A live radio broadcast by Howard Stern from September 11, 2001, has resurfaced, providing a raw and immediate account of the terrorist attacks as they unfolded. The audio captures the initial confusion, fear, and anger that gripped New York City and the nation nearly 25 years ago. Stern, hosting his popular radio show from New York, was on air when the first reports emerged of a plane striking the World Trade Center's North Tower. He swiftly abandoned his program's typical format as the gravity of the situation became apparent.
"Well, because we have everything. And we have a way of life that’s organized and free. And they’re jealous." Howard Stern, Radio Host
Stern's broadcast began to shift dramatically after initial reports. "I don’t mean to interrupt the fun, but, uh, this is a breaking news story, a serious news story," he informed his listeners, announcing the plane crash. A television was switched on inside the studio, showing black smoke billowing from the North Tower. Just seventeen minutes after American Airlines Flight 11 impacted the first tower, United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. This second impact removed any doubt that the events were accidental, confirming the nation was under a coordinated attack.
As the attacks progressed, Stern and his staff monitored live television and radio coverage, attempting to make sense of the rapidly escalating crisis. Reports quickly followed of a third aircraft hitting the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and a fourth crashing in a field in Pennsylvania. Stern relayed this incoming information to his audience, simultaneously taking calls from frightened Americans seeking answers and solace.
One particularly poignant call came from a woman named Kathy, who shared a question posed by her nine-year-old sister. The child's query, "Why do the people hate the Americans?", encapsulated the widespread confusion and distress felt by many across the country, including children. Kathy's voice reportedly cracked as she repeated the question on air, conveying the emotional weight of the moment.
Stern responded immediately, offering an unscripted, visceral explanation. "Well, because we have everything," he stated. "And we have a way of life that’s organized and free. And they’re jealous." He continued, "I mean, it’s an easy question to answer. We have it all." Later in the broadcast, Stern elaborated on his perspective, suggesting that individuals in other countries lived in fear of their leaders and were "raised to hate." This exchange has been highlighted as one of the most striking portions of the recently resurfaced broadcast, capturing a fundamental question that millions of Americans wrestled with in the hours and days following the attacks. Stern's remarks were delivered before investigators had fully established the scope of the plot or the precise political and ideological motivations of the hijackers. Notably, during the broadcast, Stern also mentioned Osama bin Laden as a potential suspect, years before the al-Qaeda leader was ultimately killed by US forces in Pakistan.
Investigators later confirmed that 19 al-Qaeda terrorists had hijacked four commercial airliners on the morning of September 11, 2001. American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m., followed by United Airlines Flight 175 hitting the South Tower 17 minutes later. American Airlines Flight 77 was deliberately flown into the Pentagon. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew heroically fought back against the hijackers. Authorities believe Flight 93 was likely headed toward either the White House or the US Capitol. Both World Trade Center towers ultimately collapsed, unleashing massive clouds of smoke and debris across Lower Manhattan.
The September 11 attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,977 people, excluding the 19 hijackers, and injured thousands more, marking it as the deadliest terrorist attack ever on American soil. The events profoundly reshaped US foreign policy for decades, initiating the War on Terror and leading to extensive military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nearly a quarter-century later, Stern's resurfaced broadcast offers an unusually immediate and unfiltered record of Americans absorbing the attacks before their enormous and lasting consequences were fully understood. The audio also preserves a deeply personal moment, where a child's simple, yet profound, question mirrored the struggle many adults faced in comprehending the tragedy.
