NY's Most Prominent Politicians Being Ripped for Laughs During 9/11 Ceremony

0:00This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed Human I survived nine months in captivity and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the survivor files. Every week I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled and nearly silenced. These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the survivor files with Elizabeth Smart on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman, Angel Jaretana, Jeremy Cole, Hane Cash McDonald, and we're the hosts of the artists on artists on artists on artists podcast. The Improvized Character Comedy Podcasts were each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He, he, he winks on Halloween. It's right up next to the microphone.

1:00You can, I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. You never seen Italy so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Listen to artists on artists on artists on artists every Thursday on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. College football will hijack your weekend, ruin your sleep and break your heart. And that's why we make the Sullivan verbal college football show. I'm Ty Hildenbrand. He's Dan Rubenstein. Every week we preview the games that matter in the storylines that are going to ignite your group chat. And you can join us in the aftermath as we react to what happened, why it matters, and how the sport went completely bonkers yet again. Listen to the Solid Verbal College football show on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The new NFL season is here. And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61. It is in the name NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content in your feed every day all season long.

2:00That game winning drive, maybe it's her, but maybe it's Gino, maybe it's my homes. We'll have the highlights. If Fernando Mendoza or any of those rookies are ballin out, will break down the tape. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and an all-star cast of co-hosts as we preview and recap every game. Listen to NFL Daily on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Brett Coleman and I'm Trevor Sikama. If you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the field, check out our show, NFL Pro. Every week we break down the biggest plays, trends, and matchups using exclusive next-gen stats, insights, and NFL content you will not find anywhere else. Whether you're new to football, a fantasy football fanag, or a die-hard fan, NFL Pro will help you analyze the game like a pro. Listen to NFL Pro on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there folks, it is Friday, September the 11th, and this looks really, really bad.

3:05Yes, a lot of people ask for Mayor Mom Donnie not to go to the 9-11 ceremony, and there's video out now that is not going to help this debate. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ, Robes Dammit. It looks as none you can say, but Mom Donnie and AOC were, I don't want to use the word caught. They were seen, Robes, in possibly the worst possible way at the ceremony. Yeah, I think maybe a good way to put it, a fair way to put it, it was a very unfortunate edit or camera juxtaposition. So yes, they've got plenty of cameras that are focused on family members and the names that are being read aloud as we watch the ceremony, and then they have cameras on some of the dignitaries who are in the crowd. And so unfortunately, I believe this initially, it was C-SPAN, I believe, where people have been picking up this edit, but you've got a family member just sobbing as names are being read.

4:07And the camera cuts straight to yes, Mayor Mom Donnie and AOC, and it looks like they're laughing and greeting each other and smiling. It doesn't look like they are doing that. There is laughter, there are smiles. Okay, here. We were only alerted to this because I looked, took a quick look at social media and saw his name trending number one and thought, oh my goodness, what's going on? What's happened? What has happened? And so this is, as you can imagine, Robes catching fire. And it's, the usual suspects are chiming in, left and right, and the type of rhetoric you can imagine is out there, Robes. This, and we can get into what we think about this video and how it all looks and what's appropriate and whatnot. But as far as helping him with a particular narrative that is hurting him in our city, this destroyed any good work he might have done in the past week.

5:08Yes, I think most people know that Mayor Mom Donnie is the first Muslim mayor of New York City. He was just nine years old, by the way, when 9-11 happened. And for obvious reasons, there were plenty of folks who did not want Mayor Mom Donnie to be in attendance. There are some certain ties, but certainly his Muslim faith. And there were as many as what 113,000 signatures that victims, family members, and folks were able to amass to try and convince him to stop him from coming to the ceremonies before all of this. Let's be fair. Yes. His Muslim faith is one thing, but he has said some things. He's made some comments that didn't sit well with some folks and robes. The biggest thing lately was who he hired to be his chief counsel for the city. A man Ramsey, Kasim, I believe is the name, but he's the chief counsel of the city. And he once represented an al-Qaeda member who was actually related to someone who was actually one of the 9-11 hijackers. That is fair.

6:09Sorry. That is true. So, you know, you add some of those things up his inability sometimes and some people's minds to strongly condemn, like just flat out condemn what happened on 9-11 and all the hijack. So it's a collection of things, robes, that you can still listen to, listen to his explanation, sit down and can reason about. But if you had any of that stuff in the back of your mind, and then on today of all days, robes this, I don't care what you say. It looks terrible. It does look terrible. And look, the New York Times had just put out this big article on Mamdani and what he had done in the days and weeks leading up to 9-11 to try and bridge this gap to try and repair any distrust or anger even directed at him for being a part of these ceremonies. He was going to fire houses. He was meeting with victims families. He was listening. He wasn't speaking. He was taking it in. He was hearing some of these folks being honored and talked about. And he was trying to yes, extend an olive branch, so to speak. Now in what was it? Three, four second shot snippet. All of that is if any, if he had made any inroads, it's all undone.

7:24The headlines are brutal. Yes, from conservative folks on Twitter and certainly just throughout. But things like why the effort these two laughing. That was from Megan McCain, John McCain's daughter. These two always show us who they really are. There are some brutal headlines just saying laughing while 9-11 victims are crying. And that is what it looks like. Unfortunately. And this is a pool camera. I have rights. So things I would always go. So folks, you have just one network, one camera that goes out there and it serves as the camera for all networks. You can pick up this feed. What I'm saying is that whoever was behind the camera and whoever was directing the show didn't have any or shouldn't have had robes any left or right leanings. They were just doing a job and they took a shot. Robes, which was one you would think if you're a director, you have an image while names are being read of someone crying. That's a very powerful image.

8:33You have an image of two of the most famous names in politics standing together. You would want to take that shot. It just happens to be this and it was even a beautiful fade and robes these moments. That's one time. I don't care what you need to shut the hell up while the while the names are being read. It is such a solemn several hours. And it should be. And so robes the guy's head is down on the inscription sobbing sobbing. The pain was palpable and you felt at the moment just watching this. It looks like a young man. This young man sobbing for someone. Maybe he had never even gotten the chance to meet and certainly someone who left 25 years ago and he still felt that much grief. And all of us just watching that felt that. I mean, it was it was gutter and to have it. Just the next shot. The AOC and Mayor mom Donnie yulking it up greeting each other laughing acting as if they were at a garden party or at a campaign event.

9:39And look, I understand that maybe they weren't aware a camera was on them. But at a certain point when you're of that stature and you know you are at an event that is that solemn and that meaningful. And at an event where you know hundreds of thousands of people didn't want you to attend because of your ties and your past statements. You need to be extra vigilant to maintain a certain decorum. And I'm sorry if that means not laughing and greeting folks and having a big smile on your face. So be it. Unfortunately, I don't I don't know. Look, people are trying to explain what happened. And I think we can understand what may have happened. It still doesn't matter. It looked terrible. The damage has been done. And we'll tell you in a second what one prominent person at least tried to say in defense of mom Donnie and AOC will tell you about that in just a moment. I am I will like you can give some type of pass. This isn't necessarily the make him an AOC bad people doesn't mean they don't respect what was going on or respect or mourn the dead.

10:50But it looks like you don't we've all robed and you said to be mindful of the cameras all around and all the stuff going on. Robes, it's you don't need to be reminded not to make jokes at a funeral. You don't have to be reminded that it's not OK to be laughing in certain environments. Robes, the city of New York goes quiet for three hours. We just listen to names being read and bells. It's all we need to hear. And Robes to disrespect that moment. It's not like somebody was giving a speech or a band was playing or something. Robes, it's someone's family member was reading the name of their dead family member and I see two people yucking it up. Now that's not the right classification for what they were doing. I'm saying it has an appearance of not respecting the moment. I know it was a split second. It's not a big it shouldn't be a big deal. But it looks like a really really.

11:53Does and in this world now of memes of social media and if you've got one shot a couple seconds of video that those few seconds of video are going to be more powerful than anything he's ever said anything he's ever done any good deeds he's tried to actually pursue with especially a very hesitant community to trust him. He has any any grounds or headway he made are erased in those few seconds. I mean, I can just read you some of what's being said online while normal Americans cry. Comey mom Donnie and AOC laugh it up at the 911 Memorial in New York. They hate you. They hate your country. They hate your misery. We cannot allow these people to have power after thousands of families of victims of terror. Big mom Donnie not to show up. He stands there and laughs while families weep. This is New York City's mayor. That's just a sampling and robes right now that that pain that anger is fair.

13:05After this shot and I again a lot of it robs you try to and I he shouldn't be condemned as the worst person in the world or bad guy or or I think he doesn't care I can't go that far we don't know the guy. Robes this looks terrible and it's all song I keep looking as we're doing this well keep looking at the video over and over keep watching it. Yeah and there folks around them even that just have stern looks on their face. It looks like they are out of place and I bet that woman behind them she has glasses on somebody's going to track her down she's looking at them like what are you doing. She kind of has a look. Babe you're going to this one's going to land for you someone said this there was a time and a place for politics this isn't it ground zero is sacred ground and to that point you and I we've said this plenty live right near ground zero you and I have walked through those are around those reflectors. There are rules you cannot run there aren't loud noises kids aren't yelling and screaming and playing there is a solemnity in that area that is respected 24 seven.

14:16Truly I've actually seen a kid running and a guard say you know please stop running this is sacred ground there is always a level of respect and reverence that surrounds those reflecting pools and especially on 9 11 on the 25th anniversary as names are being read. You said you saw somebody stop a kid I did but generally the place doesn't have to be policed it's we all get the rules and even when you step onto the grounds nobody has to tell you will remind you if you're a visitor there you're over feel it come by it. It just is today is the most solemn day in the history of ground zero since since those attacks or just the 25th anniversary. This all the president are there except the president right this is just. Of all days i know and some will tell you it's unfair.

15:16The caught up in this moment and this is and I to a certain degree I understand but robes and folks stay with us because we'll let you hear the one person who came to their defense and you tell us if this makes sense to you. Hey everyone it's the Jonas Brothers with the hey Jonas podcast we've been catching up with some great friends Paul Rod Michael Boulier Seth Meyers now Horan Jake Shane and making some new friends while getting into what's really like to have sisters like Alex National. She likes to control everyone and tell everyone okay well control is a hard work I would say that's a hard work I am more outspoken growing up a lot of the times because she was so quiet I would speak for like the both of us now I'm working on like making a moment. I'm not thinking before I speak. And Joey King you know if you're like mom is yelling at your sibling and even if you're annoyed with your sibling you just like won't let that slide it's like you can only yell at your sibling I'm like you can't do that here.

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21:35Mayor mom Donnie and AOC. I yeah caught I hate using that word but we're seeing laughing, smiling during the 911 ceremony marking the 25th anniversary as names were being read and certainly at a just a really emotional moment right after the camera is showing a young man. Sobbing on the memorial. It cuts to AOC and mom Donnie. Greeting each other laughing and smiling and it has as you might imagine drawn incredible criticism. What is her Alexandria Ocasio Cortez exactly. Okay, we never it's just a little Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Yes. Congresswoman from New York, whatever district. Yes and look, these are two of the most prominent socialist Democrats in the country. They are young. They have potentially very bright futures and they have. I would say it's fair to say they have very big political plans and potential futures but this right here this moment.

22:39Is absolutely going to require an explanation. They're both going to have to say something. I would imagine they are going to have to address this in some way. You really you don't think they'll speak on it. They have to let it fade because all you can say is what. All you can say is it caught us as a moment we were having a greeting. It's being taken by the other side to use us against us. Then that's going to sound terrible. Well, AOC is not ever shied away and frankly neither has mom Donnie in terms of. You can't defend. You can't do it. No, no, no. You can explain what you're doing but you can't defend. Why were you laughing at the 911 ceremony? No, I just needed a minute. What are you going to say? You can't just say anything that's going to make anybody say, oh, okay, I get it. Well, a former aide to ex New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, his name is Michael Ragusa. He actually has very publicly and very vehemently come to the defense of representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. And mom Donnie and here is what he said.

23:39So in response to the New York Post who said mom Donnie and OAC spotted laughing at 911 ceremony while families cry. He said, AOC. Sorry, excuse me. I am trying to get this. I just missed where I had his response, but he, okay, he said the videos of New York City Mayor and AOC laughing are not true. I was standing next to them the whole time. The camera just caught her greeting him hello. Multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me, Republicans and Democrats. That's not a good. Okay, that doesn't make any sense. It doesn't because we know we're all looking at the same thing. If this was the first time they were seeing each other and this was their hello, that's fine. But to say there wasn't something beyond a smile, there was a laugh. And that's, that's fine.

24:39It's that thing, Robes. It's now turned this into, now you're telling us what we saw we didn't see. And it's okay because Democrats and Republicans were all like, like you throw them all into the same bunch. That was where he lost us. I think if he had just left it at the camera caught her greeting him hello, maybe it was too robust of a hello. But to then say multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me, Republicans and Democrats. You wouldn't use that as a defense if she did something that need to be, didn't need to be defended. Exactly. Why why even add the next point? And so then people started throwing comments his way when he said this. And he, so they said, you know, you're wrong. He wrote back, I was there, bro. It's not true. And then someone else said to him, are you looking to be the next Curtis Lee what and he wrote back hello, no, just state hell no just dating facts. So now he's got this back and forth. He's fighting with people on X about what he says he saw. But as far as I can tell, he appears right now to be the only one I see publicly defending them.

25:46I don't, most people are jumping on these two and calling it for what they see. Okay, because we can just call it for what it is. Maybe it was their greeting. Maybe it was like you said, robes, the word is right unfortunate. Yes. It was the worst time to go from that particular shot to that shot of them smiling. I don't know if robes, even if it hadn't been that I think it doesn't matter what the shot was beforehand. This would have looked bad. It would have. It was, it was made even more difficult to watch because of the juxtaposition of the two. But yes, at any point while names are being read, if you see a politician smiling and laughing, no, and I don't care what and yes, it may have been something that was completely, I'm sure it was completely unrelated to anything that was going on. But that's the point they weren't paying attention. They weren't being respectful. That's the problem. They were not paying attention. They were more focused on their own interactions and saying, hey, instead of actually honoring and respecting the ceremony that was going on, look, it was disrespectful.

26:51I think it's fair to say you can, you can call them disgusting. You can say whatever you want. But I think no matter what, even if it was something they didn't intend to happen, it was still no matter what, it was disrespectful. Hey, well, some, the, you know what robes they should, you right, they can say something and could just come out and apologize. Said, yes, no matter what, that moment shouldn't have taken place, but you can't defend it. That's the only thing to say as an apology other than that, I don't think we should agree. I agree because there's nothing you can say to defend it. I agree with you because even, yes, if it was a greeting and you were having fun, you're like, oh my god, hi. I'm sorry, that's not a good enough excuse. That means I wasn't paying attention. I wasn't reading the room. I wasn't actually there to do what I said I was going to do, which was to pay my respects and to honor those who had fallen. I was more interested in greeting people and saying hello and smiling and being with my friends and other politicians.

27:54And I understand, but can you still, he can still honor the victims and still have shared a pleasant moment with them. He could have had not. But I'm saying, does this take everything away from what he was doing there? Of course not. I'm saying from a, we can't take this moment and say it's completely through, throws away the respect he was paying at the nine letter memorial. Optically though, this, it's over. Yes. He's he can never come out. I'm look, I am somebody who actually believes he was there trying to do the right thing. He was there with all of the right motives, 100%. But unfortunately in this world, the way things go, especially on social media, I don't think there's anything he can do or say to undo those five to 10 seconds that aired around the world that are now going to live in perpetuity online on memes on TikTok, on Instagram.

29:00There's no way to combat the optics. The optics is the way you put it. And that is something you just, it's, it's going to be exceptionally hard to overcome, especially given the sentiment towards him coming into the ceremony. That is the problem. And I don't know if he can talk his way out of this one. Unfortunate. But it was a beautiful ceremony nonetheless. Hopefully this doesn't overshadow all of the respect that was paid to those who did die on 9-11 and all of the beautiful memorial services that took place across the country. And with that, everyone, we always appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Robock alongside TJ Holmes. We'll talk soon. I survived nine months in captivity and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the survivor files. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced.

30:06These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the survivor files with Elizabeth Smart on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman, Angel Jaretana, Jeremy Colhane, Patrick McDonald, and we're the hosts of the artists on artists on artists on artists podcast. The improvised character comedy podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He, he winks on Halloween. It's right up next to the microphone. I hear you get the elbows here. The eyelashes hit each other. You never seen it least so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Listen to artists on artists on artists on artists every Thursday on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. College football will hijack your weekend, ruin your sleep and break your heart. And that's why we make the Solid Verbal College football show.

31:06I'm Ty Hildenbrand. He's Dan Rubenstein. Every week we preview the games that matter in the storylines that are going to ignite your group chat. And you can join us in the aftermath as we react to what happened, why it matters, and how the sport went completely bonkers yet again. Listen to the Solid Verbal College football show on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Brett Coleman and I'm Trevor Sikama. If you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the field, check out our show NFL Pro. Every week we break down the biggest plays, trends and matchups using exclusive next-gen stats, insights, and NFL content you will not find anywhere else. Whether you're new to football, a fantasy football fanag, or a die hard fan, NFL Pro will help you analyze the game like a pro. Listen to NFL Pro on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The new NFL season is here. And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61.

32:08It is in the name NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content in your feed every day, all season long. That game winning drive, maybe it's herber, maybe it's Gino, maybe it's my homes. We'll have the highlights. If Fernando Mendoza or any of those rookies are ballin' out, we'll break down the tape, join me. Greg Rosenthal and an all-star cast of co-hosts as we preview and recap every game. Listen to NFL Daily on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.