This Friday, 7:30 PM at an East Village Loft - sign up here

​For years, the world’s wealthiest individuals have pledged to donate much of their fortunes to philanthropy and private foundations. But are we truly better off when billionaires dedicate their resources to giving — or when they use that capital to fund innovation, technology, and bold new ventures?

​See the billionaires and philanthropists who have signed The Giving Pledge, committing to “do the most good” through charitable giving and measurable programs. Yet key questions remain: How effectively is this capital used? How do we track its real-world impact?

​Join Unmuted for an apartment wine night, an evening of conversation and curiosity. Bring a bottle or a snack, meet new people, and discuss ideas that just might change the world.

7:30 PM - “Doors” Open

8 PM A discussion on if society would be better off if billionaires exclusively invested in technology, or exclusively in philanthropy (OR should someone else decide for them…)
Moderator: Nitesh Donti, Founding Member of Unmuted

9:30 PM After-party at a nearby bar to bother strangers about the question of the night!

The events I’ve got my eye on this week across the spectrum. Apple’s dependence on China, Drug Decriminalization, and the world’s smallest violin for the plight of billionaires!

🗓 Monday, October 20
• 6:00 PM – Build Back NYC (🟦 Left Leaning, Housing)
Where: FiDi, The Irish American Pub
Who: UNMUTED
What: Ed Manzi interviews Amanda Farías, Majority Leader of NY City Council. We’re talking housing affordability (EVERYONE’s biggest issue) and Economic Dev (just what the hell is that?) in an off-the-record chat.

🗓 Tuesday, October 21
• 6:00 PM – Drug Decriminalization Debate(⚪ Debate, Drugs)
Where: The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture
Who: The Soho Forum, Reason
What: Monthly Soho Forum debate on whether Oregon’s track record with drug decriminalization is a sign that other drug decriminalization state efforts will fail. Between a senior producer of Reason (he believes they will) and a former White House drug policy official for lib admins (he believes that they won’t). No drugs will be provided but drinks included after at Torch & Crown.

• 6:00 PM – Bill Roggio on Israel, Iran, and Qatar (🟥 Right, Israel)
Where: The Jewish Center, Floor 10
Who: West Side Republican Club
What: Foreign policy expert Bill Roggio talks about Israel’s attacks on Iran’s proxy terrorist orgs and their effectiveness. This is one step adjacent to Israel-Palestine discussions, but I doubt that it won’t be touched.

• 6:30 PM – Rising Professional Reception (🟥 Republican, NYC Politics)
Where: Pubkey
Who: Cato Institute
What: Chat with Ryan Bourne of the Cato Institute moderated by the managing editor of Free Society. Focused on Zohran Mamdani, his “war on prices” and likely effects based on historical precedent (spoiler alert: Cato does not like this lol). Currently waitlist only, but likely you can just show up.

🗓 Wednesday, October 22

• 6:00 PM – The Real End of WWII 80 Years Ago (⚪ History)
Where: Roosevelt House
Who: Roosevelt House
What: A bunch of scholars discuss the final events of WW2 and what really brought the war to a close and what defined that end. A bunch of fancy historian discuss - preeminent naval historian Craig Symonds, international affairs expert Stephen Schlesinger, and Hunter’s own WWII scholar Benjamin Carter Hett. I know this isn’t the answer they are going to give, but my money is on the whole “Atomic Bomb” thing.

• 6:30 PM – Patrick McGee on Apple in China (⚪ Foreign Policy, China)
Where: Asia Society
Who: Asia Society
What: I don’t love posting too many events from one group. But this is a MUST attend if you want to understand how we got to where we are today with China relations. A book talk that will show just how powerful China’s hold is on a key American business, and why it matters. Moderated by Zeyi Yang, senior writer at WIRED

🗓 Thursday, Oct 23
• 5:30 PM – Technology and the Politics of Resistance
(🟦 Definitely Lib, Technology)
Where: Fordham University, JMCC 112
Who: Fordham’s Center for Ethics Education
What: Honestly, there is isn’t a ton of info on this but I’m curious. What is technology in relation to resistance politics. Likely a left leaning event given a) it’s a university and b) the word “resistance”.

• 6:00 PM – Using Gen AI to Analyze the NYC Mayoral Race
(⚪ Non-partisan, NYC Politics)
Where: Civic Hall
Who: AI NYC
What: Who’s going to win the race for NYC Mayor? It’s literally the only thing anyone is talking about these days…does GenAI have a better way to predict the outcome than Kalshi market making or your typical polls, or just common sense (I mean…we know who’s going to win)? A nifty workshop on how you can use Gen AI to get deeper into political predictions using campaign messaging, social sentiment, etc. I’ll be there!

🗓 Friday, Oct 24
• 7:30 PM – THE BILLIONAIRES’ DILEMMA (⚪ Non-partisan, Social)
Where: East Village Lounge
Who: UNMUTED
What: An apartment wine night on what billionaires’ should be doing with their money to make the world a better place. Come to meet new people who also want to talk about big issues seriously.

🗓 Saturday, Oct 25
• 12 PM – Coffee with Conservatives (🟦 Right, Social)
Where: TBD
Who: HeRose and Heroines
What: Small coffee and food event for conservatives in the city who want to connect with other conservatives. Looks like 4-6 person gatherings, with this version being about colleges. Could be interesting, or just really sketch. Let me know if you go!

• 4 PM – THE BLUE PARTY - no link, entry fee $20 (🟦 Left, Social)
Where: The Bench
Who: Manhattan Young Dems
What: If you’re a New York Lib, this is the party for you. DJ and everything. If you’re not a lib, this still seems like a fun time, so just pretend to be one! Dress code is Blue!!

🗓 Sunday, Oct 26
• 10 AM – Justice on Trial (🟦 Left, Legal)
Where: SVA Theatre
Who: The New Yorker
What: I would kill to go to this, but it’s currently sold out! If anyone has tickets they are not interested in, let me know! The thirty-sixth Deputy Attorney General of the U.S., Sally Yates, and the New Yorker writers Jeannie Suk Gersen (Harvard Law professor), Ruth Marcus, and Amy Davidson Sorkin will discuss whether one of the most important guardrails for American democracy is up for the test in the second Trump admin.

Show up, think deeper, and as always, stay Unmuted!

The Unmuted Team