Best Wnycstudios Podcasts (2024)

1
Everything Is Too Damn High: Facts vs Feelings on Harris and Trump's Economic Plans 50:09

1h ago50:09

50:09

The 2024 Democratic National Convention was a spectacle filled with rhetoric around the middle class and the goal of creating an “opportunity economy.” But what does that actually mean for millions of Americans concerned about the cost of housing, childcare, gas and groceries in their communities? Host Kai Wright is joined by Today, Explained co-ho…

1
Who’s Winning the Swing States? Let’s Check the Polls. 28:14

1h ago28:14

28:14

Everything about the dynamic of the 2024 election changed when Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris to take his place on the Democratic Party ticket. But are the polls looking much different now that there’s a new match-up? This week, host Kai Wright gets Patrick Toomey on the call to talk about some of the latest sur…

1
How Greek Life and HBCUs shaped Kamala Harris and a Generation of Black Students 48:48

4h ago48:48

48:48

The Vice President came of age inside collegiate institutions that have shaped Black, middle-class culture for generations. She says they imprinted deeply upon her as well. Kamala Harris's story is remarkable in numerous ways. If elected president, she’ll be the first coming from several life experiences, including one that many Black commentators …

1
Gaza Is Kamala Harris’s Moral Challenge, and Also Her Opportunity 33:44

3h ago33:44

33:44

Slate staff writer Aymann Ismail gets “On the Call” with host Kai Wright to share his reporting on the “uncommitted” Democrats pushing Kamala Harris for an arms embargo on Israel — and the awkward scene he found at the Republican National Convention. Plus, they talk about the nominee’s notorious “I’m speaking” moment at a rally in Detroit in respon…

1
Megan Thee Stallion, Kid Rock, and the Musical Politics of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump 39:39

2d ago39:39

39:39

It’s been a turbulent election year so far and artists at the forefront of the conversation match that energy. From Megan Thee Stallion debuting “Hotties for Harris,” to Sexxy Red sporting MAGA red, to Charli XCX declaring “kamala IS brat”, to Kid Rock’s rally cry of “fight, fight” during his performance at the RNC — it’s hard to imagine what song …

1
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Caught the Vibe of 2024. What Will That Change? 39:15

5d ago39:15

39:15

The Harris for President 2024 Campaign made its latest political move by announcing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’ choice for vice president. The selection of Walz signals that, for Democrats, this election is about more than just defeating Donald Trump, says author and political commentator Anand Giridharadas. He joins host Kai Wrig…

1
The Juxtaposition of Sonya Massey's Killing and Kamala Harris' Presidential Run 50:53

8d ago50:53

50:53

Kamala Harris’s nomination for president is historic and unprecedented. But one thing that has followed Harris since her initial campaign for president in 2019 are the many questions around her record as a prosecutor, district attorney and eventually the Attorney General of California. These questions have come to a head through the lens of the bru…

1
James Baldwin's Words Continue to Challenge us 100 Years After His Birth 27:53

10d ago27:53

27:53

On August 2, 1924, a baby boy was born at Harlem Hospital in New York City — one who would grow up to become one of the most celebrated writers and thinkers of the 20th century. James Baldwin’s novels, essays and ideas were captivating and controversial. They challenged society’s ideas of race, power, sexuality and belonging through politics that w…

101
Kamala Harris Is a ‘Supreme Court Realist.’ So Will She Reform It? 41:14

25d ago41:14

41:14

President Joe Biden says he has a plan to reform the Supreme Court — one that will keep presidential power in check. Political commentator Elie Mystal says it’s about time. Mystal is the justice correspondent for The Nation magazine and someone who has been advocating (at the top of his lungs) for SCOTUS reform for years. In this episode of “On the…

101
A History of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement Through One Activist's Life Story 51:46

27d ago51:46

51:46

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu’s July 24th address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress was skipped by roughly half of the Democratic caucus, including the party's new presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. This marks a shift in Democratic Party politics around Israel and Palestine after nearly 10 months of mass protest…

151
Did 44,000 Black Women Just Close Dems' 'Enthusiasm Gap' in One Zoom Call? 22:25

1M ago22:25

22:25

Perhaps you’ve noticed: the news is newsing in overdrive lately. Notes from America is meeting the moment with an extra podcast drop on Thursdays starting today. Welcome to On the Call, a pop-up podcast series of conversations about politics, voters and democracy right now. While most of America was still processing the news that President Joe Bide…

1
Biden Was Their Candidate. How Are Americans Feeling Now That Kamala Harris Is Poised To Replace Him? 50:15

1M ago50:15

50:15

“The call was coming from inside the house,” says Fordham University political scientist Christina Greer about the pressure campaign Democrats applied to President Joe Biden in the weeks since his debate against Republican contender Donald Trump. Biden’s fitness for another four-year term had been called into question, and although he seemed determ…

1
Trump Assassination Attempt Exposes Security Concerns, Conspiracy Theories and a Democracy In Danger 51:38

1M ago51:38

51:38

Federal investigators are charged with uncovering how a 20-year-old man was able to use an automatic rifle from a rooftop just outside of a campaign rally for Donald Trump to open fire, killing one attendee and injuring others, including the former president. The horrific images from the rally flooded social media timelines, followed by conspiracy …

1
What 100 Years Of Audio Can Tell Us About Black Americans and Belonging 51:36

2M ago51:36

51:36

WNYC, the most listened-to public radio station in America and the production home of this podcast, turns 100 years old this year. Its audio archives are full of gems from history — including voices, interviews and performances from some of the most well-known Black Americans of the 20th century. In this episode, host Kai Wright digs through some o…

1
Biden's Struggles, Trump's Lies and What Your Post-Debate Depression Means for November 50:36

2M ago50:36

50:36

When President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump shared the stage for the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season, it was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Namely, it displayed a concern of many Americans: Biden’s age and acuity. We watched two men, both in the late years of their lives, both of whom have already spent de…

1
Can American democracy ever be truly democratic? 50:34

2M ago50:34

50:34

Minority rule – by which a few get to decide the outcomes for many – is eroding American democracy at nearly every level, according to veteran journalist Ari Berman, author of Minority Rule: the Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People―and the Fight to Resist It. In this episode, host Kai Wright talks to Berman about how the U.S. has been in a p…

1
How Black People Built American Democracy: A Juneteenth Celebration 50:24

2M ago50:24

50:24

The promise of American democracy could not be fulfilled until all Americans were free. Following the moment of Black liberation marked by Juneteenth, Black Americans began the ongoing project of securing and protecting their rights to vote, and to lead. In this special Juneteenth episode, host Kai Wright traces the lineage of our democracy being a…

1
Message Received: Listener Questions About Trump, What ‘The Wiz’ Means and Stories About Summer 15:29

2M ago15:29

15:29

Back in April, some of our listeners told us they were “Trump curious.” A few months later, the former president is now a convicted criminal and other listeners have lingering questions. The Notes from America inbox is always teeming with interesting takes from our audience and in this episode, host Kai Wright is joined by producer Regina de Heer t…

1
Tony-Nominated Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on Using Theater to Make Sense of Nonsense 45:27

3M ago45:27

45:27

Ten years after its original staging, “Appropriate” has received eight Tony Award nominations. Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins talks about the moments of his life that inspired it. The play tells the story of three siblings reuniting in their family home after the death of their father. Charged with going through his belongings, the children disc…

1
Still In Recovery From Being Shot, Hisham Awartani Commits To a Summer of Activism 15:18

3M ago15:18

15:18

Notes from America producer Suzanne Gaber returns to the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, for an update on Hisham Awartani, a 21-year-old student of Palestinian descent, who was paralyzed after being shot during a holiday break in Vermont in 2023. As Awartani continues to work on his physical recovery and navigating life in a…

1
Is Donald Trump's Historic Felony Conviction Just a Part of Our New Political Normal? 38:46

3M ago38:46

38:46

Last week, a jury in Manhattan handed down a guilty verdict in the hush money trial of Donald J. Trump for 34 counts related to falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election. Even though the verdict made Trump the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes, most American voters say the outcome of the trial doesn’t make muc…

1
What Does It Mean To Be Free? 50:11

3M ago50:11

50:11

Author Ayana Mathis' new novel, The Unsettled, is an intergenerational story centered around one Black family’s struggle to find freedom in the 1980s. Like her previous work, migration and movement are major themes in the book. But this time, her characters are at a crossroads, unsure of their next step in search of self-determination. Mathis joins…

1
Class Of 2024 Grads Reflect On Being Expected to Change the World 49:11

3M ago49:11

49:11

We should all know by now how foolish it is to underestimate youth. Gen Z, the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012, has already changed the world in ways that no one could have anticipated, from mass protests against gun violence to international movements to reckon with climate change. For members of this generation who are part of the…

1
Why Divestment Is At the Core of Student Protests 51:13

3M ago51:13

51:13

While news coverage has been justifiably focused on the aggressive police response to anti-war college protests at campuses around the country, it’s noteworthy that a handful of U.S. schools have agreed to come to the table with students and discuss their demands. At the top of the list for many campus activists: divestment. At Brown University, wh…

1
What ‘The Wiz’ Was And Is to Black Culture 49:56

4M ago49:56

49:56

The iconic musical “The Wiz” has returned to Broadway. The Black take on “The Wizard of Oz” debuted in 1974, featuring theater stars such as Stephanie Mills, André De Shields and Dee Dee Bridgewater. It was later adapted as a film starring Diana Ross, Lena Horne and Michael Jackson. After decades of countless local stage productions and bootleg VHS…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Wnycstudios Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Notes from America with Kai Wright

WNYC Studios

1
10 Things That Scare Me

WNYC Studios

1
The Realness

WNYC Studios

1
Everything Is Too Damn High: Facts vs Feelings on Harris and Trump's Economic Plans 50:09

1
Who’s Winning the Swing States? Let’s Check the Polls. 28:14

1
How Greek Life and HBCUs shaped Kamala Harris and a Generation of Black Students 48:48

1
Gaza Is Kamala Harris’s Moral Challenge, and Also Her Opportunity 33:44

1
Megan Thee Stallion, Kid Rock, and the Musical Politics of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump 39:39

1
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Caught the Vibe of 2024. What Will That Change? 39:15

1
The Juxtaposition of Sonya Massey's Killing and Kamala Harris' Presidential Run 50:53

1
James Baldwin's Words Continue to Challenge us 100 Years After His Birth 27:53

101
Kamala Harris Is a ‘Supreme Court Realist.’ So Will She Reform It? 41:14

101
A History of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement Through One Activist's Life Story 51:46

151
Did 44,000 Black Women Just Close Dems' 'Enthusiasm Gap' in One Zoom Call? 22:25

1
Biden Was Their Candidate. How Are Americans Feeling Now That Kamala Harris Is Poised To Replace Him? 50:15

1
Trump Assassination Attempt Exposes Security Concerns, Conspiracy Theories and a Democracy In Danger 51:38

1
What 100 Years Of Audio Can Tell Us About Black Americans and Belonging 51:36

1
Biden's Struggles, Trump's Lies and What Your Post-Debate Depression Means for November 50:36

1
Can American democracy ever be truly democratic? 50:34

1
How Black People Built American Democracy: A Juneteenth Celebration 50:24

1
Message Received: Listener Questions About Trump, What ‘The Wiz’ Means and Stories About Summer 15:29

1
Tony-Nominated Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on Using Theater to Make Sense of Nonsense 45:27

1
Still In Recovery From Being Shot, Hisham Awartani Commits To a Summer of Activism 15:18

1
Is Donald Trump's Historic Felony Conviction Just a Part of Our New Political Normal? 38:46

1
What Does It Mean To Be Free? 50:11

1
Class Of 2024 Grads Reflect On Being Expected to Change the World 49:11

1
Why Divestment Is At the Core of Student Protests 51:13

1
What ‘The Wiz’ Was And Is to Black Culture 49:56

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