KnightBeat for April 23, 2026: The Warner-Paramount merger, Rutgers Hot Dog Day and the Harvey Cedars seal pup
Students posing with an inflatable hot dog during RUPA's annual Hot Dog Day. (Photo: Chloe Berwick)
In this episode, the WRSU News Department breaks down the latest headlines, including ceasefires to conflicts in the Middle East, debates over medical marijuana, the Epstein files mandate and the $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount merger. Stateside, the team highlights New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s new transparency website that is designed to make taxpayer spending easier to understand. In this week’s “Malihi Mayhem,” listeners hear the feel-good story of Harvey Cedars, a rescued baby seal returned to the waters near Brigantine, New Jersey. On the Rutgers scene, the hosts cover RUPA’s annual Hot Dog Day on College Avenue, featuring free food and carnival games, along with Islamic Awareness Week hosted by the Rutgers MSA. The hosts speak with IAW President Maaz Farooqi about the event’s impact and meaning. Additional segments spotlight Project REVEAL, a feminist data archive by Jessica Valenti, and Knights Needs, a new student organization supporting the Rutgers Basic Needs program. The episode concludes with Dr. Heather Pierce discussing how the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union is navigating challenges related to academic freedom and evolving diversity policies. Hosted by Maryam Malihi, Sofia Velez and Chris Coddington.