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What’s the weather typically like in February? We’ll also explore the history of the famous woodchuck, and what science actually backs Groundhog Day.

(Airs 01/31/25 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: In the wake of the death of Robert Brooks, lawmakers and advocates are calling for prison reforms, we’ll talk with Avery Stempel, Co-founder of New Yorkers for Mental Health Alternatives, about four bills that would make psilocybin-containing mushrooms legal, and New York failed the American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report.

Now what? Post-election ideas from political thinker Norman Ornstein astute about structural changes — size of congressional districts, term limits for Supreme Court justices — that can make our democracy more democratic.

On this week’s 51%, we chat with rising Broadway star Jasmine Amy Rogers about her Tony-nominated performance in BOOP! The Musical, and how she gets in character for the iconic role of Betty Boop. We also stop by a lecture with the author of Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her.

(Airs 05/30/25 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats continue to criticize the so-called “big, beautiful bill,” the Trump administration appears to be using its influence to push development of two previously-abandoned natural-gas supply pipelines in New York, and we’ll talk about the seventh annual Population Health Innovation Summit.

Playlist as aired on Saturday, May 31st, 2025

Director Gregory Mosher shares stories from a life spent shaping American theater — from revitalizing Chicago’s Goodman Theater to launching Theater at Lincoln Center. His happiest place? A rehearsal room, where he’s worked with legends like Mamet, Beckett, and Tennessee Williams. Along the way, we meet Adam Michnik, glimpse a haunting portrait by Williams, and recall NBC’s old Standards and Practices guy. Presented with Hunter College, with music by Elijah Caldwell, Ally Ann Long, Stephan Shteinberg, and Sumayya Ahmed.

On this week's 51%, we hear from NPR’s Emily Feng about her experience reporting in China, and her new book Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping’s China. Telling the stories of nearly two dozen people Feng encountered in China – before she ran afoul of the government herself – Let Only Red Flowers Bloom depicts how ordinary people continue to go against the grain under a government that restricts free expression.

(Airs 05/22/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli about the new $254 billion state budget, the threat of major cuts from Washington D.C. and the potential impact on the state, and much more.

On Sunday night, June 1, enjoy an easy and beautiful sky show: a crescent Moon pairs with two bright stars—one blue-white, one orange. The star just below the Moon is Regulus, the brilliant heart of Leo the Lion, once known as “Qalb” and later named by Copernicus. To the Moon’s right, the orange glow of Mars adds a planetary touch, though it’s dimmer now, sitting on the far side of its orbit. Look west anytime between nightfall and midnight for this celestial trio—no telescope needed.