Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Christie, Booker, Zuckerberg Head To Oprah Today
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 24, 2010
Modified Sep 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 24, 2010
Modified Sep 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
While the website for the Oprah Winfrey show is coy, simply saying that today's show will feature "two no-nonsense powerhouses" and "a young trailblazer," everyone knows that the big guests are Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, NJ Governor Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Zuckerberg is committing up to $100 million of Facebook stock (but what's that really worth?) to a foundation to help Newark's failing public schools, while Christie will cede some control of the school system to Booker. And to those who call this an obvious ploy to divert attention from The Social Network, the movie that paints Zuckerberg as ambitious and coldly calculating, "insiders" claim that's not the case!
The Daily Beast spoke to people who claim the timing of the donation and the film "was not an intentional juxtaposition, they say, because to be so overt in attempting to alter perception would be craven and obvious." They claim Christie and Booker wanted to push the announcement, to help jump start the notion of rebuilding sooner (of course Christie did!). On the other hand, why not just make the donation anonymously?
Whatever—the Star-Ledger's Bob Braun doesn't care either way—he just questions the whole shebang as the solution to Newark's problems:
Oh, good. Now we’re solving intractable urban school problems by relying on a 26-year-old billionaire geek from California and Oprah Winfrey. Going on national television in an orchestrated media blitz with two of the most ambitious politicians in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.
All deciding in Chicago what Newark schools really need and what the laws governing the schools really mean.
What’s next - Snooki as education commissioner? Paulie Walnuts as Newark superintendent? How about a seat for Danny DeVito on the state Supreme Court? There is an opening.
Tagged
Chris Christie
cory booker
education
mark zuckerberg
newark
nj
Oprah Winfrey
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 11:36 a.m. ET
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans. We could get used to this.
Seeing high hopes dashed had become so routine, it was part of our identity. This year feels different.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans. We could get used to this.
Seeing high hopes dashed had become so routine, it was part of our identity. This year feels different.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .