What's What

Knicks fans can get a glimpse of the 2026 Championship trophy starting today. A replica will be on display at the American Museum of Natural History. It’s part of the museum’s “For the Win: Objects of Excellence” exhibit that highlights how precious metals are used to celebrate victory. WFUV’s Xenia Gonikberg has more. WFUV’s Sonia Weliwitigoda reports on a New York City initiative to lower the price of ingredients at city-owned grocery stores. New bus lanes are coming to Fordham Road. City. Officials said that the redesign could cut bus travel times in half. WFUV’S Tahlia Pearson spoke with commuters about their thoughts on the new plan. More than 600 restaurants across the five boroughs are participants in New York City’s Restaurant Week. But only four of those are in the Bronx. WFUV’s Livia Regina stopped by some Bronx restaurants to find out why. Host/Producer: Mia Barth Editor: Nathan Ray Reporter: Xenia Gonikberg Reporter: Sonia Weliwitigoda Reporter: Tahlia Pearson Reporter: Livia Regina Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

In a press conference, Kathy Hochul announced pushback against the Trump Administration’s lawsuit against the state due to restrictions on ICE. WFUV’s Anne Jackson explains the ordeal and what officials are going to do about it. The second week of the World Cup has concluded, and WFUV’s Livia Regina and Sam Giangrande highlight what has happened and who’s in contention to advance to the knockout stage or be eliminated. In Harlem, WFUV’s Lainey Nguyen went to Accra Express, a Ghanaian restaurant, to learn how they’re celebrating the World Cup through the power of food. Host/Producer: Sonia Weliwitigoda Editor: Tess Novotny & Nathan Ray Reporter: Anne Jackson Reporter: Livia Regina Reporter: Sam Giangrande Reporter: Lainey Nguyen Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

It’s Election Day in NYC and WFUV’s Xenia Gonikberg takes us through key races throughout the city. Only 7% of inmates at Rikers Island voted in the last election. WFUV’s Sienna Reinders went to a rally urging the Board of Elections to create a polling site for Rikers Island. In Hoboken, NJ, WFUV’s Lainey Nguyen met Dylan Zajac, a Gen-Z entrepreneur who refurbishes used computers and donates them to people in need. His work at Computers 4 People has donated more than 5,000 computers and reached more than 12,000 people. Host/Producer: Xenia Gonikberg Editor: Tess Novotny Reporter: Sienna Reinders Reporter: Lainey Nguyen Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

The New York Knicks won at Madison Square Garden last night against the San Antonio Spurs in a close, 1-point game. Ahead of Game 5, WFUV’s Sonia Weliwitigoda went to MSG to hear New Yorkers' thoughts on the games. The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts today. According to FIFA, 6 billion fans are tuning in to the games. WFUV’s Giuliana Guarracino explains more on what to expect. Ahead of the World Cup games in New Jersey this weekend, Mayor Zohran Mamdani held his first morning broadcast, which he plans to do throughout the games. WFUV’s Sonia Weliwitigoda has more. This week in music news, WFUV's Livia Regina shares some of Gogol Bordello's interview with the station about the band's diverse influences. Host/Producer: Sienna Reinders Editor: Lainey Nguyen Reporter: Sonia Weliwitigota Reporter: Livia Regina Reporter: Giuliana Guarracino Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

The Knicks are playing in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden tonight. The NYPD has ramped up security at MSG due to President Donald Trump attending the game. Watch parties outside of the venue have been canceled, and TSA-styled security checkpoints will be all around the Garden. Restaurants are also preparing for fans to watch the game at 8:30. Construction began for the 2nd Avenue Subway project. It will extend the Q line into Harlem and East Harlem. This comes after the Trump Administration reinstated funding for the project. Governor Hochul said the project is on track for service to begin in 2032. The World Cup kicks off its first game this Thursday with matches at the NYNJ Stadium on Saturday. WFUV’s Sonia Weliwitigoda tells where to watch the final championship game. This past weekend, more than a hundred community gardens in New York City opened their gates to the public. WFUV’s Livia Regina stopped by some of the gardens in the Bronx to learn about how they act as community spaces. Host/Producer: Xenia Gonikberg Editor: Lainey Nguyen Reporter: Anne Jackson Reporter: Sienna Reinders Reporter: Sonia Weliwitigoda Reporter: Giuliana Guarrancino Reporter: Livia Regina Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

The House passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Money will go to departments like TSA but not immigration enforcement operations. DHS has been unfunded since February, as Democrats demanded changes to ICE and Border operations. Republicans are now trying another way to get ICE funding through a weeks long budget reconciliation process. For now, this package will head to President Donald Trump’s desk to sign, ending the longest agency shutdown in history. On Tuesday, NYC’s first full casino opened in Queens after years of trying to get a license. Two more are planned to be built in the coming years. Community members are rallying against the new casinos this weekend, as they said the new casinos are being built in minority and working class neighborhoods. WFUV’s Sonia Weliwitigoda spoke to a rally leader. Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants New Yorkers to take part in public hearings through a new program. Its first target is to make sure both renters and landlords have their voices heard at upcoming hearings that decide prices for rent stabilized apartments. WFUV’s Mia Barth reports. Some young people in New York and New Jersey can go to the 2026 World Cup for free. Airbnb said they’re giving out 1000 tickets to kids. They’re working with nonprofits in the two states to select lucky ticket winners. The company also said it expects Airbnb owners in the region to be housing 25,000 people during the games. For this week's Music News, WFUV's Livia Regina gives us a sneak peek of Iron & Wine's interview about their new album. Plus, City Parks foundation announced the lineup for this year's SummerStage Festival. Host/Producer: Lainey Nguyen Editor: Lainey Nguyen Reporter: Mia Barth Reporter: Livia Regina Reporter: Sonia Weliwitigoda Reporter: Sienna Reinders Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

Head Start is a national early childhood education program, and one that’s been called vital to breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty. But recently, New York City lost a federal grant worth more than seventy million dollars. So what does that mean for children and families? WFUV’s Jay Doherty spoke with Gregory Brender and Tara Gardner from the Day Care Council of New York to learn more. Dylan Zajac is a Gen Z entrepreneur who refurbishes used computers and donates them to people in need. To date, his organization called Computers 4 People has donated more than 5,000 computers and reached more than 12,000 people with digital skills courses they teach. WFUV’s Lainey Nguyen visited Zajac’s workspace in Hoboken, NJ to hear more about the work he does. Host/Producer: Alexandra Pfau Editor: Tess Novotny Reporter: Jay Doherty Reporter: Lainey Nguyen Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

WFUV’s “What's What” is a daily podcast that explores current events, culture news and hot topic issues surrounding the New York metropolitan area as well as features and interviews exclusively from WFUV.

WFUV’s “What's What” is a daily podcast that explores current events, culture news and hot topic issues surrounding the New York metropolitan area as well as features and interviews exclusively from WFUV.

WFUV’s “What's What” is a daily podcast that explores current events, culture news and hot topic issues surrounding the New York metropolitan area as well as features and interviews exclusively from WFUV.

WFUV’s “What's What” is a daily podcast that explores current events, culture news and hot topic issues surrounding the New York metropolitan area as well as features and interviews exclusively from WFUV.