The Mamdani era is officially underway, which means New York is doing what it does best: observing closely, judging quietly, and preparing a spreadsheet of side-eye. We check in on the early vibes, the symbolism, and whether this feels like the start of something new—or just the first episode before the tone shift. Meanwhile, children continue to expose the fact that adults are not in charge of anything. Between fake iPhones, elaborate loopholes, and behavior that suggests long-term strategic planning, we ask the important question: are kids secret geniuses… or have we simply underestimated how clever boredom can make them? And finally, Brandon’s Take turns its attention to New Year’s resolutions—the annual tradition where confidence is high, accountability is low, and January 7th already feels like a soft deadline. Gym memberships are ignored, salads are abandoned, and “this is my year” quietly becomes “I’ll try again in February.”

In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Wednesday, one of the New York City area’s most notorious serial killers has confessed to another killing.

Nicolás Maduro’s first court hearing in the U.S. — a spectacle where he proclaimed he is still Venezuela’s president — was merely the beginning of a legal odyssey that could keep him locked up and out of power for years, maybe even the rest of his life.

And in Washington, President Trump’s administration said that it is withholding funding for programs that support needy families with children in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud.