Hello everyone! We're going into #TheUpdate vault to play one of our many episodes throughout our many years of the show. For today's episode, we go into the world of 2020- or as we call it around here, Year 4 of The Update. It was a weird year- starting off in the WKRB studios and then going out on the road (in the middle of a pandemic no less!), but somehow, we found a way to make it work. Oh, and one last thing about this episode- after the show aired, one of my former producers who happened to be listening to the show called me up and invited me out to lunch. How about that?
Today’s Update Journal is taking you on a rollercoaster — the kind where one minute you’re debating childcare policy and the next you’re suddenly emotional over cranberry sauce. Buckle up. First, we dive into The Childcare Question: the promise, the price tag, and the collective New York skepticism of “Okay… but can we actually do this, or are we all just pretending?” It’s ambitious, it’s inspiring, and it’s giving very much “group project where only one person is doing all the work.” Then, we fully pivot — because that’s how this show works — into the Thanksgiving memory I always come back to. You know the one. Parade balloons soaring overhead, me on video chat with Tommie while she’s off in Delaware, and me trying not to burn anything in the kitchen because I was unsupervised. A true holiday classic.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Monday, New York Jets cornerback and special teams standout Kris Boyd was critically injured in a shooting in midtown Manhattan, according to Mayor Adams’ office.
Two people have been killed, including a 10-year-old boy, and three others wounded in a mass shooting in Newark.
And in Charlotte, North Carolina, a top Border Patrol commander touted dozens of arrests in North Carolina’s largest city as Charlotte residents reported encounters with federal immigration agents near churches, apartment complexes and stores.
Hello everyone! We're going into #TheUpdate vault to play one of our many episodes throughout our many years of the show. For today's episode, we go into the world of 2020- or as we call it around here, Year 4 of The Update. It was a weird year- starting off in the WKRB studios and then going out on the road (in the middle of a pandemic no less!), but somehow, we found a way to make it work. Oh, and one last thing about this episode- after the show aired, one of my former producers who happened to be listening to the show called me up and invited me out to lunch. How about that?
Hello everyone! We're going into #TheUpdate vault to play one of our many episodes throughout our many years of the show. For today's episode, we go into the world of 2020- or as we call it around here, Year 4 of The Update. It was a weird year- starting off in the WKRB studios and then going out on the road (in the middle of a pandemic no less!), but somehow, we found a way to make it work. Oh, and one last thing about this episode- after the show aired, one of my former producers who happened to be listening to the show called me up and invited me out to lunch. How about that?
Today’s Update Journal delivers a full buffet of stories — and like any good buffet, you’re not sure how these dishes ended up next to each other, but somehow it works. We kick things off with a genuine MTA miracle — yes, you read that right — as the Mamdani proposal inches from pipe dream to possible reality, proving that sometimes transit justice does show up fashionably late. Then we pivot to the funeral for America’s last penny. It lived a long life, annoyed generations of cashiers, and bought absolutely nothing since 1968. Meanwhile, cable news has entered its “let’s just try something new and hope the ratings gods are kind” era. MSNBC has officially rebranded itself as MS NOW — because apparently someone in corporate stood up during a meeting and said, “What if… hear me out… we change the name?” And finally, The Last Word reminds us that as we march toward Thanksgiving, the real stories aren’t in the headlines — they’re at the table. The kitchen table, the folding table, the “we never use this except for holidays” table — all of them. Because nothing brings people together like a feast, a good laugh, and a family member quietly judging the mashed potatoes.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Friday, a man with a gun was killed in a shootout with the NYPD after he pointed his weapon at a man in an apartment building elevator and a deli worker and threatened to shoot up a hospital.
A Long Island man who allegedly smashed up and slashed the tires of nearly a dozen police cruisers parked outside the NYPD’s newest station house was busted after he nearly backed into cops on his tail –and then promptly cut loose in court, cops and prosecutors said.
And in Chicago, The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has been receiving around-the-clock care at home, has been hospitalized with a rare neurological disorder, according to his Chicago-based organization.
On today’s Update Journal, we celebrate Day 44 of the government shutdown finally coming to a close — or at least going on winter break until January, where it will undoubtedly return like an unwelcome Netflix reboot. In the next Mamdani proposal, we dive into “The Public Option for Produce,” the latest idea that sounds promising, confusing, and slightly like a farmers’ market run by the DMV. Meanwhile, NYC Ferry took one look at the one part of their system that was actually working and said, “Let’s fix that immediately,” because nothing says progress like making riders choose between freezing for an hour or sprinting to the Staten Island Ferry like it’s the last chopper out of Vietnam. And for our honorable mention: Coca-Cola has released its first limited-edition holiday soda in five years, which means we’re all legally obligated to try it, love it, and then watch it disappear forever by Valentine’s Day.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Thursday, the super of a Brooklyn apartment building was killed during a violent dispute with a man who was allegedly part of a crew that had been stealing packages from the building since the summer, according to police and sources.
This new gadget is ready to pump the brakes on bad drivers. New “speed limiter” devices for cars are set to force reckless drivers with multiple violations to finally slow down, by linking to their ignitions and capping how fast their car can go with the help of GPS technology.
And in Washington, President Trump signed a government funding bill, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks.
Day 43 of the government shutdown, and Congress swears they’re almost there — though at this point, “almost” has been working harder than most members of Congress. Meanwhile, the post-election hangover continues as the last of the attack ads finally fade off our screens — leaving us with that eerie silence where you start to question if your own toaster is secretly endorsing a candidate. On a more somber note, Jimmy Kimmel faces a heavy loss with the passing of his longtime bandleader, a moment that reminds us even the funniest shows have their quiet heartbreaks. And speaking of heartbreak — in this week’s Brandon’s Take, we confront a national crisis: our collective lie that turkey is the star of Thanksgiving dinner. Deep down, we all know it’s the stuffing and mac-and-cheese carrying the plate, while the turkey just sits there like an unseasoned group project member taking all the credit.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Wednesday, New York City got its first snow of the season as a powerful polar vortex swept across the eastern half of the country, bringing frigid temperatures.
Fallen FDNY firefighter Patrick Brady will receive a hero’s farewell. The married 42-year-old fire department veteran, who died tragically in the line of duty over the weekend, will be mourned at a wake in Brooklyn on Friday and a funeral mass Saturday in his Queens neighborhood before being laid to rest, the FDNY announced.
And in Washington, The Supreme Court extended an order blocking full SNAP payments, amid signals that the government shutdown could soon end and food aid payments resume.
Day 41 of the government shutdown — or as Congress calls it, “Sunday.” Senators gathered for a rare weekend session to “work things out,” which in D.C. language means grandstanding with snacks provided. Meanwhile, in Major League Baseball, the Cleveland Guardians are living up to their name by guarding their right to embarrass the sport. Two of their pitchers have been arrested for gambling, proving once again that MLB can’t go more than a few months without hitting itself in the face with a Louisville Slugger. Back here in the Empire State, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s plan for free buses has hit… well, traffic. Governor Hochul says she’s not ready to move forward with the proposal — which is politician-speak for “We’re gonna study this until everyone forgets.” And yet — somewhere between the shutdowns, scandals, and stalled buses — there’s still something to be thankful for. Maybe it’s the people we love. Maybe it’s the tiny wins. Or maybe it’s just that the ferry still runs on time. Either way, gratitude’s the one thing not on backorder this year.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Monday, a FDNY firefighter died Saturday after suffering a medical episode while battling a five-alarm fire at a Brooklyn apartment building, authorities said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said that SNAP benefits went out to New Yorkers using federal funds after the longest-ever federal government shutdown cut off food stamp payments for the first time.
And in Washington, President Trump’s administration is demanding states “undo” full SNAP benefits paid out under judicial orders in recent days, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans. Meanwhile, on the local level in Sacramento, Acorn squash, Spam and baby food lined the shelves on a recent day at a college food pantry in California’s capital city, a resource that students receiving federal aid to purchase groceries may have to increasingly rely on because that assistance has been in limbo during the government shutdown.
Hello everyone! We're going into #TheUpdate vault to play one of our many episodes throughout our many years of the show. For today's episode, we go into the world of 2020- or as we call it around here, Year 4 of The Update. It was a weird year- starting off in the WKRB studios and then going out on the road (in the middle of a pandemic no less!), but somehow, we found a way to make it work. Oh, and one last thing about this episode- after the show aired, one of my former producers who happened to be listening to the show called me up and invited me out to lunch. How about that?
We've done a lot of episodes throughout our many years of #TheUpdate, but some of them are my personal favorites. Every month, we're going to go into The Update vault and play one episode from my personal list of favorite episodes. I hope you enjoy them as much as i did hosting it.
Hello everyone! We're going into #TheUpdate vault to play one of our many episodes throughout our many years of the show. For today's episode, we go into the world of 2020- or as we call it around here, Year 4 of The Update. It was a weird year- starting off in the WKRB studios and then going out on the road (in the middle of a pandemic no less!), but somehow, we found a way to make it work. Oh, and one last thing about this episode- after the show aired, one of my former producers who happened to be listening to the show called me up and invited me out to lunch. How about that?
If it feels like we’ve been here before—it’s because we have. Day 38 of the government shutdown has Congress stuck in the political version of Groundhog Day, where everyone swears this time they’ll fix it, only to hit “repeat” like a Netflix user who fell asleep on episode one. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi is officially stepping off the stage—for real this time. It’s the political equivalent of your favorite performer announcing their farewell tour… again. But this one might actually stick, since she’s earned enough standing ovations to rival Broadway’s finest. Back here in New York, the post-election mood feels like the confetti never showed up. “The Statue That Never Was” takes center stage for why Curtis Sliwa didn’t drop out—a project that went from “visionary tribute” to “budget whoopsie” faster than you can say “city permit pending.” Over at City Hall, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is still workshopping his hit single, “Safety, But Make It Community.” Picture it: subway outreach teams, health workers in vacant storefronts, and a whole new agency devoted to making you feel warm and fuzzy on your morning commute—assuming the MTA cooperates and your train ever arrives. It’s bold, it’s ambitious, and it’s one bad PowerPoint transition away from a TED Talk. Finally, as the credits roll on this week’s political chaos, we close with something rare: gratitude. It doesn’t trend, it doesn’t go viral, and it definitely doesn’t filibuster—but it still changes everything.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Friday, Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is expected to announce a run for New York governor, according to two people familiar with her plans.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made a triumphant trip to Puerto Rico for an annual summit that brings New York politicians and lobbyists to sunny San Juan for strategy meetings, workshops and boozy confabs.
And in Washington, a former Justice Department employee who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during President Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in Washington was found not guilty of assault in the latest legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
The drama is high, the patience is low, and the popcorn is absolutely necessary. First up, Frustration Airlines is still taxiing endlessly on the shutdown runway, offering complimentary stress and zero arrival updates as we hit day 37 of the government shutdown. Meanwhile, the Mamdani Transition Team is warming up backstage—not with a spotlight, but with a blowtorch—because nothing says “new administration” like controlled chaos in a broom closet labeled Do Not Enter. We’re also going to start looking at Mamdani’s proposals to see what got him elected , and if they’re actually achievable. First up: finding out whether the mayor can actually put your lease on ice, or if this is just political HVAC: lots of noise, occasional heat, and absolutely no guarantee of comfort. In sports, Mets fans endured a Broadway-level betrayal as two of their own pirouetted straight from Queens to the Braves’ dugout. There were boos, tears, and at least one dramatic soliloquy about loyalty, heartbreak, and why we can’t have nice things. And for today’s Honorable Mention: Kraft unveiled a Thanksgiving-themed mac & cheese flavor so baffling that fans nationwide are asking whether this is innovation, performance art, or a subtle form of psychological warfare. Spoiler: nobody’s lining up for seconds.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Thursday, Seven firefighters were injured when a car exploded in the Bronx, sending a giant fireball into the sky.
A deranged Bronx man fatally gunned down three members of his family — including his elderly, “Golden Girl” mother — inside a city housing project before shooting himself to death.
And in Washington, The Federal Aviation Administration said that it was taking the extraordinary step of reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing government shutdown.
We’ve officially crossed it — that invisible threshold where logic, patience, and maybe democracy itself start to fray. On this edition, we’re “Past the Point of No Return,” and the view isn’t exactly scenic. Over in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill pulled off the rarest of political feats — a clean Democratic handoff in the Governor’s Mansion for the first time since the 1960s — proving that Garden State politics can still surprise you, even when the rest of us are too tired to. Meanwhile, across the Hudson, a new era begins in New York City as Zohran Mamdani officially takes the keys to City Hall — and hopefully, the city checkbook. His ambitious plans to freeze rents, make buses free, and fund it all without divine intervention might make even the angels ask for a budget hearing. We’re all rooting for him… but also keeping one hand on the emergency brake. And if that weren’t enough chaos, the government shutdown trudges into Day 36 — now officially the longest in U.S. history, which is really saying something in a country that measures dysfunction in days and dollars. Washington’s still arguing over continuing resolutions like it’s a group project no one wants to do, while millions wait to see if anyone remembers to turn the lights back on. Finally, in Brandon’s Take, we let loose with “Random Rant: Minor Annoyances, Major Rage” — because sometimes, it’s not the big crises that get you. It’s the person who blocks the subway door. It’s the coffee spill right after you put on a clean shirt. It’s the guy in the crosswalk who moves slower than your Wi-Fi on a bad day. Somewhere between national politics and everyday madness, we’re all just trying to keep our sanity — one deep sigh, one eye-roll, and one random rant at a time.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Wednesday, Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York, capping a stunning ascent for the 34-year-old, far-left state lawmaker, who promised to transform city government to restore power to the working class and fight back against a hostile Trump administration. Meanwhile in Uganda, the opposition leader in Uganda’s Parliament sees Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York mayoral race as inspiring but somehow too distant. Across the river in New Jersey, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill was elected governor of New Jersey, raising hopes for Democrats and highlighting Republican vulnerabilities after there had been signs of a rightward shift in recent years in what has been a reliably blue state.
Elsewhere, a Delta Airlines flight was evacuated at LaGuardia airport after crew reported a bomb threat – the second scare at a major US airport in a day, authorities said.
And in Louisville, first responders prepared to resume looking for victims after a UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded in a massive fireball while taking off from the company’s global aviation hub at the airport in Kentucky, killing at least seven people and injuring 11, authorities said.
It’s Day 35 of the government shutdown- at this point, Washington is like that one friend who says they’re “five minutes away” when they haven’t even left the house. Meanwhile, It’s Election Day in New York City — the calm before the political storm, where campaign volunteers are running on caffeine and hope, and voters are just trying to remember if their polling place is still the same deli they went to last year. The city waits, nervously, like a pitcher staring down the final batter in the ninth inning. Meanwhile, in Queens, the Mets are back to doing that thing they do best: convincing us it’ll be different this time. But that might be a little bit harder as Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz have officially opted out of their contracts and are now free agents. The day before election day, President Trump seems to throw his support behind Andrew Cuomo, saying “Regardless of whether you like him or not, you must vote for Andrew Cuomo and hope that he does a good job.” And as ballots are prepped, curveballs are thrown, and coffee pots are refilled across the five boroughs, we’re left with one simple question: who’s getting the keys to City Hall? Whoever it is, I just hope they know how to fix a budget, a bullpen, and a broken MetroCard reader — in that order.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Tuesday, we end our coverage of The Road To City Hall. On the last day of this long running campaign, New York City’s voters are deciding the outcome of a generational and ideological divide that will resonate across the country as they choose the next mayor to run the nation’s largest city.
A driver who crashed his pickup truck into a July Fourth barbecue and killed four people was convicted of murder in the 2024 wreck in a New York City park.
And in Washington, Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at age 84.
It’s Day 34 of the government shutdown, and at this point, Congress has voted so many times they’re probably eligible for frequent-flyer miles. The president’s advice is to “keep voting,” which might work for senators, Mets fans clinging to hope, and anyone still counting calories after Halloween. Meanwhile, in baseball-land, the Dodgers are on top of the world again, the Blue Jays are stuck somewhere in a very cold Toronto winter, and MLB owners are already figuring out how to ruin the sport with another lockout. And here in New York City? We’re on the eve of a new mayor — which means the campaign signs are coming down, the conspiracy theories are heating up, and someone’s about to inherit a subway system that breaks down more than my Wi-Fi.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Monday, we continue our coverage of The Road To City Hall. On the day before Election Day, New York City’s mayoral candidates are making a final push Monday to get voters to the polls, as the race to lead America’s biggest city nears its finale.
The New York City Marathon made history with a course record set in the women’s competition and the closest race ever on the men’s side, which was decided by a fraction of a second.
And in Michigan, a defense lawyer is disputing FBI Director Kash Patel’s allegations that his 20-year-old client and four other young suspects were planning to carry out a terror attack on Halloween weekend.
Thirty-one days into the government shutdown, and we’ve officially crossed from “temporary inconvenience” into “long-term relationship.” Congress is still arguing, the bills are still piling up, and at this point, even the interns are starting to grow beards. The glimmer of hope we saw earlier in the week has dimmed back down to a faint nightlight — the kind that flickers right before the ghost jumps out in a bad horror movie. And speaking of haunted things, we’ve got another big shakeup brewing in the media world. Gayle King — yes, that Gayle King — might be saying goodbye to CBS Mornings next year. It’s being called “a sign of the changing times,” but let’s be real — if Gayle leaves, that show’s going to need more than a new coffee mug set to keep viewers awake. It’s like if your favorite diner suddenly changed the cook. Sure, the eggs are still there, but they just don’t taste the same. Then there’s The Last Word: not everything goes the way you want on Halloween. You plan the perfect night, and suddenly it rains, your costume falls apart, and your candy bag rips open halfway down the block. Happens to the best of us. In my case, I’m still picking melted chocolate out of my jacket pocket from last year. Sometimes Halloween is more trick than treat, and you just have to laugh through it — preferably while eating someone else’s candy.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Friday, two people died in flooded New York City basements during a rainstorm that shut down roadways and caused airport delays, authorities said.
We continue our coverage of The Road To City Hall. With 4 days to go until the general election, Younger New Yorkers are starting to make their mark at the ballot box — turning out at a higher clip over the past few days of early voting in the highly-watched mayoral race.
And go ahead and roll your eyes. Shrug your shoulders. Or maybe just juggle your hands in the air. Dictionary.com’s word of the year isn’t even really a word. It’s the viral term “6-7” that kids and teenagers can’t stop repeating and laughing about and parents and teachers can’t make any sense of.
Thirty days into the government shutdown, and for the first time in weeks, there’s a faint glimmer of hope cutting through the fog in Washington — senators are actually talking again, which in itself feels like breaking news. But as D.C. tries to find its way out of the darkness, the rest of the country is feeling the changing times in more ways than one: from job cuts and media shakeups, to familiar faces suddenly “gone in a flash.” And speaking of flashes — according to new research, the average American spends more than a third of their paycheck within the first twelve hours of getting it. Twelve hours! Some people don’t even finish celebrating payday before their bank account’s already crying for help.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Thursday, we continue our coverage of The Road To City Hall. With 5 days to go until the general election, it’s time for a brief history lesson. In 1977, at the tail end of another bruising battle for New York City mayor, Mario Cuomo publicly spoke up against bigoted remarks leveled at his opponent. Almost 50 years later, his son is taking a different approach. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Janno Lieber hit the brakes on mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani’s key campaign promise to provide free buses across the Big Apple — criticizing the plan as half-baked and much more expensive than proposed.
It’s a Central Park-ing lot! A recreational trail in Central Park meant for joggers and horseback riders has been taken over by city workers using it as a parking lot — with and without official government placards.
And in New Orleans, Immigration authorities did not receive word of a court order blocking the removal of a man living in Alabama until after he had been deported to Laos, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security say, dismissing claims that officials violated the order.
It’s Day 29 of the government shutdown — and Congress is now on what’s being called their thirteenth try at reopening the country. If this were baseball, they’d have struck out weeks ago. The lights are still dim on Capitol Hill, the bills are still unpaid, and hope is hanging by a thread thinner than a fun-sized Twizzler. But speaking of Halloween, not all the scary stuff this week is happening in Washington. As kids prepare for their annual sugar-fueled night of chaos, there’s another debate brewing across America — the one over which candies should never see the inside of a trick-or-treat bag. In Brandon’s Take, we’re diving into the “worst treats” list — those so-called goodies that feel more like a trick. From the infamous circus peanuts and hard butterscotch candies that seem to have survived since 1978, to the dreaded toothbrush handouts and the candy corn wars that divide households, it’s time to expose the real Halloween villains.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Wednesday, have you seen these men? A trio of brazen burglars sporting construction vests busted into a Queens home in broad daylight and made off with $3.2 million — with cops hoping surveillance footage can help nab the crooks.
President Trump is seeking to reverse the historic Manhattan hush money conviction that branded him a felon as he campaigned for a second White House term last year.
And in the Caribbean, heavy floodwaters swept across southwestern Jamaica, winds tore roofs off buildings and boulders tumbled onto roads as Hurricane Melissa pummeled the Caribbean island as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.
Is that something sweet a trick or a treat? Halloween is just a few days away, and children are about to be running door to door in search of candies and chocolates — the annual sugar marathon where pillowcases turn into bank vaults and parents suddenly rediscover their “inspection tax.” But while the kids are getting ready to collect their loot, one scientist is warning parents about the dangers of allowing their kids to indulge in certain treats this spooky, candy-driven holiday. Meanwhile, in Washington, the grown-ups aren’t doing much better. Twenty-eight days into the government shutdown, Congress continues to prove that you can’t spell “trick” without “politic.” Federal workers are missing paychecks, federal agencies are running on fumes, and the only thing getting handed out in D.C. are excuses.
In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Tuesday, we continue our coverage of The Road To City Hall. With 7 days to go until the general election, New York City’s mayoral race is turning from a blowout into a competitive race – with ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo cutting front-runner Zohran Mamdani’s lead in half from a month ago, a new poll found. Meanwhile, in early voting, voters 50 and up accounted for nearly 60% of ballots cast during the first two days of early voting in the city’s mayoral election, data shows.
A lawsuit that was filed seeks to redraw the boundaries of the only congressional district in New York City represented by a Republican, arguing that its current configuration unconstitutionally dilutes the power of Black and Latino voters.
And in the American West, the 22-year-old Utah man charged with killing Charlie Kirk can appear in court wearing street clothes but must be physically restrained due to security concerns, a judge ruled.