MetroFocus: The Podcast

The View 's Sunny Hostin Weighs In On The Issues Facing New York City Emmy Award-winning legal journalist and co-host of The View Sunny Hostin joins MetroFocus to talk about some of the most pressing issues facing New York City. The South Bronx native shares her insights and opinions on difficult topics facing the city today: gentrification, the immigration crisis, homelessness, and mental health....

After years of living with mysterious symptoms, Julia Bruzzese- a young girl from Brooklyn and a Duke University scientist are diagnosed with a disease said to not exist: Chronic Lyme disease. “The Quiet Epidemic” follows their search for answers, which lands them in the middle of a vicious medical debate. And what begins as a patient story evolves into an investigation into the history of Lyme di...

A silent epidemic of chronic illnesses afflicts tens of millions of Americans: these are diseases that are poorly understood, frequently marginalized, and can go undiagnosed and unrecognized altogether. Meghan O’Rourke, author of the 2022 National Book Award nominee for nonfiction “The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness,” joins MetroFocus to detail her investigation into the category o...

Our two-night special coverage on long COVID continues, and this evening we focus on the possible causes and debilitating effects of this condition. Why do some people with long COVID have symptoms which seem to last so long? What is being done to help the millions of Americans now suffering from it, and what more can we be doing? Joining us again for this discussion are Kevin Devine, a Staten Isl...

Up to 1-in-5 adults who’ve survived COVID-19 are living with long COVID, a condition characterized by up to 200 symptoms that persist long after the initial infection is gone and can affect the body for months or even years. It’s estimated that 1 million Americans have been forced to leave the labor force due to medical complications from long COVID, and even more have been impacted by long-term s...

Originally aired November 2019 As we gear up to celebrate America’s independence, beloved Hollywood actor Tom Hanks honors the brave warriors who served our country in times of war. See how Hanks teamed up with group of veterans to bring Shakespeare to life in a one-of-a-kind theater production of Henry IV.

In April 2020, U.S. Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén was murdered after reporting her assault that took place at Fort Hood in Texas. In late November 2022, Cecily Aguilar, the only person charged in connection with Vanessa’s murder, pled guilty to four counts, including accessory to murder after the fact, and now faces up to 30 years in prison. While this decision is a victory for Vanessa’s family, the p...

Just over fifty years ago, Geraldo Rivera shocked the nation with his groundbreaking exposé on the abuse taking place at Willowbrook State School, at the time the largest institution in the world for people living with disabilities. Geraldo’s reporting, which featured interviews with patients and images of the deplorable conditions at the facility, led to the eventual closing of Willowbrook and th...

Chasing The Dream: "A Decent Home" When housing on the lowest rung of the American dream is being devoured by the wealthiest of the wealthy, whose dream are we serving? America ReFramed documentary “A Decent Home,” addresses urgent issues of class and economic (im)mobility through the lives of mobile home park residents who can’t afford housing anywhere else. “A Decent Home” is the first documenta...

George Floyd "Rise & Remember" Three years after George Floyd’s murder, a celebration of his life at the very place it ended. Tonight, how his family is celebrating his legacy and the progress made since his passing with the annual “Rise and Remember” festival. His aunt, Angela Harris is our special guest. "Fresh Plywood NYC" Kurt Boone, urban photographer and author of “Fresh Plywood NYC: Art...

One on One With Jamaal Bowman Aggressive and Confrontational. That is what some Republicans have called democratic New York congressman Jamaal Bowman. He says he’s passionate and dedicated. Tonight, the Congressman joins us to discuss his controversial approach to governing and tackle the issues affecting New Yorkers. "Stars and Shadows: The Politics of Interracial Friendship From Jefferson To Oba...

The brutal killing of a New York City grandmother in her Upper West Side apartment is reinforcing fears among some older New Yorkers that they’re not safe in the city. It's also empowering others to spread the potentially life-saving lessons of martial arts to seniors. Maria Hernandez was discovered bound and strangled in January and two men have been charged with her murder. The case underscores...

To Catch Her Son's Killers: Linda Clary Conducted Her Own Investigation Before Authorities Ruled Her Son's Death A Homicide At least 43 incidents of druggings have been linked to robberies in and outside Manhattan nightclubs since September 2021, involving a mix of both straight and gay NYC bars, and both heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ people. Tonight we share the story of one of those victims, and his...

After years of living with mysterious symptoms, Julia Bruzzese- a young girl from Brooklyn and a Duke University scientist are diagnosed with a disease said to not exist: Chronic Lyme disease. The Quiet Epidemic follows their search for answers, which lands them in the middle of a vicious medical debate. And what begins as a patient story evolves into an investigation into the history of Lyme dise...

Aging Week A special presentation of The WNET Group, in collaboration with the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), and with the NEw York State Education Department (NYSED), Thirteen, WLIW21, and public broadcasters throughout New York State. "Aging Together in New York" There are 4.6 million New Yorkers over the age of 60, ranking New York as the fourth largest population of older adults...

Daniel Penny, the former Marine who put Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on an F train was arraigned and charged on Friday with second-degree manslaughter for the death of Mr. Neely. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Joining us to discuss the legal aspects of the case and what we can expect moving forward are: criminal defense attorney and former Assistant District Atto...

New York City’s youth represent the future of the city. But seldom have policy makers and elected officials asked young people about the issues that matter to them most. A group of young students and advocates are making their mission to change that. For the last two years, NYC Youth Agenda Coalition, comprised of high-school and college-aged students from across the five boroughs, has been puttin...

CHASING THE DREAM: KRISTI YAMAGUCHI DISCUSSES HER ROLE AS GRAND MARSHAL OF THE 2023 JAPAN PARADE Tonight, U.S. Olympic figure skating legend Kristi Yamaguchi shares her journey from gold medal to champion of childhood literacy and a gives a preview as the Grand Marshal of the 2nd annual Japan Parade coming to Central Park on Saturday, May 13. QUANTUM LEAP: THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD CHANGE HUMA...

BREAKING NEWS: REP. GEORGE SANTOS IS CHARGED WITH 13 CRIMINAL COUNTS AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS FOUND LIABLE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE, DEFAMATION Tonight, we break down the legal troubles facing former President Donald Trump and New York Congressman George Santos. Today, Rep. Santos surrendered himself to authorities at a federal court on Long Island where Justice Department prosecutors charged...

Peril & Promise: The Women-Led, Indigenous-Owned Kelp Farm Restoring Long Island's Waters & Protecting New York From Climate Change Long Island is on the frontlines of the global climate crisis, ranking among the most vulnerable metro areas in the country. Decades of nitrogen pollution from aging septic systems and fertilizer runoff have only made the situation worse, and the Shinnecock In...

Tonight, in the look ahead at the major headlines for this week: protestors in New York City are calling for charges in the death of Jordan Neely, who was Black, after he was put in a chokehold by a Marine veteran Daniel Penny, who is white, on an F train - killing him, according to the medical examiner. The incident, and the lack of charges so far, has ignited a heated debate in New York City abo...

"Trail to Zero" Horseback Ride Brings Awareness to Veteran Suicide, Mental Health, and the Benefits of Equine Therapy According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, each day on average 20 veterans take their own lives. To bring awareness to this crisis, BraveHearts, the leading equine rehabilitation program for veterans, annually embarks on its “Trail to Zero” ride in New York City...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and tonight we look at the impact of anxiety on children and teens. American adolescence is undergoing a drastic change. Three decades ago, the gravest public health threats to teenagers in the United States came from binge drinking, drunken driving, teenage pregnancy and smoking. These have since fallen sharply, replaced by a new public health concern: soaring...

Actress and Activist Sophia Bush Discusses The Importance of Investing in Women-Run Business Sophia Bush, known for her starring roles on the iconic tv shows One Tree Hill and Chicago PD, along with her business partner, Nia Batts, is leading the charge in a new type of business approach, called social entrepreneurship. The two women have been working together for years to invest in projects that...

On March 16, 2021, a 21-year-old white man murdered eight people in attacks on three separate spas across metropolitan Atlanta. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent.  In the aftermath of the shootings, Asian American filmmakers Gina Kim and Titi Yu set out to tell the story. The result is the PBS documentary “Rising Against Asian Hate: One Day in March.” Gina and Titi join us to di...