey, Rutgers, do America a favor and lose. Don't fucking beat Boston College at home on the Red Bandana game. I don't even think they have

39:16to try, but yeah. All right, let's go. Baseball special on football Friday. All right. Yes. Bring it. Maybe the biggest game on 9-11. Metz Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Aaron Judges back. Yankees are looking good. Maybe we can get some run production. The Metz are having some moments. This is very special. It's 9-11 at Yankee Stadium. What do you got in this one, Rob? Well, Kool-Aye have the Yankees. I'm hoping to be in attendance, we'll see, but I think I mean, come on. I mean, I'd have the Yankees anyway no matter what day it is against the Metz, but you know, I think they're looking good. Who's on the mound Friday? Is it Slitler? Is it Gary Cole? I don't know. I can look it up while we talk. I mean, it doesn't matter. We've got three aces now, right? So I mean, we got a lot of good pitching. We just got a can figure out how to hit, man. But shout out to all the boys. They were also at ground zero. They do a lot of good work in the community. A lot of the sports teams. I'm wearing my latter

40:1920 shirt in honor of your brother. He gave me this shirt when I went to visit him and the dog and all you guys are out there. Just I want to thank everybody who's doing good work. There's a lot of good work happening all across the country and the community. All right, let me end with one. It's strictly football. All right. Cowboys giant Sunday night. We got hope. It springs eternal. But we could end up four and 12. I don't know. I'm going to say my boys find a way to pull this off. Scataboo, Jackson Dart, OBJ prime time. We're going to beat the Cowboys on opening night for once. What's your pick, Rob? As I'll tell you where I told my son last night, fuck the Cowboys. That's my pick. But yeah, man, I really, really want Jackson Dart to be the guy. I really do. And you know what, I'm rooting for the gesture. We just need something in New York. Our teams have been terrible for so long. Just give us something. We got the guy. I'm talking

41:21about in football. I'm not talking about football. We do have the nicks. I have to explain to my kids what it's like when 9-11 happened. I also have to they don't believe that the giants ever win a super ball. Like no, they really did. It's like giants. Truthers out there, man. Yeah, looking back, I don't think my son wasn't alive either. So he hasn't seen it. Looks like Rodon is pitching on. All right, against McLean. All right. Well, McLean's decent. So we'll see. It should be a game. I'm a good inner squad rivalry. Look, Rob, last thing here, you've been such a great, any causes or ways folks can get involved or help anything you want to direct them to. You've been great with the Ray Fiverr Foundation. We talked about style health. Anybody else you want to direct people? I would say we, we, we, we still definitely could use some help with the Ray Fiverr Foundation. Another reason why I get angry is the stuff that we have to pay for, we really shouldn't have to pay

42:26for. You know, like, you know, hospice care should be covered by the program. There's a lot of stuff that's not covered, you know, getting those phone calls from the crying wives or daughters or whatever. It, like you said earlier, it does eat away at your soul. And it's kind of hard to move on when you're constantly having to take care of people that aren't being taken care of. So, you know, if you, if you want to help us out, go to the rayfiverrfoundation.org. And I do have to shout out the Yankees out. The Yankees, every time we have an event, the Yankees sponsor us and they, they make donations. So, you know, we are supported by, by the local sports teams. The meds help us out too. And so, I don't know, I just, I'm sure there's other great organizations out there. But if you read the news stories, you see how much their executives would be impaid and you see, you know, so for me, I'm kind of a cynic when it comes to charities, but I can say it was out hesitation that we are 100% volunteer. All your money goes to, to sick 9-11 first responders. So, if you want to help us out,

43:27you can donate right on the page. And if you need help, you know, they'll be stubborn, you know, help your family out. Don't, don't not call us for something that would make your families live these years. There it is. There is. There is. LinkedIn, the show notes. The great and powerful Rob Sarah, I still hope there's an alternative universe where you're mayor or president. In the mean time, you're the keeper of the flame, you're a true outper. I don't have to move back though. So, okay, we'll make that happen. Maybe you could just, you never get it. We should give you a room. Stadium. But Rob, you've been, you're a true leader, man. You're a role model of my kids and everybody's kids. I love you. I appreciate you. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and always and more importantly, in the days afterward. Thank you for your courage, your leadership, your today and your whole family, your wife, everybody. You guys are awesome. We love you. Send in all I love folks. Follow Rob and all he does. Support the Ray Fight for Foundation. And he'll be back again soon to give us an update on more. Thank you, my friend. All right. Coming up in the days ahead, we're going to have

44:28Dan Lamath is coming back next week from the Washington Post. More independence. I'm going to bring you a lot of newsmakers. We're back at them. Hit it hard next week. We're daily now. We hit number 15. Subscribe, get the merch. Join our Patreon community. Go to independentamericans.us. Check out our sponsors. Thank you to all of them for having our back. Check out independent voter news. Folks might be divided, but maybe especially on 9-11, we can bring people together and add light to contrast the heat. So if you're among the 45% of Americans who are independent and growing, this is your show. We're bringing hope even in the darkness. Hope for the future. Country over party, people over politics, light over heat all fall long. Our movement is growing. Invite others to declare their independence. Share this episode with Rob Far and why and know that we are always staying vigilant because eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, but no, you're not alone in your vigilance. We're all vigilant, especially Rob Sarah. We're all in this together. I'm your host, Paul Reichoff. Thank you for tuning in to independent Americans. I will be back on Monday.

45:28Have a good 9-11 in whatever way you can. Make it meaningful. Look for the helpers. And just look out for each other. Like Rob did and like we all did in the days after 9-11. Stay vigil in America. Stay vigil. See a red or naked rider go he tells me the left and right on dreams. Lookals without a clue. And when you wait it's time to grow. Powered by Reich's media.