NYC NOW

NYC Now helps New Yorkers understand the city through original reporting and sharp analysis from WNYC and Gothamist, digging into the news, culture, and conversations shaping life in New York.

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Inside the NYPD Unit Mayor Zohran Mamdani Wants to Dismantle Thursday, February 5, 2026

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ran on a promise to dismantle the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, a unit long criticized for its role in policing protests. But weeks into his administration, SRG officers are still being deployed, including at recent anti ICE demonstrations that led to mass arrests. In this episode, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Ben Feuerherd explains how the unit was created, how it evolved from a counterterrorism force into a protest policing squad, and why critics say its structure and training created problems from the start. We also look at what Mamdani is now saying about disbanding the unit and why, for the moment, it remains in use.

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Solving New York’s Child Care Crisis Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Child care costs are reshaping family life in New York City with many parents saying they pay tens of thousands of dollars a year. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to expand free child care for two year olds. In this episode, Janae talks to parents about the financial strain they're under, and WNYC’s Karen Yi explains what the plan would deliver, who would qualify, and why advocates warn that without more funding and better pay for child care workers, the system could crack instead of expand.

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Zohran Mamdani’s First 30 Days as Mayor. How Has He Done? Saturday, January 31, 2026

One month into Zohran Mamdani’s tenure as New York City mayor, his governing style is starting to take shape. From a snowstorm that tested his crisis response to early moves on child care alongside Governor Kathy Hochul, Mamdani has paired constant public visibility with a push to deliver on his affordability agenda. WNYC city politics reporters Brigid Bergin and Liz Kim assess what he has accomplished so far, where he has political leverage, and the challenges ahead as he tries to run the city while sustaining the movement politics that powered his rise.

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What Saks’ Bankruptcy Says About NYC Business Right Now Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue filed for bankruptcy this month. Janae and producer Iru head up to 5th Av. to check on the iconic NYC department store, and WNYC’s Ryan Kailath breaks down why this isn’t the kind of bankruptcy that leads to a liquidation sale but still flashes a warning sign for NYC businesses. Plus, where's all this snow going? Sanitation Department Deputy Joshua Commissioner gives us a peak into the system. Correction: An earlier version of this episode incorrectly stated that Saks Fifth Avenue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In fact, it was Saks Global—the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman—that filed. The episode has been updated.

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Arts & Culture Check In: Bronx Art, Grammy Buzz, and Great Chinese Food Monday, January 26, 2026

In this edition of Arts & Culture Check In, WNYC’s arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper walks through what’s landing on the culture desk right now. That includes Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s latest use of pop culture references, concerts worth attending, and the Bronx Museum’s AIM Biennial spotlighting local artists. We also look at the Gotham Book Prize finalists, how New York shows up in this year’s Grammy nominations, and where to find standout Chinese food in Long Island City.

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A Major Landlord Filed for Bankruptcy. New York City Tried to Intervene. Here’s What Happened. Friday, January 23, 2026

More than 5,000 rent stabilized apartments are set to change hands after the Pinnacle Group, once one of New York City’s largest landlords, entered bankruptcy and a judge approved the sale of its buildings. The case drew unusual attention when Mayor Zohran Mamdani made the bankruptcy proceedings one of his first public fights after taking office, arguing that the sale would leave tenants worse off. This episode traces how Pinnacle’s business model unraveled, what this battle over the sale tells us about the limits of city power when big landlords unwind through bankruptcy.

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Who Is Mira Nair? The Filmmaker Who Shaped NYC’s Mayor Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Mira Nair is an acclaimed filmmaker whose documentary-inspired work often centers on identity and belonging. Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi helps us explore how Nair’s focus on empathy and way of seeing the world may have shaped the worldview of her son, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

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What's Next for New York City Nightlife? Monday, January 19, 2026

New York City is the city that never sleeps, and its nightlife shapes the city’s culture, economy, and politics. In this episode, we speak with Ariel Palitz, the city’s first director of the Office of Nightlife, about building the office, the systemic challenges nightlife faces, and what the city can do to build more creative and inclusive spaces for life at night.

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Mayor Mamdani’s Name Dropping Strategy, Staten Island’s Award Winning Bathroom, and the Comedy Grind Friday, January 16, 2026

In this episode, WNYC’s arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper discusses some of the stories his desk is covering at the moment, including how Mayor Zohran Mamdani uses pop culture name dropping to connect with different audiences, why a Staten Island public restroom just won a major architecture award, and what it actually takes to get stage time at the Comedy Cellar.

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Newsflash, the Rent Is Still Too Damn High. And Other Things New York Renters Need to Know in 2026 Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Housing is the issue that shapes how long people can stay in New York and whether they feel secure once they do. With a new mayor taking office and major housing decisions unfolding in courts, boardrooms, and city agencies, we take a step back to explain what is actually driving affordability right now. Tenant rights attorney and city planning commissioner Leah Goodridge breaks down how the system works, why rent stabilization is under attack, what “affordable housing” really means, and what renters should be watching next as housing policy enters a pivotal moment.

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Congestion Pricing One Year Later: Was It as Bad as Everyone Said? Monday, January 12, 2026

A year after congestion pricing took effect in Manhattan, the political uproar has largely faded even as the tolls remain in place. Traffic is down, transit use is up, and the dire warnings that once surrounded the program have quieted. WNYC transportation reporter Stephen Nessen looks back at how New Yorkers have adjusted, why backlash softened over time, and how the city’s experience fits into a global pattern seen in places like Stockholm and London.

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NYC Now Is Taking a Short Break Monday, January 5, 2026

NYC Now is taking the week off to reset and plan what’s next. We’ll be back with new episodes soon. In the meantime, listeners can catch up on past episodes, explore Gothamist, and send story ideas or feedback to nycnow@wnyc.org.

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Best of 2025: What Makes a Strip Club? Thursday, January 1, 2026

In November, Bodega Paradise, an X rated bar in East Harlem, had its liquor license revoked and was forced to shut down. WNYC producer Iru Ekpunobi walks us through what happened, based on reporting by Charles Lane, and explains how New York City defines adult entertainment and enforces those rules.

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Best of 2025: NYC’s Shark Summer Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Drones started spotting sharks off New York City beaches this summer, leading to multiple closures. We take a look back at Janae’s conversations with WNYC’s Liam Quigley and marine biologist Hans Walters about what the sightings really mean.

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Best of 2025: Cheat on Everything Tuesday, December 30, 2025

A Columbia University student was suspended after creating an AI-powered job interview tool. Janae talks with WNYC’s Ryan Kailaith about why the app sparked such strong reactions and how common AI use has become on campuses.

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Best of 2025: The End of Late Night Television Monday, December 29, 2025

A look back at CBS’s decision to end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2026. Janae talks with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman about what led to the cancellation, what it says about the state of late-night TV, and how changing audiences and media habits are reshaping comedy.

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A Push for Second Chances in New York Prisons and a Taste of Hell’s Kitchen Friday, December 26, 2025

Criminal justice advocates are renewing a push for a Second Look law in New York, which would allow people serving long prison sentences to ask judges to reconsider their cases after decades behind bars. WNYC’s Ryan Kost reports on how the proposal could affect thousands of incarcerated New Yorkers. Plus, we head to Hell’s Kitchen, where food critic Robert Sietsema says one of the city’s most crowded neighborhoods is also one of its best places to eat.

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Holiday Shows Light up the City and Sweet Potatoes Are in Season Thursday, December 25, 2025

New York State is banning the sale of the herbal supplement kratom to anyone under 21 and will require warning labels on products, citing addiction and safety concerns. Meanwhile, mental health experts say the holidays can be especially hard for many New Yorkers coping with grief, stress, or disrupted routines. Plus, WNYC’s Hannah Frishberg looks at a growing list of newer holiday performances that are becoming seasonal traditions across the city. Finally, we wrap up with what’s in season at Greenmarkets right now: sweet potatoes, a versatile staple for holiday meals.

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Elevator Complaints and Holiday Viruses Wednesday, December 24, 2025

A Gothamist analysis finds elevator complaints have steadily increased since 2021, especially in the Bronx. Plus, how to stay healthy during the peak of the holiday season.

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The State of Public Bathrooms and MetroCard Phaseout Concerns for Elderly New Yorkers Tuesday, December 23, 2025

New York City artists say they are pulling back from work centered on race, immigration, and gender identity after federal arts funding was rolled back. Meanwhile, the Port Authority is bracing for a busy holiday travel period with millions expected to pass through regional airports and crossings. Also, in Westchester County, prosecutors say officers seen beating and tasing a Peekskill man will not face criminal charges. Plus, a City Council investigation finds public bathrooms across the five boroughs are often dirty, closed, or missing basic amenities. Finally, as the MTA prepares to stop selling MetroCards, some elderly New Yorkers say the transition to OMNY is leaving them behind.