Unmuted's Political Pulse
Hi there! The Political Pulse is a newsletter on events across the spectrum and occasional thoughts on America.
Ed Manzi here - I run Unmuted, an offline hub for intelligent people to discuss the issues of our time without judgment. In our newsletter, I highlight one upcoming Unmuted event a week, and we also highlight a number of other organization events that I find interesting across the political spectrum. In addition, every month we will publish one piece of thoughtful, Founding Member content. We’re open to feedback, so let us know what you like and want to improve!
Our highlighted Unmuted event
Who is the Law for….really?
People go to top law schools for a few reasons. For some, it is a clear way to make an impressive, stable amount of money (if you can handle the hours and type of work) and build a career. For some others, it’s a way to spend three years in school again because you couldn’t figure out what you wanted to do with your life. For a VERY small contingent, being a lawyer is actually their natural skillset.
First and foremost though, the idea of being lawyer is SEXY. It signals a way to give voice to the voiceless, speak truth to power, and all those other fun turns of phrase. Whether the promise of civil rights law, public defense, politics, or otherwise, many promising lawyers see this as a path to public service of the highest order.
But does it actually work that way? How has the law actually panned out for America? Corporations can hire teams of lawyers to cut off new competition, the rotating door between public and private is real and messy in DC, and in urban areas, we’ve built a wall of regulations that make building new housing nearly impossible.
It’s not black and white, but it is UNMUTED. Tickets here to reserve your space. This Wednesday, January 14. 6:30 - 8:30 PM. 5 spots remain.
Lawyer or not, you probably an opinion on them..
Upcoming Unmuted Events
Wednesday, 1/14: An Unmuted Dinner: Justice for Who? The Law in America (link)
Thursday, 1/15: An Unmuted Special: Capitalism. Communism. Comedy.
(link)
Announcement: Our comedians of the night will be John Moses, Laura High, and Phil Hunt. I’m super excited - check the IG bios to get a flavor of what they bring.
Thursday, 1/28: An Unmuted Dialogue: Venezuela Legality (stay tuned)
This Week
Events of the Week
The events I’ve got my eye on this week across the spectrum. No Unmuted events this week - but aiming to hit 1 per week on average going forward!
🗓 Monday, January 12
•6 PM – An Evening with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch
Subject: Mamdani, Policing, Tisch
Where: 47-49 East 65th Street New York, New York, 10065
Who: Roosevelt House
What: Former congressman Carolyn Maloney talks to current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on the NYPD going into the new administration. I do NOT know how to get into this event, but if someone can figure that out let me know! Should be a banger.
🗓 Tuesday, January 13
•5 PM – Navigating Your Immigration Journey
Subject: Immigration, Africa
Where: Fabrik, 12–16 Vestry Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013
Who: Africa Village Square
What: Panel discussion and networking mixer focused on navigating the immigration journey as an African. “Hear from experienced voices, gain practical insights, and connect with others within the community.” Not a lot of context otherwise, but seems interesting and useful? Will probably feature immigration lawyers.
•6:30 PM – What Now? Community, Love, Grief, and Resistance
Subject: COVID, AIDS, Prevention
Where: 743 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218
Who: Lofty Pigeon Books
What: Conversation and Q&A on lessons from HIV/AIDS activism and their relevance to Long COVID, focusing on advocacy, care, resistance, and public policy outcomes. This feels like an event where everyone will be wearing a COVID mask…I’m willing to take bets on %.
🗓 Wednesday, January 14
•6:30 PM – An UNMUTED Dinner: Who is the Law For?
Subject: Law, Justice, Inequality, Unexpected Consequences
Where: Balzem, 202 Mott St, New York, NY 10012
Who: UNMUTED
What: As mentioned above, a small dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant - 2 tables of 6-8 people, at a restaurant about the role of the law, do we have too many lawyers, and how we weigh the basic protections the law gives the ordinary citizen with the power it gives to the rich and powerful corporations.
🗓 Thursday, January 15
•6:30 PM – An UNMUTED Special: Political Comedy Hour
Subject: Comedy, Politics, Propriety
Where: Fabrik, 12–16 Vestry Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013
Who: UNMUTED
What: We announced it just last week, and we’ve already sold 40 tickets. so sign up soon (and get that membership….). And our comedians are….
•6:30 PM – Empathy and the Public Sphere
Subject: Empathy, Partisanship
Where: The Liederkranz Club, 6 E. 87th Street
Who: 1014
What: This week, empathy in politics has been really weighing on me. I have a series of group chats where I just argue politics - I’m the foil in almost all of them, but we all enjoy talking and debating the issues of the day. The shooting in Minnesota is something I won’t even touch. I have strong feelings about it, we all have access to exactly the same information, and there seems to be no point. If I didn’t have my own event tonight, I would go to this. Maybe get a spiritual refresh.
•6:30 PM – New Year, Same Grand Old Party
Subject: Party, Fancy, Republican
Where: The Back Room, 102 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002
Who: New York Young Republicans Club
What: Went to this last year as part of a recruiting initiative for Unmuted lol. I will say this - NYYRC knows how to host a party. Fancy event, worth going if you’re not going to my comedy show and a Republican. Good bar too!
🗓 Friday, January 16
•10 AM – The Age of Extraction
Subject: Big Tech, Oligopoly, Lobbying
Where: : P&T Knitwear Bookstore, 180 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Who: Commonweal Ventures
What: Our friends at Commonweal Ventures are hosting a book talk with our OTHER friends at P&T Knitwear. Bradley Tusk and Tim Wu discuss Wu’s book The Age of Extraction. Want to understand how Big Tech got so powerful and what we can do about it? This is the talk for you. I will be attending and it would be great to get some UNMUTED crew together to show support. Text me if interested in joining - (978) 302 5849. There will be food and coffee!
•6 PM – Resurgence Youth Movement
Subject: Activist, Art, History
Where: 155 Loisaida Avenue, New York, NY 10009
Who: Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space
What: Historical panel on the “anti-racist, anti-imperialist” (their words) anarchist youth movement active in New York City during the 1960s and its legacy of direct action and radical politics. This is not going to be your cup of tea if you’re allergic to moralizing, or heavily coded language, but if you’re into that, or want to hear some different perspectives and learn some history. Could be fun! In my first neighborhood in NY, Alphabet City.
🗓 Saturday, January 17
None interested me!!
🗓 Sunday, January 18
•2 PM - MLK26: The Pan Africanist
Subject: MLK Day, Panels, Remembrance
Where: The Apollo Theater, 233 W. 125th Street, 3rd Fl, NY, NY 10027
Who: WNYC, The Apollo
What: A bunch of talks at the Apollo reflecting on MLK’s legacy and the history of Civil Rights in the US. It’s a free event (says free with RSVP, though can’t find the RSVP yet…. I would like to go to this, if anyone else is interested!!!!!! Text me - 978 302 5849.
That’s it for this week. Let us know if there are events to highlight in upcoming weeks!
Show up, think deeper, and as always, stay Unmuted!
The Unmuted Team