Episode Details

Seth Grossman Interview with Harry Hurley on September 2, 2026. WPGTalkRadio 95.5FM and 1450AM. Se Above Image: Monument to Richard Somers near Shore Road and New Jersey Avenue in Somers Point, New Jersey. An identical monument stands in Somers, New York, a town named after Richard Somers. HARRY HURLEY: We visit with Seth Grossman this morning. Seth, I believe that you have done more to keep the Richard Somers flame alive than anyone I can think of. SETH GROSSMAN: Thank you very much. And all this stuff, of course, is posted at libertyandprosperity.com.  And if you want to get our emails about this and the other topics, just contact us - at info@libertyandprosperity.com. As you pointed out, the story - of Richard Somers is remarkable. I first heard it in 2004, 200 years after Richard Somers and the entire crew of his ship Intrepid were killed in Tripoli on September 4, 1804. Hearing that story three years after the attacks on September 11 2001, had a profound impact on me. I realized then that if Americans had remembered the story of Richard Somers, and the 12 other Americans on his ship who died in 1804, and who they fought and why they had to fight them, 3,000 Americans would not have been murdered on September 11, 2001, and we would not need ceremonies to remember them. I learned a lot at that ceremony to remember Richard Somers in 2004. I assumed it would be a yearly event. But to my surprise, nothing was planned for September of 2005.  And so I got together with Sally Hastings, the president of the Somers Point Historical Society. We then put together programs to remember Richard Somers every September 4 for many years. Then, I realized that Richard Somers was not just a forgotten local hero who should be remembered. I realized then that a whole lot more was going on. Richard Somers was probably the most significant national American hero who came from this area. He should be remembered.  And for a long time I could not understand why our community had forgotten him. Then I realized that you cannot remember Richard Somers without telling his story. And that story can no longer be told in America. HARRY HURLEY:  There you go. It was purposeful. SETH GROSSMAN:  Yes it was purposeful. Richard Somers was one of the first great Americans to be cancelled. HARRY HURLEY: Wow. SETH GROSSMAN: And When I realized that, I was determined to do whatever I could to make sure that Richard Somers was remembered, and that his story would be told. The Richard Somers story reminds us that America was at war with Islam more than 200 years ago. Actually, America was not at war with Islam. Islam was at war with us. And when we told the story of Richard Somers, and how Islam justified attacks on peaceful Americans and how we had to fight a war to stop them, cities like Somers Point and schools, and colleges and business association knew that it was bad for business if they were in any way involved in telling the story of Richard Somers. HARRY HURLEY: Pay the tribute, keep quiet, and we'll leave you alone. SETH GROSSMAN: Yes. We learned nothing. And I'd like to take this a step further. The Richard Somers story leads us to understand the people who murdered 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001 and why they did it. The details of that story and what happened afterwards explain what led to the murder of  3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001. So let's tell that story.  First, I'd like to thank Bob and Cindy Fertsch for publishing that story in last week's (August 27, 2026) edition of Shore Local Magazine. It's distributed free throughout the shore towns of South Jersey.  Last week's edition had the picture of the blue and yellow beach umbrella on the front cover. The Richard Somers story is on Page 8. Click below link: Magazine 8/27/2026 edition: Use this week's Shore Local to share the story of Richard Somers. - Liberty and Prosperity   The story begins on the night of September 4, 1804. A small merchant ship sails alone into the harbor of Tri