News 4 Debrief: Recent Episodes
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The federal government is shipping migrants from Texas to New York City -- with erroneous paperwork that's leaving families with nowhere to go. News 4's Melissa Russo talks to David Ushery about what she's learned, what the city is doing to fix the problem, and what's coming next.
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New York City has become an epicenter of the global monkeypox outbreak, and one man who's been infected tells us all about his illness and treatment.
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Swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win a Division I national title - and now swimming's world governing body has barred most trans athletes. Adam Kuperstein speaks to athletes and advocates on both sides of the decision.
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The Supreme Court radically reshaped gun control in America this week, striking down a New York law that kept people from carrying firearms in public. News 4's Adam Kuperstein talks to Bronx DA Darcel Clark and Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez about what happens now to gun laws in New York City and statewide.
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Doctors are scrambling to find out why some people just simply seem to not catch COVID, no matter their exposures. Adam Kuperstein talks to scientists studying the issue - and those being studied as well for clues to their possible immunity.
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The U.S. Supreme Court is about to decide a case (originating in New York) that could invalidate a whole host of gun laws already on the books. Chris Glorioso is joined by John Jay professor Warren Eller to discuss the impact the Bruen case could have on gun laws in America.
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After an outbreak of severe weather swept across the country last week, leaving a swath of destruction across five states -- and including a tornado that destroyed everything in its path for 200 miles -- the first impulse for many was to blame our changing climate. This week on The Debrief, Pei-Sze Cheng and Janice Huff explore that assertion.
Former "Empire" Actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty on five of six counts of felony disorderly conduct on Thursday after staging what prosecutors have called a "hate crime hoax." This week on The Debrief, Chris Glorioso talks with a reporter who has followed the case since the beginning, and a professor at John Jay College who takes issue with the way the case has been framed - and the amount of attention it has received.
Every four hours, someone in New York City dies of an overdose.
This week on The Debrief, Adam Kuperstein takes an in-depth look at the city’s new authorized safe injection sites, where people suffering from addiction can bring and use drugs under medical supervision.
Hear what experts say really happens inside the controversial program that they claim saves lives.
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays with what seems like a pretty clear origin story: the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, where pilgrims celebrated the first harvest in their new home with members of the Wampanoag tribe who already lived there.
But Dr. Joe Stahlman, a professor at the University of Buffalo and a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, says it didn’t actually go down that way. In this holiday edition of The Debrief, he talks with Michael Gargiulo about what really happened that first Thanksgiving, and why Americans should still celebrate the holiday.
This week on The Debrief, Chris Glorioso talks with the activist who uncovered evidence that showed the two men convicted of killing civil rights leader Malcolm X were innocent - and two attorneys who helped clear their names.
Kyle Rittenhouse testified Wednesday he was under attack when he killed two men and wounded a third with his rifle during a chaotic night of protests in Kenosha, saying: “I didn’t do anything wrong. I defended myself.” This week on The Debrief, defense attorney Michael Bachner breaks down the case - and gives what would be his closing statements if he was part of the trial.
Kids as young as 5 can now be vaccinated against COVID-19 -- but a lot of parents are hesitant, even those who are vaccinated themselves. Pei-Sze Cheng and guests analyze the debate and answer parents' questions.
News 4 Chief Meteorologist Janice Huff weighs in on climate change, and how we prepare for the extreme weather – like Ida -- that’s already here.
Brian Laundrie likely never left the Florida nature preserve where he was last seen - and with the discovery of his remains earlier this week, it brings to an end a mystery that has captivated the country.
But - even so, there are unanswered questions in the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito. This week, Pei-Sze Cheng revisits experts about the latest in the case and where they think we're headed next.
This week on The Debrief, Pei-Sze Cheng takes a deep dive into this week's autopsy results in the Gabby Petito case, and talks with the team behind Wondery's The Vanished podcast about why some missing persons cases get more attention than others.
This week on The Debrief, Pei-Sze Cheng talks to survival expert and instructor Dave Canterbury, the author of the New York Times bestseller Bushcraft 101, about how - and how long - Brian Laundrie might be able to survive in the swamps of Florida or the mountains of North Carolina.
It's been 16 days since Gabby Petito's fiancé, Brian Laundrie, allegedly told his parents he was going for a hike in a sprawling Florida nature preserve. It's the site of a massive manhunt - but one seasoned U.S. Marshal says he doesn't think Laundrie was ever there. This week on The Debrief, retired U.S. Marshal Craig Caine gives Pei-Sze Cheng his take.
The whole world is following the case of Gabby Petito, the aspiring influencer who disappeared on a cross country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. This week on The Debrief, Pei-Sze Cheng gets you caught up to speed on what is now a homicide case, then talks about why it has caught the attention of so many - and how domestic violence survivors might see themselves in the 22-year-old from Long Island.
Gabby Petito hasn't been seen for more than two weeks and the search is heating up for the Long Island woman, who was on a cross-country trip with her fiancé. This week on The Debrief, Pei-Sze Cheng reports from Grand Teton National Park, where Petito's stepfather is doing all he can to drum up leads and convince Brian Laundrie to tell authorities what he knows about Gabby's whereabouts.
This week, Michael Gargiulo talks with a pediatric doctor about what it'll really take to keep schools safe this fall - and whether another variant could set our recovery back even further.
When the last U.S. plane took off out of Afghanistan earlier this week -- thousands of Afghan citizens who aided the US during our 20-year-occupation of the country -- and scores more who were critical of the Taliban regime now in power were left behind.
This week, Adam Kuperstein talks to one such man, a journalist in hiding, living in fear of being found by the Taliban leaders who he believes want him silenced.
Thousands of Afghans are fleeing their country with only the clothes on their backs.
And they’re the lucky ones.
This week, less than 24 hours before the bombings, Gilma Avalos talked to a senior fellow at NYU about the terror in her homeland and the families now on hit lists for doing something that was innocent and acceptable one month ago: exercising their freedom.
The surging delta variant has school leaders issuing mask mandates to protect children too young to vaccinate. But this week, Jen Maxfield talks to two parents whose children may have gotten the shot already. They’re taking part in the vaccine trials designed to make sure it’s safe for everyone under 12.
This week, Adam Kuperstein talks to a journalist who’s covered the entire political career of New York’s next governor. Hear the stark differences between her and her predecessor, her plan to fight COVID and the potential political controversy that already has people chattering.
After Attorney General Letitia James' explosive report on alleged sexual harassment by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, some of his once-staunch supporters want him to resign. Melissa Russo talks with Democratic activist and former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn about why she wants the governor out of power in Albany.
This week, Michael Gargiulo talks to three experts on all sides of the vaccine mandate debate, including a New York City teacher who founded a group that’s now fighting the mandate he calls “immoral.”
This week, Darlene Rodriguez talks to a 24-year-old protester currently confined to his home after he was arrested during demonstrations in Havana. He circumvented Internet restrictions to tell us about the true conditions there, and what Cubans really need from the United States.
Critical race theory is the newest flashpoint in our divided country. But what does it even mean - and how is it really affecting our students? Adam Kuperstein talks to experts on both sides for a balanced look at the movement some say is crucial to understanding the effects of racism in America – and others consider a hidden political agenda that could hurt young kids.
It’s a dilemma exacerbated by the pandemic, and now it seems unstoppable. This week, Michael Gargiulo takes a deep dive into the problems of homelessness and mental health, and talks to two experts who have ideas on how to solve them.
This week, Adam Kuperstein commemorates our nation’s first new federal holiday in nearly 40 years - Juneteenth. Experts talk about why some consider it our nation’s real independence day, amid the push for a significant New York state holiday that you have likely never heard of before.
This week, Erica Byfield dives deeper into the recent spate of anti-Asian attacks and broaches the subject of conflict between Black and Asian Americans – conflict that some say has been weaponized to draw attention away from the real issues.
Three experts discuss the current crisis, the unfortunate side effects, and the historical perspective that shows the two groups have more in common than many realize.
To mark Pride Month, The Debrief is revisiting a conversation with activist Cathy Renna from 2019, when she recounted the history and legacy of the uprising at the Stonewall Inn.
In the wake of NYC PRIDE’s bombshell decision to exclude NYPD officers in uniform, Gus Rosendale talks to both an openly gay NYPD officer about his disappointment, and a member of Pride about why its leaders felt they had to make a big statement right now.
With many pandemic restrictions lifting, that oft-asked question might be creeping into your head more and more: When will I be heading back into the office? Adam Kuperstein sits down with experts to answer that question - and to see if the Manhattan office landscape will be changed forever.
The curtain is going up on Broadway on Sept. 14 - and it'll take a lot of work between now and then to make sure shows go off without a hitch. Adam Kuperstein talks to a producer who is ecstatic about finally getting an opening date - and a music director who is a little more skeptical.
The most terrifying day in Adam Harding's life began with a phone call from his mother's number -- but the caller was a stranger who said the News 4 reporter's mom was being held hostage. He talks with Adam Kuperstein about how it happened - and how to avoid getting ripped off.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many seniors are making the most crucial decision of their young careers - choosing a college - sight unseen.
Michael Gargiulo talks to a group of teens about the pros, the cons and the uncertainty ahead of decision day, May 1.
This week, David Ushery takes a very personal look at the death of Daunte Wright in Minnesota, and the toll it’s taking on him, his family and communities of color after yet another life is ended at the hands of police. And, in the time between taping and publishing this podcast, we saw evidence of it happening again.
This podcast was recorded before the release of body cam video showing the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Chicago.
What's a B.1.1.7? And a P.1? Or a B.1.526? There are lots of COVID variants circulating now, and questions about what they do to people and whether vaccines work against them. Rana Novini talks to people for some answers.
This week, Michael Gargiulo explores the changes coming now that marijuana is legal in New York – everything from DUI dangers to party favors to retraining drug-sniffing dogs.
Pei-Sze Cheng and two Asian-American New Yorkers share their horror stories, and discuss not only the physical aggressions, but also the microaggressions that have left some afraid to travel alone in their beloved city.
Adam Kuperstein talks to a member of Gov. Ned Lamont’s COVID vaccine advisory group and Stamford’s mayor to see how the state is trouncing NY, NJ and most of the country in vaccine distribution.
This week, Adam Kuperstein talks to Andrew Siff & Jonathan Dienst about the two things that insiders say left Governor Cuomo vulnerable to a barrage of sexual harassment allegations.
There’s a growing push to do away with the Euro-centric approach to skincare and cosmetics. Checkey Beckford talks to a dermatologist at the forefront of the movement about changes in the industry -- and why having greater diversity and equity in the field can literally make the difference between life and death.
As New York City continues to grapple with the pandemic, Asian-American residents say they’re also suffering from a virus of hate. Over the past year, there’s been a surge of anti-Asian attacks across the country, with a spike of nearly 1,000 percent in the five boroughs. Adam Kuperstein explores the discrimination and rising violence, talking with a state legislator and the top NYPD cop overseeing a task force to stop it.
Erica Byfield explores why Black Americans are less likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and talks with Dr. Olajide Williams of Columbia University about a partnership with rapper Daryl 'DMC' McDaniels to overcome that hesitancy.
There is a shocking lack of Black history being taught in our schools. News 4’s Checkey Beckford takes a look at the problem and talks with Stamford, Connecticut, teacher Ruth-Terry Walden about how she's incorporated Black history into her teachings at a fundamental level.
If you're east of the Hudson, the bars and restaurants close at 10 p.m. West? They can stay open as long as they like. Adam Kuperstein talks with Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena of Northwell Health about COVID-19 restaurant restrictions - and why they're changing again, a year into the pandemic.
Adam Kuperstein talks with Dr. Eric Schneider of the Commonwealth Fund about why COVID-19 vaccinations are lagging in the United States - and how public health officials are hoping to catch up.
Sarah Wallace and Andrew Siff talk with Adam Kuperstein about covering Joe Biden's Presidential Inauguration - amid political unrest and a pandemic.
Adam Kuperstein explores how the pandemic has exacerbated the inequalities in our schools, and talks with Dr. Annette Anderson of Johns Hopkins School of Education about how districts might close the achievement gap.
The riotous mob that overtook the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday didn't happen by accident. Rather it was a plan laid out weeks in advance by a growing cadre of right-wing extremists. Adam Kuperstein sits down with NBC News reporter Ben Collins about how we got here, and what happens next.
The pandemic is having a profound impact on the mental health of Americans, but Black Americans are being disproportionately affected. Adam Kuperstein talks with Dr. Dana Collins, a clinical psychologist and President of the New York Association of Black Psychologists, about the issue.
Indoor dining is coming to an end again in New York City. Adam Kuperstein and Chris Glorioso talk to restaurant owners and medical officials about what that means for the health of the city's residents -- and its economy.
Black and brown Americans have been among the hardest-hit groups during the coronavirus pandemic, and new surveys suggest that they may be less trustful of a vaccine when one becomes available. Checkey Beckford explores the historical and contemporary issues behind the skepticism, then Adam Kuperstein talks with American Public Health Association Executive Director Georges Benjamin about how to close the trust gap.
The CDC says Black women are twice as likely as white women to give birth prematurely and die during child birth at a much higher rate. Natalie Pasquarella talks with State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte and Helena Grant, the director of midwifery at Woodhull Medical Center, about what's being done to give Black mothers and babies better outcomes.
It took the better part of a week, but we now know who will be president on Jan. 20, 2021. Adam Kuperstein sits down with political and community organizer Mondale Robinson to talk about why Black men were so vital to President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Then he breaks down what went wrong with the polls with NBC News senior political editor Mark Murray.
More than 32 million Hispanic voters are heading to the polls this year - making them the largest nonwhite ethnic group in the electorate for the first time. But while they're a big bloc of voters, they're not a monolith. Adam Kuperstein talks with News 4 reporter Ray Villeda and Hispanic Federation president Frankie Miranda about why the Hispanic vote matters so much this year.
Activist Glenn Cantave says he is "disheartened" by the Black Lives Matter movement, five months after hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets around the country. He talks with Adam Kuperstein about why that is - and what the movement needs to accomplish going forward.
President Trump has publicly called on supporters to “watch the polls very closely” for fraud. That’s raising concerns of voter suppression and intimidation. Adam Kuperstein talks with political activist Larry Hamm about why it's alarming.
Adam Kuperstein sits down with Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York to talk about an illegal purge of the voter rolls in New York City - and gets a rundown of what you need to know about making sure your vote counts this Election Day.
David Ushery sits down with Adjoa B. Asamoah, one of the champions behind the CROWN Act, which aims to end hair discrimination in the United States.
Black-owned doctors' offices are closing down when the communities they’re in can least afford it. David Ushery sits down with Dr. Damali Campbell and Dr. Natalie Roche to find out why that’s happening.
Black women are three to four times more likely to die in child birth than white women. And of those deaths, the Centers for Disease Control says 60 percent are preventable. David Ushery sits down with Checkey Beckford and Dr. Laurie Zephyrin to talk about why that is - and how to close the gap.
In Bergen County, police academy trainees are getting bias training along with the typical lessons. David Ushery talks it out with Deputy Chief Jason Love of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.
One family says the ads they see don't represent them - and some media professionals agree. More than 600 Black advertising professionals are calling out companies for the ways they portray Black people. David Ushery talks about it with News 4's Erica Byfield and creative director Walter Geer of VMLY&R.
More than 60% of the school buildings on Long Island don't have a single Black teacher. Greg Cergol reports on the problem, and Pat Battle talks with experts about how to fix it.
A Black man is injured in a traffic stop gone wrong. As Erica Byfield reports, 20 different cameras tell 20 different stories about what happened and who was at fault.
Fear of being stopped and arrested by police is real for many Black teenagers. News 4’s Pat Battle shares the perspectives of three Black college students.
A Liberian refugee built a thriving business empire in New Jersey - but for all her success, at least seven banks have turned her down for loans. Why?
George Floyd's death in Minneapolis touched off a national conversation about race and policing -- and the protests that followed only complicated the discussion. We sit down with protesters, law enforcement veterans and scholars to discuss the way forward.
NBC 4 reporter Erica Byfield has covered the Harvey Weinstein rape trial from the outset, and was in the courtroom when his surprise 23-year prison sentence was handed down. She describes what it was like covering the case on this episode of The Debrief podcast with David Ushery.
A group of New York City kids have been recognized in the international competition 'Future City' after designing an innovative water system for a city in the not-so-distant-future, Aurora. Students from the Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering in Harlem drew on their experience in class and on school trips to design the city, winning a regional prize and a special award at the nationals.
Columbia University's Dr. David Ho is leading aggressive efforts to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus after winning a $2.1 million grant from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma. Dr. Ho -- previously named Time's Man of the Year 1996 for his HIV/AIDs research -- takes David Ushery inside the race to develop a vaccination amid a coronavirus crisis.
NBC 4 local government reporter Melissa Russo has covered former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg for more than 12 years. She dissects why his Democratic debate performance was so widely panned, and what his team is saying.
I-Team reporter Sarah Wallace sits down with David Ushery to talk about New York’s new – and controversial – bail reform law. Then, she gives updates on the shocking suicide of Fotis Dulos, the Connecticut man accused of killing his estranged wife, Jennifer.
David Ushery talks with Daniel Geiger, a reporter with Crains New York Business, about a deal to open a large Amazon warehouse on Staten Island — and whether the move will send shockwaves through the city’s retail landscape.
As NBC 4 reporter Adam Kuperstein covered the 75 year anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp this week, he reflected on how the Holocaust will be remembered as time goes on and there are less people to tell of its horrors.
As NBC 4 reporter Adam Kuperstein covered the 75 year anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp this week, he reflected on how the Holocaust will be remembered as time goes on and there are less people to tell of its horrors.
New NYPD Chief of Detectives RodneyHarrison takes David Ushery for a walk around the Queens neighborhood that shaped him, recalling that, as a teenager, the last thing he wanted to be was a cop.
An alleged bank robber is released on bail, and robs again the next day. Marc Santia tells David how, just two weeks into New York’s new bail reform law, opponents say the “catch and release” strategy isn’t working.
He got the job through his love of handball, he’s served 7 mayors and 17 police commissioners and once had a pivotal moment with a pastrami sandwich. The NYPD’s Chief Chaplain, Rabbi Alvin Kass tells David about his 54 years on the force.
Will Bredderman from Crain’s New York tells David about five new laws coming into effect in New York in 2020 — from plastic bag regulations to marijuana testing at work.
WNBC photojournalist Eddie Alonzo didn’t know what he was walking into when he arrived at the scene of the Jersey City shootout last week, finding himself so close to the action he had to shelter from gunfire.
Sarah Wallace has the story of a NYC man behind bars for 26 years who fought to have DNA evidence found and re-tested by the same company that identified 9/11 victims. Read More
Andrew Siff talks David through what we know of the MTA’s unprecedented $51.5 billion Capital Plan, and how congestion pricing is helping to pay for it. Read More
Jen Maxfield took a different angle with her 9/11 coverage this year, speaking with the caretakers who maintain the memorial at Ground Zero with great pride and honor. Read More
Ex-NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe tells David why he thinks Central Park has become ‘the Wild, Wild West’ due to its dangerous and chaotic roadways — and what should be done about it. Read More
WNBC photojournalist Ben Prater tells David Ushery what it’s like behind the camera as he covers the news each day, from being set on fire while reporting on a fire to filming an eclipse from a ledge atop the Empire State Building. Read More
Ida Siegal tells David Ushery about how more than 150 cases of serious, vaping-related respiratory illnesses have been reported across the U.S. in the past two months, with many patients teens, and at least 20 coming from the tri-state. Read More
Brian Thompson breaks down the lead crisis in Newark. Why do tens of thousands of people in New Jersey’s largest city not have access to uncontaminated drinking water? And what is the city doing about it? Read More
Reporter Pei-Sze Cheng tells David how stigma within the NYPD, and fear of repercussions, is stopping cops with mental health problems from coming forward — even as the force faces a suicide crisis. Read More
She was forced into the spotlight eight years ago when Dominique Strauss-Kahn allegedly sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan hotel room. Pat Battle talks about her exclusive interview with that woman, Nafissatou Diallo. Read More
In 2005, investigative reporter Melissa Russo got a call about a little girl found walking barefoot alone in Queens. In July, 14 years later, she was able to reconnect with Valery Lozada. This is her incredible story. Read More
Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst goes behind the scenes of the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case, as a judge in Manhattan denies the wealthy New York financier’s lawyers’ requests for bail after a fake passport and wads of cash are found in his private safe. Read More
B-boys and B-girls could be heading to the 2024 Olympics! A recent vote saw breaking move closer to being included in the summer games. Bronx breaking pioneer Richard ‘Crazy Legs’ Colón breaks down the news and his breaking journey for the The Debrief. Sound credit: Alberto Ortiz Read More
The News 4 I-Team’s Sarah Wallace talks with David Ushery about her blockbuster exclusive — the first interview with Fotis Dulos, whose wife Jennifer’s disappearance has shaken their Connecticut community. Read More
It’s been described as the Wild West — rideshare services moving into the city so quickly that they’re ahead of regulation. Now — amid safety and regulatory concerns, NYC lawmakers are trying to catch up. Wale Aliyu breaks the issue down with David Ushery. Read More
When police raided the Mafia-owned Stonewall Inn in New York, the resulting uprising catapulted the LGBTQ movement into the media. On its 50th anniversary, and as the ‘Olympics of Pride’ kicks off in NYC, activist Cathy Renna acknowledges the myths of Stonewall, while celebrating its legacy. Read More
On Monday, NYC was rocked by news of a fatal helicopter crash on top of a building in midtown Manhattan. NBC 4 airborne reporter Dennis Protsko — who covers the news from the sky in Chopper 4 — explains the crash in this episode of The Debrief with David Ushery. Read More