WNYC Studios presents...

WNYC Digital | Feb 19

Join WNYC and Theater Of War for a series of programs hosted by Kai Wright and TOW artistic director Bryan Doerries that re-imagine works of journalism in innovative and engaging ways, including performances by acclaimed actors. 

 Stay tuned for updates about the next installment of Theater Of War On the Radio.

Wednesday, May 27 at 8 PM Eastern (Live from BAM):
'A.I. Is About to Solve Loneliness. That’s a Problem' 

From the stage of the BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn, Actors Bill Murray (Lost in Translation, Rushmore), Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein, Beef), and Lois Smith (East of Eden, Five Easy Pieces) perform Paul Bloom’s article “A.I. Is About to Solve Loneliness. That’s a Problem,” published in 2025 by The New Yorker, to start a conversation with listeners about how loneliness shapes us and the human need for connection in our digital age. Listeners share stories about the upsides and downsides of loneliness and A.I. companionship. 

 

Thursday, April 30 at 8 PM Eastern: Our Longing for Inconvenience

Actors Adepero Oduye (12 Years a Slave, Pariah, The Big Short) and Jumaane Williams (NYC Public Advocate) performed “Our Longing for Inconvenience,” a recent essay written by Hanif Abdurraqib for The New Yorker. The essay helped kick off a conversation with WNYC listeners about “falling in love the old fashioned way” in a world mediated by phones and apps. We explored the tension between our desire for convenience and the friction of older technologies — like Walkmans, disposable cameras, and VCRs — that transport us back to less distracted, seemingly more authentic, times. And we talked about strategies for staying present and resisting the allure of instant gratification to feel more alive.

 

Thursday, March 12 at 8 PM Eastern: Cash and Carry

Actors Jesse Eisenberg, Rosie Perez, and David Patrick Kelly performed a reading of “Cash and Carry,” a personal essay written by David Sedaris for The New Yorker, to kick off a conversation with listeners about the challenges and joys of being neighbors, our duty to strangers, and the unique possibility of connection and disconnection in New York City.

Listeners called in to share stories of neighbors helping neighbors, or deciding not to, and reflected on the particular character of New Yorkers' approach to those who need help.

 

Thursday, Feb. 19 at 8 PM Eastern: ICE in Our Schools

Recent reporting in The New Yorker examines how schools, teachers and students in Minneapolis are being impacted by the recent actions of federal immigration enforcement agents. But conversations about how to navigate ICE's presence on and around school property are taking place among educators around the country. The Trump administration has also defended certain enforcement actions in court, leading to an uncommonly poetic court ruling lambasting ICE practices that circumvent judicial oversight.

Listeners, especially educators and school administrators were invited to call in and share: How has the national issue of immigration enforcement become present in your school, and how you've been responding to it?

Actors Sam Waterston, Julianne Moore and Daphne Rubin-Vega performed the New Yorker's reporting and judicial ruling.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

WNYC Homepage - Top Stories

NJ Gov. Sherrill: If state police were too aggressive at Delaney Hall, we'll look into it

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill took call after call Wednesday night from people who told her state police had been overly aggressive in violent clashes with protesters outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center this weekend.
Ask Governor Sherrill |

I.C.E.'s "Wartime Recruitment" Campaign

Hiring at the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency.
On the Media |

Who is ICE detaining at NJ's Delaney Hall? Not as many criminals as DHS suggests.

More than 10,000 people have been detained at the facility. Most have no criminal background.
Gothamist |

Ask the Mayor Recap and More News From City Hall

Elizabeth Kim discusses the issues Mayor Mamdani talked about in his first "ask the mayor" segment.
The Brian Lehrer Show |
YOU ARE ONLINE