OnWriting presents a live panel of writers behind your favorite late-night comedy shows about the state of late-night comedy, political commentary, and the process of making current events funny.

Panelists include Alison Gates (Saturday Night Live; SNL50: The Anniversary Special), Jon Glaser (They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce), Jenny Hagel (Late Night with Seth Meyers), Liz Hynes (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver), Zhubin Parang (The Daily Show; The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: MAGA: The Next Generation), and Jill Twiss (Have I Got News For You).

The panel was moderated by Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk.

The panel was recorded live at the SVA Theatre in February 2026.

In the final part of OnWriting's series on protecting free speech, journalists Sammie Smylie, Nitish Pahwa, Matt Shuham and join moderator and journalist Susan Rinkunas to discuss the escalating threats faced by journalists in the US, why it's so critical to fight back to protect journalism that informs the public and holds power accountable, and more.

Sammie Smylie is a state education reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago, a leader in the Civic News Guild with the WGAE, and a WGAE Council Member for Online Media.

Nitish Pahwa is a business and technology journalist at Slate, and a member of the WGAE Council representing Online Media.

Matt Shuham is a senior reporter at the HuffPost National Desk, helped organize the Talking Points Memo staff union with the WGAE, and currently a member of the HuffPost Union's bargaining committee.

Susan Rinkunas is co-founder of Autonomy News, a contributing writer at Jezebel, and an independent journalist covering politics, reproductive health, and abortion access. She is also a member of the WGAE Council, representing Online Media.

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Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: wgaeast.org/onwriting

Follow the Guild on social media: @WGAEast

OnWriting is a production of the Writers Guild of America East. The show is produced by WGA East staff members Jason Gordon, Tiana Timmerberg, and Molly Beer. Production, editing, and mix by Giulia Hjort. Original music is by Taylor Bradshaw. Artwork is designed by Molly Beer.

We're wrapping up 2025 with an OnWriting Screenwriter Roundtable, featuring David Koepp, Craig Brewer and Kirt Gunn. The three writers joined us to discuss the origins and process behind their latest projects, how they develop their ideas over time, and much more.

David Koepp is a writer and director known for writing the screenplays for films like Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, and Spider-Man, among many others. His most recent project is Black Bag, a mystery-thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh released in Spring 2025.

Craig Brewer is the writer and director of Song Sung Blue, a musical biopic about a Neil Diamond tribute band, based on the documentary of the same name. Before Song Sung Blue, he wrote and directed films like Hustle & Flow and wrote on seasons 4 & 5 of the hit television series Empire.

Kirt Gunn is a writer and director whose latest project is Roofman, co-written and directed by frequent collaborator Derek Cianfrance.

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Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: wgaeast.org/onwriting

Follow the Guild on social media: @WGAEast

OnWriting is a production of the Writers Guild of America East. The show is produced by WGA East staff members Jason Gordon, Tiana Timmerberg, and Molly Beer. Production, editing, and mix by Giulia Hjort. Original music is by Taylor Bradshaw. Artwork is designed by Molly Beer.