Remembering 9/11, Republican Midterm Convention Wraps, SCOTUS Missouri Redistricting

Michel Martin (0:02)

25 years after the 9-11 attacks, Americans remember the dead and the wounded in an event that altered the lives of millions.

Steve Inskeep (0:09)

Today, New York adds a moment of silence for those who later died from 9-11-related illnesses.

Michel Martin (0:14)

I am Michelle Martin, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. President Trump held a midterm event to call attention to himself. Vice President Vance cast the election not as a referendum on an unpopular president, but as a choice between parties.

SPEAKER_3 (0:30)

The contrast in this election, ladies and gentlemen, it's not about this or that policy. It's about the party of common sense beating the party of the crazies.

Michel Martin (0:40)

How did Republicans make their case?

Steve Inskeep (0:42)

Also, a Supreme Court justice again blocked Missouri's Republican-drawn congressional map. How does that affect the fight over the House? Stay with us, we've got the news you need to start your day.

25 years ago this morning, Americans heard news of a plane that struck the World Trade Center. For many people, it wasn't until the second plane struck that they realized it was an attack. At the Pentagon, US military officers were watching TV images of the attack when a plane struck there. A fourth plane crashed in rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Now, a quarter century later, communities around the US are gathering to remember, and of course, that includes people in New York this morning, and Pierce Bryan Mann is in lower Manhattan at the 9-Eleven Memorial. And Bryan, what are you seeing and hearing?

Pierce Bryan Mann (1:31)

Yeah, the first moments of silence have begun here, Steve. I'm going to speak a little bit softly, because in the background right now, people are reading out the names of those lost on 9-Eleven. It's family members speaking, incredible emotion here. There are no speeches. That's according to long-standing custom, but there is music. Yo-Yo Ma is performing in the background to accompany them. And just a few moments ago, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus performed The Star-Spangled Banner.

And Steve, of course, these young people grew up in a city reshaped by 9-Eleven. I did also speak a few minutes ago with Louis Chenal, a New York firefighter now retired. Who was he that day?

SPEAKER_5 (2:19)

The South Tower had already fallen.

Pierce Bryan Mann (2:23)

But when I got here, the North Tower was still standing.

SPEAKER_6 (2:27)

And I could hear on the radio the voice of a friend of mine.

Pierce Bryan Mann (2:31)

And he did not make it?

SPEAKER_6 (2:33)

Yeah, I hated him.

Pierce Bryan Mann (2:34)

I'm so...

All the living US presidents except Trump are here to mark this moment. Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden have arrived. President Trump, Steve, is expected to speak soon at a ceremony at the Pentagon. There will also be ceremonies today in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where one of those hijacked planes came down.

SPEAKER_8 (2:55)

Right.

Steve Inskeep (2:55)

Brian, what are people telling you about how these past 25 years have changed their lives?

Pierce Bryan Mann (3:01)

You know, so much sorrow and regret. 2,977 people died that day.

I spoke with Paul Keating, whose mother Barbara died when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower. Her remains were finally found and identified just last year. And so Barbara Keating is being laid to rest today in Massachusetts.

SPEAKER_5 (3:21)

We carved the headstone 25 years ago. But, you know, she wasn't there.

And now she will be. This feels like, at least to some degree, some closure.

Pierce Bryan Mann (3:36)

And the losses, of course, weren't just on 9-11. After the terror attack, the US launched wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. At least 7,000 US service members died. And I spoke about that with Reverend Eric Olson, who served with the New York National Guard, both here at Ground Zero and later on a tour in Iraq.

SPEAKER_5 (3:54)

As the war went on, I did a lot of death notifications. I was with a lot of families who lost their sons and daughters. And it's just a very sad time.

SPEAKER_7 (4:04)

I reflect on it very sad.

Steve Inskeep (4:05)

It's just, what a waste.

Pierce Bryan Mann (4:07)

Olson and others I spoke to, Steve said, they think Americans responded with real courage after 9-11. But I also heard from people who think this event left the US more afraid and more politically and culturally divided.

Steve Inskeep (4:20)

Brian, I understand that one of the moments of silence today is for effectively a new category of loss.

Pierce Bryan Mann (4:26)

That's right. Seventh moment of silence to honor those who died from 9-11 related illnesses over the last 25 years.