1/12/2026
Good morning, New Yorker.
New York wakes up to disruption today.
Nurses are walking off the job, protests over federal force spill into city streets, and institutions from hospitals to police departments face questions they can’t easily answer.
Today’s Weather
Skies are clear but movement will feel sharp and hurried, temperatures will top out around 32 degrees, but wind gusts over 25 mph make it feel closer to the low 20s. Layer up before commuting, and expect difficult sidewalk weather.
What to Watch Today
- The DOJ’s criminal inquiry into Fed Chair Jerome Powell escalates questions about federal agency independence.
- Ongoing police search in the Bronx for a missing 9-month-old child after a custodial interference report.
- Demonstrations are expected to continue following ICE’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis and Sunday’s NYC rally.
The Lead
The largest nurses’ strike in New York City history begins today, as more than 16,000 nurses walk off the job amid stalled contract negotiations. The strike will impact patient care at several key hospitals and underscores long-standing strain within the city’s public health system. Hospital administrators say operations will continue, but the real test will be in how resources, and trust, are managed under pressure.
Power & Accountability
- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell disclosed Sunday that the Justice Department has issued subpoenas and raised the prospect of criminal charges over renovation testimony.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani is relocating to Gracie Mansion, signaling a formal shift in administration residency and public presence.
Around the City
- A 15-year-old boy was shot in the stomach in East Harlem Sunday evening; no arrests have been made.
- A housing lottery for Queens apartments with $545/month rents closes tomorrow, marking a rare opportunity in today’s high-cost market.
The Thread
Today’s stories link public life to institutional fractures, where trust, staffing, and oversight intersect. From emergency rooms to courtrooms, and across city streets filled with protest signs, it is governance under duress. Whether it’s about care, safety, or who holds power, the common thread is a demand for accountability in real, and increasingly personal terms.
This is a city where care and control are both on strike.