The show took on a reflective, heavy-but-hopeful tone marking 25 years since September 11th, weaving together the public commemoration (including audio of President Trump speaking at the Pentagon) with Neal and Julie’s more personal “where were you when the world stopped turning” reflections. Neal talked candidly about how the anniversary still carries a lingering darkness for him as someone working in media at the time—yet also about a quieter gratitude that the country is still standing, still functioning, and still pushing forward a quarter-century later. Julie added a key “never forget” layer: not only the pain and loss, but the unity and neighborliness that surged on September 12th—and the discomfort of seeing the country so divided again.
The mood then shifted with a Friday “Studio 4 Covers” segment featuring Highland High School performer **Miley Ann Daley**, who discussed her musical theater background, upcoming roles (including Wednesday Addams at Center Stage Theatre), and delivered a confident Celine Dion cover that lit up listener feedback. Open Line Friday brought spirited (and sometimes tense) calls: heartfelt firsthand 9/11 memories from a retired Air Force caller, frustration with conspiracy-driven derailments on a day of remembrance, and a broader conversation about elections, voter information tools (including a listener-suggested site that appeared to contain at least one major error), Prop 1/HJR 4, and how social media outrage cycles can hijack public discourse.
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## 2. Highlights
– President Trump’s Pentagon remarks aired live, underscoring the episode’s memorial focus and the long shadow of the war on terror.
– Neal and Julie’s “never forget” conversation broadened the meaning beyond tragedy—toward remembering national unity and shared purpose after 9/11.
– **Miley Ann Daley** (Highland HS) joined “Studio 4 Covers,” previewed her upcoming stage work, and nailed a tough Celine Dion performance—prompting glowing audience texts.
– A retired Air Force caller shared a powerful 9/11 story from an on-base lockdown, including the terrifying ripple effects on military families that day.
– Open Line Friday turned into a real-time test of civic discourse: callers tried to inject conspiracies and antisemitic framing, and Neal forcefully shut it down as inappropriate—especially on the anniversary.
– Discussion on election engagement and information tools: a caller promoted a voting-lookup site, but the show immediately discovered at least one significant inaccuracy, reinforcing the “verify everything” theme.
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