What Next | Daily News and Analysis
What Next is a short daily news show from Slate that helps listeners make sense of the overwhelming news cycle. Each weekday morning, the podcast provides analysis and context to answer the question: What next? The show aims to cut through the noise and offer clarity on the day's most important stories. Slate Plus members get access to exclusive bonus episodes and ad-free listening.
Episodes
The Progressive Case for Midterms Optimism
Since losing the 2024 presidential election, Democrats have been doing a lot of finger pointing. But with the midterms this fall, it’s time to stop pointing and start saying what you actually believe and why people should vote for you.Guest: Amanda Litman, author of “When We’re in Charge” and head of Run for Something.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the
Off the Record: We Don’t Talk About Natalie
Nobody objected to Jon Ossoff calling the president disinterested in doing his job. But an off-hand mention of Trump’s “human printer”? That, for some reason, took things way too far.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next —you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slat
Can the Midterms Withstand Prediction Markets?
Hundreds of millions of dollars, desperation for insider info, fury and accusations of conspiracy when it doesn’t go your way—is this gambling or elections? Through the magic of prediction markets, it’s both! Guest: David Gilbert, reporter at WIRED covering disinformation, online extremism, and how these trends impact people’s lives across the globe.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate
How Islamophobia Got Even Worse
Islamophobia has never gone away. And while it has been wielded as an electoral strategy against Zohran Mamdani, Abdul El-Sayed and even Barack Obama, the shameless nature of the Islamophobia coming from politicians this electoral cycle may be a new low.Guest: Mehdi Hasan, Editor-in-chief and CEO of ZeteoWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Nex
Is Tech Dismantling Democracy?
Our Silicon Valley overlords, as they’ll tell you, aren’t huge fans of liberal democracy—and their products that we’ve integrated into our lives reflect that. As we rely on them more and more, this tension is only going to get worse.Guest: Jill Lepore, author of “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State”, professor of American History at Harvard, staff writer for The New Yorker.Want more What Nex
The Nightmare on the USS Lincoln
The situation aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is reportedly dire: broken toilets, shortages of water, rationed, lousy food, little access to laundry, or communication with their families, all while engaged with Iran and its proxies. It’s bad enough that at least two crew members have tried jumping overboard. But even though this deployment has been three months longer than usu
They Stood Their Ground. Was It Murder?
A stranger approaching and aiming a gun at you seems like the exact scenario that “Stand Your Ground” laws were made to address. But a case in Florida where the armed strangers were white and the people “standing their ground” were Black demonstrates that the law’s’ protections and application fall along familiar and unequal lines.Guest: Caroline Light, Senior Lecturer and the Director of Undergra
Off the Record: Air Farce One
How much should we know about our politicians? This week we found out that even two of the most scrutinized people in America still have their secrets—be it how our president gets where he’s going, or if a certain House member is, in fact, not engaged and is actually...single? This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock
Are Flock Cameras Watching You?
In a world where everyone is carrying smartphones and setting up Ring cameras, you could be forgiven for thinking the war is over and the surveillance state won. But Flock cameras being denounced in town halls and smashed on the street have become a place for people to channel their heretofore unseen rage. Guest: Joseph Cox, reporter for 404 MediaWant more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Pl
Trump Cares About Vaccines. Uh-Oh.
Why Donald Trump’s proudly announced executive order on childhood vaccines is a move in the wrong direction—and towards a less healthy, more measle-y America.Guest: Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, host of the KFF Health News weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?”Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and a
Ok, Zoomer!
Donald Trump’s success with Gen Z men was one of the many surprises in 2024, but as the second administration has gone on, that support has been plummeting. What would it take for Democrats to win the Zoomers? Guest: Adam Mockler, host of The Adam Mockler Show podcast and YouTube channel.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next fami
You Should Worry About the July Jobs Report
Any jobs report, by necessity, is going to be vague and subject to revision, but the latest from the Bureau of Labor Statistics paints a pretty clear picture: America hasn’t added as many jobs as hoped or expected this summer, and the labor market is looking rough.Guest: Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan and “deputy platypus” at Platypus Economi
What Can We Do About Abusers in Congress?
Credible accusations of sexual assault, eventually, led to Graham Platner leaving the Maine Senate race. But Ohio Representative Max Miller is responding to his own allegations with a different tact: the Trump method of ignoring, denying, and staying in.Guest: Jill Filipovic, journalist, lawyer, and author of The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness and OK Boomer, Let’s Talk: How My Generatio
Off the Record: Democrats Go to War (With Other Democrats)
The wins, the losses, the wins-that-are-so-close-are-they-REALLY-wins, and more from the primary elections this week, that left us asking, “Can we just get the midterms over with now?”Guest: Jim Newell, Slate senior politics writer.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next —you’ll also acces
Artificial Intelligence, Very Real Debt
Investments in—and among—artificial intelligence companies have pushed the S&P 500 to record highs. It’s also introduced a volatility to the markets that may be unprecedented. Is this growing pains or the wobble before the fall? Guest: Ed Elson, co-host of the Prof G Markets and First Time Founders podcasts.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to th
Why Ariana Grande Is Stepping Away
If you feel compelled to comment on a famous woman’s body, a good rule of thumb to remember is “don’t.” But to avoid feeling complicit or like we’re normalizing something we know to be harmful, there are discussions to be had—amongst ourselves at least. Is that any better?Guest: Scaachi Koul, Slate senior writer Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the w
Will Laura Loomer Save Ukraine?
Laura Loomer may not have an official position in the White House (or anywhere?) but she nevertheless does have the president’s ear—and newfound affinity for Ukraine and its war against Russia.Guest: Ken Bensinger, media and politics reporter for the New York Times.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Sl
A Test For Pro-Israel Democrats
More Democrats than ever are suspicious of big money in politics and against unconditional American military support for Israel. The prominent lobbying group AIPAC sits right where these issues intersect, and it has become a bogeyman in primary races across the country this year.Guest: Peter Beinart, editor-at-large for Jewish Currents, author of the Beinart Notebook Substack. Want more What
The Odyssey’s Neverending Journey Through the Discourse
Roiling like a wine-dark sea since the casting was announced, controversies surrounding Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” didn’t stop with the film’s release. But what turned a summer blockbuster into an IMAX-sized lightning rod? Guest: Sam Adams, Slate writer and senior editor covering culture. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Ne
Bonus: Cory Booker on Blanche, Epstein, and 2028
As part of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Cory Booker had questions for Todd Blanche—and made space for Jeffrey Epstein survivors. Guest: Cory Booker, US Senator for New Jersey, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Foreign Relations Committee, Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.This episode is member-exclusive.
Can We Trust the Jobs Report?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a department for wonks, by wonks. But under the dual pressures of the changing nature of work—like the growing gig economy—and an administration that doesn’t accept bad news, should next week’s jobs report be taken with a grain of salt? Guest: Ben Casselman, chief economics correspondent for The New York Times.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to a
What the Hell is a Peptide?
On the heels of the success of GLP-1s like Ozempic, other peptide treatments are flooding the marketplace—and advertising spaces. But even as the Trump administration’s FDA discusses approving more treatments and the businesses selling them proliferate, many peptides are sitting in a legal and medical gray area. So how real - and safe - is this peptide hype?Guest: Kate Knibbs, senior writer at WIR
Trump's Forever War
The US can’t leave Iran in charge of the Strait of Hormuz, but it can’t wrestle control away without committing ground troops—but it also can’t keep going on like this. So where does that leave everyone?Guest: Josh Keating, senior correspondent covering foreign affairs at Vox. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all
The DSA's Biggest Hater Likes One of Their Policies
In the wake of the success among members of the Democratic Socialists of America, The Atlantic’s Jonathan Chait has turned in a series of articles that call the group anti-democratic, against the Democratic Party, and unnecessary or even a hindrance to accomplishing policy goals like universal health care. On the other hand, he thinks DSA member Zohran Mamdani is doing a pretty good job as mayor s
How Charlie Kirk Went From Martyr to Meme
In the immediate aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder, the NFL was holding moments of silence, Ezra Klein was waxing about how he was ‘practicing politics the right way,” and criticizing Kirk online could get you fired. Now, as the trial of Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s alleged killer, begins, something has replaced that reverence. Guest: Will Sommer, senior reporter for the Bulwark and writer of Fals
Off-the-Record: Wait, You Ran THAT Boston Marathon?
Why are kids getting faster? Is it the shoes? Also, running the Boston Marathon is obviously a huge accomplishment, but if you ran the 2013 Boston Marathon, you should lead with that and not save it for an interview years after you meet someone.Guest: Rob Gunther, producer for Slate’s What Next.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only wi
Trump’s Only Friend
Steve Witkoff is a real estate investor, an attorney, and now America’s Special Envoy to the Middle East. It may seem like a weird career shift for Witkoff, but he’s such an outlier that the famously transactional Donald Trump treats him like an actual friend.Guest: Andrea Bernstein, investigative reporter and the co-host of four podcasts, including Trump Inc.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to
Will Andrew Tate Finally Be Held Accountable?
Over the weekend, Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Florida after British prosecutors brought new charges of rape and sex-trafficking, which were added to charges from May 2025 and an on-going civil case. With 59 charges, for actions dating back over a decade, how were the Tates able to evade court for so long—and what does it mean that their popularity continued to grow even as the al
The Best DOJ Money Can Buy
A federal judge paused the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. This may not have been a necessary step if the Department of Justice had taken its corporate enforcement mandate more seriously. But under this administration, a proven method has emerged to keep the government out of your business: make it personally profitable for Donald Trump.Guest: Liz Oyer, Former U.S. Department of Ju
Trump’s White Whale
When Donald Trump seizes on an idea, he can riff on it nigh infinitely in any direction, which is why his fairly short and contained primetime speech on election security last week seemed so out of character. Why does Trump seem so determined to keep spinning his wheels on the likely-dead SAVE Act? How much damage can he do before the midterm elections this fall?Guest: Ari Berman, national voting
Venezuela, 51st State?
A month after a pair of devastating earthquakes and more than six months after the US absconded with their president, how are the people of Venezuela faring under—wait, who’s actually in charge?Guest: Josh Partlow, staff writer at The AtlanticWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe
A.I. Vs. Eh, I’m Walkin’ ‘Ere!
Ah, New York—where it’s hot, loud, and the air is barely breathable. So it’s not especially surprising that Governor Kathy Hochul is opting out of adding to all of that and announcing a moratorium on building new data centers in the state. Guest: Nitish Pahwa, Slate staff writerThis episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unloc
Game Over for Video Games?
Is Microsoft laying off 3,200 employees from the Xbox division just a new boss coming in and pruning an overgrown asset, or is it a sign that console gaming is coming to the end? Guest: Jason Schreier, reporter at Bloomberg News, cohost of Triple Click, author of Play Nice, Press Reset, and Blood Sweat and Pixels. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free liste
Will My Lettuce Give Me Diarrhea?
America is one nation under the fear of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a food-borne illness that has given thousands “explosive diarrhea.” Where did it come from? What can you do to avoid it? And how will it end?Guest: Nicholas Florko, staff writer at The AtlanticWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slat
Can Anyone Stop Todd Blanche from Becoming AG?
Todd Blanche’s hearing to become US Attorney General has begun. With a resume that includes the president’s $1.8 billion slush fund and, uh, the “handling” of the Epstein files, what could they possibly have to talk about? Guest: Harry Litman, former US attorney, former deputy assistant attorney general, host of Talking Feds, the podcast and SubstackWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plu
How ICE Keeps Killing
As the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston demonstrates, ICE’s deportation surge is continuing—and so is the violence. Guest: Arelis Hernández, reporter at the Washington Post covering the U.S. southern border, immigration, Texas and beyond.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcast
Mitch, Lindsey and the Gerontocracy
Mitch McConnell’s “extended absence” (let’s call it that) from the Senate has drawn attention to the fact that the average age of American lawmakers has been skyrocketing. Is it time to talk about mandatory retirement ages?Guest: Sam Moyn, author of Gerontocracy in America, Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening
Off-the-Record: Neil the Seal’s Whole Deal
Ah high summer—time for Emmy nominations, giant aquatic mammals to take over seaside towns, and Democrats to point fingers as they frantically try to swap out candidates at the last minute. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next —you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your f
Should You Take Trump’s Free $1,000?
If you’ve seen ads for Trump Accounts for kids, but also know anything about Donald Trump, you might be wondering “Free $1,000 per baby? Okay, what’s the catch?” It’s a classic. Guest: Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, University of Michigan, and founder of Platypus Economics.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Nex
She Supported Graham Platner. Then She Couldn't Anymore.
How are supporters and voters reacting to the sexual assault allegations that have brought an end to Graham Platner’s Senate campaign?Guests:Lorry Fleming, Maine voter. Emma Vigeland, co-host of The Majority Report with Sam Seder.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today o
The Trump Sports Curse Reaches FIFA
It was the red card—and subsequent White House phone call—heard ‘round the world. After USMNT striker Folarin Balogun was dealt a red card, President Trump gave FIFA head Gianni Infantino a ring. Suddenly, Balogun’s one-game suspension was revoked. It wasn’t enough to keep USMNT from losing against Belgium 4-1… but it was enough to ruin the World Cup vibes and make the United States, once again, t
The Onion’s New Infowars
For two years, Alex Jones has been battling The Onion for control of Infowars. And, despite still being in a legal gray zone, it’s finally launched – with creative director, comedian, and chief Jones impersonator Tim Heidecker at the helm. Guest: Tim HeideckerWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Sla
The “Shakedown Artist” Behind CA’s Billionaire Tax
Union leader Dave Regan has spent decades wielding California’s ballot system against the healthcare industry. Now, he’s the man behind California’s billionaire tax — a one-time, 5 percent tax proposal that has “unleashed a political earthquake” and pissed off everyone from Elon Musk to Gavin Newsom. Guest: Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW)Want more What
Off-the-Record: Toy Story 5 Did NOT Make Mary Cry
WARNING: This episode spoils Toy Story 5.Right on the heels of two new directors with two fresh new films, comes a five-installment franchise: Toy Story 5. But the consensus is split on this big screen screentime critique.Guest: Sam Adams, Slate senior writer and editor.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive e
Diving In | How Food Delivery Killed Competition (And Took Your Budget With It)
Thanks for joining us during the holidays. White our team is taking a break, we want to share a series with you that we think you’ll love. It’s called Diving In. Getting food delivered should be simple — but somehow it's gotten outrageously expensive. Economist Justin Wolfers breaks down why food delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub make it nearly impossible to compare prices,
AC Won't Save You from the Heat Dome
Well, the movement to change society so it stops heating up the world didn’t take, so now we need to figure out how to change society to deal with a hotter planet. That means new forms of insurance, new models for construction and—yes, looking at you, Europe—more air conditioning.Guest: Jeff Goodell, contributing writer at Rolling Stone and the author of the book The Heat Will Kill You First: Life
SCOTUS and the "Color Blind" Constitution
The Supreme Court wrapped up a year of giving Trump and the Republican Party nearly everything they could want. And even in the final, birthright citizenship case, what is remarkable is not that Trump lost, but how close he came to winning that one too.Guest: Jay Willis, editor-in-chief at Balls and Strikes. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole
How This New Gilded Age Ends
The Gilded Age has nothing on the present when it comes to a huge—and growing—portion of wealth being controlled by a smaller and smaller group of men—and they’re doing their best to keep it that way. Must everything that goes up come down?Guest: Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning economist and professor at City University of New York’s Graduate Center.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus t
Here Come the Socialists
How far does Zohran Mamdani’s political approach and appeal carry beyond liberal strongholds in city centers? Guest: Perry Bacon, staff writer at The New Republic and host of the TNR show Right Now With Perry Bacon. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple P
Off the Record: Taylor’s Version
Across the nation, we’re getting ready for July 4, 2026: Taylor Swift’s wedding weekend. Also Donald Trump is either dying or dying to be thin, JD Vance is vying to seem human, and Bill Cassidy is determined to go out in a blaze of obsequiousness.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next —yo
A.I. Enshittifies Everything
Through stealing your job or simply tanking the stock market—whichever comes first—the rise of artificial intelligence (companies) is a very futuristic sounding problem. It may have some very old-fashioned sounding solutions however.Guest: Cory Doctorow, sci-fi author, journalist, blogger and author of “The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI.”Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to a
No One Knows the Truth About the Iran Deal
Where do negotiations with Iran stand at the moment? Well, Iran’s out from under a more-than-four-decade-long sanction and could start making bank, plus it controls the Strait of Hormuz and hasn’t agreed to any concessions on its nuclear program. On the American side, JD Vance got to see Switzerland. Guest: Tommy Vietor, co-founder of Crooked Media and co-host of the political podcasts Pod Sa
What the Pool’s Reflecting
Most people probably don’t think about the reflecting pool on the National Mall much, but Donald Trump sure does. His efforts to cosmetically raise it to his standards have been staggeringly expensive, and ineffective in surprising ways. It encapsulates the Trump presidency experience pretty succinctly.Guest: Christina Cauterucci, Slate senior writerWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to
The Return of the Firing Squad
With lethal injection drugs getting harder and harder to procure, states are legalizing death by firing squad. It may seem like a return to a more barbaric time, but there’s reason to believe that execution methods like lethal injection or nitrogen gas are even less humane. But even moreso, it may force us to confront our feelings about the death penalty as a nation.Guests:Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, Cath
America Before 250
It has been 250 years and America still doesn’t know how to talk about the genocide of indigenous peoples that kicked the whole thing off.Guest: Rebecca Nagle, host of Pushkin’s First America podcast, Crooked's This Land podcast, and author of “By The Fire We Carry: The Generation-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land”.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the
Elon, Please Log Off
Everyone needs a hobby. Unfortunately, instead of, say, model trains, the world’s first trillionaire’s seems to unwind by boosting calls for anti-immigrant violence on his social media platform.Guest: Nitish Pahwa, Slate staff writer covering business and tech.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of
Can ChatGPT Be a Criminal Accomplice?
People are asking artificial intelligence large language models how to do everything—even how to harm themselves and others. And while companies claim there are guardrails in place for those situations, we’ve already seen real-world instances of an LLM’s advice being used to plan a mass shooting.Guest: Mark Follman, national affairs editor at Mother Jones and author of “Trigger Points: Inside the
Trump’s War Is Still Going to Cost You
Oil prices fell when Trump announced a deal had been struck with Iran, but don’t mistake that for things going back to “normal.” We left “normal” a long time ago.Guest: Justin Wolfers, economist and professor at the University of Michigan, and author and host of Platypus Economics.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all
Israel Alone
Both the US and Iran are talking up a deal that will end the war and re-open the Strait of Hormuz. So why is Israel so upset about it? Guest: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for the EconomistWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking
The US Military’s Other War
From the firing of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown Jr., to the removal of the first Black four-star general’s portrait from the Pentagon, to striking Black and women Naval officers’ names from the promotion list, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s vision for the future of the military seems to come at the expense of Black servicemembers and their careers—leading many to que
An Obsession with Backrooms
Two horror films by two young directors have outmuscled an honest-to-Grogu Star Wars to become the early box office surprises of the summer. Guest: Justin Chang, film critic at The New YorkerWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free”
My Clip Viral, My Spencer Pratt, My Kalshi Dived, Knicks In Five??
It’s real: The two great flavors of What Next and What Next TBD together at last. But what’s not real? Where does a sincere speaker using a medium with a motive fall? And how much wolf can you cry before they just take you off shepherd duty?This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next —you’ll a
IPO to the Moon
Is Elon Musk’s SpaceX leading humanity to Mars? Or is that just grandiose window-dressing for an A.I. company leading several other A.I. companies to IPOs? Guest: Max Chafkin, reporter with Bloomberg Businessweek and cohost of the Everybody's Business podcast.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite
Fight House Lawn
How Donald Trump rearranging the White House lawn to accommodate a UFC fight neatly mirrors the way the organization and its parent company have reshaped themselves around the president.Guest: Luke Thomas, MMA journalist and host of the Morning Kombat podcast. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Sl
What's the Beef with Screwworm?
After being eradicated in the United States in the ‘60s, screwworm is back—at a time when beef is even more in demand and the American herd is already depleted. How long will consumers be forced to choose between high prices and, ugh, turkey burgers?Guest: Kevin Draper, New York Times business correspondent covering the agricultural industry.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access a
Trump’s B-Team
Why would Trump choose Bill Pulte to be the new acting Director of National Intelligence? Pulte may not have a background in national security, but since he was already Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, you have to admit it was convenient to hire from the batch of people who were already around.Guest: Andrew Egger, White House correspondent for the Bulwark. Want more What Next?
Did DOGE Cause the Ebola Outbreak?
He’s treated Ebola; he’s had Ebola. Here’s what he thinks of the growing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and how America can and should respond.Guest: Dr Craig Spencer, emergency doctor, professor at Brown.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcas
SchadenFriday: Is the Pope Girlbossing AI?
It’s a bit of an overstatement to say “the Pope came out as anti-A.I.” with last week’s encyclical—after all, Anthropic’s cofounder was there for the release. So what did the Chicago Pope actually say, what was he doing with his encyclical, and what’s an encyclical anyway? Guest: Lizzie O’Leary, host of What Next TBDThis episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Pl
Gradu-AI-tion Day
It’s an awkward time to have a Department of Education that seems so disinterested in, uh, education. It’s leaving teachers to grapple with how to integrate artificial intelligence into the classroom—if at all. Guest: Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and
Do the Dems Need More Graham Platners?
Graham Platner has a lot of things in his favor as he runs for a US Senate seat in Maine: it’s an off-election year, the president’s approval rating is slumping and dragging down the whole GOP. Should be a breeze as soon as Platner gets through this latest scandal.Guests:Danielle Kurtzleben, White House Correspondent for NPR and “Masculinity politics expert.”Ken Klippenstein, independent journalis
The Hunger Strike at Delaney Hall
It’s city vs. state vs. the feds at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where prisoners have gone on a hunger strike to protest the conditions inside—while outside, protestors clash with authorities. Guest: Aymann Ismail, senior writer at Slate.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your
Concepts of an Iran Peace Plan
It’s the war that’s been won since it started; the ceasefire with ongoing strikes, and the peace deals that are done except for the points of disagreement. Does the public have any reason to believe what Trump says about the Iran war? Does Iran?Guest: David Graham, staff writer at The AtlanticWant more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and
No Panic! at the DNC
Are the Dems in…array? Or at least, in less of a disarray than their opponents? Guest: Jonathan V. Last, editor at the Bulwark.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextp
Trump's Disney Shakedown
How the Trump administration has tried to put pressure on Disney for opinions expressed by Jimmy Kimmel and the hosts of The View—and how the Mouse is fighting back.Guest: Anna M. Gomez, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission since September 2023.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Sl
The Feds Won’t Touch Polymarket. She Will.
Minnesota’s state restrictions on predictions markets like Kalshi and Polymarket has gotten pushback from an unexpected source: the federal government.Guest: Rep. Emma Greenman, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who authored legislation to restrict prediction markets in the state. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next
Did Todd Blanche Try to Bribe the Senate?
Well, it wasn’t exactly “standing up to the president” but it’s telling that Congress decided to leave town rather than try to defend Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund and immunity for any past present or future IRS inquiries.Guest: Liz Oyer, former Pardon Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Public Defender, author of the Lawyer Oyer substack.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slat
It’s a Rich Man’s Disney World
Vacations to a Disney park were never cheap but now, in a reflection of American culture writ large, there are ever more-expensive tiers to pay to get into.Guest: Dan Curell, management consultant who wrote “Disney and the Decline of America’s Middle Class” for the New York Times.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all y
The Bethlehem Project: Democrats battle over their party’s future
Thanks for joining us during the holidays. While our team is taking a break, we want to share a podcast with you that we think you’ll love. It’s called The Bethlehem Project. It’s a special series from the Financial Times that looks at big political and economic issues through the lens of one city … Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.Democrats are looking for a bit of a rebrand after losing the White House a
Can Patreon Build a Better Internet?
The promise of an “internet for niche communities” and “the empowered independent creator” has been taking a beating as the web has become less open and increasingly dominated by a few platforms and players. But does it have to be that way?Guest: Jack Conte, CEO and cofounder of Patreon.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and a
Is FEMA Heading Towards Disaster?
When Cameron Hamilton testified to Congress that he did not believe “it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he was fired from his job as FEMA’s acting administrator. But now, a year later, Hamilton has been nominated to lead FEMA permanently. Does this mean the agency’s future is more secure?Guest: Micah Loewinger, co-host of W
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