September 11, 2001: The September 11, 2001 Show

Art Bell broadcasts live on the night of September 11, 2001, opening the phone lines to let America speak in the aftermath of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Having watched the horrific events unfold since early morning, he decides against bringing on experts, instead giving listeners across the country and around the world a forum to process their shock, grief, and disbelief.

Callers pour in from New York, Australia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Mexico, and Canada, sharing eyewitness accounts and raw emotion. Craig Kitchen, president of Premier Radio Networks, describes the eerie silence that fell over Manhattan as millions of commuters were stranded on the island. Whitley Strieber calls from Texas, and Major Ed Dames reports that his remote viewers have pinpointed what they believe is the command and control center for the attacks in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Art repeatedly asks callers a single question: how will this change America? The responses range from willingness to sacrifice freedoms for security to warnings against directing anger at Arab Americans. Throughout the broadcast, Art reflects on the contrast between Pearl Harbor and this attack on civilians, noting the profound silence in skies now empty of aircraft.