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The New York band called Outernational puts politics back in rock with their album "Todos Somos Ilegales: We Are All Illegals."  It’s a bouncy, bi-lingual, almost cinematic look at America’s southern border, and Outernational will play songs from it live in our studio.

New York musician Cat Martino visited us last year as a backing musician when Sufjan Stevens performed in our studio. Today, Martino joins us as a solo artist to play her song "Yr Not Alone."

Were it not for the subway, New York as it is today would not exist. At a crucial time in the city's history, the engineers of this ingenious subterranean railroad cleared the streets of impossible congestion and decanted the population of the teeming, insalubrious tenements of the Lower EastSide to the farthest corners of the boroughs. Because it was able to move so many people so quickly, the subway became the ultimate urban density amplifier, allowing the apartment buildings and office towers of Manhattan to be built side-by-side, and turning a 26-square-mile island of gneiss, marble, and schist into one of the world's greatest metropolises, where millions could live and trade services, goods, and ideas swiftly and efficiently.

Liz Benjamin, blogger and host of "Capitol Tonight", reviews the budget agreement and the fate of health exchanges in New York.

The start of a new year means several new laws go into effect Sunday. Some are expected, such as cap levels for property taxes, but others are quirkier, like one new law dealing with bear gallbladders. Here's a look at some of the new statutes for New York.

Public employee unions for New York State workers are suing the Cuomo administration in federal court in Albany over the state's decision to raise health care contributions for current retirees. The bump-up would raise the employee share 2 percent for both individual and family plans.

Contributing editors for New York Magazine, Chris Smith and Amy Larocca, walk us through some of the "Reasons to Love New York" from the annual issue.

What happened this year that made you love New York?

Home and business owners in New York who suffered losses during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee have a bit more time to apply for disaster assistance with FEMA.

Jeryl Brunner, entertainment journalist and author of My City, My New York: Famous New Yorkers Share Their Favorite Places, takes your calls about your favorite New York City spots and talks about what celebrities said when she asked them about the NYC locations dear to them. Jay Jay French, founding member and one of the guitarists of the band Twisted Sister, and Will Shortz, editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle, chime in with their favorite places.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, WNYC was broadcasting from studios then located in the Municipal Building in lower Manhattan.

Shortly after the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center that morning, WNYC’s FM transmitter, which was located atop the World Trade Center, was destroyed and WNYC FM went off the air. But WNYC continued to broadcast on its AM signal throughout the day.  

The audio above is a recording of what WNYC broadcast throughout the day on September 11, 2001, beginning shortly after the first plane struck the World Trade Center. It includes the first eyewitness account of the attacks recorded and broadcast that day.

Colby Hamilton, writer for WNYC's city and state politics blog, The Empire, discusses the special election process in New York and how it affects political power in the state.

Today we're starting a week-long series in remembrance of 9/11, ten years later. Our co-producer, WNYC, asked listeners what music they would like to hear, as they think about the events of ten years ago. Something comforting, to celebrate being American and a New Yorker? Thousands of listeners weighed in. We're playing some of the songs our listeners picked, and hearing about the selections from WNYC's Chris Bannon and Kathleen Ehrlich. What songs would you suggest? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Thursday he will invest his own money in a new, $130 million city initiative to help black and Latino men get ahead. The Bloomberg Administration calls it the nation's boldest and most comprehensive effort to reduce racial disparities.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman discusses his work as New York's chief lawyer.

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The Empire Center for New York State Policy has reported that 1.6 million New Yorkers moved to other states last decade. That's more than the populations of Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, White Plains and West Babylon combined.

E.J. McMahon, senior fellow for Tax and Budgetary Studies at the Manhattan Institute and director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy, and Sam Roberts, urban affairs correspondent  for the New York Times, explain the migration of New Yorkers over time, and how the latest report from the Empire Center fits with census data.

Glenn Pasanen, public finance columnist for Gotham Gazette, talks about Mayor Bloomberg's anti-poverty policies, and Daniel Massey, reporter for Crain's New York Business, discusses his article on "The Blossoming Bronx." 

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In an exclusive story in The New York Times, investigators have serious doubts about the credibility of the housekeeper who accused the former head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, of rape and sexual assault in a Manhattan hotel in May. Strauss-Kahn has stepped down from his position while the IMF investigates the charges, which he has consistently denied. According to law enforcement officials who spoke with Times, there are questions surrounding the asylum application of the housekeeper, as well possible links to criminal activities, including money laundering and drug dealing. It's likely that Strauss-Kahn's bail conditions will be eased and he could be released on his own recognizance as early as this morning.

The sexual assault case against former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn is possibly on the verge of collapse this morning, according to an article from our partner The New York Times. The Times reports that the maid—who accused Strauss-Kahn of sexually assaulting her at a Manhattan hotel in May—may have lied about her asylum application, and may have been involved in drug dealing and money laundering. Strauss-Kahn is headed to court this morning, where his legal team is expected to ask for his bail conditions to be relaxed. 

New York has balanced its budget, and California finally shed its reputation as a fiscal laggard, reaching its budget on time for the first time in years. But other states are not on similar paths. In Minnesota, if the Democratic governor and Republican-led legislature cannot agree on a budget by midnight tonight, all nonessential services will shut down, including state parks—dire news, ahead of the July 4 weekend. So why is it taking so long? And what can we learn from states that have already settled their books?