Struggles continue for prosecution in George Zimmerman trial

The defense in the George Zimmerman trial is expected to rest its case shortly, which leads to the question that has captured national attention for over a year now: Will Zimmerman walk? Should he walk? On radio this morning, Stu and Pat went through some of the facts in the case and, unfortunately for the prosecution, it's not looking like there's much of a legal case.

From the beginning, the media and people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have made this a racial charged incident in which a white man killed a black teenager. Even once it became known that Zimmerman was in fact Hispanic, the narrative changed only slightly. The media continued to paint Zimmerman as an over-zealous aggressor, while Trayvon Martin was seen as a saint.

“George Zimmerman is being inserted into horror movies retroactively. He's being portrayed as Satan,” Pat said. “And, you know, the opposite was true for Trayvon Martin. He was supposed to be this angelic character. The president of the United States said, ‘If he had a son, he would look like Trayvon.’ I mean we went through that whole thing where he was pure as the driven snow and George Zimmerman was this awful racist white guy, which he isn't even a white guy, just out to murder a black person for some reason. And nothing like that has seemingly been the case since the trial began.”

“The racism thing is completely dead, completely dead,” Stu continued. “You can still argue that he did the wrong thing at this time, he handled this incident improperly, he shouldn't have tried to get involved in the situation, he should have – I don't know, risked the fact that maybe he was going to go break in and just wait for the police to come or whatever. You can argue all of that. But the racism thing is completely dead.”

And based on the testimony yesterday, from renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Vincent de Mayo, it looks like the idea of Zimmerman being the aggressor that night is also being called into question.

ATTORNEY: Are you aware that Mr. Zimmerman said that Trayvon Martin was straddling him?

DR. DE MAYO: Yes, sir.

ATTORNEY: And leaning over him?

DR. DE MAYO: Yes, sir.

ATTORNEY: And that Mr.†Zimmerman had the gun in his right hand?

DR. DE MAYO: Yes, sir.

ATTORNEY: And if you would describe then what you know about that sequence of events compared with the medical, forensic, and gunshot evidence.

DR. DE MAYO: The medical evidence of the gunshot wound is consistent with his opinion, with his statement. But the fact that we know the clothing is two to four inches away is consistent with somebody leaning over the person doing the shooting and that the clothing is two to four inches away from the person.

“I mean, the way he described it, I mean, if you think about it, if you're on your back and you're the one on the losing side of this fight, your clothing, his hoodie, the famous hoodie is going to be pressed up against his body. Not only because of the fact that, you know, just gravity will do that. Also, his shirt, his hoodie was wet. So if you think of a wet sweatshirt, what's going to happen? When you're leaning backwards, it's going to be leaning up against your body, almost sticking to your body. If you're leaning over someone, because the clothing's heavier, it's going to fall away from your body. He also had an Arizona ice tea or fruit drink or something in his pocket of the hoodie, so that's going to make it lean down even further,” Stu explained. “And this, this idea that Zimmerman had executed him with the gun pressed up against his skin is completely disproved by this evidence. You know, if you think about, he's on the bottom shooting up. His clothing is four inches away from his body. And they can tell that from, you know, what happened as far as the forensics go with the bullet. So obviously Trayvon was on top. Obviously they were in an altercation. We know because of the evidence of the back of Zimmerman's head and the broken nose that he was not on the winning side of this altercation, and it seems completely justifiable that at that moment he believed his life was in danger, he was in danger of serious harm, and he used his gun and, you know, what looks like his Second Amendment right to defend himself.”

In laying out this evidence, Pat and Stu both reiterated that they do not necessarily support Zimmerman or his actions, but they do want to see the justice system work as it is intended to. In this particular case, the evidence seems to corroborate Zimmerman’s story that he acted in self-defense.

“I don't think he should have done this in the first place. I don't think he should have followed the guy. I think he should have left that up to the authorities,” Pat said. “But, you know, once he's in the situation and you're getting beaten and your head's getting smashed against the pavement and you think your life is in peril, what are you going to do? I mean, it's tragic that he went down that road but, you know, to charge him with murder is just, it's unconscionable at this point.”

Jeffy was quick to point out, however, that unless Zimmerman is completely exonerated, there is a good possibility he will still go to prison for some length of time on a lesser charge.

“I think, you know, to be honest about it, if I'm being completely honest, like, I have no vested interest in George Zimmerman other than the fact that I believe in our system and I want it to work for the best,” Stu said. “The best thing for probably all of us outside of George Zimmerman is that he does go to jail because God only knows what happens if this guy is set free after what the media has told America about this story, you know. But, you know, just because I care about the system and I care about, you know, his personal liberty, I think I want justice to be served. But the best thing for all of us probably is he goes to jail on some, I don't know, he was speeding at the time before he parked his truck. He's going to jail.”

Ultimately, Pat and Stu are both afraid that fear of violence and retribution will lead to an outcome that is not necessarily just.

“I mean, like, they did everything wrong in this case mainly because of fear from people like Al Sharpton, people who come in and incite these cases and light fires under people and blame every single piece of evidence that comes out in Zimmerman's favor on racism," he continued. “When you do that, you make people act erratically. And even if these guys in Sanford were good guys and just doing this because they felt they wanted to avoid a riot or something else, I mean, justice can't be served under those circumstances, and, you know, that's certainly been shown in this case I think so far.”

POLL: Should the Government control the future of AI?

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Earlier this week, tech titans, lawmakers, and union leaders met on Capitol Hill to discuss the future of AI regulation. The three-hour meeting boasted an impressive roster of tech leaders including, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and others, along with more than 60 US Senators.

Tech Titans and Senators gathered in the Kennedy Caucus Room.The Washington Post / Contributor | Getty Images

The meeting was closed to the public, so what was exactly discussed is unknown. However, what we do know is that a majority of the CEOs support AI regulation, the most vocal of which is Elon Musk. During the meeting, Musk called AI "a double-edged sword" and strongly pushed for regulation in the interest of public safety.

A majority of the CEOs support AI regulation.

Many other related issues were discussed, including the disruption AI has caused to the job market. As Glenn has discussed on his program, the potential for AI to alter or destroy jobs is very real, and many have already felt the effects. From taxi drivers to Hollywood actors and writers, AI's presence can be felt everywhere and lawmakers are unsure how to respond.

The potential for AI to alter or destroy jobs is very real.

Ultimately, the meeting's conclusion was less than decisive, with several Senators making comments to the tune of "we need more time before we act." The White House is expected to release an executive order regarding AI regulation by the end of the year. But now it's YOUR turn to tell us what YOU think needs to be done!

Should A.I. be regulated?

Can the government be trusted with the power to regulate A.I.? 

Can Silicon Valley be trusted to regulate AI? 

Should AI development be slowed for safety, despite its potential advantages?

If a job can be done cheaper and better by AI, should it be taken away from a human?

Do you feel that your job is threatened by AI?

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Glenn wrote this essay on September 12, 2001. Are we the same people now?

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Twenty two years ago today on September 12th, 2001, Glenn wrote an essay called "The Greatest American Generation." These were his visceral thoughts immediately following the 9/11 attacks. This beautiful essay calls upon the American spirit to rise to the occasion to pull us through what was one of the darkest days in our nation's history. He called us to unite around the common vision that unites us as Americans.

Yesterday, Glenn revisited this essay, wondering if we are the same people who could have pulled through that dark hour. Do you still believe the things that he wrote in this essay? Or have we become a people too divided to overcome a tragedy of the magnitude of 9/11? Consider these questions as you read Glenn's essay below, "The Greatest American Generation," published on September 12, 2001.

I've always believed that the greatest American generation is the one that's living, in the here and the now. The question is not if this is the greatest American generation. The question was when were we going to wake up? I remember staying at my grandparents' house in the summer when I was small. Every morning my grandmother would open the attic door and call up, "Kids, time to wake up." For me she'd have to do this a couple of times before I'd lumber out of bed and cross the cold, squeaky wooden floor. But finally, I would. And she'd be there in the kitchen ready with breakfast. My grandfather was already outside in the henhouse because there was work to do. They were hardworking, good and decent people. Seemed to me that they were from not only a different time but a different place. They weren't.

The spirit of our parents and our grandparents isn't from some foreign place. It hasn't died out. It's a flame that flickers in all Americans. It's there and it's ready to blaze to life when we're ready to face the challenges that now lie at our feet. It's what sets us apart. It's what built this country. It's why our borders still teem with the poor and the tired and those yearning to be free, burned with zeal in the hearts of millions of immigrants from every corner of the Earth who came here in search of a better way of life. The flame that Lady Liberty holds is the American spirit which burns deep within all of us, no matter what our race, gender, our religious background. And today the world is watching us. It's really nothing new. It always has.

Since the dawn of man people dreamt of a better life, dreamt of a better way, of freedom. But it was Americans that finally found a way to build it. And out of all that we've built, the powerful machines, the computers, the weapons of mass destruction, hardware and software that we spent millions on every year to protect and keep the plan secret, our biggest seeming secret, the one the world wants most of all, isn't a secret at all. It's something we freely give to the rest of the world. And while it seems self‑evident to us, for some reason it can't be duplicated. Yet it can be passed on from person to person, torch to torch. It's the American spirit.

If you weren't trapped in one of those towers or on a plane or in the Pentagon, then you have great reason to humbly give thanks today, not for our lives but because we're the lucky ones. God hasn't forsaken us. He's awakened us. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, he's gently called out, "Kids, it's time to wake up! We've been given another chance."

Thousands of years ago in Babel, the great civilization in their arrogance built a tower that reached the sky. It crumbled and they were scattered. Our heart and steely symbols of power and wealth may have crumbled, but we have not been scattered. Americans aren't ever going to scatter. Let the world recognize through our actions today that those firefighters in New York are not the exception. They are the rule. Americans don't run from burning buildings. We run into them. It was a beautiful fall morning on the edge of the land created through divine providence. Coffee shops were open. Children were on their buses and people easing into another typical workday when America's greatest generation heard the voice: "Kids, it's time to wake up."

Several times we've ignored the voice. We've drifted back into twilight sleep muttering, "I know, I know, in a minute." But finally we are awake and out of bed, for there is much work to do. The task before us is much more daunting than what our grandparents and parents faced, but we are stronger, a more prepared nation. The torch has been passed. We are the greatest American generation. The American spirit is alive and well. Our flame has not burned out. It had just been dimmed while we were asleep."

Remembering 9/11: A call to unify as Americans

Robert Giroux / Staff | Getty Images

Glenn often harkens back to September 11, 2001, as a pivotal day for the American spirit. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the South Tower at 8:46 a.m. that sunny September morning in Manhattan, there was no question that September 11 would become one of the most consequential moments in American history. However, in that moment, the outcome of that day was yet to be determined.

How would September 11 be remembered in history textbooks? Would it be the beginning of the end of our Republic? Many thought so and for just reason. Our country was under attack. Planes hijacked by our enemy were headed towards the buildings that represented the institutions that comprise the fabric of our republic. If there was any day that called into question our nation's future, it was September 11.

New York City firefighters and a photojournalist work at Ground Zero after two hijacked planes crashed into the Twin TowersRon Agam / Stringer | Getty Images

But the American spirit had a different narrative in mind. Instead of caving to the narrative that the hijackers attempted to write, the American people rose to the occasion that duty beckoned. As Glenn wrote in an essay the day after the September 11 attacks, "Americans don't run from burning buildings. We run into them." And we did. Many remained there as their final burial place.

The American people rose to the occasion that duty beckoned.

As New York Governor Pataki remarked, "On that terrible day, a nation became neighbors." We weren't Democrats. We weren't Republicans. On that day, we were Americans. We chose to write a different narrative in the history books following 9/11, one of resilience, bravery, brotherhood, and the triumph of the American spirit.

As Glenn so poignantly wrote on September 12th:

The spirit of our parents and our grandparents isn't from some foreign place. It hasn't died out. It's a flame that flickers in all Americans.

And that flickering light turned into a roaring fire on that pivotal day, one that not even the fires in the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, or the empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania could consume.

We chose to write a different narrative in the history books following 9/11, one of resilience, bravery, brotherhood, and the triumph of the American spirit.

But can we say the same about the American people today? Do we still carry the flickering flame of the American spirit that has been passed down to us from generations past? As Glenn reflected today, 22 years after penning those words, he isn't so sure. And I'm not either.

A candlelight vigil for the victims of the World Trade Center terrorist attack is held at Union Square in New York City.Evan Agostini / Contributor | Getty Images

The same American spirit that we relied upon to pull us through September 11 seems to be a waning flame in a torch that few are clinging to. We are increasingly losing sight of what it means to be an American. Common principles that we traditionally shared across party lines are now being vehemently contested, both by the ruling class and in the public square. This is not the same America that triumphed over September 11.

We are increasingly losing sight of what it means to be an American.

This raises the troubling question: Could we endure another attack of a similar magnitude? Would the triumph of the American spirit dictate the narrative of that day, or would a foreign enemy steal the pen from liberty's fingers? These are the tough questions we must wrestle with in our pivotal moment as a nation.

But these questions aren't devoid of hope. There is still time to recall those timeless principles that transcended party lines on September 11 and united us as Americans. There is still time to nurse the waning flame for those who are committed to holding liberty's torch. There is still time to view our political opponents as, in the words of Pataki, "neighbors," whose livelihood and future depend on the survival of our great nation.

There is still time to recall those timeless principles that transcended party lines on September 11.

But that window is short. We must strive towards unity now if our nation hopes to, as Lincoln said in his own time of division, "endure."

As Glenn wrote in that essay on September 12, 2001, we must be, "awake and out of bed, for there is much work to do. [...] Our flame has not burned out. It had just been dimmed while we were asleep."

Acouple cary the American flag down a lower-Manhattan street a week after the September 11 attacksRichard Baker / Contributor | Getty Images

Flames cannot flicker forever. If they are not nursed, they will flicker out, leaving darkness in its wake. It's time to wake up. We must be attentive and awake, nursing the remnant of liberty's flame until it is blazing like it did 22 years ago today. We cannot let it die on our watch. Too many people have sacrificed too much for us to drop the torch.