Truth in the Barrel
Episode: "This Week Unfiltered | 09.11.25"
Hosts: Amy McGrath & Denver Riggleman
Date Recorded: September 11, 2025
Overview
In this emotionally charged episode, Amy and Denver reflect on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, exploring its personal and national legacy. The hosts dissect a week of staggering news: the assassination of a high-profile conservative figure on a Utah campus, Russian drone incursions into Poland, escalating violence in the Middle East, and troubling shifts in U.S. political and judicial landscapes. Personal stories, stark analyses, and moments of humor and hope anchor their commitment to truth and country, even as they voice deep concern about polarization and political violence.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Remembering 9/11: Personal Reflections
[41:01 – 51:32]
Amy & Denver revisit where they were on 9/11, how it shaped their military service, and the enduring impact of the day on American identity and unity.
-
Amy’s story: In her Miramar fighter squadron, she was among the first to respond, tasked to defend Southern California in a live fighter jet, her name on the launch board due to sheer circumstance and proximity.
“I suited up, I went over to the Kayla...walking to the jet with live missiles loaded up...my heart just, you know...” — Amy, [44:14]
-
Denver’s story: Stationed at Mountain Home AFB, tasked to brief aircrews amid chaos and then deployed just days later.
“My first actual quote when I saw the first jet...‘That’s not a small plane’. ...I was packing those Conexes six days later. I left on a C5 on September 21, 2011, to Diego to start our bombing runs.” — Denver, [46:06]
-
Shared reflections:
- Immediate post-9/11 unity and resolve
- The ongoing duty to honor victims with truth and courage in public life
“It affected our families. But it’s a day where we reflect about our country and about the freedoms that we have and a recommitment to what our country stands for, the values that we have, that there are people here who, or who are not here anymore and we owe them our courage.” — Amy, [51:13]
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk and Political Violence
[02:22 – 19:01]
A frank, nuanced discussion about the assassination of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, its media aftermath, and the rising tide of violence in American politics.
-
Amy’s response: Deeply saddened, calls for universal condemnation of political violence, regardless of politics.
“I'm sure that there's very little that I agreed with this man, Charlie Kirk on, but...it saddens me so much that he was killed yesterday. I mean, we are all humans.” — Amy, [06:13]
-
Denver’s context and critique:
- Outlines Kirk’s influence, TPUSA's anti-COVID stance, and founder Bill Montgomery's death from COVID.
- Emphasizes the urgent need to separate empathy for victims’ families from accepting harmful rhetoric.
“There’s a brutality to facts. Facts are brutal, facts are specific. ...You can be compassionate, you can do all these things, but never cede the ground of facts because there’s a brutality to it.” — Denver, [09:33]
-
Both hosts express alarm at leaders' responses:
- Condemn irresponsible statements by elected officials and the President blaming political opponents.
- Warn about dehumanization and propaganda, the normalization of hate, and tit-for-tat violence.
- Note the complexity of ideological motivation in such crimes (referencing domestic terrorism experts Hoffman and Ware).
Russia's Drone Incursion into Poland: A Red Line Crossed?
[20:03 – 26:58]
A deep military analysis of Russian drones violating Polish airspace—a NATO member—and what it signals for Europe’s future.
-
Denver:
- Calls it an “intelligence gathering mission” to gauge NATO response (“tickling the network”).
- Recounts predicting, months ago, that Poland and the Baltics would be targeted next.
- Sees Putin as “desperate and emboldened” by perceived Western weakness.
“Sociopaths only feel pain...Putin’s feeling pretty emboldened right now, but he’s also desperate. ...This Poland incursion was simply intelligence gathering to take tickle the network...” — Denver, [20:51]
-
Amy:
- Highlights the asymmetry: expensive fighter jets intercepting cheap drones.
- Criticizes the U.S. administration’s response and broader withdrawal from Eastern European allies.
- Ties the incursion to larger failures in American foreign policy.
“We are right now pulling out of exercises and support for our Eastern European allies. ...We’ve taken our eye off the ball here.” — Amy, [25:50]
Drone Warfare: The New Battlefield
[23:59 – 25:48]
- Denver:
- Explains technological evolution: both Russia and Ukraine are building and using millions of cheap, customizable drones.
- Emphasizes need to adopt Ukrainian approaches (e.g., shooting down drones with drones).
“Drone warfare has been advanced by the Ukrainians where they shoot down drones with drones...We better get better at drone warfare like the Ukrainians and learn from them, because right now we are not as capable...” — Denver, [24:07]
Middle East Flashpoint: Israel Bombs Hamas in Doha
[27:53 – 32:34]
Discussion of Israeli airstrikes against Hamas militants in Qatar, the site of America’s largest regional base.
-
Amy:
- Notes U.S. attempts at mediation rebuffed by Israeli actions.
- Interprets it as evidence of weak American presidential influence.
“Israel just gives Donald Trump the big middle finger. ...They strike the negotiating team in Doha and then tell the United States afterwards. ...The geopolitics of that shows how weak our president is.” — Amy, [29:09]
-
Denver:
- Frames the violence as partly a distraction from domestic scandals in Israel and U.S. (Epstein files).
- Laments U.S. indecision and “cascading effect of stupid” in foreign policy.
“The cascading effect of stupid is terminal. ...Terminal.” — Denver, [30:52]
Supreme Court Ruling: Racial Profiling and Immigration
[33:17 – 35:53]
Supreme Court removes a hold on ICE’s race-based immigration stops.
-
Amy:
- Criticizes the inconsistency of this ruling compared to higher education affirmative action decisions.
“So it’s okay to racially profile on immigration, but certainly not in higher ed. Now, from the Supreme Court, like, where are we at here?” — Amy, [34:10]
-
Denver:
- Argues basic law enforcement profiling has some situational logic, but this goes too far, crossing a line in American values.
“You do get to a point where you cross the Rubicon and you wonder what’s happening.” — Denver, [35:23]
Quick Shots & Silver Linings
[35:53 – 40:42]
- Virginia District 11 Special Election: Democrat James Walkinshaw wins in a red-leaning area ([36:37]).
- New Mexico becomes first state to offer free child care to all families ([37:07]).
- Lighthearted story: Kentucky nurse Misty Combs revives a raccoon drunk on moonshine (named “Otis Campbell”) with CPR—delivers levity and local pride.
“...she performed CPR, stomach compressions on this raccoon. And it came...You know, she saved it...It was outside of a distillery that was making infused peach moonshine...” — Amy, [38:26]
“There’s no way on earth I would give CPR to a raccoon. ...Maybe the raccoon just didn’t want to go on. ...Maybe the raccoon was like, ‘I’m done, right? I want to drink myself to death.’” — Denver, [40:11]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On political violence:
“We cannot be a nation that has any leaders that fuel these types, the flames of this. ...We are all threatened by this culture of violence against people who we disagree with.” — Amy, [05:38]
“Never cede the ground of facts because there’s a brutality to it.” — Denver, [09:33]
“Political violence is never, ever, ever acceptable. ...You have to call it out. If it’s perpetrated by people with views that...do align with your own, it is unacceptable.” — Amy, [19:01] -
On current divisions:
“I think hate, I think dehumanization has become normalized in our political system. And I think it’s going to get worse before it gets worse, and especially in the midterms.” — Denver, [13:25]
-
On 9/11 legacy and today’s America:
“I feel like this country, every time there is an external, there is not an external threat. I feel like when we don't have that outside threat...we seem to want to turn on ourselves...Now it looks like this country's so fragmented, I don't know what brings it back...” — Denver, [52:17]
“It’s a day where we reflect about our country and about the freedoms that we have and a recommitment to what our country stands for, the values that we have...” — Amy, [51:13]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:57 – Opening theme and topics preview
- 02:22 – The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
- 07:19 – The “brutality of facts” and condemning violence
- 12:21 – Blaming and dehumanization by leaders
- 20:03 – Russian drones in Poland: Analysis
- 24:26 – Drone warfare technology explained
- 27:53 – Israel attacks in Doha, U.S. weakness in foreign policy
- 33:17 – Supreme Court and ICE racial profiling ruling
- 35:53 – Quick Shots (elections, child care, the raccoon rescue)
- 41:01 – Amy and Denver’s 9/11 stories
- 52:52 – Reflections on American unity, the meaning of 9/11
Tone & Language
The tone throughout is direct, earnest, and unfiltered—raw in moments of grief and anger, sharp with political critique, and often darkly humorous. Both hosts speak plainly and emotionally, with military forthrightness and a shared love for country.
Summary
This episode deftly balances somber reflection and critical analysis, giving weight to the legacy of 9/11 while sounding the alarm on rising political violence, global instability, and domestic policy fractures. The hosts’ personal stories, expertise, and banter give the show its heart, offering listeners both warning and hope: that empathy, honesty, and courage remain essential in defending America’s spirit.