Medicare for All is a common policy position for liberal leaning politicians. If you think healthcare is a human right, how and why should private companies determine who gets care and who doesn’t? Medicare already gets significantly reduced prices for physician services today, why not expand this bargaining power to the entire population? At the same time, Medicare and Medicaid are already a major part of our government budget, and even with these services, if looming insolvency concerns don’t get addressed, NOBODY gets government healthcare. Incompetent and overcharging vendors ballooning the DoD budget is a massive problen, why would a fully government healthcare entity somehow be able to avoid the same issues?

Point is - it’s complicated. And we have two highly intelligent experts coming together to discuss exactly this on February 17th, moderated by a Wall Street Journal reporter. Expect a lively, respectful (and spicy - like our partner Pepper NYC) debate, followed by small group discussions and a final open mic for people to voice their opinions and concerns.

Upcoming UNMUTED Events

Wednesday, 2/4: An UNMUTED Dialogue: Social Media and Agency (link)

Tuesday, 2/17: An UNMUTED Dialogue: Medicare for All (link)

Monday, 2/23: An UNMUTED Dialogue: Public Safety under Mamdani (link)

Check out all our events here

The events I’ve got my eye on in the next two weeks. Check them out!

🗓 Monday, February 2
•6:00 PM – Make History: Creating an Equitable and an Affordable NYC
Subject: Urban Policy
Where: Medgar Evers College, CUNY
Who: Coalition for a Democratic and Just NYC
What: Public forum focused on policy ideas and civic strategies aimed at building a more equitable and affordable New York City. Mainly talk about the role of the Speaker, featuring Speaker Menin. These sorts of events are new to me…is this new or am I crazy?.

•7:30 PM – The Death of the Normie Featuring Paul Gotterfried
Subject: Politics and Cultural Commentary
Where: Midtown Manhattan (Revealed after ticket purchase)
Who: New York Young Republican Club
What: Conversation with Paul Gottfried - who, according to Wikipeida is a “American paleoconservative political philosopher, historian, and writer”, for a candid conversation on the collapse of the political middle and the “death of the normie.” This is basically the reality I’m trying to reverse …and I would totally go if I was in town!

🗓 Tuesday, February 3
•6:30 PM - Paranoid Politics: How Fear Shaped American Democracy
Subject: Politics, Meta Discourse, Fear
Where: Location provided upon RSVP
Who: A lively, interactive discussion designed to make the big ideas of collective anxiety and democratic erosion accessible. Join Columbia Graduate and educator Sari Beth Rosenberg for a drink and discussion covering how paranoia continues to shape American Politics. I wish I could attend this, I’d pay for someone’s ticket for this to go and report back - text me, (978 302 5849)

🗓 Wednesday, February 4
•5:00 PM – How the Civil Rights Movement Shaped Disability Rights
Subject: Civil Rights and Social History
Where: Kimmel Center for University Life, Rooms 905-907
Who: New York University
What: Part of NYU’s 21st MLK week, this event explores the shared history between the Civil Rights Movement and the Disability Rights Movement.

•6:30 PM – Covering the Court: The Media and the First Amendment
Subject: Legal Theory
Where: The Robert H. Smith Auditorium at The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Who: The New York Historical
What: A panel of journalists and legal experts, including Justin Elliot, Adam Liptak, Joanne Lipman, and Katie Fallow, explores how the U.S. Supreme Court is covered by the media and how First Amendment principles intersect with judicial transparency and civic understanding. This looks REALLY interesting. If we didn’t have an UNMUTED event that night, I’d be here.

•6:30 PM – An UNMUTED x NY Philosophy Club Dialogue: Social Media & Agency
Subject: UNMUTED
Where: Civic Hall, 124 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003, situated i
Who: UNMUTED
What: The NY Philosphy Club and UNMUTED are teaming to provide a mixed format event - start with a small debate on whether we should regulate the algorithms in our platforms or trust human agency. Followed by small group discussions.

🗓 Thursday, February 5
•6:30 PM – Yi-Ling Liu: China’s Internet Censorship
Subject: International Relations, China
Where:725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Who: Center on U.S - China Relations 
What: Talk with technology journalist Yi-Ling Liu, examining the structure, evolution, and political implications of internet censorship in China and its impact on information control and society.

•6:30 PM – Andrew Yang Presents: Hey Yang, Where’s My Thousand Bucks? w/ Rikki Schlott
Subject: Political Commentary
Where: P&T Knitwear, 450 W 14th St, New York, NY
Who: P&T Knitwear  
What: ve event with Andrew Yang and Rikki Schlott tied to Yang’s tour/book Hey Yang, Where’s My Thousand Bucks? discussing politics, policy, and civic engagement. Hopefully he gives money he promised at. this event!

🗓 Friday, February 6
•6:45 PM – The Hidden Economic Beliefs that Cost You Money
Subject: Economics
Where: Fabrik NYC, 12–16 Vestry Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013
Who: Wolilo Lectures 
What: An NYU economist-led explanation of common misconceptions about inflation, debt, and government spending, and how economic beliefs shape public policy outcomes. It’s at Fabrik, which is a great venue, so I might go to this.

🗓 Saturday, February 7
•3:30 PM – David Felsen Discusses New York City Monuments of Black Americans: A History and Guide
Subject: Black History
Where: Battery Park City Library  
Who: New York Public Library  
What: A discussion featuring author David Felsen on his book New York City Monuments of Black Americans: A History and Guide, exploring the stories behind monuments that honor Black Americans throughout New York City.

🗓 Sunday, February 8
•11:00 PM – Fish + Stark — We Have It in Our Power to Begin the World Over Again
Subject: Political Thought and Public Ideas
Where: New York Society for Ethical Culture
Who: New York Society for Ethical Culture  
What: Conversation with the American Humanist Association Executive Director Fish Stark on We Have It in Our Power to Begin the World Over Again, covering themes of political renewal, democracy, and social transformation.

🗓 Monday, February 9
•5:30 PM – Backlash: How Central Asia is Reshaping China’s Rise
Subject: International Relations
Where: International Affairs Building, 420 West 118th Street, New York, NY 10027
Who: Weatherhead East Asian Institute & Harriman Institute  
What: Lecture on shifting geopolitical dynamics in Central Asia and how the region is influencing China’s global strategy and great-power competition. We talk about China’s effect on Western nations, but rarely do we get into the intra-Asia dynamics.

•5:30 PM – Good Jews & Philosemitism
Subject: Politics and Cultural Commentary
Where: 60 Fifth Avenue
Who: New York University
What: Book talk on Good Jews & Philosemitism with author Daniel Cohen, exploring themes of Jewish identity, sympathy, and cultural perception…Politically adjacent, but maybe interesting for Jews navigating the current political landscape.

🗓 Tuesday, February 10
•5:00 PM – Housing on the Brink: The NYC Affordability Crisis
Subject: Local and Urban Studies
Where: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029
Who: Museum of the City of New York
What: Panel discussion examining New York City’s housing affordability crisis—exploring skyrocketing rents, homelessness, barriers to affordable housing production, and the policy and development strategies shaping the city’s housing future. Featuring insights from housing developers, advocates, and policy experts… Maybe Cuomo will be there.

•6:30 PM – From Declaration to Emancipation: Lincoln and Jefferson
Subject: American History/ Political Thought
Where: The Robert H. Smith Auditorium at The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Who: The New York Historical
What: Historical program exploring the ideas and legacies of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, tracing the evolution from founding principles to emancipation.

🗓 Wednesday, February 11
•5:00 PM – Hegel 13/13 with Cornel West
Subject: Philosophy/ Ethics/ Contemporary thought
Where: Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought
Who: Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought
What: Entry in the Hegel 13/13 series featuring philosophical reflection on Hegel and his relevance to modern moral and political life… but now with Cornel West. I had a class this guy once….he’s good to listen to like once or twice before you start hearing the same shtick. So it’s worth attending if you’re new to him!

•5:30 PM – Freedom and Its Futures: Conversations on the Meaning of Futures Today
Subject: Civic Engagement
Where: Center for Brooklyn History
Who: Humanities New York
What: This session brings participants together for a small-group, judgment-free conversation on freedom, responsibility, and the common good. Focusing on “The Market Mindset and the Erosion of the Common Good,” the discussion invites reflection on how trust, meaning, and shared value might be renewed through thoughtful dialogue rather than debate… sound familiar?

🗓 Thursday, February 12
•6:00 PM – Seeing Red, Feeling Blue: A Practical Guide to Engaging MAGA Voters
Subject: Civic Engagement, Political Discourse
Where: Mi Casita Centro Cultural, Brooklyn, NY
Who: Mi Casita Centro Cultural
What: For those still struggling with thanksgiving here is a practical session focused on approaches to engaging MAGA voters. I might attend this, I am curious what the people who are running this think works with MAGA voters - text me at 978 302 5849 if you are interested in going as well.

•7:00 PM – The Next New York: The rent is too damn high!
Subject: New York Policy
Where: Greenwich Village, Manhattan, Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square S
Who: New York Focus
What: A panel examining New York City’s housing crisis through Zohran Mamdani’s proposed housing agenda. Housing experts will debate the feasibility of his proposals and the broader structural reforms required to create a more stable and equitable housing system in New York. (Does anybody need a roomate)

🗓 Friday, February 13
•6:30 PM – The Struggle Continues: The Ongoing Genocide & Next Steps for Our Movement
Subject: Human Rights
Where: Riverside Church
Who: Palestinian Youth Movement
What:  Event focused on Palestinian activism in the Israel region. Unless I can be convinced otherwise, we won’t be doing events on Israel-Palestine (find me someone who’s on the fence or willing to change their mind on this issue..), but I do think it’s important to give people awareness of events like this.

•7:30 PM – Chinese Republicans
Subject: Satire and Social Commentary
Where: 111 West 46th Street, New York, NY
Who: Roundabout Theatre Company 
What:  A satirical drama about a young woman navigating the world of professional finance. This play pokes fun at our capitalist system while also reminding us of its harsh realities and its song-and-dance.

🗓 Saturday, February 14
•3:30 PM – Black History Month: Seneca Village
Subject: Black History
Where: West 81st Street and Central Park West
Who: New York City Parks  
What: Learn about the history of the Seneca Village Residents in the 1800’s. 

🗓 Sunday, February 15
•All Day - International Conference on Law and Economics 
Subject: Professional Development
Where: Multiple Locations Throughout Downtown NYC
Who: ICLE
What: Industry spanning conference featuring lectures, paper presentations, and networking opportunities for early and late career international legal and economic professionals. 

•1:00 - Camp Congress for Youth New York 2026
Subject: Youth Civic Engagement
Where: 1717 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
Who: Girls in Politics Initiative
What: Youth leadership and civics program introducing participants to the U.S. government and civic engagement. Don’t really know what this is, but if I had kids, I’d check it out.

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

The Unmuted Team