9/11 Wasn't Unimaginable. It Was Unprocessed.

9/11 Wasn't Unimaginable. It Was Unprocessed.

Author: Sarah & Beth September 8, 2026 Duration: 1:56:38
This week marks twenty-five years since the September 11 attacks, and Sarah and Beth are re-sharing the five-part series they made in 2018 to do what they felt the country never quite did: process it. Today's episode holds parts one, two, and three. First, a careful, flight-by-flight walk through the morning of September 11, 2001, with attention to the people who improvised when no plan existed for what was happening, from flight attendants Betty Ong and Amy Sweeney to Rick Rescorla to the passengers of Flight 93. Then they travel back eighty years, to the borders drawn after World War I, the Soviet war in Afghanistan, and the conditions that produced al Qaeda, with help from Middle East expert Kerry Anderson. Then they ask how we missed it, and find the answer in an FBI and CIA built to distrust each other, an overcorrection after Watergate that stopped agents from sharing what they knew, and two future hijackers living in the United States that the CIA never told the FBI about. It is a hard listen in places, made with care for everyone who carries the day with them. Parts four and five, the road to Iraq and the Memorial, follow on Friday. If you missed our live show in Minneapolis, the full recording is available in our shop for $15: https://pantsuitpolitics.myshopify.com/ Support the show and get access to News Briefs, Spicy Live bonus episodes, and community: https://pantsuitpolitics.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a media landscape often defined by shouting matches and partisan trenches, Pantsuit Politics offers a different kind of conversation. Hosts Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, two friends from Kentucky, built this independent podcast on a simple but radical premise: you can discuss the news and culture of the day with both conviction and genuine curiosity. What you’ll hear here isn’t debate for its own sake, but a sustained effort to understand the complexities behind the headlines. Sarah and Beth approach each topic with a blend of thorough research and personal reflection, modeling how to engage with difficult subjects without surrendering to outrage or anxiety. Their dialogue proves that thoughtful disagreement and common ground aren't mutually exclusive. This podcast provides a consistent, calming space for listeners who feel exhausted by the usual political noise but still want to stay meaningfully informed. New episodes arrive every Tuesday and Friday, offering regular check-ins that prioritize nuance over kneejerk reactions. It’s the kind of compelling listening that doesn’t just analyze the world, but quietly suggests a better way to talk about it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pantsuit Politics
Podcast Episodes
The WHCD shooting and the Anti-Authority Era [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:38
Sarah and Beth respond to the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, examining what it — alongside a pervasive anti-authority mood across American life — reveals about the state of our social contract. Outsi…
Sharon McMahon, Antifa, and the Self-Care We Don’t Regret [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:56
What does it mean to truly value free speech? Sarah and Beth discuss the controversy around Sharon McMahon speaking at Utah Valley University, the EO designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, and more. Plu…
Sharon McMahon, Antifa, and the Self-Care We Don’t Regret [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:26
What does it mean to truly value free speech? Sarah and Beth discuss the controversy around Sharon McMahon speaking at Utah Valley University, the EO designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, and more. Plu…
Who’s at the Wheel? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:51
Sarah and Beth unpack the bombshell New York Times investigation linking the shadow docket to Chief Justice John Roberts, assess the erratic messaging around day 53 of the war in Iran, and close with reflections on what…
What Zohran Mamdani Gets Right [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
We spent Tuesday’s episode talking about headline national and global news, and it felt pretty bleak. Today, we’re zooming in on a bright spot, New York City, and asking what we can learn from Mayor Zohran Mamdani as he…
Spaceship Earth and the Capricious Kings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:57
Sarah and Beth return from spring break to catch up on a packed news week — from Eric Swalwell's campaign collapse and the stalled Iran negotiations, to Melania's surprise press conference, Hungary's historic election up…
America's Pastime, Up Close [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:18
Aaron Barrett shares his inspiring journey through baseball, including his battles with Tommy John surgery, resilience, and his new role as a manager. He offers insights into player development, the demands of profession…
Does the Democratic Party Have a Big Idea Problem? With Jason Kander [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:00
Jason Kander joins Pantsuit Politics to break down Missouri's redistricting fight and what Democrats need to do to win in 2026 and beyond — including why the party needs to stop running on familiar ideas and start offeri…