Full Breakdown
Daughters of 9/11: CBS Special Marks 25th Anniversary of the Attacks
8/21/2026, 11:37:32 AM
Core Event – CBS Airs “Daughters of 9/11” on September 11
CBS will broadcast the two-hour documentary Daughters of 9/11 on September 11, 9 p.m.–11 p.m. ET/PT, also streaming on Paramount+. The program follows Elizabeth Miller and Jessica Trant—daughters of 9/11 victims—and FBI Special Agent Frank Pellegrino as they examine whether Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), accused of masterminding the attacks, will ever be brought to justice.
Background & Context
The September 11, 2001 attacks remain the deadliest on American soil. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has been identified by U.S. authorities as the chief architect, yet he has never faced trial. Over the past quarter-century, families of victims have pursued accountability through legal and policy channels. The special situates Miller’s and Trant’s personal journeys within this unresolved quest for justice.
Key Figures & Groups
- Elizabeth Miller – daughter of Douglas Miller, a NYC firefighter who died in the World Trade Center.
- Jessica Trant – daughter of Daniel Trant, a Cantor Fitzgerald bond salesman who perished on the 104th floor of the North Tower.
- Frank Pellegrino – FBI special agent who led the interrogation of KSM at Guantánamo Bay and obtained a confession.
- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – alleged mastermind; his recorded statement appears in the program.
- Dick Wolf, Tom Thayer, Daniel Voll, Susan Zirinsky, Terence Wrong – executive producers.
- Marc Levin – director and producer.
- Brendan Ryan – composer, who lost his newlywed wife in the attacks.
Timeline
- September 11 – Airing of “Daughters of 9/11” on CBS and Paramount+.
- September 13 – Start of the 59th season of “60 Minutes.”
Data & Statistics
- 25 years after the attacks.
- Two-hour runtime.
- Three primary participants (Miller, Trant, Pellegrino) plus KSM’s recorded confession.
Official Statements & Responses
CBS announced that its September 11 schedule will feature live coverage and special programming, with “Daughters of 9/11” as the centerpiece. The network described the special as a “decades-long quest for justice” told through the perspectives of the two daughters and the FBI agent who interrogated KSM. Executive producers from Wolf Entertainment, Blowback Productions, and See It Now Studios are credited with bringing the project to air.
Why It Matters
The special offers a rare public glimpse into the personal impact of the attacks on victims’ families and highlights the legal limbo surrounding KSM’s prosecution. By juxtaposing intimate family narratives with interrogation footage, the program underscores how the unresolved status of the mastermind continues to shape collective memory and policy discussions about terrorism, accountability, and national security.
What’s Next
Following the September 11 special, CBS will air a 90-minute live report at 8:30 a.m. on the same day, featuring correspondents at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville crash site. The network will also begin the new season of “60 Minutes” on September 13, continuing its broader anniversary coverage.
