The Live Streaming Of a Public Execution | With Fort Hood Massacre Survivor Alonzo Lunsford
Piers Morgan UncensoredShow Notes
Seventeen years after the Fort Hood massacre, the planned livestream of Nidal Hasan’s execution by firing squad is raising difficult questions about justice, vengeance and the dangers of turning punishment into spectacle.
Hasan, a former US Army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and wounded 32 in the 2009 attack on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas. Now, War Secretary Pete Hegseth says the execution will be public, marking the first public execution in the United States in 90 years.
Announcing the decision to Jack Posobiec, Hegseth described the firing squad as a demonstration of the consequences of attacking American service members.
But the decision has opened up a wider debate. Could a public execution intended to demonstrate the severity of justice instead give Hasan the notoriety he craves - transforming his death into a spectacle and, in his own eyes, a martyrdom?
After years of condemning the public executions staged and filmed by Islamist terror groups, America now faces an uncomfortable question: what does it achieve by making an execution a global event?
This is the case for justice - and the risks of turning it into a show.
Joining the show to debate is survivor of the Fort Hood shooting, Alonzo Lunsford, host of The Crucible, Andrew Wilson, author of ‘Separation of Church & Hate’, John Fugelsang and host of Democracy-Ish, Wajahat Ali.
Piers Morgan also speaks with host of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield, and wrongly convicted member of the ‘West Memphis Three’, Damien Echols.
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:25) Alonso Lunsford, survivor of the Fort Hood shooting
(00:07:19) Wajahat Ali condemns plan for a “public spectacle”
(00:11:02) Andrew Wilson makes the case for a live streamed execution
(00:14:25) John Fugelsang calls Pete Hegseth 'unchristian'
(00:21:29) Alonso Lunsford on “forgiving” Nidal Hasan
(00:27:58) Wajahat Ali on the botched Christa Pike execution
(00:31:12) Andrew Wilson argues for firing squads
(00:37:27) Pope Leo’s comments
(00:40:20) Alonso Lunsford plans to attend the execution
(00:43:10) Ilhan Omar’s home raided
(00:49:58) Ashleigh Banfield discusses death penalty
(00:57:12) Damien Echols, one of the ‘West Memphis Three’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Piers Morgan Uncensored
Piers Morgan Uncensored examines the unprecedented civil unrest gripping France as major cities face curfews and chaos. Is MAGA cynically exploiting Europe's troubles for political gain, or are deeper cultural shifts at play? Piers Morgan speaks to Polish Law & Justice MEP Dominik Tarczyński, legendary broadcaster Andrew Neil, and MAGA originalist Gavin McInnes. Plus, we look into the wild rumors surrounding North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un’s sudden disappearance and health scares, joined by Dermot Hudson, chairman of the Korean Friendship Association and 'North Korea’s Man In London.' Piers Morgan Uncensored is proudly independent and sponsored by: Ground News: Go to https://ground.news/piers to get 40% off unlimited access to the news tool I actually trust. It helps you cut through the noise and understand how stories are being reported across the spectrum.
Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point of either presidency, with barely 31 per cent of Americans believing he is doing a good job. With the US midterm elections just 13 days away, the president is facing mounting political pressure as wars in Ukraine and Iran threaten to define his administration. Sign up to our newsletter and watch ad free: https://piersmorgan.tv Sign up to watch our first bonus episode for subscribers with Dave Smith: https://piersmorgan.tv/piers-morgan Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow seeking to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But his diplomatic mission has raised eyebrows after Witkoff publicly praised Putin as a humanitarian, while Trump has once again placed the burden of ending the Ukraine war on Zelensky rather than the Russian leader who launched it. Meanwhile, Trump is blaming Ukraine for the cost of American support, as voters grow increasingly frustrated with high fuel prices and continued conflict. Yet the pressure on energy prices is also tied to the war involving Iran, where renewed US attacks on Tehran could follow the midterm elections. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Trump’s leadership and declared that the two countries have a job to finish, fuelling concerns that the conflict could soon escalate again. As Trump attempts to contain the political fallout from two major wars, a fragile end to the fighting in Ukraine may be approaching. But the conflict with Iran could be entering a far more dangerous phase. Piers Morgan is joined by Alastair Campbell plus Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute; Jim Hanson, chief strategist at the Middle East Forum; and Will Chamberlain, host of Counterweight. Plus, General Keith Kellogg, former US special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, joins the show to discuss the prospects for peace in Ukraine and the growing threat of renewed conflict with Iran.
The relationship between Washington and Kyiv is entering increasingly uncertain territory, as Donald Trump’s approach to Russia raises fresh questions about the future of the war in Ukraine. In an exclusive interview with Piers Morgan last week, President Zelensky offered a stark assessment of America’s shifting position, warning that his country risks losing the support of its most important ally.
The Western world is facing a period of unprecedented upheaval, as old alliances fracture, political divisions deepen and conflict continues to reshape the global order. From President Donald Trump’s shifting approach to Russia and Ukraine to growing unrest in France, the familiar rules of international politics appear to be breaking down.
Warning: This episode includes explicit language, including the N-word.