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!
5 spots left for our H1B debate. Don’t miss out.
A liberal professor goes against a liberal thinktank to debate whether H1Bs are ACTUALLY good for the country. This is a multi-faceted topic, no doubt. It’s not just about America First vs Big Tech. It’s not just software developers, or universities that are impacted. It’s not just a Trump headline and $100,000 price tag. It’s the present and future of how we source labor in America. But how much do we really need this system? Orr are we living in the past if we don’t embrace it?
Come meet new people who want to talk about the big issues without judgment. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7 PM. Beer and wine provided. Thursday, December 4. Doors open at 6:30 at Civic Hall in Union Square. Moderated by Business Insider. Buy a “referral ticket” here - just mention the Political Pulse in your answer.
IDK! This is probably not what it will look like!
Upcoming Unmuted Events
Thursday, 12/4: H1B Immigration Debate: Good for Innovation? Bad for Labor? moderated by Business Insider (link)
Tuesday, 12/9: AI Debate: Should States Interfere? Featuring Congressional candidate Alex Bores (link)
Thursday, 12/11 Unmuted Holiday Party (link)
This Week
Events of the Week
The events I’ve got my eye on this week across the spectrum. We have a Mamdani social media deep dive from experts in the field, a Republican elitist holiday party, and a talk on um….racism as seen through eroticism…
🗓 Monday, December 1
• 8:00 PM Dream School link
Subject: Higher Education, Book Talk
Where: Buttenwieser Hall at The Arnhold Center
Who: 92Y
What: A talk between David Muir and Jeffrey Selingo on Jeffrey’s book Dream School - all about the schools that parents should focus on based on affordability and outcomes. My biggest question is how do we resist the pull of the Harvards and Yales - something so deeply culturally ingrained in this country. Tickets are $40.
🗓 Tuesday, December 2
•7:00 PM – Giving Tuesday Double Impact Night link
Subject: Charity, Social Impact, Donating
Where: 26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
Who: NYC Impact Hub
What: Great new (very flowery) co-working space in Midtown. A donation night for a number of charities who work out of the location, so if you’re thinking of donating near year-end, this is a good place to learn more about some charities (unless you want to donate to Unmuted…just let us know :)). Tickets are $30, and go entirely to the Against Malaria Foundation.
•6:30 PM – Jonathan Mahler - The Gods of New York link
Subject: NYC History, Book Talk
Where: 47-49 East 65th Street, New York, NY 10065
Who: Roosevelt House
What: Been meaning to see this talk! Jonathan (of the NY Times) has been doing a book tour all about the larger-than-life figures that shaped NYC in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Rev. Al Sharpton, Ed Koch…Donald Trump. If you’re a history buff like me, this is an easy “yes”.
🗓 Wednesday, December 3
• 6 PM – The Met Club’s Annual Christmas + Hanukkah Party link
Subject: Holidays, Republicans,
Where: 122 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028
Who: Metropolitan Republican Club
What: Want to be surrounded by the old Park Ave money Republicans? Here is your chance! Some notable guests of honor, especially Newsnation Host Batya Ungar-Sargon (who writes for the Free Press too). Tickets are $92 for non-members, pretty elitist!!
• 6:30 PM – Asia's Strategic Edge in AI Innovation and Influence link
Subject: AI, US-China
Where: 725 Park Ave, NY, NY 10021
Who: Asia Society
What: In a seemingly recurring theme this week, Asia Society is hosting a panel on how Asian countries (especially China) are building on the AI revolution and how this affects both country prosperity and the competition between nations on recruiting for and building the top technology of this Age’s space race. Tickets are $25 for non-members, $15 for members.
• 7:00 PM – What We Learned from Mamdani's Social Strategy link
Subject: NYC Mayor, Social Media Strategy, Political Organizing
Where: The Malin, 387 Park Ave S 5th floor, New York, NY 10016, USA
Who: Full Stop., Black Box Organizing
What: An intimate panel from top social media strategists on what worked for the Mamdani campaign, why it worked, and how you can use that approach in your own way. I’ve been to this space. VERY NICE. Tickets free. Will be attending, text me if you want to come with (978) 302 5849.
🗓 Thursday, December 4
• 6:30 PM – The Nvidia Way: the Making of a Tech Giant link
Subject: AI, International, Book Talk
Where: 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Who: The Korea Society
What: A book talk on the rise of NVIDIA as a tech giant (although let’s be honest, who REALLY predicted that generative AI would throw NVIDIA into the stratosphere?). As one can probably infer from above, this talk will specifically focus on NVIDIA’s deals and partnerships with South Korea. If I didn’t have the following event, I would be going….
• 6:30 PM - H1B America: Who Wins? Who Loses? link
Subject: Immigration, Debate, Social
Where: Civic Hall, 124 E 14th St, NY NY 10003
Who: UNMUTED
What: And I’ve promoted this too many times! Drinks, debate, audience engagement, and Q&A (hard questions only) on a topic that has shaped and will continue to shape immigration in America.
🗓 Friday, December 5
• 7:30 PM – “Unpolished Truths" on the Erotics of Racism link
Subject: woke, racism, homophobia, eroticism
Where: Bureau of General Services — Queer Division, 208 West 13th Street #210, New York, NY 10011
Who: The Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis
What: This is as “woke lib” as you get. And so it’s my duty to let you know that it exists. This line exists in the description: “what does it look like if we dare to engage race not from the perspective of identity, but of eroticism?” IDK. Please let me know if you go to this, and what it’s like.
🗓 Saturday, December 6
NONE I LIKED.
🗓 Sunday, December 7
• 10:00 AM - Too Poor to Die: A Reading & Conversation link
Subject: Death, Poverty, Politics
Where: The Green-Wood Cemetery
Who: New York Historical Society
What: Amy Shea, author of Too Poor to Die, is leading a conversation on how we remember and honor those who have died, especially those without family or resources. This is a tad depressing and the timing isn’t great, but if you’re free at 10 AM on Sunday and want to talk about death and poverty….here ya go.
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