The Tower Record

Kevin and Sarah discuss – and with sources, dismantle – the state-scripted story of the capture and rescue of Private First Class Jessica Lynch during the invasion of Iraq. A manipulation of one woman's trauma to advance the cause of an unjust war, it is one of the most laser-focused and uniquely cruel pieces of propaganda in the Global War on Terror, and modern American history. This episode cont...

Kevin and Sarah discuss the music, alternate reality game, and cultural context of the 2007 Nine Inch Nails album Year Zero, aka Halo 24. Follow The Tower Record everywhere:  https://linktr.ee/thetowerrecord Recorded September 7, 2025 in Astoria, Queens.

Kevin and Sarah take The Tower Record on the road with the podcast's first live show, which they spend mostly discussing... the podcast's first live show! (And its organizers.) Follow The Tower Record everywhere:  https://linktr.ee/thetowerrecord Intro music by Gareeth Beats. Outro music by Rrrrrose Azerty. Recorded October 7, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The story of United Airlines Flight 93 continues. In this episode, Kevin and Sarah discuss the unknown parts and loose ends of the Flight 93 narrative, address the oft-repeated "shootdown theory," discuss the crash site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the FBI's revelation of the flight's cockpit voice recording, which recorded audio of the hijacking and rebellion, to the families and friends o...

Kevin and Sarah discuss one of the four critical events of September 11, 2001 — the hijacking, passenger revolt, and downing of United Airlines Flight 93. Part 1 of 2. Music by Rrrrrose Azerty. Recorded September 25, 2025 in South Slope, Brooklyn.

Kevin and Sarah intellectually rock the f*ck out to one of Kevin's all-time favorite albums, and a new experience for Sarah: "Toxicity" by System of a Down. Also: a discussion of the very memorable SOAD/Korn concert they attended at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. So blast off — it's party time — and we don't live in a fascist nation ;) Recorded September 7, 2025 in Astoria, Queens.

Kevin and Sarah discuss and reflect upon post-9/11 politics, history and culture writ large, from the shallow end to the briny deep. 22 amazing episodes, 24 amazing years, with many more to go, Lord willin'.  Thank you for listening. We love you. Music by Rrrrrose Azerty. Recorded September 11, 2025 in Astoria, Queens.

Kevin and Sarah discuss the campy, seminal, superhero slugfest "Spider-Man," which healed America, and most importantly New York, in the summer after 9/11. Recorded August 17, 2025, in South Slope, Brooklyn.

Kevin and Sarah discuss the second "Rock Against Bush" compilation, the political project/punk rock album from Fat Wreck Chords released in August 2004. Recorded August 17, 2025 in South Slope, Brooklyn.

Kevin and Sarah go back 23 years, 11 months, and 6 days to talk about the surreal first seconds, minutes, and hours of 9/11, specifically from the perspective of live broadcast news on that day.  Music by Rrrrrose Azerty. Recorded August 17, 2025 in South Slope, Brooklyn.  

Kevin and Sarah discuss "The Falling Man," the haunting, historic photograph by photojournalist Richard Drew, taken 9:41:15, 9/11/01. Music by Rrrrrose Azerty. Recorded August 12, 2025 in Astoria, Queens.      

Kevin and Sarah discuss the barely coherent, very not good, made for TV biopic of New York City Mayor Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani, released in 2003, starring James Woods. They also thoroughly discuss the rather quite good book by journalist Wayne Barrett on which the film is very loosely based, as well as Kevin's memories of growing up in the vicinity of Rudy's NYC, up to and including the events of S...

Nested within an American history of routine, careless mistreatment of workers and the dispossessed, Kevin and Sarah discuss the chronic health problems faced by the first responders, victims, and survivors of 9/11. Exposed to dangerous conditions at the crime scene and during disaster cleanup, these volunteers, workers, and people in proximity to contaminated zones contracted illnesses which set...

On December 22, 2001, the worst aviation-related terrorist attack in world history almost got a little brother. And that little brother was way more sophisticated than the media may have led you to believe. With a recreated timeline and contemporary reporting as to-the-minute and accurate as we could make it, Kevin and Sarah are proud to bring you the true story of the attempted "shoe bomber," Ric...

All the stars are here! On the night the US bombed Iran in an extraordinary act of aggression, Kevin and Sarah coped the only way they knew how — discussing actors and artists who went really out of their way to make sure everyone knew that they knew what a building demolition looks like.  AA911T archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20101116145455/http://actorsandartistsfor911truth.com/index.htm...

Kevin and Sarah compromise a vacation to spend time together rediscovering a strange day in post-9/11 America. Recorded July 4, 2025, in Hampton Bays, NY. Intro by Benjamin Griffin Outro by Olov Brändström

It's a beautiful lie? In this episode, Kevin and Sarah discuss one of the foundational texts of what would come to be known as 9/11 trutherism: 2002's "L'effroyable Imposture," aka "The Horrifying Fraud," aka "9/11: The Big Lie" by French author Thierry Meyssan. Were they impressed? Were they...  horrified?  There's only one way to find out — because you'll definitely never guess. Some information...

Back in the barrio! Kevin and Sarah talk about the landmark(?) and also good(??) punk rock(?) opera(??) American Idiot, by Green Day, with track by track analysis of the songs as they felt in the context of their era, and the legacy(?) they may or may not have today. Sorry for the later upload; I went to two concerts this week from actually great musicians (Godspeed; Ghost Quartet) and also the wo...

Warfare! Huhfare. Good god, y'all. What is it good fare. Absolutely nothin—say it again, y'all. Kevin and Sarah discuss the 2025 Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza-directed "Warfare," the bluntest and most "this is how that felt" war movie since probably "Platoon." Or "Jarhead." Or "Restrepo," though that was of course a documentary. We're going to watch all these movies for the podcast, by the way. Exc...

sleepy morons chop it up, late night silly hours finishing the Clear Channel memo breakdown. ya either dig it or ya don't. enjoy. it occurs to me now, the mack the knife one is obviously because of all the knifes. forgot about that. ah. recorded in Astoria, Queens, March 13, 2025.

after talking for an hour about "World Trade Center," Kevin and Sarah wrapped up their discussion, and then just kept talking. so here's a little bonus bonus about the real-life story of the "World Trade Center" characters, how the movie could've been better, and the other film releases of 2006. thanks for listening, folks.

Kevin and Sarah discuss the 2006 Oliver Stone movie "World Trade Center," which tries to tell the story of — or, some stories from — the events of September 11, ultimately falling far short of its noble goal. Also discussed, at length: the entire filmography of Oliver Stone. Recorded in Astoria, Queens, March 13, 2025. The referenced NYT article, by David M. Halbfinger: https://www.nytimes.com/200...

On March 10, 2003, the Dixie Chicks played a show in London at which lead singer Natalie Maines made a very reasonable comment. 22 years later, Kevin and Sarah unpack the yearslong controversy that followed, and examine the bizarre cultural moment that made that statement international news. Recorded in Brooklyn, NY, Feb 7, 2025.

With blueprints, schematics, and contemporary photography, Kevin takes Sarah to the job site and learns her about the literally miraculous structures of the World Trade Center that survived — and held survivors of — the 9/11 attacks. Recorded in Brooklyn, NY, Feb 7 2025.

most of the world experienced 9/11 on TV. for years to come after, TV continued to experience 9/11. which episodes are real, and which are the product of sarah channelling racism circa anno MMII? this is a game-type episode.  recorded in Astoria, Queens, January 18, 2025.