Knightbeat for March 5, 2026: Middle East War, Rutgers Geek Week and the Trans Joy Festival
Students skate inside the College Avenue Student Center as part of Geek Week. (Photo: Joshua Jacob)
The WRSU News Department opens the show with breaking news that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been fired, with Senator Markwayne Mullin expected to replace her. The hosts then address the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, breaking down how the war began, the impact on the stock market, and how suspended flights have left several New Jersey residents stranded in the Middle East. They also report on the growing speculation that Mojtaba Khamenei could succeed his late father, Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s new supreme leader, as well as comments from Donald Trump about potential U.S. involvement in the succession process.
In Rutgers news, WRSU’s Rahil Chatterjee and Adam Kaplan sit down with Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway to discuss her role on campus and her plans to improve student life. WRSU highlights campus culture during the nationally recognized “Geek Week,” which celebrates fandoms such as Harry Potter, Minecraft, and Pokémon. WRSU also covers the widely attended “T-Boy Wrestling,” a wrestling match between transgender boys, at the College Avenue Gym, with reporters sharing afterward what it was like to photograph the match and interview its MC, drag performer Miss Juice. The episode ends with a celebration of community, featuring a preview of Demarest Hall’s Trans Joy Festival and resources on transgender health and rights alongside queer-owned small businesses. Hosted by Maryam Malihi, Sofia Velez and Keya Raval.