532: DEEP DIVE: Titanpointe: NYC's Windowless Monster Monitoring You

The Why Files: Operation Podcast

Science, Life Sciences, Fiction, Society & Culture, Documentary, Science Fiction

4.8 • 5.9K Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This ominous windowless skyscraper looms over Tribeca, defying all architectural norms.

The Brutalist facade conceals a mysterious purpose - why are there no windows? Behind the heavy concrete walls, an even darker truth lurks.

For decades, New Yorkers scratched their heads about the building's function. Rumors swirled about government secrets and espionage hidden within.

Thanks to brave whistleblowers, we now know the truth. This impenetrable fortress covertly houses a sophisticated NSA surveillance operation.

AT&T willingly partners with the spy agency, jeopardizing American privacy. Together, they analyze mountains of data - your phone calls, emails, internet history.

No warrant needed. The NSA analyzes communications from all over the world, searching for suspicious activity. But they capture way more than they should.

Tour the NSA's covert listening post with us. Learn the full, chilling backstory behind New York's most secure skyscraper. Question if "national security" still warrants unchecked spying on Americans.

Transcript

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0:00.0	New York City has skyscrapers of all shapes and sizes.
0:03.6	It's an architectural playground ranging from Art Deco, Gothic, Art Nouveau, and Renaissance Revival.
0:10.0	Walking around the Big Apple, you'll see it all.
0:12.4	There's one style, though though that isn't as prevalent
0:15.4	and one building that's not really like the others
0:18.4	and it's located at 33 Thomas Street in Tribeca.
0:21.6	33 Thomas is different.
0:24.0	This style is called brutalism.
0:26.0	This design trend started in the 1950s
0:29.0	and lasted until the 1970s, only 20 years.
0:32.0	It's not the prettiest to look at. This style is known for focusing
0:36.0	on function over form and for minimalism. We're talking blocky heavy material. It's monochromatic,
0:42.4	no frills, nothing extra. Think of raw exposed concrete
0:46.2	slabs. Brutalist buildings are commonly used in films and TV shows to depict an urban
0:52.2	dystopia. It's featured heavily in movies like Clockwork Orange
0:55.7	or The Hunger Games. In short, brutalism buildings are spooky. So back to the building on 33 Thomas Street.
1:03.0	It turns out that this building is even more disturbing than anything you've seen in the movies.
1:08.0	It's so minimalist that it's been called the most mysterious building in New York City.
1:13.0	This skyscraper stands 500 feet tall and has no windows,
1:18.0	literally zero windows.
1:20.0	It's solid concrete.
1:22.0	Nobody can see in and nobody can see out. At night there are no lights on it.
	...

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