Real America’s Voice: Breaking Point with David Zere — September 13, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This special episode of "Breaking Point" with David Zere commemorates the 24th anniversary of 9/11, featuring in-depth interviews with two central figures from the tragedy: retired FDNY Deputy Commissioner Rich Rotanz and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The discussion centers on first-hand accounts of the attacks, operational responses, personal losses, and the long-term consequences for first responders and the city. It also ventures into the broader history of terrorism in New York, reflections on political leadership, and the ongoing impact of 9/11 on American society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Part 1: The First Responders’ Perspective

Guest: Rich Rotanz, Retired FDNY Captain & Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during 9/11

The Morning of September 11, 2001

• Where He Was: On the 23rd floor of Building 7, prepping for a biodefense drill.
  • “I could see out the window a plane flying very low. I go, this guy is kind of low. And all of a sudden you hear him plowing over our heads and hit Tower One. And we all knew right away that this is not an accident.” — Rich Rotanz (04:28)
• Quick activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), staff ordered to prepare without yet calling in outside personnel.
• Immediate establishment of a command post with city officials.

Chaos and Realization

• Early, incomplete information: No knowledge of hijackings or Pentagon/Shanksville at the time.
• Scenes of devastation, including building jumpers:
  • “The big problem about going to and from Tower One and Tower Seven was the jumpers. The first fireman that was killed was killed by a jumper.” — Rich Rotanz (05:31)
• Urgent evacuation of Building 7 and adjacent towers amid confusion and unknown scope of attacks.

Building 7 Collapse and Aftermath

• Structural assessment showed catastrophic damage to Building 7:
  • “You could see numerous holes bigger than Mack trucks, you know, for a couple of floors. So this building was going to definitely come down.” — Rich Rotanz (07:51)
• Lack of water pressure contributed to letting fires burn unchecked; decision prioritized prevention of more loss of firefighter lives.
• The grim toll on first responders:
  • 410,000 first responders involved; 70,000+ now ill; nearly 8,000 have died due to exposure-related diseases.

Memories and Long-Term Loss

• Ongoing loss in the FDNY family post-9/11; monthly funerals and memorial services.
• Personal stories of confusion, as Rotanz and his sons—also on site—were each told the other had been killed.
• Systemic public health legacy: Cancer, COPD, mesothelioma, emerging diseases not all recognized by victim compensation funds.

Lessons Learned & Needs of Survivors

• Communications breakdowns and catastrophic loss of equipment hampered response.
• Survivor care seen as generally good, with medical monitoring and support for diagnosed 9/11-related illnesses.
  • “If you have something that you have to go for surgery for or procedures done, they can't do enough for you.” — Rich Rotanz (11:26)

Part 2: The Political, Operational, and Human Story

Guest: Rudy Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York City

Personal Reflections on 9/11

• Giuliani’s minute-by-minute recollection of 9/11 morning, detailing his breakfast meeting, first notification of the attack, and immediate mobilization toward the scene.
  • “I went to breakfast that morning... And all of a sudden at the end of breakfast, I would say nine o'clock, a little after nine, one of my security detail... a twin engine plane has hit the north tower. It's very bad. I know you gotta get down there.” — Rudy Giuliani (20:32)
• Early recognition—after the second plane—that it was a terrorist attack, likely al-Qaeda/bin Laden.
  • “We saw this thing. We had no idea it was the second plane. He said, boss, it was a big, a big liner. And he immediately said, either he or one of us said terrorism. The other said bin Laden. We knew it was bin Laden...” — Rudy Giuliani (26:13)

Crisis Coordination and Decision Making

• Rapid closure of bridges and tunnels to prevent further attacks and facilitate emergency responses; coordination issues due to overloaded/nonfunctional comms.
  • “Our communicating by cell phone wasn’t working. Get us a live center right near the, right near the Barclay street, right near there so we can have direct lines.” — Rudy Giuliani (25:14)
• Establishing unified command structures across city agencies; avoidance of blame games:
  • “First thing you do in an emergency is set up. The commander and the mayor makes the order and they listen to it.” — Rudy Giuliani (37:06)

Addressing 9/11 Conspiracies

• Giuliani firmly denied claims of explosives pre-planted in World Trade Center buildings:
  • “I say there's no evidence of that. There's nothing that suggests that there were explosives in the building except it came down. The coming down is perfectly explainable by what it was hit with.” — Rudy Giuliani (47:30)

Trauma and Loss Among First Responders

• Personal impact:
  • “I must personally know 50 people that died, either for sure or arguably because of their involvement down there.” — Rudy Giuliani (49:06)
• Tribute to police and fire leadership, especially Bernie Kerik.

Donald Trump’s Role After 9/11

• Praised Trump for logistical support at Ground Zero and for longstanding political support:
  • “You get Donald Trump, you get all of Donald Trump's friends. Not only that, he was a supporter of my policies. He agreed with all the crime things he's doing now are the crime things I did then.” — Rudy Giuliani (51:27)

Broader Terrorism Context in NYC

• Detailed history of foiled terrorist plots, undercover counterterror ops, and lessons from both 1993 and 2001 attacks.
• NYC’s preparedness: Creation of the Office of Emergency Management, intensive interagency drills, and imported Israeli expertise in counter-terrorism.

Reflections on Leadership and Society

• Strong statements on the need for moral leadership, faith, and unity in emergencies.
  • “You throw God out, you can't have morality.” — Rudy Giuliani (55:25)
• The importance of bipartisan teamwork between Mayor, Governor, and their staffs during the crisis:
  • “There was a team for four months. We were not outside of each other's sight more than two hours a day. If something went wrong... we both have to defend it.” — Rudy Giuliani (53:22)
• Final note on gratitude for staff and the collective effort during the 9/11 response.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rich Rotanz on Immediate Realization:
  “We all knew right away that this is not an accident.” — (04:28)
• Ben Ferguson on Visiting Ground Zero:
  “I'll never get the smell out of my head of the debris... There were no survivors.” — (03:38)
• Rudy Giuliani on the Emotional Toll:
  “My fire commissioner lost 372 of his firefighters. I would say that 10 of them were his lifetime friends.” — (19:11)
• Rich Rotanz on Building 7's Fate:
  “So this building was going to definitely come down.” — (07:51)
• Rudy Giuliani on First Response Leadership:
  “They worked without sleep that I ever discerned for two straight months. They were rocks of granite.” — (49:47)
• Rudy Giuliani on “Explosives” Claims:
  “There's nothing that suggests that there were explosives in the building except it came down. The coming down is perfectly explainable by what it was hit with.” — (47:30)
• Giuliani’s Testimony to Staff Teamwork:
  “I did get very, very lucky in having a terrific staff. And I had a great speaker... This is probably a core principle of how you deal with an emergency. There's gotta be a joint [response].” — (52:25, 53:36)
• On Faith and Morality:
  “You throw God out, you can't have morality... Most people need God.” — (55:25)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Rich Rotanz Interview Begins: 02:48

• First Account of 9/11 Attack: 04:28

• Evacuation of Building 7: 06:05

• Assessment of Building 7 Damage: 07:40

• On Illnesses & Losses Among First Responders: 08:59

• Discussion of 1993 WTC Bombing: 11:42

• End of Rotanz Interview: 14:35

• Rudy Giuliani Interview Begins: 17:58

• Giuliani’s Recollection of 9/11 Morning: 20:32

• Recognition of Bin Laden as Attacker: 26:13

• Reflections on Response, Coordination: 33:49, 37:06

• Q&A on Conspiracy Theories: 47:30

• Health Impacts After 9/11: 48:41

• Commentary on Team & Staff: 52:25–53:41

• On Faith and the Moral Climate: 55:25–55:53

• End of Giuliani Interview: 56:05

Conclusion

This anniversary special provides a deeply personal, granular look at the events of September 11, 2001, from both operational and emotional standpoints. Rich Rotanz offers a vivid on-the-ground responder’s account, while Rudy Giuliani gives an overview spanning pre-9/11 preparedness, the response, and lasting impact. The episode stresses unity, leadership, and resilience, honoring those lost and exploring what was learned—with relevance for both New Yorkers and the nation as a whole.

For listeners seeking first-hand perspectives on 9/11’s most pivotal moments, detailed explorations of NYC’s emergency response, and candid conversations about leadership and societal values, this episode delivers an engaging, comprehensive, and human account.